The man before him seemed unremarkable, yet to Hu Yanqing, he felt anything but simple—like a sheathed treasured sword.

A sword that remains sheathed poses no threat, but once drawn, its true destructive power is instantly unleashed, becoming a deadly weapon.

This man was absolutely a formidable opponent; Hu Yanqing held no shred of contempt for him.

Long Feng stood before Hu Yanqing, turning his head slightly to glance at Long Zheng, who stood nearby.

"Uncle Zheng, let me handle this match!"

Long Zheng was the referee and an elder of the Long family, so showing respect was incumbent upon Long Feng.

Long Zheng said nothing, instead looking up toward the high platform.

Even he was unaware of Long Feng's decision to recommence his cultivation. Only Long Haotian in the entire clan knew about this matter, and naturally, Long Haotian would never disclose such things externally.

Even among great families, there were no people without secrets; certain private matters simply weren't shared.

It was similar to how Li Changfeng never mentioned his relationship with Zhang Yang and Long Feng much to his own family.

Long Haotian nodded at Long Zheng; no one knows a son better than his father. Initially, Long Haotian was astonished, but soon, a sense of relief settled in.

Since Long Feng dared to step onto the stage voluntarily, he must have some confidence. Especially after Hu Yanqing had already defeated Long Sheng, Long Feng’s willingness to fight meant he did not fear this Hu Yanqing.

Long Feng was not a rash person; he wouldn't climb onto the stage knowing certain defeat awaited him.

Understanding this, Long Haotian felt a flicker of anticipation. He wanted to see what kind of surprise Long Feng could bring him.

"Good, this match for the Long family goes to Long Feng!"

Seeing the Clan Head had agreed, Long Zheng no longer hesitated. He shouted the announcement, declared the start of the bout, and stepped aside.

Long Feng remained standing calmly, smiling as he looked at the Hu Yanqing opposite him. The more relaxed his expression, the more tense Hu Yanqing became.

Long Feng was taller than Hu Yanqing, looking down at him from his height.

The two stood still for a full minute; neither made the first move.

Many elders on the high platform frowned then, especially Hu Yanpeng, who vaguely sensed something was amiss.

Hu Yanqing was his nephew, and he knew him intimately. Hu Yanqing specialized in brute strength, preferring to attack immediately, relying on ferocious power to subdue his opponent.

This time, his deviation from the norm—not attacking first—must mean something unusual was happening. Unfortunately, he wasn't facing Long Feng, so he couldn't know what Hu Yanqing was feeling now.

"Hoo~"

A gust of fierce wind zipped past Long Feng's ear. It was Hu Yanqing who finally broke the deadlock. Standing there facing an inscrutable opponent had put immense psychological pressure on him; he had to strike first.

At least by engaging, he could gauge the opponent's true strength.

He sent out a straightforward punch, and Long Feng naturally shifted his body slightly, evading the strike with ease.

After that single punch, Hu Yanqing didn't stop, launching a continuous assault. The arena floor was soon filled with the force of his fists and palms, while Long Feng utilized his speed, gracefully dodging every attack.

"Bang! Bang!"

Occasionally, Long Feng would throw out a punch to intercept Hu Yanqing’s offensive. Each collision elicited a dull thud.

"Second Layer Late Stage!"

Long Haotian stared blankly at Long Feng on the martial stage, his expression exceedingly complex.

He hadn't expected Long Feng to have cultivated to this degree. In just over three months of recommencing his training, he had reached the Late Second Layer, far surpassing his strength when he descended the mountain previously.

At this moment, his heart was filled with pride and satisfaction, yet also a twinge of heartache.

He understood that for Long Feng to achieve such a level, he must have exerted tremendous effort and endured significant hardship; such accomplishments weren't gained otherwise.

It wasn't just Long Haotian who was shocked; Long Zheng and many other Long family members had their eyes wide open.

No one had anticipated that Long Feng, returning after being away for over half a year, would show such immense progress.

Amidst the surprise, a renewed surge of hope rose in everyone's hearts. Long Sheng, who was at the Late Second Layer, had already been defeated. He had previously been the only disciple under thirty in the Long family at that level, and his defeat had caused despair in many.

Long Feng's appearance was the family's new hope. Everyone hoped Long Feng would defeat Hu Yanqing and secure victory for the Long family.

Li Liang, Hu Yanpeng, and others found their brows naturally knit together.

Before this event, they had conducted thorough investigations on the Long family disciples. The strongest among the younger generation was Long Sheng, and Long Chang was also formidable, but he was past the age limit.

Defeating Long Sheng meant defeating all the disciples of the Long family's younger generation.

But no one expected another Long Feng to emerge. In their prior investigations, Long Feng was inconspicuous; they hadn't realized he possessed Late Second Layer strength.

Li Liang and Hu Yanpeng exchanged glances, both wondering if Long Feng was a strength the Long family had deliberately concealed, one they were reluctant to reveal even when pressured into action.

This was highly plausible. Long Feng was only twenty-four or twenty-five, yet already at the Late Second Layer—even the former pride of the Long family, Long Chang, couldn't match him. Keeping him hidden was perfectly normal.

"Bang! Bang!"

Everyone held their own thoughts, but the fight on the stage was fierce.

Zhang Yang watched from the side, smiling and nodding occasionally.

Long Feng's progress was indeed swift. There was no question about his winning this bout. The supreme true scripture Long Feng cultivated provided the highest boost to speed, but his proficiency in all other areas was also excellent, certainly comparable to any standard advanced cultivation method.

This was a top-tier mental cultivation technique, far superior to ordinary advanced methods.

"Zhang Yang, will the senior be alright?"

Zhang Yang was utterly relaxed, but Long Cheng was extremely worried. He couldn't decipher the fight on stage and could only ask Zhang Yang.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine. He’ll win soon enough!"

Zhang Yang replied with a gentle smile. Long Cheng nodded slightly, his anxiety easing after Zhang Yang's reassurance. He had never doubted Zhang Yang's words.

On the stage, Hu Yanqing was beginning to feel the strain. He realized the opponent was not only faster than him, but his internal energy was no less formidable—perhaps even deeper. However, that wasn't the crucial point; the opponent's sheer physical strength wasn't much below his own either.

He specialized in cultivating pure strength; strength was his advantage. If he couldn't overwhelm his opponent in that aspect, the final outcome was predictable.

Only now did he truly grasp the feeling Long Sheng must have experienced—a profound sense of helplessness mixed with tragic resignation.

However, he was rational, unlike Long Sheng, who was willing to drag his opponent down in mutual destruction for victory. He was currently striving hard, actively searching for an opening to defeat the man before him.

They were both at the Late Second Layer; as long as he found an opportunity, a chance for victory still existed.

The fighting raged intensely. The cheers from the surrounding Long family members erupted again. No one had expected that after Long Sheng’s defeat, Long Feng would bring them yet another surprise.

Long Feng was like a hero now, appearing when everyone felt despair. Everyone hoped he would defeat this member of the Hu Yan family and uphold the dignity of the Long family.

"Tired yet?"

Mid-exchange, Long Feng suddenly spoke, simultaneously dodging a palm strike from Hu Yanqing.

Hu Yanqing’s attack faltered. He stared at Long Feng in astonishment. He had been giving his all; it was impossible to speak mid-combat. The fact that his opponent could parry his strike while casually asking a question proved the opponent wasn't even using his full strength.

This realization struck him with terrifying clarity, causing deep frustration.

"If you're tired, you can rest!"

Long Feng suddenly flashed a grin. The next instant, his speed abruptly surged. Hu Yanqing only perceived a blur of movement before his body was struck with devastating force, sending him flying backward violently.

The moment his mental defenses cracked, Long Feng unleashed his maximum speed, blasting him out of the engagement range.

"Such speed!"

Many people on the high platform were deeply moved. Long Feng's previous speed was already fast, but this sudden burst was even quicker. Such velocity had exceeded the range of a Second Layer internal energy cultivator; it was simply unattainable for someone at that level.

His speed filled many onlookers with profound shock.

However, the battle was not yet over. Hu Yanqing stumbled back over a dozen paces, nearly falling to the ground. Before he could regain his footing, a shadow reappeared directly in front of him—this time, it was a long leg aimed directly at his head.

"Peng!"

Hu Yanqing was flung backward even farther this time, tumbling straight off the stage. He landed heavily on the ground and did not move again.

This kick carried significant power. Hu Yanqing was knocked unconscious, suffering severe internal injuries.

Hu Yanpeng urgently leaped down from the high platform, lifting Hu Yanqing and examining him closely. After a moment, he let out a breath of relief, though anger still hardened his face as he glared fiercely at Long Feng on the stage.

Hu Yanqing was not fatally wounded; his limbs were intact, nothing broken, but the internal injuries were serious. He would require at least a month of recuperation.

Once healed, he would recover; the injury wasn't critically severe.

A slight smile touched the corner of Long Feng’s lips. Long Sheng had just used the Dragon Transformation Technique; although it hadn't fully manifested, it had been activated. Being interrupted meant a minimum recovery period of one month. If Long Sheng required a month to recover, then Hu Yanqing would accompany him in that downtime.

This action effectively settled the score for Long Sheng.

"This match goes to Long Feng!"

Long Zheng quickly shouted. All the surrounding Long family members roared in unison. Even the Long family disciples on the high platform yelled wildly, completely abandoning all pretense of composure.

They had expected defeat, but instead, a hero had appeared. This feeling of turning a sure loss into victory was even rarer and more electrifying than a straightforward win.

Long Haotian’s lips curved into a smile; he looked immensely gratified.

This was his son. His son had not disappointed him, stepping forward at the critical moment to turn the tide and withstand the pressure for the Long family.

He was his father's pride, and the pride of the entire Long family.

Long Jian was now shouting with excitement, matched by the grim faces of the leaders of the three great families. Hu Yanpeng’s expression was the darkest.

"Li Ye, you go. You must win!"

Li Liang said softly. A young man sitting below the platform immediately stood up, his eyes blazing with fervor as he glanced toward Long Feng on the stage.

This fervor was unfamiliar to many. Such intense fighting spirit only erupted when one encountered a truly worthy opponent who stirred the soul.

Li Ye moved swiftly, reaching the high platform in just a few breaths. He appeared even more refined and delicate, with skin so fair that if he wore women's clothing, he might be mistaken for a girl.

Note: Took a slight rest today and went out for a walk; the next chapter update will be a bit late.