Grand Master Fan was greatly astonished. The power of the Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit—he had witnessed it descend upon the battlefield. Tens of thousands of monstrous foes had been utterly annihilated in an instant.
If Fei Tianhe were given sufficient time to charge his power to its zenith and unleash a single strike, even he, Fan, could not possibly withstand it.
No matter how formidable Feng Zikang was, he was merely a junior who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage; how could he possibly endure the Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit?
Pang Fei understood his father’s intentions and knew it was inconvenient for him to interject, so he quickly approached Feng Zikang’s side.
“Senior Brother Feng, this is merely a moment of heated argument; perhaps we shouldn't—”
“In the military camp, jokes are not to be taken lightly.”
Feng Zikang’s expression darkened, dismissing Pang Fei’s attempt at mediation entirely.
Fei Tianhe laughed in fury. “Good, very good! Youngsters nowadays truly do not know the immensity of heaven and earth. Is the Military Strategist lineage of Dragon and Tiger Mountain truly that formidable? Do you look down upon my Five Thunders Orthodox Method? Very well! Then I shall see for myself: which is harder, your skull, or my Thunder Duke’s Blast!”
Grand Tutor Pang sighed, “Teacher Fei—”
“No need to say more,” Fei Tianhe waved his hand. “This brother originally did not wish to be the villain, but this brat brought this upon himself!”
He glared venomously at Feng Zikang, who, however, maintained a composed and casual demeanor, appearing utterly unconcerned. Grand Tutor Pang was at a loss for words and could only retreat reluctantly.
Then, Fei Tianhe sneered and leaped out the door, shouting loudly, “Brat, don’t just talk the talk! Come out here!”
Feng Zikang smiled faintly, turning to the crowd. “Since there is nothing pressing for the moment, I shall go down and exchange a few moves with Sect Master Fei. If anyone else wishes to test my abilities, feel free to join. In the future, such matters will not be tolerated within the military camp!”
Master Fang Sheng’s face showed slight worry, and he merely clasped his hands together, murmuring, “Amitabha,” offering no further comment; Wang Sihai’s eyes were filled with astonishment. He had not expected Feng Zikang to possess such audacity; Liu Bushi’s expression was grim. He disdained Feng Zikang, yet he also looked down on Fei Tianhe. He kept his lips tightly pursed, saying nothing.
Seeing that no one else reacted, Feng Zikang gave a faint smile and stepped out the door, surveying the surroundings.
“Sect Master Fei, this area is rather confined. Shall we proceed to the drill ground for our exchange?”
The people present here were all only at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level; naturally, they could not summon a realm to serve as a battlefield like Yuan Buhuan. Ganzhou, serving as a garrison, certainly possessed a spacious drill ground, which was much better than conducting a duel in the middle of the road.
“Agreed!”
Feng Zikang’s calm composure struck Fei Tianhe as pure arrogance and disdain. His rage burned fiercely within him, yet he only uttered a single word before his figure shot forward like lightning toward the drill ground.
Feng Zikang was in no hurry, even exchanging courtesies with Grand Tutor Pang as they slowly proceeded to the drill ground.
The soldiers and common folk in the city, suddenly seeing a group of peculiar figures heading towards the drill ground, could not help but feel curious and began inquiring among themselves. Such matters could not be kept secret; word spread quickly. Before Feng Zikang even reached the drill ground, the entire city’s populace and military had heard the news: the young Grand Commander of the newly arrived army was going to meet Fei Tianhe’s Thunder Duke’s Blast head-on with his physical body!
“Heavens, how could anyone survive that?”
The commoners gasped in disbelief. Most of them had witnessed the scene during the monster attack on the city when Fei Tianhe unleashed the Thunder Duke’s Blast, raining down ten thousand bolts of lightning that slaughtered tens of thousands of demons. The power was terrifyingly immense, which was why Fei Tianhe had earned the honorable nickname ‘Thunder Duke.’
And yet, a mere youth dared to meet the Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit head-on?
Some who refused to believe it rushed to Feng Zikang’s side to look, thinking that this man looked ordinary, just a common young fellow, neither possessing three heads and six arms nor sporting a monstrous green face and tusks. How could he dare agree to such a thing?
“It makes sense. If the Thunder Duke Fei has such mighty skill, why would he stoop to serve under another? Grand Tutor Pang is highly respected, so that’s understandable. But this brat is young and lacks credentials; on what grounds does he command the army? I say this young man is also at fault. Since the Thunder Duke Fei is so fierce, he should have yielded a little; why seek death?”
“Exactly! When those heavenly thunders strike, how can anyone remain alive? Why didn’t the other esteemed gentlemen try to dissuade him?”
“Dissuade my foot! I think none of them are willing to be subservient to this young punk. After all, he’s still wet behind the ears and unreliable. If this brat gets struck dead by the Thunder Duke, I bet they’ll all be secretly pleased.”
“Alas, this young man is too pitiful…”
Rumors and gossip erupted everywhere in the streets and alleys, everyone sympathizing with Feng Zikang’s imminent fate.
A few stray comments drifted into Feng Zikang’s ears, but he only smiled faintly, unconcerned.
The drill ground was ancient, constructed during the previous dynasty, merely an empty expanse, with many areas overgrown with weeds. It was said to be vast enough to accommodate ten thousand troops training simultaneously.
The two of them, fighting their spiritual battle, did not care about the dirt or gravel. Feng Zikang slowly walked to the center of the drill ground, lazily struck a posture, crooked a finger, and smiled, “Sect Master Fei, let us begin then!”
“What?” Fei Tianhe’s expression shifted again. The surrounding crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
When Feng Zikang said he would meet the Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit head-on, everyone assumed he would, at the very least, activate several defensive formations and perhaps utilize some treasures. Even then, they believed he stood no chance of winning, perhaps managing only to cling to life.
Grand Tutor Pang had been suspecting that Feng Zikang possessed some secret treasure from his sect that he intended to show off. But even so, the Thunder Duke’s Blast was incomparably ferocious; he was sure Feng Zikang would suffer. Seeing him make no preparations at all, Pang was greatly alarmed.
“Nephew Feng, what are you doing—”
Grand Tutor Pang could no longer hold back. No matter what, he could not let the hope of the Military Strategist lineage—the commander he had painstakingly persuaded to come—die here in vain! He rushed to Feng Zikang’s side. “This Thunder Duke’s Blast is no small matter, Nephew. Do not let pride guide you! If anything happens to you, how am I to face Headmaster Yuan?”
He spoke with sincerity. Although he remained skeptical about Feng Zikang’s actual ability, he could not allow him to suffer any harm.
Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “Grand Tutor, please rest assured. I do not give this mere Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit a second thought!”
His words sounded incredibly arrogant, leaving Grand Tutor Pang speechless. Unsure how else to persuade him, he retreated with a sorrowful expression. After a moment’s thought, he once again approached Fei Tianhe and whispered earnestly, “Teacher Fei, this young man is inexperienced; please do not take it too seriously. Be merciful and avoid injuring him, if you please.”
Fei Tianhe rolled his eyes. “Grand Tutor, it is not that I wish to refuse you face, but this brat is simply too arrogant. If I do not teach him a lesson today, how will the Lanshan Sect maintain its footing in the future?”
He knew very well that the Military Strategist lineage of Dragon and Tiger Mountain was not to be trifled with. If he truly killed this youth, it would likely cause a cascade of trouble. However, if he were to back down now, he would lose all face.
Seeing Grand Tutor Pang’s troubled look, Fei Tianhe patted his chest. “However, Grand Tutor, rest assured, at worst, I will not take his life!”
Grand Tutor Pang offered a few earnest instructions before sighing deeply and withdrawing from the drill ground.
By this time, quite a few spectators had crowded into the drill ground. Grand Tutor Pang knew the matter could not be resolved peacefully today, so he could only sigh repeatedly, praying inwardly that Feng Zikang would not be too severely injured.
“Brat, it is not too late to regret this now!”
Fei Tianhe glanced sideways at Feng Zikang, his tone laced with disdain.
“Sect Master Fei, please proceed quickly. Wasting more words is unnecessary!” Feng Zikang replied with a faint, unconcerned smile.
Fei Tianhe gritted his teeth and sneered. “To think you can withstand my lightning magic with your physical body is a pipe dream! Even without the full force of the Thunder Duke’s Blast, I can turn you into dust!”
He pointed a finger, and a bolt of heavenly lightning condensed, crashing down fiercely, striking Feng Zikang squarely on the head!
“Gasp!”
The onlookers surrounding the drill ground saw it clearly. That bolt of heavenly lightning was thick and vicious. Although it lacked the spectacle of the full Ten Thousand Thunders Strike, how could mortal flesh withstand such a blow? Even if Feng Zikang was a cultivator, this strike would, at best, leave him severely injured.
Fei Tianhe had shown some restraint; with this one strike, Feng Zikang would suffer some injuries, preserving Fei’s reputation, and negating the need to demonstrate the full barrage later.
Grand Tutor Pang nodded approvingly. Old Fei, although temperamental, was not entirely without cunning.
“Boom!”
The thunder faded, leaving dust and mist obscuring the view. Everyone craned their necks forward, waiting for the smoke to clear. Then, they saw Feng Zikang standing in the center of the drill ground, tall and elegant as jade, a faint smile on his face—not a single hair out of place!
“What!”
Fei Tianhe’s face paled slightly. Though the power of the Thunder Method he cultivated could not compare to the Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator had to handle this single strike with caution. How could Feng Zikang endure it so effortlessly?
This young man was not simple!
Fei Tianhe felt a twinge of regret at that moment. The Military Strategist lineage of Dragon and Tiger Mountain was indeed unfathomable; their disciples certainly possessed genuine skill. Had he jumped out so directly and refused to give face, had he been too aggressive?
But no matter what, this brat could not withstand the Thunder Duke’s Blast!
Fei Tianhe gritted his teeth. He knew he was riding a tiger now; if he stopped now, it would mean he feared Feng Zikang, and he simply could not afford that humiliation!
Grand Tutor Pang’s expression changed, and he let out a series of bitter sighs. “Alas, Nephew Feng, couldn’t you have appeared slightly more disheveled?”
Even if Feng Zikang didn’t wish to be injured, if he had appeared even slightly ruffled, Grand Tutor Pang could have shamelessly stepped forward to stop the fight, thus saving Fei Tianhe’s dignity.
But now, standing there unscathed and utterly composed, if Pang stepped in now, it would clearly be slapping Fei Tianhe in the face.
“Must it come to a battle to the death?”
Grand Tutor Pang’s face grew grim as he watched Fei Tianhe pull out the oddly shaped Thunder Duke’s Blast.
“One strike holds the power of ten thousand thunders, brat! You had better be careful!”
Fei Tianhe’s face was ashen. He raised the Thunder Duke’s Blast high. Feng Zikang merely chuckled, his tone relaxed, “It’s just ten thousand thunders. Bring it on then.”
Fei Tianhe gritted his teeth and activated the Thunder Duke’s Blast. Instantly, the heavens and earth shifted color, dark clouds gathering overhead.
Within the clouds, there was a deep, rumbling sound, like the stampede of ten thousand horses.
“Ten Thousand Thunders Strike to the Summit!”
As Fei Tianhe roared the command, countless dazzling streaks of electric light, like divine dragons, poured down from above!
The spot where Feng Zikang stood was instantly enveloped by the ten thousand thunders!
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