One-sided Beatdown, Shang Wu: "Haters, Speak Up"

On the dueling platform.

When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury—the tension was already thick enough.

But hearing those familiar voices cheering for him, Li Mo felt an overwhelming urge to dig his toes into the ground, even forgetting about Wang Hao’s murderous glare for a moment.

Please, just stop chanting.

"Let’s see what you’re made of, Junior Brother Li."

Wang Hao’s inner energy surged, his aura locking onto Li Mo.

The moment Qian Bufan shouted "Begin!", Wang Hao shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

His fist gleamed with a dark sheen—clearly, he wore specially crafted gauntlets.

With a single punch, the howling wind carried the roar of tigers and leopards, while the churning of his inner energy rumbled like thunder.

Many within the Qingyuan Sect recognized this move.

It was the signature technique of the inner sect’s steward, Fudo—a high-tier martial art: Tiger-Leopard Thunderclap Fist.

"Good timing."

Excitement surged in Li Mo’s heart.

Truthfully, this was his first proper duel. The last time, he had fought Cui Peng, who was already on death’s door—barely exchanging a few blows before being struck down.

He didn’t draw his sword.

Instead, his muscles tensed, the energy of his thirty-six meridians surged upward, and with a twist of his waist, he met the punch head-on.

Wang Hao froze for a split second before a sinister grin curled his lips.

So, he’s too proud to use his Scarlet Sky Sword, unwilling to rely on a weapon’s advantage?

He had been worried his gauntlets wouldn’t withstand the edge of a profound weapon.

Li Mo’s choice played right into his hands.

Facing a higher-realm opponent, yet not going all out from the start—letting pride cloud his judgment?

Today, I’ll teach him the meaning of true cruelty—

But could he really?

"Wait—a Blood Qi Realm cultivator fighting an Inner Breath Realm opponent… without a weapon?"

"Not just that—he’s not even using martial techniques!"

"Elder Brother Li has a solid foundation in body tempering. I often see him in the Divine Edge Cave—maybe he has another trick up his sleeve?"

"Even if body tempering reaches the pinnacle of the Blood Qi Realm, it shouldn’t be this absurd. Otherwise, everyone would focus on tempering instead of learning other martial arts."

"Wasn’t he supposed to be a sword prodigy?"

...

A Blood Qi Realm cultivator, bare-handed, brawling with an armed Inner Breath Realm opponent?

Who wouldn’t be baffled?

Yet—in the blink of an eye, their fists collided.

CLANG—

Flesh against metal, yet the impact resonated like a temple bell.

A shockwave of dust erupted from the point of collision.

One figure staggered back, leaving deep footprints in the stone.

When the crowd saw who it was, they froze as if they’d seen a ghost.

Wang Hao!

His face was pale, his smile stiff.

The arm he had used to strike trembled uncontrollably.

He hadn’t tempered his body, but that didn’t mean his physique was weak.

And he had just channeled his inner energy.

How is Li Mo’s strength so monstrous?

Before he could even process the thought—

The young man before him vanished.

Not literally, of course.

Gale Shadow Step.

Wang Hao immediately activated his own movement technique.

But Li Mo’s figure was like a storm wind—relentless, inescapable.

What was going through Li Mo’s mind right now?

Well... deliberate killing wasn’t allowed on the platform. He was debating whether beating his opponent to death would be too much.

Forget pulling out his hammer.

Even if he used his sword, the sheer sharpness of Scarlet Sky—combined with the swordplay he had honed between sparring with the "Ice Block" and Jiang Chulong—would be far beyond what Wang Hao could handle.

Besides.

He also wanted to test the limits of this body—one that even a supreme martial art couldn’t push into the Inner Breath Realm.

In an instant—

Li Mo appeared right in front of Wang Hao.

Their eyes met.

Under the gaze of those fiery pupils, Wang Hao’s throat tightened, an involuntary gulp escaping him.

But then shame ignited into rage.

In the history of the Nine Peaks Tournament—

No Inner Breath Realm cultivator had ever been humiliated like this by a mere Blood Qi Realm opponent.

His fury burned—but it was useless.

A devastating pain exploded in his kidney, short-circuiting his thoughts.

"An inner armor?"

"So you’re quite the punching bag, huh?"

Li Mo frowned.

His fist hadn’t struck flesh—something had blocked the impact.

"Wai—"

Wang Hao’s heart lurched, but before he could speak—

"Did Elder Brother Li just let Wang Hao close in?"

"No—Wang Hao got dragged into Li Mo’s range!"

Another Tiger-Leopard Thunderclap Fist met a plain, unadorned punch.

CRACK—

The gauntlet caved inward.

Seizing the moment, Li Mo pressed his advantage like a wolf mauling its prey—elbow smashing into Wang Hao’s chest.

The Six Harmonies Fist’s principle of unified force was executed flawlessly—

Punches, elbows, knees—

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Wang Hao, clad in his inner armor, was pinned to the platform and pummeled relentlessly. His liquefied inner energy was utterly useless—only good for protecting his vitals.

He had tried to counter.

But—

He couldn’t even break Li Mo’s defense!

"Sto—stop—"

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

"I—I surren—"

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

The stone platform was now a spiderweb of cracks.

This wasn’t a duel between masters.

It was a one-sided beatdown—like an adult thrashing a child.

The scene was downright brutal.

"Sweet heavens... what the hell is Li Mo?"

"Thank the ancestors I listened when he told me not to relieve myself in public—otherwise, I might’ve lost control right now..."

"Elder Brother Li always seemed so gentle—who knew he’d turn into a demon when fighting?"

"Have you forgotten who his master is?"

...

Many couldn’t bear to watch.

Especially when Wang Hao tried to crawl off the platform to surrender—only for a hand to seize his ankle and drag him back, fingernails carving ten desperate trails into the stone.

Cold sweat drenched every spectator’s back.

Too savage.

Those with children quickly covered their eyes.

"Whew... glad I never fought Brother Li..."

Xiao Qin exhaled deeply.

Frankly, Wang Hao was stronger than him. Without his master’s help, his chances of winning would’ve been less than ten percent.

"Master, is this the advantage of a stronger foundation in the Blood Qi Realm?"

"Were you this powerful back then?"

The inexperienced Xiao Qin asked.

"Ah... well... close enough."

Thousand Forms Martial Venerable’s voice wavered slightly.

"Master, why do you sound... uncertain?"

Xiao Qin was puzzled. Hadn’t the Soul-Nourishing Darkwood restored much of his master’s vitality?

"Ahem. Oh, it’s just... this young friend Li Mo is... unexpected."

"And the Darkwood’s effects aren’t that immediate."

The aged voice of the Martial Venerable still lacked its usual profound mystique.

He was stunned.

Just how many meridians did this kid open?

Did I misjudge him?

"Being alive is truly a blessing..."

Lin Jiang swallowed hard, his palms sweaty as he wiped them frantically against his robes.

Though Li Mo’s fists hadn’t landed on him, just the thought of it sent a chill down his spine.

“Mhm! Mhm!”

Murong Xiao nodded vigorously.

Thankfully, he’d reacted quickly back then—now that he thought about it, it was the wisest decision he’d ever made in his life.

By now, the gazes fixed on them from all around held no trace of doubt, only admiration and praise.

This was no fixed match.

This was foresight!

On the high platform,

Shang Wu swung her delicate fists, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with pride. She’d definitely made the right choice taking in this precious disciple of hers.

Suddenly, she stood up, her sharp gaze sweeping over the stunned elders.

Drawing a deep breath, she bellowed:

“Let the haters speak now!”