Chapter 28: Hyena
"Thirty million yuan!?"
Qi Dongyuan's words caused the hearts of the onlookers to flutter.
This was thirty million yuan!
Unless one opened their own martial hall and took in disciples, the annual income of many Core Force martial artists fluctuated around ten million yuan.
However, to open a martial arts school, a martial artist not only needed start-up capital, but they also needed to have connections and sufficient background, not to mention the ability to lead a hall; otherwise, they'd likely be challenged and suppressed by others in the trade.
Fang Lingjue could open a martial hall because the Fang Family had connections in Zanglong City. Not to mention, he was from the White Crane Sect. Furthermore, he had succeeded in consolidating his qi to form a Core, proving his capability. All these factors ensured that Changfeng Martial Hall could operate smoothly.
To many Core Force martial artists, thirty million yuan was equivalent to many years of hard work.
Wang Daoyi was very strong! He was probably one of the strongest Core Formation martial artists out there. Furthermore, with his mastery of the Five Elements Unity, even Aura Force Grandmasters wouldn't want to get on his bad side easily.
However, he was now injured. He had used a secret technique and had also struck out multiple Core Force attacks, so how much strength could he have still left in him?
At this moment, the gazes of many people looking at Wang Daoyi changed slightly.
Wang Daoyi, who was planning to kill all the five remaining Five Elements Sect's Force experts, noticed this. He realized that he couldn't show the slightest hint of weakness right now, or he would be at risk of being hunted down under the allure of the thirty million yuan the Five Elements Sect had put out.
Wang Daoyi's eyes swept over the surrounding four parties of onlookers fiercely and murderously.
The first party was the overseers of the black market. Their identities were well documented. One of them had achieved Core Formation and the other two had attained Transformative Force.
The second party seemed to be from a certain influence. Although there were no Core Formation experts among them, they were a party of eight. Three of them had strong fighting spirits and were extremely stout. It was highly likely that they had mastered Transformative Force.
As for the remaining two parties, one of them, a party of three, hesitated when they noticed Wang Daoyi's ruthless gaze sweeping over them. They were deterred by his murderous aura and retreated from the scene. They had witnessed the Core Force level fight. With only a few Force practitioners left, there was nothing left to see. They might even endanger themselves if they remained here.
And the last party was naturally Li Pin, who was alone.
Li Pin still hadn't developed the aura that was unique to Core Formation experts. Moreover, Wang Daoyi had an impression of him. He recalled he was the person who had checked with him for the price of the Five Elements Body-Refining Art. From his voice, Wang Daoyi inferred that he was very young. It was unlikely that he was strong.
To him, Li Pin was a perfect target for him to show the other two parties that he still had it in him to battle, thereby instilling fear in them.
Wang Daoyi stared at Li Pin and said, "Has no one ever told you that curiosity killed the cat?"
Li Pin was stunned and caught off guard. He was just an onlooker here. How was he suddenly dragged into this?
Li Pin, however, quickly pieced it all together and understood what Wang Daoyi was trying to do.
Glancing at the other two parties present, Li Pin realized that this made sense.
Staying and watching the fight was risky, and one needed a certain amount of caution as they watched the show. Li Pin didn't mind this, as he liked this kind of thrill. However, out of respect, and considering he had already watched the Core Formation Battle, he took a step back. He was already satisfied with what he saw.
"I'll leave then," said Li Pin.
"Did I say that you can leave?" Wang Daoyi said slowly. He glared, shooting out a horrifyingly fierce light. "Kneel!"
"Fine, I won't leave."
Li Pin understood now. There was no way for this to end well.
Since it couldn't end well, then so be it. He was going to fight a genuine Core Formation martial artist!
Li Pin halted his steps and looked at Wang Daoyi who had a fierce, cold expression. "Do you visualize yourself as a wounded lion surrounded by hyenas? Do you think that if you show the slightest bit of weakness, the hyenas will pounce on you and tear you to pieces? Is that why you try to create the illusion that you are still strong by roaring to scare the hyenas away?"
Li Pin paused for a moment, then said, "Have you thought of the possibility that you might be the snarling hyena, while the lion—is me!"
"How dare you!" Wang Daoyi let out a stern bellow, and his feet exploded with force.
He displayed agility and ferocity that was comparable to when he had pounced on Cao Zuoqiu earlier. He was like a ferocious tiger that had been unleashed from the mountains, roaring through the mountains and forests, scaring all the other animals away.
But almost at the same time he moved, Li Pin followed.
His figure strode forward. He performed the Eight Enormities True Fire Force and manifested Taowu's phantom illusion from his spiritual world. His qi and blood ignited. He unleashed a ferocious aura that was no less than that of Wang Daoyi—a martial artist whose hands were stained with no less than thirty human lives.
When their auras clashed, Li Pin was in no way inferior to Wang Daoyi, regardless of whether that was in terms of his fearlessness or pernicious nature.
Wang Daoyi was shocked. It was difficult to imagine that a martial artist with such a young-sounding voice could have such a ferocious Fist Force!
Could I have picked the wrong opponent?!
However, it mattered not, he couldn't retreat now. When two people fought, the bravest would stand victorious!
"You haven't reached the stage where your Force reaches a uniform and flawless state! You've yet to master Core Formation!" Wang Daoyi let out a low roar to pump himself up.
At this moment, he had to believe in himself and his fists. He needed to maximize his speed and Force to unleash and showcase the superior ability of a Core Formation martial artist.
Body like a fierce bow! Stretching out then shooting out with a deafening impact!
Boom Boom Boom!
The two were extremely fast, crossing paths with three flashes in just an instant!
At the point of collision, the two almost did the same thing!
Punch! Punch! Punch!
Lightning flashed.
Each fist force collision was like a sudden clap of thunder. Gusts of wind erupted. The burst of Force broke the duo's sleeves and sent the pieces of cloth flying in the air.
When the first punch had landed, the duo's Forces collided. They had been evenly matched.
In the second punch, Li Pin had tilted to the side and launched a Force attack. Wang Daoyi, whose ulnar bone was broken, stood at a disadvantage.
For the third punch, Li Pin seized the opportunity and ravaged his way up. He launched a hammer-like heavy Core Force to smash through Wang Daoyi's defensive stance. As Wang Daoyi backed away with huge strides, Li Pin turned his fist into a claw, mixing in thirteen variations, blatantly reaching for the Core Formation martial artist's neck.
His five fingers were like iron hoops! Once his fingers snapped on, the strong power of his knuckles would crush Wang Daoyi's neck, throat, and windpipe entirely.
"This is bad!"
At the moment of life and death, Wang Daoyi retreated sharply, tapping his feet on the ground. His frame moved an inch and his head twisted sharply, avoiding Li Pin's grasp in the nick of time. However, before he had the chance to make another move, the stone slab under Li Pin's feet tremored before cracking. Debris was flung into the air.
Core Force erupted and Li Pin's speed rose to an extreme. As his speed transformed into a more violent and impactful Force, his free arm bent outward. He smashed his elbow heavily onto Wang Daoyi's throat, using it like a weapon.
Boom!
Wang Daoyi's eyes widened as the flesh on his neck rippled and caved in.
His entire trachea and esophagus collapsed simultaneously and the penetrating power blasted into his cervical vertebrae.
A cracking sound filled the air.
Immediately after, this powerful martial artist, who was strong enough to kill a Core Formation Master head-on with the Five Elements Unity move, was blasted by the violent force contained in Li Pin's elbow. Wang Daoyi was sent flying backward for several meters before smashing heavily into the ground.
His eyes widened in horror and, as if a nerve somewhere in his cervical vertebrae had snapped, his body twitched and shook violently.
Unprecedented fear raced through him, and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but eventually, he was forced to swallow back whatever he wanted to say, as he fell silent. His body's convulsions began to die down gradually.