Chapter Fifty-Two: The Second Technique

The force of the punch was astonishingly swift. Li Mu felt a slight tremor in his heart and hastily activated his technique; suddenly, the Tortoise Bone Shield materialized, intercepting the incoming fist.

Bang!

With a sharp sound, Mu Kui’s momentum was fierce, but he was forced back several meters. However, the Tortoise Bone Shield slipped from Li Mu’s control, sent flying several meters away, landing atop the platform.

“So this is the extent of your skill?” Mu Kui sneered, his face alight with excitement.

Truly impressive, Li Mu thought to himself with a touch of admiration. With a single blow, Mu Kui had managed to knock away a first-grade defensive artifact completely—his strength was indeed astonishing.

Without hesitation, Li Mu retrieved the shield and immediately drew out the Fire Gourd. With a flick of his finger, a thread of flame shot toward Mu Kui.

Compared to the first exchange, this time the speed was many times greater. In a flash of crimson light, the fire thread was already before Mu Kui’s eyes.

Yet Mu Kui made no visible move. In the next instant, his body flickered several meters away. The fire thread spiraled, finding no target, and returned into the Fire Gourd.

All the cultivators on the platform nodded.

“That gourd is truly a first-grade treasure—its speed is simply unmatched,” someone sighed.

Tu Xi immediately chimed in, “So that’s it. Last time, it wasn’t that Gu Rong was inferior; how could he have lost otherwise?” His gaze was fixed on Li Mu, eyes sharp as blades, as if he could reclaim the lost pill with his stare alone.

“Master Tu, don’t be so stingy. Losing is losing; there’s nothing to fuss over,” someone nearby, noticing Tu Xi’s expression, tried to console him.

“In the early Foundation Molding stage, it’s impossible to defeat a Body Refinement cultivator, let alone one stronger than Li Mu,” the head of Jade Spirit Sect commented, almost as if giving an explanation. After speaking, he glanced toward Lady Wang.

For the second round of the contest, Ye Yibai was absent; Lady Wang presided instead.

Lady Wang’s expression remained indifferent. She merely smiled and nodded.

Her expectations for Li Mu extended beyond this second round, yet she did not entirely believe he would end here.

In the arena, Mu Kui, seeing Li Mu’s fire technique had failed, appeared even more at ease. He laughed, “Hey, why not surrender now and spare yourself my next attack?”

Li Mu paid him little heed. With a slight motion of his hand, a wave of chill suddenly emerged.

“Ice Crystal Art?”

A look of contempt flickered across Mu Kui’s face as he tensed and struck out!

His fist wind swept through the cold air, shattering it instantly. Yet shards of ice had already formed, swiftly freezing Mu Kui’s hand.

A perfect opportunity.

A vine shot forth, coiling directly around both of Mu Kui’s legs.

Mu Kui swung his arms, unleashing a blast that shattered the ice on his hand in an instant. The shards exploded onto the ground. He then stomped with all his might; the vine wrapped around his legs snapped from within, vanishing quickly.

Lifting his head, Mu Kui stared coldly at Li Mu. “Any other tricks? Use them all!”

Li Mu mused inwardly—this man truly is formidable.

Ordinarily, Body Refinement cultivators focus on forging their bodies, but their spiritual power is often weaker—typically lower than other cultivators of the same rank. But before him, Mu Kui’s spiritual power was clearly strong; at the middle stage of Foundation Molding, coupled with such a formidable physique, he was indeed tough to handle.

Of course, anyone who could reach the second round of the Jade-Iron Tournament would hardly be mediocre.

Yet Li Mu was in no hurry. His spiritual power was abundant enough to withstand a prolonged contest. But Mu Kui’s techniques drew heavily on both power and stamina; most of the exertion was his.

On the platform, the audience was quietly amazed.

“Which sect does he belong to? He excels in both body and spirit—a rare combination.”

“He seems unaffiliated. I’ve noticed him before,” the Jade Spirit Sect leader nodded. “If he wins, I’ll be the first to approach him.”

“I’ll go too. Old Yan, don’t fight me for him.” Another immediately chimed in.

It was indeed rare to find a cultivator adept at both body refinement and spiritual cultivation. And to have someone unaffiliated—every sect leader’s heart was stirred. Geniuses are the foundation of a sect; who wouldn’t want one?

Lady Wang simply smiled and said, “Don’t compete, gentlemen. Mu Kui has already joined the Jade-Iron Sect today.”

A collective sigh rose from the sect leaders.

In the arena, after several intense exchanges, neither had managed to seize the upper hand.

Li Mu stood firm, while Mu Kui grew slightly anxious. Though he was powerful on both fronts, he was expending more energy than others would in the same time. Continuing at this rate would not be to his advantage.

“Is that all? Then I’ll show you my most powerful move—if you die, don’t blame me!”

Mu Kui’s chest muscles swelled; his shirt burst apart, his muscles bulging rock-hard.

“Mighty Strength Stacking!”

The Mighty Strength Art—a high-level version of the Power Art—temporarily granted immense strength, an essential technique for any Body Refinement cultivator.

There was a series of crackling sounds as bones popped and muscles surged with extreme power, veins standing out like coursing rivers, visible to any onlooker—an awe-inspiring sight.

“Mighty Fist—Stone-Shattering Strike!”

With all his strength gathered, Mu Kui’s body became a shooting star, both fists aiming straight at Li Mu.

In both speed and power, this Stone-Shattering Strike was nearly the pinnacle for Foundation Molding cultivators.

The crowd below the platform erupted in shouts; no one believed Li Mu could withstand it.

“Shouldn’t we intervene to save him?” someone asked.

“Wait a moment!” Lady Wang’s voice held a note of unease.

She too hadn’t expected Mu Kui’s explosive force to be so overwhelming. This blow would cost him dearly in both stamina and spiritual power—it was clearly a do-or-die attack.

Still, she wanted to see how Li Mu would respond.

If he faltered now, perhaps it would mean he wasn’t worth her investment. The price she’d paid to recruit him was not something anyone could easily imagine.

Li Mu didn’t move. He knew his speed was no match for the Stone-Shattering Strike; he couldn’t dodge and could only take it head-on.

It seemed the time had come to use that technique.

“Earth Armor Art!”

From the Fire Gourd in Li Mu’s hand, a billow of deep yellow mist poured forth—a swirl of sand that instantly enveloped him.

He was cocooned in a round shell, fully protected by a suit of earthen armor.

Shock rippled through the ranks of cultivators on the platform.

“Two techniques! That first-grade artifact contains two techniques!”

“How is that possible? Could it be supreme-grade? Who forged this treasure? I’ve never heard of it!”

“Heavens, he actually possesses a supreme-grade artifact… This Li Mu…”

Lady Wang’s expression finally eased. She thought to herself, “Li Mu, you haven’t let me down after all.”

The Stone-Shattering Strike did not stop.

Mu Kui gave a cold snort. “So what if you have a stone shell? A little sand can’t stop me!” He was already picturing the armor shattering beneath his fists, with Li Mu inside at his mercy.

Bang!

A heavy sound rang out.

Sand exploded from the surface of the armor as Mu Kui’s fists crashed into it.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath.

Mu Kui’s expression turned grim. He alone could feel it—his Stone-Shattering Strike, which would normally smash rocks to pieces, landed as if on a cushion of cotton. The force dissipated almost instantly; his power was scattered.

Though he’d thrown his full strength into the armor, not a shred penetrated within.

He was completely stopped.