NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Decisive Phantom
Zhang Hao stood in the corner of the arena, his breathing ragged, clothes drenched in sweat, and several wounds revealing the intensity of the battle. Zhao Gang's "Diamond Sutra Body" seemed like an impenetrable barrier, rendering each of Zhang Hao's attacks futile. The cheers from the outer sect disciples gradually subsided, their spirits falling from the peak of hope to the abyss of disappointment.
In the audience, the top ten disciples of the outer sect watched with piercing gazes. Their eyes held both sympathy for Zhang Hao and awe for Zhao Gang. These future rivals, each a cream of the crop in the outer sect, had strengths that could not be underestimated. The inner sect disciples were more composed, observing and analyzing, trying to glean experience from this battle for potential future duels.
Wang Yao, the aloof goddess among the inner sect disciples, stood tall and voluptuous, her figure graceful and confident with every movement. Her hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, skin fair as snow, and her almond-shaped eyes radiated an air of cold elegance. Wang Yao's red lips were slightly pursed, seemingly indifferent to the surrounding noise. Her beauty was an undeniable presence, and even among the many inner sect disciples, she remained the most dazzling focus.
Wang Yao's gaze was firmly locked on Zhang Hao, a flicker of complex emotions in her eyes. She spoke with a cold yet pleasant voice, "Zhang Hao, you may have some small tricks, but against Zhao Gang's absolute strength, they might not be enough."
Her words were met with nods from the surrounding inner sect disciples, who deeply agreed with Wang Yao. Not only was she a top performer among the inner sect disciples, but she was also known for her calm judgment and superior cultivation. Every word she uttered seemed to carry an undeniable authority.
"You're still so disdainful, Wang Yao," said a man standing beside her, his figure robust, muscles defined, short hair gleaming in the sunlight, eyes revealing a thirst for battle. With his arms crossed and a confident smile on his lips, he was assessing Zhang Hao's strength.
Wang Yao cast a disdainful glance at the man and ignored him. Her aloofness was not without reason; her cultivation was among the best in the inner sect, giving her the right to look down on others. Her gaze turned back to Zhang Hao, a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes, as if waiting for him to surprise her.
Lin Yue nervously bit her lip, her hands tightly clasped together, eyes filled with worry and anticipation for Zhang Hao. Her long hair fluttered in the wind, her expression changing with every exchange on the arena.
"Zhang Hao, you must be careful; Zhao Gang's strength should not be underestimated," Lin Yue's voice trembled slightly, but her gaze was resolute, filled with trust in Zhang Hao.
Beside Lin Yue, Li Bao nervously clenched his fists, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His voice was hoarse but full of encouragement for his friend.
"Zhang Hao, you must perform well today; I've placed quite a few bets on you!" Li Bao shouted, his voice tinged with worry but his eyes showing faith in Zhang Hao.
Zhang Hao took a deep breath, knowing that to defeat Zhao Gang, he had to leverage his advantage—the Phantom Steps. He began to move swiftly across the arena, each movement embodying the essence of the Phantom Steps, his figure flickering and dazzling the onlookers.
A glint of surprise flashed in Zhao Gang's eyes; he hadn't expected Zhang Hao's footwork to be so exquisite. His attacks became hesitant, each strike more cautious. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Hao launched a counterattack, his palms slicing into Zhao Gang's defensive circle like phantoms.
The audience watched tensely, their hearts pounding with every move on the arena. The outer sect disciples cheered for each successful evasion and counterattack by Zhang Hao, while the inner sect disciples applauded every counterstrike by Zhao Gang with enthusiasm.
As the battle raged on, Zhang Hao sensed an unusual aura. In a fierce exchange, his heart suddenly throbbed violently, a faint stream of spiritual energy passing through his heart and spreading throughout his body. Though weak, this energy was exceptionally pure, as if it could unlock every ounce of his potential.
A glimmer of delight flashed in Zhang Hao's eyes; he hadn't expected to touch the threshold of a breakthrough and sense the spiritual energy in the midst of such a critical moment. He knew this was a rare opportunity and had to seize it to defeat Zhao Gang once and for all.
Zhang Hao's figure became even more agile, each movement tracing the path of spiritual energy, the Phantom Steps reaching their peak under his feet. Zhao Gang's attacks fell empty again, his face growing ugly as he couldn't accept being pushed to such a degree by an outer sect disciple.
Zhang Hao's mind raced through countless tactics, and finally, he decided on a guerrilla strategy, using the speed advantage of the Phantom Steps to deplete Zhao Gang's physical strength and spiritual power.
The battle resumed with Zhang Hao's figure darting across the arena like a phantom, each attack swift and lethal as lightning. Although Zhao Gang's physical strength was extraordinary, under Zhang Hao's relentless assault, he began to feel the pressure. His breathing grew labored, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
Zhao Gang spun around quickly, but Zhang Hao's palm had already sliced into his defense like a blade. Zhao Gang felt a chill down his back, and he urgently activated his technique, enhancing his physical strength to the extreme.
Zhang Hao's palm struck Zhao Gang's back with a muffled thud. Zhao Gang's body swayed slightly but quickly steadied himself. The audience gasped, surprised that Zhang Hao had managed to hit Zhao Gang, known for his formidable physique.
Zhang Hao was inwardly shocked, realizing that although his attack had connected, it hadn't caused substantial damage. He had to find a more effective way to defeat Zhao Gang.
Aware that his stamina was dwindling, Zhang Hao uttered a low cry, pouring all his strength into his legs. The next strike would be decisive.
His figure appeared behind Zhao Gang in an instant, as if emerging from Zhao Gang's own shadow. Like a flash of lightning, he pierced through Zhao Gang's defenses, his palm striking heavily against Zhao Gang's chest.
Zhao Gang's body flew off the arena like a broken kite, crashing to the ground.
The arena fell silent, then erupted into thunderous applause. Zhang Hao stood on the arena, panting, but his eyes brimmed with the joy of victory.
The elder declared the result, and Zhang Hao's victory became a reality. As he descended from the arena, he was greeted by the cheers of Li Bao and Lin Yue. Their smiles were filled with pride and joy; they knew Zhang Hao had proven his strength.
Zhang Hao, who had almost depleted his energy, felt a sharp pain in his heart as he walked halfway. It was the same agony he experienced during his cultivation.
"Zhang Hao, are you okay?"
"Zhang Hao, Zhang Hao!"
Zhang Hao's eyes turned black, and he fell into a heavy faint.