C19 The Finals!

As Chen Ao unleashed his ferocious assault, Chen Chu calmly extended his right palm. Genuine Qi wildly surged within, gradually transforming his skin to the hue of white jade. With a swift motion that caught the crowd off guard, he struck out with his palm.

Their palm and fist collided, unleashing a gale of unmatched force. A thunderous thud echoed as both men shuddered. At the point of impact, a tremendous wave of energy burst forth. Chen Chu was sent hurtling backward as if struck by a massive stone, finally halting at the railing of the raised platform. His complexion blanched, his insides churning painfully, prompting a fit of harsh coughing.

Chen Ao, in stark contrast, remained as still as a statue, highlighting the clear disparity between them.

Chen Tong's face clouded over in the VIP section. Judging by Chen Chu's distress, it was evident he had sustained internal injuries. Unable to remain seated, he signaled the Second Elder with a glance to assist Chen Chu off the stage.

"Ah, that lad's Mountain Breaking Strike is formidable. Young Master Chen Chu's defeat is certainly no disgrace," Elder Huang remarked, a smug smile playing on his lips as he glanced at the young man beside him, whose expression had soured from their earlier debate.

"Chen Ao is a freak of nature. In our last spar at the training grounds, I took one of his Mountain Breaking Strikes and ended up bedridden for a fortnight," someone commented.

"Hmph, Chen Ao got to him first, sparing that detestable kid a lesson," Chen Su muttered, irked at not having had the chance to deal with Chen Chu himself.

Chen Chu's talent in pill refinement rivaled that of a third-grade alchemist, making his contribution to the Chen Family far more significant than Chen Ao's could ever be. The Second Elder hurried onto the stage, alarmed, only to find Chen Ao's eerily motionless form.

Suddenly, Chen Ao's body shook uncontrollably, and he could no longer stand, collapsing to his knees as he spat out a mouthful of blood in a ghastly display.

The entire assembly was stunned into silence.

With a resigned sigh, Chen Chu produced a pill and quickly offered it to Chen Ao, his voice grave, "You've been internally wounded. Take this pill immediately, or you'll suffer lasting damage."

Struggling to his feet, Chen Ao locked eyes with Chen Chu before swallowing the pill with great reluctance.

Color quickly returned to Chen Ao's ashen face, and with the Second Elder's support, he left the stage. The onlookers gasped at the sight of his wretched state.

Chen Ao's martial skill, rooted in body refining, endowed him with a resilience rivaling an eighth-level Qi Refinement Stage warrior. Yet, Chen Chu's single palm strike had left him grievously wounded, a testament to his astonishing strength.

Chen Tong watched Chen Chu on the stage, his eyes ablaze with pride. Waves of amazement churned within him. He had all but lost hope for Chen Tong's path in cultivation, but his son's exceptional alchemy skills alone had filled him with immense satisfaction.

His hand on the armrest shook slightly, and his eyes brimmed with tears.

"My son, Chen Tong, is truly extraordinary."

Beside Chen Tong, the young man who had lost faith sparked to life, clapping loudly and earning a resigned look from Elder Huang.

"Patriarch Chen, you have an exceptional son. I'm truly envious," the elder said, finally regaining his composure.

Chen Tong, beaming with pride, humbly replied, "Chu'er has merely mastered a few of the Chen Family's lesser martial skills. It's nothing worth mentioning."

The two beside him were dumbfounded. Chen Chu's martial skill had not only overpowered the Mountain Breaking Strike but also inflicted internal injuries on Chen Ao. The power he exhibited was comparable to the Advanced Yellow Rank, yet Chen Tong downplayed it as minor. Could it be that the Chen Family possessed even higher Profound Rank martial skills? They were impressed by his modesty.

Meanwhile, Chen Su stared at the ground, his mind adrift. In just one month, Chen Chu's display of talent had left him feeling utterly inferior. A profound sense of helplessness slowly enveloped him.

With a fierce resolve, Chen Su clenched his fists tighter, his teeth grinding together.

"Who cares who you are? If you dare to snatch my spot, you'll become my mortal enemy," Chen Su declared with a fervor bordering on madness for Heavenly South Academy. He was determined to secure his place there by any means necessary. His ambitions soared beyond the thought of living a mediocre life in Wanbei City. He was prepared to pay any price for his dreams.

Chen Chu, still reeling from the recent clash that left his blood and Qi in turmoil, slowly made his way back to his seat to catch his breath. A sweet taste occasionally rose in his throat—a sign of the internal upheaval. Thankfully, the Creation Body Refining Spell shielded him, or his fate might have mirrored Chen Ao's grim outcome.

As time ticked away, Chen Chu meticulously guided his Genuine Qi through his meridians in a complete cycle. By the time he finished, the third round of the competition had concluded.

Fortune smiled upon Chen Chu in the subsequent drawing; he pulled an empty lot, advancing him straight to the finals.

Three cycles of Genuine Qi later, Chen Chu had quelled the tumultuous sensations within. He opened his eyes to find a familiar silhouette on the stage.

"Chen Man will face Chen Jun in the clan competition," announced the Great Elder before swiftly exiting the stage. Only then did Chen Chu muster a flicker of interest in the ongoing duel.

Chen Man, having reached the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage two months prior, stood at the pinnacle of the Chen Family's younger generation in terms of combat prowess. His adversary, Chen Jun, lagged behind at the eighth level, with both his strength and battle experience falling short.

The young man gave a wry smile, respectfully saluted Chen Man, and inhaled deeply. His body became a nexus of concentrated Genuine Qi as he readied himself for combat.

"These Chen Family youths possess unyielding spirits," an observer noted, "facing down stronger opponents without a hint of retreat. Impressive indeed."

A chorus of admiration rose from the spectators as the tension on the stage mounted.

Clad in crisp white, Chen Jun's actions were decisive and unhesitating. With a fierce cry, he lunged at Chen Man like a relentless cheetah closing in on its prey.

Chen Man's expression grew tense as she swiftly channeled her Genuine Qi throughout her body, causing her form to drift like a willow fluff on the breeze.

Chen Jun's eyes zeroed in on Chen Man, his right hand snapping shut as his fingers, gleaming with a piercing chill, formed an eagle's claw and lunged for her right shoulder.

As Chen Jun's relentless assault bore down on her, Chen Man's eyebrows arched subtly. A stream of pale green Genuine Qi surged from her palm, and a blindingly fast palm strike shot through the gap between Chen Jun's fingers, slamming hard into his chest. In the blink of an eye, Chen Jun was sent soaring off the platform, tumbling through the air under the watchful gaze of the crowd.

With a resounding crash, Chen Jun hit the ground.

Chen Chu couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration. The Thunder Light Palm, a signature technique of the Chen Family, was executed by Chen Man with exceptional prowess. Her palm strike was more than twice as swift as Chen Su's. Faced with such a formidable onslaught, he knew he'd have to resort to his ace in the hole, the Netherworld Finger, to stand a chance.

"This woman is truly formidable."