Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Victory or Defeat in the Final Strike

Gazing upon Han Tie Feng’s inflated, grotesquely muscular form, anyone could sense the terrifyingly powerful force swelling inside him.

Lou Yun wondered if he could possibly withstand the devastating strike Han Tie Feng was about to unleash, even by channeling every ounce of his innate physical strength alongside all the explosive power his body had cultivated.

Truthfully, if Lou Yun hadn’t relied solely on his strength but instead wielded his magical weapon with weapon techniques, he might have defeated Han Tie Feng despite the Double Star Explosion state. Yet, he respected Han Tie Feng as an opponent. Since he had declared they would settle this with pure physical prowess, Lou Yun resolved to go all the way.

Taking a deep breath, Lou Yun suddenly closed his eyes, his expression serene and calm. But within his body, where no eye could pry, his blood began to boil, his meridians danced, and his bones twisted. Wisps of spiritual energy steamed out from these regions, saturating every corner of Lou Yun’s form, then surging bravely like waves of warriors toward his right arm.

Lou Yun felt the torrents of spiritual energy rapidly fuse with every muscle fiber, every bone segment, and every cell in his right arm.

All eyes were now on Lou Yun. None could fathom why, facing Han Tie Feng fully unleashed in Double Star Explosion, he remained so utterly composed—eyes shut as if unwilling even to glance at his adversary.

At this moment, Han Rui of the Han family sneered sharply, "Han Tie Feng, don’t think you’re something special just because you’ve mastered Double Star Explosion. See? He doesn’t give a damn about you! Didn’t even grant you a proper look!"

Both Han Rui and Han Tie Feng were elites among their family’s younger generation. Yet their paths diverged: Han Tie Feng devoted himself to body refinement, while Han Rui valued weapon techniques above all.

Elders of the family often compared the two. Han Tie Feng, straightforward by nature, cared little for such rankings. But Han Rui was different—he constantly sought to outshine Han Tie Feng, never missing a chance to belittle him.

Seeing Han Tie Feng unveil Double Star Explosion—a secret triumph that proved his rival now surpassed him—Han Rui seethed with bitterness. His words were meant to provoke, for he alone in the Han family secretly prayed Han Tie Feng would lose to Lou Yun.

Han Rui’s jeers usually infuriated Han Tie Feng. Yet now, transformed by Double Star Explosion, he defied expectation: utterly ignoring the taunt, eyes locked on Lou Yun, he declared with solemn focus, "He is an opponent I respect."

At these words, Lou Yun’s eyes snapped open, blazing intensely as they met Han Tie Feng’s. A faint smile curved his lips. "I’m honored. This final strike will settle it."

"Good!" roared Han Tie Feng with a boom of laughter. As the sound faded, he charged forward.

CLANG CLANG CLANG! His enlarged body thundered across the ground like a drumbeat striking every heart. Each monstrous step shattered the gigantic green stone bricks to powdered dust, making the earth tremble violently beneath him.

Watching the mountain-like Han Tie Feng close in, Lou Yun’s expression turned grave. His body remained poised, but a golden light slowly ignited across his right arm.

Finally, two meters away, Han Tie Feng drove forward with inhuman momentum—fists exploding toward Lou Yun!

High-level rank technique: Raging Tiger’s Assault—from 《Tiger Fist》!

From his watermelon-sized fist, a phantom image erupted, swelling several times larger still. Solidifying in midair, it became the roaring maw of a savage tiger, unleashing thunderous bellows as it ripped toward Lou Yun.

Lou Yun’s eyes narrowed to gleaming slits, twin beams of gold piercing the space between them. His right arm, till now hanging idle at his side, began to rise—agonizingly slow, as if dragging ten thousand pounds.

Halfway up came a SHHHH—flames blazed from Lou Yun’s arm! Wreathed in fire, it ascended skyward, briefly drew back, then snapped forward with blinding speed.

Mid-tier moon-grade weapon technique: Fusang Thunder Explosion—from 《Shatter Fist》!

In truth, the technique was named merely "Sky Thunder Explosion," but Lou Yun had prefixed it with "Fusang," for this strike fused it with his Heavenly Fire Fusang!

It combined his physical strength, every surge of power refined into his flesh… and the might of the Heavenly Fire Fusang. Three forces converged—Lou Yun’s gambit to withstand the final blow.

A colossal orb of light flared from his fist, crackling with electrical force—a searing meteor streaking toward the demonic tiger’s head!

BOOOOOOM!

A thunderclap shook heaven and earth. An eruption of thick smoke swallowed the clash, engulfing a ten-meter radius and blotting out the sun. A devastating shockwave surged outward—a tsunami of force.

The Han family members—even the Elders—stumbled back from the blast and fumes. Those weakest clamped hands over ears, shattered by the sound.

The surge ripped fifteen meters deep, while the blinding haze lingered. Even an Elder of the Han family couldn’t pierce smoke birthed by such power; common onlookers stood helpless, waiting for the curtain to lift and reveal the aftermath.

Near the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, the fog finally thinned… and vanished.

The sight revealed was not gruesome, yet it choked the spectators with disbelief.

Lou Yun still stood. His right sleeve was charred away, the arm bare and limp—clearly injured, useless for combat now.

Han Tie Feng’s distorted form had shrunk to normal—face to the sky, he lay motionless. His right arm, which had thrown the Raging Tiger’s Assault? Gone. Only emptiness beneath his right shoulder.

The final blow had spoken: Han Tie Feng had lost—and with it, surrendered an arm.

For one who worshiped the might of flesh, losing an arm forfeited… everything. It might extinguish his strength forever.

Lou Yun had won—at terrible cost. Injured, ringed by the ravenous eyes of the Han family? A catastrophe.

Han Tie Feng lay awake, eyes wide—staring blankly through the sky. The agony of the ruined limb paled against his soul’s ruin.

Since childhood, he had walked a lone path amid mockery. Yet when he unveiled Double Star Explosion—a zenith art of body refinement—even the Elders thrilled with pride. His triumph was absolute.

Until now. An incomplete body mocked the quest for greater power. He wished for death.

Others missed the desolation in his eyes, but Lou Yun saw it clearly. A pulse of guilt stirred. He knew the storm raging in Han Tie Feng’s mind—yet this devastation wasn’t intended. Never had Lou Yun guessed the Sky Thunder Explosion, kindled by a Heavenly Fire, could rage so savagely.

The crackling fireball had vanished instantly inside the tiger’s mouth—that phantom bite searing agony through Lou Yun’s arm.

Then came the eruption—Heavenly Fire Fusang detonating from within the beast, consuming phantom and flesh. Han Tie Feng’s arm vanished in ash. Only then did the flames, drained of power, gutter out.

Cradling his limp arm, Lou Yun eyed Han Tie Feng… and suddenly laughed—a cold, cruel sound.

"You, Han Tie Feng… I thought you were a real man," he spat with naked disdain. "Instead? You’re nothing but this? Losing one limb broke you—so you won’t come back for vengeance? I am disappointed. How rare to find a rival worth fighting… sigh."

Words meant to lash—whip a broken sprit back to life. A gift of cruelty, kindled by guilt.

From the Han crowd boiled a wrathful cry: "Lou! Your victory is won—now you mock? Think our Han family has no one left?"

As the shout tore out, three men broke from the throng—faces aflame, striding toward Lou Yun.