Chapter 32
In the air, Li Ji and the Red Dragon clashed dozens of times, the burning heat of their battle lingering in the air around them. Li Ji's fists were like those of a war god — fast, powerful, and devastating. But the Red Dragon's defense was anything but simple.
Each time Li Ji's fist landed, the dragon's crimson scales only sank a few inches before halting the blow. In contrast, the Red Dragon's claws were sharper than any blade known to man. Even a slight graze from them left bloody marks on Li Ji's body. His clothes had long been torn to shreds, revealing large wounds across his chest, one of which still bled steadily.
"How about it?" the Red Dragon's voice rumbled, its wings stirring up countless wind blades around them. "Feel the difference in power? This isn't even my full strength."
Li Ji grinned, ignoring the injuries on his body as if they were nothing. He leapt back, summoning air bombs from thin air. The wind blades were shattered one by one. "Not bad," Li Ji replied. "But you know what? It's not illegal to kill a dragon, is it?"
"As long as you can kill them, it's fair game in this secret realm," the Red Dragon answered, a hint of surprise flashing in his crimson eyes. He hadn't expected Li Ji to become so skilled at manipulating air bombs in such a short time. In the span of a single fight, his growth was nothing short of monstrous.
"Then let's see how you handle this! Ji Qigong — Yi!"
Two massive qi bombs appeared in Li Ji's hands and shot toward the Red Dragon.
The dragon sneered as it hovered in the sky. "Haven't you learned anything? Attacks that slow are useless."
"Is that so?" Li Ji smirked. He raised a finger, and in an instant, the two qi bombs accelerated several times over, hurtling toward the Red Dragon like streaks of light.
A flicker of surprise appeared in the Red Dragon's eyes, but he reacted quickly, folding his wings and diving toward the ground like a flash of lightning. The air bombs grazed past his back, leaving scorched black marks and eliciting a pained grunt.
"You are talented, I'll give you that," the Red Dragon said. "But talent alone isn't enough. Iron Fist tests strength—"
"It's not over yet!" Li Ji interrupted.
Startled, the Red Dragon looked up. The two qi bombs had curved around and were less than ten meters away, leaving him no time to dodge. He had no choice but to close his wings and defend.
A deafening boom followed as the bombs exploded against the Red Dragon's body. Even his massive form was sent hurtling by the shockwave, crashing directly into the side of a volcano. His wings were riddled with holes, his back a bloody mess, and rain of blood splattered the scorched earth below.
Li Ji panted heavily. The move had consumed a significant amount of his strength. "Damn, tough bastard. That's barely superficial damage."
With a sharp roar, the Red Dragon burst from the magma, fury burning in his gaze. He dove toward Li Ji at terrifying speed. Li Ji leapt high into the air, but the dragon was faster. His massive tail whipped around and struck Li Ji midair, slamming him into the ground.
"Argh!" Li Ji bellowed, but his fighting spirit only surged higher. He burst free from the rubble, soaring back into the sky.
"I admit, I underestimated you," the Red Dragon said, eyes narrowing. "But now, I'll fight you with my true strength."
"That's what I wanted to hear!" Li Ji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Countless air bombs manifested around him, chasing after the Red Dragon as he hid his body among them, slowly closing in.
The Red Dragon let out a mighty roar, spewing torrents of flame. The inferno engulfed the air bombs, forcing Li Ji to abandon his assault.
"By the way," Li Ji teased as he fell back in midair, "how the hell are you still flying? Your wings look like ragged meat."
"Fool," the Red Dragon scoffed. "Dragons don't fly with their wings. Wings are symbols and weapons — nothing more."
The Red Dragon opened his mouth again, sending dozens of enormous fireballs toward Li Ji.
"Tch. No wonder there's no meat on those wings. Can't even eat 'em," Li Ji grinned savagely, weaving through the fireballs with astonishing speed. Not a single one touched him.
"Not bad," the Red Dragon admitted, a rare note of praise in his voice. "But you're still far from passing this trial."
"You think saying it makes it true?" Without warning, Li Ji appeared behind the dragon's tail. The Red Dragon instinctively swung his tail to crush him, but Li Ji was faster. He grabbed the tip of the dragon's tail and held it firm.
"You're too slippery. Time for a little punishment." Li Ji gathered energy in his palm and unleashed it against the Red Dragon's tail. The tough dragon hide split open under the blast, though the recoil also split the skin on Li Ji's hands.
The Red Dragon roared, whipping his head around. "What the hell are you trying to do?!"
"Nothing much," Li Ji replied, tightening his grip. Then, with a roar, he swung the enormous dragon into the air like a giant wheel and hurled him toward a distant mountain.
With a biu sound, the Red Dragon crashed into the mountainside. Without hesitation, Li Ji gathered both hands and formed a massive Qigong wave, launching it after the Red Dragon.
But before it could land, the dragon's massive form disappeared from sight, his mocking voice coming from behind. "You're clever — but I told you, what I'm testing is your strength, not your tricks!"
Li Ji spun, redirecting the Qigong wave, but the Red Dragon had already evaded.
"Don't play games with me," the dragon growled. "Defeat me properly!"
He spat a ball of dragon flame into the sky, dyeing the heavens a blazing red.
Li Ji's eyes narrowed. "Wait… are you cheating?"
"Of course I'm cheating," the Red Dragon admitted with a wicked grin. "I made a slight adjustment to the secret realm's rules — for your own good."
"Cheating is cheating. Don't dress it up with high-sounding excuses. There's no invigilator watching us here!" Li Ji snapped his hands forward, catching the Red Dragon's massive hind paw as it came down toward him. The force crushed the ground beneath him, but Li Ji held firm.
"You're actually trying to wrestle with a dragon?" the Red Dragon laughed.
"Cut the crap — let's see who's stronger!" Li Ji's arms trembled as he increased his strength.
"What a simple-minded fool." The Red Dragon chuckled, though he, too, pushed harder. The ground around them cracked like dry earth in a drought.
"Not bad," the Red Dragon said approvingly. "Still short of the passing mark though."
"Same to you — you're just a little weaker than me!" Li Ji grinned.
Both of them increased their strength again.
With a final cracking sound, the ground completely shattered beneath them. Without footing, Li Ji was slammed into the earth by the Red Dragon's overwhelming force.
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