From Death To Dominion

He gritted his teeth. I can't keep using the Limit Release for long. My ki reserves will dry up fast. I need to find a way past his Ki Armor…

Then, an idea struck him.

'It's risky. But it might work.'

Steve stopped, watching Ye Xian lower his hands and stand upright. "Giving up already?"

Ye Xian smiled. "No. Now you're qualified."

Steve frowned. "Qualified? What the hell are you talking about?"

Ye Xian dusted off his robe and chuckled. "To fight me, obviously. I mean, before this, you were just some third-rate clown, yelling and flailing your arms around. Now? At least you're entertaining."

The students erupted into laughter.

Steve's face darkened. "You little—"

Ye Xian cut him off. "Since we're going to fight, how about we make it official? A duel."

Steve hesitated.

Ye Xian continued, his voice casual but sharp. "I mean, you don't want to get expelled, do you? Fighting outside a duel is against academy rules. If I report you, you'll be out of here before you can blink. And we both know how much your 'prestigious' Sky Class would hate to lose face over something so… pathetic."

Steve clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.

From behind, the chubby disciple whispered, "Brother Steve, just challenged him formally. Then you can break his bones legally."

Steve exhaled slowly, regaining his composure. "Fine. Let's duel."

The crowd murmured in excitement.

Ye Xian smirked. "Good. Now, let's make a bet."

Steve crossed his arms. "What bet?"

"If I win, you forget about the ki stones. If you win, I'll give you all the ki stones."

Steve sneered. "Not enough. You also have to kneel and apologize in front of everyone."

The crowd buzzed with whispers.

Ye Xian's smirk didn't waver. Instead, he chuckled. "Oh? And what do I get in return?"

Steve frowned. "You just said it. If you win, I leave the ki stones alone."

Ye Xian scoffed. "That's hardly fair. You want me to grovel? Fine. But if I win, you hand over one thousand ki stones."

A hush fell over the crowd.

Steve's laughter rang out. "One thousand ki stones? Why the hell would I agree to that?"

Ye Xian feigned disappointment. "Ah, I see. I guess you're not as confident as you pretend to be. I mean, if you're so sure you'll win, why hesitate?"

The students erupted again.

Steve's expression stiffened.

"Brother Steve, accept it!" the chubby disciple urged. "You'll win anyway!"

Steve thought for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. You want to lose that badly? I'll take your bet."

A duel agreement was swiftly prepared.

Ye Xian read through it, then added, "Oh, one more thing."

Steve narrowed his eyes. "What now?"

"We fight in turns. One of us attacks for sixty breaths, the other defends. Then we switch. No weapons."

Steve scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Why would I agree to that?"

Ye Xian tilted his head. "Oh? Scared I might last longer than you think?"

Steve's eyes flashed with irritation, but he mulled over the idea. With his Ki Armor, Ye Xian wouldn't even be able to scratch him, while sixty breaths would be more than enough to crush him.

"Fine," Steve agreed, smirking. "I'll let you attack first. Try not to embarrass yourself too quickly."

Ye Xian chuckled. "How generous."

Both signed the agreement.

The crowd murmured excitedly as the terms were confirmed:

If Ye Xian won, he would receive 1,000 ki stones.

If Steve won, Ye Xian would kneel, apologize, and hand over all the ki stones.

The duel would follow the sixty-breath rule, alternating between attacker and defender.

Steve cracked his knuckles, confidence oozing from his stance. "Well? Show me what you've got."

Ye Xian took a deep breath and smiled.

"Oh, don't worry. You'll feel it soon enough."

The duel had begun!

Ye Xian stood before Steve, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he swung a fist at Steve's face.

Thud!

His knuckles connected cleanly, but instead of sending Steve flying, Ye Xian felt a sharp, jarring pain shoot through his hand, as if he had just punched a steel wall.

"Ow..." Ye Xian winced, shaking his hand.

Steve smirked. "Is that all you've got? Come on, I know you can do better."

Ye Xian didn't answer. Instead, he closed his eyes. Deep within his consciousness, the Reverse Yin-Yang Projection floated in place. Two ethereal fish—one shimmering white like moonlight, the other black as obsidian—flicked their tails lazily, swimming in slow, deliberate circles at the edges of his spiritual sea.

Harnessing the power of Reverse Yin-Yang, Ye Xian guided a subtle flow of energy to his fingertips. Then, in a blur, he struck multiple pressure points on Steve's chest with precise, calculated taps.

Steve snorted. "What kind of circus act is this? Do you really think poking me like some acupuncture session is gonna—"

He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened. His body wouldn't move.

Ye Xian stepped back and smirked. Then, without hesitation—

Slap!

A crisp, resounding smack echoed through the crowd.

A hush fell over the students as they watched in stunned silence.

Steve's head snapped to the side, his cheek burning with pain. He blinked in disbelief, his brain struggling to process what had just happened.

"W-what... what did you do to me?!"

Slap!

Ye Xian struck again, this time on the other cheek. "Tsk, tsk. Where are your manners? Did no one teach you how to address you better?"

Steve's face twitched as another wave of pain stung his cheek.

The watching students gaped, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Slap!

Steve felt a fresh sting.

Slap!

And another.

Slap!

Again!

Humiliation boiled inside Steve as Ye Xian continued his merciless slap barrage. With each strike, his body trembled, unable to resist. The crowd barely suppressed their gasps.

"Y-you bastard... when I regain control, I'll—"

Slap!

"Still threatening me? Do you even have the qualifications?" Ye Xian sneered. "You can't even move, and you dare spout nonsense?"

Steve's ears were ringing now, his vision slightly blurry.

"You—!"

Slap!

"You still haven't learned your lesson? If you curse again, I'll make sure you remember this day for the rest of your life," Ye Xian said coldly.

Steve clenched his teeth. He wanted to roar, but his body wouldn't obey. He felt his pride being stomped into the dirt in front of all these students.

"Y-Ye Xian, you better not—!"

Slap!

This one hit so hard that some students instinctively covered their ears from the sound. Steve's body trembled, and he nearly toppled over, but Ye Xian grabbed him by the collar before he could fall.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ye Xian taunted.

Slap!

The moment Ye Xian guided the energy of Reverse Taiji to his finger, he started tapping on Steve chest.

The first tap would siphon and devour the Ki from Steve Ki armor. The second tap would strike another precise location, draining the Ki from that point as well. The third tap would return to the first location, sealing its acupuncture point or meridian, while the fourth tap would do the same at the second location.

By repeating this cycle, he first created gaps in the Ki armor before employing a technique to disturb Ki flow.

However, the execution of this technique required both extraordinary speed and flawless precision. If he hesitated for even a fraction of a second, the Ki armor would naturally repair itself, filling the gaps and rendering his efforts futile.

Steve's face burned, his cheeks so swollen they looked like ripe peaches ready to burst. His ears rang with the echo of Ye Xian's relentless slaps, each one delivered with precision, carrying the weight of a mountain and the mockery of the heavens.

The watching students could barely contain their laughter, yet some still held their breath, unsure if Ye Xian would actually let him go.

Steve's legs trembled. His Ki Armor—once his pride, his shield, his so-called invincibility—had done nothing to stop the onslaught. It was like wrapping oneself in golden silk robes only to be stripped naked in the middle of a festival.

Yet Ye Xian wasn't done.

"Oh? You're already this weak? I barely used half my strength," Ye Xian sighed, shaking his head.

Steve's eyes twitched.

Ye Xian shaked him by the collar and hoisted him up like a ragdoll. The once-mighty Sky Class disciple, known for his arrogance and overwhelming strength, was now limp in Ye Xian's grip, a mere prop in his act of humiliation.

Ye Xian smirked. "You know, I thought a big guy like you would have more endurance. But it turns out… you're nothing but a glass-jawed donkey."

The crowd erupted.

"A glass-jawed donkey?!"

"That's brutal!"

Steve's face turned so red it nearly matched the academy's banners flapping in the wind.

Ye Xian turned toward the gathered students and mockingly cupped his hands.

"Dear brothers and sisters! Forgive me, for I have been too harsh on our dear Brother Steve! This noble Sky Class disciple, known for his might and generosity, has graced us with his magnificent performance today!"

Some students clapped sarcastically.

Ye Xian grinned and turned back to Steve. "Tell me, Brother Steve, was that last slap to your liking? Or would you prefer a gentler touch?"

Steve's teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked. But he couldn't answer. His body wouldn't move, his pride wouldn't let him speak.

Ye Xian clicked his tongue. "Silent? Well, that won't do."

SLAP!

Steve's tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

"That's painful..." one student muttered.

"Don't you think this is a bit cruel?" another whispered.

"But... Steve did force other students to hand over their Ki Stones," someone pointed out.

"He deserves it," a girl added with a huff.

Steve, hearing their hypocrisy, cursed them all silently.

"Only half the time has passed from the sixty breaths," Ye Xian mused. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Steve said nothing. His lips quivered, but he refused to admit defeat.

Ye Xian chuckled. "Oh? Are you waiting for your turn to fight back?"

Steve flinched, stunned at how accurately Ye Xian had guessed his thoughts.

"Don't bother," Ye Xian whispered with a creepy smile. "Even when your turn comes, you'll still be under my care. Hahaha!"

Steve felt a chill run down his spine.

Slap!

Students exchanged uneasy glances.

"I'm actually starting to feel bad for Steve..." one murmured.

"Me too..." another admitted.

"I hope Ye Xian ends this soon..."

Steve gritted his teeth.

"Are you cursing me in your head?" Ye Xian suddenly asked.

Steve's body shook like a broken machine as he frantically shook his head.

"Good choice," Ye Xian smirked. "Now, will you admit defeat, or should I continue my... service?"

Steve hesitated.

Slap!

His head rang like a bell at a temple.