He estimated the burly man's strength to be around three stars (a mid-tier level of power within the martial world's ranking system). A three-star master was considered quite formidable within Huahai City's (a major metropolitan area) underworld factions.
Yet, in Shen Yifei's eyes, he was utterly unremarkable.
Cao Bao realized that no matter how hard he pushed, the young man's face remained relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips. This felt uncanny, and he couldn't help but exert even more force.
Shen Yifei's expression was calm, as if he felt nothing at all.
The surrounding bodyguards and thugs looked on, bewildered. What kind of trick was Brother Bao playing?
From their vantage point, they only saw Cao Bao's hands resting on Shen Yifei's shoulders, with no other discernible movement.
They had no idea that Cao Bao was already exerting every ounce of his strength, his face flushed crimson, his mind filled with a bewildered question: how was this kid not budging an inch?
Unable to move Shen Yifei's shoulders in the slightest, Cao Bao finally released his grip, gasping for breath.
The group of thugs stared blankly at Cao Bao, while Liu Xiaoxiao's (a young woman caught in the chaotic scene) expression was equally bewildered.
“What, are you going to make your move or not? My time is limited,” Shen Yifei sneered.
“You're seeking death!” Cao Bao's face darkened with humiliation. He clenched his right fist and swung it straight for Shen Yifei's face.
A fierce whoosh!
Cao Bao held nothing back, unleashing the full power of his strike, which generated a faint sonic boom as the displaced air scattered. This was his signature technique, the Iron Mountain Fist (a brutal, unyielding martial art renowned for its raw power).
This combat skill had been passed down to Cao Bao by his former underworld boss. Though it contained no internal energy (a mystical life force cultivated by martial artists), its sheer force was tremendous, enough to tear through a sandbag.
Hitting a man's face, it wouldn't kill him, but it would certainly leave him with a severe concussion.
“Good one!”
“Brother Bao!”
A look of fervent excitement flashed in the eyes of the thugs. For Cao Bao's punch to create a sonic boom, just how much power must it possess?
Liu Xiaoxiao trembled all over, especially as she felt the gale-force wind accompanying Cao Bao's punch, strong enough to ruffle the stray hairs around her face.
Her eyes darted over, and she saw Cao Bao's fist nearly impacting Shen Yifei's face, yet Shen Yifei remained utterly still. Liu Xiaoxiao's pretty face turned pale.
Heavens! Shen Yifei, are you out of your mind? Even if you can't win, why don't you dodge?
Liu Xiaoxiao's heart leapt into her throat, cold sweat beading on her pale forehead and neck. Watching Shen Yifei about to be struck, she simply covered her eyes, unable to bear witnessing it.
The next instant, a scene unfolded that left everyone gaping in astonishment.
With an impassive face, Shen Yifei slowly reached out and caught Cao Bao's fist, as effortlessly as one might grasp a solid ball.
Then, with a single, crushing grip!
“Crack! Crack…” A series of sickening snaps echoed through the room. Shen Yifei's right hand held Cao Bao's fist in an unbreakable vise, and with brutal force, he crushed every single one of Cao Bao's finger joints!
Cao Bao's eyes widened into perfect circles, his face twisted in obvious agony. Yet, no cry of pain escaped his lips, a testament to his remaining bit of grit.
“Hmph!” Shen Yifei grunted, neither warm nor cold, and then gave a swift tug.
Cao Bao stumbled forward, and Shen Yifei extended a palm, pressing it against Cao Bao's chest. With an upward surge of power, he lifted Cao Bao's entire body with a single hand!
A collective gasp of cold air rippled through the onlookers.
Cao Bao, nearly two meters tall and weighing over 230 kilograms, built like a bear, was being held aloft by Shen Yifei as if he were a mere sack of grain?
Liu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but gape, wondering if she was witnessing an illusion. She knew Shen Yifei was skilled, but this… this was beyond belief!
“Damn you, I'll slaughter you!” Held suspended in the air by Shen Yifei, Cao Bao roared, his face contorted with savage fury.
Cao Bao thrashed his arms and legs wildly, but his body seemed to be held fast by Shen Yifei's palm, all his struggles futile, like a small snake held by its vital spot.
“I merely intended to teach you a lesson. Since you refuse to learn, don't blame me for showing no mercy!” Shen Yifei sneered, then brought his free hand up, shaping it into a claw, and raked it upwards.
Shen Yifei's fingers sank directly into the flesh of Cao Bao's chest. Blood instantly bloomed, staining Cao Bao's oversized white shirt crimson.
“Aaaargh!!!”
The immense agony ripped a horrific wail from Cao Bao's throat, a piercing shriek that sent shivers down the spines of the tough thugs, making their scalps crawl.
In every man's eyes, a profound terror flickered. To be able to so effortlessly rip into flesh with mere fingers… the strength required was unimaginable!
Liu Xiaoxiao furtively swallowed, utterly stunned. She had never imagined Shen Yifei could be this terrifyingly powerful! For a moment, she even questioned if this cold, severe man before her was truly the usually playful Shen Yifei she knew.
Even after that horrifying scream, Cao Bao continued to struggle and curse.
Shen Yifei clicked his tongue. Unless given a proper display of power, this fellow would never truly understand regret.
Shen Yifei lowered Cao Bao, then pushed him forward.
True to his reputation as a man notorious for carving a path of destruction through entire streets, Cao Bao rolled a few times on the ground before quickly scrambling back to his feet. With a savage roar, he swiftly drew a dagger from his waist and charged at Shen Yifei.
His massive frame made Cao Bao look like a human tank, and the very ground seemed to tremble with his advance.
Shen Yifei unhurriedly wiped the blood from his hands with a napkin, not sparing Cao Bao a single glance.
“Die, you bastard!”
Cao Bao's eyes gleamed with savagery as he lunged, plunging the dagger ferociously towards Shen Yifei.
Only when the dagger was a mere half-inch from Shen Yifei's chest did he finally discard the napkin, raise his right leg, and unleash a kick.
A dull, thudding *thump* resounded, like a soccer ball being kicked with immense force.
Cao Bao's colossal body slammed heavily into the adjacent wall, producing a deafening crash that made the entire building seem to shake.
Cao Bao collapsed, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He clutched his abdomen, lying like a dying dog, too weak even to whimper.
The colossal disparity in their power finally forced Cao Bao to face reality. The young man before him had reached a terrifying realm (a recognized level of spiritual or martial power).
“I… I admit defeat!” Cao Bao uttered, the words barely escaping his lips.
Shen Yifei ignored Cao Bao, his gaze sweeping over the thugs in the suite. In a cool, indifferent tone, he spoke: “Anyone else want to try? Don't waste my time.”
The thugs' eyes widened in terror. Each swallowed hard, but no one dared to utter a sound. Shen Yifei's sheer power had completely stunned them into submission.
Cao Bao's chest burned with indignation. *Damn it, I've been wasting my time raising these cowards!*
Seeing no one step forward, Shen Yifei shrugged and walked back towards Cao Bao.
“L-let's talk, I… I apologize to you! That's enough, isn't it?!” Suppressed by Shen Yifei's overwhelming power, the usually hot-tempered Cao Bao dared not show even a flicker of defiance.
“Apology?” Shen Yifei let out a cold laugh. He brought his foot down, savagely stomping on Cao Bao's right leg.
“CRUNCH!”
With a sickening snap of bone, Shen Yifei's single stomp broke Cao Bao's leg.
“AAAAARGH!!!”
Cao Bao could hold back no longer, unleashing a bloodcurdling scream that echoed like a banshee's wail. His kneecap had been pulverized into fragments by Shen Yifei's heel, and Cao Bao's face had turned a ghastly purple from the pain.
Shen Yifei's movements didn't falter. He delivered another kick, this time aimed at Cao Bao's manhood.
This time, Cao Bao immediately passed out from the agony, his lower body a bloody mess, likely ruined forever.
The thugs' scalps tingled with terror. They were veterans of the underworld, accustomed to seeing limbs severed and people brutalized, but they had never witnessed such swift and ruthless brutality as Shen Yifei's, directly crippling a man's manhood.
After performing these acts, Shen Yifei stood as if nothing untoward had happened, and calmly addressed the trembling thugs beside him: “Who do you work for?”
The thugs collectively stiffened. One of the slightly bolder strongmen stammered, trembling: “W-we are from the D-Donghua Dragon Gang (a notorious underworld syndicate)!”