Chapter 170: One Punch, and It's Over!

Chapter 170: One Punch, and It's Over!

In the training ground.

At this moment, with Xie Xiaojiu's defeat, everyone's attention shifts back to Jiang Ning.

For those powerful individuals, reaching the ninth stage of the Martial Way is insignificant.

Stepping into the ninth stage merely means embarking on the vast path of martial arts.

Even attaining the eighth stage of the Martial Way is not particularly impressive.

Because this stage can be achieved through external means.

However, defeating someone as renowned as Xie Xiaojiu is a different matter.

This signifies that Jiang Ning has at least achieved minor mastery in the Divine Strength Realm, and most likely, major mastery.

Reaching this stage cannot be accomplished through external means.

One must have mastered Essence Power to internally refine muscle resilience.

At his age, achieving this not only proves his exceptional talent in the lower levels of martial arts but also demonstrates extraordinary comprehension and a heavenly gift for martial arts.

Only with both of these qualities, and surpassing all others, can one reach this stage at his age.

Especially for those who have interacted with Jiang Ning, they know his talent is exceptional.

After only three months of cultivation, he has reached this stage, and although he had help from a benefactor, his talent still astonishes them, leaving them in awe.

At this moment, Lin Qingyi, sitting in a corner of the spectator stand, narrows her eyes slightly.

"Did this boy hide his strength before?"

"After cultivating for just three months, he defeated Xie Xiaojiu?"

Compared to others, Lin Qingyi understands Jiang Ning's prowess better.

Others couldn't discern Xie Xiaojiu's true strength or which level of the eighth stage of the Divine Strength Realm he had reached.

But Lin Qingyi is different; she is well aware of Xie Xiaojiu's capabilities, which are genuinely at the peak of the eighth stage of the Divine Strength Realm, also known as the pinnacle.

Days ago, Xie Xiaojiu had already reached the limit of the eighth stage of the Divine Strength Realm, with his muscles thoroughly tempered.

Thus, in Lin Qingyi's eyes, Xie Xiaojiu's strength is terrifying.

There's a high probability of over 90% that he will become the captain.

When Xie Xiaojiu took the stage, Lin Qingyi believed that Jiang Ning would surely lose to him, which is why she had sent Jiang Ning a warning beforehand.

However, after witnessing their battle, Lin Qingyi now has a better understanding of Jiang Ning's strength.

"This talent is truly terrifying!"

"Could I have discovered someone comparable to those two in this remote place?"

Thinking of those two geniuses who left their peers in despair, Lin Qingyi couldn't help but gasp in disbelief at her own thoughts.

Those two geniuses were extraordinary—one was a Buddha's disciple from the Buddhist Sect, and the other was a disciple of the Daoist Sect.

The Buddhist disciple was rumored to be a reincarnation of the Buddha.

The Daoist disciple was also believed to be a reincarnation of the Dao Ancestor.

Although they haven't achieved great success yet and are still outside the gates of the third stage, everyone believes that they will undoubtedly become Grandmasters and might even advance further, ranking below only the Warrior Saints.

Many even speculate that one of them will become the second Warrior Saint in eight hundred years.

Lin Qingyi gazed at Jiang Ning's figure on the stage, deep in thought for a moment.

Then, she nodded slightly, acknowledging that this boy is indeed exceptional and bears some resemblance to those two geniuses.

However, one of those geniuses has been nurtured by the collective power of the Buddhist Sect and has been reciting Buddhist scriptures for three years.

The other has been cultivated by the collective Daoist teachings and has been studying the Daoist canon for three years.

Jiang Ning is merely at the eighth stage, while those two have already been at the peak of the fourth stage for a long time, an achievement far beyond comparison.

Moreover, the nurturing Jiang Ning has received is vastly inferior to theirs.

Comparing him to them is simply impossible.

Nevertheless, even so, if this boy can steadily and firmly continue his cultivation, there's a high probability of over 90% that he will become a Grandmaster.

There's also a good chance of over 50% that he will reach the rank of Great Grandmaster.

Advancing further is not out of the question!

This boy is indeed a stock with immense potential!

At this thought, Lin Qingyi muttered to herself, "Lin Jiaye has no connection with him, but I can still do that thing. I must find a wife for this boy!"

In the center of the spectator stand, Hong Minghu smiled.

Then, he glanced at the third elder of Medicine King Valley, his eyes filled with a warning.

"You must not make any rash moves regarding this boy!"

"Understood!" Gongsun Yu immediately nodded repeatedly. After learning that Hong Minghu's strength surpassed his own, he had readily conceded.

Seeing this, Hong Minghu nodded slightly, a satisfied expression on his face.

Then, he added, "After this is over, I'll have this boy come over to answer your questions."

"Thank you, Marquis Hong!" Gongsun Yu bowed in gratitude, no longer resisting Hong Minghu's dominance from earlier.

He fully understood that if he could win, he should be assertive, and he wouldn't lose out.

But if he couldn't win, acting assertive would be like lighting a lamp in a latrine, a sure way to court death!

With Hong Ming Hu's identity, if he were to take action against himself, he would be instantly killed here, and there would be nothing the Medicine King Valley could do about it.

Because Hong Ming Hu now represented the Xia Dynasty court and that invincible Martial Saint of this era.

At this moment, that Martial Saint was about to make a grand appearance, emerging from his seclusion.

For someone like himself, it was fine to make a move, but if the Medicine King Valley made a move, it would be like sending a monkey to be slaughtered, giving the Inspection Office a chance to kill the monkey to warn the others.

In this world, although the Xia Dynasty's tiger was sick, its might gradually weakened.

But even a sick tiger was still the king of beasts.

Not to mention the Medicine King Valley, even the Vajra Temple, which had existed for over a thousand years, wouldn't dare to provoke it openly.

This was the greatest power backing Hong Ming Hu—the Xia Dynasty's Martial Saint was his support.

Meanwhile, at the Martial Academy.

Lin Jiaye, a student at the academy, silently watched Lu Renyao's back.

"Brother Lu, you must win! Jiaye doesn't want to become a joke!" Lin Jiaye muttered to herself.

At this moment, she secretly regretted in her heart, regretting not listening to her aunt.

In front of the arena.

A white figure soared like a great roc, gliding through the air.

In an instant, it landed on the arena.

"I see you again!" Lu Renyao looked at Jiang Ning with a playful expression.

"Are all Martial Academy students like you?" Jiang Ning shook his head slightly.

Lu Renyao heard the mocking tone in Jiang Ning's words, but he remained unmoved.

"What's wrong? Are you scared?"

"There's no point in talking, let's go!" Jiang Ning spoke directly.

"Good, just as I hoped!" Lu Renyao's face showed a smile.

Then he said, "I choose to compete in fist and footwork, put down your blade!"

As his words fell, he looked at Jiang Ning with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

He had just watched Jiang Ning's battle with Xie Xiaojiu, and he had to admit that Jiang Ning's bladework was exceptional.

It was clear that he had reached a level where the blade moved as he willed, a state of unity between man and blade.

With such transcendent bladework, it wasn't surprising that he surpassed Xie Xiaojiu.

However, from this point, Lu Renyao also saw that Jiang Ning's fist and footwork skills were likely not very advanced.

Because a person's time is limited.

A person only has twelve hours in a day.

One must practice cultivation and bladework.

And he had just learned that Jiang Ning had started his martial arts training very recently.

It was completely unlike them, who began their training at around fifteen years old, starting to practice martial arts as soon as their bones finished developing.

With such a short time in martial arts training, to have reached the Divine Strength Realm of the Eighth Stage Martial Dao, with such exceptional bladework, was already extremely remarkable, and his mobility was also very good.

In this situation, without guessing, one knew that fist and footwork skills were likely Jiang Ning's weakness.

This was Lu Renyao's assessment.

Therefore, this time on the arena, he was full of confidence.

Using his strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses, how could he not win?

Meanwhile.

Facing Lu Renyao's challenge in fist and footwork, Jiang Ning could only nod slightly.

The challenger, if using fist and footwork skills, then the defender could only respond with fist and footwork skills.

This was the rule for the defender.

Meanwhile.

Below the arena.

"Ouch, Jiang Ning's in trouble now!"

"Yes! This person is a Martial Academy student, and not an ordinary one!"

"Speaking of the Martial Academy, I have to say that in the academy, the Ninth Stage and Eighth Stage are considered one session. This Lu Renyao is a top-notch warrior among the Eighth Stage students, not inferior to the Martial Academy student who just passed the test to become a Captain!"

"In that case, Jiang Ning will also have to stop here?"

"That's for sure! How can we from Luoshui County compete with a Martial Academy student from the Prefecture City?"

"Yes! How can we compete? It's a bit unfair!"

"Fairness, those two words don't exist in this world!"

". . ."

For a moment, the few people discussing fell silent.

6◇9◇

At this moment.

Jiang Ning, standing on the arena, paid no attention to the discussion below.

He said to the exam proctor, "Sir, I want to return my weapon."

"Throw it here!" the exam proctor said.

"Yes!" Jiang Ning replied.

He raised his hand, and the long blade in his hand flew into the exam proctor's hands.

He took the long blade and placed it back on the weapon rack.

And at this moment.

"Ready?" Lu Renyao asked.

"Come!" Jiang Ning took a slight step to the side and said calmly.

The next moment.

Lu Renyao, who had been standing still, suddenly burst into motion, his body charging forward, his white robe fluttering in the wind.

"Come!" Jiang Ning said calmly.

The following moment.

Lu Renyao, who had been standing still, suddenly burst into action, his body charging forward, his white robe fluttering in the wind.

"Come!" Jiang Ning said calmly.

Amidst the fluttering of white robes, a figure seemed to take flight like a crane spreading its wings.

Halfway through his advance, Li Renyao's right hand extended from his slender frame.

The sleeves of his robe fluttered, and his palms had already come together, with a misty cloud-like aura between them.

"Iterating Cloud Palm!" Suddenly, a voice rang out from the direction of the Martial Academy students.

"Brother Li is showing no mercy! He's not leaving any room for his opponent! He's using his signature Iterating Cloud Palm without holding back!"

"Yeah! Brother Li's Iterating Cloud Palm gets stronger with each strike, and he's not giving that kid any chance at all! He's not letting him off easy!"

"That's right! Even a lion hunting a rabbit uses its full strength. Brother Li has stepped into the arena, so how could he hold back?"

"How many of Brother Li's palms do you think Jiang Ning can take?"

"I guess three!"

"I say two!"

"I say five!"

"Five? Impossible!! No way!!!"

"That's right, it's impossible to take five of Brother Li's palms! I also guess two!"

". . ."

Below the arena, the Martial Academy students began to chatter, each guessing how many strikes Jiang Ning could withstand.

On the arena.

Facing Li Renyao's aggressive assault, Jiang Ning remained unmoved.

At this moment, seeing Jiang Ning's calm and composed demeanor, Li Renyao was not angered but instead, his heart skipped a beat.

"This isn't as simple as it seems!" Li Renyao thought to himself.

He then gathered his strength, increasing the power of his strikes by a third.

He didn't think Jiang Ning was a fool, unaware of the need to dodge.

Jiang Ning's actions indicated to Li Renyao that he must have some hidden advantage.

"It's time to end this!" Jiang Ning thought to himself as he saw Li Renyao approaching within ten feet of him.

The next moment, Jiang Ning took a step forward, his five fingers curling into a claw-like fist.

He unleashed a punch.

Five layers of essence power erupted within him instantly.

Oh no!!!

Li Renyao felt the powerful wind pressure from the punch, his pupils constricting in shock.

I was wrong!

We were all wrong!!!

These thoughts flashed through Li Renyao's mind in an instant.

In that moment, he felt Jiang Ning's fist strike his palm.

Feeling the vast force like an ocean, Li Renyao's heart was filled with despair.

What kind of martial prowess is this?

At this moment, Li Renyao realized that in the face of such a power gap, everything was meaningless.

Li Renyao also understood that from the moment he chose to confront Jiang Ning head-on, his defeat was sealed.

Because Jiang Ning's strength was not human-like, but rather, it resembled that of a demonic beast.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bones traveled up Li Renyao's arm, reaching his ears.

The next instant, Li Renyao was struck by Jiang Ning's punch, sending him flying off the arena.

"A bit weak!" Jiang Ning furrowed his brows, thinking to himself, "But I held back just now, so he shouldn't die! If he does, that would be quite troublesome!"

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning sighed inwardly.

"I was too reckless!"

"He went all out from the start!"

"I didn't expect Li Renyao to have such an imposing manner, but he's so weak! His strength is even inferior to Xie Xiaojiu's! I didn't expect that either!"

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning shook his head again.

Below the arena.

Witnessing this scene, the crowd couldn't help but open their mouths in surprise.

"Did I see that right?"

"You saw it right!!!"

"Hiss! Just one punch?"

"Yeah! Just one punch!!!!"

"This is too exaggerated!"

"Yeah! It's too much!!!!"

"I thought the Martial Academy student was so strong, but he got knocked out with just one punch?"

"It's not necessarily that the Martial Academy student is weak!"

"Are you saying Jiang Ning is too strong?"

"Yeah! That's right!!! Perhaps Jiang Ning is much stronger than we imagined! Didn't you hear what those Martial Academy students were saying? This Martial Academy student who stepped up is not weak at all!"

". . ."

On the arena.

"Is he that strong?" The examiner looked at Jiang Ning in astonishment.

In the stands.

"Is he that strong?" Hong Minghu was also surprised, gazing at Jiang Ning on the arena, suddenly filled with interest.

"Well done! That's how it should be! This is what feels good!" Lin Qingyi watched Jiang Ning, a smile on her lips, and her interest in Jiang Ning grew.

Below the arena.

"So strong!!!" Li Qing's eyes sparkled.

"Jiang Ning is so amazing!!!!" Zhou Xing exclaimed in awe.

"Damn! Why did I hesitate just now!!!" Wang Jin watched the scene, unable to stop himself from slapping his thigh.

His heart whispered again, "If I had known my disciple was this strong, I should have agreed to Yu Yuan's bet earlier!!!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end