Chapter 72: Seventh Stage Peak, The Cao Family's Pillar!

Chapter 72: Seventh Stage Peak, The Cao Family's Pillar!

At the entrance of the martial arts academy.

Upon seeing Wang Jin's arrival, Cao Bin's heart wasn't surprised.

It was only natural for Wang Jin to appear after he had led his men into Wang Jin's territory.

This scene had long been anticipated by him.

Then, he greeted Wang Jin with respect, "Senior Wang! Jiang Ning's older brother is a wanted criminal by the imperial court, secretly communicating with the Demon God Sect. The raid on the Demon God Sect half a month ago ended in failure, with casualties and losses. This man is a blood relative of Jiang Li, and I must capture him and bring him to justice!"

"Please, Senior Wang, grant me this favor!"

As he spoke his last sentence, Cao Bin bowed slightly, expressing his reverence for Wang Jin.

"Get out!!!" Wang Jin shouted.

Suddenly, Cao Bin's face turned pale, then flushed, becoming extremely unsightly.

He never expected that by lowering his stance and speaking humbly, he would be met with such a humiliating attitude from Wang Jin.

This made his usually haughty self feel embarrassed, his face burning.

Especially with so many onlookers inside and outside the academy, his anger only intensified.

At this moment.

Outside the academy, a group of people gathered at a distance, their faces filled with amusement.

"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that Cao Bin, the chief inspector from the Cao family, would be reprimanded so harshly by Wang, the academy master."

"Wang is indeed bold, protecting his disciple like this. I'd like to have my good-for-nothing child join the Canglang Martial Academy."

"I've been thinking the same. With such protection, the hundred taels of tuition fee would be worth it!"

"Indeed! But on second thought, how dare Wang Jin reprimand that Cao chief inspector? He's an official from the government, and Cao Bin is the direct descendant of the Cao family!"

"What's Wang Jin afraid of? I heard that Wang Jin's martial arts prowess is extraordinary; he's an expert at the seventh stage."

"Seventh stage, that high?"

"Not at all. Wang Jin was once a renowned martial artist in the surrounding counties, earning the title of 'Five Beast Demon' for his mastery of the Five Beasts Fist. His skill in the Five Beasts Fist was unparalleled, and his most famous battle was at the eighth stage, where he single-handedly defeated three eighth-stage experts, killing them all!"

"So formidable? I didn't know that before! If I had known earlier, I would have sent my family to this Canglang Martial Academy!"

"Moreover! Wang Jin's confidence isn't just about his strength!"

"Oh, do you have any insider information? Share it with us!"

"I heard that the captain of the city's garrison, Wang, is Wang Jin's younger brother, his own blood brother!"

"Ssss!!! No wonder, no wonder Wang Jin dares to show such disrespect to Chief Inspector Cao."

". "

Hearing the whispers behind him, Cao Bin's face turned red with embarrassment.

The next moment.

His expression suddenly darkened, "Wang Jin! I respect you as a senior, giving you some face, but you're sheltering a wanted criminal of the court. Are you planning to rebel?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Jin's eyes flashed with anger.

Boom—

The floor beneath him suddenly cracked, immediately creating a gust of wind as his body moved like a residual shadow.

Witnessing this, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed, his heart filled with silent astonishment.

So fast!!!

From his master to the academy entrance, there was a distance of about ten zhang.

But with his master's burst of speed, it took only a third of a breath, or about a second, to cover this ten zhang distance.

Jiang Ning's initial mental estimation revealed that his master's speed was frighteningly fast.

It reached a speed of over thirty meters per second.

In other words, it was equivalent to about one hundred and twenty kilometers per hour.

What kind of concept was this? It was akin to the speed of a car on the highway in his previous life.

This speed alone carried a terrifying impact.

Not to mention the combination of technique and internal power.

And this was just the initial burst of speed; one could only imagine how fast his peak speed would be.

After this comparison, at this moment, Jiang Ning gained a new understanding of his master's strength.

To withstand such terrifying power, one could imagine how robust his muscles and flesh must be.

It was common knowledge that during battles between experts, directions could change at any moment, and yet his body endured such immense power without a single hair out of place.

In Jiang Ning's eyes, this was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary mortal body.

With such a physique, perhaps in his previous life, even light firearms would pose no threat, and he could withstand them with his flesh alone.

As far as he knew, Wang Jin's master was only at the seventh stage, and an elderly, declining seventh stage at that.

What about the sixth stage above the seventh? The fifth stage? The grandmaster stage?

And what about the Martial Sage who could take on an entire country?

At this moment, Jiang Ning's mind was filled with countless thoughts.

On the other side.

Wang Jin seemed to transform into an angry Vajra, his eyes wide like copper bells, and his movements resembled a tiger descending from the mountain, an intimidating sight.

Cao Bin was momentarily stunned by his formidable aura, and in that brief moment of distraction, Wang Jin had already closed half the distance between them.

By the time Cao Bin took two steps back, Wang Jin was already in front of him.

Then.

To Cao Bin's astonishment, just as he was about to raise his hand to block, Wang Jin's footwork was swift, and his hand even faster.

As he lifted his hands to his chest, Wang Jin's right hand, transformed into an eagle's claw, had already locked onto Cao Bin's neck. The five fingers, like hooks, firmly grasped his neck and lifted him up.

Feeling the strength in those fingers, Cao Bin had no doubt that Wang Jin could crush his neck in an instant, ending his life.

With his life in the hands of another, fear flashed across his eyes.

He dared not make any more movements.

At that moment—

Clang—

Clang—

Clang—

The onlookers drew their swords, their eyes fixed on Wang Jin as if facing a formidable enemy.

Wang Jin's gaze swept over the crowd, his presence akin to a king surveying his forest domain.

Three feet away from Cao Bin, another law enforcement officer, Wang Desheng, locked eyes with Wang Jin for a brief moment.

He quickly took a half-step back and spoke up, "You've already hit Cao Bin, don't hit me too! I'm just here to show support."

Seeing this, the rest of the crowd, despite having swords in hand and outnumbering Wang Jin, couldn't help but feel a surge of fear as his gaze swept over them.

Especially after Wang Desheng's declaration, some of them involuntarily took a step back, distancing themselves from the rest.

Wang Jin smiled, his gaze returning to Cao Bin's pained face.

"Who gave you the courage to dare to slander me?"

The next moment, without waiting for Cao Bin, whose face had turned crimson, to respond, Wang Jin continued, "If you want to come to my territory to arrest someone, you're not qualified. Let Cao Rong come!"

Outside the martial arts academy, the spectators witnessing this couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"This Wang Jin is truly domineering! He flips his attitude in an instant, not caring about the Cao family's reputation."

"Indeed! He's the Wang Jin who fought the Five Beasts Demon. They say that in his youth, his temper was as fiery as a blazing flame, and he hated evil with a passion. These years, he's been more restrained. Now, with his Seventh Stage Martial Artist strength, he has the confidence to act this way."

"That's right! In all of Luoshui County, only a few can confidently defeat the Five Beasts Demon. Perhaps only the one mentioned by the Five Beasts Demon himself, Cao Rong, is capable."

"Cao Rong? This matter is probably not worth bothering Cao Rong," someone exclaimed in surprise. "He's a well-respected figure in Luoshui County, with an official title to his name. The Cao family's current status is largely due to Cao Rong's contributions."

"A few years ago, Cao Rong, despite being close to thirty years old, went to Dongling City and passed the military examination to become a military scholar. It was his rise that allowed the Cao family to gain a position among the top three families."

"..."

As the crowd outside the academy discussed, Wang Jin's gaze, which had been fixed on Cao Bin, suddenly turned towards the distance.

A kilometer away, atop a tall tower, stood a man dressed in black with a bun, drawing his bow and aiming directly at Wang Jin.

The moment Wang Jin saw him, he knew who it was.

It was Cao Rong, the very person he had just mentioned.

Wang Jin's heart sank.

"This is trouble!"

The moment Cao Rong appeared, he knew this matter had become tricky.

Among the Cao family, aside from Cao Rong, he feared no one.

Cao Rong was the exception.

A few years ago, when Cao Rong became a military scholar, they were both at the Seventh Stage.

Now, after a few years, even if Cao Rong hadn't reached the Sixth Stage, it was evident that he was no weaker than Wang Jin.

Most likely, he had also reached the Seventh Stage, able to unleash nine-tenths of his full power with every move.

Additionally, Cao Rong was over ten years younger, and in the martial path, youth was capital and confidence.

Youth prevails in combat.

Once age catches up, physical functions decline, and vital energy wanes, making it challenging to improve extraordinary strength and possibly leading to regression.

Cao Rong, at thirty-five, was at the peak physical state for most martial artists.

Wang Jin, over fifty, had already shown signs of decline.

Wang Jin's heart sank.

Fortunately!

Luckily, a few days ago, he had entered the initial stage of the Inner Alchemy Vitality Technique, tempering his organs and enhancing his functions.

Currently, he was in the physical state of a forty to forty-five-year-old, with corresponding organ functions.

He might be able to fight Cao Rong!

Then, he recalled the force Jiang Li had transmitted through his shoulder, like a mountain's roar and a sea's surge, the overwhelming Nine Levels of Force.

With this in mind, he reaffirmed his decision.

Even if it meant opposing the Cao family, he would protect Jiang Li.

Such a talented individual was worth the price.

"Wang Jin, release my third brother!"

Cao Rong's voice, like rolling thunder, reverberated from the tower, reaching the ears of everyone in the academy.

The crowd turned to see Cao Rong, dressed in black, standing atop the tower, drawing his bow.

"It's him! Cao Rong!!!" someone exclaimed in horror.

Upon hearing this name, the crowd surrounding the Canglang Martial Academy scattered like birds, retreating in all directions.

Witnessing this scene, they couldn't help but anticipate the intense conflict that might soon unfold.

Two top experts from Luoshui County were about to engage in a fierce battle.

As residents of the inner city, they had heard tales of such battles between top experts, knowing that the aftermath could be deadly.

When powerful individuals like these clashed, even a mere fragment of stone hurled during the fight could possess enough force to shatter the skull of an ordinary person.

At this moment, Wang Jin heard Cao Rong's words and burst into laughter.

"As you wish!"

He then lifted his hand and hurled Cao Bin, a formidable opponent, like a small chick, directly toward a stone pillar outside the martial academy.

Boom!

The stone pillar collapsed instantly, and Cao Bin's momentum didn't cease; his body skidded across the ground, causing the tiles to shatter.

Cao Rong, high up in the tower, witnessed this scene, his eyes turning as cold as a blade.

"Wang Jin, you're asking for death!!"

He uttered a light rebuke.

Bang!

The bowstring vibrated, and the arrow instantly pierced through the air.

In an instant, the tail of the arrow revealed a white trace.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning's expression turned solemn.

This was a detonation! The arrow left a white mark, clearly causing a sonic boom.

This indicated that the arrow had reached a speed of 360 meters per second!

Witnessing this, Jiang Ning gained a deeper understanding of the terror possessed by martial experts.

Such an arrow, let alone hitting a vital spot,

Within a hundred steps, its power was likely no different from a sniper rifle from his previous life.

Subsequently, the white trace left by the arrow's flight disappeared halfway through its trajectory.

A moment later, the arrow had already reached Wang Jin.

Watching the arrow rushing towards him, Wang Jin moved his feet, easily dodging the arrow and then standing behind the stone pillar.

Wang Jin burst into laughter, "Cao Rong, if you want to avenge your younger brother, then come down and fight! Who are you trying to scare with this?"

At this moment, Cao Rong also lowered his bow and leaped down from the tower.

His figure then approached Wang Jin like the wind.

When he reached 300 meters away, he drew his bowstring again, and the cold, glinting arrowhead locked onto Wang Jin behind the stone pillar.

Locked onto by this arrow, Wang Jin treated it as a formidable enemy.

At a distance of one kilometer, he wasn't afraid of Cao Rong's arrow.

After all, at this distance, it would take a moment for the arrow to reach him.

Moreover, halfway through its flight, the arrow's momentum would significantly decrease, and the sound would precede the arrow.

However, the situation was entirely different at this distance.

At 300 meters, as soon as the bowstring was released,

The sound would arrive after the arrow.

The arrow would be in front, and the sound would follow.

Furthermore, at 300 meters, the speed was terrifyingly fast, and in less than a third of a breath, the arrowhead could reach his body.

With Cao Rong's strength and his mastery of archery,

He could unleash a force far surpassing Cao Rong's.

Cao Rong's arrows from this distance were too formidable for Wang Jin to dare to block directly.

Archers were the most feared individuals in the world.

Once they occupied the advantage of terrain and timing, they could overcome stronger opponents.

This was what Wang Jin feared the most.

Cao Rong was a martial scholar of Great Xia, and anyone who attained fame through the military examination was an archery expert.

Archery was a mandatory subject in the military examination.

The next moment, Wang Jin's gaze remained fixed on the arrow rushing towards him.

The tower lord, Shen Congyun, witnessed this scene, his eyes turning as cold as a blade.

"Wang Jin, you're seeking death!!"

He uttered a light rebuke.

Bang!

The bowstring vibrated, and the arrow pierced through the air.

In an instant, the tail of the arrow revealed a white trace.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning's expression turned solemn.

This was a detonation! The arrow left a white mark, clearly causing a sonic boom.

This indicated that the arrow had reached a speed of 360 meters per second!

Witnessing this, Jiang Ning gained a deeper understanding of the terror possessed by martial experts.

Such an arrow, let alone hitting a vital spot,

Within a hundred steps, its power was likely no different from a sniper rifle from his previous life.

Subsequently, the white trace left by the arrow's flight disappeared halfway through its trajectory.

A moment later, the arrow had already reached Wang Jin.

Watching the arrow rushing towards him, Wang Jin moved his feet, easily dodging the arrow and then standing behind the stone pillar.

Wang Jin burst into laughter, "Cao Rong, if you want to avenge your younger brother, then come down and fight! Who are you trying to scare with this?"

At this moment, Cao Rong also leaped down from the tower, his figure approaching Wang Jin like the wind.

When he reached 300 meters away, he drew his bowstring again, and the cold, glinting arrowhead locked onto Wang Jin behind the stone pillar.

Locked onto by this arrow, Wang Jin treated it as a formidable enemy.

At a distance of one kilometer, he wasn't afraid of Cao Rong's arrow.

After all, at this distance, it would take a moment for the arrow to reach him.

Moreover, halfway through its flight, the arrow's momentum would significantly decrease, and the sound would precede the arrow.

However, the situation was entirely different at this distance.

At 300 meters, as soon as the bowstring was released,

The sound would arrive after the arrow.

The arrow would be in front, and the sound would follow.

Furthermore, at 300 meters, the speed was terrifyingly fast, and in less than a third of a breath, the arrowhead could reach his body.

With Cao Rong's strength and his mastery of archery,

He could unleash a force surpassing Cao Rong's.

Cao Rong's arrows from this distance were too formidable for Wang Jin to dare to block directly.

Archers were the most feared individuals in the world.

Once they occupied the advantage of terrain and timing, they could overcome stronger opponents.

This was what Wang Jin feared the most.

Cao Rong was a martial scholar of Great Xia, and anyone who attained fame through the military examination was an archery expert.

Archery was a mandatory subject in the military examination.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end