Chapter 38

On the stage, Wang Sen finally concluded his lengthy speech that lasted for several minutes. Sun Yan and Qian Julong's group stood at either end of the stage.

Wang Sen moved his lips, shaking his head helplessly in his heart. After a moment of hesitation, he announced, "The [Zhengri Elimination Battle] officially begins."

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire martial arts hall fell silent. Perhaps before today, no one knew Sun Yan's name. However, after setting two consecutive first-place records in the morning, this name was deeply etched in the minds of all the teachers and students.

A genius-level second-rank martial artist, Sun Yan faced off against 18 elite students, 8 of whom were also second-rank martial artists. What would be the outcome of this battle?

At the edge of the stage, red lights flickered, continuously scanning both sides. This was to check if either side was carrying dangerous weapons. As these red lights turned into green lights one by one, a clear bell rang, signaling the official start of the battle.

Qian Julong and his group were the first to reach the center of the stage. Looking at the slowly approaching Sun Yan, the faces of these Qian family members were filled with resentment. They looked at Sun Yan as if he were a dead man.

As Sun Yan drew near, Qian Li saw his calm face and felt a surge of anger. He said in a low, sinister voice, "Sun Yan, you piece of trash, daring to challenge members of our Qian family, you really don't know your place!"

Qian Lin's lips twitched, and he glared at Sun Yan with jealousy. Just half a month ago, this piece of mud was just like him, the bottom of the class in C-69. However, he was a Qian family member, a part of a thousand-year-old martial arts family. This piece of trash couldn't even compare to one of his fingers.

But now, the situation was vastly different. This kid had transformed into a martial arts genius. Thinking of the days of pain he spent in the hospital and the possible punishment he might receive after this battle, Qian Lin felt a kind of hysterical madness.

His eyes shot out murderous glares, and he sneered, "So what if you have some martial arts talent? Being so overconfident and daring to challenge 18 elite members of our Qian family, your IQ is the same as a fool's. You're still trash. Sun Yan, you piece of trash, you piece of dog shit, we can crush you like an ant."

As he spoke, Qian Lin almost shouted, his voice sharp and filled with killing intent.

"Right, crushing you is as easy as squashing an ant," someone echoed.

"Sun Yan, you piece of trash, you'd better kneel and leave the stage now. We can still let bygones be bygones."

"Does this kid, with an IQ like a pig, even know how to write the word 'death'? I doubt it. Let's teach him."

Qian Julong stepped forward, raised his hand, and stopped the others' shouting. He was tall, a head taller than Sun Yan, and with his arms crossed, he looked down from above. "Sun Yan, this is something you've brought upon yourself by provoking our Qian family. However, we Qian family members are always magnanimous. I can give you a chance to apologize. If you apologize sincerely, we will let bygones be bygones and pretend nothing happened."

"Oh, what kind of apology would be considered sincere?" Sun Yan smiled, but his smile had no warmth.

Qian Julong said calmly, "It's simple. Kneel down and tell everyone here that you, Sun Yan, are blind and have provoked our Qian family. Promise never to do it again. Then, kowtow 100 times and crawl away. This matter will be considered settled."

"Oh, is that so!" Sun Yan's expression was calm, and his smile grew colder. "That's really simple!" He lifted his head and shouted, "If Qian Julong and you all kneel and beg for mercy, admit defeat, kowtow 100 times, and crawl away, I can pretend nothing happened."

His clear and loud voice echoed in the martial arts hall, making it even more silent. Then, a wave of commotion rose from the audience. What had they heard?

That Sun Yan, in an absolute disadvantage, was so arrogant as to declare victory? This guy was really overconfident.

At this moment, people truly noticed Sun Yan's appearance. He had messy black short hair, a handsome face, a slender figure, and an innocent smile that made people feel good.

Gradually, cheers began to rise in the martial arts hall. Even though they thought Sun Yan's chances of winning were slim, many of the elite students from various grades had suffered at the hands of the Qian family members and were already tired of their arrogant behavior. Now that Sun Yan was standing up, these students naturally supported him.

"Sun Yan, well done!"

"That's right, Sun Yan, go for it! Take down Qian Julong and his gang!"

"I've had enough of those Qian family bastards. Help me beat them up!"

"Sun Senior, you must go for it! All the second-year girls will fully support you!"

The cheers for Sun Yan grew louder and louder, and eventually, the entire martial arts hall seemed to be about to be overturned. Even some teachers openly cheered for Sun Yan, the noise deafening.

Qian Julong and his group's faces were extremely unpleasant. They hadn't expected this situation. Even before the battle began, their morale was already weakened.

Qian Li's eyes were filled with resentment, and he gritted his teeth. "I will personally cripple this piece of trash, Sun Yan."

Qian Julong's face was expressionless, but his eyes were fierce. "Don't hold back, use full force, and don't consider life or death."

The group slowly approached, and their formation changed. Qian Julong was at the front, Qian Li at the back, and the 18 Qian family members formed a diamond-shaped formation. Except for Qian Lin, the others were surrounded by a faint golden light. These lights suddenly merged, forming a sharp cone.

Seeing this, Carter's face changed. "The Qian family's [Shuo Jin Kill Array]!"

Shui Lianqing's face also turned pale. As a member of a thousand-year-old martial arts family, she understood the terror of the [Shuo Jin Kill Array].

Most thousand-year-old martial arts families had deep roots and had created special battle formations to deal with strong enemies. These special formations, when performed by practitioners of the same origin, were not simply 1+1=2. They could often unleash several times the power.

The [Shuo Jin Kill Array] was the most offensive among the four major families in Luoshan City, capable of destroying anything. During the fourth Sno River War a hundred years ago, countless JWL Alliance beasts were killed by this formation.

The [Shuo Jin Kill Array] formed by Qian Julong and 18 others, though not fully mature, could only be truly countered by a fourth-rank martial artist.

"Sun Yan, die!"

Qian Julong's eyes flashed with madness. The 18 people simultaneously stomped their feet, creating a terrifying wave of air, and shot out like arrows.

The [Shuo Jin Kill Array] formed by the 18 Qian family members created a wave of air that could suffocate a first-rank martial artist.

Qian Julong and the others practiced the Qian family's [Duan Jin Sui Yu Jue], a technique of the same origin. The power merged and flowed into Qian Julong's body, making him swell and his speed increase, far exceeding that of a second-rank martial artist.

A sound burst in the air as Qian Julong's inner energy surged into his arms, forming a glowing energy sword that flickered. He transformed into a black shadow, his fists held together, and his speed reached its peak.

"Not dodging? Lie down for me!"

The energy sword on his fists flickered, and Qian Julong's face showed a smile. If this hit landed, even a regular fourth-rank martial artist would struggle to withstand it, let alone a second-rank martial artist.

Sun Yan had no intention of dodging. Instead, he took a step forward with his left foot. His arms trembled, and he clenched his fists. A faint glow appeared on his fists, and he suddenly raised them, colliding heavily with Qian Julong's fists.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Despite just two fists colliding, four sounds echoed. Under the [Shuo Jin Kill Array], Qian Julong's attack exceeded that of a fourth-rank martial artist. Sun Yan countered with [Second Stage Crushing Fist], but still couldn't fully neutralize it.

Sizzle...

Under the powerful impact, Sun Yan's body leaned back and slid backward, his heels gripping the ground, leaving two shallow marks.

The Qian family members showed signs of joy. This Sun Yan, trying to fight 18 of them alone, was clearly delusional.

Qian Julong's expression grew colder. His attack continued, chasing after Sun Yan. His fists aimed for Sun Yan's abdomen, the dantian. If hit by the Qian family's [Duan Jin Sui Yu Jue], the dantian would be shattered, and his inner energy destroyed.

As he rapidly retreated, Sun Yan took a deep breath, and his inner energy surged. In a state of complete loss of balance, his arms trembled rapidly, and he punched with both fists, like the powerful core engine of a star tank, delivering four punches in quick succession.

On the stage, a wave of air surged. Qian Julong's seemingly unstoppable attack was forcefully repelled by Sun Yan.

[Second Stage Crushing Fist]. In an instant, Sun Yan had delivered six [Second Stage Crushing Fist] punches.

This scene left the audience stunned. Most of the students at Nan Ying Academy were elite, but few understood what kind of battle technique Sun Yan was using.

"This, this, what battle technique is this? The sound is like thunder, and it's clearly a [Crushing Fist], but how can it have such power?"

"This can't be a [Crushing Fist]! A second-grade battle technique can't possibly withstand the combined attack of 18 elite students."

"Two sounds from one punch, it must be the result of inner energy bursting during the [Crushing Fist]. One punch has the power of two [Crushing Fist]s."

"Right! Could this be a third-grade battle technique? But that doesn't make sense; I know all the third-grade battle techniques, and I've never heard of this one."

For a moment, the students in the audience were in heated discussion. Among the many elite students, only a few showed signs of surprise, realizing that Sun Yan might be using a secret, high-level battle technique.

High-level battle techniques could only be mastered by martial arts geniuses with extraordinary talent and insight. Ordinary martial artists could hardly even glimpse the door to such techniques.

In the VIP box, the middle-aged man's eyes showed surprise. "[Second Stage Crushing Fist]! A high-level second-grade battle technique. I didn't expect Sun Yan to have such outstanding talent." His face then showed a cold smile. "However, high-level battle techniques place a much greater burden on the body than ordinary techniques. After delivering six [Second Stage Crushing Fist] punches in a row, he is already at the end of his strength..."