Chapter 71

Zhuang Wudao looked intently, and saw that it was Zang Quan, the chief disciple of Lue Mountain Academy, who couldn't help but be taken aback. Zang Quan, like him, was a chief disciple. According to the rules, he should have been the last to appear. What was his intention in coming forward so early?

The surrounding disciples of Lichen Academy also wore puzzled expressions. Then they heard Zang Quan's domineering cold snort: "It's already late. Testing each one individually, isn't that a waste of time? Don't you find it troublesome? The three of you from Lichen Academy can come up together, and I, Zang Quan, will take all of you on! Let's finish this quickly, and no holds barred!"

As he spoke, he glared angrily at Gu Yueming below, with a hint of provocation.

The training ground fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a buzz. The disciples of Lichen Academy were all agitated, their faces flushed.

"Arrogant!"

"Challenging three at once, who does he think he is?"

"How despicable! Is he mocking us for having no one in Lichen Academy?"

"Absolutely outrageous!"

On the stage, Li Xiangnan also frowned: "Challenging three at once, that doesn't seem to follow the rules?"

The arbitrator had not yet spoken, but Wei Fang sneered: "It's not without precedent! To be honest, killing someone on the spot during a test also doesn't follow the rules!"

Hearing this, the arbitrator immediately closed his mouth, hesitating.

At this moment, Zang Quan suddenly stomped his right foot, and a loud explosion echoed. Within ten zhang around, stones flew, and all the blue stone tiles cracked.

"Enough noise! Today, I, Zang Quan, voluntarily challenge three at once. If I lose, Lue Mountain Academy will admit defeat. If you, Lichen Academy, dare to accept the challenge, come up! If you don't dare, then shut up!"

The entire training ground fell silent, and a pin could be heard dropping. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Zang Quan's feet.

Those were just ordinary blue stone tiles, but to crack them, even an elephant would find it difficult, requiring at least the strength of three elephants.

At the fourth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, one could have at most twenty oxen of strength, but this Zang Quan far exceeded that. His strength was evident.

Beitang Wan'er's beautiful eyes widened, and she said with understanding: "It turns out he has cultivated the First Heaven Magic Ape Body. No wonder he, at the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, dared to challenge Gu Yueming."

Zhuang Wudao also nodded slightly. The Magic Ape Body was between first-class and supreme martial arts, a very difficult external cultivation technique. Modeled after the magic ape's abilities, though it lacked the ape's agility, the flexibility of the limbs was not affected by the external cultivation, making it incredibly powerful.

At his age, Zang Quan, with the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm and this external cultivation technique, indeed had the capital to be proud.

One could even say that he was not much inferior to Beitang Wan'er and Gu Yueming.

Three months ago, the three of them together would not have been a match for him.

"However, encountering you, it's his bad luck. The Bull Demon Yuan Body is much stronger than his Magic Ape Body. The Great Boulder Hand is his nemesis. This fool clearly isn't from the Gu family."

The Magic Ape Body was between first-class and supreme, at the sixth rank and above, but below the fifth. The Bull Demon Yuan Body, though classified as supreme by the world, was at least a third-rank Extraordinary or even a second-rank Holy Spirit level technique in the cultivation world. The gap between the two was immeasurable.

In terms of strength, Zhuang Wudao had the power of over twelve oxen before the Qi Cultivation Realm, and the Great Boulder Hand was as strong as three elephants. After entering the Qi Cultivation Realm, his physical strength and power increased dramatically. Now, a single Great Boulder Hand was nearly as strong as eight elephants, equivalent to the power of seventy-two wild oxen, enough to split mountains and crack rocks!

Below the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, no one could withstand his palm.

Zhuang Wudao, however, remained noncommittal and looked around. The disciples of Lichen Academy all had pale, ashen faces. With the strength Zang Quan had displayed, no one in the academy, except Gu Yueming, could be his match.

Xuan He, another of the three chief disciples, had no trace of color in his face, showing fear.

Wang Fang, however, had a solemn expression, though not one of fear. His Whirlwind Palm was most afraid of such external cultivation techniques. He knew that even if he survived this time, he would inevitably suffer serious injuries, affecting his progress to the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, at this moment, there was no way he could back down.

The entire training ground fell silent for a moment, and Zang Quan on the stage sneered again: "What? Not accepting the challenge? Are you all in Lichen Academy just a bunch of good-for-nothings?"

The disciples of Lue Mountain Academy all laughed. The Lichen side, however, fell into even deeper silence, filled with shame and anger, with no one responding.

Wang Fang sighed, preparing to step up. But he saw that Zhuang Wudao had already stood up and walked into the training ground.

"Why do we need three to team up? That doesn't follow the rules. Today, I will do it alone. If I lose, Lichen Academy will admit defeat."

The surrounding disciples of Lichen Academy all had their eyes light up, then dim again.

Even Zhuang Wudao, even if the rumors were true that his Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Fist had reached the initial stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and had disabled Zhuang Tong in five moves, could not possibly be a match for Zang Quan.

"You?"

Zang Quan also turned his gaze to Zhuang Wudao, then sneered: "Don't regret it. This battle is to the death! Gu Yueming said he practiced his sword on the battlefield, so his sword kills. My Magic Ape Body is only initially formed, and I can't control my strength. If you die at my hands, don't blame me. It's best if all three come—"

"Enough talk!"

Zhuang Wudao shook his head and directly instructed the referee: "Let's start!"

Zang Quan's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with shadows, and his killing intent deepened.

The training ground was already filled with murmurs.

"Indeed, it's still Brother Zhuang who takes responsibility."

"Brother, though somewhat greedy, is still reliable in critical moments."

"I'm afraid Brother won't be a match. I think he's bound to lose."

"This Zang Quan is clearly out to settle a score. Brother Zhuang might face a deadly move. I hope he can escape unharmed—"

"Being able to last two or three rounds would be enough to save our academy's face and not be a disgrace."

Gu Yueming remained silent, but he shook his head slightly, his eyes full of mockery. Beitang Wan'er sighed helplessly: "I thought we could keep it hidden for a while longer. If we could scheme against the Hundred Weapons Xia family, wouldn't that be better?"

Beitang Qin, who was by her side, was speechless. The Hundred Weapons Xia family was also a rising star in Yuecheng, operating in the business of weapons and spirit artifacts. They manufactured high-quality armor and weapons in Yuecheng and sold them throughout the region. On the Song River, they had a vast fleet, making them the largest force challenging the status of the Gu family and the Beitang family.

Zhuang Wudao was already deaf to the voices outside. A martial artist needed to observe all directions and listen to all sounds, but also needed to focus. Even against such an opponent, he did not want to be distracted.

However, not a single word from below was missed by his ears. As he thought, indeed, the battle in Dongchuan Alley, where he had single-handedly killed five Qi Cultivation Realm experts, had not leaked out at all.

The power of the Gu and Beitang families in Yuecheng was truly formidable and terrifying.

A silk handkerchief floated down and landed on the ground. Ten zhang away, Zang Quan sneered and rushed over.

"Stupid and ignorant fool!"

A punch came, but as Zhuang Wudao was about to dodge, Zang Quan's arm suddenly extended again, the joints cracking, and his arm span increased by a full foot! It almost hit Zhuang Wudao's chest.

"Through-Arm Fist!"

The training ground erupted in a roar. Some disciples of Lichen Academy couldn't bear to watch and closed their eyes. Even Beitang Wan'er was surprised. Zang Quan, in addition to the Magic Ape Body, had also practiced this Through-Arm Fist, and his skill was considerable.

Zhuang Wudao was also surprised, raising his eyebrows. Then he smiled slightly. Dodging now would be awkward. He simply didn't dodge, letting the punch hit his chest.

"Die!"

The air vibrated, spreading in all directions. The blue stone tiles below cracked again.

At this moment, the ferocity on Zang Quan's face had completely disappeared, his face twisted, his eyes full of shock and disbelief.

Zhuang Wudao stood in place, his feet rooted, not moving a step. His chest was unharmed, and even his clothes were undamaged. Only his sleeves fluttered in the wind.

It wasn't until nearly half a breath later that the people below finally reacted.

"What happened?"

"Brother Zhuang, he doesn't seem to be hurt?"

"Impossible! The Magic Ape Body, combined with the Through-Arm Fist, is at least forty-five oxen of strength! Even a second-level Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator would be killed by one punch. How could he not be hurt?"

"Are you kidding? Taking a punch from Brother Zang. How could this Lichen Academy bastard be unharmed?"

Among the crowd, two pairs of eyes were particularly sharp, staring at Zhuang Wudao on the stage, filled with admiration and astonishment. They were Beitang Wan'er, and the two people Zhuang Wudao had introduced, Xia Miao and Zong Hui.

"It's an external cultivation technique, this Zhuang Wudao also has an external cultivation technique!"

"The Dominant Body, its rank is likely far above the Magic Ape Body!"

"Is it the Bull Demon Yuan Body? Has it already reached the First Heaven level? This person is hiding so deeply?"

On the stage, Zhuang Wudao's chest only rose and fell once, and Zang Quan's punch was deflected to the side. Then he moved forward, swift as a monkey, his momentum fierce and domineering. His fleshy palms suddenly swelled.

"An eye for an eye! Brother Zang, please take my palm."

Great Boulder Hand, shattering stones!

Zang Quan let out an unwilling cold snort and instinctively raised his left arm to protect his chest, trying to block Zhuang Wudao's palm.

Then there was a 'crack,' and Zang Quan's left arm was directly broken. The palms also hit his chest without any doubt.

Ribs caved in, and Zang Quan was thrown back dozens of zhang, crashing through the outer wall and sliding another forty zhang before stopping, collapsing like a pile of mud.

The entire training ground was now completely silent. Even Li Xiangnan, looking at Zhuang Wudao, was both surprised and impressed.

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