Chapter 54

The final punch!

Shui Wenxin's eyes revealed a faint golden glow, and his black hair, though there was no wind, moved on its own, with threads of true qi weaving through the strands.

Even his lean body seemed to grow a few inches taller.

If one looked closely, they would notice that Shui Wenxin's arms were covered with a metallic sheen, almost as if they had turned into two metal walls.

"Spirit Rank Lower Grade Martial Technique, Vajra Divine Fist!"

Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised and recognized the martial technique Shui Wenxin was using.

"Ha ha! That's right, it's the Vajra Divine Fist!" Shui Wenxin laughed.

Among Spirit Rank martial techniques, the Vajra Divine Fist is relatively common, widely spread, and can be found in many counties and kingdoms. The fist manual for the Vajra Divine Fist is widely available.

Of course, even though the Vajra Divine Fist is widely spread and relatively common, it is still a Spirit Rank martial technique. Only in the major county mansions, sects, and families can one find such a technique.

For ordinary martial artists, it is almost impossible to cultivate the Vajra Divine Fist.

Shui Wenxin had only learned one of the eighteen moves of the Vajra Divine Fist, the Blazing Vajra, by chance.

By using this move, Shui Wenxin could unleash a force of 780 kilograms, which even the current top-ranked person on the Yellow List does not possess.

In other words, by using the Vajra Divine Fist, Shui Wenxin had the strength of the top-ranked person on the Yellow List.

A female martial artist in her thirties on the Yellow List said, "Shui Wenxin has actually cultivated one move of the Vajra Divine Fist. Using this move, even the top-ranked person on the Yellow List, Hei Changji, would not be his match."

A Yellow List martial artist who had been defeated by Zhang Ruochen earlier said, "Before Shui Wenxin cultivated a Spirit Rank martial technique, he was not much weaker than Hei Changji. Hei Changji could only slightly outperform him by using the Spirit Rank Lower Grade Unpredictable Sword Technique. Now that Shui Wenxin has cultivated the Vajra Divine Fist, his explosive power is even stronger, and defeating Hei Changji is no longer a difficult task."

"If Shui Wenxin can defeat the Ninth Prince, after this battle, his ranking on the Yellow List will definitely be moved to the top position."

A young girl said, "If the Ninth Prince defeats Shui Wenxin, doesn't that mean the Ninth Prince is the top-ranked person on the Yellow List?"

An elder standing beside her laughed, "Shui Wenxin has even used a Spirit Rank martial technique, so he must have the confidence to win. The Ninth Prince has no chance of victory."

"The Ninth Prince indeed has some gap with Shui Wenxin. It seems that Ale doesn't need to step in!" Lin Nishan's face showed a hint of disappointment.

If Ale were to step in, Zhang Ruochen would not just lose; he would die.

Lin Nishan harbored a mysterious hatred towards Zhang Ruochen, especially when she saw him in the limelight. Her heart filled with hatred, wishing he would die right in front of her.

Even she didn't understand why she hated Zhang Ruochen so much.

"Blazing Vajra!"

Shui Wenxin gathered his momentum and struck with both fists.

True qi burned, transforming into two flaming iron fists, each delivering a force of 780 kilograms.

If this were on a battlefield, Shui Wenxin's punch alone would be enough to scare off a hundred soldiers.

Zhang Ruochen did not retreat; instead, he charged forward, his aura resembling a wild elephant. His muscles and bones mobilized, transmitting power to his arms.

"Wild Elephant Charging the Ground!"

With a single palm strike, he unleashed a force of 880 kilograms.

The result was clear.

As soon as Shui Wenxin's fist touched Zhang Ruochen's palm, he was sent flying, landing in a miserable state over ten meters away, almost falling off the stage.

In contrast, Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed in the center of the stage, slowly retracting his palm.

It was a complete display of overwhelming power.

Shui Wenxin looked at his fists, then at Zhang Ruochen, and sighed, "The young are to be feared! The young are to be feared! From now on, the Ninth Prince will be the top-ranked person on the Yellow List. With the Ninth Prince's talent, he will soon break through to the Profound Realm and won't care much about being the top-ranked person on the Yellow List. Alas!"

With a sigh, Shui Wenxin looked rather dejected and stepped down from the stage, conceding defeat.

Only he knew how great the gap between him and Zhang Ruochen was. If Zhang Ruochen hadn't reined in his power at the last moment, that palm strike would have seriously injured him.

Zhang Ruochen's strength was even greater than everyone imagined.

As Shui Wenxin said, Zhang Ruochen was not particularly interested in being the top-ranked person on the Yellow List; he was mainly there for the reward of one million silver coins.

After all, the ranking on the Yellow List only recorded the martial artists of the Yunwu County, which was too limited and had low value. If it were the Profound List, the value of the ranking would be much higher, and almost all martial artists would strive to be on it.

Of course, one could say that Zhang Ruochen's standards were too high. If another young martial artist could become the top-ranked person on the Yellow List, they would immediately become a rising star in the entire county and be idolized by countless young girls.

Amidst the heated discussions of the crowd, the fifteen-year-old lethal swordsman Ale finally stepped onto the stage, becoming Zhang Ruochen's ninth opponent.

The spectators became even more excited.

After all, in Ale's previous ten battles, he had killed his opponents with a single strike, and no one knew how strong he truly was.

Zhang Ruochen had also never lost, even defeating Shui Wenxin.

Both were young martial artists with sharp edges. Who would be stronger?

"This is interesting! Both are young sword masters, and both are deep and unfathomable. Who will win?"

"That's really hard to say. After all, the lethal swordsman has only used one move from start to finish. Perhaps he is even stronger than Shui Wenxin?"

At this moment, around the battle stage, many people were placing bets.

Zhang Ruochen wins: 1 to 3 odds.

Zhang Ruochen dies: 1 to 2 odds.

Ale wins: 1 to 2 odds.

Ale dies: 10 to 1 odds.

Draw: 1 to 4 odds.

Some bet on Zhang Ruochen winning, some on Ale winning, and some on a draw.

The Ninth Princess had full confidence in Zhang Ruochen and directly bet 10,000 silver coins on him winning, almost all of her savings.

On the stage.

The two young swordsmen stood ten steps apart, staring at each other.

Ale held his iron sword, his eyes unwavering, like a statue: "You are indeed strong!"

Zhang Ruochen said, "For your age, to have cultivated to this level is impressive. However, your sword technique has a fatal flaw. In a match with me, you have no chance of winning and a high chance of dying. I advise you to concede defeat!"

Ale's sword technique was indeed terrifying, and even Zhang Ruochen had to give it his all.

Once he gave it his all, he could not hold back.

Either Ale would die, or he would die.

Ale glanced slightly in Lin Nishan's direction, a hint of something different appearing in his eyes. He then looked back at Zhang Ruochen, his gaze becoming even more determined: "Who lives and who dies, only a battle will tell."

Zhang Ruochen lightly shook his head and said, "You are cultivating the forbidden martial technique, the Life-Taking Sword Technique. Not only are you killing others, but you are also killing yourself. Although you can kill Yellow List martial artists with a single strike, each strike you make causes significant damage to your martial body."

A forbidden martial technique refers to a technique that can only be used at the cost of something. For example, the Life-Taking Sword Technique. Each strike consumes one's life force.

If Ale were to use the Life-Taking Sword Technique ten times in a row, he would exhaust himself to death without needing anyone else to intervene.

Of course, Ale's sword technique was indeed highly advanced, far surpassing his peers. As long as he wasn't facing a Yellow List martial artist, he didn't need to use the Life-Taking Sword Technique to kill his opponents with a single strike.

A technique that can be called a forbidden martial technique is naturally very powerful, and not just anyone can successfully cultivate it.

Ale said calmly, "Since you know I am cultivating the Life-Taking Sword Technique, you should understand its power. At the same realm, no one can withstand my single strike. Not long ago, I killed a mid-stage Profound Realm martial artist with a single strike."

Zhang Ruochen lightly smiled and said, "I said that you have no chance of winning against me. This is because the Life-Taking Sword Technique you are cultivating is incomplete and has a fatal flaw. You must have only obtained a fragment of the Life-Taking Sword Technique, right?"

Ale remained calm and said, "Are you trying to break my will with this?"

Zhang Ruochen lightly shook his head and said no more, "Since you still refuse to concede, let me see just how strong your Life-Taking Sword Technique is."

Actually, Zhang Ruochen did not dislike Ale; he even admired his sword technique, seeing the rise of a super swordsman.

Whether in his past life or this one, Zhang Ruochen had never killed anyone and did not want the first person to die at his hands to be such a young man. That's why he tried to persuade him a few times.

Facing Ale, Zhang Ruochen also drew his Flash Soul Sword.

Two sword auras simultaneously emanated from Zhang Ruochen and Ale, colliding in the air.

Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Ale facing off on the stage, Lin Nishan felt extremely excited.

If Ale could kill Zhang Ruochen, it would be the best outcome. If Zhang Ruochen killed Ale, she would also feel a strange sense of pleasure.

A genius swordsman dying at the hands of another genius swordsman for her sake—shouldn't she be excited?

This feeling was too strange!

"Life-Taking!"

Ale's lips whispered the words, and he transformed into a blur, charging forward without hesitation. At the same time, he raised his arm, and his iron sword shot out at lightning speed.

Zhang Ruochen also stepped forward, transforming into a blur and rushing to meet him.