Chapter 12

Liang Dong stood at the entrance of the Earth Gate, picked up a brush, and swiftly wrote his name and the name of his sect on the notice posted there. He let out a cold laugh and strode into the Earth Gate path.

Behind him, three fellow disciples followed, also walking with their heads held high into the mountain gate.

A total of fifty-seven people from the Nanhua Sect had come, including seven initiates, the rest being named disciples and servants. The Guangyuan Sect had sent forty-two people, including five initiates. When they arrived, nearly a hundred people rode horses and carriages, looking quite intimidating.

However, they were not in a hurry to reach the summit. Instead, they first sent a few disciples, including Liang Dong, up the mountain to test the attitude of the Mingzhang Sect.

If they could reach the summit without any obstacles, the disciples of the two sects would naturally not be polite and would thoroughly embarrass the host. If Liang Dong and others were blocked, they could be alerted in advance and would not be caught off guard.

After passing through the first mountain gate, Liang Dong saw that the sides were unusually quiet. Looking up the mountain path, it was empty and desolate, with not a single person in sight, forming a stark contrast to the bustling scene outside the mountain gate. He couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Indeed, what goes around comes around. This time, it's our turn to embarrass the Mingzhang Sect. We will avenge the humiliation we suffered three years ago."

The few fellow disciples behind him all agreed.

Liang Dong felt even more pleased and waved his sleeve, saying, "Fellow disciples, follow me up the peak! To pave the way for our senior brother Wenjun."

Thinking that no one would obstruct them, he spoke in a very loud voice, which echoed along the mountain path. At that moment, a cold voice came from a large rock nearby, "Are you the senior brother from the Guangyuan Sect?"

Liang Dong was startled. He looked up and saw a person sitting on the rock, looking down at him from above.

Being looked down upon like this, he was displeased and coldly snorted, "Yes, who are you?"

The person stood up and said in a deep voice, "I am Zhang Yan from the Mingzhang Sect."

Liang Dong involuntarily took a step back. Because the person was facing the sun, he couldn't see his face clearly for a moment. He squinted his eyes and asked, "What do you want?"

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Nothing, I just want to challenge you."

Liang Dong hesitated for a moment and asked, "A literary or martial challenge?"

A literary challenge meant a discussion of etching texts and their interpretations, like Mo Yuan. A martial challenge meant a competition of combat skills.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivators had the strength of a thousand catties in their arms, capable of fighting lions and tigers, breaking stones, and shattering steles. Cultivators of the Dao practiced the supreme Dao, and before opening their meridians, to prevent their bodies from weakening due to prolonged meditation, they often practiced some combat techniques to strengthen their muscles and bones.

Although the Daoist conference was mainly about literature, cultivators were not scholars. In the upper academy, cultivators often fought over treasure lands and elixirs, leading to even more intense and brutal conflicts. Therefore, combat techniques were also common at the conference.

However, many disciples looked down on this, as after opening their meridians, they could learn higher-level techniques, such as flying swords and turning soil into steel. The strength of cultivators was mostly reflected in their magical treasures and flying swords, making physical combat a minor skill.

However, for those not from noble families, let alone magical treasures and flying swords, even elixirs and talismans were hard to obtain. They could only rely on their own bodies, so many still valued combat skills.

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and said, "Both are fine."

Liang Dong's spirits lifted, and he eagerly replied, "Then let's have a martial challenge!"

He was not from a noble family and had almost no achievements in etching texts, so he dared not engage in a literary challenge. As a named disciple, he could only rely on combat skills to gain fame at the conference, so he chose the martial challenge without hesitation.

He was confident in this area. To collect the Five Elements Divine Sand, he often traveled through desolate mountains and marshes, fighting tigers and wolves. Although he couldn't compare to a few senior brothers skilled in this, he believed he could handle a Mingzhang Sect disciple he had never heard of.

However, when Zhang Yan leaped down from the rock, Liang Dong's confidence wavered. He was amazed, "This Zhang Yan is so tall!"

Zhang Yan stood there, towering over everyone else, and his presence alone was intimidating.

However, Liang Dong was quick-witted and good at taking advantage of situations. He glanced around and, before Zhang Yan could make a move, punched without warning, hoping to catch Zhang Yan off guard.

Zhang Yan's senses were sharp. Seeing the other person's toes lift and shoulders rise, he knew something was about to happen. From Liang Dong's movement, he predicted the angle of the punch. Without dodging, he opened his eyes, roared, and his fist burst through the air, striking the other person's face first.

Liang Dong did not expect Zhang Yan to suddenly roar, and his punch was unexpectedly faster. His mind trembled, and his punch paused slightly. With a "bang," Zhang Yan's fist hit his nose, and Liang Dong fell backward.

When he looked again, Liang Dong was lying on the ground, covered in blood, unconscious.

Zhang Yan took out a white handkerchief, wiped the blood from his fist, and his expression remained unchanged. He then looked at the remaining three people.

These people drew a cold breath, hesitating to step forward. However, they were unwilling to retreat, so they stood there, frozen.

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Feel free to come at me together."

The few Guangyuan Sect disciples exchanged glances, nodded, and agreed. Group combat was allowed in martial challenges, as long as the other party agreed. Three years ago, Chen Feng fought multiple opponents, but no one would have ganged up on him if he hadn't agreed.

After a brief discussion, they decided to surround Zhang Yan from the left, center, and right.

Zhang Yan stood there, motionless, focusing on the person in front of him, seemingly ignoring the others.

The person in front, seeing Zhang Yan's earlier punch, did not dare to be careless. Following the prearranged plan, he suddenly stepped forward, raised his fist, and aimed to attract Zhang Yan's attention, giving his companions on the sides an opportunity.

However, as soon as he moved, Zhang Yan also moved, stepping forward and punching at his face.

This person was prepared to block, but when he tried, he felt a surge of pain. Zhang Yan's punch was powerful, concentrating all his strength into one point. He couldn't block it, and his arms involuntarily went limp. He could only watch as Zhang Yan's fist grew larger in his vision, followed by a dull sound, and his teeth and blood flew out as he spun and flew away.

The people on the sides had not yet circled around when they saw Zhang Yan knock down the first person. Their morale was shaken. Zhang Yan, using the momentum, turned and took a step, changing from facing two people to facing one. The person on the left didn't have time to react and was struck on the neck, stumbling and falling unconscious.

The last person, seeing the situation, wisely said, "I concede."

Zhang Yan nodded indifferently.

The person sighed in relief and quickly called a few Daoist boys to carry away his unconscious fellow disciples.

Although the injured people were covered in blood, Zhang Yan had controlled his strength, and these cultivators had strong bodies. Including Liang Dong, they were only injured, not killed, and would not be able to fight for a short time.

Zhang Yan shook his head. In his view, these people's combat skills were terrible, having strength but not knowing how to use it.

In his previous life in the post-apocalyptic world, lacking guns and ammunition, he had to fight mutated beasts with simple weapons. Trust between people was non-existent, and every day, people died on the streets over a little water. In such a world, you had to be cautious even while sleeping.

As a member of the upper echelons of the survivor camp, his combat skills were honed through real battles, emphasizing efficiency with no unnecessary moves. His attacks were simple, aiming to end the fight as quickly as possible.

In this world, his first fight made him feel refreshed, and his dormant combat awareness awakened.

At that moment, Ai Zhongwen came out of the first mountain gate, couldn't help but look at Zhang Yan a few times, and praised, "I didn't expect Senior Brother Zhang to be skilled in combat. It seems I was overly worried."

Zhang Yan shook his head and said, "Combat is a minor skill. Our Daoist flying swords and magical treasures are the true weapons."

Ai Zhongwen nodded in agreement and then reminded, "The Guangyuan Sect is skilled in talismans and incantations. They might be well-prepared this time. Senior Brother Zhang must be cautious."

The Guangyuan Sect's talismans were very powerful, capable of significantly enhancing a person's combat strength. However, making talismans was difficult, and using them on lower academy disciples was a waste. But after being defeated by Chen Feng last time, they might do so this time.

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "No problem. We will deal with whatever comes. Besides, with Senior Brother here to cover any gaps, what is there to fear?"

Although Ai Zhongwen was from a noble family, he had a heroic spirit. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so easily roused by Zhang Yan's words to block the disciples of the two sects. Hearing this, he was also moved and nodded in agreement.

Of course, he believed in Zhang Yan more because of the background behind him, giving him great confidence in Zhang Yan.

However, he didn't know that Zhang Yan's decision to block the disciples of the two sects was not for the honor of the sect or a moment of bloodlust. He had never been so kind. Instead, he had his own plans.

Learning about Chen Feng's experience at the conference three years ago and knowing that Chen Feng's cultivation was similar to his at the time, he suspected that Chen Feng was using this to refine his essence. He repeatedly asked Ai Zhongwen about Chen Feng's actions that day, not missing any details.

After hearing it, Zhang Yan's suspicions were further confirmed.

Observing Chen Feng's actions on the Nanhua Sect's Heavenly Gate path, he first fought non-stop for seven days without rest, then for another seven days, he was exhausted and barely able to continue. In the next seven days, his energy gradually recovered, and he became more and more vigorous. By the last seven days, he was radiant and even more powerful than before.

The changes over this month were truly miraculous.

Zhang Yan also noticed that after returning to Cangwu Mountain, Chen Feng soon opened his meridians and advanced to the upper academy, leaping over the threshold of "Yuan Cheng Ru Zhen." Therefore, he boldly speculated that Chen Feng must have gained significant benefits during this month, leading to a rapid increase in his cultivation.

However, Chen Feng's path had its own methods, and he couldn't completely replicate it, especially the details. But with the fragment of the jade in hand, he was not afraid of not finding the true method to refine his essence. If one attempt failed, he would try again, and if two attempts failed, he would try three, and if three attempts failed, he would try ten. Eventually, he would find the true method.

He waited here, and when Liang Dong was carried out of the mountain gate, the disciples of the various sects, who had been drowsy for days, were suddenly excited, feeling that the show was about to begin. This news quickly spread to the disciples at the foot of the mountain, and the originally intimidating momentum of the two sects was suddenly dampened.

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PS: This is the update from yesterday.