Chapter 783: Challenging Master Zhang

As a five-star top-grade master, he had a photographic memory. When he fought this guy earlier, he only used the Clear Wind Hand to knock him off the platform, without using any killing moves.

But now his mouth was crooked, his eyes slanted, and he was spitting blood... How badly was he injured?

If he were really that badly hurt, how could he still be here? He would have gone to find a healer long ago!

He must have deliberately injured himself to learn from Master Zhang... Otherwise, there's no explanation.

Frustrated, he watched as Zhang Xuan below selected his man and began teaching martial techniques.

In his view, last time Bai Mian was careless and let that freshman seize an opportunity. This time, he stared wide-eyed, afraid to miss any detail of the teaching.

Master Zhang was teaching a fist technique this time, just like the Woodcutting Blade Technique—straightforward, with no visible skill.

After watching for a while, he was completely confused.

He had been able to perform this fist technique since he was three... Could it really defeat him?

"Forget it. This Master Zhang is weird as hell. Better be careful. When that freshman comes up, I'll strike first!"

Unable to figure out where the subtlety lay, he couldn't help but scheme.

The opponent only had a straight punch. So, he wouldn't stand on ceremony either; he'd attack from the start. With his understanding and insight into martial techniques, as well as his control over cultivation, dealing with a newcomer shouldn't be a problem.

The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Just as he had figured out his battle strategy, he saw the bruised and swollen freshman walk up.

"Senior!"

The freshman bowed.

"If we're going to spar, let's begin!"

With a long cry, Yuan Gang's whole body crackled. His originally somewhat thin figure grew taller, instantly becoming large, and his arms and legs seemed to lengthen.

Spirit-grade upper-rank martial technique: Ape Form Arm-Piercing Skill!

To cultivate this technique, he had trained unceasingly for over a decade, infusing the power into his very marrow, every move naturally following the rules.

"Take this!"

Stomping on the ground, not giving the opponent any chance to react, Yuan Gang charged forward.

His speed was as fast as an eagle swooping across the sky, like a fleeting shadow. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the freshman, his five fingers hooked like claws, chopping straight down.

The Ape Form Arm-Piercing Skill emphasized speed, with attack methods of chopping, grabbing, and scratching.

It was a technique created by a senior from the academy after observing the fighting style of apes.

With one chop, the air rolled, and blade light appeared at his fingertips, like sharp daggers.

"Not bad!"

Seeing him attack immediately without holding back, Ying Qin breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help nodding.

They had already lost one round, and he didn't want to lose the second as well. Otherwise, there would be no way to turn things around.

Fortunately, Yuan Gang was not an inflexible person. He didn't care about face or hold back, but unleashed his strongest move from the start.

"This move is full of power and deep energy. If I were to counter it, I would need to step back half a step first, wait for his strength to wane, and then make my move..."

He mused to himself.

Though they were fellow disciples in the same society and often sparred, he knew the terror of this move. Once it got close, it was basically hard to dodge.

Just as he finished thinking about how to counter it, he looked at the stage to see how the freshman would retaliate. He saw that the freshman didn't dodge Yuan Gang's attack at all but threw a punch instead.

"This..."

Ying Qin blinked.

Was this how you sparred?

If he didn't dodge and took Yuan Gang's claw head-on, he would be injured immediately. Even if he hit the opponent, it would be useless!

Whoosh!

Before his confusion could end, he saw the freshman's fist suddenly accelerate, several times faster than before. It seemed that by the time Yuan Gang's palm landed on the freshman, the freshman's fist would also land on him.

In other words... it was a mutual destruction tactic, with no skill at all!

Bang!

Fist met flesh, and just as he thought, you hit me with a punch, I hit you with a palm.

Stagger, stagger, stagger! Stagger, stagger, stagger!

Yuan Gang was knocked back seven or eight steps by the punch, while the freshman had bloody scratches on his chest from the claw.

"Good!"

Despite being injured, the freshman was not afraid but grew more excited. He charged forward, ignoring the opponent's exquisite techniques and the possibility of serious injury, just throwing a punch.

Bang!

Another mutual destruction move. He was injured, but Yuan Gang was also hurt. After two consecutive punches, Yuan Gang's face turned pale, his throat felt sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I understand..."

Ying Qin clenched his fist, his pupils contracting. "Indeed, a good method. This Master Zhang is formidable..."

Now, he finally understood what tactic the freshman was using.

Close-combat martial techniques couldn't be caught up with in a day or by learning one move; they required years of hard training and practice. Master Zhang must have known this, so he taught the freshman a fist technique with extremely strong offensive power.

Since he could never catch up through training, he simply stopped trying. He would just go head-to-head, willing to be injured as long as the opponent didn't have it easy.

You attack me once, I must attack you once. As long as the fist technique had enough power and speed, the one who falls in the end will definitely be you!

How ruthless!

"It seems Master Zhang didn't choose randomly. This guy even beat himself up to get a spot. You can imagine how ruthless he is..."

Ying Qin's face turned pale.

Earlier, when Master Zhang was selecting people, he had wondered why he chose someone who had injured himself. He could see something was off; how could Master Zhang, with his insight, not see it?

It seemed it was intentional.

A person who would even beat himself up—his ruthlessness went without saying. How could such a person back down at a critical moment?

He was the most suitable for this kind of hard-hitting, life-risking fighting style!

"It seems... Yuan Gang is going to lose!"

He shook his head.

They were at the same level, but this guy was reckless and had such strong attacks. Yuan Gang's defeat was only a matter of time.

It wasn't that Yuan Gang's combat ability was weak or his understanding of martial techniques was poor, but... his Arm-Piercing Ape Skill carried the agility of ape-type spirit beasts, with an instinct to avoid danger. Once in danger, he would directly evade rather than resist.

Evading once was fine, but evading more often only meant taking more hits. Under such heavy punches, how many could Yuan Gang endure?

Bang, bang, bang!

Just as he thought, after five punches, Yuan Gang couldn't take it anymore. His face was battered, his body swayed, and he could no longer hold on. He fell to the ground, defeated by a newcomer.

"Not bad!"

Seeing the freshman's performance, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

The Heaven's Path Fist Technique emphasized offense and had infinite power. Although he had taught a simplified version, its power was still formidable. For Yuan Gang to withstand five punches before falling was already impressive.

"President, I won..."

Full of excitement, the freshman walked off the stage and looked at the president again, filled with deep admiration.

Before, he couldn't even last a single move against Yuan Gang, but now he had defeated him. This president's insight and understanding of combat had reached an astonishing level.

"Mm, not bad. Drink this gourd of wine!" Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist and handed over a gourd.

"Yes!" Taking the gourd, the freshman drank every last drop of the fine wine. Immediately, he felt a tingling sensation all over his body, and his previous serious injuries were completely healed.

"This is a healing elixir..."

His eyes wide, the freshman trembled.

For his injuries, the president had actually given him a sacred elixir to take. The debt of gratitude was immeasurable!

President, from now on, I am your member in life and your dead member in death!

I will never change again...

...

"Master Zhang's methods are indeed astonishing!" Seeing the beaten freshman recover in an instant, while his own Yuan Gang lay on the ground twitching as if about to die, Ying Qin shook his head and looked over with admiration.

Whether in guidance, grasp of combat, or control over subordinates, this guy had reached a level that commanded respect.

"Normally, having lost two consecutive rounds, we have already lost. However... not having seen Master Zhang in action, I find it hard to accept defeat. So, I would like to spar with Master Zhang, if I may!"

Taking a deep breath, Ying Qin's brows flashed like lightning. He shook his long spear, and a proud aura emerged.

Under normal circumstances, with two wins out of three, they had lost. But... they still hadn't forced Zhang Xuan to act, which filled him with reluctance. He wanted to challenge him and see just how strong this young man who could casually instruct others really was.

If he lost, he would accept it without regret.

"Spar with me?" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Alright!"

This guy was probably the strongest of the three. Fighting him would also be a good way to hone his recent progress.

With a flicker, he jumped onto the stage.

Instructing others in combat could also demonstrate strength, but truly showing one's understanding and skill in battle would win over more people.

"Master Zhang is at the peak of the Bridge Heaven realm. I will suppress my cultivation to match yours..."

Seeing him agree, Ying Qin nodded. His whole body rumbled, and his strength at the peak of the Void Step realm was forcibly reduced by two levels.

"Lowering your level?"

Seeing his action, Zhang Xuan looked at him sympathetically. "Doing that will get you killed..."

He cultivated soul, body, and true qi simultaneously, plus the Eye of Insight and the Heaven's Path Library. Not to mention the same level, even if this guy released all his peak Void Step strength, he probably wouldn't be enough to fight.

Encountering someone like him, and still daring to suppress his cultivation—what nerve!

"Master Zhang, rest assured. Even if your understanding of martial techniques is high, I am not weak, especially in spear techniques... At the same level, I am invincible!"

His brows raised, Ying Qin's battle intent surged like a tide.

He had seen Master Zhang's methods, and they were indeed strong, but he also had absolute confidence.

This was the will forged from years of spear practice.

As long as he wielded his long spear, he could fight any opponent, no matter how strong.

"Alright!" Seeing his confidence, Zhang Xuan didn't want to dissuade him further and just nodded.

"Then, Master Zhang, where is your spear?"

Seeing him empty-handed and still not taking out a weapon, Ying Qin couldn't help asking.

"Spear? Since you've lowered your cultivation, if I use a spear, it would be bullying. How about this:"

Zhang Xuan turned to look at Ruohuan Gongzi below. "Ruohuan, I remember there's a feather duster for dusting on the bench over there. Bring me one!"