Chapter 313 - 298: A God-like Man

Wei Jingtian retreated two steps, only then realizing that everyone in the arena was looking at him.

The dignified number one of Wei Kingdom’s younger generation had just been frightened into retreating without a fight by Zhaang Ye’s sheer presence. Wei Jingtian’s heart burned with shame and rage. He realized that if he didn’t risk it all and fight today, he would forever be trapped in Zhaang Ye’s shadow. He would never be able to hold his head high in Wei Kingdom again.

Most importantly, if he showed cowardice today, his future Cultivation would be nigh impossible to advance. The Cultivation Dao is all about brave and vigorous advancement. If one’s heart is timid, then one’s path as a martial artist is ruined!

"AH!"

Wei Jingtian roared, his voice and Long Sword merging to form a Flood Dragon as he launched a ferocious strike at Zhaang Ye!

Wei Jingtian’s Cultivation had already touched upon the Martial Arts Ninth Level Middle Stage. As he pushed himself to the limit, the power in every inch of his muscles, every fragment of his bones, and every single strand of his hair erupted. Immense power burst from his body, cloaking him in a layer of Powerful Qi over ten feet thick. Driven by this immense Qi, the Long Sword in his hand streaked across the sky like a rainbow tearing through the heavens!

Heaven and earth whirled; the sun and moon dimmed!

The swordsmanship Wei Jingtian cultivated was called the "Heaven-Shocking Three Swords." As the name implied, it consisted of three Sword Techniques. Wei Jingtian’s talent was so extraordinary that he had already cultivated these three techniques to the Great Success Realm a year ago. However, to unleash their full power, one had to merge all three techniques into a single move. The difficulty of this was astronomical; even with Wei Jingtian’s genius and Comprehension, it had been beyond his reach.

Now, under the immense pressure from Zhaang Ye, Wei Jingtian’s swordsmanship was on the verge of breaking through to a new level. The Sword Technique he was now executing seemed to be a fusion of all three moves into one. As he unleashed the attack, a terrifying Sword Qi overshadowed the brilliant sun. The void filled with a frightening, web-like pattern of Sword Auras. The blinding Sword Auras made it so that everyone, both on and off the stage, felt as if they had gone blind!

This was the most ferocious and profound sword attack Wei Jingtian had ever unleashed in his entire life. He activated the Array on his Long Sword, causing his speed to increase and his control to become even more exquisite. For a brief instant, the Long Sword seemed to resonate with the world itself. Beneath this Sword Light, heaven and earth paled in comparison!

As he unleashed this strike, a confident smile spread across Wei Jingtian’s face. ’I feel so full of power, so invincible! Even if a mountain stood before me, I could slice it in two with this one strike! Even if Yangx Guyuan, Helian Bi Bi, Ling Kongyun, and Chu Yuxiang stood before me, I could defeat them all with a single blow!’

’This strike will surely defeat Zhaang Ye!’ Wei Jingtian had never felt so confident in his life!

At this moment, everyone felt the terrifying power of Wei Jingtian’s attack. The True Hall Disciples with lower Cultivation levels who witnessed its might felt a chill run down their spines. Their pupils constricted, and their palms and backs were slick with cold sweat.

How would Zhaang Ye deal with such a terrifying strike?

All eyes turned to Zhaang Ye. Even the several Hall Masters, observing from dozens of miles away, focused their Spiritual Power tightly on him.

Seeing Wei Jingtian’s strike, Zhaang Ye suddenly recalled the fist he had seen within the Blade Tip.

The punch recorded within the Blade Tip contained an overwhelming presence that seemed to fill the heavens and stuff the earth. Space itself had fractured beneath that single fist. That unbelievably terrifying punch had even shattered the blade that had flown ten thousand li, pulverizing it into fragments. It was the absolute pinnacle of tyranny!

’I must use that punch! I must use that punch! I MUST use that punch!!’ A strong urge suddenly arose in Zhaang Ye’s heart. He would unleash that earth-shattering punch from the Blade Tip, shatter Wei Jingtian’s Long Sword, and defeat him in a single blow!

’Here goes nothing!’ Before everyone’s eyes, Zhaang Ye suddenly raised his left hand, clenched his palm into a fist, and punched! Straight toward Wei Jingtian’s Long Sword!

"AH!"

Everyone on and off the stage cried out in alarm. The moment Wei Jingtian had unsheathed his Long Sword, it had radiated a cold light and a chilling Sword Qi; everyone knew it was an extraordinary Treasure Sword. Empowered by Wei Jingtian’s True Qi, that sword seemed unstoppable. Yet Zhaang Ye hadn’t drawn his own Heavy Saber, nor had he dodged. Instead, he was meeting the Long Sword head-on with his bare fist. It was an act that defied all common sense!

A Martial Artist who has cultivated to a certain level can make their body as hard as refined steel, capable of resisting ordinary blades. But to block a sword strike from a Martial Arts Ninth-Layer Expert at full power with one’s fist? That was simply suicidal! No matter how tough a fist was, it could never be tougher than a Sharp Sword infused with immense True Qi!

"Wei Jingtian’s Long Sword is a Pseudo-True Artifact! For Zhaang Ye to meet it with his fist—he’s asking to die!"

"That strike from Wei Jingtian could carve a chasm hundreds of yards long into the earth! Zhaang Ye meeting it with his fist? He’s a dead man!"

"Zhaang Ye is far too arrogant! He’s going to lose his fist for sure, and maybe even his life! He’s done for!"

Jiang Ailiang was also in the crowd. When he saw Zhaang Ye actually trying to block Wei Jingtian’s Long Sword with a fist, a look of mocking, ecstatic joy spread across his face. ’Wei Jingtian, sever his fist! Sever his arm! Cut him in half!’

None of the spectating True Hall Disciples gave Zhaang Ye a chance. Even the sharp-eyed Stewards and the Second Elder sighed faintly. But before their sighs could even fade, their eyes locked onto the scene. They stared, dumbfounded, at Zhaang Ye’s fist, their faces masks of pure shock!

Desolation. Endless desolation. Tyranny. Endless tyranny. When Zhaang Ye threw his punch, his small fist seemed to blot out the sky and sun. An infinite expanse of space was locked down by him; the endless Sword Qi was locked down by his fist. It felt as if everyone’s souls were being pulled from their bodies, leaving their minds an utter blank!

’So desolate, so grand, and yet so utterly tyrannical... This is the Fist Intent of an Ancient Strong Person!’ The Hall Masters, who had been observing from afar, all shot to their feet. The strong of Ancient Times were known for breaking all techniques with brute force. Zhaang Ye had already grasped a sliver of that profound truth. Wei Jingtian was in grave danger!

"BOOM!"

Zhaang Ye’s fist and Wei Jingtian’s Long Sword clashed in an instant. Amidst the shriek of metal, a shower of sparks several dozen feet wide exploded outward. Fierce Sword Qi mixed with True Qi surged toward the heavens. Terrifying Sword Qi and True Force spread out in a devastating wave. The arena stage was torn to powder, and the surrounding air roiled violently. True Hall Disciples standing dozens of yards away were instantly swept up by the terrifying Qi Force and sent flying, blood spewing from their mouths!

"CRACK!" Wei Jingtian’s heaven-shaking strike was twisted and then shattered by an unbelievably terrifying force. He was blasted into the air, spewing a torrent of blood as he crashed down at the far end of the stage!

"BLERGH—" Wei Jingtian coughed up mouthful after mouthful of blood, but he paid it no mind. His gaze was frozen on Zhaang Ye’s fist, his face a mask of utter disbelief. His heart screamed, ’Impossible! Impossible! My strike was world-shaking! How could Zhaang Ye have sent me flying? My Long Sword is a Pseudo-True Artifact! How could it fail to even shatter his fist? How is this possible?! How?! I refuse to accept this!!’

Down below the stage, the jaws of the True Hall Disciples hung open wide enough to fit two fists. Zhaang Ye’s punch had not only broken Wei Jingtian’s terrifying strike, but it had also brutally sent the man himself flying. It was too shocking, too unbelievable! What was even more stunning was that after clashing with a Long Sword, Zhaang Ye’s fist was completely unscathed! Such a feat was something that even a Late-stage Martial Arts Ninth Layer expert might not be capable of!

In the dead silence, Zhaang Ye slowly unclenched his fist. He glanced at the Long Sword in Wei Jingtian’s hand and shook his head slightly. His punch had contained the Fist Intent of an Ancient Great Power, and he had even been wearing an incredibly tough glove. The fact that he still couldn’t break Wei Jingtian’s Long Sword, even under those circumstances, left Zhaang Ye feeling a little dissatisfied.

Zhaang Ye might have been slightly dissatisfied, but the True Hall Disciples below were so shaken by his punch that they were trembling uncontrollably. Looking up at Zhaang Ye on the stage, his long hair fluttering and his aura overflowing with dominance, nearly every True Hall Disciple had the same thought: ’He’s like a god!’

At that moment, the Second Elder cleared his throat and announced, "The winner of this year’s Newcomer King Selection Tournament is... Zhaang Ye!"

"WHOOSH—"

A tidal wave of cheers erupted. Most of the True Hall Disciples below the stage shot to their feet, roaring with approval. Zhaang Ye, not yet thirty years old, had effortlessly defeated two young experts, Wei Jingtian and Xuli Long. His powerful and domineering methods filled countless male disciples with awe. Meanwhile, some of the female disciples, caught up in the frenzied atmosphere, gazed at Zhaang Ye with pure adoration, looking as if they were ready to offer themselves to him.

Zhaang Ye shook his head slightly. His soul was still injured, and it wasn’t wise for him to remain in such a noisy place. Besides, now that he had taken first place, there was no longer any reason to linger. With a slight flicker of his body, he transformed into a streak of green light and vanished into the sky.

A woman in red in the crowd watched Zhaang Ye leave. After a moment of contemplation, a determined look appeared in her eyes. She inconspicuously squeezed her way out of the crowd, executed a Body Technique, and sped off toward Zhaang Ye’s valley.

Not long after Zhaang Ye returned to his valley, he heard a crisp, female voice from outside. "Senior Brother Zhaang, please come out for a moment!"

Zhaang Ye felt a flicker of curiosity. He executed a Body Technique and emerged from the valley, where he saw a young woman in red standing gracefully outside. It was Feng Tongming. It had been several years. Feng Tongming’s Cultivation had reached the Martial Arts Seventh Layer Late Stage. While her progress wasn’t as fast as Situ Houtu’s, it was still quite impressive. Among her peers, those who had reached such a level could be counted on one hand.

Sizing up Feng Tongming, Zhaang Ye wondered, ’What is Feng Tongming doing here? She looks a little troubled... Does she need my help with something?’

The thought had barely crossed Zhaang Ye’s mind when Feng Tongming spoke. "Senior Brother Zhaang, I’d like to make a deal with you."