Chapter 295: Reverse-Slaying a Postnatal, Straight into the Third Layer

“Du Hong… lost?”

“Still just one strike! Someone with Gang Force defeating a Postnatal, and still with a single strike? That’s incredible!”

“When did Mixed Element Peak produce such a fierce Named Disciple? Someone with Gang Force defeating a Postnatal is a rare sight in Five Elements Valley…”

Many disciples were astonished.

They knew Zhang Su was a strong contender, having defeated six Gang Force disciples in a row on the first layer of Five Elements Valley. His strength was certainly out of the ordinary.

But they never expected him to actually be able to defeat a Postnatal Realm Martial Artist.

And to win so cleanly and decisively.

A head-on clash, a single strike to the throat.

This kind of crushing victory shocked everyone who witnessed the battle.

When Luo Feng saw this, he was even more overjoyed.

“Hahaha, he won, he really won! Someone with Gang Force defeating a Postnatal…”

Luo Feng’s voice trembled slightly.

He had spent several years on Mixed Element Peak, constantly hovering around the Official Disciples, just hoping for a chance to remain in the Upper Sect.

But he had never imagined that a Named Disciple could be this powerful.

Luo Feng’s gaze upon Zhang Su was filled with disbelief.

But this was the reality.

He even recalled the words Zhang Su had once spoken.

‘Zhang Su’s goal is to be a Direct Disciple!’

No matter how much faith Luo Feng had in Zhang Su before, he knew in his heart that the chances of Zhang Su becoming a Direct Disciple were minuscule.

Across the Upper Sect Nine Peaks, there were tens of thousands of Named Disciples, and many were expelled from the Mountain Gate every year.

Those who could become Official Disciples were already exceedingly rare, let alone a Direct Disciple.

That was simply a fool’s dream.

But now, things were different.

‘Zhang Su can actually defeat a Postnatal Realm Martial Artist?’

The gap between Gang Force and the Postnatal Realm was a chasm acknowledged by all Martial Artists.

Anyone who could cross this chasm was, without exception, a person of extraordinary talent.

‘Moreover, Zhang Su is still practicing the Great Five Elements Divine Technique, using the Melt Gang Technique to improve the quality of his Gang Force and cultivate First-Grade Gang Force.’

‘Once Zhang Su truly masters First-Grade Gang Force, just how powerful will he become?’

‘If he generates Inner Strength from First-Grade Gang Force and advances to the Postnatal Realm, his chances of becoming a Direct Disciple will increase dramatically.’

Countless thoughts flashed through Luo Feng’s mind.

This time, he truly saw hope!

He even swore a silent oath in his heart, ‘From now on, I must serve Zhang Su with all my heart. This might be my best chance!’

In the open ground of Five Elements Valley, Zhang Su sheathed his sword, but he didn’t rush toward a Cultivation Room on the Second Layer.

He was carefully replaying the battle with Du Hong in his mind.

‘The Postnatal Realm… it doesn’t seem so terrifying after all!’

‘And Inner Strength isn’t that powerful either.’

‘At least, my Heavy Sword Form was able to break through his Inner Strength.’

‘Of course, it’s also possible that Du Hong’s Inner Strength just wasn’t very strong.’

‘It was most likely Inner Strength developed from a foundation of Gang Force from the Middle Three Layers, so naturally, it couldn’t compare to Inner Strength born from the Upper Three Layers of Gang Force.’

‘But there are very few Official Disciples on the first three layers of Five Elements Valley anyway.’

‘Basically, all Martial Artists who advanced to the Postnatal Realm with Gang Force from the Upper Three Layers have become Official Disciples.’

‘And Official Disciples rarely come to the Lower Three Layers of Five Elements Valley; they usually choose the Middle Three Layers.’

‘So, on these Lower Three Layers of Five Elements Valley, the Postnatal Realm Martial Artists I encounter will likely not have very high-quality Inner Strength.’

‘So, why not challenge again?’

‘I’ll go straight for the Third Layer!’

He had already spent eight days on the first layer. The progress of his Great Five Elements Divine Technique was much faster than outside, but he still felt it wasn’t enough.

‘The Cultivation Rooms on the Third Layer must be even more amazing.’

Thinking this, Zhang Su hesitated no longer.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Third Layer of Five Elements Valley. His eyes scanned the Jade Tokens on one Cultivation Room after another until he found one that he could challenge.

“Cultivation Room Eighty-Five on the Third Layer, come out and fight!”

At the sound of Zhang Su’s voice, everyone was startled.

“He’s… going to keep challenging?”

“The Second Layer of Five Elements Valley isn’t enough for him? He wants to go straight to the Third Layer in one go?”

“He’s certainly… brave. The Postnatal Realm Martial Artists on the Third Layer are all extraordinary. Even though they aren’t Official Disciples, their strength is probably on par with them. Does he really think all Postnatal Realm Martial Artists are at Du Hong’s level?”

An Official Disciple in a green robe began to speak slowly.

Having worked his way up from a Named Disciple to an Official Disciple, he was well aware of the strength of those on the Third Layer.

Any Named Disciple who could secure a spot on the Third Layer of Five Elements Valley was far from simple.

Although they had failed to become Official Disciples because their Gang Force quality was too low, they had been immersed in the Postnatal Realm for many years. Their Inner Strength was profound, and their Martial Techniques were polished.

Some could even hold their own against Official Disciples.

For a Gang Force Martial Artist like Zhang Su, who had luckily defeated someone on the Second Layer, to think of challenging the Third Layer?

It was not a wise move.

Zhang Su’s continued challenge to a Martial Artist on the Third Layer completely captured the attention of the many Martial Artists in Five Elements Valley.

Even many Official Disciples now had their eyes on Zhang Su.

Although Martial Artists with Gang Force defeating Postnatal opponents were relatively few, they could still be seen occasionally in the Upper Sect.

But for someone to use their Gang Force Cultivation to consecutively challenge Named Disciples on the Second and Third Layers of Five Elements Valley was a rare sight indeed.

Many Named Disciples, even if they had the strength, would only challenge after making thorough preparations and choosing the right moment.

Who was like Zhang Su? He had clearly only intended to challenge the Second Layer before, but perhaps after finding Du Hong’s strength to be average, he had impulsively decided to challenge the Third Layer.

But the difference of a single layer could mean a world of difference in strength.

The atmosphere in the valley instantly grew tense.

The originally noisy discussions gradually died down. Everyone held their breath, waiting for a response from Cultivation Room Eighty-Five on the Third Layer.