Yunyang Martial Academy Grand Tournament

Although Ding Zhiyuan said that, there was obvious disappointment in his eyes.

He knew that no matter how hard he worked here, it would ultimately never measure up to those inborn talents for martial arts.

No matter how deftly he navigated among these trainees, staying friendly with everyone and often treating Miao Ping and the others to meals, when it came down to the critical moment, what mattered was still one's martial aptitude.

Before long, Guan Lie led a large group of inner academy disciples out the door and onto the bus parked outside. Everyone watched them leave with immense envy.

As soon as the headmaster and the inner academy disciples had left, the trainees immediately lost their earlier focus.

Before long, someone left and ran to the Dining Hall to watch the televised broadcast. Then, one after another, everyone else followed. Ding Zhiyuan called to Fang Mo when he left as well, but Fang Mo declined. In the end, Fang Mo was the only one left in the courtyard, drenched in sweat as he held his stance and practiced his punches.

Pharmacist Xie watched Fang Mo practice under the sun through the window and nodded slightly, appreciation in his eyes.

He knew Fang Mo's talent was not outstanding, yet he possessed astonishing perseverance and resolve. Pharmacist Xie was growing more and more interested. Perhaps this young man could create some unexpected miracles.

Fang Mo continued training until the meal clapper sounded from the Dining Hall. Only then did he stop, wash his face, and head over.

At that moment, more than twenty trainees in the Dining Hall were gathered around the television, watching the live broadcast.

"Fang Mo, hurry over! You're late, but you made it just in time for the final match—the battle for first place!" Seeing Fang Mo arrive, Ding Zhiyuan immediately waved excitedly.

"I'm coming!"

Fang Mo walked over with a smile and looked at the television. On-screen, a young man and woman of seventeen or eighteen stood facing each other. Both wore fitted martial outfits, one green and one white. The young man was handsome and carried himself with unusual bearing.

The woman was even more beautiful, with fair skin and lovely features, willow-leaf brows and almond eyes. Her long lashes curved like crescent moons. The white martial outfit made her slender figure stand out all the more, while her jet-black hair was pinned up behind her head. She radiated a valiant, heroic air.

Fang Mo froze slightly, his gaze turning complicated. He knew both of them.

The man was Shen Songyang, a direct descendant of the Shen Family, one of the Five Great Martial Arts Families of Yunyang. He had excellent Bone Structure and had already reached Peak Manifesting Strength at eighteen. He was a well-known genius in Yunyang, far more famous than a good-for-nothing young master like Fang Mo.

The woman was none other than his fiancée, the Qin Family's genius girl, Qin Muxue.

Perhaps influenced by the original Fang Mo's soul, he was still somewhat distracted upon seeing Qin Muxue.

Over the years, Fang Mo had given her all the dividends he received from the Fang Family. Back in the beginning, before he had been suppressed so thoroughly, he had more than ten million yuan at his disposal each year. Once this matter came to light, Fang Xiaolian confiscated his dividends. From then on, Hu Yuehua withheld even his monthly allowance, never giving him the full amount.

He had even secretly stolen a Thousand-Year Purple Ginseng worth over a hundred million from the Fang Family to give Qin Muxue. Hu Yuehua had nearly whipped him to death over it. Otherwise, his grandmother would not have been completely disappointed in him, nor would Fang Xiaolian have lost all favor toward him.

Yet Qin Muxue and the Qin Family had taken so many benefits from the Fang Family, only to heartlessly break off the engagement in the end. It made him Yunyang's laughingstock through and through. Otherwise, he would never have hanged himself at Moon Lake.

"Quiet! It's starting!"

Everyone immediately held their breath. On the television, Shen Songyang and Qin Muxue had already clasped their fists in salute and prepared to begin. The atmosphere instantly congealed.

"Brother Shen, I'm determined to take this first place!" Qin Muxue looked at Shen Songyang with firm resolve in her beautiful eyes.

"Sister Muxue, I'm sorry! I'm determined to take first place as well. I'll have to offend you!" Shen Songyang said with an apologetic smile.

"Then let our hands reveal the truth!" Qin Muxue's eyes snapped wide as she took up the attacking stance of the Shattering Jade Fist. Her bones rang out. Shen Songyang said no more, but at the same time assumed the opening stance of the Thunderclap Palm, his bones likewise cracking explosively.

"Ha!" Qin Muxue suddenly gave a sharp cry. She drove off the ground and shot forward, blasting a punch at Shen Songyang. Her fist exploded with the Seven Sounds Punch.

"Good!" Shen Songyang's tiger eyes abruptly widened. He roared and met her attack with his palm. His palm struck like Wind Thunder, likewise producing the Seven Sounds Palm.

Both were incredibly fast. In an instant, they crossed several meters and their fist and palm collided. A muffled boom rolled out like thunder, and the air rippled at the point of impact. Both retreated several steps, though Qin Muxue had clearly drawn the shorter end, taking one step more than Shen Songyang.

"Again!" They roared almost simultaneously and lunged forward once more. They exchanged blows at blinding speed, fists, palms, legs, and feet leaving afterimages. Every collision produced a muffled blast as the two figures constantly weaved across the arena.

The Qin Family's Shattering Jade Fist was fast, precise, and ruthless, packed with hidden force and striking from tricky angles. The Shen Family's Thunderclap Palm was broad and open, overwhelmingly powerful and heavy. Both were at Peak Manifesting Strength, and their battle was evenly matched. Cries of surprise burst out from the arena from time to time, while those before the television gasped repeatedly as well. Fang Mo's heart was equally shaken.

These two truly deserved to be called Yunyang's greatest geniuses. Peak Manifesting Strength was genuinely powerful. They were the same age as him, yet if he faced either of them now, he would have no ability to fight back. He could not withstand a single strike.

Bang!

Fist and palm collided, powerful energy bursting outward as both of them staggered back several steps.

Their breathing had grown heavy, sweat beading on their foreheads while steam rose above their heads. Clearly, both had expended a great deal of energy. Still, everyone was astonished. For Qin Muxue, a woman, to have fought Shen Songyang for so many exchanges was already exceptionally remarkable.

"Sister Muxue, you're very good, but I won't yield!" Shen Songyang said, his gaze blazing.

"Neither will I. Let's decide the victor with one strike!" Qin Muxue looked at Shen Songyang with equally resolute eyes.

"Good!" Shen Songyang gave a deep shout and abruptly pressed down with both hands. His blood and qi erupted. "Take my Thunderous Might!" He stepped forward and drove out his palm, unleashing a string of explosive cracks.

"My god, Eight Sounds Punch!"

"That's incredible! He's already infinitely close to Dark Force. This is the pinnacle of Peak Manifesting Strength!" The people in the Dining Hall cried out in shock, their eyes going blank with awe. The audience on television erupted into cheers as well.

"Good timing! Take my Shattering Jade Chain!" Qin Muxue gave a sharp cry as well. She stepped forward and threw a punch. There was no explosive report, no startling cry, yet her soft, delicate palm made everyone feel a chill.

Bang!

Their fist and palm met with a dull thud, like striking a leather drum.

Qin Muxue's lovely brows suddenly rose. She stamped the ground, driving her palm forward again, her clothes billowing around her.

"Break for me!" Her slender palm suddenly trembled, and muffled thunder boomed.