At Last, He Saw the Beauty's Face

Pfft!

Shen Songyang's body jolted violently. He spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back several steps before finally steadying himself.

"What was that?"

Many people in the stands abruptly rose to their feet, their eyes filled with shock.

"Was that Dark Force?"

"My heavens, Dark Force—a Dark Force martial artist so young!"

Everyone in the Dining Hall was equally stunned, horror in their eyes. Though they were not Dark Force martial artists themselves, they had watched their Senior Brothers spar before.

Fang Mo was also shocked. Qin Muxue had actually reached Dark Force.

She truly was a favored daughter of heaven. No wonder the Qin Family had been so resolute in breaking off the engagement, even willing to give up a massive source of wealth like the Fang Family.

It turned out Qin Muxue had broken through to Dark Force.

Breaking through to Dark Force at her age, so long as nothing unexpected happened, meant she would surely become a Core Strength Grandmaster in the future—perhaps even a Postnatal Grandmaster.

In all of Yunyang, with its population of several million, only a dozen or so Core Strength Grandmasters had emerged over the past century.

A single Grandmaster could preserve a family's martial legacy for a hundred years.

Quite a few people were already considering how to draw closer to the Qin Family. One person could raise an entire family, and Qin Muxue's emergence might allow the Qin Family to develop at breathtaking speed.

"So you had already broken through to Dark Force!"

Shen Songyang clutched his chest and slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Loss and envy showed on his pale face.

"I only broke through by luck."

Qin Muxue smiled faintly and lightly brushed back the hair over her forehead. "Big Brother Shen, I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for. I concede!"

Shen Songyang became composed instead. With a faint smile, he clutched his chest and limped toward the edge of the arena.

The Shen Family members hurried forward to support Shen Songyang. Being injured by Dark Force was extremely dangerous; he needed treatment as soon as possible, or the damage could leave lasting harm.

"That spectacular battle has allowed us to witness the birth of a new genius in Yunyang—the youngest Dark Force martial artist in Yunyang!"

"Now, on behalf of the tournament, I announce that Qin Muxue is the champion of the Yunyang Eight Great Martial Academies Tournament! Everyone, cheer!"

The host onstage shouted excitedly. Many people in the stands erupted in cheers. Qin Muxue stood on the arena, beautiful as jade, a faint smile on her face as she looked proudly in every direction and basked in this moment beneath countless eyes.

That was exactly her personality. She loved the splendor of being the center of attention!

Fang Mo watched Qin Muxue standing amid flowers and applause on the television, and sighed inwardly.

"Now, let us welcome Luo Jiangyan of Ning Jiang Yun Kong Martial Academy, a genius student of the academy, currently ranked first on the Hundred Academies Heavenly Ranking, and the youngest Core Strength Grandmaster on our Galactic Federation Homeworld in three hundred years, to present awards to the top three contestants of the Martial Academy Tournament!"

At that moment, the host shouted again. The camera shifted, landing on the White-clothed Woman seated among the crowd on the podium.

Everyone's breath caught at once.

Her beauty was like a peerless painting drawn in an immortal realm. Her features were so exquisite that they seemed to have been traced by nature's most delicate brush, every curve revealing heaven's favor.

The tailored white martial uniform clung closely to her graceful figure. Far from looking restrictive, it perfectly outlined the gallant, heroic bearing unique to a martial artist.

Her elegant temperament seemed innate. With every gesture, it was as though she could stir the spiritual energy in the air around her, making people instinctively believe that she not only walked among mortals, but moved with ease upon the misty, intangible summit of martial arts.

Amid the crowd, she resembled a white lotus just blooming, rising leisurely from a pond—transcendent and unworldly, making everything around her pale in comparison.

Qin Muxue was beautiful, but beside this woman, she seemed far more ordinary. It was not merely a matter of facial features; she lacked that special aura.

One was a beauty of the mortal world. The other, a mystic immortal of the nine heavens!

"It's her!"

Fang Mo felt as though he had been struck by lightning. That hazy face immediately surfaced in his mind, and he recognized her. This woman seemed to be the immortal maiden he had seen after crossing over.

So her name was Luo Jiangyan, the youngest Core Strength Grandmaster on the Galactic Federation Homeworld in three hundred years.

He had heard of her before. She had even appeared on television. She seemed to be only twenty-two this year!

Fang Mo was tongue-tied with astonishment. He had not even reached Ming Jin yet—when would he ever reach Dan Jin?

They belonged to two entirely different worlds!

Yet for some reason, as the face on the television merged with the image in his mind, a fierce fighting spirit suddenly rose within him.

A Core Strength Grandmaster was all she was!

He believed it would not take long. One day, he would surely stand before her and ask, "We meet again?"

If he had once trained madly solely to pursue martial arts, Fang Mo now had another goal.

His motivation grew even stronger. He quickly wolfed down his meal, found a quiet place to close his eyes and rest for a while, then returned to the courtyard to train again.

That afternoon, Guan Lie returned with the disciples!

Guan Lie looked displeased. During this visit to watch the Martial Academy Tournament, every Martial Hall had been utterly crushed by the Martial Academies. Not only were there seven or eight Peak Manifesting Strength experts, there was even an eighteen-year-old Dark Force expert. It left the Martial Hall brethren feeling thoroughly embarrassed.

"What are you all standing around for? Go train! Every day, all you know is how to shut yourselves away and build carts behind closed doors. Now you've seen the gap between yourselves and others—why aren't you striving to catch up!"

His stern gaze swept over the disciples. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he stormed angrily into the rear courtyard.

Feng Qingyuan, Miao Ping, and the others exchanged helpless looks, feeling as though disaster had fallen from the sky for no reason. They should have known better than to go watch. They had only made themselves miserable.

Still, they were somewhat shaken. They had always thought themselves quite formidable.

But after today's comparison, the difference truly was not just a little.

So everyone gritted their teeth and trained hard, putting in even more effort than usual.

Usually, by the time Fang Mo stopped training at eight, no one else was left. Today, several people were still training when he finished.

He left at the usual time, went home to soak in the bath, ate dinner, and was able to train for another three hours.

[ Tiger Subduing Stance: Entered the Hall (285/5000) ]

[ Tiger Subduing Fist: Beginner's Practice (78/100) ]

Fang Mo looked at the Bronze Mirror information in his mind. Tomorrow, Tiger Subduing Fist could advance to its next realm. However, training both skills at once still affected his progress somewhat. If he focused solely on Tiger Subduing Fist, he could enter the next realm in two days.

"Uncle Liu, another ten buns!"

Fang Mo arrived at the bun shop and called out to Uncle Liu, who was busy working.

"Coming!"

Uncle Liu walked over, swiftly took ten steaming buns from the steamer, and said with a smile, "These beef buns were just wrapped today. They're fresh!"

"Thank you, Uncle Liu!"

Fang Mo handed over the money and took the buns.

"Move aside, move aside!"

Just then, two thugs walked over and shoved two women buying buns aside. Fang Mo's brows furrowed slightly.

When the two thugs saw Fang Mo and noticed the Martial Hall uniform he wore, they did not shove him aside like the others. Instead, they walked around him and stepped forward.

"You, come here. Have you seen this person?"

One thug pointed at Uncle Liu, holding a photograph in his hand. Fang Mo's eyes narrowed slightly. It was actually an old photograph of himself.

The two thugs he had beaten to death last time had been carrying the same kind of photograph.

Uncle Liu craned his neck to look at it under the light, then could not help glancing at Fang Mo. He immediately chuckled and said, "Never seen him."

"You really haven't? If we find out you've seen him and kept quiet, you'll be sorry!"

The thug glared viciously at Uncle Liu.

"Really haven't. If I had seen him, wouldn't I tell you?"

Uncle Liu said with a chuckle.

Only then did the thug let it go. Staring at Uncle Liu, he said, "If you spot this guy, notify our Great Wind Gang. There'll be something in it for you!"

"Yes, yes, yes! If I see him, I'll definitely notify you!"

Uncle Liu hurriedly nodded and bowed.

Only then did the two thugs turn and leave. As they went, they kicked a stool beside them away, frightening the people buying buns into hurriedly backing off.

Uncle Liu then quietly gestured to Fang Mo, telling him to leave quickly.

Fang Mo felt grateful. If Uncle Liu had said a single word just now, he would have been exposed. He nodded gratefully, then turned and left.

His heart grew heavy. It seemed the consequences of killing those two men had arrived.

Looks like I can't stay here anymore!

These people had traced him here. They might soon trace the trail to him.

After all, quite a few people had seen him when he had first arrived.

He quickened his pace, returned to the small courtyard, packed some necessities, and prepared to leave first thing the next morning.