Farewell

Hao Meng made no response at all. He simply watched Yue Lin's fist come at him with his eyes wide open, drawing startled cries from the surrounding crowd.

"As expected, he's trash. Under seventy percent of my fist's power, he can't even react. There were rumors that Hao Meng had voluntarily withdrawn from the Heaven Tier Class back then. Looks like that was nothing more than an excuse to save face."

At that moment, Yue Lin could practically see Hao Meng's miserable appearance after being crushed. His swift, thunderous strike would surely spread by word of mouth among the academy students, making his name rise throughout the academy and even among the powers of Qinglan City and the Cangyun Empire.

Unfortunately, wishes were plump while reality was bony. The expected crushing destruction never came. When his fist was only an inch away from Hao Meng, it stopped. An invisible force stood between him and his opponent; no matter how he exerted himself, he could not advance another inch.

"Heavens, could that be Yuan Qi Projection? Isn't that an ability only Core Formation Realm experts can use?"

"Yeah! Isn't Hao Meng of Qinglan Academy famous for his cultivation having stagnated?"

"No way... did he break through? No wonder he was so fearless before Senior Yue. He's already a Core Formation Realm expert!"

At the Core Formation Realm, one could draw upon the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within one's body and project it outward to fend off enemies;

At the Nascent Soul Realm, one could use yuan qi to control objects. Nangong Wuqing's flying sword technique earlier had been the most representative hallmark of the Nascent Soul Realm; once one broke through to the Immeasurable Realm, one could wield a vast ocean of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. Its might could truly be called mountain-shifting and sea-stirring;

If one succeeded in a single stroke and entered the Tribulation Crossing Realm, any energy between heaven and earth could be used at will, rendering one truly invincible beneath the heavens;

As for the legendary Ascension Realm, no one knew what the world after Ascension was like. Ascending in broad daylight, guided by heavenly phenomena—perhaps that was the end of the path of cultivation.

Doubt, astonishment, and discussion rose and fell behind Yue Lin. His entire face had turned red. He had never imagined that Hao Meng had already broken through to the Core Formation Realm. Had he known, even if given ten thousand times the courage, he would not have dared to challenge Hao Meng.

The gap between cultivators of different major realms was immense. It was a fundamental difference in how they wielded Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi, not something talent, weapons, or magical treasures could bridge.

Li Mu and Hao Meng had both previously unleashed power comparable to a Core Formation Realm strike. Li Yue, with his exceptional talent, had even exchanged a move with Nangong Wuqing, who was at Nascent Soul Realm Entry, while possessing Core Formation Realm Perfection strength. But that absolutely did not mean they could truly fight enemies a whole major realm above them. Back then, Nangong Wuqing's sneak attack had failed; if he had forcibly continued fighting, it would have meant truly breaking with the Li Family. That was certainly not an outcome the Nangong Family wished to see.

"Are the fists of your Cangyun Academy always this soft and powerless? You can't even touch me. Could it be because you've visited Twin Phoenix Tower too often? Brother, young men should know moderation."

Watching Yue Lin strain with every ounce of strength he had, Hao Meng actually began to mock him. That remark, containing three parts teasing, three parts ridicule, three parts scorn, and one part looking down from above, immediately set the surrounding spectators roaring with laughter.

"Damn, Senior Hao has changed quite a bit lately. Don't tell me I led him astray?"

Li Mu, standing nearby, was also struck dumb by Hao Meng's golden remark. If this had happened a few months ago, even if beaten to death, he would never have believed that the honest and simple Senior Hao could say something like that. Sure enough, after spending so long with him, even Senior Hao's inner wildness had begun to be unleashed.

"Since your fist is no good, then try the fists of our Qinglan Academy instead. Brother Yue, please do not hold back."

After saying that, Hao Meng gave Yue Lin no time to react. His right hand shot out like a tiger's claw, firmly seizing the fist aimed at him. Then his left hand curled into a fist and smashed toward Yue Lin's face, which had been overtaken by terror.

Hao Meng used no martial technique in this punch. It was merely an ordinary punch, yet in Yue Lin's eyes, its momentum was like a mountain pressing down upon him. He desperately struggled to pull back his fist, but even with all his strength, he could not move at all. He could only watch Hao Meng's fist draw closer and closer.

With a thunderous crash of fist against flesh, Yue Lin, who had been so arrogant moments ago, had his entire face knocked crooked by Hao Meng's punch. Fresh blood spilled from his mouth, accompanied by shattered teeth.

Hao Meng released Yue Lin's fist at the same time. The number one student of Cangyun Academy immediately collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, already unconscious.

"Is this the strongest person in your Cangyun Academy? Tsk, tsk. I just threw a casual punch—how did he faint?"

Right before the eyes of dozens of Cangyun Academy students, Hao Meng wiped the blood from his hand and spoke.

The entire scene was silent as a cicada in winter. The Cangyun Academy students looked at one another. Their strongest had been knocked down by a single punch, and their opponent apparently had not even used a martial technique. The gap was simply too great. Even if they were unwilling to accept it, none dared force their way forward.

"So this is the power of the Core Formation Realm? Incredible. With the might of one punch, he silenced everyone. This was how cultivation should be—one man holding the pass, ten thousand unable to break through."

Li Mu watched Hao Meng's punch, which had stunned the entire crowd, his eyes gleaming brightly. After reaching the Core Formation Realm, one's control over the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within the body increased drastically. Every thread of yuan qi filled the flesh, able to be released and withdrawn at will, balancing offense and defense. Compared to before the breakthrough, one's combat power was as far apart as clouds and mud.

"I really look forward to it. What will it be like when I break through to the Core Formation Realm? By then, new areas of functions like the Talent Tree and shop in the Simulation System should open as well. Just thinking about it is exciting."

Li Mu silently clenched his fists and resolved to cultivate harder over the coming period, seeking the opportunity for his own breakthrough. With the Simulation System's help, he was extremely confident that he could catch up to these geniuses.

At some point, the people from Cangyun Academy had already carried the unconscious Yue Lin away from Twin Phoenix Tower in disgrace. When the black-clothed youth who had been shouting so arrogantly fled, he did not even dare glance at Hao Meng. This one-sided victory quickly spread throughout Qinglan City through the many children of Aristocratic Clans present that night. News that the Hao Family's eldest son had accumulated strength over many years before finally erupting in a breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm also spread without wings.

The next day, outside Qinglan City's northern gate, three figures stood facing one another.

"Senior Hao, have you really decided to travel abroad and gain experience?"

"Brother, don't go, okay? Xiaomeng doesn't want to be apart from Brother."

The speakers were Li Mu and Hao Xiaomeng. The sturdy youth standing opposite them grinned broadly, revealing an exceptionally brilliant smile.

"Now that I've broken through to the Core Formation Realm, remaining in the city will no longer help my cultivation at all. Our Hao Family's Dragon Tiger Fighting Saint Fist and the sword style of Junior Brother Li's family follow different paths to the same destination: both require seeking breakthroughs through battle. So I must leave this safe zone and experience true life-and-death struggles. Only then can I advance further."

After hearing Hao Meng's words, Li Mu nodded in agreement. If cultivators only knew how to grow in a greenhouse, then even if their cultivation improved by luck, they would merely be ornaments incapable of fighting, destined to be devoured by this cruel Immortal Realm.

"Xiaomeng, after Brother leaves, you must listen to Brother Mu at the academy as well. Your talent is extremely high, so cultivate properly and strive to catch up with Brother soon, understand?"

Hao Meng reached out with his large hand and rubbed Xiaomeng's head. Looking at his younger sister, who had already cried until she resembled pear blossoms drenched in rain, the affection in his eyes was plain to see.

"Then I'll be leaving. Junior Brother Li, sorry for the trouble of looking after Xiaomeng. I spoiled her since she was little. Our mother passed away early, while Father spends every day occupied with Lineage affairs, so she does not have many friends."

"Senior, rest assured. With me here, no one can bully Xiaomeng. At the Sect Selection two years from now, I look forward to Senior's return as a king. Then we brothers can drink and talk merrily again."

Li Mu readily accepted Hao Meng's request. Sometimes, the bond between men had nothing to do with the amount of time they had spent together. Often, a moment of mutual recognition was enough to decide that the other person was a brother for life.

"Then, Junior Brother, we'll meet again in two years. When that time comes, Senior will properly test the power of the Li Family Sword Style against you."

Hao Meng said no more. Laughing heartily, he turned and departed. Sunlight shone upon the youth's tall frame, leaving behind a silhouette that grew ever taller.