Refuse to Accept It? Then Come Again

Bang!

Fists and feet collided with a thunderous crash. Ma Yuanwu's body swayed slightly, and he retreated only half a step, while Ye Zhen's body shook repeatedly. He took three steps back before steadying himself.

The gap—the gap in strength, the gap in cultivation—had become clear the instant they exchanged blows.

Seeing that Ye Zhen had been forced back only three steps, Ma Yuanwu froze for a moment, his eyes filled with astonishment.

The Ye Zhen of the past had not even been able to take a single finger from him. Yet now, he had nearly attained the ability to stand toe-to-toe with him.

In his surprise, Ma Yuanwu gave a sinister grin. "Ye Zhen, you're no match for me. Hand over the Silver Note obediently and spare yourself some suffering."

Though he spoke, Ma Yuanwu's hands did not slow. With a tiger's roar, he pounced at Ye Zhen once more.

With a cold snort, Ye Zhen answered Ma Yuanwu with action. His fist wind rose as he charged forward to meet him.

Last time, right before Ye Zhen's eyes, Ma Yuanwu had utterly ruined the clothes his mother, Mi Jiangxue, had sewn by hand and the preserved meat she had made herself. That anger was still lodged in Ye Zhen's chest to this day.

Now that Ye Zhen possessed the strength to battle Ma Yuanwu, if Ma Yuanwu could still frighten him off, then he would not deserve to be called a man.

Bang bang bang!

The sounds of fists and feet colliding rang without cease. The blazing fist winds forced the many watching Menial Disciples to retreat again and again.

The only fist technique Menial Disciples could cultivate was the Bear King Mountain Shoulder Fist.

Whenever Ye Zhen or Ma Yuanwu threw a punch, they immediately knew the other's follow-up move. Though Ye Zhen's Bear King Mountain Shoulder Fist was somewhat more refined, the key to determining victory at this moment depended even more on cultivation.

With every punch Ma Yuanwu threw, his blood qi condensed into pearls, like serpents and pythons bursting from their burrows. Each strike greatly amplified his fist force, and within several exchanges, he forced Ye Zhen back step by step, making Ye Zhen's expression increasingly grave and anxious.

Yet as their fists and feet met, the shock in Ma Yuanwu's eyes grew ever stronger.

He knew better than anyone what Ye Zhen had once been: trash who could not last even half a move in his hands.

But now, Ye Zhen could fight him evenly. Though at a disadvantage, he could still barely contend against him. If he were allowed to keep growing, then wouldn't that mean...?

This time, I absolutely cannot let this brat off lightly! Ma Yuanwu made up his mind, and his fist wind became even more oppressive.

Ye Zhen knew clearly that if this continued, defeat would be inevitable.

Ma Yuanwu was ruthless and vicious. If Ye Zhen lost, then in order to establish his authority on Hundred Pine Peak, Ma Yuanwu would likely leave Ye Zhen in an even worse state than Wu Jian.

Ma Yuanwu was even stronger than Ye Zhen had imagined.

Just as Ma Yuanwu drove Ye Zhen into a dead end, he launched an Old Bear Slaps Tree toward Ye Zhen's vital chest and abdomen.

Ye Zhen's arms had already been shaken numb and sore. He could neither dodge nor retreat. He had just taken a blow head-on, and his arms had yet to recover. If he received this strike head-on, Ye Zhen would certainly lose.

In his urgency, Ye Zhen swept both palms across, ignoring the vital points of his chest and abdomen as he chopped toward Ma Yuanwu's throat.

If that strike landed, Ma Yuanwu would be severely injured even if he did not die.

But Ma Yuanwu was badly startled by Ye Zhen's desperate fighting style. He abruptly withdrew his step and pulled back his fist, dodging in a sorry state.

Was he that foolish as to risk his life against Ye Zhen?

Getting injured while risking his life against Ye Zhen at such a crucial time would be truly idiotic.

When Ye Zhen saw Ma Yuanwu dodge so awkwardly, his eyes suddenly lit up.

That was it—risking his life!

The ruthless feared the reckless, and the reckless feared those who did not fear death.

Ma Yuanwu was now Hundred Pine Peak's chosen seed. In three days, he would attempt the Fish Dragon Path in hopes of advancing to become an Outer Disciple. With Ma Yuanwu's Peak Blood Refining Third Level cultivation, he had an excellent chance of passing the Fish Dragon Path and advancing early into the ranks of Outer Disciples.

Therefore, before attempting the Fish Dragon Path, Ma Yuanwu was absolutely unwilling to suffer an injury—much less risk his life against Ye Zhen.

Having understood this, Ye Zhen's fist wind, which had been retreating and defending step by step, abruptly changed. Like a mad demon, he lunged at Ma Yuanwu.

If you attacked my head, I would neither dodge nor evade. I would let you strike, then break your leg with all my strength.

If you slashed at my throat, I would gouge out your eyes.

If you broke my leg, I would make you cough blood.

In short, Ye Zhen fought as if he were risking his life. Even if he had to suffer grievous wounds and vomit blood, he would leave Ma Yuanwu with a vicious blow.

This style of trading injury for injury instantly threw Ma Yuanwu into a flurry.

Ye Zhen's strength was no joke either. Four thousand jin of force—if it landed solidly, it could definitely break Ma Yuanwu's bones and make him cough blood.

That was a situation Ma Yuanwu desperately wanted to avoid.

For a time, the balance of superiority and inferiority reversed. Ye Zhen began chasing Ma Yuanwu down and beating him.

Ma Yuanwu was so furious he nearly vomited blood, but he simply could not summon the courage to risk his life against Ye Zhen.

In his eyes, sacrificing his chance to advance early into the ranks of Outer Disciples just to teach Ye Zhen a lesson was not worth it.

Smack!

Caught off guard, Ma Yuanwu was slightly too slow in retracting his move and falling back into defense. Ye Zhen kicked him so hard that he staggered back four or five steps.

"Hmph, I'm not fighting anymore. You're cheating!" Seizing the chance, Ma Yuanwu, so angry he was nearly vomiting blood, leaped out of the fighting circle. Ma Yuanwu was no fool either. He had seen through it—Ye Zhen had seized upon his weakness.

If they kept fighting like this, he might really end up being defeated by Ye Zhen because he was too constrained and hesitant.

But as Ye Zhen withdrew his fists and stood still, a sudden realization came over him.

Earlier, when he had faced Ma Yuanwu, he had known Ma Yuanwu was formidable. He had been cautious in every possible way and extremely careful, only to be pressed down and beaten by Ma Yuanwu. Yet once he had cast aside all restraint and begun fighting for his life, Ma Yuanwu had instead been pressed down and beaten by him.

Victory and defeat in battle did not seem to depend entirely on strength. It seemed to have something to do with the word "courage" as well.

Ye Zhen vaguely felt that this battle had helped him grasp something, but he could not put it into words.

"Still unconvinced? Then come again?" Ye Zhen beckoned, enraging Ma Yuanwu to the point of madness.

"When you win, you bully others. When you can't win, you say I'm cheating. Ma Yuanwu, is this all you're capable of?" Ye Zhen stood proudly, and the resentment clogging his chest eased considerably.

Still, he would settle this grudge sooner or later.

"Won! Good!" Having come to his senses, Sha Fei immediately cheered for Ye Zhen.

As long as Ye Zhen could contend with Ma Yuanwu, Sha Fei would no longer have to endure the bullying of Ma Yuanwu's group in the future.

Only now did the Menial Disciples awaken as if from a dream. They looked at Ye Zhen with both shock and delight, their gazes toward him completely transformed.

The defeated Ma Yuanwu was so stifled that he nearly vomited blood, yet he had nowhere to vent it. The feeling nearly drove him mad.

"Go, carry Wu Jian back to his room!"

Ma Yuanwu shouted angrily, but only a few Menial Disciples moved. This made Ma Yuanwu even more enraged. In the past, if he merely mentioned washing his feet, there would be no shortage of people scrambling to bring him foot-washing water. Yet after today's battle, no one listened to his words.

"Ye Zhen, just wait. Once I successfully pass the Fish Dragon Path in three days and advance to become an Outer Disciple, I'll take your life even if I have to face the wall in punishment!"

Amid curses and blows, Ma Yuanwu drove several Menial Disciples into carrying Wu Jian away.

The moment Ma Yuanwu left, the Menial Disciples remaining behind immediately became incomparably warm toward Ye Zhen.

They had begun calling him Senior Disciple Brother Ye. Some Menial Disciples who had once bullied Ye Zhen looked as though they wished they could bare their hearts to prove that they had only acted under Ma Yuanwu and Wu Jian's orders.

After casually responding with a few words, Ye Zhen shook his head and returned to his room. None of these people were worthwhile friends.

That fierce battle with Ma Yuanwu had brought him through several perilous moments and benefited him greatly. Ye Zhen needed to quietly reflect upon it.

The houses on the eastern side of Hundred Pine Peak were the finest residences on the entire peak. They had the best lighting and ventilation and were also the quietest. They were where Ma Yuanwu, Wu Jian, and the others lived.

"Senior Disciple Brother, just now you were clearly about to win. How did that piece of trash force you back in the blink of an eye?" Inside Wu Jian's room, a Menial Disciple asked in confusion.

At the mention of it, Ma Yuanwu's face twisted savagely. "That brat was too cunning. He calculated that I'll be attempting the Fish Dragon Path in three days and used a fighting style of trading injury for injury, risking his life against mine. Otherwise, hmph!"

Ma Yuanwu slammed his fist heavily onto the wooden table. With a boom, the table shattered into four pieces beneath his punch.

"Senior Disciple Brother, that trash Ye Zhen humiliated you so badly today. Are you really going to let him off so easily?"

"Senior Disciple Brother, you have to avenge me! If you don't deal with that trash Ye Zhen, he'll be shitting on your head from now on!" Wu Jian, lying on the bed, began to cry and complain again.

"Hmph, he wouldn't dare!" Ma Yuanwu roared.

"Wait three days. Just three more days. Once I pass the Fish Dragon Path and advance to become an Outer Disciple, I'll crush him outright!" Ma Yuanwu said furiously.

"Senior Disciple Brother, that trash Ye Zhen has always been useless. I remember that a month ago, he had not even reached the peak of Blood Refining First Level. How did he break through to the peak of Blood Refining Second Level in less than a month? And his combat strength is even catching up to yours, Senior Disciple Brother?" a Menial Disciple asked, greatly puzzled.

"Exactly!" Wu Jian wore a deeply aggrieved expression. "More than twenty days ago, when he came back after seeing his family, I snatched his bundle and he did not even dare let out a fart. But now..."

"Seeing his family?" Ma Yuanwu's heart suddenly stirred.

"That's it. It must have been that visit more than twenty days ago. That trash's family came to see him, so they must have brought him something good." Ma Yuanwu suddenly understood.

"A large amount of silver or medicinal pills. At the very least, Blood Origin Pills—perhaps even Replenishing Essence Qi Pills, which are more effective than Blood Origin Pills!"

Wu Jian suddenly cried out, "That's it, it must be so! Senior Disciple Brother, that trash is far too cunning! When he returned from seeing his family that day, he must have hidden the precious things his family gave him beforehand. Then over the past few days, he secretly took them out and consumed them, which is why his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds!"

At Wu Jian's words, Ma Yuanwu's expression also turned savage. "No wonder. When we searched his bundle that day, there were only some tattered clothes and rotten meat. So he had hidden the good things long ago. This bastard is truly hateful!"

Ma Yuanwu slashed his palm in fury, whipping the air with a hissing sound like a lash.

Wu Jian, who was lying in bed grinding his teeth in hatred, suddenly rolled his eyes. "Senior Disciple Brother, Ye Zhen must still have precious treasures left. Otherwise, with cultivation still inferior to yours, where would he get such confidence to contend against you, Senior Disciple Brother?"

"So what?" Ma Yuanwu asked in a low voice.

"Senior Disciple Brother, your cultivation has been stuck at the Peak Blood Refining Third Level for a long time. If you can obtain the medicinal pills Ye Zhen used for cultivation and make a push, perhaps you can break through to Blood Refining Fourth Level in one stroke and advance directly to become an Outer Disciple?" Wu Jian said darkly.

Ma Yuanwu's expression abruptly changed.

"Besides, Senior Disciple Brother, while you have a great chance of passing the Fish Dragon Path this year, you do not have absolute certainty, do you?" Wu Jian quietly added fuel to the fire.

Ma Yuanwu's expression turned fierce. "That's right. Tell me, what should we do?"

P.S. I uploaded quietly for several days, then suddenly realized that I can't avoid shouting. The crying child gets milk. Awooo, awooo, I want to eat... votes, clicks, favorites, awooo, awooo!

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