Victory

An army has no fixed formation, Water has no fixed shape, Water is supremely good and supremely gentle; its nature is unbroken and all-encompassing.

When slight, it is soundless;

When vast, it surges violently.

Zhang Qingyuan's Water Essence Art had already reached the fourth layer, And he had comprehended a trace of water's true intent.

As the saying went, the highest good was like water: water benefited all things without contending, embracing and accommodating all things with its supremely good and gentle nature.

At this moment, Following that faint, ineffable insight in his heart, Zhang Qingyuan went with the current and pushed the boat onward. Driven by the abundant spirit essence of the Water Essence Art within his body, he unleashed the final and most lethal move of the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist!

The originally unrelated cultivation method and martial skill

Had, at this moment, fused together, Complementing one another.

Guided by that thread of insight in his heart, he naturally unleashed an earth-shattering strike!

The air within several zhang around him

Was stirred by Zhang Qingyuan

As though it had transformed into a mountain weighing countless thousands of jin, crashing down from the high altitude!

The heavy air

Gathered between his hands, Like an enormous, weighty iron hammer, Almost tangible!

At this moment, Seeing this from the platform, even Headmaster Liu, an expert of the True Essence Realm with broad knowledge and experience, could not help but slightly change expression.

A surge of astonishment rose in his heart!

"Fusing them into one, creating a masterstroke with deft hands—he can actually reach such a level!"

As an expert of the True Essence Realm, He could naturally see

That Zhang Qingyuan on the arena had encountered an opportunity akin to enlightenment in that instant, fusing the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist, which had already reached major accomplishment and was nearing perfection, with the fourth-layer Water Essence Art!

Water Essence Power

Was supremely good and supremely gentle, But if immense water essence gathered together and was wielded like a mountain crashing down, how could the force it brought be limited to merely countless thousands of jin?

"He actually possesses such talent. If possible, perhaps..."

Headmaster Liu's eyes

Flickered slightly, As though he were thinking of something.

Meanwhile, Two figures flashed across the arena like wind, thunder, and lightning.

Facing Yao Ping's fierce and violent Tiger Sha God Slaying Claw, Zhang Qingyuan neither retreated nor dodged. His fused and integrated strike, like mountains splitting and seas overturning, came crashing down from above!

A vast and mighty force

Like a surging tsunami, bore down with the great power to twist the void!

Collapsing Mountain!

BOOM!!!

A terrifying explosion erupted as waves of spirit essence shockwaves swept outward, like torrents of trembling mountain floods rolling across level ground in all directions.

The force of countless thousands of jin erupted at the point of collision, A power sufficient to tear apart steel, Transforming into air waves that surged outward.

Under the clash of such immense and terrifying force, the ground itself split apart, web-like cracks spreading in every direction.

Smoke and dust shrouded the area.

Under the tremendous collision, the surrounding disciples could not help but take a step back, yet their eyes remained fixed on the arena.

They were desperate to learn the final victor of this great battle, A black shadow suddenly flew backward out of the smoke and dust, falling outside the arena.

It rolled several times, then collapsed onto the ground, unable to rise again.

A breeze blew in from somewhere unknown, sweeping away the smoke and dust on the arena.

Zhang Qingyuan's figure stood conspicuously at the center. Aside from his clothes appearing somewhat disheveled, he showed no other signs of injury. He stood there with a calm expression, as though nothing had happened.

He had won!

Using the most basic martial techniques, Zhang Qingyuan had head-on defeated the Entry-tier Martial Skill unleashed by Yao Ping, who was known as Lesser Invincible among those of the same level within the Seventeenth Branch!

This outcome

was beyond the expectations of most of the branch disciples present!

Every one of them wore an expression of utter shock.

When Yao Ping had unleashed that final Entry-tier Martial Skill, everyone had thought Zhang Qingyuan was certain to lose. Yet they had never expected that seemingly fierce and powerful Entry-tier Martial Skill to be forcefully shattered by Zhang Qingyuan's most basic fist technique!

What they had expected even less

was that Zhang Qingyuan, who had once been so ordinary and inconspicuous within the branch, would possess such strength

after advancing to the Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level!

"He's too strong! With Senior Brother Zhang's strength, even cultivators at the late Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level are probably not his match!"

A fellow sect disciple exclaimed.

"Indeed. His foundation is simply too solid. So basic Cultivation Methods and martial techniques can wield such formidable power once they reach a certain degree!"

One disciple

sighed from the bottom of his heart.

"Heh, that Yao Ping always struts around with his nose in the air, acting like he's second only to heaven. I wonder what he'll think when he wakes up!"

"I never noticed before that Senior Brother Zhang had always worked this hard! It's only natural that he achieved such results!"

"Yeah! Come to think of it, while everyone else was playing around, Senior Brother Zhang seemed to have been quietly cultivating and improving all along!"

"With three or four times the effort of an ordinary person, how could he possibly not be strong!"

The crowd below the stage

quickly erupted into noise following Zhang Qingyuan's victory.

They discussed it animatedly.

They were both thrilled to have witnessed such a high-level battle and astonished by the results of Zhang Qingyuan's diligent cultivation. Some disciples who had originally been dispirited even found their fighting spirit rekindled by Zhang Qingyuan's path of rise!

"Enough. Quiet down and take Yao Ping away to treat his injuries."

At this moment, Headmaster Liu finally spoke, bringing the commotion in the square to a halt.

Dozens of eyes from throughout the branch gathered on Headmaster Liu.

Several disciples who were on good terms with Yao Ping exchanged glances, then carried the unconscious Yao Ping away.

Seeing that all the branch disciples in the arena had calmed down, Headmaster Liu spoke:

"In this battle, Zhang Qingyuan is the victor!"

Ignoring the restless Outer Sect Disciples below, Headmaster Liu continued:

"This Seat remembers that two months ago, Zhang Qingyuan had only just entered the Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level. Yet today, you have all seen his strength."

"The Outer Sect Grand Competition is drawing near, and every one of you is preparing for it."

"While you are slacking off, someone may very well be quietly surpassing you."

"The path of cultivation is like rowing against the current—if you do not advance, you will fall back."

"The road is blocked and long. How fast and how far a cultivator can travel has much to do with personal talent. But This Seat knows that many among you have not even worked hard enough to reach the point where you need to compete in talent!"

"After you return, take Zhang Qingyuan as your example and cultivate diligently. When the Outer Sect Grand Competition begins, do not bring shame upon the Seventeenth Branch!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples below the stage

all respectfully bowed.

"Yes, we shall obey the Headmaster's decree!"

Headmaster Liu nodded slightly.

"Today's grand gathering ends here. You may all disperse."

He dismissed the assembly.

Then his gaze looked towards Zhang Qingyuan in the field.

"Zhang Qingyuan, come with me."

Zhang Qingyuan, who had originally been preparing to leave, froze for a moment.

"Yes."

Under the envious gazes of several Outer Sect Disciples, he followed Headmaster Liu's footsteps up Chaoyang Peak.