Pfft!
Shen Songyang's body jolted violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He staggered back several steps before finally steadying himself.
"What was that?"
Many people in the stands abruptly rose to their feet, their eyes full of shock.
"Was that Dark Strength?"
"My heavens, Dark Strength! Such a young Dark Strength martial artist!"
The people in the dining hall were equally stunned, horror filling their eyes. Though they were not Dark Strength martial artists, they had watched their senior brothers practice martial arts before.
Fang Mo was also shocked. Qin Muxue had actually reached Dark Strength.
So she truly was a favored daughter of heaven. No wonder the Qin Family had been so resolute about breaking off the engagement, even willing to give up the Fang Family, that massive source of wealth.
Qin Muxue had actually broken through to Dark Strength.
Breaking through to Dark Strength at her age, so long as nothing unexpected happened, meant she would surely become a Dan Jin Grandmaster Realm martial artist in the future, perhaps even a Post-Heaven Realm Great Grandmaster.
In all of Yunyang's population of several million, only a dozen or so Dan Jin Grandmaster Realm martial artists had emerged over the past century.
A single Grandmaster Realm martial artist could sustain a lineage's martial inheritance for a hundred years.
Quite a few people were already considering how to draw closer to the Qin Family. One person could bring prosperity to an entire family, and Qin Muxue's emergence might allow the Qin Family to develop at lightning speed.
"So you had already broken through to Dark Strength!"
Shen Songyang clutched his chest and slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with one hand. Loss and envy mingled on his pale face.
"I merely got lucky and broke through."
Qin Muxue smiled faintly and lightly brushed back the hair at her forehead. "Brother Shen, sorry for the trouble."
"There's nothing to apologize for. I admit defeat!"
Shen Songyang became composed instead. With a slight smile, he held his chest and limped toward the edge of the arena.
The Shen Family members hurried forward to support Shen Songyang. Being injured by Dark Strength was extremely dangerous; he needed treatment as soon as possible, or lasting damage could remain.
"What a spectacular battle! We have witnessed the birth of a new genius in Yunyang—the youngest Dark Strength martial artist in Yunyang!"
"Now, on behalf of the tournament, I announce that Qin Muxue is the champion of the Eight Great Martial Academies of Yunyang Competition! Everyone, cheer!"
The host onstage shouted excitedly. In the stands, quite a few people cheered. Qin Muxue stood upon the stage, beautiful as jade, a faint smile on her face as she looked proudly over the four directions and enjoyed this moment beneath the gaze of all.
"This is exactly her personality. She likes the radiance of being the center of attention."
Fang Mo watched Qin Muxue standing amid flowers and applause on the television, and sighed inwardly.
"Now, please welcome Ms. Luo Jiangyan of Yunkong Martial Academy in Ningjiang, a genius student of the academy, mother of the number one person on the Hundred Academies Heaven Ranking, and the youngest Dan Jin Grandmaster Realm martial artist on the Home Planet of our Galactic Federation in three hundred years, to present awards to the top three of the Martial Academy Competition!"
At that moment, the host shouted again. The image shifted and settled on the White-clothed woman seated among the crowd on the podium.
At once, everyone's breathing caught.
This woman's beauty was like a peerless painting drawn in an immortal realm. Her exquisite features seemed to have been traced by nature's finest brushwork, every curve revealing heaven's favor.
The custom-tailored white martial attire clung closely to her graceful figure. Rather than making her seem constrained in the slightest, it cleverly outlined the valiant bearing that belonged only to a martial artist.
Her elegant temperament seemed innate, as though every lift of her hand and every step she took could stir the spiritual energy in the air around her. One could not help but believe that she not only walked among mortals, but also moved with ease upon the misty, illusory summit of martial arts.
Amid the crowd, she was like a white lotus just beginning to bloom, rising leisurely from the pond—transcendent and untainted, making everything around her pale into insignificance.
Qin Muxue was beautiful, but compared with this woman, she seemed far more ordinary. It was not merely her features; she lacked that unique aura.
One was a beauty of the mortal world; the other, a mysterious immortal maiden of the ninth heavens!
"It's her!"
Fang Mo felt as if 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 Dan Jin Grandmaster Realm martial artist on the Galactic Federation's Home Planet 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 clicked his tongue inwardly. He had not even reached Bright Force yet—who knew when he would reach Dan Jin?
They were people from two entirely different worlds!
Yet for some reason, as the face on the television merged with the image in his mind, an intense fighting spirit suddenly rose within him.
She was only a Dan Jin Grandmaster Realm martial artist!
He believed it would not take long. One day, he would definitely stand before her and ask, "We meet again!"
If Fang Mo had once trained like a madman only in pursuit of martial arts, he now had another goal.
His motivation grew even stronger. He quickly finished his meal, found a quiet place to rest with his eyes closed for a while, then returned to the courtyard to train again.
That afternoon, Guan Lie returned with the disciples!
Guan Lie did not look pleased. During this visit to watch the Martial Academy competition, every Martial Hall had been crushed by the Martial Academies. Not only were there seven or eight Bright Force peak experts, there was even an eighteen-year-old Dark Strength expert. This made the Martial Hall practitioners feel rather humiliated.
"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 that you've seen the gap between yourselves and others, why aren't you rising in hot pursuit?"
His stern gaze swept over the disciples. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he returned to the rear courtyard in a huff.
Feng Qingyuan, Miao Ping, and the others looked at one another, feeling as though they had suffered a disaster for no reason. Had they known, they would not have gone to watch. They had truly brought trouble upon themselves.
Still, everyone had been somewhat shaken. They had always felt that they were quite formidable.
But after today's comparison, the difference truly was not merely a little.
Thus, everyone gritted their teeth and trained bitterly, working even harder than usual.
Normally, when Fang Mo trained until eight o'clock, no one else remained. Today, when he finished, several people were still training.
He left at the usual time, went home to soak in the bath, and after eating, he could train for another three hours.
[Tiger Subduing Stance: Entering the Hall (285/5000)] [Tiger Subduing Fist: Beginner's First Practice (78/100)]
Fang Mo looked at the Bronze Mirror information in his mind. Tomorrow, Tiger Subduing Fist could enter its next realm. Still, training both at once affected his progress somewhat. If he trained only Tiger Subduing Fist, he could enter the next realm in two days.
"Uncle Liu, another ten buns!"
Fang Mo arrived at the bun stall and called out to Uncle Liu, who was busy at work.
"Coming!"
Uncle Liu walked over and quickly took ten steaming buns from the steamer. Smiling, he said:
"These beef buns were just wrapped today. They're fresh!"
"Thanks, Uncle Liu!"
Fang Mo handed over the money and accepted 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 everyone else. Instead, they went around him and stepped forward.
"You, come here. Have you seen this person?"
One thug pointed at Boss 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 killed last time had been carrying this same kind of photograph.
Uncle Liu craned his neck and looked at it under the light. He could not help glancing at Fang Mo, then immediately chuckled and said:
"Never seen him!"
"You really haven't seen him? If we find out that you have, and you refuse to tell us, you'll be in for a world of hurt!"
The thug glared viciously at Boss Liu.
"Really haven't seen him. If I had, wouldn't I have told you?"
Boss Liu replied with a chuckle.
Only then did the thug let it go. Staring at Boss Liu, he said:
"If you spot this person, 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!"
Boss 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 quickly backing off.
Uncle Liu quietly signaled Fang Mo to leave at once.
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 aftermath of killing those two men had arrived.
"Looks like I can't stay here any longer!"
These people had traced things here. Soon, they might be able to trace them to him.
After all, when he had first arrived, quite a few people had seen him.
He quickened his pace, returned to the small courtyard, packed some necessities, and prepared to leave first thing the next morning.
Before you continue