After several rounds of competition, only Yin Shanshan, Senior Brother Li, Chen Mo, and Luo Heng remained. The four paired off in two matches, locked in fierce combat.
Yin Shanshan was first to take the field, challenging Senior Brother Li. He held back for several exchanges, and the two traded blows back and forth.
Chen Mo knew that if Senior Brother Li fought with all his might, Yin Shanshan wouldn't last more than five or six exchanges.
Master Yin sat ramrod straight at the sidelines, his expression calm and unruffled. He knew that Yin Shanshan had already done well to make it this far.
Since ancient times, female martial artists had been few and far between, and even fewer women had ever placed in the Martial Examination.
"Senior Brother, I concede."
Yin Shanshan suddenly stopped and clasped her fists.
Senior Brother Li paused, then glanced toward Yin Tianqing. When the latter gave a slight nod, he too halted his techniques, said, "I concede," and stepped beyond the boundary.
The senior and junior disciples were all taken aback, but soon turned their attention to the last match.
Chen Mo walked slowly onto the field and looked at Luo Heng, who had already leaped into the ring. His gaze was steady. As soon as Yin Tianqing said, "Begin," he raised his hand and threw a punch.
Stone-Crushing Strike gathered in his fist as he drove it forward.
Across from him, a Hanshan Fist came crashing in.
Bam! Bam!
One punch was all it took!
Luo Heng was sent flying backward. His feet nearly scraped sparks from the ground, and he only managed to stop half a step short of the boundary.
Astonished gazes fell on Chen Mo.
Even Yin Tianqing's heart gave a slight jolt.
Could I really have misjudged him before? he wondered. In just over ten days, he's gone from the mid-stage of Ming Jin to the late stage. That's incredibly fast, far beyond Luo Heng's pace. But his foundation is clearly...
At the edge of the ring, Luo Heng was struck with dread. He knew that even though he'd managed to take one punch by sheer luck, he wouldn't withstand a second. He immediately reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small white bottle.
He quickly poured three red pills from the bottle.
"Increase-Strength Pills?!"
Yue Lun recognized them. They could temporarily boost one's strength and were often taken at critical moments in battle, but they came with side effects.
A vicious glint appeared in Luo Heng's eyes. He shoved all three pills into his mouth. Once they reached his stomach, veins bulged along his neck, and his face flushed crimson.
"Usually, you're only supposed to take one or two Increase-Strength Pills at a time. He swallowed three in one go? He's asking to die..."
Someone pointed out how reckless Luo Heng's move was.
Yin Tianqing looked as though he wanted to say something, but held back.
The Tianqing Martial Hall didn't forbid taking medicine during a fight. Anyone who did so had to accept the consequences.
Chen Mo's expression remained calm as he watched.
In the next instant, Luo Heng's muscles shuddered violently. He charged forward in several long strides, closing in on Chen Mo.
The power of Hanshan Fist gathered in his hand, and he struck in a flash.
A mountain-crushing pressure bore down!
Not far away, Yin Shanshan furrowed her brows, the corners twitching faintly.
Watching that not particularly burly figure, she murmured so softly it was barely audible, "Can he take it...?"
At that moment, Chen Mo pivoted on both feet and suddenly threw a punch.
The first form of Fuhu Fist, Stone-Crushing Strike!
Bam!
Their fists collided. Their energies burst apart in an instant, becoming a rippling ring of explosive sound that spread outward.
Yin Shanshan felt the wave of fist energy sweep past her ear and couldn't help but feel alarmed.
She looked up again.
Chen Mo stood as firm as a mountain, while Luo Heng had been forced back a step.
As Luo Heng retreated, Chen Mo seized the opening, spun, and closed in. The power of Flowing Cloud Attack erupted from his palm, pouring out like a surging flood.
Pfft!
His palm struck Luo Heng in the chest, and a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips. His body flew beyond the boundary like a kite with its string cut.
Zhou Pi went over and helped him up. Luo Heng's face had already turned somewhat pale, and the effects of the Increase-Strength Pills quickly wore off as his injuries took their toll.
Yin Tianqing waved in displeasure, signaling for Zhou Pi to help Luo Heng out of the inner hall and let him rest.
From beginning to end, Chen Mo had thrown only three punches.
He calmly walked off the field, feeling the astonished gazes of his fellow disciples land on him.
Yue Lun came over and patted him on the shoulder. "Junior Brother, you've really opened my eyes. Give it time, and if you reach Dark Jin, my fighting strength will be no better than Luo Heng's in front of you."
Chen Mo gave a wry smile. "You flatter me, Senior Brother Yue. I'm afraid I'll never cross the chasm to Dark Jin."
The difference between Ming Jin and Dark Jin was only one realm, yet crossing it was enough to elevate an ordinary martial artist into the ranks of county-level experts.
Countless Ming Jin martial artists could throw thousands upon thousands of punches and circle the post a thousand times over, yet still fail to catch even a glimpse of Dark Jin.
That showed just how hard it was to advance in martial arts.
And above Dark Jin were realms such as Hua Jin.
At that moment, Yin Tianqing walked over to Chen Mo and gave a slight nod, but said nothing. Then his gaze swept across the field.
The atmosphere tightened.
Everyone knew that although Master Yin didn't forbid pills, he would never want to see anyone take them as recklessly as Luo Heng had.
Fortunately, the competition had ended without further incident.
"Now that the competition is over, Li Xuan and Chen Mo, the winners, will join Yue Lun to compete in this Martial Examination."
"I hope the three of you can bring the Tianqing Martial Hall some good news and lift the gloom that's been hanging over us lately." Yin Tianqing managed a faint smile as he spoke, but his face quickly darkened again.
Everyone knew why.
Ji Chang leaned close to Chen Mo and murmured, "Zhang Chong hasn't come to the hall in almost a month."
In this world, nothing was more taboo than betraying one's sect.
Zhang Chong had been engaged to Yin Shanshan, yet he had married into the Zhao Family and would now compete in the Martial Examination on their behalf.
If he encountered a disciple of the Tianqing Martial Hall, he likely wouldn't hold back.
Yin Tianqing's gaze swept over them again, pausing for a moment on each of Yue Lun, Li Xuan, and Chen Mo.
Of the three, Yue Lun had already reached Dark Jin, but he was still far from matching Zhang Chong. In their last few clashes, Yue Lun had often failed to last ten exchanges.
As for Li Xuan and Chen Mo, Yin Tianqing felt they might not even qualify to face Zhang Chong.
His despondent gaze turned into a silent sigh, and Yin Tianqing walked out of the martial hall without a word.
Chen Mo then headed to the post he usually practiced at, ready to work on his footwork and train his punches.
Yin Shanshan came over. By the time he stopped his footwork, she was standing in front of him. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Chen."
Ji Chang rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have seen wrong.
When had Yin Shanshan ever congratulated anyone?
The only exception had been Zhang Chong, whenever he made progress in his training.
Chen Mo returned her salute. "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Yin Shanshan gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
That's it? What's going on with those two? Ji Chang wondered.
Just then, Yin Shanshan turned back. "Oh, right, Junior Brother Chen. I have a few things I'd like you to look at. Do you have time?"
Chen Mo thought for a moment, then nodded.
Yin Shanshan wouldn't try to harm him.
With that, Yin Shanshan led Chen Mo into an inner room, her private resting place. Whenever she tired of training, she would come here to rest and regulate her breathing.
He watched as she searched through a rosewood cabinet. A moment later, she took out two small bottles and a wooden brocade box and handed them to Chen Mo.
What does this mean...? Chen Mo wondered.
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