After handing over the silver.
Chief Constable Yan clasped his hands and laughed heartily.
"Congratulations, Brother Yang! Once you become a True Disciple, don't forget about me!"
Luo Wen stared at his boss in astonishment. Since when had this taciturn, iron-willed man become so obsequious?
But when it dawned on him, his heart jolted too, and he looked at Yang Mang in surprise.
A True Disciple?
That explained everything. The True Disciples of Dragon Roar Martial Hall were essentially the city's Organ Refining martial artists ten years down the line.
There had never been an exception in three hundred years.
Chief Constable Yan was indeed far-sighted to befriend a martial artist with such potential.
Besides, Yang Mang was so young... The Martial Hall valued him so highly that in the future, he might even surpass the Organ Refining Realm!
"Brother Yan, you're too kind. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word!"
Yang Mang weighed the silver, feeling its satisfying heft in his palm, and spoke with a pleased smile.
Lately, everything had been going his way.
He had never enjoyed being the center of attention like this before, and he had to admit, it was going to his head a little.
But Yang Mang understood perfectly well that he owed it all to Dragon Roar Martial Hall.
The status of a True Disciple carried tremendous weight in Dragon Spring City!
But status aside, in the end, everything still came down to one's own strength!
And he had certainly lived up to expectations. Just the day before yesterday, he had broken through to the Bone Refining Realm with ease, stunning everyone in the Martial Hall. Even Pavilion Master Long Wuhui had praised him.
The Pavilion Master was even preparing to take him on as a True Disciple!
Thinking of those few Registered Disciples who had entered the Martial Hall at the same time as him, they had probably been left far behind by now.
That feeling of being a cut above the rest...
It felt pretty good.
Suddenly.
A commotion broke out inside the Martial Hall.
A gray-robed disciple happened to be passing by, and Yang Mang asked him:
"Junior Brother, what's going on?"
"Senior Brother Yang! Boss Wu Tianlong issued a Life-Death Order to a Registered Disciple, and the other guy actually accepted! They say the fight's about to start. Someone's going to die!"
The gray-robed disciple looked thrilled, as if he couldn't wait to see the world in chaos.
Yang Mang froze.
He had carefully read the Martial Hall's handbook for newcomers.
Once a Life-Death Order was issued, if someone dared to accept it, one of them was bound to die!
Though he hadn't been in the Martial Hall long, Yang Mang had often heard the name of Boss Wu Tianlong.
He was a Bone Refining martial artist.
Hailed as the strongest beneath the True Disciples!
Yang Mang had only just entered the Bone Refining Realm and knew he was no match for Wu Tianlong.
Among the Registered Disciples, who would dare accept Wu Tianlong's Life-Death Order?!
"Senior Brother Yang, the one who accepted the Life-Death Order seems to have competed against you before. You're from the same batch. What's his name... Li Qiming, the one who came first in the last assessment..."
The gray-robed disciple explained.
"Li Qiming?"
Yang Mang remembered him, though not very clearly.
"Has he gone mad? He's only in the Blood Refining Realm, yet he dares accept Wu Tianlong's Life-Death Order?! His opponent's a Bone Refining martial artist!"
"They say he couldn't stand seeing Boss Wu Tianlong bully people, so he stepped forward. And Li Qiming's a tough one, too. It only took a few words for him to accept the Life-Death Order!"
Yang Mang furrowed his brow.
Li Qiming had entered the Martial Hall in the same batch as him, after all... With his current status as a "prospective True Disciple," he ought to be able to save Li Qiming from Wu Tianlong!
Mm... Once I become a True Disciple, I should also gather some people around me in private. Li Qiming stood out in the assessment, so he'd be an excellent choice.
Maybe he could become my right-hand man someday.
"Come on. Take me there!"
Yang Mang grabbed the gray-robed disciple by the arm and hurried into the Martial Hall. He was afraid that if he was even a moment too late, Li Qiming would be beaten to death!
The black-robed Elite Disciples behind him had also pieced together what was going on. Excited, they hurried after him, all eager to watch the spectacle.
"Boss, shall we go take a look too?"
Luo Wen found it rather interesting. A Blood Refining martial artist dared to take on a Bone Refining one?
Li Qiming was a tough guy!
"Mm. Let's go."
Yan Wu was terse with his subordinates.
The ring in the Martial Arts Arena.
Two figures stood facing each other.
"Kid, if you kneel down and beg me now, I might consider sparing your life!"
Wu Tianlong watched as more and more disciples gathered around them. He deliberately held back, instead speaking in an unhurried, arrogant tone.
Today, he would show these Registered Disciples who was boss!
Even if his opponent really did kneel and beg, he would still die today!
"Can we start?"
Li Qiming asked, his expression unreadable.
He couldn't be bothered to waste words.
He just wanted to punch the other man to death.
"Heh. In such a hurry to die? The duel began the moment you stepped into the ring."
Wu Tianlong chuckled. Seeing that his opponent was unarmed, he kindly reminded him, "You're really going to fight me like that?"
"You're not worthy."
"Mm? Not worthy of what?"
Wu Tianlong was frowning.
Boom!
Li Qiming drove his foot down with a light stomp. The entire ring seemed to tremble!
Wu Tianlong's scalp went numb, and his heart lurched in terror!
Is that the strength of a Blood Refining martial artist?
Before he could think it through, Li Qiming's figure appeared before him in a flash, like a specter.
His terrifying fist hadn't even landed yet, but the wind it stirred up already filled Wu Tianlong with mortal terror!
At the same time, Li Qiming's quiet murmur reached his ears.
"You're not worthy of making me draw my blade."
Boom!
The punch slammed into Wu Tianlong's head.
His entire head exploded!
Like a scarlet firework bursting into bloom!
Wu Tianlong was dead!
--
The crowd had been in an uproar.
Now, everyone fell silent.
They stared at the ink-robed figure on the ring.
For a moment, no one could find the words.
"O-one punch? He killed a Bone Refining martial artist instantly?"
"Hiss—Is this really the combat strength of someone in the Blood Refining Realm?!"
"Boss Wu Tianlong was a Bone Refining martial artist, and his Shadowless Blade had reached great mastery. He didn't even get a chance to strike against Li Qiming!"
"To kill a Bone Refining martial artist so easily... Li Qiming's combat strength must be on par with a True Disciple."
Everyone realized that Li Qiming was the strongest beneath the True Disciples!
Just then, they noticed that the ink robe Li Qiming wore was the uniform of the Chief Elite Disciple!
Li Qiming was the true boss!
When Yang Mang arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, he saw Li Qiming kill his opponent with a single punch.
His whole body shuddered, and he froze in place.
He stared at the ink-robed figure on the ring, his heart in turmoil.
Only now did he realize how laughable it had been to think of taking Li Qiming on as a subordinate.
Li Qiming's punch had shattered the pride he'd taken in being a prodigy.
If he let his guard down even a little, someone would crush him beneath their heel!
On the path of martial arts, strength alone was the foundation...
-
"This Li Qiming—if we get the chance, we need to befriend him. If we can't, then we absolutely mustn't offend him!"
Chief Constable Yan's eyes widened as he warned the talented constable beside him.
But the usually talkative genius constable was now silent as a stone.
Yan Wu turned to look and saw Luo Wen's face full of shock. Then a look of defeat settled over him, as if he'd been struck a crushing blow.
"I never believed the rumors before, but after seeing this today... Dragon Roar Martial Hall really is full of hidden talents. Geniuses keep emerging one after another."
Luo Wen murmured, his face downcast.
A Blood Refining martial artist fighting a Bone Refining one, killing him with a single punch and ignoring all that Gang Qi... It was completely beyond Luo Wen's understanding!
How had Li Qiming done it?
Yan Wu's lips curled. Nothing could humble a proud genius like meeting an even more terrifying one.
After seeing Li Qiming's talent, Luo Wen would surely settle down and train hard.
That was a good thing.
Before you continue