008 Displaying Divine Might

008 Displaying Great Might

On the martial arts field, the martial pupils filed in one after another, though their expressions varied greatly. The children of wealthy families wore sneers, their eyes predatory, while the commoner children looked as if they were mourning their own parents, their faces etched with bitterness and anxiety.

Off to the side, a tall youth with bright, piercing eyes sat in the best seat of the arena, surrounded by a group of followers, watching the entrance like a dragon coiled or a tiger crouched.

"There are twenty-two commoner pupils in total, and sixteen have already agreed to contribute their monthly shares for our use."

A youth with a triangular face reported to Zhao Feng with a smug expression.

"Six remain, hm? They are far too ignorant of the times. Today, we shall let them know the consequences of failing to cooperate with us," Zhao Feng said coldly.

"I'll make sure they're spitting out teeth by the time we're done with them!"

Zhao Feng's eyes suddenly flickered. "Hm? Isn't that the brat Zhang He? He actually came again? Wait, what happened to the birthmark on his forehead?"

At the entrance, Zhang He and his two companions walked in slowly.

"This kid is truly like a rock in a latrine—stinking and hard. He actually dares to show his face. There's no need for Young Master Zhao to act this time; I'll teach him a lesson myself!"

Beside him, a short, stocky youth with muscles like iron knots cracked his knuckles.

"Hm? Isn't that Zhang He?" Wang Fengjie suddenly frowned slightly.

"Ha, it really is that brat. Wasn't he beaten to within an inch of his life last time? How did he recover so quickly? He actually dares to come back?" Wang Fengying, standing nearby, gloated. "Hey, that birthmark on his forehead seems to be gone. Hmm, he actually has the makings of a pretty boy now."

Wang Fengjie and Wang Fengying were both from the Wang family.

"Fengying, Zhang He is also a member of our Wang family," Wang Fengjie said, looking at her with dissatisfaction. "Although his cultivation is low, he has a strong backbone. Zhao Feng bullying him like this is, in effect, bullying our Wang family. If things go like last time, we must step in to help Zhang He."

"Help him? He was already cast out of the family, and the Patriarch hasn't looked for him in all these years; he's clearly been stripped of his status as the legitimate eldest heir! Strictly speaking, he isn't even a member of our family anymore."

Wang Fengying refused without hesitation. "Besides, the Zhao family is a prestigious house, while our Wang family is merely a noble clan. To offend Zhao Feng for someone who isn't even considered part of the family is to offend the Zhao family. The family ranking assessment is coming up soon; angering the Zhao family would be extremely detrimental to our Wang family's push for prestigious status. If the Patriarch finds out, he will surely punish us."

Wang Fengjie sighed softly, a flash of conflict crossing his eyes. It was true; after the martial pupil assessment came the family tournament. The Wang family was preparing to strive for prestigious status, and offending the Zhao family would certainly be disastrous for their advancement.

Wang Fengjie knew his uncle's temperament all too well; he would absolutely never approve of such an action.

Hm? Zhang He actually returned?

A beautiful young girl, hearing the surrounding chatter, couldn't help but lift her head to look. Sure enough, that familiar figure appeared at the entrance. Seeing Zhang He, she couldn't help but sigh. This fool, he was beaten so badly last time, why did he come back?

Why am I still worrying about him! Her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly realized that she and he were now like strangers. There was no longer any relationship between them; what did his life or death have to do with her?

The girl's brow smoothed out, and she continued talking to her female companion as if nothing had happened, not sparing Zhang He another glance.

Everyone found their places and sat down.

The black-faced instructor stood on the martial arts field, scanned the pupils, cleared his throat, and said, "The old rules apply. Today, we continue to learn techniques for combat. Now, I would like a few pupils to come up and demonstrate what we learned last time. Which student is willing to volunteer?"

The commoner pupils immediately shrank back. Zhang He remained calm and composed.

The black-faced instructor scanned the crowd, his eyes flashing with mockery as he saw the commoner children cowering. However, he paused when he noticed one figure sitting there, completely unbothered. He looked closer—it was Zhang He!

When he looked at Zhang He, Zhang He actually met his gaze.

The instructor felt a faint, hidden displeasure in his heart. What was this attitude from Zhang He?

"Zhang He, you seem eager to try. Come out and give it a go," the instructor said with a sour tone. The crowd erupted in murmurs; everyone could hear that the instructor was extremely dissatisfied with Zhang He.

Fatty Tang looked back and saw Zhang He sitting ramrod straight. In the middle of the crowd, didn't that make him stand out like a crane in a flock of chickens? Fatty Tang grew anxious and immediately tugged at Zhang He, signaling him to keep a low profile. Wang Dachui, sitting nearby, remained silent, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

"Tang Risong, why don't you come up and try as well?" The instructor had seen Fatty Tang's small movements, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes.

Fatty Tang gave an awkward smile. "Instructor, with my few pounds of flesh, how could I shoulder such a heavy responsibility? Perhaps we should choose someone else."

Seeing Fatty Tang act this way, the instructor seemed determined to make things difficult for him. He said with a sinister edge, "Martial cultivation requires vigorous advancement. If you are so timid and hesitant, how can you ever become a talent? Get down here!"

Fatty Tang's face turned green. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he couldn't retreat any further, so he had to step onto the field. He cursed inwardly, realizing that a sound beating today seemed unavoidable.

Zhang He watched the instructor, his brow furrowing slightly. The instructor had always been picking on the commoner pupils; he knew full well that the wealthy children would take the opportunity to bully others, yet he pretended not to see. A sense of anger rose in his heart.

As expected, the instructor pointed out another pupil from the group of wealthy children. That pupil was Xu Le, who followed Zhao Feng around.

"Begin. Re-enact the moves we learned last time," the instructor commanded.

Xu Le cracked his knuckles and stepped forward with a sneer.

Seeing this, Fatty Tang couldn't help but shiver. "Let's make a deal. I'll give you two bottles of my body-tempering liquid if you can go easy on me?"

Xu Le had already shed his skin three times and was nearing the Bone-Refining stage. He possessed the strength of three stones. How could Fatty Tang possibly be his match!

"Hand over all three bottles, and I might go a little easier on you," Xu Le said greedily.

Fatty Tang was in a bind. He was only a little bit away from breaking through to the Skin-Tempering stage. If he gave everything to Xu Le, his hope of breaking through would become even more remote.

Seeing Fatty Tang hesitate, Xu Le's expression changed. "I've already given you a chance. Since you won't cooperate, don't blame me for what happens."

Hearing this, Fatty Tang's anger flared. "Damn it! I'll risk this hide of mine—if you want to fight, I'll fight you!"

Xu Le was stunned, and the fatty opposite him charged forward. Although he was fat, he was quite agile, and he moved with great momentum. With a 'Wild Ox Charge,' he stepped right in front of Xu Le and threw a fierce punch toward his face.

Xu Le flicked his body, his arm striking like a cleaver as he hacked viciously at Fatty Tang's arm.

"Ah!"

Fatty Tang let out a miserable shriek. Xu Le followed up with a sharp turn, driving a heavy punch into the small of the fatty's back. The fatty groaned again, rolling away violently, his face instantly drained of all color.

Xu Le's strikes were just like the ones Zhao Feng had used on him that day; the moment he made a move, he aimed to beat the person to death.

Zhang He stood up abruptly. "Instructor, we are just sparring. Is it necessary to use such ruthless force?"

The instructor glanced at Zhang He and said coldly, "Since it is a sparring match, it is inevitable that one might lose their sense of proportion. As long as no one dies, there is no problem. What? If you have an opinion, why don't you come down and try it yourself?"

"Fine." A fierce look flashed in Zhang He's eyes. The instructor was clearly favoring Xu Le and his group. He rose directly from his seat and walked down to the training arena.

The others were stunned. Had Zhang He lost his mind? Was he actually stepping forward to throw his life away?

The surprise of the commoner students, the contempt of the wealthy students, the astonishment of the Wang brothers, and the shock of Gan Tian'er—everyone stared at Zhang He with a variety of expressions.

Xu Le stopped his assault. Fatty Tang lay on the ground, groaning and struggling to catch his breath. Zhang He first helped him to the side, where Wang Dachui came down to look after him.

Zhang He returned to the training arena.

"Zhang He, you really don't know what death is. Was the lesson from last time not enough for you? You really are..." Xu Le looked at Zhang He with contempt.

"Bang!"

Xu Le was sent flying violently. Zhang He slowly retracted his hand, his face expressionless. "Next time we fight, don't talk so much nonsense!"

Everyone present was dumbfounded. This... what on earth was going on?

"That was a sneak attack! Zhang He is too shameless! That was a sneak attack!"

"He didn't say a word, how could he just start fighting? Too shameless!"

The wealthy students immediately began to clamor loudly.

"Zhang He, how could you launch a surprise attack?" the instructor also said with dissatisfaction.

"When fighting someone, does the enemy have to be fully prepared before you can engage?" Zhang He asked with a half-smile. The instructor was instantly rendered speechless.

Wang Fengjie and Wang Fengying exchanged glances, both feeling it was incredible. Even if it were a sneak attack, it shouldn't have produced such power; Xu Le had been thrown over a yard away. That required immense strength! It could only mean that Zhang He possessed great power.

"His attack speed and strength just now are no longer what someone at the third stage of the Force Martial Realm should possess. Could it be that he has broken through his realm?"

In the crowd, Gan Tian'er saw this scene and dismissed it with disdain: "Taking advantage of someone when they are unprepared—a victory without honor." She simply assumed this was the result of Zhang He catching him off guard.

However, those with some experience knew that Xu Le had been beaten without any power to counterattack. Beyond Zhang He catching him off guard, the more important factor was that Zhang He's strength was sufficient and his speed was fast!

A cold sneer appeared on Zhao Feng's face. "No wonder he dares to be so arrogant; so he has improved his realm. But... to be this arrogant just after a breakthrough, he will die even more miserably."

"Young Master Zhao, let me go and meet him." The man with the triangular face beside him, named Han Zhao, volunteered. Zhao Feng nodded, and Han Zhao walked down to the arena.

"Zhang He, commoners won't go far in cultivation. Since you've broken through your realm, you should know that it didn't come easily. You should keep your tail tucked between your legs. Once the Martial Pupil assessment is over, you could secure a decent ranking and live a plain, simple life—that is your best path. You really don't know how to conduct yourself. Today, you are destined to pay a painful price for your arrogance."

Han Zhao tossed his head, adopting a condescending air as he spoke to Zhang He.

"Less talk. Do you believe that you won't last three moves under my hand?" Zhang He said coldly.

"What? He said Han Zhao wouldn't last three moves under his hand?"

"Did I hear that right? Is that what Zhang He said?"

"Heaven wants one to perish, it must first make them mad. He just broke through his cultivation and is already this arrogant; Zhang He is looking for his own death."

The Martial Pupils erupted upon hearing this. However, most were mocking Zhang He for overestimating his own abilities.

Wang Fengjie and the others were also filled with astonishment. How could Zhang He dare to say such a thing? Han Zhao's cultivation had reached the Bone Marrow Refining stage, possessing the strength of five stones—he firmly outclassed him!

Han Zhao looked at Zhang He and said coldly, "For those words alone, today I will beat you until you are spitting out teeth and have no dignity left!" As he spoke, Han Zhao flicked his clothes, his body lunging straight into the center. It was the most standard opening move: a single punch like a cannon, thrusting out violently.

The speed was astonishing!

Zhang He took a breath. He did not dodge or evade, standing his ground.

As the punch reached Zhang He's heart, a cold glint flashed in Han Zhao's eyes. He had already raised his knee, aiming a vicious strike at Zhang He's lower body.

A two-pronged attack.

The martial art Han Zhao used was not the Wild Ox Fist.

"Crack!"

Zhang He suddenly spun like a top. He instantly grabbed Han Zhao's arm, his internal energy surging as he pulled and pushed with a violent force. Utilizing the momentum of Han Zhao's own charge, Han Zhao was sent flying. His arm bent in a grotesque, reverse angle—hiss—the arm had actually snapped!

Han Zhao immediately let out a miserable scream.

Everyone gasped. This was a truly ruthless person; the moment he struck, he broke someone's arm!

The instructor's expression changed abruptly. "Zhang He, what martial art are you using? Didn't we say this was just sparring based on what we learned in class? How can you hurt someone!"

"Didn't you just say that fists and feet have no eyes, and it's inevitable to lose one's sense of proportion? Besides, the martial art Han Zhao used doesn't seem to be the Wild Ox Fist either, does it?"

Zhang He said calmly.