Earning Respect Through Strikes

The bluestone-paved ground was where Wang Sheng and Meng Xu stood facing each other.

The formal disciples around them also retreated, clearing space for the two to duel.

"Since it's a spar, let's keep it to a point. I'll be the referee. Do either of you have any objections?"

Li Hu glanced at Wei Yu. Seeing she had no intention of stepping forward, he spoke up.

"Of course, we'll listen to Senior Brother!"

Meng Xu smiled at Li Hu, with a hint of fawning.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother!"

Wang Sheng cupped his fists in a bow to Meng Xu.

"Mm!"

"I said, let's keep it to a point."

"Junior Brother Meng, Junior Brother Wang just joined not long ago, so be reasonable and don't make Master angry."

Li Hu said sternly, emphasizing his words towards Meng Xu.

Zhao Jie had always disliked his disciples fighting amongst themselves. Therefore, Lin Shu, as Zhao Jie's favored disciple, would not deal with Wang Sheng himself in order to gain his Master's favor.

Hearing this, a flicker of fear crossed Meng Xu's eyes. If Zhao Jie discovered he had used lethal force, he would face severe punishment, or even expulsion.

However, Lin Shu had given him a great promise, and with the note in hand, Meng Xu was determined to give it his all.

"Alright, you may begin."

"If either of you can't take it anymore, just shout 'I surrender'."

Li Hu said.

The smile on Meng Xu's face vanished, his expression turning serious. He lowered his shoulders and dropped his elbows, his stance opening naturally with an aura that could split stone and shatter tablets.

"With Meng Xu's mid-to-upper grade physique, he's already mastered the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, but unfortunately, he hasn't been able to comprehend it to minor completion, generate internal energy, and achieve Bright Energy."

A young man in white martial attire with long hair said with a sigh.

"Heh, even if he hasn't achieved Bright Energy, with his stance, dealing with a newcomer is as easy as pie."

A woman with a high nose bridge and a somewhat sharp, mean-looking face chuckled lightly.

"Ah, perhaps it's a little different. Look!"

A man dressed in a brightly colored robe said with a hint of amusement.

Wang Sheng sank his waist and sat his horse stance, his legs taut and strong, as if firmly rooted to the ground. A standard Stone Stance Technique appeared before everyone's eyes.

Wang Sheng's stance was executed with extreme precision. The moment he adopted it, people felt as if a massive boulder had been erected, exuding an unshakeable aura.

"He's… even mastered the Stone Stance Technique?"

The three people who had spoken earlier, all martial artists who had possessed Bright Energy for many years, saw through Wang Sheng's foundation at a glance.

Surprise flashed in their eyes.

One had to know that before achieving Bright Energy, everyone's primary goal was the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, pursuing Bright Energy. As for stance techniques, they were only practiced occasionally during rest.

But no one had expected Wang Sheng to have also mastered a stance technique.

Although the Stone Stance Technique was a foundational martial art, learning any additional martial art would undoubtedly be beneficial.

Especially since a stable lower body from the stance technique, combined with the Great Tablet Shattering Hand which focused on the upper body, was a perfect match.

Li Hu, Wei Yu, and the others also noticed this. Their hearts stirred, but they didn't say anything more.

Lin Shu sensed something was amiss, but he had only cultivated the Great Tablet Shattering Hand and had not mastered any stance techniques.

"Junior Brother Wang, do you really think you're sparring with me? You're even putting up a stance!"

"You joined later than me, your martial arts proficiency isn't as good as mine, your strength isn't as good as mine, what makes you think you can fight me!"

Meng Xu, who had never paid attention to stance techniques, sneered when he saw Wang Sheng bring out the Stone Stance Technique.

The next moment, Meng Xu took a half-step forward, his right fist striking out like a heavy hammer. The wind from his fist whistled as it flew directly towards Wang Sheng's chest. This was the signature move of the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, Forceful Mountain Split.

"Do you know what one plus one equals, when it's greater than two!"

Wang Sheng said indifferently, his eyes as calm as a lake. Without dodging, he blocked with his left arm and simultaneously sank his left fist, striking towards the opponent's ribs with a variation of Tablet Broken in Three.

Meng Xu never expected that his full-power punch, cultivated for over a year, would be ineffective. It didn't even force Wang Sheng back half a step. Instead, he himself had to hastily react to Wang Sheng's move.

Meng Xu was forced back two steps by Wang Sheng's sneak attack to his ribs.

"You're courting death!"

Meng Xu's face instantly flushed red.

He, an old disciple, had actually been forced back by this newcomer right at the start of the match!

Bang bang bang!

Meng Xu charged at Wang Sheng like a tiger leaping down a mountain.

Tablet Shattering Style, Earth Splitting Style, Mountain Pushing Style, and other moves all swarmed towards Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng responded calmly, without haste.

Although Meng Xu's strength was greater than his, his stance was unstable, and he could only unleash six or seven tenths of his full power at best.

In contrast, Wang Sheng's upper and lower body were unified, his energy concentrated in one area, allowing him to handle Meng Xu's offense with ease.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows. Each punch was direct and powerful, without any fancy movements.

They were taught by the same master and practiced the same martial art.

If their strengths were equal, it would be difficult to break through their defenses. They could only engage in a war of attrition.

"This Meng Xu is quite insidious, attacking vital points with every move!"

The man in the colorful robes chuckled.

"He's also quite foolish! No wonder he hasn't been able to generate energy for so long."

The woman with a sharp face sneered.

"Indeed. Junior Brother Wang hasn't even provoked him much, and he's already wildly expending his energy. He's probably running out of steam now!"

The man in the colorful robes said with a laugh.

It was at this moment, Wang Sheng noticed that Meng Xu's attack frequency and strength began to decline, so he immediately counterattacked.

"Senior Brother Meng. This is the Tablet Shattering Style, your strength was lacking just now!"

Wang Sheng sank his waist, planted his horse, unified his strength, and condensed his spirit and energy into a single punch.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Meng Xu roared, unleashing the same Tablet Shattering Style.

In this clash of fists, Meng Xu cried out in pain. His hand was instantly crushed and rendered useless, becoming like a chicken's claw.

Although Wang Sheng also felt pain, he had retained more than half of his strength and felt his fighting spirit surge.

"Senior Brother Meng, your Earth Splitting Style was even more lacking, your stance is too weak."

Wang Sheng said, kicking Meng Xu such that his center was completely exposed.

"You, with your Low-grade Physique, have no right to lecture me!"

Meng Xu roared.

He was the senior brother, yet he was being lectured by this newcomer as if he were a disciple.

This was practically slapping him in the face in front of everyone, exposing his lack of skill, his incompetence, and his powerlessness.

"This is the Mountain Pushing Style!"

Seizing the opportunity when his opponent's center was exposed, Wang Sheng closed the distance and struck with a charged elbow to the ribs above his abdomen.

Crack!

Meng Xu's face contorted in pain as he let out a pained cry.

Then, Wang Sheng slammed him down with a powerful back throw, directly from top to bottom.

"Junior Brother Wang, you!"

Li Hu hadn't been worried about Meng Xu getting injured, but he truly hadn't expected that Meng Xu, an old disciple, would be so easily defeated and taught such a lesson by the new junior brother!

The other formal disciples, including Wei Yu, looked at Wang Sheng with newfound seriousness.

Originally, most of them hadn't taken this junior brother, who had barely managed to get in, seriously. They didn't even acknowledge him, thinking Wang Sheng was just making up the numbers.

But now, Wang Sheng's ruthlessness forced them to show him a modicum of respect.

Lin Shu's gaze turned cold, his expression grim. He turned and walked into the inner courtyard.

Wang Sheng exhaled and looked at Meng Xu, curled up like a shrimp, with a hint of regret in his eyes.

He had only managed to injure him to this extent.

There was no opportunity to strike further.

However, this practical combat not only earned him respect but also gave Wang Sheng further insights into the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. His progress value instantly exceeded one hundred, reaching Beginner (118/300).

It seemed that besides taking medicine, practical combat could also accelerate martial art progress.

But practical combat carried risks.

If Wang Sheng had lost this fight, he would have either had his life's foundation crippled by Meng Xu or lost an arm or a leg.

As for Meng Xu's fate, if his injuries weren't treated properly, he might be paralyzed in the future.