Respect Earned Through Fists

On the bluestone-paved grounds, Wang Sheng and Meng Xu stood facing each other.

The formal disciples around them also stepped back, clearing space for their duel.

"Since this is a spar, stop when the point is made. I'll be the referee. Do either of you have any objections?"

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

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

Meng Xu smiled at Li Hu, carrying a hint of flattery.

"Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother!"

Wang Sheng clasped his fists toward Meng Xu in salute.

"Mm."

"I said it already: stop when the point is made."

"Junior Brother Meng, Junior Brother Wang only joined recently. Know when to stop. Don't make Master angry."

Li Hu spoke in a deep voice, deliberately emphasizing Meng Xu's name.

Zhao Jie had always disliked disciples fighting amongst themselves. Thus, although Lin Shu was Zhao Jie's favored disciple, he would not personally make a move against Wang Sheng just to win his master's favor.

At those words, fear flashed through Meng Xu's eyes. If Zhao Jie discovered that he had struck with lethal intent, he would inevitably face severe punishment, perhaps even expulsion from the sect.

But Lin Shu had promised him something enormously valuable, and he had the note on him. Meng Xu had resolved to take a gamble no matter what.

"Alright, begin."

"Whoever can't hold on, just admit defeat."

Li Hu said.

The smile on Meng Xu's face vanished, and his expression turned grave. He sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows. As he spread his stance, an aura of splitting stone and shattering tablets naturally rose from him.

"With Meng Xu's above-average physique, he has long since mastered the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. It's a pity he simply can't comprehend it to the minor success stage, produce force, and attain Clear Force."

A long-haired young man in tight white clothes shook his head with a sigh.

"Heh, even if he hasn't attained Clear Force, with that stance of his, dealing with someone who only just joined is as easy as taking something from his hand."

A woman with a high nose bridge and somewhat sharp, mean features gave a faint smile.

"Ah, perhaps things are a little different. Look!"

A man dressed in a gaudy, multicolored robe spoke with interest.

They saw—

Wang Sheng sank his waist into a horse stance, his legs taut and powerful as though they had taken root deep in the earth. A standard Stone Stance stood before everyone's eyes.

Wang Sheng's stance was exceptionally precise. The instant he set it, he gave people the feeling that a massive boulder stood there, carrying an aura that could not be shaken.

"This is... the Stone Stance Technique has entered the beginner stage too?"

The three who had just spoken were Martial Artists who had possessed Clear Force for years. At a glance, they saw through Wang Sheng's foundations.

Surprise showed in all three of their eyes.

Before producing Clear Force, everyone treated the Great Tablet Shattering Hand as their main goal, pursuing Clear Force. As for stance techniques, they only practiced them now and then while resting.

Yet no one had expected that Wang Sheng had also brought his stance technique to the beginner stage.

Although the Stone Stance Technique was a foundational martial art, mastering even one additional martial art would inevitably bring benefits.

In particular, the stance technique stabilized one's lower body. Paired with the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, which focused on the upper body, it was an even better match.

Li Hu, Wei Yu, and the others noticed it as well. Their hearts stirred, but none of them said anything.

Lin Shu sensed that something was off, but he had focused solely on cultivating the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. Even his stance technique had not entered the beginner stage.

"Junior Brother Wang, do you really think we're just practicing martial arts here? You're even putting up a stance technique!"

"You joined later than me. Your martial arts proficiency is inferior to mine, your strength is inferior to mine—what gives you the right to fight me?"

Meng Xu had never cared much about stance techniques. Seeing Wang Sheng bring out the Stone Stance Technique, he let out a cold laugh.

The next moment—

Meng Xu took half a step forward. His right fist shot out like a heavy hammer, its fist wind wrapped in the whistle of tearing air as it went straight for Wang Sheng's chest. It was the signature move of the Great Tablet Shattering Hand: Forceful Mountain Split.

"Then do you know what it means when one plus one is greater than two?"

Wang Sheng spoke indifferently, his eyes as calm as a still lake. He neither dodged nor retreated, using his left arm to block the blow head-on. At the same time, his left fist sank, striking at Meng Xu's waist and ribs with a variation of Tablet Broken in Three.

Meng Xu had never expected that his full-powered punch, cultivated through more than a year of hard practice, would accomplish nothing. It could not even force Wang Sheng back half a step. Instead, he could only hurriedly deal with Wang Sheng's attack.

Meng Xu was driven back two steps by Wang Sheng's fist aimed at his waist and ribs.

"You're courting death!"

Meng Xu's face instantly flushed crimson.

He was an old disciple, yet this newcomer had forced him back right from the opening exchange!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, Meng Xu lunged straight at Wang Sheng.

Tablet Shattering Style,

Earth Splitting Style,

Mountain Pushing Style, and the rest of his moves all came pouring down on Wang Sheng in a swarm.

Wang Sheng dealt with them without haste.

Although Meng Xu was stronger than him, his lower body was unstable. At most, he could bring out sixty or seventy percent of his strength, and that was already considered good.

Wang Sheng, on the other hand, was united from top to bottom, his strength sinking into one place. He handled Meng Xu's attacks with even greater ease.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of moves. Every punch followed a fierce, forceful path, without the slightest bit of flourish.

They had both learned from the same master, practiced the same martial art.

If their strength had been equal, it would have been difficult to break each other's moves. They could only have fought a drawn-out battle.

"This Meng Xu is vicious enough. Every move goes straight for vital points!"

The man in the gaudy multicolored robe laughed.

"He's foolish enough too! No wonder he hasn't produced force after all this time."

The sharp-featured woman sneered.

"Indeed. Junior Brother Wang barely provoked him, yet he went madly venting his strength. By now, he probably doesn't have much strength left!"

The man in the colorful robe said with a chuckle.

It was at that moment—

Wang Sheng noticed that both Meng Xu's attack speed and power had begun to decline, so he immediately counterattacked.

"Senior Brother Meng, this is Tablet Shattering Style. Your strength just weakened!"

Wang Sheng sank his waist into a horse stance, gathering his strength into one point. His essence, energy, and spirit all condensed into a single fist.

"Bullshit!"

Meng Xu roared, throwing out a Tablet Shattering Style of his own.

When the two fists collided—

Meng Xu cried out in pain. His hand was instantly struck limp and powerless, curling into a chicken claw.

Wang Sheng was in pain as well, but he had retained most of his strength. Instead, his fighting spirit surged higher.

"Senior Brother Meng, your Earth Splitting Style is even more lacking. Your lower body is far too weak."

Wang Sheng said, then kicked Meng Xu's center wide open.

"You low-grade physique trash, what right do you have to lecture me!"

Meng Xu shouted furiously.

He was the senior brother, yet this newcomer was lecturing him as though he were a disciple.

This was a slap across his face in front of everyone—a slap at his poor training, a slap at his incompetence and powerlessness.

"This is Mountain Pushing Style!"

Taking advantage of his opponent's exposed center, Wang Sheng had already closed in. His loaded elbow struck the ribs above Meng Xu's abdomen.

Crack!

Meng Xu's face twisted with pain as he let out a miserable cry.

Then Wang Sheng threw him down hard, sending him crashing onto his back in a straight downward slam.

"Junior Brother Wang, you—"

Li Hu had not been worried that Meng Xu would be injured, but he truly had not expected that Meng Xu, an old disciple, would be so utterly vulnerable, taught such a harsh lesson by a newly arrived junior brother!

The other formal disciples, Wei Yu and the rest, all looked at Wang Sheng with newfound seriousness.

Originally, most of them had not thought much of this junior brother who had only barely entered the sect. They had not even acknowledged him, believing Wang Sheng was merely there to fill a spot.

But now, Wang Sheng's ruthlessness left them no choice but to feel a measure of respect for him.

Lin Shu's eyes turned cold, his face dark and ugly as he turned and walked into the inner courtyard.

Wang Sheng let out a breath and looked at Meng Xu, curled up like a shrimp. There was some regret in his eyes.

This was the most he could injure him.

If he wanted to strike again, he would have no chance.

However, this real battle had not only earned him respect, it had also given Wang Sheng greater insight into the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. His progress value had suddenly passed one hundred, reaching Beginner (118/300).

It seemed that aside from taking medicine, actual combat could also accelerate martial arts progress.

But real combat carried risks.

If Wang Sheng had lost this time, Meng Xu would either have crippled his manhood or ruined one of his arms or legs.

And as for Meng Xu's outcome, if he did not receive proper treatment, he might be paralyzed for the rest of his life.