Beyond-the-Realm Challenge Wang Sheng

"Cough, cough!"

Cui Sheng almost wanted to laugh. His gaze swept over the despondent Wei Lingqin before landing on Wang Sheng. "Since that's the case, Wang Sheng, come in with us."

"Yes! This disciple will certainly do his utmost and not disappoint Master's expectations!"

Wang Sheng stepped out from the crowd and cupped his fists calmly.

His method of displaying his strength and talent for comprehension had worked. He had successfully drawn Zhao Jie's attention.

Although Wang Sheng's physique was still a flaw, he was not asking Zhao Jie to carry him into Transforming Energy. He merely wanted to look through a Transforming Energy method. That was not too much to ask, was it?

Very soon,

The thirty-six disciples selected by the six factions entered the yamen one after another.

Inside the yamen,

White walls and black tiles.

It was very ordinary, even somewhat run-down. Grass had grown over parts of the martial training ground.

Past the training ground lay a spacious public hall, where court sessions and judgments were usually held.

At this moment, within the yamen's public hall,

He Xiangjun, the city governor and highest-ranking official within several hundred li of Ershui City, sat in the seat of honor, chatting amiably with a Great Martial Master.

The six Transforming Energy Grandmasters from the six factions stood in two rows along either side. Their expressions were calm as they occasionally exchanged a few mild words, though their remarks carried veiled mockery.

Quite a few constables and yamen runners were stationed around the public hall. Their faces were tense, and they appeared rather nervous.

"Recently, I accepted a fine disciple. His physique is ordinary, but his comprehension is exceptionally high. If any of you have techniques or secret arts that are difficult to unravel, you may hand them over for my disciple to comprehend. Whatever he gains may be shared!"

Zhao Jie knew that many disciples had personally witnessed what happened that morning. The news of Wang Sheng's high comprehension could not be concealed, so he simply announced it openly.

Nor was he afraid that someone might assassinate Wang Sheng over it. A simple investigation would reveal Wang Sheng's low-grade physique.

Of course, the crucial point was that Zhao Jie did not care about Wang Sheng's life or death.

Comprehension was far too intangible. No matter how good it was, it was still held back by one's physique. To a Great Martial Master like Zhao Jie, it offered little help. Besides, he could not possibly hand his own methods over to Wang Sheng.

"Hehe, high comprehension?"

"What a coincidence. This old man has recently accepted a disciple as well, and his comprehension is also excellent. Without a teacher, he grasped a cultivation method on his own. Had I not discovered it in time and stopped him from cultivating two methods at once, he would have wasted both his time and physique!"

Cheng Yuan, head of Cangshan Martial Academy, had white hair and beard and an aged face, yet his eyes were sharp. His voice boomed like a great bell, his muscles bulged, and he was the tallest person present. His imposing aura showed not the slightest sign of decline.

At this moment, Cheng Yuan looked at Zhao Jie and spoke slowly with a smile, clearly very satisfied with his disciple.

"Hmph, old Cheng. You're saying your disciple's physique outstrips mine, aren't you?"

"As petty as ever. You lost to me once in techniques, and now you want to make up for it through your disciples!"

Zhao Jie sneered.

"Lost to you? That was years ago. If we fought now, this old man's body refinement has reached great completion. The victor is still uncertain!"

Cheng Yuan's white brows drew together, and his expression turned unpleasant.

He continued,

"My disciple excels in both comprehension and physique. He is stronger than your disciple. What is there to make up for?"

"Could it be that I am as shameless as you, clearly wanting to look through every family's methods, yet using your disciple's high comprehension as an excuse? Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"

Zhao Jie immediately flew into a rage. Slamming the table, he rose to his feet and roared, "Old bastard, I'll tear apart those old bones of yours today! Let's see if you still dare to talk tough!"

Cheng Yuan gave a faint smile and stood up. "You think I'm afraid of you? Every one of my disciples has decent talent. Three of them have entered Late Dark Energy. What about you? You only have Cui Sheng."

"Enough, enough. The juniors are watching."

"If you want to fight, go somewhere else. If you don't want to divide up those things, then go fight."

The other Transforming Energy Grandmasters could not help speaking up to dissuade them.

In the end, after He Xiangjun mediated, Zhao Jie and Cheng Yuan temporarily sat back down, though both still wore angry expressions.

"Come, Wang Sheng. Compete with this old fellow's disciple."

Cheng Yuan's final remark—that Zhao Jie had only one disciple in Late Dark Energy—had infuriated Zhao Jie. Was that not saying he did not know how to teach disciples? He immediately called Wang Sheng over from the training ground outside.

The disciples of every faction were all standing on the training ground, awaiting their masters' orders from inside.

"Who's afraid of you!"

Cheng Yuan also called out his disciple, Xu Zhuo.

However,

When Wang Sheng and Xu Zhuo stepped forward, saluted the Grandmasters, and announced their names and cultivation levels, a problem arose.

Wang Sheng was at mid-stage Bright Energy.

Xu Zhuo was at the peak of early-stage Bright Energy.

There was roughly a one-third difference in force between them.

"Old Cheng, my disciple's cultivation is higher than your disciple's. Looks like they can't compete after all!"

Zhao Jie laughed, deliberately provoking Cheng Yuan.

"This disciple is willing to fight Senior Brother Wang Sheng!"

Xu Zhuo did indeed look young, perhaps even younger than Wang Sheng. Hearing Zhao Jie's words and having long sensed his master's expectations, he immediately requested permission to fight. His face was cold as he sought to challenge Wang Sheng across realms and defeat him.

"No!"

Cheng Yuan's face darkened, and he rejected it outright.

He believed that, at the same cultivation level, his disciple would absolutely be stronger than Wang Sheng. But he would not underestimate Wang Sheng and let his disciple take the risk of challenging someone above his realm.

Zhao Jie chuckled but said nothing more.

If it were him, he would not let his own disciple risk fighting above his realm either.

"Then let it begin!"

He Xiangjun said.

The six Grandmasters nodded in agreement.

Thus,

The first match: Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy versus Cangshan Martial Academy.

The battles between disciples of equal cultivation began.

At early-stage Bright Energy, Xu Zhuo faced Wu An. Wu An was decisively defeated in three moves.

Cheng Yuan, head of Cangshan Martial Academy, smiled.

Zhao Jie's expression grew several shades colder. The defeat had come too quickly.

At mid-stage Bright Energy, Wang Sheng faced Zhou Mo, a disciple of Cangshan Martial Academy.

Zhou Mo was a Body Refiner, while Wang Sheng deliberately used only the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. Thus, although Wang Sheng ultimately won, it could only be called a narrow victory.

This time, Zhao Jie's expression changed slightly, though he remained composed.

Cheng Yuan said nothing. The outcome of this battle was within his expectations. It was simply that Wang Sheng did not seem all that strong.

After watching Wang Sheng's battle with Zhou Mo, however, Xu Zhuo's eyes lit up. His fists clenched tightly, as though he were anticipating something.

Next, in the third match, Li Hu of Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy lost. A salt shop went to Cangshan Martial Academy.

In the fourth match, Tian Muzhen of Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy lost. A pawnshop was lost as well.

In the fifth match, Yu Cheng of Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy fought his opponent to a draw.

In the sixth match, Cui Sheng of Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy narrowly won after risking his life. He won back two large residences.

Although they had won the sixth match,

Zhao Jie's expression had already turned as dark as water. His face was blank, and at some unknown moment, the teacup in his hand had shattered.

The aura around Zhao Jie became incomparably oppressive and heavy, making the nearby yamen runners struggle to breathe. They quietly retreated several steps.

Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy: six battles, three losses, two wins, and one draw.

Truthfully speaking, that record was not a terrible loss.

But Cheng Yuan's disciples clearly held the advantage and were stronger than Zhao Jie's disciples, while Cheng Yuan tossed out barbed remarks from time to time.

Moreover, in the final battle, Cheng Yuan had cherished his disciple and admitted defeat rather than make him risk his life. Otherwise, the victor would still have been uncertain.

Before so many experts and juniors, Zhao Jie had lost to his old rival, Cangshan Martial Academy.

The key was that Cheng Yuan had originally been inferior to him. Zhao Jie's disciples were simply not up to the task.

Zhao Jie, already a man who cared greatly about face, was so furious that he felt ready to explode like the teacup.

Zhao Jie cursed inwardly, wishing he could flip the table, wage war against Cangshan Martial Academy, and beat Cheng Yuan to a pulp.

But his reason reminded him that if he flipped the table, the result would only be him getting beaten to a pulp by the others together.

He Xiangjun shook his head slightly. The other Great Martial Masters could all see it now: Zhao Jie truly did not know how to teach disciples. The methods of those under him were all rather mediocre. No wonder only Cui Sheng had advanced into Late Dark Energy.

Among the disciples of the other factions, every one of them had at least two disciples in Late Dark Energy.

Just as Zhao Jie could no longer remain there and wanted to leave with his disciples,

Xu Zhuo suddenly stepped forward, cupped his fists in salute, and solemnly said, "This disciple Xu Zhuo requests a battle with Senior Brother Wang Sheng. I respectfully beg Master to grant permission!"

Cheng Yuan shook his head, about to tell Xu Zhuo to withdraw.

But unexpectedly, Xu Zhuo directly knelt down, kowtowed, and begged Cheng Yuan to agree.

"Forget it. Xu Zhuo is still young and proud. If he wins, good. If he loses, it can temper his sharp edge."

Cheng Yuan glanced at the frowning Wang Sheng and thought to himself.

"Zhao Jie, does your disciple Wang Sheng still dare to accept the challenge?"

Cheng Yuan looked at Zhao Jie with a smile, his tone carrying a trace of arrogance.