Defeated in One Move

"Wasn't Yan being a little too arrogant?"

"That's normal. He's only dealing with a kid in the teens level. Letting him have three moves is nothing."

"True, the gap is right there."

"..."

The crowd below the stage erupted into an uproar.

Seeing Yan's arrogant expression, a trace of impatience flashed through Yang Jian's eyes.

This guy was really noisy.

With a flip of his right hand, the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber appeared in his palm.

The discussions beneath the arena abruptly fell silent for a moment.

Everyone's eyes fell upon the strangely shaped weapon, their faces full of confusion.

"What kind of martial soul is that? I've never seen it before."

"Judging by its appearance, it looks rather magnificent. It shouldn't be bad—not some ordinary thing."

Even so.

No one believed that blade could change anything.

Because before an absolute difference in strength.

Even the best martial soul was nothing worth mentioning.

"Heh."

Yan glanced at the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber and snorted dismissively.

His Flame Lord was a top-tier dual-element fire-and-earth beast martial soul. Its defense was nearly unbreakable among those of the same rank.

Even if he stood still and let Yang Jian hit him, Yang Jian would never be able to hurt him in the slightest.

"Come on, kid. Hit me however you want."

Yan patted his chest, his tone frivolous. "If you can make me take even one step back, then I'll count you—"

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Jian moved.

Among everyone present, only Steward Wang barely managed to see the figure.

Yang Jian stomped off the ground, faint cracks spreading across the bluestone slabs. His body shot forward like an arrow released from its bow, crossing more than a dozen paces in the blink of an eye and appearing before Yan.

The Three-Point Double-Edged Saber rose high, its blade carving a silvery-white arc through the air.

Then it came crashing down.

The smile on Yan's face froze.

He had not reacted at all.

That strike was too fast—so fast that his body had no time to make any evasive movement.

He only had time to see a flash of silver before his eyes.

Then a mountain-toppling force slammed into his chest.

Bang—!

A dull, thunderous crash rang out.

Yan flew backward like a kite with its string cut, tracing an arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground at the other side of the arena.

"Pfft—!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the bluestone platform before him red.

Intense pain surged from his chest, as though he had been struck head-on by a charging soul beast.

He tried to get up, only to discover that he had no strength left in his entire body. He could only lie there, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Yang Jian withdrew the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber and stood where he was, his expression calm.

He had not even used his first soul skill.

Moreover, he had deliberately held back that strike.

Otherwise, given the weight of the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber combined with the force of his full-power swing, Yan would not have gotten away with merely coughing up blood.

"Gasp!"

Beneath the arena, there was a deathly silence, broken only by sharp intakes of breath.

Everyone was stunned.

The students who had been chattering moments ago all stood with their mouths agape and their eyes wide, as though they had witnessed something unimaginable.

One move.

Just one move.

Yang Jian had sent Yan flying and coughing blood while Yan was in his martial soul possession state.

And he had not even used a soul skill.

"H-How is that possible..."

"I couldn't even see his speed just now..."

"He sent Yan flying using only physical strength?"

"What kind of monster is this kid?"

Steward Wang stood at the edge of the arena, his pupils contracting sharply.

He had seen Yang Jian's movements clearly.

And because he had seen them clearly, he was even more shocked than anyone else present.

The speed and strength Yang Jian had erupted with in that instant should never have appeared in a child at the teens level!

Just who was this child...?

"So strong!"

The looks in the students' eyes as they watched Yang Jian had completely changed.

Their earlier indifference had vanished, replaced by deep shock and awe.

Yang Jian's small figure stood atop the arena, holding the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber. Though he was barely over a meter tall, he seemed like an immovable mountain.

"How is this possible?"

Xie Yue leaned against the railing of the stands. His face had initially been expressionless, but intense wariness quickly appeared on it, his eyes filled with gravity.

Some time ago, Yang Jian had beaten Yan black and blue, but Xie Yue had only thought Yan had been too careless and that Yang Jian had taken advantage of a sneak attack.

But after witnessing this strike today.

He had no choice but to reassess the strength of this six-year-old child.

He wondered whether he himself could defeat Yang Jian if their positions were reversed.

"He brought it upon himself."

Hu Liena stood nearby, the corners of her lips curling upward slightly. She had clearly expected this outcome.

After all, a monster capable of absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring and possessing a body as strong as a Soul King was not someone Yan could contend with, even without using soul skills.

She glanced at Yan, who lay on the ground half-dead. There was no sympathy in her eyes, only growing disdain. What a foolhardy bootlicker.

At that moment, the training ground was silent as death.

Yang Jian put away the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber. Without even looking at Yan, who was sprawled on the ground half-dead, he turned and walked calmly toward the exit of the training ground.

As though he had merely done something utterly insignificant.

Below the arena, the Spirit Hall students still wore dumbfounded expressions. Their mouths opened and closed, then closed and opened again, but not a single sound came out.

Only after Yang Jian's figure disappeared through the entrance of the training ground did everyone finally snap out of it.

"Cough, cough—!"

Just then, a violent fit of coughing came from atop the arena.

Yan lay curled up on the ground, his chest heaving fiercely. Nearly every cough sent bloody froth spilling from the corners of his mouth.

His face was white as paper. He braced his hands against the ground and tried to rise, but could not muster any strength.

Instructor Wang's expression changed. He rushed onto the arena in three quick strides, crouching beside Yan to inspect his injuries.

He pressed a palm against Yan's chest and sent in his soul power. A moment later, he sucked in a sharp breath.

Nearly half the bones in Yan's chest had shattered.

Yang Jian's strike had hit Yan's sternum with precise accuracy. The force had penetrated inward and shattered the bones without damaging the internal organs.

Such control over his strength was simply inconceivable.

Had the blow been even slightly heavier, the broken bones would have pierced Yan's heart.

"Don't move." Instructor Wang's expression was grave as he pressed down on Yan, who was trying to get up. "Your sternum is shattered. You need treatment immediately."

Yan did not answer right away.

He lay flat on his back, staring blankly at the dome above the training ground, his mind completely empty.

He had lost.

He had lost.

And he had been defeated in one move.

He had not even seen how Yang Jian had rushed over.

He only remembered a blur flashing past, followed by agonizing pain in his chest before his entire body was sent flying.

"I was careless..." Yan muttered hoarsely.

He wanted to convince himself that it had only been an accident.

If he had used his soul skill immediately, if he had taken Yang Jian seriously, the outcome definitely would not have been like this.

But a voice deep within him told him...

Even if he had used a soul skill, the result would not have changed.

He simply could not keep up with Yang Jian's speed.