Your Fists Aren't Fast Enough or Ruthless Enough

"It's my turn."

Zhong Jing spoke in a low voice. Before Liu Feng could adjust his breathing, he suddenly closed in.

Terror gripped Liu Feng's heart. Just as he was about to use Grass Skimmer to widen the distance, a heavy punch was already crashing toward him.

Liu Feng could only hastily mobilize his blood and qi, raising his arm to shield his chest. The next moment—

A heavy force pierced through his arm and shook his organs. Liu Feng groaned, sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, before crashing hard onto the ground.

Zhong Jing did not stop. He sprang into the air and brought another elbow strike smashing down toward Liu Feng's arm.

He was actually trying to cripple Liu Feng again?!

Jie Ling and Lin Nan had just risen to their feet when a figure blocked their way. It was Zhao Xun!

"Disciples without strength are expendable materials. They deserve to be consumed," Zhao Xun said indifferently.

"You..." Before Jie Ling could finish—

Liu Feng's scream rang out. His entire right arm had been broken into several sections!

It had all happened too quickly, in the blink of an eye.

If Zhao Xun had not stopped them...

Lin Nan's eyes turned faintly cold.

Only then did the many disciples beneath the stands react. The support disciples hurried forward and carried the unconscious Liu Feng backstage for treatment.

"Heh..."

Zhong Jing raised his fist, his beastlike eyes turning toward Lin Nan.

"Don't be impatient. You'll be next soon enough."

"So arrogant..."

Lin Nan's gaze slowly grew colder.

To him now, Zhong Jing was no different from a dog by the roadside that could be kicked to death at will.

People did not get angry with dogs.

If Zhong Jing had not been so vicious in his attacks, Lin Nan would not have felt the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Since you're courting death... I'll grant your wish."

After that, Lin Nan encountered no worthy opponents. He swept through the arena matches, advancing from the top sixteen to the top eight, then the top four, then the final two. More and more inner sect disciples were eliminated.

As the competition reached its climax, the spectators beneath the stands grew increasingly excited, shouting without pause.

Yu Qianqian was ultimately defeated in the top-eight round. Still, she had made it into the top ten.

Until the final match.

"Old Jie, the top two spots in this new inner sect disciple competition have been swept by your White Snake Martial School again."

The master of Gale Martial Hall sighed.

"That's only because our factions are skilled with weapons, while White Snake Martial School alone specializes in fist techniques!" The leader of the Wild Sand Sect, with his thin mustache, glared angrily at Hall Master Jie.

"Hahaha!"

Hall Master Jie stroked his distinctive goatee, looking thoroughly pleased as his vanity was satisfied to the fullest.

At this point, only two names remained in the final match, both from White Snake Martial School.

"Final match: Zhong Jing of White Snake Martial School versus Lin Nan of White Snake Martial School! The two of you will determine the top two places in this competition!"

On the arena stage—

Zhong Jing's hands were wrapped in bandages, and his face was full of anticipation.

"Do you know? I was really scared just now..."

His expression abruptly twisted into a snarl. "I was so afraid you'd be knocked off the stage before you ever got to face me. Luckily, you didn't disappoint me..."

"...Is this guy an idiot?"

Lin Nan looked speechless and sighed.

"You forced my hand. Since you insist on courting death, I've decided to cripple you with thirty percent of my strength."

Zhong Jing's expression froze.

Damn it... he's even better at acting tough than I am!

Buzz!

The next second, Zhong Jing moved. Without the slightest hesitation, every inch of his muscles bulged, his blood and qi surging like mountains. He stomped forward and activated the White Snake Fist, shooting toward Lin Nan at high speed.

"Tongue-Thrust Baleful Intent!"

Zhong Jing's body resembled a giant python as he suddenly spun and lunged forward, attacking at astonishing speed!

"Tongue-Thrust Baleful Intent!"

Lin Nan neither used any other martial arts nor dodged. He merely drew upon blood and qi at the level of the second Skin-and-Flesh Realm, slightly raised his hand, and blasted toward Zhong Jing with the exact same move!

He was overpowering him with pure strength!

He was going to crush Zhong Jing's spirit!

Boom!

The two fists collided, producing a violent blast in the air.

Zhong Jing screamed. Crackling sounds like bones splitting rang out from his right hand inch by inch. He landed on the arena stage and staggered back several yards before barely managing to stop.

"Impossible! How can you have so much strength?!"

Zhong Jing's face was full of disbelief.

He had trained so hard, undergone special training, all to reach where he was today.

Why... why could the person opposite him do it too?!

The next moment, he clenched his teeth fiercely. Veins bulged across his face, his expression gradually becoming savage as he roared:

"You forced me to do this... Let me show you the results of my special training—secret art, Self-Sacrifice Method!"

As soon as he spoke, veins bulged from Zhong Jing's forehead. The muscles all over his body swelled madly as though they had come alive, while his blood and qi desperately seeped into his skin and flesh. Both his arms turned pitch-black.

The violent aura even pressed the arena floor downward.

Huh...

At that instant, Lin Nan actually sensed a faint trace of sinister qi.

"What kind of technique is that?!"

"It seems to be some kind of secret art that overdraws one's potential!"

The six hall master-level experts in the stands also noticed that something was wrong.

But for the moment, they could not identify it.

"That's not merely the strength of the first Skin-and-Flesh Realm!"

The corner of Zhao Xun's mouth curled up slightly as he turned to Jie Ling. "This is a secret art I taught him. It can instantly overdraw twice his strength. Though it grants only strength, it is still not something Lin Nan can compare to at present. The outcome of this match has already been decided."

"What a pity. That boy Lin Nan has worked hard enough, but fortune was not on his side."

Jie Ling shook her head slightly and said no more. "Keep watching."

A cold glint flashed through Zhao Xun's eyes. Neither of them spoke further as they continued watching the arena.

"To take first place this time, do you know how hard I worked?! I trained day and night just to tell everyone—"

"I, Zhong Jing, am the number one disciple of White Snake Martial School."

"You worthless bastard whose blood and qi only broke through at twenty years old! How could you possibly stand above me?!"

Zhong Jing roared and activated the White Snake Fist with both hands. Like a coiling python, he shot toward Lin Nan. Every step shook the arena so violently it seemed about to shatter.

"I can feel your determination..."

Lin Nan's expression was calm as he brought his five fingers together. "But... your fists aren't fast enough, and they aren't ruthless enough!"

"Serpent-Transforming Force!"

"Serpent-Transforming Force!"

With two sharp shouts, the two figures collided, wrapped in surging blood and qi.

A thunderous explosion erupted from the arena stage.

Dense blood and qi burst outward.

Then Zhong Jing, covered in blood with both arms bent backward, was sent flying. He crashed heavily onto the ground, his body convulsing nonstop. He had completely lost the ability to fight.

For a moment, the entire venue fell silent.

Even Zhao Xun, who had been preparing to rise and leave, froze in his seat as he stared at the arena in disbelief.

Zhong Jing had lost?

Zhong Jing, at the first Skin-and-Flesh Realm with twice the strength, had lost just like that?

"What kind of joke is this?!"

Zhao Xun's expression instantly darkened.

Lin Nan's blood and qi had only broken through at twenty. He had reached such a level in just one year—how could Zhao Xun believe it?

"Wh... why... I obviously worked... so hard..." Zhong Jing uttered unwillingly, his eyes bloodshot.

Lin Nan looked at Zhong Jing convulsing on the ground and spoke expressionlessly.

"You did work hard. Unfortunately... your character is crooked. Remember this: only the benevolent can be invincible!"

"Bull... bullshit."

Zhong Jing's mouth twitched. Lin Nan's words seemed to have provoked him, and after convulsing twice more, he finally passed out completely.

Half a day later, Zhong Jing was finally revived. However, he looked far more dispirited, seemingly having suffered a severe blow from his battle with Lin Nan.

His entire body was wrapped in bandages, his face swollen like a pig's head as he limped behind the two people ahead of him.

The other was Ding Qianyu of the Red Lion Gang, third place in this competition. He too was covered in injuries, his face bruised black and blue.

Only Lin Nan was completely unhurt, walking with a relaxed expression.

The three of them climbed step by step onto the high platform. Before them, six hall masters and gang leaders sat quietly in wooden chairs, watching them.

Hall Master Jie's eyes were full of praise.

"Lin Nan and Zhong Jing of White Snake Martial School, Ding Qianyu of the Red Lion Gang..."

"Congratulations. As the top three in this year's new inner sect disciple tournament, you truly are young heroes."

"It was all thanks to the hall masters' and gang leaders' guidance!"

"No need to be modest, no need to be modest."

Hall Master Jie waved his hand, inwardly lamenting that his old eyes had failed him.

Who would have thought that the winner of this year's year-end competition would be that older youth, Lin Nan?

The Lin Nan who had spent more than a decade as a martial apprentice at the martial school.

More than a decade of accumulation, finally erupting in a single burst!

"The Commandant wishes to see you."

Qin Yue spoke calmly as well. His gaze was especially placid, lingering on Lin Nan for only a brief moment.

"Whether you can secure good positions in the inner city under the Commandant tomorrow will depend on your own fortunes."

"Thank you, Hall Masters and Gang Leaders!" X3