Outer Court's Number One

Huo Zheng's attitude made the corners of Zhao Jing's mouth lift slightly. His already proud expression became even more ostentatious.

Zhao Jing raised his brows and began throwing punches.

His fists shot out like cannons, their sound like crashing thunder!

The roar of his fist wind was even fiercer and more violent than Cao Xuan's!

It was as if it was not his fists tearing through the air, but booming war drums exploding one after another.

"This guy..."

Fang Han's pupils constricted slightly.

In his view, Zhao Jing's fist technique was no longer simply forceful—it was savage!

It seemed that every punch could strike a vital point and take a life.

"Major Accomplishment in fist technique!"

After Zhao Jing finished the Twelve Forms of Gale-Breaking Fist, the training ground fell utterly silent. Every Outer Court apprentice had been stunned by his savage fist technique.

A trace of surprise flashed through Huo Zheng's eyes, and his tone finally changed as he praised, "Zhao Jing's Gale-Breaking Fist has reached Major Accomplishment. Grade A-minus."

A-minus!

This was the first Grade A assessment for fist technique in this Ten-Day Minor Examination!

Hearing this score, the others looked at Zhao Jing with boundless envy.

Some of them were still troubled over when their Gale-Breaking Fist would reach Entry, while Zhao Jing had already trained it to the level of Major Accomplishment.

The number one fist technique practitioner of the Outer Court, the genius Zhao Jing!

Well deserved!

Zhao Jing's assessment was not over yet.

He walked up to the Soft Sand Bag. Unlike the others, he did not sink his stance or gather strength. He merely raised his right fist casually and swung it out with seeming ease.

Bang!!!

The Soft Sand Bag let out a heavy, muffled thud.

The entire bag shook violently, swinging in a clear arc through the air.

Lin Rou stepped forward to inspect it, and a hint of shock entered her voice.

"Fist mark: four inches and five tenths!"

The training ground instantly erupted.

"Four hundred and fifty pounds?! That's even stronger than Cao Xuan!"

"Major Accomplishment in Gale-Breaking Fist, with four hundred and fifty pounds of punching force, and you're telling me he's an Outer Court apprentice?"

"That's truly outrageous! Zhao Jing has only been at the martial hall for three months—only three months..."

"With that Bone Constitution and talent, there's nothing to dispute about him being the Outer Court's number one."

"Yeah, it looks like he's certain to enter the Inner Court too."

Huo Zheng stared at Zhao Jing, his brow slightly furrowed, then asked, "You should have condensed Blood Qi already, right?"

The moment he said this, everyone fell silent and turned their eyes toward Zhao Jing.

Among Outer Court apprentices, those who could condense Blood Qi before reaching the Body Tempering Third Layer were few and far between.

Zhao Jing's lips curled upward, his voice carrying undisguised pride. "In reply to Senior Brother, I have already condensed a strand of Blood Qi."

The apprentices on the training ground erupted once more.

"A strand of Blood Qi! He condensed a strand of Blood Qi before even reaching Body Tempering!"

"Condensing Blood Qi in three months? Isn't that speed far too fast..."

"No wonder Zhao Jing could throw a punch with four hundred and fifty pounds of force. The boost from Blood Qi really is different."

The three Inner-Court Direct Disciples behind Huo Zheng exchanged glances, shock flashing through their eyes as well.

Reaching Major Accomplishment in fist technique within three months and condensing a strand of Blood Qi—the talent this displayed was outstanding even in the entire martial hall.

One of the direct disciples looked at Zhao Jing and could not help speaking first.

"Junior Brother Zhao truly has exceptional talent. After this Minor Exam, there will surely be a place for you in the Inner Court."

Another also nodded with a smile. "With Junior Brother Zhao's cultivation speed, it won't be long after entering the Inner Court before you catch up to us, haha."

Hearing the Inner Court senior brothers directly call him "Junior Brother," with a certain warmth in their voices, the pride on Zhao Jing's face grew even more obvious.

"You senior brothers flatter me," he replied with a smile, cupping his hands.

When he turned and swept his gaze across the other apprentices present, it was as though he were looking at a group of utterly insignificant people.

Fang Han stood amid the crowd with a calm expression, quietly pondering to himself.

Zhao Jing had condensed one strand of Blood Qi and could throw a punch with four hundred and fifty pounds of force. Now that I have condensed two strands of Blood Qi, wouldn't my punch exceed five hundred pounds?

"Next, Fang Han."

Lin Rou's voice rang out, interrupting Fang Han's thoughts.

Fang Han took a deep breath and stepped out from the crowd.

At last, it was his turn.

Li Daniu shouted from behind him, "Fang Han, give it your all! I, Li Daniu, believe in you!"

Hearing Li Daniu's encouragement, Fang Han did not turn around. He merely nodded slightly and continued forward.

When Fang Han stepped before the others, an unexpected mutter came from Zhao Jing's group.

"The last one is actually him? I thought this guy wouldn't even show up, considering he only joined the martial hall a few days ago..."

The speaker was the chubby Wei Zixiong.

Zhao Jing, who had been enjoying everyone's amazement and praise nearby, heard the little fat man's words and glanced sideways at him. "You know him?"

Wei Zixiong hurriedly nodded and answered respectfully, "I do, Brother Zhao."

"I sold him a few Blood-Qi Pills a couple days ago, so we know each other. But he seems to have a Lower-grade Bone Constitution, and his family circumstances are poor. I heard from Senior Sister Lin Rou that he seems to live somewhere like Mud Bay Alley."

Hearing this, Zhao Jing casually glanced at Fang Han's back and lost interest.

"Just a mud-legged peasant. No need to pay him any attention."

Zhao Jing spoke indifferently, with a faintly condescending air. In a stern tone, he said to Wei Zixiong, "Zixiong, let me offer you some advice. Don't spend all day trying to make money through petty schemes. Only by training diligently can you go far. Otherwise..."

He paused, his tone turning cold. "Otherwise, trash like you will be kicked out of the circle sooner or later."

"Yes, yes, Brother Zhao is right. I'll remember it. I guarantee I'll focus on martial training every day and won't disappoint Brother Zhao!"

A smile piled onto Wei Zixiong's plump face as he hastily nodded and bowed.

Zhao Jing nodded in satisfaction and resumed enjoying everyone's praise.

Wei Zixiong lowered his eyes, the smile at the corner of his mouth unchanged, but inwardly he cursed Zhao Jing's ancestors for eighteen generations.

In the center of the field.

Under the apprentices' gazes, Fang Han looked especially thin.

He did not have Cao Xuan's sturdy physique, much less the innate noble pride of Zhao Jing and Su Yuheng.

He was merely a fisher lad from Mud Bay Alley.

Very ordinary.

So ordinary that many Outer Court apprentices had never even noticed his existence.

"Who is this guy? Why haven't I seen him before?"

"I vaguely remember him. I think he only joined the martial hall a few days ago. He's a newcomer."

"Oh, I remember now. He's that Lower-grade Bone Constitution who got scolded by Senior Sister Lin that afternoon, right? He's only trained for a few days. Isn't coming up for the assessment just asking to be humiliated?"

"Who knows? The Minor Exam won't affect anything anyway. He's probably just going through the motions."

"My guess is that he can at most train the Gale-Breaking Fist to the third form. It would already be impressive if his fist mark reached over an inch."

Discussion about Fang Han drifted over from the crowd, neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for him to hear.

Yet his expression remained unchanged, as if he had heard nothing.

Looking at Senior Brother Huo standing ahead with his hands behind his back and a calm expression,

Fang Han did not casually cup his hands like Zhao Jing. Instead, he performed the gesture earnestly. "Greetings, Senior Brother."

Huo Zheng nodded. He did not say much, yet an inexplicable trace of anticipation arose within him.

His comprehension is exceptional, but how far can he go on comprehension alone?

Huo Zheng shook his head inwardly and suppressed that expectation.

With poor Bone Constitution, comprehension alone would not carry him far.

Bone Constitution was a Martial Artist's foundation; comprehension was merely the icing on the cake. Without a good Bone Constitution, one's cultivation progress would be much slower than others'.

Fang Han had a Lower-grade Bone Constitution. Even if his comprehension was exceptional, setting aside whether he could surpass geniuses like Zhao Jing and Su Yuheng in the future, whether he could even catch up to Cao Xuan was a question.

At this thought, Huo Zheng's gaze returned to indifference.

"Begin."