One Punch

"Good, very good. It seems you haven't wasted your time these past six months. I'll handle the assassin matter. You just need to focus on doing what you're supposed to do. Tomorrow's competition, guard the Gold Token and don't let anyone else take it." Wang Ling was pleased inside, but he didn't show it outwardly, maintaining an extremely cold expression.

"Yes, sir!" Lin Qing replied.

On the other side.

Luo Wandeng waited for a long time, but still received no news from Song Heilong, so he had no choice but to put the matter aside.

The next day.

At the central square of the Soul-Calming Office's headquarters, Lin Qing stepped onto the arena, while Luo Tai simultaneously used his Lightness Skill to leap onto the platform from the other side.

There were many spectators all around. Nearby were more than 600 newly Constable, and in the distance was a viewing platform with about a dozen people sitting there, including Wang Ling. They were all important figures from the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office.

"Steward Wang, you 'Gold Token in your hands for three years, searching through over a hundred counties in the Prefectural City. Now you've finally sent it out. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Lin Qing is capable of that has earned your approval," Qiu Changming said in a deep voice.

"Elder Qiu, just keep watching. I've never misjudged anyone in my life. After this battle, you'll understand why he was able to obtain the Gold Token from me," Wang Ling said expressionlessly.

"Oh, it seems Steward Wang is quite confident? But let me remind you, this Luo Tai is no ordinary person. Although the Luo Family has declined, they can still cultivate a genius. This Luo Tai possesses six kinds of internal energy, has mastered the Thirteen Hardening Art Techniques to the fullest level, and has naturally Stone Skin and has a natural Arm Strength of over a thousand. Forgive my bluntness, but even if this person stands there and lets anyone attack him, 99% of the people in this square will not be able to hurt him." A plump old man, resembling a ball of flesh, said in a deep voice beside Qiu Changming. This man was named Zhu Mingtong, also one of the Eight Executives of the Soul-Calming Office.

"Does Lord Zhu think Luo Tai can win?" Wang Ling didn't answer, but Qiu Changming chimed in.

"Not bad, I think Luo Tai can do it. I have a natural love for gambling, anyone want to bet with me?" Zhu Mingtong's eyes were bright.

He has a nickname in the Soul-Calming Office: "The One Who Takes a Gamble." No matter what happens, big or small, he always takes a gamble first.

"Lord Zhu, gambling is not a good habit," Qiu Changming.

"Alas, Elder Qiu, you are too kind. A little gambling is harmless, but excessive gambling is harmful. I bet Luo Tai will win with a thousand taels of silver!" Zhu Mingtong said loudly.

As an Executive of the Soul-Calming Office, one has long held a position of power above thousands and has many ways to make money, but a thousand taels is not a small sum.

"I'll take it," Qiu Changming said with a smile.

"Oh? Lord Qiu knows Lin Qing?" someone asked from the side.

"I don't know Lin Qing, but my intuition tells me that Steward Wang is sound," Qiu Changming said with a chuckle.

While the Soul-Calming Office Executive Division were chatting, Lin Qing and his companion finished their preparations. Before the fight began, they each had a quarter of an hour to adjust their state. At this moment, as the time was about to end, Luo Tai suddenly let out a low shout, and his body suddenly swelled up, growing taller to a height of sixteen feet, looking like a small giant from a distance.

Upon closer inspection, his skin appeared grayish-white, and his bulging muscles rose and fell like Hill, naturally exuding a surging aura.

Not only Lin Qing felt this aura, but many spectators standing near the arena were also filled with fear.

"What the hell is this monster?" Wei Dong, who was waiting to go on stage, had just stuffed a soup dumpling into his mouth when he suddenly saw this scene. He was so shocked that his eyes widened in shock.

"This is the physique one can achieve only after mastering the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening to Perfect Mastery," Yang Gan said softly from the side.

"Fortunately, my opponent wasn't him. It's just a pity for Brother Lin; the Gold Token he was about to get is going to slip away. Sigh." Wei Dong sighed and licked the oil off his finger.

Yang Gan suddenly felt underestimated. What did he mean by saying that his opponent wasn't him? But he swallowed the words of rebuttal that were on the tip of his tongue, because seeing Luo Tai's amazing physique, he knew he would lose even if he went up to him one-on-one.

On the other side of the crowd, Li Ping and Ma Ziye, witnessing this scene, secretly worried for Lin Qing.

"Can we win? What kind of monster is Luo Tai? How come he's so big?" Ma Ziye's mouth dropped open, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

"Trust Brother Lin. If it really comes down to it, then just admit defeat. Luo Tai is ruthless. I just hope Brother Lin isn't seriously injured. Even without the Gold Token, the treatment of Grade A Constable is still quite good," Li Ping said softly, though he himself had little faith in Lin Qing.

On the arena.

Luo Tai stretched his limbs, his eyes full of mockery.

"Lin Qing, if you're scared, you can admit defeat now. But if we really fight later, I'll cripple you."

Lin Qing remained calm and simply said, "You talk a lot of nonsense. I just hope your strength will be as tough as your mouth later."

Luo Tai's face immediately darkened. "Lin Qing, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

Although the Soul-Calming Office explicitly forbids heavy-handed attacks in arena battles, it is not uncommon for one side to be seriously injured if the difference in strength between the two sides is too great.

"The duel begins!"

At his command, Luo Tai charged forward. Despite his imposing physique, he was surprisingly fast, reaching Lin Qing in an instant and throwing a punch.

This punch brought with it a gust of wind; the fist was like a meteorite, chilling to the bone.

Lin Qing also moved at the same time. Although Luo Tai was fast, it depended on who he was compared to. Compared to Lin Qing, he was much slower.

Lin Qing dodged the punch by sidestepping, and then suddenly threw out a punch, unleashing the first move of the Tathagata Fist Manual.

Luo Tai did not dodge, firstly because he couldn't dodge, and secondly because he felt there was no need to. With the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening, his skin was as hard as if he were wearing chainmail. He was confident that he could be invincible among Martial Artist of the same level.

"I'll just stand here and let you hit me, and you still can't break my defense? What makes you think you can beat me?"

Luo Tai's eyes were full of confidence, and a smile played on his face, a smile tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

He reached out and grabbed Lin Qing's shoulder. If he could get a grip, he would crush his bones without hesitation and listen to Lin Qing's screams.

However, when Lin Qing's fist actually struck his chest, tens of thousands of pounds of force erupted, and the sound, like the beating of a drum, echoed between heaven and earth.

Bang!

Luo Tai's smile froze instantly. He felt an irresistible force crashing down like a tsunami, instantly piercing through the body's outer defenses formed by the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Force Net, and then overwhelming his internal organs, turning his body upside down.

Luo Tai's body suddenly flew high into the air, arcing through the air before crashing down onto the ground below the arena, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Luo Tai clutched his chest, his eyes filled with horror. That punch had the force of tens of thousands of pounds; he simply couldn't understand how Lin Qing could possess such terrifying power.

The next instant, intense pain surged from his internal organs, quickly engulfing his entire body. Luo Tai's expression contorted with pain, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, instantly losing consciousness.

In an instant, the entire arena fell silent.

Lin Qing stood at the edge of the stands, looking down at Luo Tai, who lay dead on the ground, and said calmly, "That punch had a force exceeding 50,000 jin. Could you withstand it?"