First Outer Sect Disciple

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

In the level little courtyard, a figure practiced his fists with a steady, grounded stance. The gusts raised by his fierce punches sent dust swirling endlessly across the ground.

"Ha!"

After finishing a set of punches, the figure suddenly exerted force. Two consecutive blows struck a waist-thick hardwood post. With a crack, the post could not withstand the destructive force of the punches and snapped in two at the middle. Its upper half flew seven or eight meters away, breaking apart in midair into fine splinters.

"My fist force has finally combined hardness and softness as one."

With only one day left before the Wooden Man Alley Competition, Ye Chen had no thought of relaxing. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to honing his Vajra Fist techniques. His powerful Soul Force allowed him to clearly sense the exertion of every inch of his body, letting him effortlessly fuse the strength of every part into one and produce a deeper level of explosive power. This was also why he could cultivate the Vajra Fist to its highest realm.

"Perhaps even the person who created the Vajra Fist did not cultivate it to its highest realm. I have the advantage in this regard, but his advantage in creating Martial Arts leaves me far behind."

Smiling wryly at his idle thoughts, Ye Chen shook his head and walked toward the stone table not far away.

A white porcelain bottle sat on the round stone table, its mouth sealed with a redwood stopper. It was precisely a bottle of Body Tempering Paste worth one hundred taels of silver.

Pop!

Ye Chen pulled out the stopper and turned the bottle upside down. Before long, a milky yellow liquid flowed into his palm, and a faint, refreshing fragrance spread through the air.

Removing his clothes, Ye Chen used both hands, coated in Body Tempering Paste, to rub down his entire body.

"Feels great." After several breaths, Ye Chen felt a scorching aura slowly seep in through the surface of his skin, gradually invading his muscles, blood, and bones. It was as though ants were burrowing inside him—slightly itchy, yet painful as well.

Lowering his head, he saw muscles knotted across the surface of his strong body, gleaming with an oily sheen like the fiercest leopard. His streamlined physique brimmed with explosive power. It was hard to imagine that this was the body of a fourteen-year-old boy. Of course, compared to Xu Jing's seemingly delicate body, Ye Chen still fell short by more than half.

After exercising for a while, Ye Chen put on his clothes, took his Fine Steel Sword, and left the courtyard, heading for the Announcement Plaza in the western district of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

The Announcement Plaza was where the Flowing Cloud Sect announced major events. The opening of Wooden Man Alley tomorrow should already have been posted. After all, many newcomers were still muddleheaded and knew none of the matters requiring attention, just as Ye Chen had been back then.

In truth, Ye Chen did not need to make a special trip. He already knew everything he needed to know, and there would basically be no changes. But he was no longer the same as before. He could not live passively; he had to seize the initiative in everything and strive to account for every detail. Sometimes, it was precisely the details that decided success or failure.

Besides, on the day before entering Wooden Man Alley, the Announcement Plaza would certainly be crowded. It was the perfect chance to observe everyone else's strength.

As he strolled along, taking in the sights, Ye Chen realized that in more than two years at the Flowing Cloud Sect, he had not made a single friend he could truly get along with. Thinking about it, he had really failed.

With a wry smile, Ye Chen found himself somewhat envious of the Outer Sect Disciples gathered in groups around him. They chatted and laughed together, carefree and unrestrained.

The Announcement Plaza had arrived. Looking ahead, Ye Chen saw a square marble plaza a hundred zhang wide. Before it stood an enormous wall, upon which was posted a giant sheet of white paper bearing five large black characters: "Wooden Man Alley Competition."

As he followed the crowd into the plaza, all sorts of voices filled Ye Chen's ears.

"Last year, the first place in the Wooden Man Alley Competition went to the First Disciple, Wu Zongming. I wonder who it will be this year?"

"I'd say there's an eighty or ninety percent chance it'll still be Wu Zongming. Who knows how far his strength has progressed over the past half year?"

"That makes sense, but I'm more optimistic about the number one genius among the Outer Sect Disciples, Zhang Haoran."

"Zhang Haoran! That rare genius who reached the Qi Cultivation Realm Tenth Layer at thirteen?"

"Isn't that so? I heard that when he joined the Flowing Cloud Sect at twelve, he already possessed the strength of the Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer. Only a year has passed, yet he leaped from the Qi Cultivation Realm Seventh Layer to the Qi Cultivation Realm Tenth Layer. His cultivation speed is simply unimaginable."

One person sneered. "No matter how talented Zhang Haoran is, he has only just entered the Qi Cultivation Realm Tenth Layer. Don't forget that Wu Zongming was already at the Qi Cultivation Realm Tenth Layer half a year ago. By now, he is probably only half a step away from the True Condensation Realm."

"Hehe, making it sound nice, he's half a step away. Putting it bluntly, he failed to break through. Otherwise, he would have reached the True Condensation Realm long ago." The speaker had a square face and thin lips, with a hint of meanness in his expression.

"You dare insult Wu Zongming?" The Outer Sect Disciple speaking for Wu Zongming wore an angry expression.

The square-faced disciple refused to back down. "I know you're Wu Zongming's friend, but I'm not. I'm merely stating the facts. I have reason wherever I go."

"Hmph, what a fine 'reason.'"

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out. Immediately afterward, a sharp Momentum emerged from nowhere, sweeping over the area like a whirlwind.

Everyone fixed their eyes on the scene. More than ten steps away, a blue-clad youth stood tall with a longsword on his back, his gaze locked tightly onto the person mocking him.

It was the First Disciple—Wu Zongming.

Ye Chen stood to one side with great interest, thinking, This should be entertaining.

The square-faced disciple, who had earlier dismissed Wu Zongming as worthless, seemed intimidated by the other's Momentum. Stammering, he said, "I... I wasn't... speaking the truth?"

Wu Zongming gave a mocking smile. "Do you know what kind of person I hate most? Cowards who speak ill of others behind their backs. I'll give you a chance to atone. If you can take one palm strike from me, this matter will be settled. Do you dare?"

One palm strike! The square-faced disciple's eyes flickered. His cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation Realm Eighth Layer, two whole layers below Wu Zongming's. Still, taking one palm strike should not be much of a problem. At worst, he would suffer a minor injury. But if he refused, he would truly be a coward, and he would never be able to hold his head up before everyone again.

"Fine, one palm strike it is. What is there to fear!"

Once he finished speaking, his body bent slightly forward, his right arm hanging down. The clothes over his entire body fluttered without wind, clearly as he gathered Internal Energy into his right arm.

"That's the opening stance of the Little Yaksha Palm!" Someone recognized it and could not help blurting it out.

The square-faced disciple smiled smugly. The Little Yaksha Palm was a Human-grade High-tier Martial Skill. Ordinarily, someone of his status should not have been able to obtain this Martial Skill, but his uncle was an Outer Sect Elder of the Flowing Cloud Sect. Preparing a Human-grade High-tier Martial Skill for him was as easy as turning over his hand.

With the Little Yaksha Palm, he was confident he could receive one move from Wu Zongming. Perhaps he might even avoid falling into a disadvantage. Then his reputation would resound.

Wu Zongming's expression did not change as he said lightly, "Are you ready?"

The square-faced disciple raised his eyes. "I await you at any time."

At this moment, everyone held their breath and stared unblinkingly at the two men. One was the First Disciple, while the other was an Outer Sect Disciple at the Qi Cultivation Realm Eighth Layer. Though they would exchange only one move, they should be able to see part of their strength from it. Even if they could not, it would still broaden their horizons.