Ten-Thousand-Pound Fist Force

Zhang Haoran did not deliberately conceal his aura. Every Inner Sect Disciple could sense the fluctuations of True Qi around him, and many exclaimed in surprise, "It's True Qi! He's broken through to the True Condensation Realm."

"Another genius has emerged. With his talent, he'll probably climb above us before long." Though Zhang Haoran had always been a rare genius, the Inner Sect Disciples had not taken him too seriously. Many geniuses cultivated at astonishing speed in ordinary times, only to fall behind disciples of slightly better aptitude when it came time to break through realms. Only geniuses who had reached a certain height could truly command others' attention.

"Sigh, looks like we'll have to work twice as hard. Being surpassed never feels good, and there's still a whole group above us pressing down on us."

"Exactly. Forget the Core Disciples for now—there are several freaks among the Inner Sect Disciples who have cultivated Human-grade Top-tier techniques to the peak of the seventh level. Are they leaving anyone else a way to live?"

"The higher the grade of a cultivation technique, the harder it is to improve. Even if someone gave me an Earth-grade Low-tier technique, I still wouldn't be able to cultivate it."

As the Inner Sect Disciples buzzed with discussion, Wu Zongming stepped onto the platform.

"Zhang Haoran, you're not the only one who has advanced to the True Condensation Realm." Whoosh! A pure aura burst from Wu Zongming, sweeping dust across the platform.

Wu Zongming had actually become a True Condensation Realm martial artist as well. Many people showed interested expressions.

Zhang Haoran sneered. "You weren't my match in the Qi Cultivation Realm. You're even less of a match now."

"We'll see the real skills under our hands. Ye Chen, get down first." In truth, Wu Zongming had no confidence at all in facing Zhang Haoran. The reason he had forced himself forward was to give Ye Chen time to recover some Internal Energy.

Ye Chen smiled faintly and said to Zhang Haoran, "You want to decide this with three punches?"

"I know you've used up quite a bit of Internal Energy. If we truly fought, you would undoubtedly be at a great disadvantage. As long as you can take three punches from me without losing, I'll count it as your victory. How about it?" Zhang Haoran stood with his hands behind his back, his green robes fluttering and snapping despite the absence of wind.

Wu Zongming hurriedly said, "Ye Chen, don't agree! What you excel at is swordsmanship, while he excels in hand techniques." He then shouted at Zhang Haoran, "Zhang Haoran, how can you be so shameless?"

Zhang Haoran said blandly, "Did I ever say he wasn't allowed to use his sword?"

"I accept. It's time the grudge between us was settled." Ye Chen drew a deep breath and slowly calmed his surging Blood and Qi.

"All right, then!" Knowing there was nothing more for him to do, Wu Zongming flashed down from the platform.

On the platform, Ye Chen looked at the supremely confident Zhang Haoran and recalled what had happened in the reception hall a month ago. Liu Wuxiang, the Palm Absolute and one of Jade Valley's four great Core Disciples, had decided victory and defeat against Luo Hanshan, his sect's second Core Disciple, in three palms. It had been a clash between titans.

Now, he too had a chance to decide victory and defeat with someone in three punches. Though neither side could compare to those two, it still made his blood boil and filled his heart with heroic fervor.

"Begin!" Ye Chen seemed to have no intention of drawing his sword. He drew his hands in.

Zhang Haoran snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "If you don't draw your sword, you won't even be able to take two moves from me. Do you think I'm as easy to deal with as that trash Huang Bingwen?"

"To be honest, I didn't even use my true strength when I fought Huang Bingwen." Ye Chen smiled faintly.

"What? He's only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Ninth Layer, yet he claims he didn't even use his full strength against Huang Bingwen. Is he putting on an act, or is he just spouting nonsense?" The watching disciples immediately erupted into a buzz of voices.

Within the crowd, Huang Bingwen's face went pale at those words. Humiliated into rage, he said, "This is outrageous! If I hadn't underestimated him, the outcome wouldn't have been like this."

An Inner Sect Disciple beside him sighed. "Huang Bingwen, whether you admit it or not, a loss is a loss. There's nothing more to say."

"I just can't swallow it!" Huang Bingwen clenched his fists, his bones grinding with a crackling sound.

After hearing Ye Chen's words, Zhang Haoran burst into laughter. "Good! Take my first move—Ice and Snow Universe!"

Even when he had possessed only ten layers of Internal Energy, Zhang Haoran's Cold-Soaking Palm had already been immensely powerful, its cold wind biting to the bone. Now that he had advanced into the True Condensation Realm, the moment he attacked, wind and snow came rushing head-on. Layer upon layer of frost covered the platform within several yards, spreading at high speed toward Ye Chen.

Along the way, the wind and snow twisted together and lunged viciously at Ye Chen.

Clang!

Ye Chen clenched his right hand, producing the ring of metal striking iron, and threw an unwavering punch.

The wind and snow obscured both figures, making them impossible to see clearly with the naked eye. The vast and surging force of the clash startled even some Inner Sect Disciples, let alone Huang Bingwen, whom Ye Chen had defeated.

"How is that possible? It's clearly only a Human-grade High-tier Martial Skill. Why is it so powerful in Zhang Haoran's hands?" Huang Bingwen looked deeply shaken.

Naturally, Zhang Haoran did not hear Huang Bingwen's words, and even if he had, he would not have cared. The gap between genius and mediocrity could not be measured by reason. How could Huang Bingwen possibly understand it?

Within the wind and snow, Ye Chen could neither see nor hear, yet his perception was extraordinarily sharp. He clearly "saw" Zhang Haoran's movements and expression, missing not the slightest detail.

"Die!"

Zhang Haoran struck a palm at Ye Chen's chest.

"Not necessarily." Waiting at ease for the exhausted foe, Ye Chen seized the opening and blasted out a punch.

Bang!

The wind and snow filling the sky exploded. Ye Chen's fist and Zhang Haoran's palm pressed against each other, neither yielding an inch as they froze in place.

Faced with this situation, Zhang Haoran grinned. His left hand changed from palm to fist and struck Ye Chen's chest like lightning.

Yet, to his astonishment, he had somehow been struck as well—in the exact same place, his chest.

The crowd only heard two impacts. The two men on the platform were each sent flying backward, staggering as they landed.

"Ha ha! My Iron Armor Skill has already reached great completion. There's no way you can hurt me." Zhang Haoran patted his chest, his face utterly unconcerned.

The clothing over Ye Chen's chest had already been shattered by the shock. He lowered his head and saw a jade-like gleam spreading over his tough, dense muscles, covered by a trace of frost. With a tremor of internal force, the frost was quickly shaken apart, scattering down like crystal dust.

Ye Chen raised his head. "You didn't hurt me either."

Zhang Haoran's expression darkened. "I never expected you to have cultivated a body-strengthening technique as well. I truly underestimated you. But with this punch, you will definitely lose."

"Tiger Roar Dragon Fist!"

Compared to several months ago, Zhang Haoran's command of the Tiger Roar Dragon Fist had become far more refined. Vast currents of blue energy gathered around his fist, issuing waves of tiger roars. Then, dragging a brilliant tail of light behind it, his punch blasted toward Ye Chen like a soaring dragon.

Ye Chen shifted his stance and drew back his right fist. He roared inwardly, My strength now exceeds ten thousand pounds. I could kill even an elephant. Today, you will be the first to experience it!

Hiss!

Drawing into a bow stance, Ye Chen launched his fist. It was fiercer than any weapon, instantly tearing through the air and compressing a thin layer of air film before it, tightening without end.

The two fists collided. Zhang Haoran flew backward in terror, spitting out a mouthful of blood in midair.