Heavenly Gate Sect, Training Ground.
Though the Training Ground had fallen into disrepair over the years, with rubble and broken stones scattered across the ground, Ye Ling's morning cleanup at least made it look presentable.
Heavenly Gate Sect, Training Ground.
Though the Training Ground had fallen into disrepair over the years, with碎石 scattered across the ground, Ye Ling's morning cleanup at least made it look presentable.
Combat between cultivators, even at the level of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, was enough to split mountains and shatter stone. Because of that, defensive Formations were indispensable. Only formations could restrain the destructive power cultivators unleashed.
The grounds themselves were worn down, but the Formation remained perfectly intact. After Bai Yiyi placed the Spirit Stones, layers of faint green light spread out, enveloping the entire Arena.
"Neither side is allowed to fight to the death. The battle ends once one party loses combat capability or shows clear intent to surrender."
Standing atop the Arena, Bai Yiyi announced the rules to Ye Ling and Leng Qingqiu.
Now that Ye Ling had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, she finally felt at ease, and there was far more confidence in her voice.
"You both understand?"
"Yes, Master."
Ye Ling cupped his hands toward Bai Yiyi, but his eyes never left Leng Qingqiu.
Something was wrong. This guy was definitely off.
Ye Ling couldn't figure it out. Ever since Leng Qingqiu saw them that morning, he'd been wearing a dark, sour expression, as if Ye Ling and his master owed him millions. It made no sense at all.
"Mhm."
Leng Qingqiu narrowed his eyes and simply nodded toward Bai Yiyi.
He was seething with anger.
The night before, he had considered countless possibilities. The one thing he never imagined was that the Heavenly Gate Sect would resort to such a desperate measure—forcefully raising someone's cultivation.
He wasn't like Bai Yiyi. His horizons might not be exceptionally broad, but he had never seen, or even heard of, someone jumping from the fourth level of Qi Cultivation straight into Foundation Establishment overnight.
In his eyes, the promising subordinate he'd been planning to recruit had already had his foundation ruined by this insignificant little sect.
Miracles were never free.
Crossing so many levels in a single night was something even Demonic Cultivators couldn't do.
The only explanation was that Ye Ling had sacrificed his future just to fight him here and now.
Foolish.
Did you really think reaching Foundation Establishment meant you had a chance?
Foundation Establishment cultivators were not all the same.
Did you think my Ninefold Reforging at the Qi Cultivation stage was for nothing?
Hmph.
I thought you were a talent worth using. Turns out you're nothing special after all.
Still, even if your cultivation is ruined, you could manage my mortal-world assets.
If you perform well, I might even find some Saint-Grade Alchemical Pills to open up a path for you.
As long as you… you… why is your fist getting closer and closer to me?!
While Leng Qingqiu was lost in his wild thoughts, Ye Ling's Mighty Strength Fist was already right in front of him.
The duel had begun.
At first, Ye Ling thought Leng Qingqiu must be hiding some kind of trump card, which was why he stood there with such a gloomy expression.
But as excitement slowly spread across Leng Qingqiu's refined face, and Ye Ling's Heavenly Fate Eye showed no sign of impending danger, he decided to probe with a first strike.
"You think you can hit me—"
Ye Ling's fist drew closer and closer, yet Leng Qingqiu remained calm. Speaking as he shifted to the right, he prepared to counterattack.
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp scream burst from his mouth.
"Ah!"
Ye Ling's punch landed cleanly, smashing straight into Leng Qingqiu's left eye.
No… impossible!
Leng Qingqiu was absolutely confident that his footwork couldn't be seen through.
The Nine Steps of the Profound Heaven, an ancient inheritance passed down by his master. Though it consisted of only nine steps, it could evolve into countless variations.
Attack, evasion, retreat. It excelled at everything.
Ever since he mastered the Nine Steps of the Profound Heaven, no one had ever landed a hit on him.
Coincidence. This had to be a coincidence.
Ye Ling had no idea how much drama Leng Qingqiu was playing out in his own head. For him, the priority was simple: knock Leng Qingqiu down first, and worry about everything else later.
So—
"Still acting? Are you done acting yet?"
"You dare run wild in the Heavenly Gate Sect without checking what you're worth?"
"Bullying my Master? Who do you think you are?"
"Can't you see my Master's about to cry? And you still dare to put on that face to scare her?"
"Oh right, when my Master was introducing me, you even dared to interrupt her. Are you looking down on me or what?"
With the Heavenly Fate Eye supporting him, Ye Ling fought as if he were facing a simple practice dummy, treating Leng Qingqiu like a punching bag.
Every punch went straight for Leng Qingqiu's refined, handsome face. Ye Ling didn't put much strength into them, but before long, Leng Qingqiu's face was already covered in bruises and swelling.
Ye Ling had disliked him from the start. A grown man who looked prettier than a woman. With a face like that, who knew how many men wanted to cross swords with him.
"You… you…"
Leng Qingqiu was completely beaten senseless. He tried to form hand seals to cast spells or dodge Ye Ling's attacks, but Ye Ling's boxing technique struck again and again at his weak points. Any True Qi he barely managed to gather scattered the moment it formed.
By now, he was completely certain. His Nine Steps of the Profound Heaven were utterly useless in front of Ye Ling. The opponent seemed almost divinely assisted, able to predict his every move with uncanny precision.
As the saying goes, fall behind once, and every step after that is lost.
At this point, he was nothing more than fish on Ye Ling's chopping block, pinned down and beaten without any room to resist.
If the two of them had started with some distance between them, he might still have been able to rely on Taoist techniques to fight back. But now that he was within Ye Ling's striking range, everything he did was futile.
After holding it in for a long time, he finally forced out a breath and roared,
"You… you have no martial virtue!"
"Martial virtue?"
Ye Ling didn't stop punching. He spoke while striking.
"No martial virtue, huh?"
"My Master announced the start ages ago, and you were standing there nodding like you were showing off."
"Now you remember martial virtue? Where did it go earlier?"
"Been beaten so hard you can't even speak properly?"
"Then hurry up and admit defeat. Don't stand here embarrassing yourself."
The more Ye Ling spoke, the angrier he became, and the strength in his fists increased by another notch.
In his eyes, Leng Qingqiu was a textbook show-off. Ye Ling had thought the man must be hiding some kind of trump card. Instead, after being beaten for so long, all Leng Qingqiu could do was flail his arms in messy attempts to strike back. Other than that, he was just exceptionally good at enduring hits.
It wasn't Ye Ling being arrogant. The force behind his very first punch was enough to knock out an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator outright, yet Leng Qingqiu had only swayed a bit.
After that, Ye Ling continued punching for nearly five full minutes. Leng Qingqiu was clearly unsteady and on the verge of collapse, but he still showed no sign of falling.
This guy really could take a beating.
But if you said Leng Qingqiu was powerful, that didn't quite hold either. Ye Ling had been holding back sixty percent of his strength the entire time, specifically to guard against a sudden counterattack.
He waited and waited, yet no proper retaliation ever came. Instead, Leng Qingqiu blurted out such a laughable line.
If you can't afford to lose, then don't play.
On the Arena, Ye Ling's fists fell like a violent storm, raining down relentlessly on Leng Qingqiu's handsome face.