Chapter Seventy-Eight: Passing

At this moment, thick smoke billowed across the platform. Xu Hongyuan, hearing the commotion behind him, dodged aside without hesitation.

Xu Hongyuan moved swiftly, but Wu Yong was even faster. Just as Xu Hongyuan twisted his body to evade, Wu Yong reached out and caught hold of his shoulder.

His expression changing drastically, Xu Hongyuan did not pause to think. With a swift motion, his other hand flicked, and a flexible sword snapped out, whistling as it stabbed backward.

The sword danced like a snake, darting through the smoke toward Wu Yong’s face. The blade was nearly upon him when Wu Yong’s left hand shot out, seizing the sword just before it struck. Power gathered in his palm, and with a forceful squeeze, the sword shattered with a bang, its fragments scattering to the ground.

In the brief instant this took, Lu Qing lunged forward once more.

Reaching into his robe, Lu Qing flung a handful of something directly at Wu Yong.

Wu Yong raised his arm to block in the thick smoke, but much of the substance slipped past his defense, scattering across his face.

The moment it touched his skin, Wu Yong felt a sharp sting in his eyes. His vision blurred, and for a moment he could see nothing.

Sensing the grip on his arm slacken, Xu Hongyuan seized the opportunity, wrenching himself free from Wu Yong’s grasp.

Twisting away, Xu Hongyuan spun his body, delivering a backward kick that landed squarely on Wu Yong.

Wu Yong, clutching at his eyes, blinded and unable to see, was struck full force and staggered back several steps.

Such a chance would not be wasted by the others. They all attacked in unison, raining blows upon Wu Yong and driving him back toward the gaping pit in the platform, finally sending him tumbling in.

This scene was witnessed by the five men atop the high terrace. Elder Ma’s face remained expressionless as he asked in an even tone, “What is the name of the one skilled in hidden weapons?”

“That’s Lu Qing, my apprentice,” Ouyang Xin replied at once, his face betraying a hint of pride at his disciple’s performance.

Elder Ma nodded. “The child is quite impressive. Wu Yong lacks experience—his strength surpasses the others, yet because of inexperience, he was caught off guard.”

“However, in my opinion, among these nine, the strongest and most outstanding is that one.” He gestured, and the other four followed his gaze to Yang Ze.

“The gap between the Qi-Gathering stage and a Grade-One Martial Artist is vast. Only thirty breaths remain—let’s see if they can last till the end.” With that, Elder Ma fell silent.

On the platform, after driving Wu Yong off, the group remained vigilant. They had nearly exhausted all their tactics, but with time left, Wu Yong might still have some trump card. If he revealed it now, it would surely be a killing move.

A brief silence fell over the field. Yang Ze’s right hand gripped his saber tightly, his inner energy surging at its limit. Facing such an opponent, every nerve in his body was taut.

The quiet lasted no more than three breaths before the entire platform began to shake, a rattling sound rising from below.

A sense of foreboding crept over Yang Ze. Glancing at Lu Qing, he saw the same grim look on his face.

“Careful—he’s trying to upend the entire platform!” Yang Ze shouted. He hadn’t expected Wu Yong to possess such strength, daring to attempt something so audacious.

As he finished speaking, cracks spread rapidly across the platform’s surface. Yang Ze’s body flashed as he leapt down below.

He couldn’t let the platform collapse. If they were all knocked from the stage, by the rules, they would lose.

Landing below, Yang Ze found a foothold and spotted the pillars Wu Yong was destroying.

Wu Yong saw Yang Ze appear and charged without hesitation, his right fist whistling through the air straight at Yang Ze’s face.

This time, Yang Ze did not retreat. His right fist clenched as he gathered two streams of inner energy, fusing them to the utmost, pouring all his strength into his punch.

Their fists collided with a thunderous force, the shockwave snapping several thick pillars around them.

Yang Ze’s body was hurled by the impact, smashing through the platform and soaring upward.

He described an arc in midair before crashing down on the edge of the platform. Wu Yong vaulted after him, turning on the six remaining participants, knocking one out with a single blow.

Wu Yong hadn’t expected Yang Ze to survive a direct punch from him—it felt like an insult.

Enraged, Wu Yong moved to attack again, but Bai Lun had already circled behind him, thrusting his sword at Wu Yong’s back.

Sensing the attack, Wu Yong spun and seized Bai Lun’s sword in one hand, crushing it like a toy.

But the fragments did not fall; Wu Yong’s left hand gathered them with a wave of force and flung them toward Yang Hai.

Yang Hai, who had been too frightened to act, was caught off guard. The shards struck him, and with a scream, he collapsed.

Bai Lun’s attack thwarted, he retreated, while Lu Qing reached into his robes again, clearly preparing another trick.

Wu Yong’s expression darkened fiercely as he charged, his right palm driving a gust of force that nearly unbalanced him. In that fleeting moment, Wu Yong was only three feet away.

At the critical instant, Xu Hongyuan stomped a plank loose from the platform and hurled it at Wu Yong.

Wu Yong stopped, whirled, and shattered the plank with a kick. But Lu Qing used the chance to toss two smoke bombs, vanishing into the haze.

“You saved me once; now we’re even,” Xu Hongyuan said.

Thwarted time and again, Wu Yong’s face was livid. For a Grade-One Martial Artist to be stymied by a few Qi-Gathering practitioners—if word got back to the Martial Academy, he’d be made a laughingstock.

Just as Wu Yong was about to unleash his full strength, the incense on the high terrace burned out. Elder Ma’s commanding voice rang out, “Enough, stop!”

Everyone froze.

“It’s done. From this point, the six of you have passed the test. Congratulations,” Elder Ma announced. Lu Qing and the others cried out in excitement.

“Elder, I held back for their safety. How could you—” Wu Yong protested, unwilling to accept the result.

“Enough, Wu Yong. As a Grade-One Martial Artist, you’ve been bested again and again by mere Qi-Gathering practitioners. Reflect on this thoroughly when you return. If your self-examination is lacking, prepare to face punishment.”

Elder Ma’s rebuke silenced Wu Yong. He lowered his head, fell back into line, and said no more.

The results announced, Yang Ze managed to recover some strength, barely standing upright.

Had he not practiced both the Sea-Heart Technique and the One Qi Art, their combined energies protecting him, the punch he’d exchanged with Wu Yong would have been fatal.

Even so, his organs were shaken, his limbs numb and powerless.

“Don’t celebrate too soon. Wu Yong used at most half his strength just now. Once you reach Wuyang Martial Academy, you’ll understand what true outer disciples are capable of.”

“I’ll remain in Yuyang City for three more days. Use this time to prepare yourselves. We’ll meet here in three days, and I’ll take you with me,” Elder Ma declared, then swept away with the rest of the Martial Academy’s party. Lü Feng and Ouyang Xin hurried after, as if something unusual was afoot.

With the results settled, the remaining candidates were all taken away by their elders—only Yang Ze, injured and unable to move, was left behind.

As Yang Ze cursed his predicament inwardly, Lu Qing and Yuan Heng approached. Lu Qing helped him up, looking at Yang Ze with genuine admiration.

“Brother Yang, you are truly exceptional. To withstand a blow from Wu Yong and survive—a Grade-One Martial Artist’s strike could kill a Qi-Gathering practitioner several times over.”

“No need for flattery, Brother Lu. Anyone could see the Martial Academy elders must have instructed Wu Yong to hold back, lest he kill us. Otherwise, how could we have lasted so long?” Yang Ze sighed.

He could feel the difference in strength between himself and Wu Yong—it was insurmountable, whether in force or speed.

“Master Yang, since you’re injured, why not rest in the yamen for a while? I’ll fetch a physician to tend to your wounds,” Yuan Heng offered warmly. Now that Yang Ze had passed the test and would certainly enter Wuyang Martial Academy, his future was limitless. He could no longer be treated as just another junior.