Chapter 72: First Battle: Channel Opening!

"Damn it, how dare he break through in the middle of battle? Isn't he afraid his inner qi will be unstable and shatter his meridians?"

The Song family camp's earlier joy vanished completely; everyone wilted instantly, like eggplants struck by frost.

"What should we do? Should we admit defeat…?" Song Yan's face was full of anxiety.

Compared to winning the Earth Cave contest, she hoped Qin Shuo would remain safe and sound more.

This was originally an opportunity she wanted to give Qin Shuo; if he lost his life because of it, she would never find peace in this lifetime.

Moreover, given the deadly feud between the Fang and Song families, Fang Lin would absolutely not show mercy or spare Qin Shuo's life.

"Second uncle, just admit defeat!"

Song Yan spoke with difficulty; she hoped Qin Shuo could win, but even more, she hoped he could survive.

Inner Strength Transforming into Qi, though called Half-Step Channel Opening, still falls far short of true Tongmai Realm masters; it's impossible to match them in strength.

"Cannot admit defeat!"

Second Elder Song Ci declared firmly, "We've already fought to this point—if we don't decide a winner, how can we bear it?"

"Do you really want to watch the Yuan Magnetic Grotto fall into the Fang family's hands, helpless?"

"Fang Lin has already entered the Tongmai Realm; if Fang Yan and Fang Yue also undergo the Earth Cave's tempering and enter Tongmai, my Song family will have no chance to rise again."

Song Ci's words were righteous and lofty; even Family Head Song Tianhao could not refute them.

The younger generation of the Song family was already slightly inferior to the Fang family's; now that Fang Lin has entered Tongmai, the balance of power between the two families has completely tipped in favor of the Fang family.

Under these circumstances, if the Song family loses the Yuan Magnetic Grotto again, it will be a disaster for them.

"Let's wait and see—I believe in Qin Xiao xiongdi; if it truly comes to a life-or-death moment, I will intervene." Song Tianhao said solemnly.

"But…"

Song Yan still wanted to plead, but Song Tianlin had already spoken, cutting her off,

"Song Yan, this matter concerns the family's survival—do you want to let your grandfather and father's hard-won legacy be destroyed in an instant?"

"I…"

After being scolded by Song Tianlin, Song Yan's heart immediately fell into turmoil.

After all, the Song family is where she grew up from childhood, having given her countless warmth and reliance.

Although her father's death left many family decisions disappointing and heartbreaking, if she were to watch its destruction helplessly, she could not bear it.

"If it truly comes to a life-or-death moment, then I will trade my life for my junior brother's life!" Song Yan thought, resolving to step in and block blades for Qin Shuo at any moment.

Song Yan thought, having prepared herself to act at any time to shield Qin Shuo from blades.

"Song Family Head, we've come to this point—aren't you going to admit defeat yet?"

Fang Yongping smiled broadly, "It seems you don't value this young brother all that much, just watching him march to his death."

His words were utterly cutting, clearly aiming to drive a wedge between Qin Shuo and the Song family.

Because he had already concluded this youth was not a secret heaven-chosen prodigy trained by the Song family, but an outsider hired for help.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to have not used the Song family's supreme martial arts up to now.

Thus, his scheme to sow discord had room to work.

As an outsider, he is merely a transaction of interests.

The price the Song family can offer, the Fang family may not be unable to match.

"Young brother, I don't know what benefits the Song family promised you, but if you admit defeat now, my Fang family is willing to offer double." Fang Yongping said with a beaming face.

Although the Fang family currently holds the advantage, Fang Lin has just cleared his meridians; it's better to avoid combat if possible.

Otherwise, meridian damage could affect his future martial arts cultivation.

Fang Lin is the sole promising seed of the Fang family's younger generation with hope of reaching the Condensing Truth Realm; Fang Yongping does not wish him to suffer any mishap.

Had it not been for winning the Earth Cave contest, he would not have allowed Fang Lin to break through mid-battle.

Now, if he could use some benefits to make Qin Shuo waver in admitting defeat—or even defect to the Fang family—it would be perfect.

"Fang Family Head, your tactic of sowing discord is really too low-level." Song Tianhao's face turned iron-blue.

But since the other party had spoken to this extent, he could only say to Qin Shuo: "Qin Xiao xiongdi, if you feel outmatched, you may admit defeat!"

"Cannot admit defeat!" Song Ci coldly interrupted.

In the arena.

Qin Shuo gazed at the opposing Fang Lin, radiating fierce momentum, his expression still calm.

"Tongmai Realm…"

He pursed his lips, battle intent surging in his eyes.

This was his first time fighting an opponent of this level.

Previously, sparring with Song Tianhao was at most a trial of moves, not a true life-or-death death match.

While fighting Tian Bai, though the opponent was Half-Step Tongmai with Inner Strength Transforming into Qi, there was still a considerable gap from true Tongmai.

These past days in the Song family, his Dragon Elephant Golden Body progressed rapidly; he just lacked a suitable opponent to test his strength.

This Fang Lin, who broke through to Tongmai in a risky move, happens to be an excellent whetstone.

"Kid, since you refuse to admit defeat, then die gloriously beneath my iron fist!"

Fang Lin spoke arrogantly, the aura of the Tongmai Realm unleashed without reserve, making all present Inner Strength martial artists feel the pressure.

He had none of his father Fang Yongping's reservations.

After breaking through to Tongmai, he only felt his body brimming with power, enough to thrash any opponent.

At this moment, he only wanted to blast the youth before him to pieces, to display his strength and confidence.

Bang!

He stomped his feet, and instantly, countless fine cracks appeared beneath him.

The next moment, his entire body shot forward explosively.

The silver-white refined iron gauntlets, wrapped in inner qi, blazed with light, as if holding a small silver sun, and fiercely blasted toward Qin Shuo.

Boom!

The extreme speed triggered an air explosion.

Fang Lin's aura was like a rainbow, his pair of iron fists emitting a heavy pressure as massive as mountains, as if those were not fists but two hundred-zhang-tall mountains.

"It's over! How could his speed and power increase so much?"

The Inner Strength martial artists of the Song Family camp all turned deathly pale.

This speed and power were completely different from Fang Lin before his breakthrough; his strength had at least doubled.

No wonder their instructors often told them, martial path cultivation, one realm, one heaven, wanting to fight above one's level is almost impossible.

With the strength Fang Lin displayed now, he could easily kill an Inner Strength Great Perfection martial artist with a single punch.

"Tongmai Realm, so strong!"

Many people's eyes showed fear, feeling the terror of a Tongmai Realm expert.

"What a pity for that youth, so young, yet mastering the top-tier killing move of Three Elements Returning to One, a rare martial arts genius, but meeting Lin Ge, he can only walk the path to defeat and death."

In the Fang Family camp, someone felt pity for Qin Shuo, thinking he had chosen the wrong side and should have joined their Fang Family.

Boom!

Fang Lin's iron fists came killing!

Qin Shuo made no extra movement, fully activating the White Ape Heavenly Gang Saber Technique with inner qi, the snow-bright blade light illuminating the hillside.

Clang!

The blade edge collided with the iron fists.

Qin Shuo felt as if he had been struck by a great mountain.

The violent force surged along the blade into his viscera, shaking his qi and blood, causing his five organs to ache.

His entire body was flung flying by this punch, as if it could shake mountains and move the earth.

After landing, he staggered back more than ten steps with each step.

Each step left deep depressions in the ground, showing the immense pressure he bore.

However, Fang Lin was no better off.

This White Ape Splitting Mountain move, which fused nearly one-third of Qin Shuo's inner qi, after Three Elements Returning to One, had power more than doubled compared to before.

Fang Lin was slammed into the forest behind by a blade strike, breaking a water-bucket-thick large tree before barely stopping his momentum.

Moreover, his body had not been tempered; such a violent collision directly tore open the wound on his chest, blood flowing freely.

"How... how is this possible?"

The Fang Family people were all stunned!

Tongmai Realm, not to say killing Inner Strength martial artists is like slaughtering dogs, but it's nearly so—how could Fang Lin still be sent flying by the opponent?

"Inner Strength vs. Tongmai Realm, and they can still evenly split the outcome—how did this Qin surname achieve this?"

In the Song Family camp, Song Shan, who had always been hostile toward Qin Shuo, was now stunned wide-eyed.

Other Song Family martial artists were no better off, each one as if turned to stone, simply unable to believe their own eyes.

Originally they thought, Fang Lin entering Tongmai Realm meant the Song Family was surely doomed, but they did not expect such a reversal.

"Qin Xiaoxiong, truly a heaven-sent extraordinary talent!"

Song Tianhao's eyes shone brightly.

Just now he had prepared to act, but at the critical moment he felt the powerful aura bursting from Qin Shuo's body, so he did not act rashly.

Indeed, Qin Shuo did not disappoint him.

By transforming Inner Strength into Qi, he hard-collided with a Tongmai Realm expert.

If this battle result were transmitted back to Songyang Prefecture City, it would surely cause a great uproar.

Because this is too subversive of cognition.

"Internal and external cultivation, body hardened externally!"

Fang Yongping's face was grim and terrifying.

He never expected that the boy who looked only seventeen or eighteen was actually a martial artist cultivating both internally and externally.

Moreover, from the power erupted from the opponent's body, his external cultivation level was obviously not low.

Three Elements Returning to One, Inner Strength Transforming into Light!

This is already enough to shock and dread.

Unexpectedly, this youth's body is also so terrifying, strong enough to hard-resist a Tongmai Realm expert.

If he were to break through to the Tongmai Realm, how strong would he become?

If the opponent became a Guest Minister or Protector of the Song Family, then his Fang Family would be in danger!

Thinking of this, Fang Yongping's killing intent instantly flared up.

"This youth must not be spared!"

Crack!

In the midst of everyone's thoughts turning a hundred times, a clear cracking sound rang out.

Qin Shuo's long saber...

shattered!