Chapter 52: They

Zhang Tao saw Facing Facing Cang Luo's right arm injured by his strike and sneered inwardly—how dare this fool, wielding nothing but a Yellow-Rank Low-grade technique, challenge him to a direct clash?

He retracted his fist, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked down at Facing Facing Cang Luo with cold pride. "Your right arm is injured. It won't recover in less than a stick of incense. Surrender now."

Behind him, the classmates from Geng 45 Dorm cheered wildly at his single blow driving Facing Facing Cang Luo back, booing the three dorms across the way and shouting for them to make the despicable Facing Facing Cang Luo surrender quickly.

The disciples from the Liang, Wang, and Liu dorms immediately flew into rage and shouted back, but their momentum was already fading.

Clearly, they all realized Facing Facing Cang Luo was no match for Zhang Tao—the man was cultivating a Yellow-Rank High-grade technique!

And Facing Facing Cang Luo? He was cultivating nothing but a Yellow-Rank Low-grade technique, just like them...

Among the disciples, Zhao Renwu let out a faint, almost imperceptible smile—he truly hoped Facing Facing Cang Luo would lose.

The reason was simple: in this small group of twenty-nine disciples from the three dorms, in prestige, influence, and strength, Zhao Renwu was second to none.

He was like the senior brother—nearly twenty disciples looked up to him, and only Cang Feng could slightly threaten his position.

But today, out of nowhere appeared Facing Facing Cang Luo—a Warrior Stage 7 cultivator whose cultivation was higher than his own, who had defeated Chen Dahu, while Zhao Renwu had just been beaten by Chen Dahu himself.

Wasn't this slapping his face?

Wasn't this stealing his senior brother status?

So you'd better lose—and lose badly.

Zhao Renwu's face wore an expression of tense concern as he watched Facing Facing Cang Luo, as if worried for him, while inwardly he prayed for his defeat.

Facing Facing Cang Luo had no idea of Zhao Renwu's thoughts—he was already using Infinite Qi to heal his right arm, which recovered quickly, though he still maintained the trembling, injured appearance.

Looking at Zhang Tao, Facing Facing Cang Luo feigned anger. "You want me to surrender? You're not worthy!"

Saying this, Facing Facing Cang Luo let his right arm hang limp and used his left hand to channel Thundering Palm, dashing forward to attack Zhang Tao.

Zhang Tao shook his head slightly—he thought Facing Facing Cang Luo had no self-awareness, no sense of his own limits. Just now, with both hands, you couldn't match me. Now you think one hand will do?

"Fine. Let you understand the gap between us." Zhang Tao muttered, then assumed a defensive stance.

The next instant, Facing Facing Cang Luo closed the distance, thrusting his left palm forward. Zhang Tao remained unmoved, casually swinging a fist to unleash Void-Piercing Force.

The gale rushed toward him, but with the aid of his Dynamic Perception, Facing Facing Cang Luo sidestepped effortlessly, his left palm advancing further to strike directly at Zhang Tao's face.

Zhang Tao was slightly startled—he hadn't expected Facing Facing Cang Luo to dodge his attack.

Prediction?

No time to hesitate. Seeing the Thundering Palm about to land, Zhang Tao instantly stepped back, raising his left hand to shield his face while his right hand—just used for the punch—snapped toward Facing Facing Cang Luo.

Zhang Tao's reaction and counter were swift—nearly reaching the limit of what Facing Facing Cang Luo's Dynamic Perception could feed back.

Facing Facing Cang Luo focused entirely, lowering his body, dodging Zhang Tao's attack again, and slapping his palm toward the man's chest.

Zhang Tao couldn't believe it—again, Facing Facing Cang Luo had dodged. Shocked, he hurriedly raised his left hand to guard his chest, abandoning offense, choosing defense first.

Yet just as he thought Facing Facing Cang Luo's assault had ended and he could breathe easier, he suddenly saw Facing Facing Cang Luo's lips curl slightly.

What is he smiling at?

The moment Zhang Tao's confusion arose, his eyes widened—he saw Facing Facing Cang Luo's right arm, which he himself had injured, suddenly form a palm-strike posture...

Facing Facing Cang Luo sneered. His left hand continued channeling Thundering Palm toward Zhang Tao's chest—though blocked, his right arm, feigned as injured, struck at that very moment.

Facing Facing Cang Luo seized the opening and delivered three rapid palm strikes to Zhang Tao's abdomen, sending him flying backward, crouching low, head bowed, writhing in pain, unable to rise.

The exchange between the two—advancing and retreating, countless moves—had lasted less than two seconds. Aside from the four overseers, few could clearly see their clash.

Only when Zhang Tao was flung away did the crowd erupt in shocked cries, all staring at Facing Facing Cang Luo in disbelief.

Soon after, Zhang Tao rose, wiping blood from his lips.

Facing Facing Cang Luo's three palm strikes had churned his internal organs—he nearly spat blood. He realized Facing Facing Cang Luo's Qi was even more profound than his own, cultivated through a Yellow-Rank High-grade core technique!

What the hell is going on?!

Still stunned by Facing Facing Cang Luo's overwhelming Qi, Zhang Tao growled, "How did you neutralize Void-Piercing Force?"

Before Facing Facing Cang Luo could answer, he added, "You're worthy to be my opponent!"

Saying this, Zhang Tao fully activated his Qi Wheel. The fire-element Qi from his Yellow-Rank High-grade core technique, Xuan Lie Jing, surged through his body, endlessly fueling his strength.

At that moment, Zhang Tao's Warrior Stage 7 aura peaked—his robes stirred without wind, crackling with energy.

A few breaths later, Zhang Tao's feet sank into the ground. He activated the Yellow-Rank Mid-grade body technique, Zhen Xing Step, vanishing from his spot, reappearing before Facing Facing Cang Luo with both fists clenched, launching two Void-Piercing Forces simultaneously.

Facing Facing Cang Luo found Zhang Tao's words arrogant—what did he mean, "You're worthy to be my opponent"?

Do I need your permission to be your opponent?

Who the hell do you think you are?

Facing Facing Cang Luo grew furious. Seeing Zhang Tao appear before him, he didn't dodge—he fully activated his Qi Wheel, channeling all his Qi, and slammed both palms forward to meet the attack head-on.

Instantly, Facing Facing Cang Luo was shoved back several steps, his arms numb, bones threatening to shatter—but he forced himself to endure it with Infinite Qi healing.

Void-Piercing Force was indeed a Yellow-Rank High-grade martial art—Facing Facing Cang Luo knew his Thundering Palm couldn't match it.

But so what?

I've got Infinite Qi. I can heal. Try breaking my arm with one punch!

Facing Facing Cang Luo roared, veins bulging on his arms, gripping Zhang Tao's fists with all his strength despite the agony, then lunging in close and relentlessly kneeing Zhang Tao's abdomen.

Simultaneously, Facing Facing Cang Luo used his head to trade blows—fearlessly smashing it into Zhang Tao's skull with a dull, heavy crash...

After several such impacts, both foreheads were bloody and mangled, but Zhang Tao fared worse—his abdomen had been pounded repeatedly by Facing Facing Cang Luo's knees, vomiting bile.

Both were Warrior Stage 7, and though Zhang Tao cultivated a Yellow-Rank High-grade technique, his physical resilience was inferior to Facing Facing Cang Luo's.

Because Facing Facing Cang Luo cultivated the Earth-Rank High-grade core technique, Meiti Shengong!

After such relentless impacts, Zhang Tao was severely injured, barely able to continue fighting.

In truth, Facing Facing Cang Luo wasn't much better—he'd only just begun training Meiti Shengong at Level One—but he had Infinite Qi to heal his wounds, recovering even as he was struck.

Outside the arena, Overseer Zhang hesitated, then suddenly leapt into the ring. Overseer Liang followed close behind, forcibly separating Zhang Tao and Facing Facing Cang Luo.

"Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

The two stewards glared at each other, then hurried to check their disciples' injuries.

Master Zhang quickly pulled open Zhang Tao's shirt and saw his nephew's lower abdomen covered in bruising; he immediately pulled a pill from his robe and shoved it into Zhang Tao's mouth.

Master Liang lifted Facing Facing Cang Luo's arm and saw it swollen nearly a full circle; he swiftly infused a stream of Yuan force to ease the injury—he had trained in Water Attribute cultivation, and Water Attribute Yuan force could heal wounds.

After a long while, their injuries improved slightly; Zhang Tao coughed twice, looked at Facing Facing Cang Luo, and laughed: "You're ruthless!"

"Same to you!" Facing Facing Cang Luo chuckled, realizing Zhang Tao was just as ruthless.

Just now, when I slammed into his belly and head, he endured the agony and kept unleashing Break-Space Force—wave after wave of 'force' hammered into my arms.

If not for the protection of Infinite Yuan Force, both my forearms' meridians would have burst.

My arms still ache terribly, but they're slowly healing under Master Liang's healing and Infinite Yuan Force.

Though this battle was brief, it was the fiercest and most damaging one Facing Facing Cang Luo had ever fought—worse than his fight with Chen Dalong.

Of course, that was before Facing Facing Cang Luo activated Meiti Shengong.

Zhang Tao added: "Facing Facing Cang Luo, I won't hold back at the year-end grand competition—I'll make you scream for your parents!"

Facing Facing Cang Luo sneered back: "Hah! You think I went all out just now? I've got several hidden cards I haven't even shown—otherwise, I'd crush you like a clay chicken or a broken dog!"

"You've got hidden cards?" Zhang Tao frowned, clearly disbelieving.

At that moment, Master Liang said: "How about a draw?"

Master Zhang heard this, glanced at Zhang Tao, and nodded: "Fine, draw it is—we'll settle this next time."

With that, Master Zhang led the disciples of Geng 45 Dormitory away in disgrace.

They had come to this ground dispute believing victory was certain—who could have imagined ending up like this?

A Warrior Stage 7 had suddenly appeared—and tied with Zhang Tao, who trained the Yellow-Rank Superior technique...

After they left, the disciples under Masters Liang, Wang, and Liu gathered around Facing Facing Cang Luo, cheering, shouting: "Senior Brother Cang, you're amazing! You've won us honor..."

Zhao Renwu and Zhao Renli were cheering too, but their faces were shadowed, lost in thought.

After the cheers died down, Master Liang raised his hand to quiet the crowd; once silence fell, he looked at Facing Facing Cang Luo and asked: "How long have you been stuck at Warrior Stage 3?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo froze, instantly realizing Master Liang was wondering why he'd advanced so quickly.

After thinking, he decided he couldn't reveal his Earthman identity, so he feigned recollection: "Uh... about five years, maybe..."

"Exactly as I thought!"

Master Liang understood, exchanged glances with Masters Wang and Liu, confirming their shared suspicion.

A warrior's cultivation level and Yuan force reserves are directly linked—you need sufficient Yuan force to form the Yuan Wheel.

Facing Facing Cang Luo advanced from Warrior Stage 3 to Warrior Stage 7 in just over twenty days—he must have drawn massive amounts of Yuan force.

Master Liang knew Facing Facing Cang Luo's talent was mediocre and he had no vast cultivation resources; such vast Yuan force couldn't possibly come from absorption alone.

Combined with the fact that Facing Facing Cang Luo had only reached Warrior Stage 3 at age twenty-two, he deduced Facing Facing Cang Luo's Lower Dantian must have stored a huge reservoir of Yuan force—though he didn't know why.

And coincidentally, during this period, that stored Yuan force had suddenly erupted, rapidly condensing into Yuan Wheels—perhaps due to his solitary training in the Beast Forest, where a life-threatening danger had triggered his latent potential...

Thinking of this, Master Liang suddenly realized: this might be why Facing Facing Cang Luo, at age twenty-two and still at Warrior Stage 3, hadn't been expelled from the sect.

An elder or senior from the Liang Zhishi Hall had spotted his potential!

Ha! I thought the Liang Zhishi Hall had assigned me a waste—turns out he's a late-blooming 'genius'!

Master Liang couldn't help laughing aloud and said to Facing Facing Cang Luo: "You're impressive—you might enter the Inner Sect within a year..."