Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Blasting Off with a Single Punch

The crowd followed the voice and saw that the speaker was none other than Huang Xiaoshuai. At this moment, only he, the first-place winner, had the nerve to question Du Pengcheng’s decision.

Having spoken, Huang Xiaoshuai shot Ye Qingchen a cold sneer. He had taken first place in this trial. If Ye Qingchen were specially recruited into the Qingyun Sect, it would be an unprecedented event for Qingyun Town. Wouldn’t that steal his thunder? He would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen!

”Are you questioning my decision?” Du Pengcheng’s face darkened as he stared at Huang Xiaoshuai.

Displaying neither servility nor arrogance, Huang Xiaoshuai puffed out his chest. ”No, Steward Du. I am merely speaking up for the youths who shed blood and sweat in this trial, fighting with all their might, and who scored even higher than Ye Qingchen!”

As expected, his words ignited the youths’ suppressed dissatisfaction, which instantly erupted. Many grew bold enough to shout out.

”On what grounds does Ye Qingchen deserve a special recruitment?”

”Does he have an extra eye or an extra leg?”

”Even if it’s a special recruitment, you have to give everyone a convincing reason!”

”That’s right! My score is close to Li Teng’s in eighteenth place. I refuse to believe Ye Qingchen’s score could possibly be higher than mine!”

The young cultivators erupted in righteous indignation, their emotions running high.

Having successfully incited the crowd, Huang Xiaoshuai looked utterly smug. Ye Qingchen wants to steal my spotlight? Dream on!

Facing the youths’ discontent, however, Du Pengcheng merely smiled faintly. ”Since it has come to this, I will announce Ye Qingchen’s results.”

At Du Pengcheng’s words, the venue instantly fell silent. Everyone, including Ye Changyun in the VIP section, leaned in to listen. Du Pengcheng’s gaze swept across the entire arena before he slowly announced, ”In this trial, Ye Qingchen earned a total of 5,130 points, placing him at rank ninety-nine!”

As his voice faded, a wave of laughter erupted from the crowd, just as expected.

”Only ninety-ninth place!”

”Barely over five thousand points!”

”My score is far higher than his!”

”Why give Ye Qingchen a special recruitment? My score is clearly higher!”

”This is fixed! There’s definitely something shady going on!”

The young cultivators were in an uproar. Even Huang Dayear in the VIP section couldn’t help but shake his head, a mocking glint in his eyes. ”Steward Du, although Ye Qingchen’s Martial Soul talent is the greatest Qingyun Town has seen in a century, his performance in this trial was mediocre at best. Specially recruiting him on this basis... I’m afraid it will be difficult to win over the crowd.”

Du Pengcheng seemed to have anticipated this reaction. He smiled faintly and announced in a resonant voice, ”What if I told you that Ye Qingchen earned almost all of those 5,130 points in the final three days of the trial?”

The moment he finished speaking, the roaring crowd was struck silent.

Over 5,000 points in three days! That averaged out to roughly 1,700 points per day! Just how many Monster Beasts would one have to slay to achieve that? How is that even possible!

Although they knew Du Pengcheng wouldn’t joke about such a thing, hearing this news firsthand filled nearly everyone present with disbelief.

Huang Xiaoshuai’s pupils suddenly constricted.

He was the champion of this trial. Over thirty grueling days, he had slain countless Monster Beasts to amass 8,878 points. That averaged less than three hundred points per day, and that was with him fighting almost without rest! Gaining 1,700 points in a single day... that was something he wouldn’t even dare to imagine!

Seeing their reactions, Du Pengcheng smiled in satisfaction. ”Now, do you understand why I chose to specially recruit Ye Qingchen into our Qingyun Sect?”

He believed that after this revelation, no one would dare to question his decision!

Sure enough, the young cultivators fell silent; not another person dared to speak. Even those who had scored higher than Ye Qingchen kept their mouths shut. After all, none of them were arrogant enough to claim they could earn over a thousand points in a single day.

Ye Changyun and the Grand Elder exchanged a look of sudden understanding. No wonder Ye Qingchen’s score wasn’t the highest—he had only been hunting for three days! They deduced that for the twenty-odd days prior, Ye Qingchen must have been busy evading Li Zhe’s pursuit. To still earn over 5,000 points while being hunted by Li Zhe... his capability was simply extraordinary!

Just when Du Pengcheng thought the matter was settled, Huang Xiaoshuai stepped forward again. Clenching his jaw, he cupped his fists and declared, ”Steward Du, words alone are no proof. This is still difficult for everyone to accept! I request a match with Ye Qingchen. As long as he can withstand three of my moves, I will believe he is worthy of being specially recruited into the Qingyun Sect! Otherwise, I implore you to retract your order!”

Du Pengcheng’s gaze fell on Huang Xiaoshuai, a faint smile playing on his lips. Huang Xiaoshuai has repeatedly tried to block this special recruitment. On one hand, it’s because his spotlight was stolen. More importantly, it’s about the Cultivation Resources after entering the Sect. New disciples from the same town are required to divide the resources allocated to them. With four recruits from Qingyun Town joining the Qingyun Sect this time, Huang Xiaoshuai’s share would naturally be smaller.

Without even consulting Ye Qingchen, Du Pengcheng sized up Huang Xiaoshuai and said, ”Very well! Since you wish to be thoroughly convinced, I will grant you a match with Ye Qingchen. However, let me make things clear first. This is merely a spar; stop after a few exchanges. You must not take a life!”

As he finished, Du Pengcheng’s gaze landed on Ye Qingchen. Clearly, the last part of his warning was meant for him.

Huang Xiaoshuai, however, immediately puffed up with confidence. ”Rest assured, Steward Du. I know my limits. I definitely won’t kill him by mistake!”

Ye Qingchen glanced at Du Pengcheng, completely speechless. Huang Xiaoshuai challenges me, and Du Pengcheng doesn’t even bother to ask for my opinion? Is he just going to completely ignore me?

While Ye Qingchen was grumbling internally, Huang Xiaoshuai had already charged forward like an unbridled stallion. His massive fist whistled through the air, incredibly ferocious as it smashed directly toward Ye Qingchen’s face!

He would defeat Ye Qingchen with such overwhelming speed that he wouldn’t even have time to cover his ears! He would show everyone that he was the true number one of Qingyun Town and that Ye Qingchen’s reputation was completely undeserved!

Huang Dayear’s eyes lit up upon seeing the punch, his face a mask of supreme confidence. ”Ye Qingchen can’t possibly block that punch! He’s finished!”

Huang Xiaoshuai was a fourth-level Martial Artist, and Huang Dayear had absolute faith in his precious son.

Facing the oncoming charge, Ye Qingchen neither dodged nor retreated. He bent his legs slightly into a horse stance, clenched his right hand, and threw a fierce punch of his own to meet Huang Xiaoshuai’s fist.

Fist against fist! A direct, hard clash!

BANG!

The sickening crunch of bone rang out. The next instant, under the crowd’s disbelieving gazes, Huang Xiaoshuai let out a pained scream as he was sent flying backward. Huang Xiaoshuai, the first-place champion, had been blasted away by a single punch from Ye Qingchen