Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Three Punches_1

”I lost!”

Bai Ruhui knew that if his opponent hadn’t shown mercy, that sword strike would have taken his life. What he didn’t understand was why, even though he had dodged seven rays of sword light, he was still injured.

”That was not my full strength.”

Leaving these words behind, Li Liuxing retrieved his sword and walked off the martial arts platform.

Not his full strength? Bai Ruhui’s pupils constricted. He had been defeated by such a powerful sword technique, yet its user claimed it wasn’t his full strength?

This person might be the Huiyuan of this competition. Bai Ruhui shook his head, attributing his defeat to the sheer difference in strength. This Li Liuxing was indeed a formidable character. Even Xiahou Lin might not be his opponent.

”Defeating Bai Ruhui, the strongest in his group, with a single sword strike! Unbelievable! When did such a terrifying figure emerge among the Inner Disciples?”

”Even Senior Brother Bai Ruhui was defeated with a single sword strike. This Li Liuxing could probably contend with Senior Brother Xiahou Lin. I wonder whose martial arts are superior.”

Everyone was in awe of Li Liuxing, the unexpected dark horse of this competition.

”So this is Elder Lieyang’s disciple. He has hidden his strength well. Rumor has it he’s been in arduous cultivation for three years. His display today is truly remarkable.”

In the VIP seats, an Elder overseeing the competition revealed a shocked expression.

”Yes, his swordsmanship is truly astonishing. I’d heard Li Liuxing was a prodigy in the Sword Way and had cultivated tirelessly for three years. He truly deserves to be called the foremost swordsman among the Inner Disciples,” another Elder also voiced his admiration.

”That might not be certain. Isn’t there also Ling Chen? His swordsmanship should have improved since the last time.”

”Ling Chen? I’m afraid he’s still lacking. The swordsmanship he cultivates was passed down from his father. It’s of an exceptionally high grade and incredibly difficult to practice. I fear it will be very hard for him to make significant progress.”

The previous Elder shook his head. He had seen Ling Chen’s swordsmanship before; it was truly unique. However, that set of swordsmanship was so profound that even he found it difficult to comprehend. For Ling Chen to master its essence would be as challenging as ascending to the heavens.

No matter how exquisite a swordsmanship might be, if one cannot grasp its essence, its true power can never be displayed.

Xiao Muyu gazed at the scene before him, a touch of surprise in his eyes. ”To think that the renowned Cloud Blade would be defeated.” The outcome of this battle was truly unexpected.

”Though surprising, the result isn’t entirely unexpected,” Ling Chen remarked, watching Li Liuxing descend from the martial arts platform. His gaze grew heavy. This Li Liuxing’s strength hasn’t been fully displayed yet. Li Liuxing’s swordsmanship and strength are indeed top-tier. He is a formidable opponent.

「Group Two, Number One versus Number Twenty-Eight!」

The shout of the Deacon Disciple echoed from the martial arts platform.

It’s my turn. Ling Chen prepared to step onto the platform.

”Your opponent is Murong Ye. This is a crucial battle for you,” Xiao Muyu reminded him. Both Murong Ye and Ling Chen had maintained an undefeated record so far. If one of them lost, the other would undoubtedly become first in the group.

This battle is inevitable. Ling Chen calmly leaped onto the martial arts platform.

On the platform, the two stood fifty paces apart.

Murong Ye stomped his foot on the ground, and the entire martial arts platform seemed to tremble. He drew in his abdomen, his entire being like a coiled beast ready to pounce. Instantly, the airflow above the martial arts platform became erratic, and a fierce wind swept across it. This was building momentum—pressuring the opponent with aura before the battle even began.

Opposite him, Ling Chen stood clad in a white robe, his clothes whipping in the fierce wind like a small boat tossed on a stormy sea. Yet, when he drew the Heavenly Mansion Sword halfway from its sheath, the raging wind across the plaza seemed to split in two. On Murong Ye’s side, the wind surged tumultuously; on Ling Chen’s side, all was calm and still.

Compared to the vast martial arts platform, the two men seemed minuscule, like motes of dust. Yet, the platform itself felt as if it could barely contain their presence, threatening to shatter at any moment.

”From the start until now, Murong Ye has defeated every opponent with a single punch. I wonder if Ling Chen can withstand one?”

”He can definitely take one punch. The question is *how* he takes it. If he has to exert all his strength just to block it, or worse, gets injured, then it’s basically over for him.”

”It’s hard to say. Unless Ling Chen can be a dark horse like Li Liuxing, this fight holds little suspense.”

Everyone understood that Murong Ye’s strength was no less than Bai Ruhui’s, perhaps even greater. Defeating him would be incredibly difficult. He stood on the martial arts platform like an immovable mountain; shaking him would be hard enough, let alone defeating him.

Watching the scene on the platform, Bai Ruhui commented coolly, ”Murong Ye’s power is astounding. Facing him feels like confronting the entire world, vast and limitless.”

”No matter how strong the power, there’s always a way to overcome it,” Li Liuxing retorted. If it were him, he would still have a way to defeat Murong Ye. He thought highly of Ling Chen, the young genius swordsman. But if Ling Chen couldn’t even pass this hurdle, he wouldn’t be qualified to face him.

”Wind and Cloud Fist!”

With a thunderous roar, Murong Ye leaned back slightly and then thrust a punch forward. It was as if he harnessed the momentum of heaven and earth for his own use. His Fist Strength surged out like a tidal wave, crashing towards Ling Chen’s side of the platform.

BOOM!

The calm aura Ling Chen had previously established was shattered. A violent torrent of air, even more terrifying in its intensity, swept forth, causing many Inner Disciples to stumble, their hearts filled with dread.

”Sever!”

WHOOSH!

In the Void, sword qi flashed and vanished, piercing the weakest point of the Fist Strength. The tidal wave of Fist Strength was instantly thrown into disarray.

”Senior Brother Murong Ye’s first punch was broken! Ling Chen truly is extraordinary!” An Inner Disciple who had previously lost to Murong Ye exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.

They knew full well how ferocious Murong Ye’s punch was. They hadn’t even had a chance to display their own skills before being blasted off the martial arts platform by that single punch.

Li Liuxing remarked gravely, ”To break Murong Ye’s first punch so effortlessly... this Ling Chen certainly has some skill.”

”It’s too early to tell. His more powerful second and third punches are still to come,” Xiahou Lin said, watching the martial arts platform with an amused smile. Murong Ye’s greatest strength lay in his first three punches, each more powerful than the last. After these three, his momentum would wane. Only by enduring all three could one be said to have withstood his offensive.

He’s got some skill. Murong Ye looked at Ling Chen with great solemnity. His fist was not so easily broken. Anyone who could so casually neutralize his punch, as Ling Chen just had, was no ordinary person. Ling Chen’s strength had earned his acknowledgment.

”Wind’s Fury Fist!”

Murong Ye launched himself from the ground, all his True Qi infused into this one punch. His movement was agile, yet the punch descended with the weight of a mountain, bearing down on Ling Chen as if Mount Tai itself were crashing upon him.