Bang!
Fists and feet collided, emitting a thunderous noise. Ma Yuanwu's figure slightly shook, retreating only half a step, while Ye Zhen's form shuddered consecutively, taking three steps back before stabilizing himself.
The gap, the gap in strength, the gap in Cultivation, became apparent as soon as they crossed hands.
Seeing Ye Zhen repelled only three steps, Ma Yuanwu suddenly froze, his eyes brimming with surprise.
The Ye Zhen of the past couldn't even take one of his fingers, yet now he possessed nearly equal ability to contend with him.
In his surprise, Ma Yuanwu sneered, "Ye Zhen, you are not my match. Just hand over the silver note obediently and spare yourself the suffering."
Though he spoke, Ma Yuanwu's actions were swift. With a tiger's roar, he pounced at Ye Zhen once again.
With a cold snort, Ye Zhen responded to Ma Yuanwu with action, his fists creating a fierce wind as he boldly met the attack.
Last time, in front of Ye Zhen, Ma Yuanwu completely ruined the clothes and cured meats personally sewn and prepared by Ye Zhen's mother, Mi Jiangxue. That grievance was still lodged in Ye Zhen's chest to this day.
Now that Ye Zhen had the strength to fight Ma Yuanwu, if he were scared off by Ma Yuanwu, it would be in vain that he was born a man.
Bang bang bang!
The sound of fists and kicks striking continued unabated, the intense gusts from the punches forced the many servant disciples watching to keep retreating.
The only Fist Skill that servant disciples could practice was the Bear King Mountain Carrying Fist.
Whether it was Ye Zhen or Ma Yuanwu, as soon as they threw a punch, they immediately knew the other's next move. Although Ye Zhen's Bear King Mountain Carrying Fist was a bit more exquisite, the key to determining the victor at this moment depended more on Cultivation.
Each of Ma Yuanwu's punches was powered by the Blood Qi Condensing Bead, like a serpent or python emerging from its cave. Every strike could greatly increase the force of his punches. Within a few exchanges, he forced Ye Zhen to step back repeatedly, causing Ye Zhen's expression to become increasingly grave and anxious.
As fists and feet met, the astonishment in Ma Yuanwu's eyes grew even thicker.
What kind of stuff was Ye Zhen in the past? A piece of trash that couldn't last half a move against him, he knew all too well.
But now, Ye Zhen was able to fight evenly with him. Although at a disadvantage, he was barely able to hold his own. If he were allowed to continue to grow, wouldn't that be—?
"This time, I absolutely can't let this fellow off easily!" Ma Yuanwu made up his mind, his punches becoming even more oppressive!
Ye Zhen was well aware that if this continued, he would undoubtedly be defeated.
Ma Yuanwu was ruthlessly aggressive. If Ye Zhen were defeated, to establish his authority on Hundred Pine Peak, Ye Zhen's fate would likely be even worse than Wuy Jian's.
Ma Yuanwu was a bit stronger than Ye Zhen had imagined.
As Ye Zhen was cornered by Ma Yuanwu, an 'Old Bear Slapping Tree' strike aimed at Ye Zhen's chest and stomach vital point.
Ye Zhen's arms, already numbed from the shaking, had no way to evade or retreat. Having just forcibly received a blow, his arms hadn't recovered, and if he took it head-on, he would undoubtedly be defeated.
In desperation, Ye Zhen crossed his palms, disregarding his chest and stomach vital areas, and cut toward Ma Yuanwu's throat.
If this strike landed true, Ma Yuanwu would either die or be gravely injured.
Yet Ma Yuanwu, frightened by Ye Zhen's desperate fighting style, abruptly stepped back and withdrew his punch, awkwardly dodging the attack.
Was he foolish enough to enter a life-and-death struggle with Ye Zhen?
If he got injured fighting desperately against Ye Zhen during this critical period, that really would be foolish.
Seeing Ma Yuanwu evade in an embarrassed fashion, Ye Zhen's eyes suddenly brightened.
Right, desperation!
The fierce fear the resolute, the resolute fear those who are reckless.
Currently, Ma Yuanwu, as a seed candidate of Hundred Pine Peak, was about to attempt the Fish-Dragon Path in three days with the hope of becoming an Outer Disciple ahead of time. With Ma Yuanwu's Cultivation at the Peak of Third Stage Blood Training, there was a high possibility he could pass through the Fish-Dragon Path and advance to become an Outer Disciple in advance.
Hence, before attempting the Fish-Dragon Path, Ma Yuanwu absolutely did not want to get injured, let alone fight desperately against Ye Zhen.
Once Ye Zhen understood this, he suddenly changed the retreating stance of his fist technique and went on the offensive like a madman, attacking Ma Yuanwu ferociously.
If you attack my head, I'll let you hit me without dodging, and then I'll put all my strength into breaking your legs.
If you cut at my throat, I'll poke your eyes out.
If you break my leg, I'll make you spit blood.
In summary, Ye Zhen adopted a desperate fight-to-the-death attitude, willing to suffer severe injuries and spit blood just to land a harsh blow on Ma Yuanwu.
This injury-for-injury fighting style instantly threw Ma Yuanwu into confusion.
Ye Zhen's strength was no joke either. With a force of 4,000 jin, if it truly landed, it could definitely fracture Ma Yuanwu's bones and make him spit blood.
This was a situation Ma Yuanwu desperately wanted to avoid.
For a moment, the advantage was reversed, turning into Ye Zhen chasing after Ma Yuanwu to attack.
Ma Yuanwu was so angry he almost spat blood, but he just couldn't muster the courage to enter a life-and-death struggle with Ye Zhen.
In his view, it wasn't worth compromising his opportunity to advance to become an Outer Disciple ahead of time just to teach Ye Zhen a lesson.
Smack!
Caught off guard and a bit slow in withdrawing his defense, Ma Yuanwu was kicked by Ye Zhen and stumbled backward several steps.
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"Hmph, no more fighting, you're cheating!" Taking advantage of the moment, Ma Yuanwu, who was so angry he almost vomited blood, jumped out of the combat ring. Ma Yuanwu wasn't foolish, he realized that Ye Zhen had caught his weakness.
If the fight continued like this, he might truly be defeated by Ye Zhen in his tentative state.
Ye Zhen, who stood with his fists retracted, suddenly had an epiphany!
Previously facing Ma Yuanwu, knowing the latter's prowess, Ye Zhen had been extremely cautious, only to be suppressed by Ma Yuanwu. But when he went all out, Ma Yuanwu ended up on the defensive instead.
The outcome of this bout wasn't entirely dependent on strength; courage also played an essential role.
Ye Zhen vaguely felt that this battle allowed him to grasp something, but he couldn't quite articulate it.
"Not convinced? Then shall we continue?" Ye Zhen gestured provocatively, further infuriating Ma Yuanwu!
"Boasting when you win, accusing me of cheating when you can't beat me, Ma Yuanwu, is that all you've got?" Ye Zhen stood proudly, the frustration in his chest somewhat alleviated.
However, this grudge would have to be settled sooner or later.
"You won? Good!" Sha Fei, who had come to a realization, cheered for Ye Zhen.
As long as Ye Zhen could stand up to Ma Yuanwu, he wouldn't have to endure the bullying from Ma Yuanwu and his group any longer.
The other servant disciples seemed to awaken from a dream, looking at Ye Zhen with a mixture of shock and joy, their gazes now filled with a completely new level of respect.
Ma Yuanwu, defeated and frustrated to the point of wanting to spit blood, couldn't vent his anger, which almost drove him mad.
"Let's go, carry Wuy Jian back to his room!"
Ma Yuanwu barked an order, but only a few servant disciples moved, further irritating Ma Yuanwu. Ordinarily, at his mere mention of washing his feet, there would be a crowd vying to serve him hot water; yet today, after this battle, no one heeded his words.
"Ye Zhen, you just wait, wait till I pass the Fish-Dragon Path in three days and become an Outer Disciple, I'll risk punishment to take your life!"
With a mix of cursing and hitting, Ma Yuanwu hurried the servant disciples carrying Wuy Jian away.
Once Ma Yuanwu left, the remaining servant disciples on the scene immediately became warmly engaging.
They now addressed him as Senior Brother Ye, and those who had once bullied Ye Zhen now couldn't wait to spill their guts, insisting they had been coerced by Ma Yuanwu and Wuy Jian in the past.
Ye Zhen casually responded to them and shook his head as he entered his room; none of these people were true friends.
The fierce battle with Ma Yuanwu, which was rife with danger, had benefited him greatly, and Ye Zhen wanted to quietly reflect on it.
The dwellings on the eastern side of Hundred Pine Peak were the best on the mountain, boasting the best lighting, ventilation, and tranquility. They were also the residence of Ma Yuanwu, Wuy Jian, and others.
"Big Brother, earlier it seemed you were about to win, how come you were suddenly forced back by that trash?" asked a servant disciple in Wuy Jian's room, puzzled.
On mentioning this, Ma Yuanwu's face twisted ferociously, "It's because that brat is too sly; he banked on me having to challenge the Fish-Dragon Path in three days. He fought with a strategy of trading wound for wound, life for life. Otherwise, hmph!"
Ma Yuanwu's fist slammed heavily onto the wooden table, splitting it into pieces with a thunderous crash.
"Big Brother, Ye Zhen humiliated you so much today; are you really going to let him off just like that?"
"Big Brother, you must avenge me! If you don't deal with Ye Zhen, that trash will step on your head and shit on it in the future," Wuy Jian, lying on the bed, cried out again.
"He dares!" Ma Yuanwu roared furiously.
"Wait three days, just three more days. Once I pass the Fish-Dragon Path and become an Outer Disciple, I will deal with him directly," Ma Yuanwu said angrily.
"Big Brother, that trash Ye Zhen has always been useless. I remember a month ago, his cultivation hadn't even reached the Peak of the First Stage Blood Training, how come in less than a month, he broke through to the Peak of the Second Stage Blood Training? And his combat power is almost on par with yours?" asked a servant disciple, quite puzzled.
"Yeah!" Wuy Jian was also full of grievances, "More than twenty days ago, when he returned from seeing his kin, I took his bag, and he didn't even dare to fart, but now..."
"Seeing kin?" Ma Yuanwu's heart skipped a beat.
"Right, it must have been that visit more than twenty days ago. His family came to see him; they must have brought him something nice," Ma Yuanwu realized suddenly.
"A large amount of silver or pills, at the very least a Blood Essence Pill, or possibly even something better like the Replenishing Essence Qi Pill!"
Wuy Jian suddenly shouted, "That's it, it must be! Big Brother, that trash is too cunning. On the day he returned from seeing his kin, he must have hidden the treasures his family gave him, then took them out these past days to secretly consume, which made his cultivation surge so rapidly!"
Spurred on by Wuy Jian, Ma Yuanwu's expression became even more menacing, "No wonder when we searched his bag that day, we only found some tattered clothes and rotten meat. He had hidden the good stuff well in advance, that bastard is despicable!"
Ma Yuanwu's palm strike whipped through the air with a hissing sound.
Wuy Jian, who was lying on the bed grinding his teeth, suddenly had an idea, "Big Brother, Ye Zhen must still have some remaining treasures. Otherwise, with his cultivation lower than yours, where would he get such confidence to confront you?"
"So what?" Ma Yuanwu asked in a deep voice.
"Big Brother, you've been stuck at the Peak of the Third Stage Blood Training for a long time. If you could get the pills Ye Zhen used for his cultivation, maybe you could break through to the Fourth Stage of Blood Training in one go and directly become an Outer Disciple," Wuy Jian said in a sinister tone.
Ma Yuanwu's expression suddenly shifted.
"Besides, Big Brother, there's no absolute certainty in your attempt at the Fish-Dragon Path this year, is there?" Wuy Jian added fuel to the fire silently.
Ma Yuanwu's expression tightened fiercely, "That's right, what do you suggest?"
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PS: After uploading quietly for a few days, I suddenly realized that if I don't shout out, it doesn't work, kids who cry get milk. Aooo, I need...votes, I need clicks, I need favorites, aooo!
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