The people in the audience below continued to discuss.
"I think Jiang Heng has a better chance of winning."
"Even though he has only been through one battle, with such a strong physique, he's almost invincible. Meng Lingshuo can't even break through, let alone defeat him."
"That's not certain. With Meng Lingshuo's mastery of the perfected Swift Wind Steps, Jiang Heng might not be able to catch her, and in hit-and-run combat, there might be a chance of victory."
On the arena stage,
Jiang Heng watched Meng Lingshuo's graceful movements with a playful smile.
"Swift Wind Steps? How coincidental."
Jiang Heng's own body moved like a gust of wind, and his speed was even faster.
In an instant, he closed the distance.
"What! He also knows the Swift Wind Steps? And he's at a higher level than me!"
Meng Lingshuo was shocked, and her breathing even faltered for a moment.
And it was precisely in that moment that Jiang Heng had caught up to her.
His right hand clenched into a fist and struck with a thunderous force!
Meng Lingshuo's face changed drastically, and she twisted her body, simultaneously raising her longsword in an attempt to block.
"Clang!"
Under the unmatched power, the longsword shattered instantly.
Jiang Heng's fist continued forward, brushing past Meng Lingshuo's chest as she turned.
An incredibly hard sensation came from somewhere, causing Meng Lingshuo's face to instantly turn red.
The next moment,
Jiang Heng instantly halted his forward momentum, and his right arm, which had been striking, was pulled back, transforming into an elbow strike, once again directed at Meng Lingshuo.
This swift and abrupt change in his movements left everyone in the audience stunned.
"Body and movement in harmony, this is the perfected level of Swift Wind Steps!"
"Where did this terrifying genius suddenly appear from? At just over a dozen years old, his cultivation is at least at the sixth level, his mastery of movement is perfected, his physique is incredibly strong, and his fist technique's explosive power is evidently formidable."
"With this kind of strength, he's definitely a super dark horse in next month's sect competition!"
On the stage, Meng Lingshuo was not only filled with shock but also felt a terrifying sense of crisis.
However, she had no way to escape.
"I'm at the eighth level of cultivation! Proficient in the perfected level of Heavenly Net Palm! How is it possible that your explosive power is greater than mine!"
Meng Lingshuo couldn't accept it internally.
As an unparalleled genius, if it weren't for her young age, she would probably have been ranked in the top ten of the sect's competition long ago.
Cultivation, martial arts—she possessed extraordinary talent in everything.
But now, she was inferior in every aspect to someone her own age.
How could this be!
She angrily mobilized the power of her entire body, striking her palm against Jiang Heng's oncoming elbow strike.
The moment their palms and elbows collided.
With a muffled sound, an invisible shockwave spread out in all directions.
The Profound-level Mountain Breaker Fist, an upgrade from the perfected Rock Shatter Fist, under Jiang Heng's control, attack methods were no longer limited to just punches.
Even a temporary elbow strike had nearly tripled the explosive power.
Sixty thousand jin of immense force, under threefold eruption.
A staggering force of one hundred and eighty thousand jin!
Directly overwhelming Meng Lingshuo with a single palm strike, even pushing her hand towards her head.
"Boom!"
A dull sound.
Meng Lingshuo's body flew sideways and crashed onto the arena, unable to get up for a moment.
A figure shot towards the arena.
Crouching beside Meng Lingshuo, he checked her breathing and pulse.
It was the blue-robed steward who had originally been outside the arena.
Upon finding that Meng Lingshuo was unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
For ordinary disciples, it would be one thing, but if something happened to a genius disciple like Meng Lingshuo, he might also face consequences.
He cast a slightly reproachful glance at Jiang Heng but didn't say anything.
After all, it was clear that Jiang Heng was also a genius, and it was best not to offend him!
At this moment,
Around the arena, the discussions of the onlookers erupted.
"He's too strong!"
"Next month, Jiang Heng will definitely have the ability to compete for a top ten spot among the outer disciples! And he's just in his teens, he'll surely rise and become a core disciple, or even a stronger direct disciple!"
"I seem to have already seen a rising star in the sect, slowly ascending!"
"However, this kid Jiang Heng is too ruthless! He's not sparing any effort, even against a beauty like Meng Lingshuo!"
At this moment.
On the arena, Meng Lingshuo slowly opened her bewildered eyes and gradually regained her senses.
First, she thanked the steward and then looked towards Jiang Heng, who was standing quietly not far away on the arena.
She saw his calm demeanor, his handsome face filled with innocence and youth, making him seem harmless.
"Damn it! He actually struck so hard!"
Meng Lingshuo silently gritted her teeth.
Her head was still buzzing even now.
If it weren't for the robust physique of a martial artist, that blow might have shattered boulders.
Under the training atmosphere of the Great Dalu Sect, while there were few who were infatuated with her beauty, no one had ever been so ruthless in their sparring.
Furthermore, the previous punch had passed dangerously close to her chest.
"Junior Disciple!"
Meng Lingshuo blushed and muttered to herself, then turned and left the arena.
"The next one! Outer disciple Li Yi, please come up!"
The steward returned to his table outside the arena and called out loudly again.
After two crushing battles, most of the challengers who stepped onto the stage next chose to concede.
In fact, there were no more challengers who dared to step onto the stage afterward.
Jiang Heng looked towards the steward outside the arena.
"Since no one is challenging, then I declare Jiang Heng as the current champion! Tomorrow at noon, you can come here to challenge the reigning champion, Pu Xingyu."
After stepping down from the stage, other people continued to step up for challenges.
In reality, some of them weren't necessarily aiming to challenge the reigning champion but just wanted to gain combat experience or show off their skills in front of others.
After all,
Aside from the annual sect competition, the dueling arena was a significant event in the sect, attracting the attention of many people every day.
After leaving the arena, Jiang Heng returned to his own small courtyard to continue his cultivation.
...
In a luxurious and spacious palace,
In the center, on a high platform, a middle-aged man in black clothes sat cross-legged.
His breathing alternated between slow and rapid, and the air in the hall seemed to fluctuate with his breath.
A formidable and terrifying aura enveloped him.
After a while,
He stopped his cultivation, and the air gradually calmed down.
"Come in!"
He still had his eyes closed, seemingly in meditation, but his voice was relaxed.
A middle-aged man entered through the door and walked to the steps below, bowing.
"Elder Sun! It's about the information regarding Jiang Wenjing's son, Jiang Heng."