"What? Shen Xiang is going to compete with the renowned Fang Liang now?" This surprised many people, including Yao Haisheng and Fang Liang.
Hao Dongqing, who had just helped Shen Xiang, watched the scene with great interest. Meanwhile, Zhu Rong secretly looked down on Shen Xiang, as he had just learned that Shen Xiang was a pill refiner and felt that Shen Xiang had been pretending to be low-key in front of him.
"Let's go. Do you want to get hurt? It's hard to control your strength during a match. If you get seriously injured, your life will be ruined. You should practice for a few more years before coming back," Yao Haisheng said, waving his hand. He wasn't clear about the details of the Yao family's destruction, but he knew Shen Xiang was the cause of the incident and that he was the one who led people to annihilate the Yao family. He guessed Shen Xiang's strength was equivalent to the ninth level of the Mortal Martial Realm, but he thought there was a world of difference between the Mortal Martial Realm in the secular world and that in the Taiwu Sect.
"Since he wants to fight, why not let him?" Hao Dongqing said, glancing at Shen Xiang with a slight smile.
"Then let's fight. A guy like him, I can defeat with just one move," Fang Liang stepped forward, looking impatient.
Shen Xiang hadn't expected to encounter someone from the Yao family in the Taiwu Sect, especially someone at the True Martial Realm. Fortunately, there were regulations preventing people from this world from causing trouble in the secular realm.
The people taking the test quickly dispersed. Although this fight delayed their assessment, it was a spectacle. Many were eager to see Fang Liang in action and wanted to witness the strength of the thirty-th ranked disciple of the Taiwu Sect's outer sect.
"Let me make this clear; if you get hurt, you can't blame the other party. You can only blame yourself for being useless," Fang Liang declared loudly.
Shen Xiang nodded. "If I get seriously injured, it's my own responsibility, not someone else's."
"Exactly, stop the nonsense. Let's begin!" Fang Liang said impatiently, taking a step forward. Then Yao Haisheng shouted, "Start!"
Fang Liang was the first to strike. As he ran, his steps echoed like thunder, moving at incredible speed, with white lightning covering his fists—this was pure lightning true energy.
Shen Xiang's lightning true energy was of the wood attribute and was different from pure lightning.
"The Thunder Step of the Xuan level is a top-tier technique that creates tremendous impact during running! The Fist of Thunder is also a top-tier Xuan level technique, said to be able to smash a small mountain with one punch, its power is immense," a knowledgeable martial artist commented.
Shen Xiang was already well-versed in lightning techniques, and when he initially cultivated the wood attribute true energy, he often drew lightning to temper his body. He could withstand the violent lightning of nature, so the current lightning posed no threat to him, especially with his formidable physique.
Just as everyone expected Shen Xiang's chest to be punched through by the "Thunder Fist," they instinctively braced themselves for the explosive lightning true energy. However, to their shock, the anticipated outcome did not occur.
Fang Liang leaped forward, using the explosive force of his legs to generate an even stronger impact, simultaneously unleashing a powerful "Thunder Fist." He struck Shen Xiang's chest, but as soon as his fist made contact, it felt like a stone sinking into the ocean—there was no reaction whatsoever.
In that moment, Shen Xiang activated the Tai Chi Divine Skill, making his body resemble a massive whirlpool; any incoming force would be swallowed by it. He had frequently used this technique while tempering his body with lightning, so his mastery over lightning true energy was exceptional.
"I have entered the Taiwu Sect!" Shen Xiang laughed loudly, throwing a punch at the still stunned Fang Liang. A surge of flames erupted from his fist like a volcanic eruption, instantly engulfing Fang Liang. The force of the impact sent Fang Liang flying, and he rolled on the ground, screaming as the flames consumed him.
"Fang Liang!" Yao Haisheng shouted, rushing forward. He waved his sleeve, and the flames dissipated, revealing Fang Liang, who was charred black and looked like a piece of coal. His injuries were severe, with all his internal meridians burned.
The temperature around them was intense, but the onlookers broke out in cold sweat. One punch had defeated the thirty-th ranked disciple of the Taiwu Sect's outer sect, and many couldn't help but find it amusing that Fang Liang had previously looked down on Shen Xiang.
"I won! Can I enter the Taiwu Sect now? And without having to pay any crystals?" Shen Xiang grinned.
Yao Haisheng was furious, about to say something when Hao Dongqing laughed, "Yao Haisheng, your precious disciple said earlier that if he gets injured during the match, it's his own responsibility, and he can't blame anyone else! Are you going to help him break his promise? Also, you said Shen Xiang could enter the Taiwu Sect without paying any fees. This crystal fee is on you, as it was your promise to him."
Shen Xiang smiled and said, "Senior Brother Yao, I didn't realize you were the one paying my crystal fee. I'm very grateful."
Yao Haisheng's anger boiled, and his lips and eyes twitched violently. In his eyes, Shen Xiang was merely an ant; he could squash him with a single palm. However, if he did that, his good days would be over, as the rules of the Taiwu Sect were quite strict.
"Remember this!" Yao Haisheng shouted, carrying the charred Fang Liang as he stormed into the Taiwu Sect. A new person came forward to take over the testing.
"Junior Brother Shen, welcome to the Taiwu Sect! Come with me, and I'll help you with the formalities," Zhu Rong, the chubby one, shouted from a distance, looking at Shen Xiang as if he saw a mountain of crystals.
Shen Xiang walked over with a smile, saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother Zhu, for your help. Otherwise, I would have been chased away."
"I just said a few words; I didn't really help you. But I did see that this guy dug several pits for himself and his disciple, which was quite amusing! Of course, it was you who pushed them into the pits they dug," Hao Dongqing laughed and turned to leave.
"Hey, chubby, who is Senior Brother Hao to you? Your master?" Shen Xiang asked quietly as he followed Zhu Rong. Having a master at the True Martial Realm was quite impressive.
"He's my uncle! By the way, you little brat actually know how to refine pills? Wasting the Purple Spirit Fruit like that, you're such a show-off," Zhu Rong recalled Shen Xiang eating the Purple Spirit Fruit and felt a slight pang in his heart.
Shen Xiang laughed and scolded, "You cunning fatso! At first, you wanted to buy my Purple Spirit Fruit for ten crystals, but I asked around and found out people sell it for three hundred crystals. You only offered me two hundred, you ripped me off!"
Zhu Rong rolled his eyes and said, "That was your choice; I didn't force you!"