Among the top five disciples of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy with the highest cultivation, except for Guo Mingyuan who relied on medicine baths to artificially enhance his cultivation, the other four were all formidable, each with a compelling reason to win.
However, Lin Qing was lucky enough to directly enter the Cang Mountain Sword Sect and thus did not need to compete with them.
Technically, Song Tianqing could also avoid the competition, since after entering the Cang Mountain Sword Sect he would definitely focus on swordsmanship, with fist techniques being only secondary.
But it was in his nature to never accept defeat or fall behind anyone else; his desire to dominate was overwhelming.
White Ape Extended Arm Fist was something he could take or leave, but he did not want to relinquish it to others, showing his extreme overbearing nature.
After a short while, Song Tianqing arrived as well, accompanied by Zheng Zhishan.
Upon seeing Han Zheng, Zheng Zhishan glared at him fiercely.
Han Zheng simply smiled nonchalantly.
Why bother with an old fellow nearly ready for his coffin?
Li Jingzhong exited from the inner hall of the Martial Arts Hall, looked around gravely, and announced, "Han Zheng, Song Tianqing, begin the final round of testing."
After a pause, Li Jingzhong added, "Though it's said that swords and fists have no eyes and show no mercy, everyone is from the same sect. If a victory is clearly determined, let's avoid inflicting fatal blows."
It was obvious that this statement was intended for Song Tianqing.
However, Song Tianqing clearly did not take it to heart, nor did he wish to.
In the center of the training ground, Song Tianqing gave Han Zheng a slightly sinister smile, his figure suddenly pouncing forward with extreme speed, appearing in front of Han Zheng in the blink of an eye and delivering a smashing punch.
He did not care if Han Zheng chose to take the money and withdraw.
But Han Zheng, failing to recognize the situation, still dared to try to compete with him, which was simply courting death.
Song Tianqing delivered a punch in the style of Vajra Fist, but as Chen Zhao had mentioned, the style and momentum of his punch were completely different from those of Vajra Fist.
This punch seemed like it would strike Han Zheng's chest, but mid-way through, the force abruptly shifted, slipping into Han Zheng's ribs, transforming the fist into a palm, and jabbing towards his waist!
If that hit had solidified and the force exploded, Han Zheng's kidneys would have suffered internal injuries in an instant.
Han Zheng's blood and Qi surged throughout his body, his bones cracking as sinews stretched and acupoints activated as if wielding a huge Demon-Subduing Pestle, sweeping Song Tianqing's palm away.
Bang!
Accompanied by a muffled sound, Song Tianqing was sent flying a meter away by this tremendous force.
"How is he so strong!?"
Song Tianqing's eyes widened in shock.
Everyone was practicing Iron Elephant Skill, and the martial skill he was privately learning outside the sect was also not a cultivation technique.
Even if individual physical constitutions made their strength slightly different, it should not have been this vastly exaggerated.
That previous strike had left Song Tianqing's hands numb, feeling as though he had punched a steel pillar!
Seizing the advantage, Han Zheng did not relent, his arms wielding the Vajra Fist style like Demon-Subduing Pestles, wildly smashing towards Song Tianqing.
Each strike seemed to carry immense weight, the impact resonating with thunderous roars.
Song Tianqing wasn't the superficial type like Guo Mingyuan; his foundation was extremely solid, his strength formidable as well.
With a low shout, Song Tianqing's blood and Qi boiled, his figure swift as lightning, his fists hammering towards Han Zheng like a fierce storm.
Both men were using Vajra Fist.
But Han Zheng's Vajra Fist was powerful and profound, strategically advancing, prioritizing momentum.
Song Tianqing's Vajra Fist, however, was as fast as the wind, interspersed with sinister and wild moves.
As the two exchanged blows, the crackling and explosive sounds filled the entire Martial Arts Hall training ground.
The watching disciples from the Martial Arts Hall turned somewhat pale.
Had it been any of them, they probably wouldn't have lasted ten moves before being beaten to spit blood.
After hundreds of exchanges, Song Tianqing's arms were already numb, his blood and Qi starting to stagnate.
He couldn't understand why, when he had cleared one more meridian than Han Zheng and could mobilize more inner strength, he was so much weaker in terms of physical power.
Could it be that his opponent possessed innate divine power?
But judging by his physique, saying that Li Sancheng had innate divine power seemed more plausible than Han Zheng.
As he continually lost ground to Han Zheng's strikes, Song Tianqing's form suddenly became elusive.
His entire body moved like a spirit snake, evading Han Zheng's punch, his left hand taking the opportunity to wrap around Han Zheng's arm, executing a joint lock.
His right hand transformed from a fist into a finger, abruptly stabbing towards Han Zheng's eyes with a speed that even emitted a piercing screech!
"Spirit Snake Eight Strikes!"
Li Jingzhong's expression drastically changed.
This Spirit Snake Eight Strikes was one of the renowned skills of the Gang Leader of Sanhe Gang, 'Green Scale Hand' Cao Bin.
Previously, the---
The Eagle Claw Skill that Guo Mingyuan learned was just Postnatal Martial Arts, but Spirit Snake Eight Strikes was genuine Innate Martial Arts, containing a variety of techniques like punching, movement, and grappling.
The martial artists from the three gangs of Black Stone County generally lacked proper masters and had few rules.
Thus, as long as there was enough money or benefits, like Guo Mingyuan, learning the Eagle Claw Skill was entirely possible.
But Spirit Snake Eight Strikes was an innate martial skill, a famous skill of Cao Bin, and he had even passed it to Song Tianqing, who knows how much silver Song Tianqing had spent.
In reality, Song Tianqing actually hadn't spent any silver; what he offered was just a promise.
There were three Gang Leaders in the Sanhe Gang, and Cao Bin wanted his son to succeed him as the Gang Leader, but the other two did not agree.
Song Tianqing merely promised Cao Bin that if he could eventually become the Young Master of the Song Family, he would fully support his son's bid to become the Gang Leader of the Sanhe Gang.
Although it was just an empty promise, Song Tianqing timed it too well, managing to acquire an innate martial skill without giving anything tangible.
Originally, Song Tianqing hadn't planned to reveal the Spirit Snake Eight Strikes during the contest at the Martial Arts Hall.
He had planned to reveal his true strength during the Song Family's internal competition and catch the other disciples off guard.
But he hadn't anticipated Han Zheng's strength to be so beyond his expectations that he was forced to use the Spirit Snake Eight Strikes as his last resort.
If news of this battle reached the Song Family, his hidden strength would inevitably be exposed.
The more Song Tianqing thought about it, the angrier he became, with a hint of killing intent already appearing in his eyes.
Seeing Song Tianqing's finger nearly reaching his face, Han Zheng felt a chill as his body hair stood on end instantaneously.
The strike was too fast and fierce, so swift that Han Zheng couldn't even dodge it by turning his head.
Concentrating and calming his mind, the more critical the situation, the calmer Han Zheng's mental state became.
His body's blood and Inner Strength surged as he exerted his full strength to activate the Dragon Elephant Wisdom.
A majestic force gathered within Han Zheng's body, and he suddenly shook it like a giant elephant stomping the ground and roaring, the force reaching every part of his body as if causing an earthquake!
Song Tianqing hadn't expected this move from Han Zheng; as he was half-wrapped around Han Zheng, he was suddenly thrown off balance by the immense force, causing his body to shift violently.
The finger meant to penetrate Han Zheng's head missed and slid past his ear, leaving behind a trace of blood.
A gleam of excitement burst from Li Jingzhong's eyes as he looked towards Han Zheng in surprise.
The move Han Zheng had just used gathered the power of Dragon Elephant Wisdom but was executed using the essence of Iron Elephant Skill.
Iron Elephant stomps the ground, the force of a thousand jun.
Han Zheng's proficiency with Iron Elephant Skill had reached perfection, executed flawlessly. Moreover, since Dragon Elephant Wisdom and Iron Elephant Skill originated from the same source, Li Jingzhong didn't even notice the mixing of other forces.
Many can master the essence of Martial Skills.
But most cultivation techniques only enhance strength and belong to a slower, grinding process. Hence, very few Martial Artists can cultivate the essence of such techniques.
Even among those who can cultivate it, only a few can integrate it into combat.
Han Zheng, who was now only in the Postnatal Realm, had already achieved something remarkable.
Li Jingzhong himself couldn't have accomplished this at Han Zheng's age.
Touching the blood trace by his ear, Han Zheng's eyes also revealed a hint of coldness.
Channeling the Dragon Elephant Wisdom internally and exhibiting Iron Elephant stomp externally, Han Zheng stepped forward, and the ground seemed to burst with the impact.
Vajra Fist transformed into Demon-Subduing Pestle and fell from the sky, combined with the momentum of Iron Elephant Skill, it possessed the force of a Vajra riding an elephant to suppress demons and exterminate evil.
Song Tianqing desperately defended, but the force of Han Zheng's Vajra Fist made his blood boil.
His Spirit Snake Eight Strikes were vicious and swift, including a secret movement technique.
But Han Zheng's mastery over the essence of Iron Elephant Skill shook his entire body's blood and strength—an immense and heavy force that perfectly countered Spirit Snake Eight Strikes.
Just as Song Tianqing approached, he was directly shaken until his blood boiled. Then, a Demon-Subduing Pestle hammered down, making him stagger backward several steps.
Moreover, Han Zheng didn't relent but pressed on, almost instantly driving Song Tianqing to the edge of the training field.
Zheng Zhishan anxiously yelled from the outside, "Young Master, admit defeat! Stop fighting!
In a while, it's the family competition, you can't get injured at a time like this!"
It was as if Song Tianqing hadn't heard, a ruthless color flickering in his eyes.
If he couldn't even defeat these stepping stones within the Martial Arts Hall, how could he compete for the position of Young Master of the Song Family?
As Han Zheng knocked him back again, Song Tianqing let out a low shout, his body's blood suddenly surging to its peak.
Spotting an opening as Han Zheng's punch fell, Song Tianqing's figure shot towards Han Zheng like a spirit snake spitting its tongue, thrusting a palm straight at Han Zheng's throat!
This move was all attack and no defense, using up all of Song Tianqing's Inner Strength, truly a killing move among kills.
Vajra Fist was clumsy, and with Han Zheng's move creating an opening, Song Tianqing's bet was that Han Zheng wouldn't be as fast as him!
Li Jingzhong's expression suddenly changed next to them, wanting to intervene, but it was already too late.
But at that moment, Han Zheng suddenly turned his punch into a palm. A cold, deadly Qi surged as he swept his palm upwards as if unsheathing a long saber, cutting through the air with dense killing intent, and directly sending Song Tianqing flying!
With a loud thump!
Accompanied by a loud noise, Song Tianqing landed on the ground and 'wow' spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Did Song Tianqing have a trump card, and did Han Zheng not?
This was a public setting, and Han Zheng could not go all out to kill someone from the Song Family.
Otherwise, once Vajra Demon Suppression Seal was unleashed, Song Tianqing's fate wouldn't just be spitting blood; his head would be smashed!
"Young Master!"
Zheng Zhishan hurriedly ran over to help Song Tianqing up.
"Let's go!"
Staring at Han Zheng, Song Tianqing immediately left with Zheng Zhishan's support, not even waiting for Li Jingzhong to announce the result.
"This round, Han Zheng wins!"
Li Jingzhong looked at Han Zheng and nodded in satisfaction.
The Blood Slaughter Saber Technique Han Zheng had just picked up not long ago, yet he had already mastered the knack of gathering evil Qi.
Most importantly, his aptitude was excellent, allowing him to apply what he learned so quickly.
The disciples from commoner backgrounds at the Martial Arts Hall also cheered as Li Jingzhong announced the winner.
Though it wasn't their victory.
Though most of them would continue to guard and protect the residences of rich landlords after their apprenticeship.
But at least at that moment, they could hold their heads high.