The appointed time for the duel had arrived. On the battle platform, the atmosphere was tense and heavy, as if even the air itself had been stilled by the impending clash.
With a sneer, Jerle leaped onto the stage, landing firmly as waves of spiritual energy surged around him. His power at Level 13 was palpable, like a fierce wind swirling in his wake.
The surrounding disciples gasped.
"Senior Brother Jerle is already at Level 13, just a step away from breaking through to Level 14. How could Roy possibly stand a chance against him?"
"This new disciple is overestimating himself."
Yet, some eyes shone with anticipation.
"I've heard Roy's talent is extraordinary. Maybe he'll surprise us."
Standing calmly at the center of the stage, Roy remained unaffected by the clamor around him. Spiritual energy flowed steadily within him, his meridians stable and brimming with power.
With the referee's signal, the battle commenced.
Jerle wasted no time, launching a direct attack with palms radiating spiritual energy, fierce gusts sweeping toward Roy's face.
"See for yourself—this is the gap between us!"
Roy neither dodged nor flinched. With a deft sidestep, he smoothly avoided Jerle's strike. Simultaneously, he channeled energy into his right fist and delivered a powerful punch.
Boom!
The collision of their energies rippled visibly through the air, forcing onlookers to retreat from the shockwave.
"What incredible power!"
"Roy actually countered Jerle's attack head-on!"
Jerle staggered back a few steps, shock flashing in his eyes.
"You've been hiding your true strength?"
Roy replied indifferently, "No need to boast—it's enough to defeat you."
Before the words had fully faded, Roy's assault became swift and relentless. His steps were as quick as the wind, and his fists rained down upon Jerle like a storm.
Jerle retreated repeatedly, doing his utmost to defend, but each of Roy's punches struck fear deep into his heart.
Dust billowed on the platform as Roy stood firm, exuding a fierce fighting spirit. Beads of sweat clung to his brow, yet he remained sharp and focused, like a hawk fixated on its staggering prey.
"Is that all you've got?" Roy's tone was cold, each word piercing Jerle's pride like needles.
Jerle's face flushed, half from anger and half from humiliation. Never had he imagined being humiliated before so many disciples by a newly admitted student. That blow not only shook his body but crushed his arrogance.
"Roy, I'll kill you!" Jerle roared, his spiritual power surging wildly, forcefully pushing him to the brink of Level 13's peak. The ground beneath him cracked from the outburst of energy.
"Bring it on!" Roy showed no intention of backing down. Instead, he charged head-on, pushing his spiritual power to its peak, unleashing the strength of Level 11. His body tensed, every muscle primed for combat.
Jerle unleashed a ferocious punch, the whistling wind aiming straight for Roy's chest, carrying an overwhelming force. But Roy's gaze was as sharp as a blade. With a sudden stomp, he moved like a shadow along the ground, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack.
Caught off guard, Jerle barely had time to react before Roy appeared beside him, striking like lightning. His right fist crashed into Jerle's ribs like a thunderclap.
Bang!
Jerle grunted, his body knocked backward, leaving deep grooves on the platform as he struggled to stay upright.
"You've lost," Roy declared coldly. Without waiting for a response, he leaped forward, his right leg slicing through the air with a fierce gust, aimed directly at Jerle's face.
Thud!
The powerful kick struck home. Jerle had no chance to defend himself and was sent flying several meters, crashing to the ground in disarray. His face swelled rapidly, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The disciples watching below stood in stunned silence, struggling to process what they had witnessed.
"Roy is too strong!"
"In just five days, he advanced from Level 7 to Level 11. That level of cultivation speed is unbelievable."
"No wonder he has a purple-grade talent! He's in a league of his own."
Even some elders nodded subtly, their eyes glinting with admiration.
"This boy holds great potential."
"Roy, you deserve to die!" Jerle's furious roar echoed across the battle platform.
However, before he could fully steady himself, Roy was already charging at him head-on.
"Kill!" Jerle's face twisted with rage, his expression almost terrifying as he unleashed a radiant handprint of energy.
"Full of flaws," Roy sneered. He pushed his speed to the limit, dodging the attack effortlessly and closing in on Jerle within moments.
"Being caught at close range is your downfall."
The cold voice lingered in the air as Roy's spiritual power surged through his body. His muscles and bones unleashed a burst of raw force as his fist slammed into Jerle's chest.
Thud!
Jerle spat out a mouthful of blood. Roy's punch was far more devastating than it seemed.
"You… how could you…"
"No time for questions." Roy cut him off, giving Jerle no chance to recover as he pressed his attack.
Roy was like a wild beast descending from the mountain, his movements unpredictable and relentless. Sometimes like a tiger, other times like a fierce ape, a mighty lion, or a prowling wolf. He attacked with claws, strikes, and grapples, using not just his fists and feet but also knees, shoulders, and every joint in his body as deadly weapons. Jerle staggered backward, his body marked with bruises and imprints from the relentless onslaught.
"What... what kind of technique is that?" The disciples watching below were dumbfounded.
Where were the dazzling spiritual techniques? The flashy moves?
None were present. Roy relied purely on the most primitive combat techniques. Yet this very simplicity repeatedly put Jerle at a disadvantage.
"Ahhh!" Jerle's roars of rage filled the platform.
The once-arrogant senior, who had boasted of his superior status, now found himself in such a humiliating predicament. Despite his Level 13 strength, he was being utterly suppressed by Roy, who was only Level 11.
Suddenly, a chilling wolf's howl pierced the air, silencing the audience. Jerle had activated a forbidden technique, his fists now enveloped by a spectral wolf head. Each punch was accompanied by a ferocious howl.
"Wolf Fang Fist!" Gasps of awe spread through the crowd. Those familiar with its power looked on in amazement.
"I didn't expect jerle to have mastered a mid-tier mortal-grade technique!"
"Die!" Jerle roared fiercely, his face twisted in rage as he raised his fist to strike.
A cold shout echoed as Roy met the attack head-on, his palm surging with spiritual energy that tore through the air. Despite having no formal techniques, Roy had mastered the art of channeling his spiritual power to perfection.
Boom!
The clash of fist and palm resonated loudly across the platform.
Thud!
A cough of blood broke the tense silence as Jerle staggered backward, disbelief etched across his face.
"How… how is this possible?" Jerle's voice trembled as he stared at Roy, his mind reeling from what had just occurred. He could clearly feel the overwhelming force within Roy's palm strike — a force no weaker than his own.
His Wolf Fang Fist, a mid-tier mortal-grade technique renowned for its ferocious offensive power, had defeated countless outer disciples. And yet, it had just been overpowered by a Level 11 disciple in a head-on clash.
Was Roy truly only Level 11?
It wasn't just Jerle who was in disbelief. The disciples watching below also stood stunned, momentarily caught in a daze.
"This kid is insanely strong!" Voices of astonishment rose from the crowd, their expressions a mixture of awe and shock.
Jerle struggled to stand, his eyes filled with venom and unwillingness.
"Roy, this time I was careless. Next time you—"
Roy sneered dismissively.
"There won't be a next time."
Jerle opened his mouth but had no retort. Despite being Level 13, he had lost to a Level 11 opponent. He knew his defeat was complete, his reputation irreparably shattered in front of the crowd.
Under the gaze of countless disciples, Jerle hobbled off the stage, his face ashen, seeming years older than moments ago.
On the platform, Roy stood tall and steady, his robe fluttering in the wind.
From below, some female disciples couldn't contain themselves and shouted, "So handsome! I wish he were my partner!"
A beautiful girl nearby shot them a disdainful look. "Even if he were, it would be with me. Look at yourself — do you even deserve it?"
A senior elder approached Roy without a word and led him straight to the academy's Hall of Techniques.
Roy followed, somewhat bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
The sun hung high in the sky, with faint spiritual energy rippling through the air. The Hall of Techniques stood on the eastern side of the academy, its path paved with smooth greenstone leading directly to its grand entrance. The ancient structure exuded an air of solemnity, its walls seemingly etched with the weight of time. Spiritual energy flowed all around, indicating a formidable protective formation.
Roy walked behind the guiding elder to the hall's entrance. A white-bearded elder stood there, his piercing eyes and deep, unfathomable aura making his presence formidable. After a brief assessment, the elder nodded approvingly.
"Not bad. In just a short time, you've broken through to Level 11. Your performance far exceeds expectations," the elder remarked, stroking his beard with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Elder," Roy said respectfully, bowing.
"All right, go on in," the elder gestured. "The Hall of Techniques has three levels, but for now, you may only access the first level to select a single technique. Once you've chosen, report back to me for registration."
As Roy pushed open the heavy hall doors, a surge of dense spiritual energy enveloped him. The stone walls inside were carved with ancient runes, faintly glowing with soft light. Neatly arranged on stone shelves were hundreds of technique jade slips, each radiating distinct spiritual energy waves.
Roy felt a surge of awe, as though he had stepped into an entirely new realm.
"So many techniques..." he marveled inwardly.
The techniques were meticulously categorized. There were body-strengthening arts, techniques for refining spiritual energy control, and sword and blade arts emanating sharp, cutting auras. The sheer variety was dazzling.