Martial Energy!
Hiss!
A gasp of astonishment echoed throughout every corner of the Heavenly Martial Arena.
All the members of the Yun clan present—the young disciples, the referee, the elders, and the higher-ups—were all struck with shock and disbelief.
On the spectator's platform, the elderly chief referee rose to his feet, his expression brimming with excitement. "To comprehend Martial Energy at just fourteen years of age... the position of a martial artist is now within his grasp. Such talent surely heralds the rise of the next Yun Linlong!"
Every eye in the arena was drawn to Yun Che, the new sovereign of the outer layer!
Yun Che gasped for breath, incredulously staring at his own fist, watching helplessly as Yun Yijian was sent flying, his arm shattered and his sword broken in two.
This had been a punch he had consciously held back—when he shattered Yun Yijian's sword, he had barely restrained some of his Martial Energy.
Had he unleashed his full power, Yun Yijian's injuries would have been far more grievous—his entire arm would have been rendered useless, if not worse.
For a typical martial artist of the Third Stage, such a punch would have shattered their internal organs, killing them on the spot.
"So this is the power of Martial Energy..."
Yun Che's heart shuddered lightly.
Around the martial platform, some of the Yun clan disciples were stunned and filled with dread.
At last, they understood the true chasm between a martial apprentice and a martial artist.
"Yun Che wins!"
The referee finally snapped out of his daze and cast a deep look at Yun Che before rendering his judgment.
Even with his apparent bias toward Yun Yijian, Yun Che still emerged victorious.
And not only did he win—he had done so with overwhelming power, shaking the outer layer to its core!
With such absolute strength, no matter how many injustices there were, none could halt his progress.
"Yijian!"
Yun Tianjian roared, a surge of icy violet energy emanating from his body as he flashed toward his son.
His speed was terrifying—those nearby could only catch a fleeting afterimage.
"Such speed!"
Yun Che assessed that Yun Yijian's father had likely reached the terrifying height of the Sixth Stage of Martial Arts.
The Sixth Stage—this was the pinnacle for ordinary martial artists, and just one step beyond would elevate someone to the level of a Martial Master.
"I've lost… I actually…"
Yun Yijian's face contorted in agony, cold sweat pouring down his brow. His arm had completely lost feeling.
"Someone, fetch the healer!"
Yun Tianjian screamed in a desperate, strained voice as he observed his son's injuries. His arm was at risk of permanent paralysis.
"You little wretch! Such a heavy hand in a mere sparring match, what is your true intent?"
Yun Tianjian's voice was icy, his eyes flashing with a hidden killing intent as he glared at Yun Che.
The terrifying aura of a Sixth Stage martial artist, amplified by the force of Martial Energy, created an invisible pressure that pressed down on Yun Che.
Yun Che's figure flickered, and it felt as though his blood and breath had momentarily frozen in place. Even speaking required great effort.
Fortunately, with his Martial Energy, he was able to channel the pale blue aura within him, resisting the immense pressure with indomitable will.
Thump! Thump!
A rhythmic pounding echoed in his left eye as a swirling light ring expanded within his vision. The spiral, once extending to a mere three feet nine inches, now subtly inched closer to four feet.
Under this unprecedented pressure, Yun Che's vital energy and inner potential were further pushed to their limits.
"This is incredible! I am now completely ready to challenge the Fourth Stage of Martial Arts!"
Yun Che's heart swelled with exhilaration.
Through the trials of battle and now enduring the oppressive might of Yun Tianjian, he had experienced an unexpected breakthrough.
The subtle shifts in his aura did not escape Yun Tianjian's keen observation.
This boy cannot be allowed to remain!
A surge of danger stirred in Yun Tianjian's heart, and a cold gleam flickered in his eyes. "You lowly branch member, to dare harm my son's arm—today, I will strip you of your cultivation!"
Swish!
An afterimage flashed as Yun Tianjian lunged at Yun Che.
This is bad!
Yun Che felt an immense sense of impending doom.
Fortunately, he had already prepared for Yun Tianjian's speed, and his left eye locked onto his opponent's every movement.
As Yun Tianjian's energy and Martial Energy surged in tandem, Yun Che predicted the trajectory of his attack.
In an instant,
Yun Che leapt into the air, using his Floating Ledge Step technique to its maximum, soaring nearly ten meters high to narrowly evade Yun Tianjian's strike.
But he knew this was his only chance. Against a Sixth Stage martial artist, he could only avoid a single attack.
Realizing his strike had missed, Yun Tianjian's face twisted in anger and disbelief. He roared, "Die!"
He activated his light body technique and leaped into the air, closing in on Yun Che.
"Floating Ledge Step!"
Mid-air, Yun Che tapped into his remaining strength, executing the technique once more, and rushed toward the higher-ups on the spectator's platform.
He understood that Yun Tianjian, though a powerful figure in the clan, was still only a middle-to-high-ranking elder. The clan's senior elders would never allow such reckless actions within their sight.
Whoosh!
Yun Che narrowly avoided Yun Tianjian's deadly strike and sped toward the platform.
"Damn it! This brat..."
Yun Tianjian finally understood Yun Che's intentions.
"Yun Tianjian, stop!"
A thunderous voice boomed from above.
With the voice came an overwhelming, majestic aura that descended from the heavens.
An elder with a white beard, surrounded by a radiant white aura that resembled feathers, appeared hovering directly above Yun Tianjian.
This is bad! It's the chief referee!
Yun Tianjian felt immense pressure. He was facing a Martial Master of the Seventh Stage, one of the clan's elders.
But Yun Che stood right before him. His frustration reached a boiling point. Clenching his teeth, he prepared to force his way through.
"Kneel!"
A voice of supreme authority, laced with fury, rang out from above
Without the chief referee approaching, a transparent and pure aura spiraled into an invisible energy palm, which came crashing down with tremendous force.
Crash!
Yun Tianjian's internal martial energy dissipated, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground in defeat.
A remote strike, such a terrifying method!
The onlookers were struck dumb, their silence heavy as they realized that the chief referee had cultivated his Martial Energy to an incomprehensible level, capable of piercing the air and killing ordinary martial artists with a mere snap of his fingers.
"Elder! This Yun Che is ruthless and merciless—he nearly broke my son's arm! How can he be let off so lightly?"
Yun Tianjian half-kneeled on the ground, both fearful and resentful.
"Hmph! Who, truly, is the merciless one? When Yun Che struck, he had already restrained part of his Martial Energy. Otherwise, Yun Yijian's arm would have been shattered, or worse, he might have lost his life."
The chief referee, with eyes as sharp as blades, spoke with a glint of disdain.
Yun Tianjian immediately fell silent.
"Go, and tend to your son!"
With a flick of his sleeve, the chief referee leapt back to the martial platform, restoring order.
The disturbance was momentarily quelled.
Yun Che wiped away a bead of cold sweat, casting a grateful glance toward the chief referee.
The chief referee seemed to sense his gaze, offering a soft smile, his eyes filled with warmth and subtle encouragement.
The interruption had not dampened the momentum of the tournament.
After defeating Yun Yijian, Yun Che claimed the title of "Outer Layer Champion" without contest.
"He actually defeated Yun Yijian..."
In a corner, Yun Xue's face stiffened, a dizzying sensation overtaking her.
From extreme joy to utter despair, it felt as though she had fallen from the heavens into the depths of hell.
In her vision, that familiar figure stood proudly as a king, under the collective gaze of the audience.
It all seemed to return to the beginning in Qingye Town, where that young prodigy had stood tall in the Yun clan's branch, reigning as the best among his peers.
And now, on a new stage, Yun Che had risen to become the first in the outer layer of the Yun clan.
Seventy wins in a row... Seventy-one...
Yun Che's victory streak continued to mount.
His opponents, for the most part, surrendered without a fight.
Even formidable rivals like Yun Yue and Yun Qian were swiftly defeated by him.
Even when facing Yun Yue, Yun Che's Martial Energy shattered Yun Yue's famous "Iron Body" defense with ease.
Yun Che's strength had transcended that of a mere martial apprentice; he was now a half-step martial artist!
A half-step martial artist, possessing Martial Energy, had bridged the gap to the Fourth Stage of Martial Arts, their difference almost imperceptible.
However, during the tournament, a surprise emerged.
Another contender with an unbroken streak was Yun Fei.
At her eightieth win, she faced Yun Yue, the previous champion of the outer layer.
"Butterfly Palm!"
Yun Fei shouted, and with a tremor of her snow-white hand, a faint green aura surged forth from her body.
Crack!
Yun Yue's Iron Body was shattered once more.
"Heavens! She too possesses Martial Energy!"
A gasp swept through the crowd.
No one had expected that, aside from Yun Che, there would be a second person who had comprehended Martial Energy.
"How interesting!"
A smile played on the chief referee's face.
Upon seeing Yun Fei's Martial Energy, Yun Che remained unfazed.
He had sensed her concealed Martial Energy during the match, his left eye having detected it in her aura.
When they had observed the martial demonstration earlier, many of the top-ranking disciples of the outer layer had unlocked their Martial Energy.
Among them, Yun Che had been the first to reach such a breakthrough.
It was only half a month later that Yun Fei had caught up.
"Looks like the true champion is still undecided."
The audience, especially the Yun clan disciples, buzzed with excitement and anticipation.
At long last, when both Yun Che and Yun Fei reached their ninety-ninth consecutive victory, they met in a climactic showdown.
"Let's begin."
Yun Che's expression remained calm and unshaken.
Although Yun Fei had gained Martial Energy, he held no fear.
"Though I know the difference in our abilities, I will not give up."
Yun Fei's face blossomed into a radiant smile, like a blooming lotus, her beauty refreshing and serene.
"Furious Dragon Fist!"
Yun Che's first strike was his peak Furious Dragon Fist.
Earlier, his crushing blow to Yun Yijian had not been solely due to Martial Energy.
The Furious Dragon Fist was a top-tier mid-level technique, renowned for its explosive power. At its peak, it surpassed the effectiveness of many advanced martial arts and could rival even high-tier perfected techniques.
Now, after enduring the oppressive might of Yun Tianjian, Yun Che's potential had been further unlocked, and his Furious Dragon Fist was nearing perfection.
If he perfected it, even a high-level Cold Stream Sword would not stand a chance.
Bang! Crash!
Yun Che and Yun Fei's fists and palms collided, with Yun Fei retreating repeatedly, dodging his strikes.
Indeed, in a direct confrontation, Yun Fei could not match Yun Che.
Yun Che's Martial Energy was first to awaken, and his was far more robust.
Moreover, his Floating Ledge Step had honed his energy in a unique way, making his strikes faster, more fluid, and unpredictable.
Despite Yun Fei's refined and agile high-level footwork, Yun Che's Floating Ledge Step was faster still.
As Yun Che's attacks grew increasingly swift,
Yun Fei's breath quickened, her face flushed like a blooming sunset, and she began to falter. A slight hesitation in her movement presented a golden opportunity.
Yun Che's left eye immediately locked onto the opening, and with a precise strike, he grazed her delicate shoulder.
Whoosh!
Yun Fei's body swayed, gracefully spinning mid-air before landing lightly on the ground.
"Thank you for showing mercy."
Yun Fei's gaze held a hint of gratitude, her cheeks still tinged with color, her beauty as enchanting as a pristine lotus.
Yun Che's strike had clearly been restrained; otherwise, her fate would not have been much different from Yun Yijian's.
"It was nothing."
Yun Che nodded with a smile, his admiration for Yun Fei's style evident.
After defeating Yun Fei, no opponent remained for Yun Che in the tournament. One by one, all challengers surrendered.
"I concede!"
"I forfeit!"
...
Half an hour later,
Yun Che completed his ninety-ninth consecutive win, securing the highest score and firmly claiming the title of the outer layer's champion.
.