Chapter 426 - 153: I Didn’t Want to Discourage You This Much
Peak Master of Yunxi Peak, Zhou Yunyi, watched with a complex, unreadable expression as Yang Jing descended the Cyan Qilin Platform, surrounded by a crowd.
Previously, Qin Gang had wanted both Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang to join Yunxi Peak. But at the time, she had learned of Yang Jing’s mediocre aptitude and rejected him.
Who would have thought that after such a short time, the young man she had dismissed as having ’poor aptitude and limited potential’ would cause such a stir in the Cyan Qilin Battle, displaying impressive strength.
’If only back then...’
Zhou Yunyi sighed softly, pushing the thought aside. Her gaze fell back upon the Cyan Qilin Platform, and her mind slowly calmed.
’A brief burst of speed doesn’t mean he’ll always be ahead.’
’Without breaking through to the Qi Eating Realm, it all amounts to nothing in the end.’
...
The mountain wind seemed to have picked up, and the incense stick on the stone table burned brightly.
Soon, the time it took for the incense to burn had quietly passed.
The Main Peak Steward once again stepped onto the Cyan Qilin Platform. He cleared his throat, infused his voice with Inner Qi, and announced, "The fifth match: Yang Jing of Lingxi Peak versus Zhou Tong of Zhenyue Peak!"
As his voice faded, two figures emerged from below the stage and slowly ascended the Cyan Qilin Platform.
Yang Jing was still dressed in white robes, his expression serene. After a rest period of one incense stick’s time, the lingering fatigue from the intense battle had vanished. His Inner Strength was abundant, and he was in peak condition.
His opponent, Zhou Tong, was a burly man, but his face was anything but relaxed.
Zhou Tong’s eyes were locked on Yang Jing, his expression utterly grave.
He had seen the duel between Yang Jing and Wei Dongting with his own eyes.
Wei Dongting’s strength was already greater than his own, yet Yang Jing had not only defeated him but had seemingly done so without expending much energy.
’During this past incense stick of time, Yang Jing must have taken an Elixir to restore his Inner Strength. He has to be at his peak right now.’
At this thought, a heavy weight settled in Zhou Tong’s heart.
’The odds of defeating an opponent like this are far too great.’
The Main Peak Steward stood in the center of the Cyan Qilin Platform. His gaze swept over the two opponents before he announced loudly, "Let the match begin!"
As soon as he spoke, he turned and walked off the Cyan Qilin Platform, leaving the entire stage to the two of them.
In an instant, only the figures of Yang Jing and Zhou Tong remained on the bluestone-paved platform.
The mountain wind swept past, making their robes whip and snap. The surrounding din seemed to fade away, and even the air grew heavy with tension.
As Yang Jing looked at the burly Zhou Tong before him, a memory from his past suddenly surfaced.
Back when he was in Yuhe County, during the training ground trials, there had also been a master named Zhou Tong.
He had fought a long, bitter battle against that Zhou Tong, only managing to win by a single move by taking advantage of an injury his opponent had. He had barely secured fourth place in those trials.
He never expected to come to the Xuanzhen Sect and encounter another opponent named Zhou Tong. Recalling his days in Yuhe County, Yang Jing couldn’t help but feel a touch of nostalgia.
The Zhou Tong opposite him, however, felt no such sentiment—only crushing pressure.
’I know perfectly well that with my level of strength, I’m no match for Yang Jing in a direct confrontation,’ he thought. ’My only hope is to strike first.’
With that, Zhou Tong stopped hesitating. With a low shout, he stomped hard on the ground, kicking up a powerful gust as he charged at Yang Jing.
He specialized in leg techniques. Now, channeling his Inner Strength to its fullest, his right leg shot out like an unsheathed saber. Wreathed in ferocious power, it whistled through the air as it swept viciously toward Yang Jing’s side.
The air itself seemed to grow scorching hot in the wake of the kick.
Yang Jing’s eyes narrowed. Just from the power of this one move, he could tell that Zhou Tong’s strength was weaker than Wei Dongting’s by a considerable margin.
However, he made no effort to hide his strength this time. Since he had already revealed ninety percent of his Inner Strength when fighting Wei Dongting, he naturally used the same amount against Zhou Tong.
Yang Jing sank into a low horse stance and clenched his fists. The Inner Strength in his body surged forth, pouring entirely into his hands.
He unleashed the Mountain-Breaking Seal. His fists, carrying the immense, crushing weight of a collapsing mountain, shot out to meet Zhou Tong’s kick head-on.
Fist and leg collided with a deafening thud.
Yang Jing stood his ground, not moving an inch, his robes the only thing stirred by the resulting shockwave.
Zhou Tong, however, felt an incomparably ferocious power surge up his right leg and through his entire body. A sharp pain shot through his leg bone, and his expression changed drastically. He staggered back several steps before managing to regain his footing.
Yang Jing pressed his advantage. His footwork shifted, executing the Raging Wave Steps, a technique he had nearly mastered to the Peak of Transformation.
He had deliberately restrained his speed before to hide his strength, but now that the cat was out of the bag, he held nothing back.
His figure blurred, closing the distance to Zhou Tong in a flash of lightning. A dense, impenetrable storm of fist-shadows rained down on him.
As Zhou Tong watched Yang Jing’s impossibly fast movements, his heart sank.
’His power is no match for mine, and his speed completely overwhelms me. There’s no way to win this fight!’
THUD THUD THUD—
The sound of colliding fists and legs rang out continuously. Within just three moves, Zhou Tong was already in dire straits.
His leg techniques were powerless against Yang Jing’s fists, leaving him to desperately raise his arms to block.
BANG!
Another dull thud echoed as Yang Jing’s fist slammed heavily into Zhou Tong’s chest.
Struck with immense force, Zhou Tong was sent flying sideways like a puppet with its strings cut. He crashed hard against the railing at the edge of the Cyan Qilin Platform with a heavy CRACK.
The railing shuddered. Zhou Tong clutched his chest, feeling his blood and qi roil as a sweet taste rose in his throat.
He could sense that Yang Jing had clearly held back on that last punch. Otherwise, given its power, he wouldn’t just be dealing with roiling blood; he would have been severely injured and vomiting blood at the very least.