It has become evident that the students of Tianjing Academy are exceptionally affluent. There are three Light Spirit Cards, all of which are Silver Cards: the second-tier agility card "Empty Wood Pile," the third-tier agility card "Eight Steps to Chase the Cicada," and the third-tier finger technique card "Iron Mud Finger."
The two agility cards are precisely what Tang Tian urgently needs. Currently lacking agility cards, he is pleasantly surprised to find someone offering them to him, making the unconscious Yang Yong on the ground seem far more tolerable. The "Iron Mud Finger" is a gold-element technique that Tang Tian cannot cultivate, but it is quite desirable; he can easily exchange it for a Soul Spirit Card that suits him.
What a kind soul! Gratitude swells within Tang Tian. He gazes at Shen Yuan, his eyes igniting with fervor. However, he quickly regains his composure; Shen Yuan's displayed prowess is astonishing.
This is the first time Tang Tian has seen Amori so thoroughly suppressed. Shen Yuan, aptly dubbed "Iron Palm," appears unremarkable, yet every strike is robust and powerful. Amori, with his innate strength, wields an exceptionally heavy wooden blade, and while he unleashes his full might, Tang Tian knows he cannot compete. The overwhelming force of Amori's blade is consistently thwarted by those dark iron palms.
Shen Yuan's true energy surges, his steps seemingly slow but heavy as a mountain, each stride leaving a distinct footprint on the ground. He advances toward Amori step by step, his palms radiating a profound black glow, the air around him resonating with a low, mournful wind.
Incredible! Tang Tian watches, momentarily dazed; Shen Yuan gives him an unmistakable sense of invincibility. Amori's blade technique begins to falter, Shen Yuan's iron palms, though plain, exhibit tremendous power, often covering several yards with a single strike.
Shen Yuan seems utterly unconcerned with Amori's shifts in technique, delivering palm strikes one after another, preventing Amori's blade from breaking through his defense. The might of Shen Yuan's true energy is formidable!
Tang Tian realizes the crux of the matter—Shen Yuan's mastery of the Iron Palm is indeed impressive, but what truly forces Amori into such a corner is Shen Yuan's extraordinary true energy. Just having mastered the Crane Body, Tang Tian feels his pride deeply wounded. Shen Yuan must possess a particularly unique cultivation method, or else he is at least at the fourth-tier true energy level!
Amori's true energy is also formidable, being at the high end of the third tier, a remarkable feat at his age. Tang Tian's own true energy is weaker; he has just stepped into the third tier. Although he has achieved the Crane Body, allowing for a momentary burst of power equivalent to the mid-stage of the third tier, he lags significantly behind in other aspects.
If Amori, at the high end of the third tier, is completely suppressed by Shen Yuan, then surely Tang Tian's meager true energy would be easily swept aside by the force of his palm winds. Indeed, Tianjing Academy harbors hidden talents. Shen Yuan, despite appearing younger, has already reached such a terrifying level of true energy.
As Tang Tian notices Amori's blade technique beginning to waver, he feels a surge of urgency; if Amori is defeated, the hard-won spoils will slip away, and Shen Yuan will undoubtedly not spare them. Gritting his teeth, Tang Tian summons all his strength and charges forward like a leopard.
Flash Punch!
When Shen Yuan catches sight of Tang Tian rushing toward him from the corner of his eye, he feels a jolt. However, as Tang Tian unleashes his Flash Punch, a disdainful curve appears at the corner of Shen Yuan's mouth. To him, a second-tier martial technique is utterly inconsequential.
With such meager abilities, does Tang Tian truly think he can challenge Tianjing? Today, I shall show you just how absurd your aspirations are! Shen Yuan's eyes gleam with fierce intensity as he summons all his true energy, hair standing on end, his palm strikes becoming even slower and heavier, as if the air itself has thickened.
Tang Tian feels like a small fly caught in a swamp, unable to even flap its wings. Before his Flash Punch can reach Shen Yuan, he is already sent off course by the violent winds conjured by those unassuming iron palms.
In an instant, both are in peril. Amori struggles to hold his ground, as Shen Yuan's iron palms seem omnipresent; no matter how he shifts his blade technique, it proves futile. The once-mighty Earth Splitter lacks its usual ferocity today.
Among the experts of Tianjing, Shen Yuan is inconspicuous, often remaining low-key. Amori never anticipated that Shen Yuan's strength could be this overwhelming!
When he sees Tang Tian leap into the fray, Amori bites down hard on his lip. For Tang Tian's level of ability to enter the battle circle is akin to seeking death.
Damn it! Amori feels a surge of anger—yes, anger! Anger at his own weakness, at his lowly strength, at the flicker of fear that has crept in!
Rage flows through him like molten lava, causing his body to tremble slightly. A voice echoes in his mind.
What a disgrace! Amori! You are meant to forge your own path in martial arts! How can you be so powerless? How can you be so timid?
Where is your dream? What of your vows? You lack even the courage to struggle—Amori, you coward! You are nothing but a coward...
“...You lack the fierce determination of Tang Tian...”
Old Wei's words suddenly echo in Amori's mind, leaving him momentarily stunned. His gaze instinctively shifts toward Tang Tian.
Just moments ago, watching from the sidelines, Tang Tian was profoundly affected. Yet now, stepping into the battle circle, all distractions fade from his mind. His eyes widen, brimming with fury as he relentlessly throws punches.
Flash Punch!
His fists vanish into thin air at an astonishing rate before reappearing just as quickly. Experiencing the battle first-hand, Tang Tian perceives Shen Yuan's iron palms in an entirely new light. What appears to be an ordinary palm strike from Shen Yuan unleashes a howling gust of wind, akin to a solid wall of air, barreling toward him!
There is no way to evade.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Tang Tian's Flash Punches rain down upon the wind wall like a torrential downpour, producing a cacophony of explosive sounds, creating rippling waves in the air before him.
Boom!
The wind wall shatters, scattering countless sharp air currents like fragments of glass. Ripping sounds fill the air as Tang Tian's clothing is torn, blood seeping from the small wounds.
Tang Tian remains oblivious, as another palm strike from Shen Yuan comes crashing down.
Another Flash Punch!
A flicker of surprise flashes in Shen Yuan's eyes; Tang Tian's mastery of the Flash Punch catches him off guard. Thus far, Tang Tian has not failed a single punch, meaning his success rate is a staggering one hundred percent.
This is the theoretical maximum, yet no one has ever achieved it. Up until now, the highest record in Xingfeng City belonged to Wang Zhen at eighty-three percent.
Here stands Tang Tian, astonishingly capable of executing a one hundred percent success rate with his Flash Punch.
He had underestimated him before. However, this surprise quickly dissipates in Shen Yuan's mind. Tianjing Academy is rife with geniuses of all kinds; he has seen many. The Flash Punch is merely a second-tier martial technique, which may pique the interest of lower-grade students but holds little significance for upper-grade students, where third-tier techniques are meaningful and fourth-tier techniques are top-tier.
A one hundred percent success rate Flash Punch is as fragile as paper before the Iron Palm. Shen Yuan, typically low-key, remains unassuming in a school teeming with prodigies. His strength has consistently been underestimated, yet he is unconcerned. Had it not been for someone seeking his aid, he would not have stepped forward.
If he were not preoccupied with Amori, Tang Tian would have no room to struggle. Even while accommodating Amori, he does not believe Tang Tian poses any real threat. The continuous use of Flash Punches is incredibly taxing on stamina.
Let’s see how long you can hold out!
Shen Yuan's eyes narrow coldly, and he strikes again.
Tang Tian presses forward, disregarding his stamina, unleashing Flash Punches like a relentless downpour. Yet each step exacts a heavy toll. With every shattering wind wall, he accrues more injuries.
His body is riddled with wounds, save for his back; blood and sweat rapidly soak his clothing.
Oblivious to his own pain, Tang Tian's eyes remain fixed on Shen Yuan, pushing himself forward with every ounce of strength.
“...You lack the fierce determination of Tang Tian...”
Amori watches Tang Tian, drenched in sweat and blood, stubbornly inching forward. Since Tang Tian entered the battle circle, he has not retreated even a single step. Struggling onward, he has even surpassed Amori!
Basic Tang...
For reasons unknown, the fire of anger within Amori begins to extinguish. A vision of a youthful figure, arms raised in a triumphant shout, fills his mind.
“Wow, boy, charge, charge, charge!”
The boy’s exuberant shout echoes in Amori's heart.
Basic Tang...
For reasons unknown, Amori's gaze gradually calms and solidifies with determination as his left hand reaches for the giant wooden blade gripped in his right.
Adopting a low stance, he grips the blade with both hands, lifting it high.
His beastly physique resembles that of an ancient gladiator, exuding an indescribable sense of powerful beauty.
With a solemn expression and resolute gaze, an imposing aura radiates from Amori, spreading like a rising wind.
Hmm?
The first to sense something amiss is Shen Yuan, as Amori’s aura now carries an unsettling intensity.
This is...
Tang Tian is unaware of Amori's transformation, yet he immediately detects Shen Yuan’s momentary distraction. He accelerates his Flash Punch, the wind wall shattering once more; amidst the spattering of blood, Tang Tian's eyes widen, akin to a vigilant beast, quietly advancing a step.
Amori's true energy surges, the ground beneath him seemingly resonating with boundless power.
At the pinnacle of his rising momentum, Amori's solemn command, infused with an overwhelming force, reverberates through the air.
With both hands raised high, the giant wooden blade resembles a heavy axe, crashing down with formidable force.
A fathomless dark fissure snakes along the ground, darting toward Shen Yuan like a lightning-fast serpent.
The air walls along the path are sliced apart as if by a razor-sharp blade.
Earth Splitter's Ultimate Move: "Deep Abyss Slash!"
Shen Yuan's expression shifts drastically; in a moment of panic, he channels his true energy to its utmost limit, crouching slightly in a horse stance, palms aligned as he slowly thrusts them forward.
It’s as if he is pushing open an incredibly heavy iron door, every muscle in his body straining, his clothing nearly bursting at the seams.
A palpable wall of wind materializes, akin to an iron gate, hurtling forward with a thunderous roar.
Iron Palm's Ultimate Move: "Iron Gate Crush!"
The two ultimate moves collide!
Tang Tian's cheek is unknowingly cut, a trickle of blood seeping down, yet he remains oblivious. His eyes suddenly narrow, a fleeting glimmer of murderous intent flashing briefly.
