Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Challenging the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion Again
Wen Qingye glanced expressionlessly at Guu Xiong, who stood there arrogantly with his nose in the air.
Wen Qingye had initially intended to act, but he knew this opportunity was better suited for Luo Tang. Besides, a flicker of disdain stirred within him.
’Guu Xiong thinks he can use me to make a name for himself? How laughable.’
Luo Tang seemed to understand Wen Qingye’s intention. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Guu Xiong and said, "Guu Xiong, at next year’s Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, I’ll show you who the real loser is."
"Fine. At next year’s Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, I’ll defeat you first, and then I’ll defeat that Wen Qingye from North Mountain. I will utterly crush your spirit. I’ll make you all understand that I am a mountain you can never hope to climb in this lifetime." Guu Xiong paused, a sharp, combative light flashing in his eyes as he added, "To be honest, in the entire Outer Courtyard, only Xia Moyu is qualified to be my opponent. As for everyone else, they’re nothing to me."
Such arrogance! The surrounding crowd frowned, particularly the many new students from East Mountain, who were indignant. ’If that’s the case, does he think East Mountain has no one of worth?’
Suddenly, Gao Yuerou grabbed Wen Qingye’s arm, her voice trembling as she said, "Qii Feng is here."
Wen Qingye followed her pointing finger with his eyes. A young man had just exited the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion and was walking toward them.
"Your name is Qii Feng, correct?" Wen Qingye asked, looking at the young man, his gaze perfectly calm.
Qii Feng nodded. When he saw Gao Yuerou standing nearby, a peculiar smile touched his lips. "You must be Wen Qingye, then?"
Qii Feng wasn’t well-known throughout Qig Mountain Academy. He was a senior student who had barely managed to get in at the age of nineteen, and had reportedly brown-nosed his way into South Mountain. Many were hearing his name for the first time.
Wen Qingye stared at him, unblinking, and said coolly, "Hand over all the Primordial Stones and pills you extorted from Gao Yuerou, and I’ll let you off easy."
Qii Feng chuckled mockingly. "Afraid I have to disappoint you. I’ve used some of those pills and Primordial Stones myself, and I gave the rest to Brother Yu. So what are you going to do? Not let me off, you say? Am I supposed to be scared?"
Qii Feng’s voice wasn’t loud, but his casual, provocative words echoed clearly near the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion. The crowd couldn’t help but start speculating about who he was.
Meanwhile, Guu Xiong, who was standing to the side, glanced at Qii Feng with a deepening frown. Others couldn’t discern Qii Feng’s cultivation, but he could. This newcomer’s cultivation was on par with his own—at the Peak of Refining Essence Third Layer Heaven.
Wen Qingye gave a firm nod, his eyes as calm as still water. "Good. Then I’ll teach you how to spit those Primordial Stones out."
"Tear Monument Hand!"
Without warning, Wen Qingye leaped into the air and slammed his palm downward. The roiling Primordial Qi around him compressed the air, creating visible shockwaves as a massive Hand Seal shot forth.
Seeing Wen Qingye’s attack, Qii Feng’s expression changed drastically. Faced with this tyrannical Hand Seal and its immense power, he was shocked. ’How is his cultivation so high? Weren’t the rumors that he was only at the Refining Essence First Layer Heaven?’
"Gale Palm!"
A gale erupted around Qii Feng. He thrust his palm upward, conjuring a vortex that shot toward the incoming attack like a miniature tornado.
CRASH!
Qii Feng felt a sharp pain jolt through his arm as he was forced back four or five steps.
"Immortal One Pointing at Heaven and Earth!"
Wen Qingye’s assault was relentless. He shot forward again, extending a single finger. It glowed with a strange black light, imbued with an aura that seemed capable of piercing through anything as it shot forward.
Wen Qingye had unleashed the supreme might and incisive power of the Ninth-Grade Martial Arts to its absolute limit.
"Double Wind Palm!"
Qii Feng had barely regained his footing when he sensed Wen Qingye attacking again. He stamped his foot, splayed his palms, and two vortexes of wind materialized before being thrust forward with a powerful shove.
ZING!
Wen Qingye’s finger strike shattered Qii Feng’s twin vortexes of wind. Qii Feng staggered backward and collapsed to the ground, staring at Wen Qingye in utter horror. He couldn’t believe he had been defeated in just two moves by a new student who had been enrolled for less than three months.
Luo Tang and Guu Xiong stared at Wen Qingye in utter astonishment. Just over two months ago, Wen Qingye had been a mere Martial Artist at the Qi Cultivation realm. In such a short time, he had easily defeated an expert at the Refining Essence Third Layer Heaven.
Wen Qingye slowly walked over to Qii Feng and planted a foot on his chest, demanding coldly, "Where are the Primordial Stones and pills you extorted?"
Qii Feng looked up at Wen Qingye. ’This is the guy who dared to single-handedly block the path down from East Mountain. I’m clearly in the wrong for taking Gao Yuerou’s Primordial Stones and pills... He might actually cripple me.’ As the thought sank in, terror began to consume him, and cold sweat trickled down his skin.
"ARGH!"
Qii Feng felt his arm about to snap, and the sickening crunch of bone made the onlookers’ teeth ache.
’Wen Qingye is so ruthless!’ Everyone in the crowd couldn’t help but shudder.
"Speak!"
Clutching his arm, drenched in sweat, Qii Feng said weakly, "Br... Brother Yu took them. He only gave me a tiny bit, and I’ve already used it all."
When he heard that Xia Moyu had taken them, Wen Qingye’s eyes turned cold, flashing with a terrifying light. "Good. Very good. Go back and tell Xia Moyu that he’d best not take things that aren’t his. Otherwise, he should watch his own pathetic neck!"
THUD!
Wen Qingye kicked out, sending Qii Feng flying several dozen meters. After rolling on the ground seven or eight times, Qii Feng struggled back to his feet. He clutched his right arm with his left, finding it completely limp and devoid of feeling. He knew his arm was ruined. A wave of despair washed over him, mixed with hatred and terror. Not daring to even glance at Wen Qingye, he scrambled away.
"Who was that guy? The Storm Palm Technique he used just now looked like a Fifth-Grade Martial Arts, didn’t it?"
"Yeah, anyone who can use Fifth-Grade Martial Arts must have a high cultivation level."
"I think I’ve seen him before... Oh, right, I remember! He’s the one who hands out the pills at South Mountain. He’s a senior student, and his strength is at the Peak of Refining Essence Third Layer Heaven."
"What? Wen Qingye defeated a senior student at the Refining Essence Third Layer Heaven?"
"So that was a fight between a new student and a senior student?"
"It didn’t even look like he was using his full strength. Guu Xiong is probably no match for him either, right?"
"Gods, and to think Guu Xiong was so laughably provoking him. It turns out Wen Qingye simply disdained fighting him."
All eyes turned to Wen Qingye, everyone dumbfounded. The number of new students who could defeat a senior student could be counted on one hand. Each was a standout prodigy, and Wen Qingye was now one of them. It was a testament to how rapidly his strength had grown, enough to tower over ninety-nine percent of his peers.
Some people then recalled Guu Xiong’s earlier provocation and, thinking back on Wen Qingye’s attitude, had a sudden moment of understanding.
Guu Xiong’s face went from livid to flushed red. He was mortified and furious. The laughter and strange looks from the crowd stung his prideful heart. After witnessing Wen Qingye’s skill, he was scared. That’s right—he was afraid he was no match for Wen Qingye.
Guu Xiong looked Wen Qingye in the eye. The memory of Qii Feng’s miserable state made him fearful, but that fear quickly morphed into an even greater fighting spirit. "Wen Qingye, sooner or later I will defeat both you and Xia Moyu! Sooner or later!"
Wen Qingye smiled at Gao Yuerou. "Yuerou, don’t worry. I will get back everything South Mountain owes you."
The people of South Mountain had ostracized Gao Yuerou because of her association with him. She was so kind; how could Wen Qingye bear to let her suffer on his behalf?
Gao Yuerou averted her gaze, saying hesitantly, "It’s... it’s okay. What’s past is past. As long as Qii Feng doesn’t dare to do it again, that’s enough. You’ll only offend more people by doing this for me."
Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Are you talking about Xia Moyu? I don’t even have him on my radar."
An uproar swept through the crowd.
Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the onlookers as they heard Wen Qingye’s words.
’Is this a challenge between the top new students?’
Many of the South Mountain students sneered, thinking Wen Qingye was far too arrogant. ’Xia Moyu is stronger than most senior students. What gives you the right to say something like that?’ Of course, they only dared to think this and wouldn’t say it aloud.
Gao Yuerou looked at the Wen Qingye before her, realizing he had changed so much. He was calmer now, more composed. For some reason, looking at his face, she felt her own flush as her heart began to beat very, very fast. She was gradually growing to like the feeling of standing beside him.
Wen Qingye looked at the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion before him and announced in a clear voice, "The Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion. It’s been a while. I think I’ll head up and challenge it!"
The last time Wen Qingye had come, his cultivation was at the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation. Now, he was at the Refining Essence Third Layer Heaven. It was anyone’s guess which floor he could reach this time.
With that, Wen Qingye took up his sword and strode toward the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion. Seeing him on the move, the crowd grew incredibly excited.
"Wen Qingye is challenging the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion! I wonder what layer he’ll reach this time."
"Let’s see if you’re really that strong, Wen Qingye. After all, Brother Yu reached the 9th Layer."
"The Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion... Has the clash between the top new students finally begun?"
...
News that Wen Qingye had defeated a senior student from South Mountain and was now challenging the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion spread like wildfire. New students from all over the Qig Mountain Academy’s Outer Courtyard rushed frantically toward the Martial Pavilion, joined by no small number of curious senior students.
