Rise in the Martial Chaos: Starting From a Martial Arts School

Chapter 357: Chapter 141: One Punch

Although these fierce beasts were incredibly wild and strong, they only possessed brute force. For disciples at the Peak of Transformation, killing one wasn’t considered very difficult. As long as they kept their composure, most could pass the stage smoothly.

However, starting from the second battle, the opponents would change to exotic beasts.

Exotic beasts were fundamentally different from ordinary fierce beasts. They were generally more powerful, possessing tougher bodies and sharper claws and fangs. Some even had unique innate abilities, making their combat strength far superior to that of a fierce beast of the same size. They were significantly more difficult to handle than the opponent in the first trial.

In fact, many species of exotic beasts, even without actively practicing a Cultivation Technique, would naturally develop bodies with strength comparable to, or even greater than, a Human Race Martial Artist at the Peak of Transformation by the time they reached adulthood.

This was because exotic beasts could passively absorb the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi from birth. Day after day, this energy would nourish and temper their bodies, claws, and fangs, granting them physical strength and explosive power far beyond that of ordinary humans.

It was only because these common, low-level exotic beasts didn’t know how to actively wield the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and fought purely on instinct. Otherwise, a Huajin Martial Artist would be no match for them and would struggle to even survive the second trial.

The fourth trial marked a qualitative leap in difficulty.

A disciple would have to face a coordinated assault from two exotic beasts simultaneously. With the beasts attacking in tandem, their ferocity would be doubled. The slightest misstep could lead to defeat or even injury. Of course, with a Main Peak Elder and numerous Stewards watching, severe injuries or deaths were generally prevented.

The immense difficulty of the Dragon Gate Martial Trial meant that every battle carried a high degree of risk.

The latter two battles against exotic beasts, in particular, were an all-encompassing test of a disciple’s strength, mindset, and adaptability.

That was why the pass rate for the Dragon Gate Martial Trial was so low. Out of a dozen or so participants, typically only two or three would ultimately succeed, and it wasn’t uncommon for everyone to be eliminated.

And this was with Xuanzhen Sect disciples being generally stronger than Independent Martial Artists at the Peak of Transformation from the outside world, boasting more solid foundations and a greater variety of techniques. If those independent Huajin practitioners were to take the Dragon Gate trial, it would be tantamount to suicide.

「A moment later.」

Steward Zheng, accompanied by Steward Li and Steward Wang, returned from the crowd of Stewards and walked straight up to Yang Jing, Zhou Bohao, and Shen Yue.

Steward Zheng’s expression remained stern. In a solemn voice, he said, "The order has been set. Our Lingxi Peak will go third. The disciples from Qingxu Peak and Fen Yang Peak are ahead of us. Wait here and get ready."

Hearing this, the three of them nodded solemnly in acknowledgment.

Zhou Bohao subconsciously clenched his fists, the nervousness in his eyes unconcealed. His breathing grew a little ragged.

Shen Yue gently bit her lower lip, her expression grave. She kept smoothing out the wrinkles on her robes, a small gesture to mask her unease.

Though confident in his own abilities, Yang Jing didn’t dare be the least bit complacent. His expression was serious as he quietly reined in his aura, poised for battle. He banished all distracting thoughts, leaving only pure fighting intent and vigilance.

After all, this was the critical trial for promotion into the Inner Sect; there was no room for carelessness.

Before long, the Main Peak Elder at the side of the high platform slowly raised his hand, signaling for the trial to begin.

As the Elder’s hand fell, the Dragon Gate Martial Trial officially commenced.

A disciple from Qingxu Peak, clad in a green robe, took a deep breath. His gaze focused as he strode onto the high platform. His posture was ramrod straight, but it couldn’t hide the tension on his face.

Just then, a Main Peak Steward in a gray Steward Robe strode over to a row of large, black-draped objects beside the platform. He reached out and violently ripped the cloth off one of them, revealing a large iron cage.

The cage was forged from refined iron bars as thick as a man’s arm, and it gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster.

Imprisoned in the cage was a massive, powerfully built wild boar. Its body was covered in black bristles as coarse and hard as needles over thick, rough skin. Two sharp, yellowed tusks jutted from the corners of its mouth, stained with dried blood and radiating an air of ferocity.

The boar was currently pacing restlessly inside the cage, periodically ramming its head against the bars and producing dull, thudding sounds.

The Main Peak Steward gripped the edge of the iron cage with one hand and tapped his foot lightly on the ground. A faint ripple of Inner Strength suddenly emanated from his body.

He then lifted the cage and the several-hundred-kilogram boar within, leaping like a great bird spreading its wings. He landed steadily on the high platform, his movements nimble and clean, showing not the slightest sign of exertion.

The sight sent a jolt through Yang Jing.

’He mentally calculated the weight. ’The boar has to be at least three or four hundred kilograms. Add the heavy iron cage, and the total weight is probably close to five hundred kilograms. Yet the Main Peak Steward lifted it as if it were nothing. That kind of strength is terrifying.’’

’Even though I’ve practiced the *Surging Tide Legs* to the point of transformation, and my physical body and Inner Strength are far beyond my peers, I could never do something like that.’ A powerful yearning for the profound Qi Eating Realm grew in his heart.

After steadying himself on the platform, the Main Peak Steward reached out and opened the cage door.

The wild boar was already restless, but now that the cage door was open, it cowered inside, trembling. Intimidated by the Main Peak Steward’s aura, it could only stare at him with fearful eyes, not daring to move.

Seeing this, the Main Peak Steward casually waved a hand at the boar. A wave of invisible Inner Strength, thick with oppressive might, descended upon it. Startled, the boar let out a roar, charged out of the iron cage, and stumbled to the center of the platform.

The Main Peak Steward then picked up the empty cage, leaped back down from the platform, and returned the cage to its original spot. He then took up a position at the edge of the stage, his sharp gaze fixed on the proceedings, ready to respond to any unexpected developments.

Yang Jing’s gaze happened to drift to the side of the platform, where he noticed an old man in a long, purple robe standing quietly.