Chapter 7: Talents Ought to Belong to the Main Lineage

The remarkable physique that Zhang Shen developed via numerous enhancements significantly bolstered his cultivation of internal energy and martial art techniques. The robust body accelerated the refinement process of internal energy, rendering the practice of martial arts less exhausting. As a result, he was strides ahead of his peers.

Even those martial artists who exclusively devoted themselves to physical cultivation couldn’t match Zhang Shen’s advantages. After all, none of them were endowed with The Strongest Physical Body System like him.

For this reason, Zhang Shen had to conceal a fraction of his power.

Reaching the Acquired Stage 5th Layer within a span of five years had already stretched the bounds of acceptance for the people in and around Hongyuan City. Should they discover that Zhang Shen had also honed his diverse martial skills to a deep extent, even a fool could perceive that something was off.

Extraordinary talent can sometimes elicit not just astonishment but also a sense of shock and envy.

Zhang Shen stepped off the ring, this time he was the first to defeat all his opponents. The remaining two stages were still engaged in intense battles.

As expected, the burly man armed with the hatchet and the cold-looking man were gaining the upper hand.

From onlookers’ chatter, Zhang Shen managed to gather more information about the two.

The burly man was named Zhang Buqun, whose father was a mere common member of the family. However, he himself bore a remarkable aptitude for cultivation. After graduating from the academy, he began working for the family.

However, his origins were far too humble. While a few clan elders respected him and offered him some resources for cultivation, Zhang Buqun’s environment for cultivation remained poor.

To cultivate, he would trade the rewards earned from each family task for resources, neglecting to improve his living conditions. Thus, he achieved the Acquired 5th Layer before he reached thirty and was regarded as a pivotal strength of the family.

Yet, Zhang Buqun evidently harbored grander aspirations for his own cultivation, particularly when he was cutting wood to supplement his living, and incidentally stumbled upon a few blade techniques. This incident ignited his thirst for cultivation even further.

The cold-faced man was known as Zhang Qing, the family’s enforcer and executioner.

He was specifically appointed to cleanse the internal mess and manage the rowdy martial artists within Hongyuan City. He was a cold and ruthless figure, adept in the Seven Kills Sword Technique.

When Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing eventually claimed their positions on the stage, the result of their previous matches was clear – all their competitors had been harshly defeated by them.

Their paths to this point didn’t resemble Zhang Shen’s. In their rounds, there were equally skilled fighters at the same 5th Layer, leaving them no choice but to unleash their full strength, unlike Zhang Shen who had room to hold back due to his superior abilities.

To determine the ultimate victor, the three of them would compete, while the losers would have a rematch for second place.

When the three stood on the stage, it was obvious that Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing had not yet recovered from their previous battles. However, there was no unfairness to it as everyone started at the same time and fought all the way up.

Though Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing were unfamiliar with each other, the moment they stood on the stage, they mutually understood their disadvantage and decided to target Zhang Shen.

If they didn’t deal with Zhang Shen first, Zhang Buqun wouldn’t have a chance to get first place, and Zhang Qing wouldn’t have a chance to complete the task assigned by Zhang Yanzhu.

“Very well.” Zhang Shen clutched his iron rod. Facing two opponents would make this a tad more engaging.

The referee declared the commencement, and Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing instantly launched a joint attack on Zhang Shen.

The sharp sword targeted Zhang Shen’s torso like a flurry of raindrops, while the trail of a hatchet blade targeted his lower half. They started with their most powerful moves.

Zhang Shen’s gaze sharpened. These two were completely different from the previous ones. He could not underestimate them.

‘Tenfold Power Strike, third level!’

The aura hummed as it was channeled into the iron rod, resonating with a low, deep hum. With a mighty swing, Zhang Shen’s iron rod hit the brick floor. This caused the bricks to break into pieces, sending shards of stone and dirt flying out.

The powerful swing gave these stone fragments enough force to act like small bullets. At the same time, the dust created by the impact clouded their sight.

Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing’s offense was instantaneously hampered.

“Go!” With a resonating cry, the power of the Tenfold Power Strike’s third level surged into the iron rod, propelling it toward Zhang Qing like a missile. Then Zhang Shen himself launched forward, instantly closing the distance with Zhang Buqun.

Four strikes in quick succession.

The relentless assault of formidable punches battered Zhang Buqun. Regardless of how advanced his self-taught blade technique was, it was disorganized and struggled to deal with Zhang Shen’s offense. Furthermore, Zhang Shen didn’t give him a chance to swing his hatchet.

The multiple energy layers contained within the punches and kicks detonated on Zhang Buqun’s limbs, directly breaching his internal energy defense and fracturing his limbs.

One formidable Acquired 5th Layer combatant was defeated on the spot.

On the other side, Zhang Qing swung his sword to ward off the incoming iron rod. His martial technique was focused on agility and although he managed to deflect the strike, he was pushed back. Both his hands and sword vibrated incessantly.

Zhang Shen strode over, retrieved the iron rod, and furrowed his brows slightly.

The rod was merely forged from a chunk of fine iron, it was far from being a magical weapon. Having persistently absorbed his energy and clashed hard with Zhang Qing’s sword, it now bore a crack. That was the mark left by the sword.

Sensing the state of the iron rod, Zhang Shen shifted his steps, transitioning from a fierce beast into an agile cheetah.

Zhang Qing narrowed his eyes, undeterred by the prospect of a speed contest. He took a step forward, and two figures constantly flickered on the stage.

The sound of metal clashing reverberated incessantly.

The Seven Kills Sword Technique was swift and penetrating, attacking vital points. Zhang Shen’s Cloud-Drifting Step was elusive and unpredictable, his form flitting about, evading direct confrontation.

In his hand, the iron rod exhibited the Cold Moon Blade Technique. With every slash, he changed his position and slashed again.

Zhang Qing was frustrated. His Seven Kills Sword Technique was exceptionally swift. He held an unwavering belief that after Zhang Shen launched a single strike, he could immediately respond with eight or nine sword strikes. However, Zhang Shen’s tactic of shifting his position after every strike made things decidedly challenging.

While his sword strikes were swifter, their speed was evenly matched.

As such, when Zhang Shen executed a single iron rod slash, he could only retort with one sword strike. If he insisted on executing multiple strikes, he wouldn’t have time to defend against Zhang Shen’s next attack, who would have already changed positions

“What an incredibly swift and incisive blade technique!” Zhang Qing was flustered. His sword technique was sharp, but it lacked power. With each clash, the reverberating force from the impact caused numbness in his palms. And he couldn’t risk not defending, as that would result in him being incapacitated by a single strike.

After Zhang Shen had launched a dozen or so blade strikes, noting that Zhang Qing was nearing his limit, he readied himself to conclude the battle.

‘Cold Moon Arc Slash!’

All Zhang Qing saw was a streak of white light. He hurriedly raised his sword in defense, but the blow was too fast and too heavy. His sword was forcibly knocked away. His right arm was fractured, his internal injuries were laid bare, and he was directly flung off the stage.

“I’ve won,” Zhang Shen declared, clutching his iron rod.

“Excellent!” Both Zhang Tianlong and Lin Dongcheng burst into applause. The rest of the spectators gazed upon the youthful figure in the arena with a blend of emotions, but they still clapped to congratulate him.

Zhang Shen undeniably claimed first place and won a top-grade Acquired artifact, the Cold Moon Blade, forged from century-old cold iron.

Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing, due to their severe injuries and loss of combat prowess, split the rewards for the second and third places. Despite their defeat, both had caught the attention of several high-ranking clan members.

Zhang Tianlong secretly devised plans to pry Zhang Buqun and Zhang Qing from the grasp of certain clan elders and Zhang Yanzhu.

‘Such talents ought to belong to my patriarchal lineage!’

The grand competition concluded, and the members of the Lin and Ye families were bid farewell. The city’s residents also dispersed. It could be imagined that the day’s competition would be the talk of the city for the next couple of days.

However, it would soon be superseded by more sensational news. In the Endless Wilderness, where death was a daily threat, there was no shortage of explosive news.