Chapter 555 - 188: Defeating a Formidable Foe, Another Breakthrough

The moment he approached, Fang He, Yan Chenglong, Lin Ziheng, Ma Qiang, and the others immediately crowded around him, their faces filled with irrepressible excitement.

Lin Ziheng pushed his way to the very front and gave Yang Jing a thumbs-up, his voice filled with unconcealed admiration. "Senior Brother Yang, you’re incredible! I’ve never liked that hypocrite Su Muyuan, and thanks to you, he finally got the lesson he deserved!"

Yang Jing chuckled and shook his head. "Su Muyuan is very strong. I was just lucky to beat him."

At his words, the group surrounding him exchanged knowing smiles.

They had all witnessed the battle on the platform with their own eyes. Yang Jing had clearly gained the upper hand in the later stages, his fist techniques so domineering that he was practically crushing Su Muyuan. It wasn’t a fluke at all, but a clear display of superior strength.

Just then, Yang Jing subconsciously turned his head to look in Sun Ningxiang’s direction.

His eyes met hers. She was standing in the crowd, her eyes curved into a crescent as she watched him, her smile as bright as the spring sunshine.

A warmth spread through Yang Jing’s heart, and he smiled and nodded back at her.

Seeing this, Fang He and the others around them broke into knowing, teasing smiles, wiggling their eyebrows and trading glances.

Yang Jing looked away from her and back at his friends. Seeing their expressions, he couldn’t help but shake his head in exasperation. He reached out and lightly patted Fang He’s shoulder, a silent gesture for them to stop fooling around.

Lin Ziheng leaned in and lowered his voice, a note of awe in his tone. "Senior Brother Yang, with your strength, you have a real shot at placing in the top three of the Fushan Grand Competition! The reward for the top three is the Yunqiao Jade Marrow. That treasure is incredibly rare, even among the three great families of the Prefecture City."

He paused for a moment before adding with a sigh of admiration, "Only a sect as wealthy and generous as our Xuanzhen Sect would be willing to offer Yunqiao Jade Marrow as a reward for us Qi Eating Realm disciples."

Hearing Lin Ziheng’s words, the other disciples’ faces filled with deep envy.

Even if they had never seen or used the Yunqiao Jade Marrow themselves, they had all heard of how precious it was.

The item was immensely beneficial even for the cultivation of Pill Realm experts, let alone for disciples like them who were still struggling in the Qi Eating Realm. It was a priceless treasure one could only dream of finding by chance.

...

Meanwhile, in the area where the disciples of Celestial Derivation Peak were gathered.

Su Muyuan was being supported by several Su Clan Members and a few disciples from Celestial Derivation Peak who were close to him. His face was pale, a trickle of blood still at the corner of his mouth, and his breathing was erratic.

Chu Yunhai slowly walked over. Seeing Su Muyuan’s dejected state, he frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "I didn’t expect you to lose. What do you think of him, of Yang Jing?"

Su Muyuan raised a hand, took a pearly-white Healing Elixir from his robes, and put it in his mouth.

As the Elixir went down, it instantly transformed into a gentle, warm current that flowed down his throat and into his Dantian, slowly beginning to repair his damaged meridians. His ragged breathing gradually began to steady.

Hearing Chu Yunhai’s question, he took a shallow breath. The tightness in his chest eased somewhat. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly. "He’s very strong."

Su Muyuan’s voice was tinged with hoarseness. He paused again after speaking.

The Su Clan Members and Celestial Derivation Peak disciples around him all turned to look at him, their eyes filled with curiosity. They waited for the man who had just faced Yang Jing directly to give his firsthand assessment.

Su Muyuan met their gazes, a complicated look in his eyes, and continued, "He has almost no weaknesses. His Inner Qi is immense, his fist techniques are domineering, his defense is nothing short of heaven-defying, and he’s not the least bit slow. Unless you can completely overwhelm him with a far superior level of power, he will be an extremely difficult opponent to face."

Chu Yunhai nodded slightly as he listened, the grim look on his face deepening.

He had watched every detail of the match between Su Muyuan and Yang Jing with intense focus and had already gauged the depths of Yang Jing’s abilities.

’This Yang Jing... I don’t know what kind of body-strengthening art he cultivates, but it must be of an exceptionally high grade. Su Muyuan’s Flowing Cloud Sword Technique was so fierce, yet it couldn’t even scratch him.’

’On top of that, his speed isn’t slow and his Body Technique is agile. Combined with his primary technique, the Mountain-Breaking Seal, his offensive power is comparable to a top-grade True Skill. He’s a completely well-rounded fighter with no obvious weaknesses. A truly tough opponent.’

’But that’s for others. If Yang Jing were to face me, I’m confident I could crush him in a direct confrontation.’

Just then, the Su Family Grand Elder rose from his seat on the secondary platform and walked toward them.

His stride was steady, his brocade robes fluttering slightly in the breeze, his expression unreadable.

Soon, the Su Family Grand Elder was before them.

Seeing him approach, the few Su Clan Members who had come to watch the competition hurriedly bowed. "Grand Elder," they said respectfully.

The other disciples of the Xuanzhen Sect simply gave a slight bow or a nod of acknowledgment. Their faces showed a measure of respect, but they were not as cautious or deferential as the Su Clan Members.

After all, as disciples of the sect, even when facing a True Qi Realm expert like the Su Family Grand Elder, they still possessed the inherent pride of the Xuanzhen Sect.

Su Muyuan looked up at the Su Family Grand Elder, his face instantly filled with deep shame. His voice was low. "Grand Elder, I have disappointed you."

The Su Family Grand Elder had personally come to watch the Fushan Grand Competition today, expecting to see him sweep through the competition and bring glory to the Su Family.

But he, the foremost expert of the Su Family’s next generation, had suffered a crushing defeat on the platform at the hands of Yang Jing. He felt as though he had disgraced the entire Su Family.