Chapter 564 - 191: Breaking into the Top Three, The Sect Leader’s Thoughts

Somewhere in Fushan Square.

Yuwen Mingjue stood amidst the bustling crowd, his ears filled with the rising and falling murmur of discussions. Without exception, they all revolved around the impending duel between Lu Shaohua and Yang Jing on the arena stage.

"Yang Jing is seriously incredible! He’s cut through all his opponents, and even Su Muyuan lost to him. He’s definitely the biggest dark horse of this year’s Fushan Grand Competition!"

"That may be true, but Lu Shaohua is, after all, a prodigy ranked third on the Hidden Dragon List. He’s been famous for years, and his strength is unfathomable. It won’t be easy for Yang Jing to win."

"I still think Lu Shaohua will win. His foundation is just on another level. Yang Jing rose too quickly; his fundamentals can’t possibly be as solid as Lu Shaohua’s."

All sorts of opinions intermingled. Some openly praised Yang Jing, while others were certain Lu Shaohua would be the one left standing.

Listening to the effusive praise for Yang Jing, Yuwen Mingjue’s expression grew so dark it seemed like storm clouds were gathering. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, balled into tight fists.

He snorted coldly, his voice low. "It seems most people still believe Lu Shaohua will win."

An outer sect disciple in green robes standing beside him quickly and respectfully agreed, "Even if Yang Jing’s rise has been meteoric lately, defeating one strong opponent after another, his foundation is still shallow. He’s been cultivating for too short a time. Compared to a top-three prodigy from the Hidden Dragon List like Lu Shaohua, the gap is still immense. In this fight, Senior Brother Lu’s victory is guaranteed."

Yuwen Mingjue gave a faint nod, but his expression remained grim.

’No matter who wins or loses this match, the fact that Yang Jing made it into the top four of the Fushan Grand Competition means his name is already known throughout Jintai Prefecture. He’s already made his mark.’

’At this thought, Yuwen Mingjue felt a surge of frustration. Before, he had always relied on his family background, resources, and connections, planning to find an opportunity to teach Yang Jing a harsh lesson.’

’But now, seeing Yang Jing’s momentum, his heart felt heavy. He couldn’t even muster a single thought of provoking him.’

...

「Elsewhere in the crowd.」

Jia Yuliang stood on his tiptoes, his gaze fixed on the imposing figure on the stage. A wave of regret washed over him, so intense it felt like his heart was bleeding.

’For so many years, he had skillfully navigated the social circles of the Lingxi Peak outer sect, befriending many of the new disciples who joined.’

’To put it bluntly, his goal was to bet on a disciple with potential early on, building a good relationship before they rose to prominence. That way, if they succeeded, he might receive a bit of help in return.’

’Over the years, he had indeed befriended many talented disciples, but he had completely misjudged Yang Jing.’

’Who could have imagined that the unremarkable Yang Jing, with his mere eighth-grade aptitude, would ever reach this point?’

’If someone had told him back then that Yang Jing would one day rank among the top four in the Fushan Grand Competition and become famous throughout Jintai Prefecture, Jia Yuliang wouldn’t just have disbelieved them; he would have cursed them out for being delusional and spouting nonsense.’

’But now, reality was laid bare before him, leaving no room for regret.’

’Although he had tried to remedy the situation later, the rift had already formed. It was too late for regrets.’

...

「On the arena stage.」

Yang Jing and Lu Shaohua stood on opposite sides of the stage, facing each other from a distance.

Sunlight bathed the two of them. Lu Shaohua was dressed in red martial arts attire, his build strapping, and his body faintly exuded a domineering aura.

Yang Jing, in contrast, wore black. His posture was ramrod straight, his expression calm, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s.

Separated by a distance of several yards, their invisible auras clashed in the middle, and the very air seemed to grow thick and stagnant.

Steward Xue strode to the center of the stage. He swept his gaze over the two competitors and, seeing they were both ready, announced in a clear voice, "Let the match begin!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately turned and walked briskly off the stage.

Lu Shaohua was the first to break the silence. He looked at Yang Jing, the corners of his mouth turning up in a confident smirk. His overbearing aura instantly flooded the area, seeming to dim the very light around him.

Yang Jing’s expression, however, was grave. His eyes were locked on Lu Shaohua, his fists clenched slightly. The three streams of Inner Qi within his body had already begun to circulate quietly, preparing him for battle.

Seeing Yang Jing’s tense, battle-ready stance, Lu Shaohua spoke nonchalantly, his voice tinged with condescension. "Use your full strength. Otherwise, you’re going to lose badly."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jing’s gaze sharpened. He responded solemnly, his voice not loud, but every word was clear. "The same goes for you. I hope you’ll use your full strength as well."

Lu Shaohua raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by Yang Jing’s confidence. He then chuckled. "Good, kid. You’ve got guts. I just hope your strength can match that courage and satisfy me."

The moment his voice faded, the two of them moved almost simultaneously, launching themselves toward each other with an explosive push from their feet.

With a single thought, Yang Jing mobilized two streams of Inner Qi from within his Dantian.

The domineering Inner Qi of the Mountain-Breaking Seal and the profound Inner Qi of the Indestructible True Skill were like two torrential rivers, rapidly intertwining and merging into a single, incomparably ferocious power.

’The third stream, the nimble Inner Qi from his "River-Crossing Art," remained coiled deep within his Dantian like a sleeping tiger. This was his hidden trump card, one he would not use unless absolutely necessary.’

’Yang Jing knew he first had to gauge Lu Shaohua’s true strength. The power generated by merging these two streams of Inner Qi was already formidable. Even if Lu Shaohua was stronger than him, this would be enough to hold him off for a while.’

’If the situation turned dire, he could then integrate the third stream of Inner Qi. At that point, his power would certainly rise to another level.’

The surging Inner Qi rushed out through his meridians, covering his fists like a tidal wave and causing their surfaces to faintly shimmer with a soft glow.