Chapter 571 - 192: Fame Spreads in Jintai Prefecture, Miss Jinlian’s Thoughts

But now, that man was rising like a blazing sun, dazzling in his brilliance. He was destined to become a major figure with immense influence throughout all of Jintai Prefecture.

Miss Jinlian stood frozen in place, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind.

’I have to tie myself more closely to Yang Jing,’ she thought. ’This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and for the entire Lu Mansion.’

’But with Yang Jing’s current status and power, what do I have that could possibly catch his eye?’

’Unless...’

A thought suddenly surfaced in Miss Jinlian’s mind—a bold, scorching idea that made her legs feel weak and her cheeks flush uncontrollably.

She quickly shook her head, trying to cast the improper thought aside. After taking a deep breath, she turned and hurried through the main gate of the Lu Mansion.

...

「The next day, at 7:00 AM.」

The golden light of dawn pierced through the clouds, bathing Fushan Square in its glow.

The massive square was already packed with a bustling crowd, far more boisterous than during any of the previous matches.

Although there was only one semifinal match today, the enthusiasm of the watching Xuanzhen Sect disciples and the guests from Jintai Prefecture City’s various prominent families was undiminished. In fact, it was even more fervent than before.

Everyone knew that the further the tournament progressed, the more elite the competitors’ strength, status, and reputations became, and the more thrilling and intense the matches grew.

And today’s bout was the crucial one that would decide who would advance to the final championship match.

Below the arena in Fushan Square, near the southeast corner, the disciples of Lingxi Peak huddled around Yang Jing, spontaneously forming a small circle.

Without realizing it, the Lingxi Peak disciples had begun to treat Yang Jing as their unspoken leader. Their gazes were filled with admiration and an eager desire to follow him.

After all, it had been far too long since Lingxi Peak had produced such an outstanding prodigy.

Aside from Yang Jing, the best result any other Lingxi Peak disciple had achieved in the Fushan tournament was Yan Chenglong’s fifteenth-place finish—a result that paled in comparison to Yang Jing’s dazzling achievements.

Now that a sensational figure like Yang Jing had emerged, the other disciples naturally flocked to him. They took pride in him, and their voices swelled with unconcealed pride whenever they mentioned his name.

...

As the various factions arrived and took their places, Sect Leader Cao Zhen of the Xuanzhen Sect and the seven Peak Masters were also seated on the high platform.

Steward Xue strode onto the arena, list in hand. His gaze swept over the roiling crowd below before he channeled his Inner Qi and announced in a booming voice, "The seventh round of the Fushan tournament, the semifinals, will now begin! The combatants are—Yang Jing of Lingxi Peak versus Bai Ziyu of Thunder Peak!"

As his voice faded, a thunderous cheer erupted across the square.

Hearing the announcement, Yang Jing took a deep breath and stepped onto the arena, his expression calm.

From the other side, where the Thunder Peak disciples were gathered, Bai Ziyu leaped into the air and landed steadily on the opposite side of the arena.

Bai Ziyu’s expression was grave. His eyes were locked on Yang Jing, a deep-seated wariness within them.

The image of Yang Jing utterly crushing Lu Shaohua the day before was still vivid in his mind. That tyrannical power made him feel as if he were facing a formidable enemy, and he didn’t dare let his guard down for even a moment.

Yang Jing’s expression was equally solemn, his back as straight as a pine tree.

He never underestimated any opponent, let alone Bai Ziyu, a veteran prodigy ranked second on the Hidden Dragon List, whose strength was even greater than Lu Shaohua’s.

Thousands of pairs of eyes were fixed on the two men in the arena, their gazes so intense they seemed to set the very air ablaze.

One was a long-renowned prodigy of the Xuanzhen Sect, his *Profound Yin Claw* technique vicious and cunning.

The other was a super dark horse who had recently made a ferocious rise, his power immense and his true abilities still hidden.

From the very beginning, this duel had captured everyone’s attention.

Seeing that both men were ready, Steward Xue called out in a deep voice, "Begin!"

Before the word was even fully out, he turned and swiftly descended from the arena, leaving the vast stage entirely to the two opponents.

The moment Steward Xue’s voice faded, Bai Ziyu made the first move.

He knew Yang Jing was incredibly powerful and that he couldn’t afford to give him a chance to get his bearings. He had to seize the initiative.

He instantly pushed his *Wind-Chasing Step* to its absolute limit. His body blurred into a crimson afterimage, darting toward Yang Jing like a phantom.

His ten fingers, clad in ghastly, cold claw sheaths, unleashed the Top-grade True Skill, the *Profound Yin Claw*. The tips of the claws tore through the air with a piercing shriek, aiming for the vital points on Yang Jing’s body. Every strike was vicious, leaving no quarter.

Having cultivated both martial arts to the Peak of the Qi Eating Realm, the power he now unleashed was enough to strike fear into the heart of any opponent.

Seeing this, Yang Jing’s eyes sharpened. In the blink of an eye, the three distinct streams of Inner Qi coiling in his Dantian merged, flowing together like a hundred rivers into the sea.

The ferocity of the *Mountain-Breaking Seal*, the solidity of the *Indestructible True Skill*, and the agility of the *Cross-River Ferry*—all three merged into one. They formed a new current of Inner Qi, one far more dense, pure, and powerful than any of the individual streams had been before. It pulsed slowly within his Dantian, emanating a terrifying pressure.

Then, Yang Jing used the *Mountain-Breaking Seal*’s Heart Method to channel this powerful new Inner Qi, sending it surging through his meridians like a torrential river.

As the Inner Qi circulated, a faint golden halo materialized over his skin, forming a resilient barrier of Inner Qi.

At the same time, a massive amount of Inner Qi flowed continuously into his fists, causing their surfaces to faintly shimmer with golden light. Instead of retreating, he advanced, meeting Bai Ziyu’s claw attack head-on with a ferocious counterattack of his own.

Bai Ziyu had always prided himself on his speed. After cultivating the *Wind-Chasing Step* for many years, his Body Technique was among the best of his generation. But now he realized that while Yang Jing’s speed couldn’t match his, it was by no means slow.