The arena had a rather unique setup. The giant space was separated into thirty individual duel stages, each roughly a hundred feet wide.
The rationale behind this was that this setup was better to train the students’ close combat skills.
In real battles, there would be times when retreat was not an option or there would be no room to avoid an attack. Everything would be decided within a single square foot!
In such clashes, if the combat power of both parties were similar, the crux would lie in an individual’s technique and ferocity.
Hence, each duel stage was only a hundred feet wide. Once the fighter left the stage, it would be judged as defeat.
As per usual, the 39th Campground students arrived at the duel stages with the opponents they had drawn and began the sparring training.
However, most students were not fully focused on their sparring. Instead, their attention constantly drifted towards the duel stage numbered thirteen near the middle of the arena.
Numerous peoples’ gazes were filled with amusement as if they were waiting for the entertainment to start. Only Ning Meng was worriedly frowning.
Lin Xun stood alone on the stage. He had grown substantially taller over the past three weeks and the contours of his face had become more defined. His black abyss-like eyes seemed to have gained a certain elegance, giving them a unique charm.
Lin Xun was the type who looked better the more you looked at him. After the past few weeks of training and his gradual aging over the years, he now looked like a polished and capable handsome young teenager.The sight made the eyes of several female students brighten, seemingly discovering for the first time that this rumored coward was actually quite handsome.
Lin Xun would find it strange at times. Other peoples’ auras grew fiercer and stronger the more they trained. He seemed to be the only one who became increasingly graceful and unearthly. On the surface, he looked like a harmless, elegant, and kind person.
“You little punk, you’ve made me wait for a long time!” Opposite Lin Xun, Xin Wenbin laughed sinisterly, his eyes filled with brutality. He had borne a grudge against Lin Xun ever since the little incident on the first day.
How could Xin Wenbin hold back his hatred upon seeing Lin Xun voluntarily jump out today?
When Xin Wenbin drew Lin Xun as his opponent, it only further cemented the feeling that even the heavens were on his side.
It would be sacrilegious to not give Lin Xun a pummeling today!
Lin Xun grinned and spat out a single word, “Maggot.”
“You…” Xin Wenbin was taken aback. He suddenly recalled their first day where he had been called a shit-eating maggot by Lin Xun. All of Xin Wenbin’s anger exploded as his face twisted hideously.
“Die!” His figure charged forward like a raging wildfire, his hands forming knife-palms as they ruthlessly swung at Lin Xun’s throat.
Boom~
The air seemed to explode as flames rushed towards Xin Wenbin’s hands, creating terrifying and searing aeth power ripples.
Fiery Scatter Cloud Blade!
It was a battle art that was passed down in Xin Wenbin’s clan. Although there was the word ‘blade’ in it, it was actually an extremely formidable palm technique. A single palm strike from a highly proficient expert resembled a wave of fire scattering the clouds, displaying terrifying power.
Qi Can inwardly nodded at this sight. Although Xin Wenbin might seem a little violent at times, his battle power and talent were truly outstanding.
Moreover, after recently advancing to the True Martial ninth layer stage, handling a True Martial sixth layer cultivator like Lin Xun should be a piece of cake.
The others were mostly of the same opinion as Qi Can. They could not wait to see how badly Lin Xun would be beaten.
Only Ning Meng’s frown continued to deepen as his heart tightened. Xin Wenbin’s current battle power was considered around average in the 39th Campground, neither high nor low.
On the other hand, Lin Xun had abandoned the training three weeks ago and had always been at the bottom of the rankings prior to that. How can he possibly be Xin Wenbin’s match?
It was worth mentioning that although many people were observing Lin Xun’s and Xin Wenbin’s fight, the sparring was still ongoing.
Due to this lapse in concentration, Ning Meng narrowly avoided a blow to the head. His expression immediately changed as he roared and charged forward like an enraged dragon. He swung his palm at the opponent’s face, causing the other party to yelp in pain as he was thrown off the stage.
Ning Meng’s opponent was called Ye Xiaowu and was also part of Xin Wenbin’s circle.
Perhaps due to being worried about the possibility of Lin Xun being brutally thrashed by Xin Wenbin, Ning Meng took everything out on Ye Xiaowu and seriously injured him in a single attack.
While Ning Meng was having his little release session, gasps of surprise suddenly sounded in the arena.
Ning Meng’s heart sank. Did Lin Xun lose?
He turned to look but found Lin Xun still standing at the same spot. However, Xin Wenbin was nowhere to be found.
Ning Meng was stunned when he finally located Xin Wenbin’s figure. He had somehow fallen to the floor and half of his face was swollen and red resembling a pig’s. It was an exceptionally miserable sight.
This…what just happened?
Ning Meng was dumbstruck. It had only taken him a single move to send Ye Xiaowu flying and the entire process should have taken at most a few seconds.
However, Lin Xun’s battle had also been decided in these same few seconds and the loser was not him but Xin Wenbin!
Ning Meng felt dazed. What the hell is going on?
Ning Meng was not alone. The other students in the arena looked as if they had seen a ghost. Several people revealed an opening because of this and their opponents used the opportunity to deliver a swift finishing blow.
“How did this happen?” In the distance, Qi Can’s gaze rapidly flickered in thought.
The others from the same circle such as Wen Mingxiu and Muo Leng were likewise bewildered.
Xin Wenbin’s attack had been fierce and powerful. Everyone had believed that Lin Xun would be unable to withstand it and be sent flying.
Who could have imagined that instead of trying to dodge, Lin Xun stepped forward and executed the Marching Army Fist’s most ordinary White Dragon Armor Stripper move? It easily broke through Xin Wenbin’s defenses, allowing a blow to land on his face and send him flying off the stage with a painful yelp.
Everything had happened in a single breath; it was so inconceivably fast that everyone felt something must have played a trick on their eyes.
However, numerous peoples’ expressions changed after ascertaining that it was all real. Their gazes subtly changed when they looked towards Lin Xun again.
His cultivation seemed to have advanced but there was no way it exceeded the True Martial eighth layer. But why is his battle power so overwhelming?
No one knew the answer.
Xiaoke saw everything from the entrance of the arena. Her expression remained indifferent because she did not find any of this surprising. If Lin Xun could not even achieve this, her three weeks of personal training would have been completely wasted!
“No!” Xin Wenbu released a furious howl as he jumped back onto the stage. The left side of his face was horrifyingly swollen and red but it was not a serious injury.
He was unable to accept the reality that he had been sent flying by a single blow from Lin Xun. Moreover, it had been a strike to the face with everyone watching!
Xin Wenbin’s heart overflowed with humiliation and rage, causing his eyes to turn red.
He refused to believe that Lin Xun was that strong. He must have been too careless earlier, allowing Lin Xun to take advantage of an opening.
Right, that’s definitely the case!
Xin Wenbin consoled himself as he roared and charged at Lin Xun again.
A point would be deducted with every loss in the arena and the winner would gain a point in turn. Unless they were too injured to continue, no one was permitted to withdraw from the training. If someone admitted defeat, they would be kicked out of the camp.
Rumble!
Xin Wenbin’s body burned with resplendent red light as dreadful heat surged from his fingers. He was the very picture of a fiery battle god who gave off a terrifying aura.
In the distance, Ning Ming concentrated on the fight, refusing to let any detail slip by.
Numerous people had the same idea. Until now, they could not understand how Lin Xun had defeated Xin Wenbin in a single strike.
Lin Xun was someone who had abandoned the training three weeks ago and was believed by many to be a cowardly clown. How could he possibly possess such battle power?
Everyone needed to see what happened next.
On the duel stage, Lin Xun did not avoid nor retreat from his furious opponent. He simply stepped forward again and swung his fist.
Marching Army Fist―Fierce Tiger Emerges from the Mountain!
Everyone was very familiar with this simple punch which sent Xin Wenbin flying again.
He was hit on the right cheek this time. Teeth, blood, and spittle sprayed in the air as he fell to the ground again with a scream.
The entire arena was silent.
Everyone was shocked by this scene. The most fundamental Marching Army Fist had once again defeated Xin Wenbin’s prided Fiery Scatter Cloud Blade!
Isn’t this a bit too much?
It finally dawned upon everyone that they had been very wrong about Lin Xun.
How was he someone who had abandoned the training? How was he a cowardly clown? His battle power had soared in the three weeks he had been absent.
This made many peoples’ expressions turn rather ugly, especially Qi Can, Wen Mingxiu, Muo Leng, and the others in their circle.
They had originally been waiting for Lin Xun to be made a fool of and never imagined that reality would give them a tight slap in the face instead. It made their cheeks burn, feeling as if they were the clowns now, not Lin Xun.
The Marching Army Fist is not frightening. What’s terrifying is a Marching Army Fist at a perfect mastery level. The progress he made over the past three weeks is no less than anyone else here…
Shi Yu thought to himself. Lin Xun’s performance proved that Shi Yu had been correct about Lin Xun all along!
It was laughable that Xin Wenbin had believed he could show off after advancing to the True Martial ninth layer stage. He deserved every bit of that beating.
“Damn, he was hiding his strength all along!” Ning Meng finally understood and could not help but feel excited. Lin Xun was too devious. He had refused to say anything because he was waiting to give his opponent a vicious blow.
That’s so evil of him!
Ning Meng could not help but chuckle evilly. Although this was quite devious, it was very much to his liking!