Chapter 22: A Fierce Battle with a Level Six Martial Apprentice (Sixth Update)

Everyone in the martial arena knew that today, Luoyang Academy had already lost. Whether Xin Lang could fight to the end or not, Xuyang Academy had claimed victory in this exchange match. Yet, Luo Yuan could not swallow his pride.

Shi Lang cautiously asked Luo Yuan, "Principal, what should we do? Should we send them up, or not?"

Luo Yuan shot a venomous glare at Xin Lang on the stage, gritting his teeth as he spat out, "Send them up! Why not? As he wished, let Luo Shan and the other four go together! Hold nothing back. Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility!"

Shi Lang understood Luo Yuan's mindset at this moment. He spoke a few words to the last five elite members of Luoyang Academy, then had them step onto the dueling platform.

Luo Yuan sneered, "Boy, you dared to be arrogant! Even if you’re a Level Five Martial Disciple, that’s nothing special! Luoyang Academy not only has Level Five Martial Disciples, my son Luo Shan is a Level Six Martial Disciple!"

"Principal Luo, isn’t this a bit improper?" Seeing Luo Yuan truly send five elite students at once, Meng Linglong was the first to object.

No matter how strong Xin Lang was, Meng Linglong could not believe he could simultaneously defeat five opponents, especially with one being a Level Six Martial Disciple.

"Hmph! This was his own request—what’s improper about it?" Luo Yuan retorted coldly. Things had escalated to the point where all pretense was gone; as long as he could exact revenge on Xin Lang, even if Xin Lang had asked to duel him personally, Luo Yuan would have stepped onto the stage without hesitation.

"Despicable!" Meng Chuchu muttered under her breath upon hearing Luo Yuan’s words.

Luo Yuan had lost all sense of shame; he ignored Meng Chuchu’s insult entirely.

The last five elites of Luoyang Academy had barely stepped onto the stage before the crowd erupted in boos and jeers, sometimes interspersed with curses.

The students of Luoyang Academy, witnessing their school’s crushing defeat and now resorting to such blatant bullying, bowed their heads in shame.

Luo Shan, Luo Yuan’s son, viewed Luoyang Academy as his family’s domain, and he was determined to give his all.

Although Luo Shan was already a Level Six Martial Disciple, he did not underestimate his opponent. He directed the other four to stand in the formation of a pentagram, as Shi Lang had instructed, encircling Xin Lang in the center.

There was no need for pleasantries now. Facing Xin Lang, Luo Shan barked, "Tiger Subduing Arhat Formation!"

A formation was the fusion of several martial techniques, creating a combined attack method whose power was several times greater than a single martial technique.

Luoyang Academy’s Tiger Subduing Arhat Formation was based on the Seventy-Two Tiger Subduing Fists, evolved by five people into a formation. Its power was more than five times that of the technique alone, equivalent to a mid-tier mortal-grade martial skill.

"Attack!" Luo Shan shouted, leading the other four to strike at Xin Lang in the center.

The five of them charged forth with overwhelming momentum; even a real tiger faced with them would become a docile kitten, lying on the ground, awaiting slaughter.

But Xin Lang was no tiger—he was an arhat, a sage, a bodhi who could subdue dragons.

Facing Luo Shan and his group’s assault, Xin Lang laughed boldly, "Tiger Subduing Arhat Formation? It’s nothing but a trick to scare kittens! Let me show you what real martial arts look like! Xuyang’s supreme art, low-tier mortal-grade skill—Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms!"

Xin Lang called out the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms, but in reality, he used the mid-tier mortal-grade skill—Dragon Subduing One Thousand and Eight Palms.

The shadows of his palms merged into a single blur, striking after but arriving before, engulfing Luo Shan and the others’ Tiger Subduing Fist attacks within his own.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

One, two, three, four—

One after another, bodies flew from Xin Lang’s palm shadows, and even Luo Shan, the Level Six Martial Disciple, was sent flying!

"Heavens! How can this be? How could the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms be so formidable?" Shi Lang exclaimed in shock.

"Shan’er!" Luo Yuan had no time to investigate the cause; he leapt up and caught Luo Shan, who’d been struck off the dueling platform by Xin Lang.

"What… what kind of palm technique is this? It looks so much like the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms, but the power is many times greater!" Meng Linglong cried in astonishment. She herself knew the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms, but she was certain she could never unleash the dominance and force Xin Lang had just demonstrated.

Beside her, Luo Hengxing furrowed his brow and muttered in confusion, "Mid-tier mortal-grade martial skill?"

Luo Hengxing suspected, but could not be certain. Xin Lang had clearly used the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms; as a martial arts instructor and now the director of academic affairs, Luo Hengxing knew the technique well. Yet the version Xin Lang used possessed the power of a mid-tier mortal-grade skill! No matter how he pondered it, he could not decipher the reason.

"The Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms can be this amazing?" The students of Xuyang Academy were all astonished. Many knew the technique, but none had imagined it could unleash such might.

Those who had already trained in the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms were now reflecting, wondering how they could wield it to reach the power Xin Lang had just displayed.

As for those who had not yet learned it, they resolved that once they drove the Luoyang Academy students away, they would head straight to the library to master this awe-inspiring skill.

Xin Lang had defeated all five of Luo Shan’s group, earning five experience points from the upgrade system, as he’d only used one move from the Dragon Subduing One Hundred and Eight Palms—it counted as defeating his opponents in a single strike.

"Is there anyone else?" Xin Lang cast a scrutinizing gaze toward the Luoyang Academy side below the stage.

Seeing Xin Lang’s extraordinary prowess—even Luo Shan, a Level Six Martial Disciple, had been sent flying despite the five-on-one assault—who else would dare step onto the stage? The students of Luoyang Academy unconsciously shuffled backward.

The twelve elites of Luoyang Academy had not even reached the dueling platform of the Nine Academy Tournament; they had already been eliminated under Xin Lang’s fists. Now Luo Shan had no one left to call upon. If anyone else were to take the stage, only martial arts instructor Shi Lang or Luo Shan himself remained.

Luo Yuan, seething, said to Meng Linglong, "We’ve lost today’s exchange match! But Luoyang Academy will not admit defeat so easily! When the Nine Yang Tournament arrives, we’ll settle the score with Xuyang Academy! Let’s go!"

Luoyang Academy had suffered a humiliating defeat. Luo Yuan wished he could sink into the earth; he did not wish to linger a moment longer, hastily leading his academy’s students away in disgrace.

"Clang! Seven-Star Side Quest completed! Experience points gained: 35!"

PS: The sixth update has arrived; the seventh will be posted in three hours! Brothers, remember to cast your votes!