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Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Mission Candidate!
Silence!
The vast Martial Arts Training Ground was utterly silent at this moment.
Everyone stared blankly at Luo Cheng, their eyes brimming with disbelief, as if they were looking at a monster.
"Three martial artists at the Sixth Layer of the Transcendence Realm were defeated by him with just a few punches and kicks!"
"Unbelievable! Wu Ming, recognized as a genius by the Ten Great Elders of the Fierce Cloud Sect’s Outer Sect, couldn’t muster even a shred of resistance against Luo Cheng!"
"Indeed. Fighting across cultivation levels is already terrifying, but even more frightening is that the defeated are all prodigies!"
"However, he crippled Wu Ming. This is a monumental disaster! The Fierce Cloud Sect will certainly not let him off."
No one had expected Luo Cheng to single-handedly sweep aside three disciples from the Fierce Cloud Sect and even cripple Wu Ming right on the spot!
It was a spectacle that shook everyone present to their core.
"Quick, take Young Master Wu down for treatment!"
The Ling Family Head, Ling Qifeng, ordered his men to carry Wu Ming and the others down and treat them with the finest elixir pills.
The three members of the Fierce Cloud Sect who had arrived—one was dead, while the others were injured.
Although this had nothing to do with the Ling Family, they couldn’t sit idly by. The small Ling Family couldn’t afford to offend a colossal power like the Fierce Cloud Sect.
Luo Cheng paid no attention to them.
Even if they were saved, they’d remain crippled anyway.
The selection process continued.
Currently, there were seven remaining contestants on the stage, but only three task slots were available, meaning four still needed to be eliminated.
Luo Cheng stood poised at one corner of the arena. None of the others dared come within a half-step, instead exchanging cautious glances.
Finally, a blade-wielding youth from the Golden Ring Sect deliberated for a moment and stepped forward. Bowing to a female disciple from the Luoxia Sect, he said:
"I am Xu Li from the Golden Ring Sect. Shall we spar?"
The female disciple, named Guo Qing, wore a sleek green outfit. Her long black hair was tied behind her, and despite her slim figure, her demeanor was sharp and spirited. She nodded lightly.
"Please."
The two of them stepped straight into the center of the arena.
With a clang, Xu Li unsheathed his blade.
The blade was nearly half a person in height, its body wide and heavy-looking.
Holding the long blade in his hand, Xu Li released his Martial Soul. A green-eyed leopard glowing with three stars materialized alongside him.
Raising his aura to its peak, Xu Li then said to Guo Qing, "If you can take three of my strikes, I’ll count it as my loss."
"Three strikes? I’ll take them!"
Guo Qing remained expressionless, bent her knees into a crouching stance, and prepared herself.
"First strike!"
Xu Li bellowed, his figure suddenly bursting forth. In mid-air, he gripped his blade with both hands and, with a stance as though splitting a mountain, swung it down fiercely at Guo Qing.
Faced with this immensely powerful strike, Guo Qing made no move to dodge. She inhaled deeply, her slim figure upright, and hurled her fist mightily at the descending blade.
With a metallic clang, the air churned violently. Both combatants were pushed back.
However, Xu Li staggered back five or six steps, whereas Guo Qing only retreated two steps before stabilizing herself.
"Impressive..."
Luo Cheng looked slightly surprised.
Guo Qing may appear delicate, but her strength was extraordinary. That punch just now carried over eighty thousand pounds of force, and she hadn’t even deployed any martial techniques.
It seems appearances can indeed be deceiving.
Xu Li scowled deeply. He had chosen to challenge Guo Qing precisely because she appeared frail, but she turned out to be a tough opponent.
"Take my second strike—Golden Fire Slash!"
With a loud shout, Xu Li executed another ferocious slash.
This strike carried even greater momentum, the blade friction against the air igniting fiery traces. The attack resembled an unstoppable, overwhelming fire serpent poised to engulf Guo Qing entirely.
Guo Qing narrowed her eyes slightly, retracting her tightly clenched fist to her waist, holding her power back.
"Soaring Radiance!"
It wasn’t until the blade was less than a foot away from her body that Guo Qing finally struck. Her pale fist accelerated with astonishing speed, vanishing into the air.
In the next moment.
The blade and fist collided fiercely.
With a thunderous sound, an explosive wave reverberated.
A figure flew backward at tremendous speed, nearly falling out of the arena. It was Xu Li.
Guo Qing retreated slightly, taking only one step back. Her face remained calm, her breathing steady. She eyed Xu Li and said, "One strike remains."
Xu Li wore a bitter expression and shook his head. "No, I’ve already lost."
The previous strike contained all the strength he could muster, but he was still overpowered. More fighting would be meaningless.
With that, Xu Li leapt off the stage directly.
This outcome didn’t surprise Luo Cheng at all.
From the first strike alone, it was clear who was superior; the second strike merely highlighted the difference in martial techniques.
Golden Ring Sect was regarded as a second-tier sect in the Great Yue Dynasty, widely recognized. However, it paled in comparison to the Luoxia Sect, one of the Three Great Sects—let alone their martial expertise.
"I forfeit."
A white-robed youth stepped off the stage.
"I forfeit as well."
A green-robed girl from another second-tier sect also retreated in resignation.
Neither of them was stronger than Xu Li. After witnessing the previous bout, they had come to realize that they stood no chance of earning a task slot.
On stage, only four contestants remained.
Luo Cheng and three female disciples from the Luoxia Sect.
One more elimination was required.
Having gotten to know Yang Zhixuan earlier, Luo Cheng had developed a favorable impression of the Luoxia Sect’s disciples. He asked, "How do you wish to decide? You can make the call."
"There’s no need."
Guo Qing shook her head and said to one Luoxia Sect disciple, "Junior Sister Nan, your strength is slightly lacking. You should step down."
Junior Sister Nan nodded without hesitation and stepped off the stage.
The remaining two Luoxia Sect disciples introduced themselves.
Besides Guo Qing, the other was a serene and beautiful young woman named Ji Rou.
After exchanging names, Guo Qing looked admiringly at Luo Cheng and said, "You’re truly incredible—at the Fifth Layer of the Transcendence Realm, yet even Wu Ming couldn’t defeat you."
Luo Cheng replied, "Your fist technique is formidable as well. I doubt Wu Ming would fare much better against you."
Upon hearing Luo Cheng’s praise, Guo Qing smiled faintly.
"That’s overly generous. Wu Ming awakened a Six-star Martial Soul, while I only possess a Five-star Martial Soul. His foundation is far stronger than mine. If I were to face him, my chances of victory would be no more than forty percent."
Luo Cheng shook his head and said calmly, "Martial Soul isn’t everything. A lower-grade Martial Soul doesn’t necessarily limit one’s potential for greater achievements."
Guo Qing froze for a moment, then broke into a laugh. "Martial Soul isn’t everything... That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that. Interesting."
"By the way, you’d better stay alert in the future. As far as I know, Wu Ming wasn’t lying—his master Sun Yingyang is an extremely vengeful and protective individual. He won’t let this matter rest after you crippled his direct disciple."
"Hmm."
Luo Cheng nodded, his gaze turning cold.
At that moment, the Ling Family Head, Ling Qifeng, stepped forward, glancing at Luo Cheng. A trace of astonishment flickered in his eyes.
Initially, he had never expected Luo Cheng, the one with the lowest cultivation, to pass the selection at all.
The outcome, however, proved surprising.
Taking a deep breath, Ling Qifeng said, "Congratulations to the three of you. I leave this mission in your capable hands."
Guo Qing smiled and replied, "Don’t worry, Family Head Ling. With the three of us escorting, your convoy will definitely reach Linguan City safely."
"That would be ideal."
Ling Qifeng smiled and nodded, visibly relieved.
He had received news of the Great Chu Dynasty’s Empress going missing, triggering turmoil among various factions, border unrest, and instability near Linguan City.
Ling Qifeng had been gravely concerned about this trade mission, but the earlier clash had bolstered his confidence somewhat.
"I’ve arranged rooms for your stay. Rest well tonight—our convoy will set out early tomorrow morning!"
