Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Chapter 194 Triumph in the Arena, A Stunning Strike from the Spear

Three days later, at the sect's public martial arts arena.

The place was already packed with people.

Song Jing, a disciple of the Earth Rank, challenged Zhou An, who was in the early stage of the Refining Realm. The stakes involved twenty Profound Yuan Pills and a year's worth of Earth Rank disciple benefits. Such a spectacle naturally attracted many people.

In particular, the fact that the two sides in the contest are also involved in the feud between the water veins and the Zhou family, as well as the recently much-discussed "Elder Jinghong's Trial", has added countless talking points to this competition.

On the east side of the arena, led by Zhou An and Zhou Yi, a large number of disciples from the Golden Clan had gathered, including some who were on good terms with the Zhou family.

Or simply disciples of the Fire or Earth element who dislike Song Jing.

They chatted and laughed, the atmosphere was relaxed, and they were clearly very confident in Zhou An.

"Senior Brother Zhou An's 'Gengjin Po Sha Zhen Jue' has reached a minor level of mastery. His Gengjin True Qi is incomparably sharp and fierce in killing! In the early stage of refining dirt, his offensive power can be described as top-notch!"

"Song Jing is only in the late stage of Bone Forging. No matter how exquisite his spear technique is, what can he do? Can he withstand Senior Brother Zhou's Gengjin True Qi?" A disciple of the Golden Vein shouted, drawing a chorus of agreement.

"Exactly! I heard that Song Jing only managed to kill a few injured Refining Realm cultivators in Tianshui City by taking advantage of the terrain and luck. Does he really think he's someone important?"

Bone forging is bone forging; it's fundamentally different from filth refining! Senior Brother Zhou's Gengjin True Qi is specifically designed to break through all kinds of protective qi. Look at that...

"How many moves can Song Jing withstand?"

"Senior Brother Zhou, be careful what you do later, don't cripple him. After all, he's someone Elder Jinghong has his eye on! Haha!" someone said sarcastically, drawing laughter from the crowd. Clearly, the story of Song Jing meeting Elder Jinghong but only receiving the "test" qualification had been embellished and spread by Zhou An and others, becoming fodder for mocking Song Jing.

On the west side of the arena, more than twenty disciples of the Water Clan, led by Wang Chong and Sun Rui, also came, essentially their entire force.

They looked tense, but their eyes were firm, and they even held simple drums and gongs in their hands, ready to cheer for Song Jing.

However, hearing the bursts of mockery coming from the opposite side, and looking at Zhou An on the arena with his sharp aura and cold smile, many disciples of the Water Vein Sect still felt a chill in their hearts.

"Senior Brother Wang, is Junior Brother Song really confident?" a young disciple of the Water Vein asked in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly.

The pressure emanating from Zhou An, who was at the Refining Realm, and the faintly sharp aura emanating from him, made his skin feel slightly stinging.

Wang Zhong tightened his grip on the drumsticks and said in a deep voice, "Since Junior Brother Song dared to accept the challenge, he must have his reasons. We should just cheer him on with our drumming! Remember, regardless of victory or defeat, the backbone of the water vein must not bend!"

"Yes! Senior Brother Song, keep it up!" The other disciples of the Water Vein also shouted, but their voices sounded somewhat weak amidst the noisy laughter from the other side.

Besides these two distinct groups of people, a large number of disciples from other lineages, as well as some idle stewards and elders, had gathered around the arena to watch the spectacle.

Among them were several figures with profound auras and sharp eyes, faintly exuding the aura of peak Earth Rank disciples or even Heaven Rank disciples.

Clearly, this betting contest has also attracted the attention of some interested parties.

"Clang!"

A clear, resonant bell rang out, and the elder in charge of the referee stepped onto the arena. Scanning the entire arena, his voice booming, "The arena duel, Song Jing versus Zhou An, begins now! Arena combat is to be stopped when the point is reached; intentional injury or death is strictly prohibited, and violators will be severely punished! Both fighters, step onto the stage!"

On the arena, Zhou An had already grown impatient. Upon hearing this, he sneered and leaped into the air, landing in the center of the arena like a golden sword light. His swift and fierce movements drew cheers from the east side.

He stood with his hands behind his back, chin slightly raised, looking at Song Jing who was slowly walking onto the arena with a contemptuous look in his eyes: "Song Jing, it's not too late to admit defeat now, hand over the Xuan Yuan Pill to receive the qualification."

Otherwise, fists and feet have no eyes; if you end up missing limbs, don't blame me for not warning you.

Song Jing walked calmly onto the arena, stopping ten feet away from Zhou An. He unfastened the Five Elements Dao Spear from his back, pointed it diagonally at the ground, and said indifferently, "Enough with the nonsense. Are your twenty Profound Origin Pills ready?"

"Hmph! Stubborn fool!" Zhou An was enraged by Song Jing's attitude, his face darkening. "Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish."

You! I'll show you that the difference between bone forging and filth refining can't be bridged by luck alone!

Before he finished speaking, Zhou An suddenly unleashed a sharp, pale golden aura!

A sharp, chilling, and invincible aura spread out, as if countless metallic clangs resounded in the void!

The "Gengjin Po Sha Zhen Jue" he cultivated was a rare low-grade technique, mainly for killing and warfare. Its true energy was extremely sharp and adept at breaking through various defenses. At this moment, with the minor completion realm activated, his body seemed to be shrouded in a faint golden light, and his whole person was like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, with an imposing aura.

"Take this!"

Zhou An let out a low roar, stopped talking nonsense, and stomped his foot, causing the arena floor to hiss softly, as his sharp Geng metal true energy left shallow marks.

He shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, with an unstoppable and all-consuming momentum, charging straight at Song Jing!

He didn't use a weapon, but instead pointed his fingers like a sword, with golden sword light about a foot long emerging from his fingertips. He pointed in the air and thrust it straight at Song Jing's chest!

This is the ultimate martial art of the Golden Vein, a superior-level finger technique called "Gold-Splitting Finger"!

Combined with Xiao Cheng's "Gengjin Po Sha Zhen Jue", the power of this finger is enough to pierce through fine iron, and its sharpness is unparalleled!

"Senior Brother Zhou is awesome!" "Pierce him with one finger!" A chorus of cheers rang out from the east side.

The hearts of the Water Vein disciples instantly leaped into their throats. Wang Chong and Sun Rui clenched their fists, staring intently at the arena.

Faced with this swift and sharp finger strike, Song Jing's eyes remained calm and unwavering until the finger's force touched his body and he felt a stinging sensation on his skin, at which point he suddenly moved!

He didn't take the blow head-on. Instead, he subtly shifted his footwork, his body moving like a fish swimming in water, narrowly avoiding the golden finger beam. At the same time, his spear moved like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, silently stabbing towards Zhou An's vulnerable ribs!

At the tip of the spear, the dark blue Xuan Yuan Heavy Water True Qi pulsed erratically, carrying a subtle yet penetrating force, attempting to overcome strength with gentleness.

"Hmm? Not bad." Zhou An was slightly surprised, but his movements did not stop. His left hand also pointed like a sword, and he pointed at the gun barrel with his fingertips. Golden light flashed at the fingertips. He was actually trying to use his finger strength to forcefully hit the gun tip!

"Ding!"

The guns clashed, producing a crisp yet unusually piercing sound of metal striking metal!

Song Jing felt an extremely sharp and concentrated force coming from the gun, as if countless tiny golden needles were penetrating along the gun and trying to tear his meridians apart!

The Geng Metal True Qi truly lives up to its reputation!

"A mere trick!" Zhou An sneered, his right hand flashing out a sword-like finger, transforming a point into a slash, a condensed golden blade of energy slashing across Song Jing's neck, faster and sharper!

Song Jing flashed again, brandishing his spear and unleashing the Wildfire Spear Technique. Points of crimson spear light bloomed like sparks, carrying an explosive and scorching intent, constantly colliding with Zhou An's swift and sharp golden finger beams and qi blades.

He did not immediately use the "Fleeting Shadow Spear" technique, but instead wanted to use the Wildfire Spear Technique first to test the strength of Zhou Angeng's Golden True Qi, and also to hone the Wildfire Spear Technique which was about to break through its limits.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

On the arena, figures flew about, crimson spear shadows clashed with golden finger beams and air blades, producing dense impacts and the sound of air being torn apart.

Song Jing's marksmanship was swift and explosive, like a raging fire.

Zhou An, relying on the sharp true energy of the minor completion of the "Gengjin Posha True Technique" and the solid foundation of the Refining Realm, used his finger techniques, palm techniques, and fist techniques with ease, each move fierce and aimed directly at vital points, fully demonstrating the sharpness and killing intent of "metal".

His attacks were like a whirlwind, a torrent of metal, attempting to overwhelm Song Jing with speed and offense, quickly defeating him.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than ten blows.

It seemed that Zhou An had the upper hand in the situation.

His attacks were relentless, his fingers flying and sword energy crisscrossing, forcing Song Jing to constantly dodge and weave. His spear technique mainly relied on blocking and deflecting force, making him appear somewhat "passive," as if he were being suppressed by Zhou An's fierce offensive.

"Haha! See that? Geng metal true qi, sharp and unparalleled! How can Song Jing's meager water-based true qi withstand it?" Someone on the east side laughed loudly.

"Song Jing is nothing special after all! It seems the rumors about Tianshui City are mostly just hype! He's no match for Senior Brother Zhou's Gengjin True Qi!"

"How could Elder Jinghong have taken a liking to such a piece of trash? What a joke!"

The disciples of the Water Vein Sect became even more nervous, and their cheering drumbeats became somewhat disordered.

Wang Zhong and Sun Rui were sweating profusely. They could see that Zhou An's attacks were becoming increasingly swift and fierce, and Song Jing's space for dodging was being compressed. The sharp Geng metal energy made their skin sting even from a distance.

On the arena, Zhou An grew increasingly excited with each fight, as if he could already see Song Jing being pierced through by his finger strike, kneeling and begging for mercy. He laughed wildly, "Song Jing, is that all you've got? All you can do is hide like a stray dog? If you've got the guts, take one of my finger strikes!"

"As you wish."

Song Jing, who had always focused on hit-and-run tactics and parrying, suddenly spoke, his voice calm.

At the same time, his aura suddenly changed!

The originally fiery and explosive Wildfire Spear Intent instantly subsided, and a new Spear Intent, which was agile, swift, ethereal and uncertain, yet contained a heavy and resilient force, suddenly erupted like a sleeping dragon awakening!

"Huh?!" Zhou An's heart skipped a beat, and the sense of crisis that felt like a thorn in his back suddenly intensified!

A fleeting glimpse!

Song Jing made a move!

There was no earth-shattering display of force, only an extremely fast and unpredictable spear shadow, like a fleeting glimpse of a swan or a gazelle leaping across a cliff, mysteriously emerging from the gaps in Zhou An's countless golden finger shadows, and piercing straight for his wrist pulse point!

This shot was much faster than the previous Wildfire Spear Technique!

Its trajectory is even more unpredictable and elusive!

Zhou An was shocked; he hadn't even seen how Song Jing drew his gun!

In a hurry, he quickly changed his fingers into a palm, and the Geng metal true energy in his palm condensed into a small light golden true energy shield, which he then slapped at the tip of the spear.

"The spear tip struck the small shield of true energy with a strange muffled sound."

This time, it was no longer a crisp collision, but a heavy, sticky erosion!

The unique properties of Xuan Yuan Heavy Water True Qi—its ability to penetrate, erode, and overcome strength with softness—were fully revealed at this moment!

The subtle yet incredibly powerful force contained within the spear tip, like mercury spilling onto the ground, gradually eroded and wore away the sharp Geng metal true energy!

Although it didn't completely penetrate, the heavy, subtle force still made Zhou An's wrist go numb, and his blood and qi surge. "What kind of spear technique is this?!" Zhou An was shocked.

This is absolutely not the Wildfire Spear Technique!

The speed, the strangeness, and the subtle, yin-like force that restrained his Geng metal true qi were completely beyond his expectations!

Before he could think it through, Song Jing's spear thrusts came like a mighty river, relentlessly attacking him!

"Fleeting Glimpse of Light!"

The gun trembled, instantly conjuring several indistinguishable, dark blue gun shadows, like reflections in water, with light and shadow intertwining, stabbing at Zhou Quan's vital points from different angles!

The gun's shadow shifted between reality and illusion, making it difficult to distinguish. It also carried a viscous, pulling force, making Zhou An feel as if he were sinking into water, slowing his movements by even a fraction!

"A gentle breeze caresses the willows!"

The spear's momentum shifted again, from swift and unpredictable to gentle and lingering, like a spring breeze rustling willow branches, or an undercurrent in water, clinging to Zhou An's...

Through the force of his palm and fingers, he gradually guided, deflected, and deflected the sharp and fierce Geng metal energy!

Zhou An felt as if his fierce attack had hit cotton and flowing water, with seven or eight tenths of his strength being dissipated, making him feel so uncomfortable that he almost vomited blood!

His sharp Gengjin True Qi, which he relied on for fame, felt powerless and frustrated in the face of Song Jing's extremely soft yet resilient and unpredictable spear technique!

"Stars fall like rain!" "A dragon extends its claws through the clouds!"

One after another, exquisite and unparalleled spear techniques, far surpassing the level of fine craftsmanship, were displayed by Song Jing!

Although it was still somewhat raw and far from being perfectly smooth, its exquisite, swift, and unpredictable nature, as well as the subtle and lingering charm that specifically restrained sharpness and fierceness, had already left Zhou An exhausted and struggling to cope!

What's even more terrifying is that Song Jing's true energy seems to contain a peculiar weight and penetrating power. With each collision, a portion of the yin and soft force penetrates his Geng metal true energy defense and invades his body. Although it is temporarily neutralized by the powerful refining true energy, it is constantly consuming and slowing down the circulation of his true energy, making him feel as if he is fighting with heavy shackles on his back!

"This is—a rare and exquisite spear technique! And it's already at the beginner level!" A discerning disciple in the audience exclaimed in surprise.

"This spear technique—as agile as water, unpredictable, using softness to overcome hardness—this, this could be—" An elderly deacon's pupils shrank, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "The Swift Shadow Spear! This is Elder Swift Shadow's signature spear technique! This Song Jing has actually learned it?!"

"What?! The Shadowless Spear?!"

"Impossible! He only met Elder Jinghong a few days ago. How could he have learned it already?"

"Entry-level? Judging by this power and spear intent, it's definitely entry-level! And it subtly counters Zhou An's Gengjin True Qi! My god, this talent—"

The audience erupted in uproar!

All the disciples, regardless of which side they originally supported, were now dumbfounded and shocked as they watched the blue figure on the arena wielding a long spear, switching from defense to offense, and gradually suppressing Zhou An!

Fire can overcome metal. Song Jing's Xuan Yuan Heavy Water True Qi and the Wildfire Spear Technique, combined with the agile changes of the Shadowless Spear, actually subtly restrained Zhou An's minor Geng Metal Breaking Evil True Qi!

The disciples of the Water Cultivation Sect were so excited that their faces turned red, and they beat their drums and shouted, "Senior Brother Song! Mighty!"

Wang Zhong and Sun Rui exchanged a glance, both seeing unbelievable ecstasy in each other's eyes!

They knew Song Jing might have a trump card up his sleeve, but they never expected it to be a rare spear technique, and even more so, Elder Jinghong's signature move!

You've mastered the basics in just a few days?

Moreover, it seems to be extremely compatible with his water and fire attribute true qi, and can even suppress the metal vein technique!

What kind of monstrous talent is this?!

On the east side, the disciples who supported Zhou An instantly turned extremely ugly. Their previous mockery and smugness froze on their faces, replaced by shock, disbelief, and a trace of fear.

"How could he possibly possess Elder Jinghong's spear technique?! And this spear technique—it seems to counter my Golden Vein True Qi?!" Zhou Yi's voice was dry, and his face turned pale.

On the stage, the balance of power has been completely reversed!

Song Jing's spear technique became faster and more cunning, like a bone-deep infection or mercury seeping into the ground, relentlessly entangling and eroding Zhou An.

Despite possessing the powerful true qi and sharp Geng metal energy of the Refining Realm, Zhou An was completely hampered by Song Jing's unpredictable, soft yet strong, and fast-paced spear technique. His proud and sharp attacks were completely neutralized, and he was forced to retreat continuously by the endless, heavy and yin-like spear force, leaving him in a sorry state!

His expression changed from initial confidence to shock and anger, and then to horror!

"Mysterious Water Gun Barrage!"

Unable to break through after a prolonged attack, a cold glint flashed in Song Jing's eyes, and he once again unleashed the fusion move that had inspired him during his battle against the gatekeeper!

With a flick of his spear, a deep blue aura burst forth, instantly creating a viscous, heavy, and dense domain of spear energy around Zhou An, resembling a curtain of water!

This is not a fixed move of the "Fleeting Shadow Spear" technique, but rather Song Jing's "momentum" based on the Wildfire Spear Technique.

The "transformation" becomes the spirit, and the "heavy" and "penetrating" of the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water True Qi become the soul, creating a self-made killing move!

Zhou An suddenly felt as if he had fallen into a deep swamp, with tremendous resistance coming from all directions. His movements and attacks became extremely slow and sluggish. What was even more deadly was that the omnipresent, soft and heavy spear energy, like countless water pressures, was frantically squeezing and eroding his protective Gengjin True Qi, making a "hissing" sound of wear and tear!

"Break!" Zhou An was filled with shock and anger. He felt like a fish caught in a net. If this continued, defeat was inevitable! He roared and his true energy exploded without reservation. The pale golden Gengjin true energy was like thousands of golden needles, shooting out from the pores of his body, trying to tear and pierce the suffocating "water curtain"!

However, water is both the softest and the most resilient!

The Xuan Shui spear curtain fluctuated violently under the impact of Geng Jin true qi, but it did not collapse immediately. Instead, it was like a highly resilient gel, weakening, enveloping, and eliminating its sharp energy layer by layer!

Just as Zhou An's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet arisen, unleashing his strongest and most scattered burst of power, he unleashed "Wildfire Hundred Slashes!"

A sharp light flashed in Song Jing's eyes. The ultimate killing move of the "Wildfire Spear Technique," which had been hidden all along, was unleashed with all his insights into the perfect peak of the Wildfire Spear Technique and his breakthrough!

This shot is no longer any fixed move of the Wildfire Spear Technique, but rather a simplification of complexity, a return to the essence, condensing all the "explosive," "aggressive," and "destructive" meanings of the Wildfire Spear Technique into a single point!

Even more ingeniously, he combined the "explosion" of the Wildfire with the "penetration" of the Profound Origin, with crimson and dark blue true energy emanating from the spear.

The sharp spiral coiled, transforming into a red and blue interwoven spiral spear light, carrying a terrifying aura that could burn everything and penetrate everywhere. With lightning speed, it pierced the weakest point in the spear curtain, where Zhou An's protective Gengjin True Qi had been worn down!

"Not good!" Zhou An's pupils shrank drastically, and his soul trembled! He felt a deadly threat! This shot was not only fast, but also contained two completely different yet strangely fused forces: one explosive like fire, and the other penetrating like water!

He frantically channeled his true energy, trying to create layers of Gengjin energy walls in front of him, but being surrounded by a barrage of gunfire, any slowness was more than a beat!

The spear, which combined Song Jing's full strength and the characteristics of two major techniques—the explosive power of Wildfire and the penetrating power of Profound Water—finally tore through Zhou An's minor-stage "Gengjin Breaking Evil True Technique" defense and pierced his right chest!

If Zhou An hadn't desperately twisted his body at the last moment, that spear would have pierced his heart!

"Ugh!" Zhou An let out a shrill scream as blood instantly stained his golden disciple robes!

The spiraling, explosive true energy contained in the spear tip exploded within his body, causing half of his body to lose sensation. Furthermore, a soft yet heavy, worm-like water-based force crept along his meridians, causing rampant destruction and erosion!

His cultivated Geng metal true qi was actually being subtly suppressed and dissolved by this water element force, making it impossible for him to effectively resist!

Song Jing pressed his advantage relentlessly, giving Zhou An no chance to catch his breath. Taking advantage of Zhou An's moment of distraction and disordered internal energy due to his serious injury, Song Jing raised his left foot with lightning speed and delivered a powerful side kick, carrying heavy Xuan Yuan Chong Shui internal energy, which slammed into Zhou An's lower abdomen, dantian, where he would sit in the sea of ​​qi!

"Bang!"

A dull thud rang out, and Zhou An was sent flying backward like a broken sack, spitting out blood in mid-air, mixed with some fragments of internal organs!

He crashed heavily off the ring, rolling several times before finally stopping, lying on the ground like a dead dog, barely breathing, his face ashen, looking utterly wretched and miserable.

The sharp pain in his lower abdomen and the tremors in his dantian told him that he had suffered severe internal injuries and that it would be difficult to recover without several months of rest and precious medicines!

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Only Song Jing stood there, holding his gun, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground, a drop of blood slowly sliding down the blade.

His breathing was slightly uneven, but his eyes were bright and sharp. His blue Earth-rank disciple robes were spotless, forming a stark and glaring contrast with Zhou An, who was slumped down below the stage like a dead dog coughing up blood.

From Song Jing using the "Fleeting Shadow Spear" to reverse the situation, to combining spear techniques to trap the enemy, and then using the Wildfire Spear Technique to deliver a fatal blow and kick Zhou An off the stage, the whole process seemed long, but in reality it was only about twenty moves!

Especially those last few thunderous moves, they were so fast that many people didn't even have time to react!

In the late stage of Bone Forging, within twenty moves, he cleanly and decisively defeated a cultivator in the early stage of Violet Refining who possessed the precious martial art, "Gengjin Breaking Evil True Technique."

Zhou An, who has reached a minor level of mastery?!

Moreover, he used Elder Jinghong's signature move, the "Jinghong Lueying Spear," which subtly countered the opponent's Gengjin True Qi!

The result was so shocking that everyone was stunned, their minds blank.

"He won—he won? Senior Brother Song won?!" A disciple from the Water Vein Sect stammered, breaking the silence.

"We won! Senior Brother Song won!!" Wang Chong suddenly realized what was happening, his face flushed with excitement, and he slammed his fist into the drum next to him, making a deafening noise!

"We won!!"

"Senior Brother Song is awesome!!"

The disciples of the Water Vein erupted in a thunderous cheer, all their tension and worry transforming into ecstasy and excitement! They beat drums and shouted with all their might, their voices almost lifting the roof off!

On the east side, Zhou Ming and the others looked ashen-faced, as if their parents had died; some were even deathly pale.

Looking at Zhou An, who was collapsed and coughing up blood below the stage, critically injured and on the verge of death, and then at the blue-clad figure on the stage who calmly put away his gun as if he had only done something insignificant, they felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads, and their hands and feet became icy cold.

Lost!

Senior Brother Zhou An actually lost!

And the defeat was so complete and so tragic! In less than twenty moves, he was severely injured and kicked away, almost killed by a single shot!

Song Jing's strength is terrifyingly powerful!

His marksmanship actually subtly counters the Golden Vein martial arts?!

"The Swift Shadow Spear—he actually mastered it! And it's only been a few days?!" A disciple of the Golden Vein muttered in disbelief, his gaze towards Song Jing filled with shock and fear, and even a hint of barely perceptible jealousy.

"Zhou An, who is in the late stage of Bone Forging, the early stage of Reversing the Refining of the Internal Organs, and has only achieved minor mastery of the 'Gengjin Breaking Evil True Technique'—his combat strength is probably among the top of the Earth-rank disciples, right?" another person said in a hoarse voice.

"The water vein—it's about to produce a dragon—and it seems to be a flood dragon that can summon clouds and rain and restrain my metal vein—" a slightly older metal vein disciple murmured, his face extremely solemn.

The true essence of Song Jing's spear technique—using water to overcome metal and softness to overcome hardness—made him feel a chill run down his spine.

At the edge of the ring, Zhou An barely opened his eyes, coughing up another mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. His gaze towards Song Jing on the ring was filled with resentment, unwillingness, fear, and profound despair. He had lost, lost so miserably!

Not only did he lose face, but he also lost twenty Xuan Yuan Pills in public!

Even more terrifying is that he was severely injured, his dantian was damaged, and his meridians were eroded by that strange water-based energy. Without a large number of pills and a long period of recuperation, his cultivation level might even regress! He's finished, at least within the Zhou family, he's completely finished!

The elder referee was stunned for a moment before reacting and loudly announcing, "Song Jing wins this battle!"

As the announcement ended, the cheers from the Water Clan disciples grew even louder, and even a few neutral disciples from other clans couldn't help but join in the applause.

Song Jing won this battle brilliantly!

Overcoming the superior with the inferior, defeating the strong with the weak, displaying superb marksmanship, and finally achieving triumph!

Song Jing nodded slightly to the referee elder, then stepped down from the arena and went straight to Zhou An, who had been helped up and whose face was ashen. He extended his hand and calmly said, "Senior Brother Zhou, you're too kind. Here are twenty Xuan Yuan Pills."

Looking at Song Jing's calm and expressionless face, and feeling the various gazes cast around him—some sympathetic, some mocking, some pitying, some gloating—Zhou An trembled with anger, aggravating his injuries, and spat out another mouthful of blood, his vision blurring.

Twenty Profound Origin Pills!

That's his entire quota for the next two months!

He originally wanted to take this opportunity to show off in front of Senior Brother Zhou Ming and try to get resources to break through to the mid-stage of the Refining Realm, but now it's all over!

Not only did he fail to win, but he also had to sacrifice nearly two years' worth of cultivation resources and ended up severely injured!

"You—cough cough—" Zhou An wanted to say something, but he kept coughing.

"Senior Brother Zhou, the contract is right here in front of everyone. Do you want to go back on your word?" Song Jing's tone remained calm, but his eyes turned cold.

He stepped down, and seemingly intentionally or unintentionally tapped the ground with the spear in his hand.

Zhou An sensed the lingering killing intent emanating from Song Jing, as well as the pressure from countless gazes around him. He knew that he had no choice but to give him the pill today.

Otherwise, Zhou An, and even the Zhou family, would become a laughing stock in Pingtianmen, and might even attract interference from the Enforcement Hall. "Give it to me!" Zhou An practically spat out these words through clenched teeth, his hands trembling as he took out several jade bottles from his robes and gave a wink to Zhou Yi, who was standing beside him with a deathly pale face and evasive eyes.

The Zhou family members were all in agony, their lips twitching. They shakily pulled out their own pills, and after a long time, they borrowed some from a few close disciples of the Golden Vein. They barely managed to gather twenty Profound Origin Pills, put them in a bag, and handed them to Song Jing with great reluctance, as if their hearts were being torn apart.

Zhou Yi nearly emptied his own share and incurred external debts, while Zhou An lost nearly two years' worth of resources and had to bear huge expenses for recuperation, leaving him completely destitute.

Song Jing took the bag, scanned it with his divine sense to confirm it was correct, then nodded and turned to walk towards the cheering Water Vein disciples.

He remained unmoved; these twenty Xuan Yuan Pills were simply spoils of war he deserved.

Zhou An jumped out to become a stepping stone, so no wonder he did it.

"Song Jing!" A venomous growl, like that of a night owl, came from behind, though its strength was diminished by his injuries, making it sound somewhat comical. "You—you don't be so smug! Senior Brother Zhou Ming—will not let you get away with this!"

Song Jing paused, but without turning around, said calmly, "I'll wait. Next time, remember to bring more pills, and come back after you've fully recovered."

"You—!" Upon hearing this, Zhou An was so enraged that he spat out another mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted from anger.

"Senior Brother Zhou!" Zhou Yi and the others hurriedly helped him up, frantically feeding him healing pills. Their gazes toward Song Jing's back were filled with fear and resentment, but they dared not utter another harsh word.

Song Jing ignored the farce behind him and left the training ground surrounded by the Water Vein disciples as if they were welcoming a hero.

In his arms, besides the ten Xuan Yuan Pills he was entitled to for the month, there were also twenty more heavy ones.

This battle not only won resources but also demonstrated the power of the water veins, and made the name "Song Jing" and the "Swift Shadow Spear" spread throughout the outer sect!

More importantly, he demonstrated the formidable combat power of using water-based techniques to counter metal-based techniques, which undoubtedly brought tremendous shock and hope to many disciples who were suppressed by the metal element.

It is foreseeable that after this battle, no one will dare to underestimate this Water Vein disciple who advanced to the Earth Rank in the late Bone Forging stage, mastered a rare spear technique, and was able to defeat a Water Vein disciple who had achieved minor mastery of the "Gengjin Po Sha Zhen Jue" in the Refining Realm.

The Zhou family suffered a double loss this time, losing all face, resources, and the fighting strength of their important members.

Jin Mai, Zhou Ming, holds an even higher position, at the peak of the Earth Rank, and has the potential to reach the Heaven Rank with his own independent courtyard.

"Trash! Fool!" Zhou Ming's face turned ashen. He smashed the stone table in front of him to pieces with a single palm strike. "A mere early-stage Refining cultivator practicing the 'Gengjin Breaking Evil True Technique,' yet he was defeated by a late-stage Bone Forging cultivator practicing water-based techniques using the Swift Shadow Spear?!"

And he suffered such a humiliating defeat! He has utterly disgraced the Zhou family!

Below, Zhou Yi and several other Golden Vein disciples who had participated in the betting and lost their pills knelt on the ground, trembling. Zhou Yi, in particular, was deathly pale.

"Twenty Xuan Yuan Pills! A full twenty! And they even made Song Jing famous in public!" Zhou Ming's chest heaved with anger. "And the betting odds! The odds we set for Song Jing to win were one to five! And what happened?"

Those bastards who bet on Song Jingying, especially those penniless guys from the Water Vein Sect, and a few neutral disciples with sharp eyes who bet on unpopular items, together won more than thirty of our Xuan Yuan Pills, plus a hundred low-grade Yuan Stones!

We not only lost all the money we made this time, but we also lost a year's worth of our share!

"That idiot Zhou An, what a mess he's made!"

Zhou Yi and the others lowered their heads even further, their faces covered in cold sweat.

They knew the losses were enormous.

Zhou An is seriously injured and will be crippled for the foreseeable future.

The loss of pills and spirit stones was particularly painful for them. Zhou Ming, as the person in charge, also bore the brunt of pressure from within the family.

The immense pressure.

"Song Jing—the Swift Shadow Spear—he's mastered the basics in just a few days and can even use it to counter Geng Metal True Qi—" Zhou Ming's eyes flashed with a cold light, like a venomous snake. "It seems we've all underestimated this kid. His talent is probably no less than Lin Jingyun's."

"Xiao Chen and his ilk are decisive and ruthless. We absolutely cannot allow him to grow up! Otherwise, he will surely become a great threat to the Zhou family!"

"But Brother Ming, he's at the height of his fame right now, and he also has that connection with Elder Jinghong, so we—" Zhou Yi said cautiously, his voice trembling.

"If open methods don't work, we'll resort to covert ones!" Zhou Ming said coldly, his voice like a chilling wind from the depths of hell. "If we can't act within the sect, we'll wait until he's on a mission! We'll find an opportunity to cripple him! As long as we're clean, who will know it was us? No matter how powerful Elder Jinghong is, without evidence, what can he do?"

He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Isn't he skilled in wood-element techniques, which counter metal-element techniques? Then let's find the fire-element people to deal with! Wood overcomes water, it's only natural! Go contact Zhao Yan of the fire-element; hasn't he always tried to curry favor with my Zhou family? Tell him that as long as he can eliminate Song Jing, I'll guarantee him a spot to enter the Earth Fire Secret Realm!"

"Yes, Brother Ming!" A ruthless and excited glint flashed in Zhou Yi's eyes. The spot in the Earth Fire Secret Realm was extremely tempting for the Fire Vein disciples. Zhao Yan was a well-known expert among the Earth Rank experts of the Fire Vein, with a mid-stage Refining Realm cultivation. His "True Fiery Force" was nearing completion. Dealing with Song Jing should be a sure thing!

Tingtao Academy.

Song Jing placed the twenty Xuan Yuan Pills he had won together with his ten, making a total of thirty Xuan Yuan Pills, which emitted an alluring fragrance.

The fragrance of a person. His heart remained calm and undisturbed. Zhou An's provocation was merely a minor incident. The real challenge would be Elder Jinghong's test six months later, the undercurrents of struggle within the sect, and the even wider and more dangerous world outside.

"Thirty Profound Origin Pills should be enough for me to take a big step forward in both the Profound Origin Heavy Water True Skill and the Shadowless Spear Technique." Song Jing sat cross-legged, took out a Profound Origin Pill and swallowed it. The pure medicinal power dissolved and permeated his entire body. In today's battle, his understanding of the Shadowless Spear Technique deepened, and he gained a more direct experience of how water element restrains metal element. He felt that the Wildfire Spear Technique was only one step away from breaking through its limits. And his proficiency with the Shadowless Spear Technique had also greatly improved in actual combat.

"The Zhou family—as expected, won't let this go easily." A cold glint flashed in Song Jing's eyes. "However, we'll meet force with force and water with water. In the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks are nothing but clay chickens and earthenware dogs."

"Next, it's time to go into full-scale seclusion. The Zhou family—if they dare to interfere again, don't blame me for severing them completely!"

He closed his eyes and began to circulate the "Mysterious Origin Heavy Water True Skill." In his mind, every move of the "Surprising Shadow Spear" and the details of the battle on the stage today, where water overcomes metal and softness overcomes hardness, were replayed, analyzed, and comprehended like a revolving lantern.

The path to becoming stronger never ends.

And Song Jing's pace will become faster and faster until he leaves everyone behind.

As for Zhou Ming or the Zhou family's future retaliation?

It's just another whetstone to sharpen his edge.

Now that there are more Xuan Yuan Pills available, there's no need to worry about the cultivation speed of the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water True Technique, at least for the short term.

This number is still far from enough to reach the pinnacle of cultivation; it's time to challenge the Five Elements Tower!