I am a high-level martial arts master.

Yang Guicang was utterly shocked!

In his perception, within this vast venue, there were countless beings whose qi and blood were bursting like fire.

The burst of energy and blood that erupted outwards undoubtedly reached the extreme of internal strength.

These people all have a youthful appearance and are full of energy!

Yang Guicang has been immersed in martial arts for over 150 years.

Of course, they understood the significance of having honed their qi and blood at such a young age; their talent was simply beyond description, possessing a hint of inner strength. If it were just one or two instances, that would be one thing, but at this moment, this "inner strength" was clearly visible to the naked eye throughout the entire venue.

"How...how is this possible?"

Yang Guicang's expression changed several times. He turned his head to look at Lu Zhixing, who was completely unaware. After sensing them slightly, he realized what these people had in common. These martial artists, who possessed the blood and qi of the Dark Force Realm, all had slightly underdeveloped brain regions, which prevented their physical bodies from locking in this blood and qi.

In ancient times, these people were uniformly described as having "extraordinary innate phenomena".

In other words, when practicing martial arts, one possesses qi and blood far exceeding one's own level, and with obvious strength, one can defeat hidden strength.

In modern times...

"Has the pesticide been applied?"

Yang Guicang thought to himself that this was the only possibility he could think of.

Thinking of Western genetic technology, it is possible to create combat power at the Transformation Realm level in just a few years.

One or two of them can be considered to have natural talent.

But if two or three hundred such once-in-a-century geniuses appear in one place at a time, then it must be due to some kind of magic potion!

Looking at the field full of peak internal energy masters, Yang Guicang's initial joy and shock instantly sank to the bottom of the sea.

Those who are able to come to this venue are all fresh blood of Chinese martial arts.

The fact that so many people chose to embrace Western gene therapy was something he found hard to accept.

Yang Guicang, who had once followed the master Hua Gang to the West, was certainly familiar with Western gene-enhancing drugs.

Western gene therapy drugs are divided into American superpower injections and American military injections.

The military version requires continuous use and must be injected monthly.

Those who receive the weaponized version will experience a rapid increase in strength within three to five years.

However, even after reaching the genetic limit, continued use is necessary to prevent the flesh and blood from regressing.

Some impoverished strongmen from the United Kingdom in their later years may suffer from declining strength, illness, and ultimately die a painful death due to the inability to receive the injections.

Once used, it signifies the end of one's path, preventing any further progress in life, and leading to a lifespan of one hundred years.

The Potential Version, developed in the United States, allows users to directly revert to their ancestral genes and bloodlines, awakening superpowers!

However, this potential version carries a 50% risk of genetic collapse.

Moreover, most people who revert to their ancestral ways can only obtain some superpowers that have little effect, such as ordinary fire control or wind control, and the risks and rewards are not proportional.

Therefore, after witnessing Western prescriptions firsthand, Yang Guicang deeply abhorred them and completely demystified this so-called strongman.

This is a poison that can be completely eradicated, just like the addictive genetic opium that was previously prevalent in China!

The Eagle Nation doesn't treat people like human beings, constantly injecting their interstellar colony soldiers with drugs, treating them as expendable resources.

Transmitted via starships, trillions upon trillions of soldiers at the Transformation Realm continuously ignited wars across the galaxy, colonizing one alien race after another. These soldiers were constantly conquering and seizing territory in interstellar space, dying wave after wave, never living to old age, so it didn't matter to them.

However, after the severing of the connection between heaven and earth, China's technology became weak, and it relied on martial arts as the foundation for defending the country.

Without masters of the Gang Jin (罡劲) as pillars of the nation, no amount of Hua Jin (化劲) can withstand Western technology and protect the country.

Any star destroyer could wipe out thousands or even tens of thousands of cultivators with a single shot.

If everyone embraces gene therapy in pursuit of pleasure...

How can one sift out the masters of Gang Jin from among billions of people?

Thinking of this, Yang Guicang felt a pang of heartache, but he also knew that embracing technology was an inevitable trend.

In the entire Celestial Empire, relying solely on arduous martial arts training, it would be difficult for even one Grandmaster of Transformation Realm to emerge from among hundreds of millions of people.

For ordinary people who lack natural talent and are unlikely to reach the level of Dark Force in their entire lives, even if they can only live for a hundred years, it is enough to enjoy the strength of Transformation Force as early as possible.

Thinking of this, Yang Guicang looked at Lu Zhixing in front of him and knew in his heart that he could not continue like this!

His expression turned slightly cold as he sensed the internal energy practitioners throughout the arena, knowing he had to find the sellers of the gene-enhancing drugs they were dealing with. He had always known that some powerful families in Tianjin were colluding with the West, secretly cultivating internal energy assassins.

But no one has ever dared to so openly sell this kind of potion to up-and-coming martial arts practitioners before; this time, they have crossed the line!

Those who buy medicine, get the medicine into their natural body-refining circle!

"This scourge must be eradicated!"

Yang Guicang hardened his heart, and his tone suddenly turned cold as he looked at Lu Zhixing:

"Zhixing, come with me, I have something to talk to you about!"

"Okay, Master!" Lu Zhixing was confused, but he still followed Yang Guicang's steps and headed towards the corner.

The further Yang Guicang walked, the colder his heart became.

As a disciple of the Transformation Realm, Lu Zhixing trusted him, so he saw that the disciple had made great progress and did not doubt him for a time.

Now, however, there is a pang of heartache from being betrayed.

At the other end of the venue, Ye Li remained leisurely, letting Le Yao affectionately link arms with him as they strolled through the bustling crowd.

Pei Taoyu followed calmly, but the killing intent in her heart was constantly building up. She wished she could just kill this woman whose identity was unknown. With Le Yao dragging her, the two stopped in front of a sugar figurine stall.

The sugar figurine maker was also skilled in traditional Chinese martial arts, and he was currently painting a sugar painting of Yang Shaohou's punch from a few days ago.

The sugar strands are skillfully manipulated in his hands, creating a lifelike effect that seems almost tangible, showcasing his exceptional craftsmanship.

The exquisite craftsmanship attracted a large crowd, but no one stepped forward even though five or six finished sugar paintings were already arranged beside the old man.

"Sir, how much are your sugar paintings?" a man asked, clearly interested.

The old man, his face etched with the wrinkles of time, wore a smug look as he held up the sugar figurine with the serial number on a bamboo stick and said:

"If you can take this sugar painting from me, I will not take a single penny; if not, I will not sell it for a thousand pieces of gold!"

Upon hearing this, the martial artist with internal strength immediately understood.

He naturally understood the old man's meaning: this was a martial arts contest to test their skills.

He lowered his waist and stood up straight, his right hand shooting out like lightning, his five fingers forming a claw, carrying a sharp gust of wind as he went straight for the sugar painting bamboo stick.

This seemingly simple grab actually contains the essence of grappling techniques, with the flickering fingers covering several pressure points of the sugar painting.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the bamboo skewer, the crystal-clear sugar painting depicting Yang Shaohou's heroic punch seemed to come alive.

With an extremely subtle tremor in the old man's wrist, the image formed by the sugar threads rippled gently like water.

It was this barely perceptible ripple that caused the Dark Force martial artist's sure-fire grab to miss in an instant!

His fingers brushed past the bamboo skewer, without touching even a single crumb of sugar.

"what?"

The martial artist with internal strength changed his expression slightly, clearly not expecting the old man's technique to be so exquisite.

Unconvinced, he took a deep breath, his blood and qi slightly congealed, and with both hands outstretched, he used an even more complex and exquisite grappling technique, his fingers whistling as he tried to disrupt the old man's rhythm with speed.

But in the old man's withered yet rock-solid hands, the sugar painting remained as if it were alive.

Every time the fingertips were about to touch it, it would glide away lightly by the slightest difference, or rotate and undulate slightly under the old man's wrist, always managing to avoid any grasping at just the right moment.

The old man was calm and composed, with a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he were plucking the strings of a musical instrument.

The martial artist with internal strength tried to grab the bamboo stick seven or eight times, but couldn't even touch the edge of it.

In the end, he could only reluctantly withdraw, clasping his hands in a fist and saying, "Sir, your technique is superb; I admire it!"

This scene was clearly witnessed by Yue Yao, who could tell that the old man was at least at the peak of the Dark Force realm. She thought to herself that this martial arts hall was indeed full of hidden talents. Looking at the sugar painting that had a touch of magic to it, she thought about the old man's skill.

With her limited control, trying to seize the sugar painting without damaging it through skillful manipulation was clearly wishful thinking.

Thinking of this, she grabbed Ye Li's arm and shook it, "Hey, Manager Ye~ do me a favor, I want that!"

Ye Li turned his head slightly, and Pei Taoyu gently tugged at Ye Li's other sleeve from behind, whispering "Senior." Ye Li felt the pull from both sides and glanced at the sugar paintings on the stall.

He walked up to the stall and said gently to the old man, "Sir, please give me two sugar paintings."

The old man raised his eyes, sizing up the exceptionally handsome young man before him, and noticing the two stunningly beautiful young women beside him, he understood. He stroked his beard and chuckled, slowly saying, "Young friend, you've seen the rules here. The sugar painting is here; if you want to take it, you'll have to prove your skill..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man felt a sudden dizziness, and the scene before him seemed to blur for a moment, as if he had taken a nap. This feeling was extremely brief and almost negligible.

However, when he came to his senses and looked closely, the calm smile on his face froze and his pupils suddenly contracted!

In Ye Li's hand, two crystal-clear sugar paintings were already held steadily!

The sugar painting was completely intact, not even a single strand of sugar trembled, and the old man himself didn't even see how Ye Li made his move! His fingers were still in the position of twirling his beard, but the sugar painting had already changed hands.

A storm raged in the old man's heart!

He had immersed himself in internal energy cultivation for many years, and considered his skills to be superb, as evidenced by the fact that the internal energy martial artist had failed to touch the sugar painting even slightly despite his repeated attacks. But this young man before him... how did he manage to do that?

Having reached the level of internal strength, he didn't think that moment of disorientation was a coincidence.

The old man broke out in a cold sweat, opened his mouth, and felt a dryness in his throat, realizing that he had encountered a master.

Ye Li, however, acted as if he had only done a trivial matter, turning around and handing the two sugar paintings to the girl beside him:

Here you go.

Pei Taoyu silently accepted the sugar painting, feeling the cool touch of the sugar threads on her fingertips, and said obediently in a low voice, "Thank you, senior."

Looking at the glistening sugar strands in her hand, and remembering that they were a gift from Ye Li, she suddenly felt reluctant to eat them.

But when she looked up, she saw Le Yao cheer and break the sugar painting in half, stuffing it into Ye Li's mouth right in front of her:

"Thank you, Manager Ye. But since you've helped me, how could I let you leave empty-handed? We'll split this sugar painting in half!"

Pei Taoyu:? ? ...! ! !

Amidst the shock in the girl's pupils, the two were practically inseparable, sharing food.

Watching Ye Li helplessly suck on the candy figurine that Le Yao had stuffed into his mouth, Pei Taoyu's hand trembled slightly involuntarily!

"That woman!!!"

Pei Taoyu stared blankly at the sugar figurine clutched tightly in her hand, a strong sense of frustration welling up inside her.

"Why didn't I think of that?"

Meanwhile, Ye Li seemed to sense something, and looked up at his own destiny: "A bloody calamity!"

"Is someone eyeing me?"

Thinking this, Ye Li turned his head away.

But not far away, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties was seen walking towards them.

The middle-aged man who approached slowly was dressed in a crisp, dark gray Zhongshan suit. The fabric was as sharp as if cut by a knife, and each button was carefully fastened to the collar, exuding the solemnity of an old-fashioned scholar.

Although he is nearly fifty years old, the years have etched fine lines between his brows and a few shallow marks of time at the corners of his eyes, but the refined elegance in his bone structure has not been worn away by time, and the handsome features of his youth can still be vaguely discerned.

In particular, his long, narrow eyes possessed the composure of a martial artist at the Transformation Realm, yet his gaze was like black jade tempered in a cold pool, its depths still reflecting the splendor of yesteryear.

His graying temples added to his weathered appearance, but only accentuated his profound and dignified bearing. His steps were silent and unassuming, like an ancient pine tree overlooking a deep abyss, captivating even in silence.

Following Ye Li's gaze, Le Yao peeked out and, seeing the man in the distance, said with a hint of nervousness:

"Dad! Why did you come here?"

"If I hadn't come over, how would I have found out you took Shao Shi and the others to get medication!"

The middle-aged man suppressed his anger, but his inner energy surged outwards, enveloping the surroundings.

Amidst the previously noisy crowd, a sudden chill ran through him, and he subconsciously touched his neck.

Then, guided by the killing intent of the transformed energy, it dispersed in all directions without anyone noticing, clearing out a large area.

Ye Li looked up and saw that there were seven or eight martial arts masters hidden among the scattered crowd.

A martial artist at the Transformation Realm is like a cicada sensing the autumn wind before it even blows; even when being followed, they are naturally wary of this tactic.

Before this, however, these martial artists had kept their aura and even their intentions hidden deep within their hearts, without even a trace of hostility.

Their gazes did not fall directly on Ye Li.

Instead, they locate Ye Li's position by observing the eyes of those around them or by the reflection in their glasses.

Zheng Yexiao could not hide his anger and said:

"The family rules have repeatedly forbade you from using gene-enhancing drugs, yet you not only used them yourself but also passed them on to others!" "If the other owners hadn't come knocking on our door to demand answers, I wouldn't have known you'd made such a huge mess."

As she spoke, Zheng Yexiao glared angrily at Ye Li and said:

"So you're the one who sold them the gene serum. What a pretty boy, quite good-looking. Are you Chinese or from Japan?" Ye Li calmly watched the encirclement shrink, showing no panic whatsoever. Instead, he quipped, "Is this a case of a pyramid scheme becoming a real-world operation?"

"Father, stop talking, let me explain."

Zheng Leyao released her grip and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Ye Li is different."

"Bewitched!"

Zheng Yexiao snorted coldly, looking at his stubborn daughter, and was about to slap her with his right hand.

In his rage, he did use some force, but the next moment Ye Li blocked his way and said:

"Hey, old man, do you want to hear your daughter's explanation?"

Ye Li has always had a bad temper, and what he hates most are those guys who won't listen to explanations and then run around blindly on their own.

He practiced martial arts so that he could forcefully preach reasoning to certain people who wouldn't listen to explanations!

Seeing the other party make a move, he didn't hold back and directly grabbed the old man's right hand.

Upon this initial exchange, sensing the opponent's blood and flesh circulating, Ye Li's expression subtly changed as he said:

"You, a mere cultivator at the Transformation Realm, have actually used gene-enhancing drugs?"

In Ye Li's perception, Zheng Yexiao's blood and qi were superimposed with a power that could vanish at any moment, making him outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

Her lifespan was even shorter than Pei Taoyu's, which clearly indicated that she had also received injections.

But that doesn't make sense!

If someone maintains their internal energy well, they can live for at least two hundred years. There is absolutely no need to take any risks.

Zheng Yexiao looked at Ye Li, who was twisting his right arm. Seeing that the other dared to resist, his anger intensified. He suddenly pulled his arm away, determined to fight. He exerted his strength from the ground, and the entire ground of the Tianjin Grand Competition venue trembled slightly!

"What happened? Was it an earthquake?"

"No! It's a Grandmaster of Internal Energy who's made a move! What terrifying power!"

However, under Ye Li's seemingly casual snap, this terrifying power that was enough to shake the earth was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, failing to move him in the slightest! Ye Li's figure didn't even sway, and not even the hem of his clothes was lifted up.

Zheng Yexiao's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and a storm raged in his heart!

As a master of internal energy transformation, his cultivation level was among the top in Tianjin; he could even move a small mountain several hundred meters high.

At this moment, he unleashed his full power, yet he was suppressed by a seemingly ordinary young man with one hand.

Judging from the boy's age, even a master of internal energy could not have such superhuman strength in his youth.

The only explanation is that this creature, as the source of the gene serum, also used forbidden drugs far beyond what is reasonable!

"This lad is troublesome! Everyone, act quickly and capture this scoundrel!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zheng Yexiao shouted out, his voice booming like thunder!

He thrust out his left palm, his five fingers pressed together like a knife, the tip pulsating with energy—a force of countless trillions of tons—unleashed in this single strike. With Zheng Yexiao's fierce shout, seven or eight terrifying auras, long poised to erupt, suddenly burst forth from several corners of the arena!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom...

Like a sleeping beast awakening, a terrifying pressure, like a tangible tsunami, crashed down from Ye Li's center!

A burly man, as imposing as an iron tower, shattered the ground with a single step, his figure shooting forward like a cannonball. His arms were bulging with muscles like dragons, and his fists struck out simultaneously. The force of his punches was as solid as a giant hammer, carrying a terrifying momentum that could crush mountains, as he slammed into Ye Li's back!

On the other side, a tall, thin old man in a blue robe flickered like a ghost, instantly closing in on Ye Li's left side. His withered fingers flicked repeatedly, and streams of highly refined blue finger energy were aimed directly at the major acupoints on Ye Li's body!

Even more striking was a middle-aged beauty who, with a flick of her wrist, unleashed dozens of fine silver needles, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, sealing off all of Ye Li's space to dodge! The other experts at the Transformation Realm also unleashed their unique skills, a cacophony of sword light, palm shadows, and leg strikes, completely enveloping Ye Li!

These masters of internal energy transformation are all terrifying beings whose punches and kicks can change the color of mountains and rivers and sink cities.

Although they had deliberately restrained their power to capture someone, their combined strength was still earth-shattering!

The violent shockwave swept through like a storm, instantly turning nearby stalls into dust!

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence!

All eyes were drawn to this sudden battle between grandmasters, and no one even paid attention to the fight taking place on the central arena. Countless martial artists were shocked; grandmasters of the Transformation Realm were rarely seen, yet now nearly several of them were ganging up on one person?

However, in that split second!

Ye Li, who was at the center of the attack, finally lost all traces of helplessness on his face, replaced by annoyance at the fact that his opponents were not listening to him. In his perception, the people who made this move were at least comparable to the third level of the Innate Realm, and some of the best of them had even reached the fifth level.

He gripped Zheng Yexiao's right arm with his hand, his five fingers slightly clenched.

Buzz! ! !

As everyone's expressions changed drastically, a terrifying energy, as vast as a mountain and as deep as the sea, suddenly erupted from Ye Li's body.

The finger-force, powerful enough to tear steel, seemed to be stuck in viscous amber, remaining motionless three inches away from Ye Li's body!

The massive hammer, powerful enough to shatter mountains, remained frozen in place, no longer moving.

The countless blue poison needles shooting through the sky were frozen in mid-air, unable to advance.

Ye Li released a massive amount of true energy from his body. This solidified, almost tangible true energy directly enveloped the group of attacking experts at the Transformation Realm, rendering them immobile. The expressions on the faces of the seven or eight Transformation Realm experts who had come to attack all turned to shock at that moment!

They felt as if they were locked in the depths of a star, their wildly charging figures frozen in mid-air, as if bound by billions of invisible chains!

"What is this thing! Is it some kind of Western telekinesis?"

Zheng Yexiao felt the terrifying blockade around him; martial arts qi and blood could not achieve this.

The entire venue was so quiet you could hear a pin drop!

Everyone who witnessed this scene was completely stunned!

Ye Li's indifferent gaze swept over the frozen statues around him, finally settling on Zheng Yexiao's face, whose pupils had widened in shock:

"That's why I told you, old man, I wanted you to hear my explanation."

Before he could finish speaking, Ye Li grabbed Zheng Yexiao's right arm and casually pressed it down!

"Thump!"

Zheng Yexiao, a top-tier master of internal energy in Tianjin, felt as if all his bones had been removed. His knees buckled and he collapsed heavily to the ground, powerless to resist. His knees slammed onto the broken bluestone slab with a dull thud.

Ye Li's gaze swept over the other frozen Grandmasters of Internal Energy:

"As for you..."

The invisible force field suddenly intensified! Those seven or eight solidified Grandmasters of Internal Energy were as if being gripped and kneaded by an invisible giant hand! With just a thought from Ye Li, these Grandmasters of Internal Energy, who were like immortals on land in the eyes of ordinary people, would instantly turn into horrific piles of flesh and blood fireworks, absolutely crushed! Absolutely terrifying!

At this moment, Ye Li was dressed in white, pure and immaculate.

Standing between the kneeling Zheng Yexiao and a group of Grandmasters of Internal Energy, bound by an invisible force and struggling in agony, he was like a god descending to earth, wielding the power of life and death. What... what kind of technique is this!

He single-handedly subdued nearly ten Grandmasters of Internal Energy!

This is beyond human capability! This is at least...

"Embracing the Dan? Or the Gang Jin?" Everyone was stunned, their minds in turmoil.

The answer is that Ye Li is merely at the first stage of the Innate Realm...

Ye Li's turn, however, amplified countless effects.

Under the effect of true qi, he could hold his own against these martial arts masters who were essentially blank slates with no skill points, let alone those at the Transformation Realm or even the Core Formation Realm. He stared indifferently at Zheng Yexiao, head bowed.

"Now, may I have you kneel down and listen to my explanation?"

[Monthly Pass]

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