The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Chapter 67, Part 1

Many people were secretly worried for Li Yuan on the other side. Could this kid follow in the footsteps of Lu Qing, the genius of the Qingniu Martial Arts Society back then?

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yichen's figure had already torn through the air!

With a "crack," the bluestone of the arena beneath his feet exploded into flying debris, and he burst forth like a magnificent tiger that had been gathering its strength for a long time.

In a flash, his palms turned crimson like blood, and the large tendons, like red-hot iron chains, bulged out from under his skin, while his bones crackled like bamboo joints burning.

Before the scorching palm wind even arrived, it had already pressed Li Yuan's clothes tightly against his chest, as if it wanted to rip his heart out!

"Thunderbolt that pierces the sky!"

This strike will shatter life and death, and solidify its reputation!

The strong wind blew like knives in his face, but Li Yuan didn't even flinch.

He didn't even take a step back, but simply shifted his weight forward, his right arm outstretched like an ancient ape reaching for fruit, his five fingers slightly closed as if grasping the moonlight, and casually met the attack with the "Azure Dragon Probe" stance, the introductory stance of Dragon Form Fist.

His posture was so relaxed that it didn't seem like a life-or-death struggle, but rather like brushing fallen flowers off his shoulder.

"Arrogant!"

Xiao Yichen's eyes burned with fierce light, his inner strength erupted like a volcano, and his arm bones sturdied like a fully drawn bow.

With this palm strike, he intended to shatter Li Yuan's entire arm bone into pieces!

Fist and palm meet—

boom-!!!

It wasn't the dull thud of flesh colliding, but rather the explosive sound of two massive hammers clashing against each other!

A shockwave exploded outwards from the two people, creating a ring of dust that caused the robes of nearby onlookers to flutter wildly.

Li Yuan's seemingly soft arm suddenly stiffened like iron the moment it was touched!

A series of dull, thunderous sounds erupted from his body, from his heels to his spine, from his shoulder blades to the edges of his palms, the "buzzing" vibrations of his tendons snapping and popping resounding throughout the entire arena.

A terrifying force, as powerful as raging waves crashing against the shore and as fierce as Mount Tai collapsing, instantly flowed through his entire arm and exploded with a roar!

The sinister smile on Xiao Yichen's face froze instantly.

He felt as if he had hit not his palm, but a city wall made of steel!

The palm strike, the culmination of a lifetime's work, was crushed like an egg hitting a rock by a purer, more refined, and vast energy!

The force of the recoil was devastating. The bones of his entire right arm emitted a tooth-grinding "crunch," his tiger's mouth split open, and before blood could even splatter, he was blasted off the ground by an irresistible force and shot backward like a cannonball!

puff-

Fresh blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushed from his mouth, leaving a blinding trail of blood in the air.

Li Yuan's movements did not falter in the slightest.

Just as Xiao Yichen lost control and fell backward, leaving his chest wide open, a cold glint flashed in Li Yuan's eyes, like a bolt of lightning flashing across a deep pool!

He suddenly stomped down with his left heel, and the bluestone slab shattered with a "crack" like a spider web.

Within a fraction of a breath, the five fingers of his right palm clenched into a chisel-like shape. The originally fierce and unparalleled shockwave suddenly collapsed, transforming into a sinister force.

A terrifying finger strike that is concise, spiraling, and penetrating.

The speed at which he switched between strength and gentleness was as if he had a completely different set of muscles and bones controlling him!

Dragon Form Fist's deadly move, Rising Dragon Strike!

With a light flick of his finger, the air emitted a piercing shriek like a viper spitting its tongue, aiming straight for the slightly protruding vertebrae in Xiao Yichen's back—the pivot of his internal energy circulation and the lifeline of a martial artist's power!

Li Yuan's fingertips, like steel nails heated to incandescence, had precisely driven into that bone crevice.

The spiraling force, like a carbuncle clinging to the bone, penetrates without any obstruction.

Click!

Click, click-click—!

A series of dense, crisp, and chilling cracking sounds, like someone in the silent night, was using a hammer to shatter glass inch by inch across the floor.

That was the sound of death—the disintegration of the vertebrae and the breaking of tendons and ligaments.

Xiao Yichen's body convulsed violently in mid-air, as if pierced and nailed to the ground by an invisible spear.

The color drained from his face instantly, his pupils dilated sharply, and extreme horror was swallowed up by a tidal wave of excruciating pain and despair.

"boom!"

He crashed onto the ring like a bag of broken bones and rotten flesh, his limbs bent at bizarre angles, convulsing and twitching unconsciously.

Only his neck could still twitch slightly, his unfocused pupils stared fixedly at the sky, the last glimmer of light completely swallowed by darkness.

The spinal center is broken, tendons and bones are shattered.

The injuries were exactly the same as Lu Qing's back then.

The entire venue was deathly silent, as if frozen.

Even the sound of breathing disappeared; time itself was ground to dust in that instant.

The members of Tianlong Martial Arts School stood frozen in place, as if encased in ice.

Xiao Changfeng's smile suddenly froze, cracking and peeling away inch by inch in an instant, finally solidifying into a dead ashes.

Shock, rage, and disbelief surged in his eyes like boiling oil.

The whetstone he had carefully chosen instantly transformed into a guillotine aimed at severing his martial arts foundation and even his life!

His face was ashen, his beard and hair stood on end, and his eyes were filled with fury like a volcanic eruption, but a hint of fear, which he himself was unwilling to admit, flashed deep within them.

Li Yuan slowly withdrew his fingers, the movement as gentle as brushing away a speck of dust from his sleeve.

"Fists and kicks have no eyes," Li Yuan said, his voice not loud, but clear enough to pierce the deathly silence, each word like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate. "The life-or-death agreement was signed beforehand, and in a fight, death or injury is left to fate. Senior Xiao must know this better than anyone."

The intense afternoon sun shone on his calm, expressionless profile, yet it seemed to be shielded by an invisible chill, revealing no warmth whatsoever, only an icy coldness.

No one responded; only a bone-chilling cold crept up everyone's spine, freezing their blood and breath.

On the arena, you could hear a pin drop.

Only Xiao Yichen's body twitched unconsciously, causing a faint "hoarse...hoarse..." sound to escape from his throat.

The sound was intermittent, yet like a rusty, dull saw, scraping back and forth against everyone's eardrums and heart.

hiss-!

Finally, someone gasped in shock, breaking the suffocating silence.

"His spine... is completely shattered! Xiao Yichen... is utterly crippled!"

"The pillar that forms the backbone of Tianlong Martial Arts School... has just... collapsed!"

The whispers exploded like water into boiling oil, instantly spreading to every corner and creating an uncontrollable uproar.

Deep down, many of the experts present had a barely perceptible hint of relief, or even schadenfreude, in their eyes.

The elimination of Xiao Yichen, the most promising threat, is a devastating blow to Tianlong Martial Arts School, but great news for their respective forces.

Does Tianlong Martial Arts Academy want to train another Xiao Yichen?

It's as difficult as climbing to heaven.

After a brief period of extreme shock, the Yan family camp was overwhelmed with ecstasy and unbelievable excitement.

Yan clutched her shoulder, gazing at the imposing figure on the arena, her heart churning with turbulent emotions.

She might not be able to accurately measure the level of martial arts cultivation, but the earth-shattering reversal of the situation on the field, the sudden change in the expressions of Xiao Changfeng and others, and the whispers around her mixed with fear and awe all clearly told her—what an amazing thing Li Yuan had done!

"Xiao Yichen, the number one master of internal energy... Li Xun... he actually won!" Liang Bai's voice trembled, his face flushed with excitement. He could barely control himself, gripping the shoulders of the guard beside him tightly. "To have such a respected figure... we are truly incredibly lucky!"

In stark contrast to the almost boiling excitement on the Yan family's side, the Tianlong Martial Arts School was in a deathly silence, as if plunged into an ice cave.

The color drained from the faces of all the disciples, their confident smiles frozen in place, replaced by fear and dismay.

Looking at the inhuman, still slightly twitching "thing" on the stage, many people's teeth chattered and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

"Ah—! Senior Brother Xiao!"

"Master! Master! Senior Brother Xiao, he..."

..!

The deathly silence was ripped apart by the piercing shouts. Several Tianlong disciples awoke as if from a dream, staggering onto the arena. They frantically lifted the limp body and rushed towards the medical hall in a panic, each step filled with desperate panic.

"Good! Good! Good!!"

Xiao Changfeng's voice was forced out, each word distinct and deliberate, through clenched teeth.

There was no smile left on his face, his head was buzzing, and his vision even went black for a moment. He only managed to stay upright because of his rage.

His own son, the successor on whom he had placed great hopes, was completely crippled right before his eyes!

His gaze was like a poisoned ice spike, fixed on Li Yuan, as if he wanted to tear him to pieces.

This defeat not only tarnished Xiao Changfeng's reputation and the prestige of Tianlong Martial Arts School, but also severed the fortunes of his family and sect for decades to come!

But he didn't move.

If he were to personally intervene at this moment, disregarding his status, it would only bring shame upon the Tianlong Martial Arts School and the reputation of "Cloud Piercing Hand," and make him a laughingstock for "bullying the weak" and "being a sore loser."

In full view of everyone, a fistfight to determine the winner has been an unwritten rule in Linjiang City for many years, and it's a situation they themselves actively provoked.

Now, he has to swallow the bitter pill. No matter how unwilling or resentful he is, he cannot openly go back on his word.

It's rare to find someone as skilled as Xiao Yichen, who's at the half-step Transformation Realm, willing to exchange blows.

His collapse left the Cheng family unsure how to face all the possibilities that lay ahead.

The shopkeepers, wealthy households, and representatives of various factions watching the battle all gasped in horror at the tragic scene of Xiao Yichen being hastily carried away, with bloodstains running through his veins.

When he looked again at the young figure on the stage, slowly finishing his stance with a calm and almost indifferent expression, his gaze had completely changed.

Fear, apprehension, reassessment... a multitude of complex emotions surged within me.

This Li Yuan, despite his young age, is so shrewd and decisive, crushing Xiao Yichen with ease. His ruthlessness and strength are chilling.

"Li Xun!"

Liang Bai rushed onto the dilapidated arena and quickly reached out to support Li Yuan, who seemed to sway slightly. His face, still beaming with joy, was now filled with concern as he urgently asked, "How are your injuries? Can you still hold on?"

'

"...It's alright, my blood and qi are just a little turbulent, I'll be fine after a short rest." Li Yuan's voice was a little lower than usual, with a hint of deliberately suppressed "emptiness," and his face also showed a bit of "paleness" after the fierce battle.

He naturally wouldn't reveal that he still had energy left at this moment, so he leaned some of his weight on Liang Bai's arm, perfectly portraying the appearance of being exhausted and struggling to support himself after a fierce battle.

boom-

The Yan family's resurgence caused an uproar.

Yan jumped up from her chair, completely disregarding her eight-month pregnancy, and excitedly called out to the guards, "Bring those three 'Glass Fish' and deliver them to Master Li's residence!"

She looked at Li Yuan with a smile and said gently, "Please don't refuse, Master Li. Consider it a small token of the Liang and Yan families' appreciation. This item is extremely effective in nourishing blood and qi..."

"I will follow your arrangements, sister-in-law," Li Yuan replied, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Liang Bai said excitedly, "I have a suggestion."

"What?"

"If Li Xun doesn't mind, could my wife's unborn child recognize you as its godfather?"

Li Yuan smiled calmly, "It's my good fortune, so why can't it be?"

The inner hall of the backyard of the Qingniu Martial Arts Society.

The candlelight flickered gently, illuminating Lin Chong's face, which was unusually relaxed.

His chest heaved a few times, and he exhaled a long breath, his eyes almost overflowing with admiration.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He exclaimed three times, then slammed his palm heavily on Li Yuan's shoulder with a solid force, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "Well done! A truly exhilarating battle! From this day forward, any petty thieves in Linjiang City who dare to covet the Green Ox Martial Society will have to think twice!"

"Without Master's many years of meticulous guidance, I would not be where I am today." Li Yuan said calmly, bowing slightly.

Lin Chong waved his hand, but his gaze drifted to the deep night outside the window. The admiration on his face slowly subsided, turning into a complex sense of melancholy.

If Lu Chen had half of Li Yuan's composure and forbearance... He sighed silently, suppressing this depressing thought.

When he turned around, his expression had become serious again.

"Enough said." Lin Chong's tone turned solemn. "But you must understand, by crippling Xiao Yichen, you've overturned the table of Tianlong Martial Arts School, cutting off Xiao Changfeng's future hopes and support. This man is vengeful, and this matter will absolutely not end here."

He took two steps closer, the candlelight casting his shadow on the wall, making him appear preoccupied: "These days, we must keep a low profile, and remain hidden as much as possible. Even when we go out, we must be vigilant and attentive to our surroundings. Tianlong Martial Arts School has been operating in Linjiang for many years, with deep roots, and Xiao Changfeng himself has reached the pinnacle of internal energy transformation, making him no easy opponent. He may have to respect the rules in open duels, but the hidden traps and sneak attacks are impossible to guard against."

"I understand, and I will be careful," Li Yuan nodded.

Li Yuan acts according to his own methods; he would not have resorted to such drastic measures if he did not have something to rely on or consider.