However, the hearts of Lin Feng and Su Hen sank. A flash of light erupted from Shen Daofeng's chest, blocking Shen Lang's swift kick. In the end, it was not Shen Daofeng who was sent flying, but Shen Lang, who took three steps back!
"Hahaha! You waste, you actually dare to fight me? I am at the Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven! I'm also wearing the Black Gold Iron Armor. A piece of trash like you couldn't break my defense even if you used every ounce of your strength. You still want to fight? Prepare to die!" Shen Daofeng tore his white robes off and tossed them aside, revealing a dark gold breastplate as he laughed with wild abandon.
By now, more and more people were gathering in the woods. Having noticed the commotion, they all crowded around to watch.
Tayun Academy didn't prohibit duels. As long as no one was killed, you could fight until the sky fell—of course, if you damaged any academy property, you had to pay for it, or you'd face the consequences.
"Sigh, what's with Shen Lang? Doesn't he usually just sleep in class? Why is he being so reckless? Daring to fight Shen Daofeng, who's already at the Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven... isn't that just asking for death?"
"Exactly. He can't cultivate at all. He's only at the Martial Power Realm Second Heaven right now. Even without the Black Gold Iron Armor, Shen Daofeng could crush him in an instant. The difference in their cultivation is just too vast."
"Shen Daofeng may look like a fat oaf, but he's actually quite cunning. Look at his timing—it's perfect. He waited until that Little Witch, Xue Dangdang, wasn't at the academy to seize this chance…"
Almost no one in the crowd thought Shen Lang had a chance. The gap in their cultivation was simply too great.
And even in the unlikely event that Shen Daofeng was at a disadvantage, his whole gang would just rush in. Shen Lang and his two friends would have no choice but to take a beating.
The harder they fought back, the worse the beating would be.
Of course, the idea of Shen Daofeng losing was impossible, especially to Shen Lang. The "waste" moniker he'd carried for a decade wasn't for show. His "Celestial Vein Sacred Body"—an inability to cultivate—had been personally diagnosed by the Dean. There was absolutely no way it could be wrong.
Besides, everyone at Tayun Academy knew full well that Shen Lang had done nothing but sleep through his classes for ten years. Ten whole years!
If a waste like that could defeat a Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven expert wearing Black Gold Iron Armor, then pigs could fly!
As Shen Lang and Shen Daofeng faced off, a young woman in silver armor emerged from the other side of the woods. She was about the same age as Shen Lang, around sixteen. Her heavy armor couldn't conceal her slender figure, and her flowing blonde hair shone like gold in the setting sun. With a fair complexion and delicate features, she was the kind of beauty who turned heads wherever she went.
However, the glacial indifference on her face was so intimidating that it made people keep their distance.
"Senior Sister Qinghan, Shen Daofeng is dueling someone over there. Don't you want to go watch?"
Ye Qinghan's expression remained unchanged as she replied coldly, "A good-for-nothing who relied on pills to reach the Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven. What's there to see? It's not like he can fight anyone worthwhile."
As she was about to walk past the other girl, the girl's eyes widened. She said timidly, "But… the one he's fighting is Shen Lang! You know, the one whose father came to your family to propose marriage, the one you rejected. That waste, Shen Lang!"
"Oh, it's him…" Ye Qinghan slowed her pace, a flicker in her eyes.
Just then, Shen Lang and Shen Daofeng separated once more. Seemingly tired of his cat-and-mouse game, Shen Daofeng's bloated body seemed to compress and grow leaner. A misty, cyan python materialized behind him, and a furious Gang Feng began to form rapidly within its maw!
Several gasps erupted from the crowd.
"That Shen Daofeng has no patience. They've only been fighting for a moment and he's already summoned his Martial Soul."
"A Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven expert needing his Martial Soul to deal with a Martial Power Realm Second Heaven waste? If word of this gets out, he'll be a total laughingstock."
"Shen Lang is finished. A full-powered punch from a Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven expert, the Third Floor of the Shen Family's Yellow Tier Technique, Tyrant Dragon Fist, plus the Cyan Flame Gang Wind from the Sky-splitting Python Martial Soul… Damn, Shen Daofeng is trying to cripple him in a single blow! That's too vicious!"
"What, you pity Shen Lang? The guy is an idiot. Insisting on acting tough against an opponent this much stronger than him… this is what he gets. After he takes this hit, he probably won't be a student at Tayun Academy anymore—no, he won't be a *waste* at Tayun Academy anymore."
From within the crowd, a hint of mockery appeared in Ye Qinghan's eyes. She said coolly, "His speed is decent, but his power is lacking. He isn't taking the opportunity to attack while his opponent's Martial Soul gathers power; instead, he's just waiting for him to charge up. Their cultivation levels are already worlds apart, yet he still wants to meet him head-on. He's not just a waste, he's a moron."
With a slight shake of her head, she turned and began to walk away.
"Senior Sister Qinghan, you're not going to watch the rest?" the other girl asked, stunned.
"Watch what? The bloody aftermath?" Ye Qinghan replied without turning back.
"Hahahaha! Shen Lang, are you shocked to see the Martial Soul behind me? Are you jealous? Want a taste of its power? I'll show you the insurmountable gap between someone who has a Martial Soul and someone who doesn't!" Shen Daofeng roared with maniacal laughter.
Shen Lang raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "I was just curious to see what your pathetic Martial Soul could do. Why else would I let you fiddle around for so long? Did you really think I can't touch you just because you're wearing a turtle shell? I only need two fingers to destroy that armor of yours."
"Tch! That kid Shen Lang must be scared out of his mind to be spouting such nonsense! Unless you have a cultivation at the Qi Martial Realm Third Heaven or higher, who could possibly break the defense of the Black Gold Iron Armor with their bare fists? It would be one thing if he had a Spiritual Artifact, but to make such a wild claim empty-handed!"
"It makes sense. Shen Daofeng is at the Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven, wearing the Black Gold Iron Armor, and has the Sky-splitting Python Martial Soul. He's just being a bully. It's only natural for Shen Lang to try and win a verbal spat since he can't win the fight… It's just a bit pathetic. He's running his mouth now, but he'll suffer even more for it after Shen Daofeng injures him."
"He deserves whatever he gets. The guy has a death wish. Faced with an enemy like this, the smartest thing to do is run!"
"Young Master Lang, don't fight him! Let's run!" Lin Feng and Su Hen shouted, their voices on the verge of tears.
At that moment, the giant python Martial Soul behind Shen Daofeng finished gathering its power. His right fist blazed with Spirit Light as he threw a punch at Shen Lang.
At the same time, the cyan python behind him opened its massive maw, and a ball of inky-black Gang Feng shot toward Shen Lang with incredible speed.
"All talk! Die, you waste! Tyrant Dragon Fist, Third Form: Dragon Shaking the Nine Heavens!"
As expected from an expert at the peak of the Martial Power Realm Ninth Heaven, Shen Daofeng's punch was astonishing. The terrifying force of the blow, accompanied by a piercing whistle, reached Shen Lang in an instant. It seemed he had no chance to even dodge!
"What crappy Tyrant Dragon Fist? It's complete garbage. Transplanting and Grafting!" Shen Lang barked. He cupped his hands as if forming a pouch and spun with the immense force of the punch. Those with sharp eyes could see a faint halo of light form between his palms, catching the full force of the blow within it.
The next second, something happened that made everyone's jaws drop. As if he had caught a ball in an invisible net, Shen Lang casually redirected it to the side!
The ferocious force of Shen Daofeng's punch had changed direction, slamming directly into the group of lackeys who had come with him.
BOOM!
"Oh my god!"
A chorus of pained cries echoed through the air as the unprepared group of cronies was sent flying.
The strongest among them were only at the Martial Power Realm's Fifth and Sixth Heavens, several tiers below Shen Daofeng, and they were caught completely off guard.
The punch instantly inflicted serious injuries on the few in the front. They coughed up blood, unable to even speak…
Before anyone could react, something even more astonishing happened. Just as Shen Lang redirected the punch, the Sky-splitting Python's Gang Feng was already upon him. This time, there was no way to dodge!
But on this day, Shen Lang was apparently determined to shock everyone to their core. He stomped his right foot hard on the ground. With a crackle of air, he shot backward.
In the brief moment he created a bit of distance from the Gang Feng, he made a move that left everyone dumbfounded!
He changed his fist into a palm, forming a Hand Saber that chopped at the ball of Gang Feng with unbelievable speed, as if he were slicing a watermelon with a sharp knife…
And just like a watermelon, the terrifying ball of Gang Feng from the Sky-splitting Python shattered into pieces in mid-air before vanishing completely, as if it had never been there at all.
"Damn it, am I seeing things…?" People in the crowd rubbed their eyes furiously, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
"Redirecting the punch might be because he learned some powerful Cultivation Technique, but what about the Sky-splitting Python's Gang Feng? That thing has the power to tear through Profound Iron! It's not a real watermelon…"
Ye Qinghan, who had only taken a few steps, turned back with a look of utter astonishment. She muttered to herself, "This… is impossible!"
The crowd was stunned. Ye Qinghan was stunned. Su Hen and Lin Feng were stunned. Even Shen Daofeng, standing in the center of it all, was stunned.
Shen Daofeng hadn't spent all that time building up power for a furious strike just to defeat Shen Lang. He wanted to cripple him completely!
'After all,' he'd thought, 'his father is bedridden with a serious illness and is no longer the Clan Leader. His sister is off at Jialan Academy in the Imperial Capital. Even if I cripple him, there's no one who would stand up for him…'
The only thing on his mind had been how badly Shen Lang would be injured, and the satisfying scene of beating and cursing the boy to vent his anger afterward.
He had never imagined this outcome—not even for a second!
But now…