Chapter 48: Three Punches to Defeat
Under the gaze of the crowd, Lin Yun leapt high into the air, his ten-thousand-year soul ring releasing a deep, black radiance.
Massive air currents swirled around him, compressing toward his dragon claw. The forcibly drawn-in air even formed a tornado, pressing down on Xu Sanshi, hidden within the Xuanwu Domain, with the weight of a giant elephant's trampling.
"Come on! Let me see just how strong you really are!" Xu Sanshi roared.
"Alright, I'll oblige," Lin Yun's light words drifted into his ears.
Then, at the peak of his momentum, Lin Yun became a golden meteor, descending with crushing air pressure.
Breaking Sky Dragon Fist!
Golden lightning crashed down into the stagnant waters of the Xuanwu Domain. In an instant, the domain covering half the stage exploded apart, sending countless streams of heavy black water scattering.
Boom!
Not only did the Xuanwu Domain shatter instantly, but even the stage—built from granite reinforced with molten iron—was split in two by Lin Yun's strike. Abyss-like fissures spread from the point of impact to both ends, dividing the stage completely.
As the dust slowly cleared, Lin Yun's figure emerged. He was bent at the waist, his fist pressed into the ground at the edge of the massive crack, the darkness of the chasm yawning beneath his knuckles.
Across the fissure, Xu Sanshi was on one knee, gasping for breath. Blood dripped from his mouth and nose, the Xuanwu Shield broken into countless fragments scattered around him.
Lin Yun rose slowly, rubbing his slightly numb arm, looking at Xu Sanshi with a playful expression.
This was his first time unleashing the Breaking Sky Dragon Fist at full power, and not in the form of an air cannon, but purely through physical strength. Without the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right claw bone in his right hand, even he might have suffered from the blow.
By combining the momentum of a high-altitude fall with the counterforce of the air cannon, he had unleashed a full-power strike that demolished the near-impenetrable Xuanwu Domain of an equal-level opponent in a single punch.
This—was the pinnacle of strength!
"Not bad. I acknowledge you," Lin Yun said seriously. "Even Teacher Zhou Yi, who called me trash, only lasted two punches against me. You, after taking two punches and still not falling, I am willing to call you the Outer Court's strongest defense."
"???" Xu Sanshi's pale face, drained by injury and soul power loss, instantly flushed the color of pig liver.
What did that mean? What the hell did that mean?!
In the stands, the Outer Court students exchanged baffled looks, their witty retorts stuck in their throats.
Only the freshmen of Class One nodded knowingly, their gazes toward Xu Sanshi tinged with respect.
As expected of one of the Twin Stars of the Outer Court—facing the Freshman King's iron fists, he had endured two punches!
"Xu Three Punches!"
No one knew which troublemaker shouted it first, but after a brief pause, the crowd's expressions turned strange. Soon, laughter erupted and the chant of "Xu Three Punches" filled the arena.
Beibei laughed so hard he held his stomach, tears streaming down his face.
From that day on, the nickname "Xu Three Punches" became an unshakable stain on Xu Sanshi's history. Yet in the future, he would wear it as a badge of honor.
"Back then, I held out for three punches against Lin Yun—that's how I got the name Xu Three Punches. And you lot? You couldn't even withstand one!"
No matter how future Xu Sanshi would spin it, the present him was struck by Lin Yun's punch from a distance, blacking out mid-air before he even hit the ground.
Too humiliating!
Yan Shaozhe, watching secretly, could only smile wryly. His gaze on Lin Yun, standing on stage with hands on his hips, was half amused, half appreciative.
"Ah, youth—reckless, spirited, full of fire," Yan Shaozhe chuckled with interest.
Xu Sanshi was one of the most important talents Shrek was grooming in this generation, ranking in the top five in importance among his peers—Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, Beibei, and Xu Sanshi himself. He was also a future pillar of Shrek.
Yan Shaozhe knew well the extent of Xu Sanshi's potential. Against someone of his own level, he would have to rely on the Radiant Holy Flame to wear Xu Sanshi down and see who would exhaust their soul power first.
Even setting aside everything else, just that Xuanwu Shield Formation enhanced by the Xuanwu's Strength was enough to leave him as helpless as Beibei—completely unable to break it.
Lin Yun had already proven his potential, shown that he was unrivaled among peers, and that fighting above his level was as effortless as eating or drinking.
For someone with such strength, arrogance was simply confidence. Yan Shaozhe took Lin Yun's self-reference as "this king" to mean he had accepted the title of Strongest Freshman King.
Who could have guessed that the "king" Lin Yun referred to was the King of the Golden Dragons!
"He does have a bit of my youthful flair."
Place the bet—go all in! For such a genius, Shrek was the only rightful home.
If he wanted resources, give him resources. If he wanted beauties, give him beauties. Fear only that he would refuse, never that he would ask.
Satisfied, Yan Shaozhe left, running through his schemes. Mu En had indeed ordered him not to act too aggressively toward Lin Yun, but that did not prevent him from extending goodwill.
Once the referee confirmed that Xu Sanshi had suffered no serious injuries, the result of the match was announced.
Since this bout was counted as a lower-year challenging a higher-year, Xu Sanshi had to pay Lin Yun one hundred gold soul coins. Though the amount was about as insignificant as a mosquito's leg, Lin Yun still pocketed it.
Why leave it behind? The Golden Dragon King had a fondness for shiny things.
Thus, Lin Yun left the Soul Arena surrounded by a crowd of adoring fans, while Xu Sanshi was carried to the infirmary by Beibei for treatment.
Though Lin Yun had not inflicted major physical injuries, Xu Sanshi—having awakened the Xuanwu, nearly broken through once, and later having his Xuanwu Domain shattered—had drained his soul power to the limit and would inevitably face bloodline backlash.
It would not cause lasting harm, but for the next ten to fifteen days, he could forget about getting out of bed, let alone cultivating.
Conversely, the ones who benefitted tonight were Jiang Nannan and Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao gained quick fame thanks to the battle between Lin Yun and Xu Sanshi, and because Lin Yun had once bought twenty grilled fish from his stall at once. Those who had watched the fight all eyed his grilled fish with envy.
By the next day, his stall would surely be swarming with customers.
Jiang Nannan, on the other hand, had eaten a grilled fish from Lin Yun seasoned with special spices. For an entire week afterward, her cultivation speed increased by thirty percent. Only then did she realize that buying that fish for five copper soul coins had been a massive bargain.
Lin Yun cared for none of this. The only thing on his mind was—
Zhou Yi had recovered…
(End of Chapter)
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