The midday sun was intense, raising the temperature to around 3 to 4 degrees Celsius. On a small plaza beside the cliff on the back mountain of the Boundless Daoist Temple, hundreds of disciples from various sects mingled with hundreds of young disciples from the Boundless Daoist Temple.
All eyes were focused on the arena. Wan Yunting and Zhu Yangyu, having adopted offensive stances, locked eyes. Neither made the first move, their confrontation lasting for a full minute.
Finally, Zhu Yangyu, unable to contain his impatience, strode towards Wan Yunting. He pushed off the ground with his left foot, soaring into the air. Twisting his waist, he swung his right leg with formidable force, like a fierce tiger lashing its tail, aiming directly for Wan Yunting's head.
As quick as thought, his attack was swift and powerful. But Wan Yunting was no mere punching bag. He tilted his body back a few degrees. His eyes clearly registered Zhu Yangyu's kick, clad in Daoist cloth shoes, whipping his hair with a gust of wind. Wan Yunting distinctly felt the force of the kick, realizing that an ordinary person struck in the head would be either killed or crippled.
In an instant, Wan Yunting moved. Before Zhu Yangyu could even land, he surged forward, transforming his hands into open palms and pushing forcefully towards Zhu Yangyu's abdomen.
Zhu Yangyu's narrow eyes widened. As he spun and landed, he raised his left foot, using his thigh to guard his abdomen, blocking Wan Yunting's fierce palm strike. Immediately, before his feet were even on the ground, he was propelled several meters back. He stumbled several steps after landing, nearly falling off the edge of the arena. Fortunately, he regained his balance just in time.
This scene caused Sima Wentang, Wei Ping, and others below the arena to widen their eyes in astonishment. Sima Boyong, seated in the front row, narrowed his small eyes, staring intently at Wan Yunting on the stage. Wan Yunting had once again assumed his stance, his hands now formed into palms, displaying the offensive and defensive posture of the Five Elements Palm.
"Five Elements Palm!"
Wu Weizi and Yang Jingyi's expressions turned to surprise upon seeing Wan Yunting adopt the Five Elements Palm stance. Sima Boyong turned to look at Chang Wude and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Chang, I didn't expect you to teach him our Boundless Daoist Temple's ultimate skill, the Five Elements Palm. It seems you value this disciple greatly."
"Heh heh."
Chang Wude glanced at him and replied proudly, "He is my personal disciple, so naturally, I have imparted all my lifelong learning to him."
Wu Weizi nodded and said, "Senior Brother Chang's personal disciple has, at such a young age, already broken through to Hua Jin and entered the realm of Dan Jin in martial arts. He is truly a prodigy."
"He is in the Dan Jin realm of martial arts? How is that possible?"
Shi Yizhen, the sect leader of the Hua Shan sect, seated nearby, was immediately astonished upon hearing that Wan Yunting had reached the Dan Jin realm.
"Yes, this young man doesn't look to be over thirty years old."
Elder Zhang Qing, gazing at Wan Yunting on the stage, who was once again facing off against Zhu Yangyu, remarked, "It is fortunate for this old man to witness such a martial arts prodigy who has broken through to the Dan Jin realm before the age of thirty. Truly rare."
"Indeed. It is surprising that the Boundless Daoist Temple could produce such a talent. Even among our various sects over the past century, we have never encountered a young person who reached the Dan Jin realm before the age of thirty," Master Huikong agreed.
After all, the breakthrough from Hua Jin to Dan Jin was a watershed moment in martial arts. Many martial artists, before the age of thirty, were essentially stuck in the late Hua Jin stage. Only then, some with exceptionally high talent could break through to the Dan Jin realm between thirty and forty years old.
However, most only reached the Dan Jin realm in middle age, or even old age.
Therefore, most of the martial artists in the Dan Jin realm among the various sects were over thirty years old. It was extremely rare to see practitioners who could break through to Dan Jin in their twenties.
"What's so amazing about that? My Senior Sister Zhou is only 28 years old and she has also broken through to the Dan Jin realm!"
Jiang Tingxia, standing behind Abbess Yun Bai, couldn't help but interject when she saw the sect leaders and masters of the various sects praising Wan Yunting on the stage.
"Junior Sister..."
Zhou Ruoxi, beside her, immediately tugged at her, urging her not to speak out of turn.
The sect leaders and masters seated in front, along with Master Huikong and Elder Zhang Qing, all turned to look at Zhou Ruoxi, making her feel a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, it seems the Emei sect has also produced a remarkable martial arts prodigy," Liu Bing said with a smile to Abbess Yun Bai.
Abbess Yun Bai nodded and replied, "My Senior Brother's personal disciple is indeed a good prospect for martial arts. However, young people must remain humble and low-key. As the saying goes, there is always someone better, and there are mountains beyond mountains."
These words were directed at Jiang Tingxia and Zhou Ruoxi behind her. The little girl adorably stuck out her tongue at Abbess Yun Bai from behind, making a funny face. Zhou Ruoxi quickly held her back, knowing her junior aunt was very strict.
Wan Yunting on the stage then proactively attacked Zhu Yangyu. The two exchanged blows on the arena, and in the blink of an eye, several rounds had passed. Zhou Ruoxi's eyes were fixed on the two figures on the stage, her expression serious, as if observing them intently.
*Pa pa...!*
This time, Wan Yunting used the ultimate internal skill of the Boundless Daoist Temple, the Five Elements Palm. Accompanied by his unpredictable footwork, he moved like a descending fierce tiger, launching a swift and fierce attack on Zhu Yangyu. His hands also changed with incredible speed, and a subtle sound of internal energy being unleashed could be heard in the air, making soft *pa pa* noises. Wu Weizi, watching from below the arena, couldn't help but nod in admiration, "I didn't expect Senior Brother Chang's disciple to have already mastered the Five Elements Palm to the point where his palm strikes produce sound. Truly remarkable."
The Five Elements Palm was the ultimate internal skill of the Boundless Daoist Temple, taught only to disciples with exceptional talent within the sect. For example, disciples like Wei Ping, Xu Lingwei, Zeng Yongchang, and Qi Wu were qualified to practice the Five Elements Palm.
However, witnessing Wan Yunting execute the Five Elements Palm, his movements flowing like water, each palm strike accompanied by a faint sound, astonished Wei Ping, Zeng Yongchang, and Qi Wu below. This was because they had not yet mastered the Five Elements Palm to the stage where their strikes could produce sound.
Sima Boyong narrowed his small eyes, his gaze fixed on Wan Yunting on the stage with a cold glint. He never expected this小子's martial arts to be so profound, to have mastered the Five Elements Palm to such a degree. No wonder the two men he had sent earlier, Liu Zi and Men Hulu, couldn't kill him and were instead killed by him!
*Pa pa...*
Wan Yunting on the stage was like a pouncing tiger, his palm strikes exploding in the air. He forced Zhu Yangyu to retreat repeatedly, pushing him almost to the edge of the arena.
This caused Zhu Yangyu's expression to turn grim and his gaze to become sharp. He was growing anxious. If Wan Yunting continued to push him like this, he would surely be forced off the stage. Just as his right foot was about to step off the right side of the arena, he suddenly leaped into the air, somersaulting directly over Wan Yunting's head. He then landed steadily in the center of the arena. Following this, he attacked swiftly, clenching his fists and lunging at Wan Yunting, attempting to catch him off guard and knock him off the stage.
As fast as it seemed, by the time Wan Yunting reacted, Zhu Yangyu had already charged forward, his fists striking him simultaneously. This immediately caused Li Zihang, Xu Lingwei, Jiang Tingxia, and Zhou Ruoxi, watching from below the arena, to tense up.
Could he be knocked off the stage just like that?
However, Wan Yunting reacted in an instant. He leaped forcefully, propelling himself over two meters into the air, causing Zhu Yangyu's attack to miss. Zhu Yangyu seemed not to have expected his opponent to imitate him. Thus, he overextended himself, almost rushing off the stage and falling.
Fortunately, he managed to stop himself with his toes at the edge of the arena. He immediately twisted around. Wan Yunting, having landed on the ground, did not seize the opportunity to attack him. Instead, he chuckled, retreated to the center of the arena, resumed his stance, and then beckoned provocatively with his left hand towards Zhu Yangyu, saying, "Come again."
Sima Wentang and Wei Ping, watching from below, breathed a sigh of relief when Zhu Yangyu managed to resolve the intense collision. However, seeing Wan Yunting's provocative demeanor made them clench their teeth in frustration. If others weren't present, Sima Wentang would have yelled at Zhu Yangyu to kill the scoundrel.
"Heh heh, Senior Sister Zhou, this Junior Brother Wan is quite amusing, isn't he?"
Jiang Tingxia couldn't help but giggle as she watched Wan Yunting on the stage provoke Zhu Yangyu.
Zhou Ruoxi smiled faintly and replied, "Being too high-profile will only lead to a miserable end."
Jiang Tingxia turned her head and looked at her askance, pouting, "Then do you think Junior Brother Wan will lose?"
Zhou Ruoxi said calmly, "His opponent is not weak!"
Facing Wan Yunting's provocation, Zhu Yangyu's face darkened completely. He immediately unleashed a powerful aura, as if a black mist emanated from his body. Those watching from below the arena could clearly sense an unusual presence. Someone exclaimed, "Brother Boyong's disciple is also in the Dan Jin realm!"
Sima Boyong chuckled and nodded to Lu Chenzi, "Yes, Yangyu broke through to Dan Jin in early last year. Now he has stepped into the mid-stage of Dan Jin."
"Wow, that's impressive. Mid-stage Dan Jin, where one can condense the form of the Dan. The internal energy is far more potent than early Dan Jin," Lu Chenzi said with a smile.
Others also nodded in agreement, as Dan Jin was a critical stage in martial arts. From early to mid, and then to late stage, after the Qi in the Dantian condensed into a Qi Dan, one could then enter the next realm.
Although Zhu Yangyu had not yet reached the mid-stage of Dan Jin, he had broken through to the early stage of the Dan Jin realm in martial arts since early last year. Therefore, his internal energy was incredibly abundant. He circulated his internal Qi from his Dantian to his hands, and his tightly clenched fists instantly struck towards Wan Yunting.
It was as if his fists were enveloped in a black aura. His speed and power were even more formidable than before. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Wan Yunting, leaving him no time to react. He could only raise his right palm to protect his chest.
*Bang!*
Zhu Yangyu's punch landed heavily on his palm. The powerful internal force struck Wan Yunting's right palm like a heavy hammer weighing thousands of pounds.
Instantly, he was sent flying backward. Upon landing, he was already at the edge of the arena. He stumbled a few steps. Wan Yunting, reacting quickly, planted his feet firmly on the arena floor, stabilizing himself. He looked up at Zhu Yangyu in front of him, his sword-like eyebrows furrowing slightly. He then rubbed his numb right palm with his left hand.
This punch finally revealed Zhu Yangyu's true strength to him. Wan Yunting's lips curved into a slight smile, and he said, "That's all you've got!"