"w.a.n.g Hao! w.a.n.g Hao!"

A battered-looking outer disciple burst into a secluded cave in the forests behind the Cedar Sect. He was followed by a rag-tag group who all looked decidedly worse for wear. There was a rip across the front of one's robe that was unmistakably from a sword slash. They were accompanied by a young woman with red hair. It was Mystra.

In front of this group, a young man in his twenties with close-cropped black hair was in the middle of an intense spar with a training dummy. He had a medium build and a handsome but inexpressive face. His movements were fierce and unrelenting, with waves of sharp energy emanating from the young man's long silver sword. Sparks flew about the training field.

Hearing his name urgently shouted, w.a.n.g Hao stayed his hand. He looked towards the speaker.

"...Has something happened?"

Mystra nodded sharply, "I came to find you earlier but you were still in seclusion."

"You awoke just in time. It's the Boulder Sect. They came and challenged us… or more specifically, they challenged you, w.a.n.g Hao!"

The other disciple chimed in, "My brothers and I all lost horribly… A young kid rescued Mystra when Rhogar tried to cripple her cultivation. He's fighting with him now, but I don't think he will last very long. You need to go immediately…!"

w.a.n.g Hao gripped his sword. Fierce intent radiated out from the long silver sword in his hand.

"So Rhogar has come to make trouble with us. Good, very good!"

 ____________

[At the gates of the Cedar Sect.]

There was a loud boom as the figures collided with each other. A large shock wave swept everything up in a ten-metre radius.

When the dust cleared, the two opponents were both still standing,

 Bizarrely, the scarred youth smiled.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

Van's expression changed.

Rhogar's body was resisting the strength of his fist!

"Surprised?" Rhogar asked, smirking.

There was a tense moment as the two opponents stared each other down.

[Rhogar's spiritual art of the Golden Golem imparts him some physical strength that mimics a physical cultivation technique. I won't be able to break it using only my Copper Buddha state…Fine!]

Van smiled.

"Not very, no."

His right fist flashed a brilliant silver.

Immediately, the physical power of his right fist increased by tenfold. He drew his fist back and punched Rhogar. Hard.

The scarred youth was knocked backwards, spewing blood as he went.

Rhogar scrambled to regain his footing.

After tasting his own blood, the scarred youth's attacks became wilder and more ferocious.

In contrast, Van grew colder and colder. His opponent's moves were starting to become full of flaws. Rhogar could not even compare to a single Golden Ice Bear.  

BOOM!

BOOM!

The two figures continued to exchange blows.

When Rhogar could not longer sustain the merge with his golden golem, his eyes returned to their normal colour.

Van's eyes flashed. The red-haired youth landed a powerful punch on Rhogar's chest.

BAM!

Rhogar flew through the air several tens of meters and crashed into the ground. The scarred youth groaned once and then slumped into the ground. It was clear –

The battle was over.

The faces in the crowd were full of shock. They couldn't believe their eyes. In their eyes, Van had just punched Rhogar and sent him flying with one fist using Copper Knight Wall. Van had kept his right fist low and close to Rhogar's back – no one had seen it change colour.

Everyone knew that body cultivation techniques were the lowest of the low, only practiced by manual labourers – and yet, if this kid's hands this lowly cultivation art seemed G.o.d-like!

"He must have reached the perfection realm of Copper Knight Wall. That is the only explanation for why such a low-level body cultivation skill is so domineering!"

 "During that battle, it seemed like Rhogar was the only one getting affected. The red-haired youth was never harmed. He didn't even seem to have broken a sweat!"

The outer disciples from both sects were extremely disturbed. Just who was this kid?

Van wiped his slightly bloodied fist on his robes.

Neither the Boulder Sect nor Cedar Sect disciples could move, stupefied by the battle they had just witnessed.

 "The name's Van, by the way," the youth in front of them commented as if he could hear their thoughts.

The crowd drank in the sight of him greedily.

"He beat Rhogar using only a movement skill and a physical art…"

"I don't think he even used a spiritual art. He's incredible."

"He beat a late stage 7th level cultivator just like that. Has the outer sect gained a new genius…?"

To beat a late stage 7th level cultivator using only a movement skill and a physical art after only just entering the 7th level himself… not only was it difficult, but it was also unheard of.

Obviously, Van had been holding himself back in his fight. He had not even used his Dark Seas Palm skillset, let alone his Fists of Devouring Flame.

There was a spluttering noise as Rhogar regained consciousness. The Boulder Sect disciples immediately surrounded him and lifted him onto a pallet to be carried away.

Rhogar weakly lifted his head as he was being carried away, "I-I admit defeat…"

The Boulder Sect disciples carrying Rhogar shot looks full of animosity towards Van. Their chests felt tight and uncomfortable. They had marched to the Cedar Sect bursting with confidence, thinking that they would be able to stomp all over some trash and lord it about. Instead, they were brutally slapped in the face. Not only had their strongest man been defeated, he hadn't even been defeated by the so-called top outer disciple, w.a.n.g Hao – he had been defeated by some no-name small fry instead! How could they feel good? Each of the disciples was red with embarra.s.sment and full of indignation.

"Don't think it's over!" One shouted, his face the colour of puce, "Our top outer disciple won't let this humiliation go. We will return everything you dealt to us two-fold!"

 "Tell your top outer disciple that he is welcome to taste my fist as well!" Van said nonchalantly.

The Cedar Sect disciples chortled with laughter.

 "Well said, Van!"

"Hahahaha! I don't know where this guy came from, but he's got my respect!"

"That'll teach them to look down on the disciples of the Cedar Sect!"

"Keep running away, little rats!"

The Cedar Sect disciples were extremely lively as they jeered at the fleeing Boulder Sect disciples. They all felt as if a dark shadow had lifted. Their hearts were now filled with the sweetness of victory!

A few of them stepped forward and vigorously shook Van's hand.

"You did a good job, Van, we thank you!"

More of the crowd gathered around and complimented Van on the fight. They were curious about his fighting techniques and skills. While exchanging small talk, Van spotted Ryan in the crowd looking unimpressed and grinned sheepishly.

 "It seems that the fight has already ended," a calm voice said from behind Van.

The crowd's attention s.h.i.+fted. There was a chorus of sharp gasps and excited whispers.

In everyone's view, a young man with close-cropped black hair and a silver sword slowly walked out. His every step was filled with an indescribable sensation of sharpness - as if he were an unsheathed sword himself.

"It's w.a.n.g Hao!"

"w.a.n.g Hao finally came!"

w.a.n.g Hao smiled faintly.

Mystra saw Van unscathed and was perplexed. The words she heard next was a lightning bolt from above.

 "…Rhogar's already been beaten by the Van kid…"

[What!?]

Mystra looked at Van and was completely boggled.

[Even if he had a high-levelled movement skill like Scattering Smoke Steps, he would have run out of spiritual energy sooner than Rhogar did. How on earth did he win!?]

Van inspected w.a.n.g Hao.

[Hm?]

Van used Blood Vision to inspect w.a.n.g Hao and saw that the other youth's vitality and spiritual power was extremely potent.

[It seems he has just broken through to the 8th level of Qi Distillation! It seems the Boulder Sect's challenge today was destined to be futile. w.a.n.g Hao's secluded cultivation may have been a ruse to disguise the fact that he had already advanced to the 8th level. But why would he want to hide it…? Ah, of course. The Monster Mausoleum. Sect Master Musheng must have instructed him to do this.]

At that moment, Van felt a cold sensation on his skin, as if an incredibly keen sword was pressed against his skin. A s.h.i.+ver ran down his spine. He looked up and saw w.a.n.g Hao looking at him with an unreadable expression.