Chapter 143: Fierce Battle

Li Jiansan’s eyes lit up. "With a commotion like this, it must be an intense battle."

Zixuan glanced toward the noise and said, "It sounds like it’s only a few hundred meters away."

"Brother Li, should we go over and take a look?" Zhang Dabao asked.

At this moment, Xu Yan was the only one who didn’t speak, prompting Zhang Dabao to ask curiously, "Brother Xu Yan, why are you so quiet?"

"Huh?" Xu Yan gave an honest, simple smile. "Then... what should I say?"

Zhang Dabao was left speechless. Do beautiful women really like such dull fellows?

On the way over, Zixuan, who was very interested in Li Jiansan, kept asking him, "Li Jiansan, your combat strength is so high, how are you only at the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Also, how can your combat strength be so fierce? Are you practicing some kind of powerful martial arts technique?"

Upon hearing Zixuan mention martial arts, Xu Yan also looked over with curiosity.

Li Jiansan sighed, knowing that Zixuan wouldn't let it go until she got an answer. He improvised, "I actually practice a family-inherited body-tempering technique, which is why my physique is so strong."

Li Jiansan had too many secrets, and the existence of the System was something that would sound like pure fantasy to them. Besides, he had no intention of exposing it yet.

Hearing his answer, they all looked at him with envious eyes.

Li Jiansan chuckled lightly. "Actually, these things are irrelevant. The path of cultivation lies in the cultivation of the heart. As long as you have a sincere heart yearning for strength, even if you start with nothing, you can become a peerless genius."

Li Jiansan had a deep understanding of cultivation. Whether in training or in life, he believed in perseverance. As long as one focuses on a goal without distraction and persists, success is inevitable.

A determined light flared in the eyes of Xu Yan and Zixuan. "You’re right. As long as we hold a strong heart, we will surely carve out our own destiny."

They both nodded in strong agreement with Li Jiansan’s words.

Only Zhang Dabao curled his lip and said, "Don't let Brother Li fool you. It’s easy for him to talk while standing on high ground. If I, the great Zhang Dabao, had some overpowered technique to practice, I could boast that my skills reach the heavens. You believe me?"

The group burst into laughter at Zhang Dabao’s words.

Soon, they arrived at the scene of the battle.

"Quiet now."

They hid themselves about ten meters away, using the tall grass to conceal their figures. Not far ahead, four or five martial artists had surrounded a young man. The youth, however, showed no signs of panic; in fact, a trace of disdain lingered on his face.

"Haha, you bunch of trash! It took you so long to catch up to me, you truly live up to the name of 'trash'!" The young man smoothed his hair, swept a glance at the surrounding martial artists, and spoke with utter contempt.

One of the martial artists was enraged. "Don't get cocky! You Capital City disciples are nothing special. Aren't you surrounded by us now?"

"Surrounded?" The youth laughed as if he had just heard a hilarious joke. "It seems you guys aren't just trash; you're a bunch of idiots!"

"Haven't you realized yet that I lured you here on purpose? If I didn't want to toy with you, do you think a few pathetic weaklings like you could surround me?"

"It’s time to end this."

The young man let out a sinister laugh, and a ferocious surge of power erupted from his body. Feeling this immense energy, the martial artists surrounding him suddenly changed color, their feet stomping the ground as they scrambled to retreat.

"Still want to run? It's too late!"

The youth let out a thunderous roar, causing the expressions of those around him to tighten.

"We have so many people, can't we handle him?"

"That's right, he's nothing special!"

"Let’s show him our true power so he stops being so arrogant!"

The martial artists spoke with bravado, their own power surging forth.

"Death wish!"

The youth flicked his sleeve, the explosive spiritual energy causing the air to rumble. He struck out with his palm; although he was some distance away, the terrifying momentum behind the strike was relentless, accompanied by a sharp, whistling sound as it surged toward them.

The encroaching sound of the wind shattered their composure. They hadn't expected the guy they had been chasing for so long to possess such immense combat power. They braced themselves as if facing a formidable enemy, but their fighting spirit remained high. Each of them unleashed their power, throwing their fists forward to meet the blow head-on.

"Still putting up a desperate fight? Then I’ll give you something more interesting," the youth sneered.

His palm wind suddenly shifted in mid-air and detonated.

BOOM!

A dull, rhythmic thud echoed all around, becoming increasingly piercing. The massive energy exploded with terrifying force, blasting them away one by one. Where they landed, deep craters were blown into the ground.

"You bunch of trash couldn't even take one of my moves, yet you dared to think you could capture me? How laughable!" Seeing that all of them were unable to stand, the youth roared with wild arrogance.

"Since we’ve fallen into your hands, do whatever you want—kill or torture us, quit your yapping!"

"Even if we die, we die standing! We will never live on our knees!"

"Humph, what right do you have to humiliate us? I heard that when you Capital City disciples were defeated by the Death God, you lost all your dignity and pride, kneeling before him and begging for mercy!"

"Aren't you lot just as cowardly and afraid of death? Hahaha..."

The exchange of words infuriated the youth. "You pieces of trash, shut your mouths!"

"The Death God? He’s nothing but a fart! He only knows how to throw his weight around in front of garbage. If he ran into me, would he dare to spout such filth in my presence?"

"Don't think that just because someone stood up for you, you can act like a fox borrowing a tiger's power in front of me. I’m telling you, in my eyes, the Death God isn't even worth a fart. I could crush him with one finger."

"And you lot, you aren't even fit to stay at the Azure Dragon Academy. Trash will always be trash, and trash should have the self-awareness of trash. If you don't have that, you shouldn't be living in this world!"

The youth's shrill, grating voice was too much even for the easy-going Zhang Dabao. "Damn it, why is this guy barking like a mad dog? He really needs a beating."

"These self-righteous guys, walking around with their noses in the air, looking down on us students from external admissions. I really don't understand what they have to be so smug about."

At this moment, even the usually silent Xu Yan couldn't stand it anymore.

Zixuan’s beautiful eyes flickered, and she was shocked when she recognized the youth’s face. "He looks like Yun Feiyang. He’s quite famous among the Capital City disciples, possessing the cultivation of the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage, and his combat power is terrifyingly high."

"Also, I heard he recently joined Sun Yiqiu’s team and became one of his top generals."

Li Jiansan’s aura turned icy cold. "If they look down on us, then we’ll beat them until they submit!"

Zixuan noticed the change in Li Jiansan and cautioned him, "We shouldn't provoke this person. He’s one of Sun Yiqiu’s men!"

"Heh, Sun Yiqiu? What is he?" Li Jiansan said dismissively.

Zixuan looked at him earnestly. "Sun Yiqiu is the top disciple of the Capital City group. His cultivation has reached the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, and even those at the fifth level are no match for him. He has great prestige among the freshmen and is the most likely candidate to take first place in this assessment."

Li Jiansan’s expression remained cold. "I don't care who he is; if he provokes me, I’ll kill him regardless!"

Zixuan was clearly frightened by Li Jiansan’s aura. While she was dazed, Li Jiansan had already vanished from his spot.

"Oh no! Li Jiansan, don't be impulsive! Come back!" Zixuan cried out in anxiety as she saw him flash away.

That was Yun Feiyang, a powerful general under Sun Yiqiu, a master at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment! Wouldn't Li Jiansan be throwing his life away by charging in like that?

"Xu Yan, hurry! Let's go help him!" Zixuan grabbed Xu Yan, but Xu Yan was held back by a force.

"Zhang Dabao, what are you doing?" Zixuan glared at him, furious.

Zhang Dabao pushed them down. "You two, calm down and don't go out there."

"Li Jiansan... he’s your Brother Li! Are you just going to watch him die?" Zixuan was stunned.

"It’s precisely because he is my Brother Li that I know he can handle this little matter. If you rush out recklessly, you’ll only be a burden to him."

Zixuan was still worried. "But... that’s Yun Feiyang! He’s at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. How could Li Jiansan possibly be his match?"

Hearing this, Zhang Dabao curled his lip. "If you keep talking like that, I’m going to start thinking you’ve fallen for my Brother Li."

Xu Yan, standing beside them, remained silent with a dark expression on his face.

"But..."

Zhang Dabao continued, "You wouldn't actually have a crush on my Brother Li, would you? Tsk tsk, being fickle and unfaithful—that’s not good. Even though Brother Li is handsome, dashing, and charming, you shouldn't be like this..."

"Ouch! That hurts!"

As Zhang Dabao was rambling on, he was suddenly pinched hard on the waist.

"If you dare to spout nonsense again, I’ll tear your mouth apart!"