Chapter 21: The Ruthless Li Jian San

"All at once?" Upon hearing Li Jiansan's words, everyone's expression shifted. This fellow, having gained strength, had become unbearably arrogant.

After all, there were ten disciples in this round. Li Jiansan had defeated one, but there were still nine left. Each disciple was no weakling—they were all standouts among the new students. Even a senior disciple, facing this group, would never dare utter such bold words. A joint attack from a swarm of new disciples would be too much for even an experienced one to withstand.

The judge on the stage was taken aback by Li Jiansan's audacity. "This is an elimination match, your proposal is unfair," he protested.

"They're all targeting me—how is that unfair?" Li Jiansan replied, a bit exasperated. "If they all gang up on me, who's supposed to be unhappy about it?"

The judge insisted, "Your request doesn't comply with our competition's rules—"

"No matter," the Grand Elder interrupted, waving his hand. His eyes grew darker, suspicion flickering within—could this boy be hiding even greater strength? No matter, he thought, if he seeks death, let him have it.

On the other side, Lin Feiyu's face turned even uglier. "You'd better pray you're eliminated in this round. If you face me, I'll ensure you become a complete cripple!"

Li Jiansan glanced at the nine on stage, smiling gently, "Brothers, don't hold back. I'll go easy on you."

Had they heard this earlier, they would have laughed aloud. But now... Having witnessed Li Jiansan's match, they grew grave and serious.

"Forgive me," said a burly man, a cold light flashing in his eye. Suddenly, he whipped out a broadsword and slashed at Li Jiansan.

Boom!

A tremendous force shattered the blade instantly, yet it left no mark on Li Jiansan at all.

"Wha—?" The burly man was flustered. His sword might not have been able to cut iron, but it could easily fell trees or split wood. Yet now, it couldn't pierce Li Jiansan, and even snapped in the process.

He felt as if he'd seen a ghost.

Li Jiansan was surprised as well. He hadn't expected the system's reward to be so powerful—he was now truly impervious to blade and spear. Was this invincibility?

But those present refused to believe Li Jiansan was truly unbreakable. He was, after all, the young sect master who supposedly had no cultivation at all...

"Let me try," said a short-haired man, pushing the other aside and swiftly flinging two throwing knives.

"In all martial arts, speed is the only invincible move!"

Clang!

A clear ring sounded as the throwing knives clattered to the ground. Li Jiansan remained untouched.

"Are you made of iron? Even my knives can't hurt you!" The short-haired man was terrified, cold sweat pouring down his brow. Blade- and spear-proof? He'd never seen such a body before.

"What now?" The remaining disciples paled, despair written across their faces.

How could they possibly win if he couldn't even be scratched?

"What's wrong with you? Snap out of it!" Li Jiansan called out loudly. "We've barely started—how are you already discouraged? Try something different! Hang in there! Come, pick up your weapons and hit me!"

Everyone was dumbfounded by Li Jiansan's behavior.

What was this? They were on the verge of conceding, yet he was encouraging his opponents not to give up, to keep fighting him. What kind of move was this?

"Strike at my chest with your sharpest sword. Be steady with your motion," Li Jiansan instructed, pointing to his chest. "Come, stab me with one thrust."

"Ha!" A youth in white grabbed a longsword and drove its tip with all his might into Li Jiansan's chest. The result shattered him.

He'd clearly bypassed all defense and reached the skin, but no matter how he pressed, he couldn't pierce it.

This was a sword! When had a blade's lethality become so feeble?

"I don't believe it!" The youth in white threw his full strength into a wild series of attacks, but none could harm Li Jiansan. Instead, he was bounced back, flung to the side.

"Again!" This time he aimed for Li Jiansan's eye—the most vulnerable part of the body, surely. The blade gleamed coldly as he stabbed at Li Jiansan's eye. Yet the result was no different. The sword tip struck as if against the legendary Nine Heavens Black Iron. No matter what the youth tried, he couldn't break through; the sword could not pierce Li Jiansan's defense.

With a heavy thud, the youth was sent flying once more.

"Could he... be a monster?" the youth muttered, rattled. This was too much—nothing could hurt him! Such a body was beyond belief.

"My sword... it's blunted!" He stared at his blade in disbelief. His fine steel sword was now dull from striking Li Jiansan. Even his grip trembled—if the eyes were so well protected, how strong must his whole body be?

Was this still the infamous pleasure-seeking, lazy young sect master everyone gossiped about?

In truth, Li Jiansan owed his invincibility not to his body, but to the system. What could he do if the system made him unbeatable?

The crowd was stunned. The youth in white was at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, the strongest among them. If even he was helpless before Li Jiansan, what was left?

"You fools, you can't handle someone with no training? You're a disgrace to Shengjing Sect—how did you get in?" Li Jiansan taunted. "I've been so cooperative, standing still for you to hit me, and you still can't leave a mark. Pathetic..."

"I overestimated you all. You're nothing but trash—can't even kill a dog! What are you staring at? If you're not convinced, come hit me! Come on, all at once—come at me, you weaklings."

His few simple words drove the nine disciples into a rage.

"This bastard!"

"Too arrogant! Too insolent! Too hateful!"

"I swear I'll kill him today!"

Furious, they all launched themselves at Li Jiansan.

Perfect.

This was exactly the effect he wanted. Go on, let the hatred flow, let them beat him as fiercely as they could.

Boom! Crack! Bang!

All manner of weapons rained down on Li Jiansan, yet not one blow left a scratch.

Feeling the sharp edges landing on his skin, Li Jiansan grew more exhilarated.

He decided to add fuel to the fire. "Are you all weaklings? Didn't eat breakfast? Strike harder! Why do you all hit like women?"

"Harder, everyone! Kill him!" they shouted in unison.

Their attacks grew fiercer, but still couldn't break his skin. One by one, they were sent flying, tumbling off the stage.

"So close! Couldn't you hold out a bit longer? A bunch of three-second men, utterly shameful..." Li Jiansan sighed.

Seeing this, even the usually composed judge's voice trembled, "First round... Li Jiansan advances!"

Li Jiansan was overjoyed. The greater the stir he created, the wider the news would spread. When Chu Xier heard, she'd be even more shocked, and he'd have a much easier time dealing with her later.

The martial arena, previously silent, erupted in noise.

"Our young master wins!"

"Look, he’s so handsome."

"Yes, and not just handsome—he’s strong too..."

Excited cries from a few young women rang out. Normally reserved, they couldn't help but exclaim aloud, faces flushed and eyes alight, seeming utterly out of control.

On the other side, Lin Feiyu, who had been waiting to see Li Jiansan beaten to a pulp, turned pale, muttering, "Impossible, impossible! This must be an illusion—how could he be so strong!"

On the viewing platform, Li Qingming tried to maintain his composure, lifting his teacup to steady his nerves, but his trembling fingers betrayed his shock. He’d never imagined his son would become so powerful! That rascal had kept this hidden for so long—even from his own father...

Only after a long while did everyone recover, still staring at Li Jiansan in disbelief. Who would have thought he'd master such an invulnerable body?

Jiang Churan’s gaze lingered briefly on Li Jiansan, then quickly moved away. He might have forged a strong body, useful at the Qi Refinement stage, but with no talent for cultivation, what then? Against higher-level martial artists, physical strength would be useless. In the face of overwhelming power, what could brute force accomplish? So what if his body was tough? As the true son of martial arts, how could he ever compare to me? He’s even less worthy now.

Elsewhere, members of other factions discussed in low voices.

"How did that kid unleash such a powerful defense?"

"He must have trained in some body-forging technique, strengthening himself to an extraordinary degree."

"To have honed his body to this extent shows great determination, but what a pity—starting so late, he’s already missed the prime window for cultivation."

They all wore looks of regret.

"Next match: Zhong Wenqu versus Du Wei."

Soon, the first round ended and the second began.

"Second round: Li Jiansan versus Lin Feiyu!"

...