Chapter 143: I Can No Longer Carry You

With a sharp crack, the sound of a slap rang across the entire training ground.

A figure was sent flying immediately afterward, crashing heavily onto the ground. The stone slabs of the arena floor trembled and split into countless cracks.

Every disciple watching widened their eyes in disbelief. The entire training ground fell so silent that not even the slightest sound could be heard.

“How... how is this possible? Shen Congyuan was actually... actually sent flying with a single slap?! My god, what just happened?” someone shouted first, finally recovering from the shock.

“A tenth-level Martial Spirit was sent flying by a newcomer? This... this has to be a joke!”

“Who exactly is this newcomer? How can he be so powerful? He actually defeated Shen Congyuan with one slap. That’s... that’s insane!”

...

“Hahaha, what did I tell you? I said the boss was amazing, didn’t I? You saw that, right? That bastard was sent flying with a single slap from the boss. Tsk, tsk... Just look at how miserable he is now. His whole face is swollen like a steamed bun!” Niu Wuji laughed heartily as he slapped Zhou Zheng on the shoulder.

Zhou Zheng stared at Wu Tian on the arena with his mouth hanging open and blurted, “Holy crap! He took down a tenth-level Martial Spirit, Shen Congyuan, with one slap! What the hell is Junior Brother Wu’s cultivation level?”

“Anyway, he’s incredibly powerful. That’s all that matters.” Niu Wuji spoke proudly, though he himself had no idea where Wu Tian’s limits lay.

“Ugh...” Blood seeped from Shen Congyuan’s mouth as he lay sprawled across the arena. His left cheek was swollen grotesquely high. He tried to stand, but his dizzy head refused to obey him.

“You... why? You’re nothing but a newcomer from Pingyang City. How... how could you possess such cultivation?” Shen Congyuan asked painfully, clutching his face as he lay on the ground.

“Who decided that anyone from Pingyang City could only be weak? Don’t think you’re impressive just because you’ve had a few more years of cultivation experience at the headquarters of the Heaven-Defying Sect than I have. When all is said and done, you’re nothing but a frog at the bottom of a well!

“Back in Pingyang City, plenty of people called me trash. But in the end, not a single person in the city dared call me trash anymore. Do you know why? Because everyone who dared call me trash had already gone to hell!”

Wu Tian walked over to Shen Congyuan and crouched down before him, speaking with a smiling face.

When Shen Congyuan saw the smile on Wu Tian’s face, his entire body shuddered. He seemed to feel an overwhelming murderous aura radiating from Wu Tian, along with a bone-chilling coldness.

After saying this, Wu Tian paid Shen Congyuan no further attention. He leaped directly from the arena and called out to Zhou Zheng, “Senior Brother Zhou, it’s time for our afternoon training.”

“Oh! I’m coming.” Zhou Zheng snapped out of his daze and hurried away with Wu Tian.

After Wu Tian left, several senior disciples carried Shen Congyuan away to treat his injuries. That single slap from Wu Tian had nearly taken half his life.

By now, everyone else had departed, but the surrounding disciples remained gathered for a long time. The shock Wu Tian had given them made it impossible for them to calm down.

“What do you think of Wu Tian, Little Dragon?” Beneath an unremarkable roof some distance away, Liu Qingxu asked her chief disciple, Chen Long.

A sharp glint flashed through Chen Long’s eyes as he replied solemnly, “Although Shen Congyuan was completely caught off guard, Wu Tian still defeated a tenth-level Martial Spirit in a single move and inflicted such serious injuries on him. Wu Tian’s cultivation has probably already reached the first level of the Martial King realm. Someone under twenty-one reaching the first level of the Martial King realm is rare even throughout the entire Heaven-Defying Sect.”

Liu Qingxu nodded slowly. “Your talent is considered excellent among all sixteen branches of the Heaven-Defying Sect. Yet you were twenty-three when you reached the first level of the Martial King realm—two years later than Wu Tian. His talent surpasses yours.”

Chen Long clenched his fists tightly, a trace of unwillingness flashing in his eyes. “I’m already twenty-four, and only at the second level of the Martial King realm. If I remain where I am, it seems I’ll soon be surpassed by this Wu Tian.”

Liu Qingxu smiled faintly. “Little Dragon, you’re intelligent and gifted. Just follow your own path. There’s no need to compare yourself with Wu Tian. The two of you are different kinds of people.”

“Even if his talent is greater, I still can’t lose to him,” Chen Long said firmly.

Liu Qingxu glanced at Chen Long but ultimately said nothing.

...

“Junior Brother Wu, how high is your cultivation, exactly? You defeated even Shen Congyuan, a tenth-level Martial Spirit, in a single move.” After leaving, Zhou Zheng could no longer suppress his curiosity.

“Third-level Martial King.” Wu Tian smiled.

Zhou Zheng’s expression immediately froze. “That can’t be right. The most powerful disciple under Master is Senior Brother Chen Long, and he’s only a second-level Martial King. If you were a third-level Martial King, wouldn’t that make you practically invincible?”

“See? I told you, and you still don’t believe me. How about this—you can just assume I have some high-grade equipment. Though, now that I mention it, I really do have high-grade equipment.” Wu Tian spread his hands.

“I knew it! You won because of your equipment, didn’t you?” Zhou Zheng finally relaxed after hearing this.

Wu Tian was rendered speechless. In the end, he still did not explain. When he told the truth, no one believed him, but a casual excuse was accepted without question. It was almost laughable.

“Senior Brother Zhou, are we continuing to train techniques this afternoon?” Wu Tian asked.

“No need. You’re practically out of this world already. There’s no point in continuing.” Thinking of how Wu Tian had taken down a tenth-level Martial Spirit with one move, Zhou Zheng felt there was no longer any need for him to train. With such strength, Wu Tian would definitely pass the examination eight days from now.

“All right, then what are we training this afternoon?” Wu Tian asked helplessly.

“You don’t need to train anymore. With your powerful cultivation, you can pass the examination directly through special admission. From now on, I’ll only train Junior Brother Niu. You can do whatever you want.” Zhou Zheng waved his hand dismissively.

“Holy crap, you’re really not taking me with you?” Wu Tian stared at Zhou Zheng with wide eyes.

“I can’t keep up with you anymore,” Zhou Zheng replied helplessly.

“Forget it. I’ll go deal with my own business.” Wu Tian was speechless. Since Zhou Zheng was no longer taking him along, he had no choice but to find something to do on his own.

At present, Wu Tian had one important matter to attend to—an extremely important one.

He had noticed that his main quest had revealed a new clue. After he killed Nie Yuntian, the clue had been the Imperial City. Now, however, it had changed to Pan Fubang.

Pan Fubang was the Elder Pan who had made things difficult for Wu Tian on the day he reported to the sect—a ninth-level Martial King and that glittering golden major boss.

Wu Tian had considered the matter carefully. The change in the main quest’s clue must have occurred automatically after he encountered Pan Fubang. Now that a new clue had appeared, Wu Tian naturally had to investigate further.

This was not merely for the sake of completing the quest. More importantly, he wanted to avenge his master, uncover the true culprit who had harmed him, and eradicate the malignant force lurking behind everything.

“Pan Fubang, a ninth-level Martial King and golden major boss. Since you’re the clue to my main quest, I’ll find out exactly what kind of person you are!”

Afterward, Wu Tian did not train with Zhou Zheng. Instead, he went alone to the Heaven-Defying Sect’s Scripture Repository, which was open to disciples. The repository contained scrolls introducing the sect’s important figures. Although the information would not be particularly detailed, it would at least allow him to learn the basics about Pan Fubang.