Chapter 245
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Chapter 245: A Single Punch to Break It
Ji Rong stood out among the younger generation, having trained under Shadowless Peak’s second elder, Deng Kaiyuan. In just two years, he’d risen from the second stage of Qi refining to level seven, proving his extraordinary talent.
Geniuses often grew arrogant, convinced of their superiority. Though Ye Yun had fought his way to the top four while still at the second stage of Qi refining, Ji Rong dismissed him as a lucky nobody.
Proud of his status and Exceptional Cultivation Level, Ji Rong ranked himself among the best of his peers. To him, Ye Yun—a mere new disciple at the second stage—was beneath notice. The gap between their realms was insurmountable. He didn’t care why others had lost to Ye Yun or whether the rumors of Ye Yun defeating Ming Siyu were true. In his eyes, crushing Ye Yun would require no effort.
A lowly new disciple daring to act so boldly? Ji Rong decided then: he’d kill Ye Yun on the platform. Even if breaking sect rules, no one would punish a genius like him over a dead nobody.
“I challenge Ye Yun in the top four,” Ji Rong declared to the middle-aged overseer on the platform.
The man frowned but nodded. “If the others agree.”
Ji Rong turned to the other two top-four disciples. “Let’s settle this now.”
The pair exchanged glances before nodding. One muttered under his breath, “How did this fool even get here? I saw Ye Yun destroy Ming Siyu with my own eyes. If the rumors say he fought Murong Wuhen to a draw, they’re true.”
“Let him be,” the other sneered. “Ji Rong’s barely reached the pinnacle of Qi refining—weaker than us. Arrogant idiot. We’ll watch the show.”
“We’ll hold back. Once we make the final sixteen, we qualify for the sect competition anyway. Shadowless Peak’s rewards aren’t worth risking injury.”
“Exactly. Let them exhaust each other. Then beating whoever’s left will be easy.”
They leaped onto their platform, smirking.
Ye Yun, having finished talking with Duan Chenfeng, glanced at the other platform before meeting Ji Rong’s gaze.
“Come die,” Ji Rong said coldly, hands behind his back. “I’ll show you the power of the pinnacle Qi refining stage. The gap between us is heaven and earth. Learn your place—it’ll help your future training.”
Ye Yun rubbed his nose. “You’re even cockier than me.”
He soared onto the platform like a bird, landing lightly.
“Attack first,” Ji Rong said. “I’ll give you one chance. Don’t complain later.”
Ye Yun tilted his head. “Sure? If I strike first, you’ll get no chance at all.”
“Arrogant fool!”
Ji Rong’s hands flashed, summoning the Golden Rings. Sunlight glinted off them, emitting a hypnotic golden glow.
The light mesmerized weaker disciples below, though they quickly shook it off. In battles between experts, a moment’s distraction meant death and disappearance of the spirit.
All eyes fixed on Ye Yun. Resisting the Golden Rings’ allure depended not on true qi but soul strength. Despite Ye Yun’s vast true qi, his second-stage realm suggested a weak soul. At such close range, surely he’d fall into a trance—helpless prey.
Yet Ye Yun stood calmly, eyes clear.
He took two steps forward, smiling. “This is your trick? Pathetic. Did you really think this could shake me?”
Ji Rong’s eyes widened. He’d planned to strike the moment Ye Yun faltered. But Ye Yun’s gaze remained steady—completely unaffected.
“Your soul’s stronger than I expected,” Ji Rong admitted grudgingly.
Ye Yun snorted. “You call that a soul attack? It’s laughably weak. Since you’ve already broken your word, go ahead. Attack. Don’t whine later that I didn’t give you a chance.” He folded his arms, smirk sharp as a blade.
Ji Rong’s lips twitched slightly. Only now did he finally realize the rumors about Ye Yun defeating Ming Siyu and drawing with Murong Wuhen were probably true.
Ding!
The Golden Rings split apart in his hands – one large, one small. He smashed them together violently. A crisp metallic clang rang out as countless golden rays erupted from the rings. Guided by the paired weapons, these wild-strength energies formed a thick golden column that narrowed toward the end, slamming straight at Ye Yun’s chest.
Ye Yun raised an eyebrow. He could sense Ji Rong channeling continuous streams of true qi into the light beam through the rear ring, the energy mysteriously multiplying severalfold before gathering at the front ring.
This amplification effect was astonishing. While spiritual weapons needed true qi activation to show their true power, multiplying attack strength like this was exceptionally rare. The boosted attack instantly reached the pinnacle of Qi refining stage.
"Die now!" Ji Rong roared, pouring every drop of true qi into the strike. He was certain this would blast Ye Yun off the platform, if not kill him outright.
Ye Yun stood firm. To ordinary disciples, this attack would be devastating. But to him? Merely decent – even slightly inferior to Ming Siyu’s Gentleman’s Sword.
Instead of retreating, Ye Yun stepped forward. Purple Shadow flashed as he cocked his right fist. Lightning crackled across his knuckles, thunder rumbling in accompaniment as his electrified punch met the golden column’s tip.
Boom!
The great crash of colliding forces sent shockwaves exploding outward for hundreds of zhang.
One punch.
Ye Yun’s single strike froze Ji Rong’s arrogant attack mid-air, completely halting its advance.
Purple lightning snakes writhed vividly within the golden light, growing clearer instead of fading.
Ji Rong gaped in disbelief. No matter how desperately he pushed, his signature attack wouldn’t budge.
"Impossible! How can a second-stage Qi refining novice block my strike?!" he screamed, voice cracking.
Ye Yun glanced at him and shook his head. "Begone."
The purple light shadow blazed suddenly. Thick lightning bolts flowered above the platform as thunder rolled closer.
"Thundercloud Emergence."
Ye Yun’s soft utterance summoned a swirling thundercloud. Crackling electricity from all directions converged on his right fist.
His deliberate punch drew all lightning into a thunder-charged strike that smashed perfectly into Ji Rong’s chest.
Numbness flooded Ji Rong’s body before agonizing pain erupted from his sternum. The immense power hurled him backward, blood spraying from his mouth.
His true qi scattered completely. Crashing down, he heard his right leg snap audibly – tibia fractured in two places.
"No… impossible…"
Ji Rong clawed at the ground, but with broken leg and dissipated energy, he collapsed weakly. His despairing eyes remained locked on Ye Yun’s figure – unwilling, disbelieving, utterly defeated.
