Chapter Five: One Punch Is All It Takes

At this moment, Luo Tian was in exceptionally high spirits. Over the course of two years, wave after wave of new servant disciples had become seasoned veterans, and then many had broken through to become Outer Sect disciples at the Qi Condensation stage. Although Luo Tian had gained the respect and admiration of many disciples, as well as a torrent of experience points from the Divine Eye, it would be a lie to say he didn’t long to enter the Qi Condensation stage himself.

Yet, for the sake of the Divine Eye, which seemed to conceal countless mysteries, Luo Tian had decided not to rush anything. Now, not only did the Divine Eye possess even greater powers, but all of Luo Tian’s meridians were fully unblocked, allowing his strength to flow unimpeded throughout his body—a degree of power far beyond those Outer Sect disciples who hastily broke through to Qi Condensation. Luo Tian was brimming with confidence. Even if he faced a first-turn cultivator of the Qi Condensation stage, someone with over a thousand jin of strength, he would not be the least bit afraid.

When the Outer Sect disciple test came, he would surely astonish everyone.

With a faint smile, Luo Tian’s gaze swept over a disciple’s body, but then it suddenly halted. He let out a quiet exclamation.

“Senior Brother Luo, what is it?” the disciple asked, puzzled. As for Shen Lingbo, the clown who kept jumping around, he wasn’t worth bothering with—such people only become more shameless the more attention you give them.

“Which cultivation method did you choose for your Qi Condensation elective?” Luo Tian frowned, having noticed something amiss.

Upon passing the test to become an Outer Sect disciple at the Qi Condensation stage, one could choose a Qi Refining technique and an elemental martial art based on their results—one of each. The Qi Refining method allowed one to absorb and refine the world’s spiritual energy into their own, while the elemental technique taught how to use that energy for attack or defense, delving deeper into the power’s potential.

The Qi Refining method boosted one’s internal energy; the elemental technique was the means to use it—both were indispensable. Of these, the cultivation method was of utmost importance, not only for increasing strength, but also for progressing to higher realms.

The significance of cultivation stages was self-evident. Ordinary mortals could live only fifty or sixty years, but Outer Sect disciples at the Qi Condensation stage could reach a hundred. If one advanced to Inner Sect disciple at the Vein Flow stage, their lifespan could double again—to two hundred years!

What an astounding reversal of fate this was! To extend one’s lifespan—who wouldn’t yearn for such a thing?

“I chose Qi Gathering Art for my cultivation method, and Mighty Force Palm for my elemental martial art,” the disciple replied earnestly.

“When circulating the Qi Gathering Art, the meridians here and here are somewhat delicate, so you need to slow your pace. Also, in these two spots, there are still some impurities; you’ll need to use your energy to cleanse them more thoroughly,” Luo Tian explained. With the insight of the Divine Eye, nothing about the disciple’s internal energy flow could escape him, so he pointed out some issues with his technique.

“Senior Brother Luo, you—” The disciple was so moved, his lips trembled.

“And you, Li Min,” Luo Tian continued, turning to point out some issues in Li Min’s own cultivation.

“Hmph. Luo Tian, do you think that by pretending you can’t hear me, I’ll let you off?” Shen Lingbo was incensed. He would have preferred Luo Tian to curse him out and try to assert dominance, or call him a petty villain—anything was better than being completely ignored. “Trash is trash. Don’t even have the guts to compete? Guess you’re doomed to be a servant for life!”

“Senior Brother Luo, are you about to break through?” Li Min asked excitedly, overjoyed as if his own progress couldn’t compare.

“Mm. Once I settle this minor annoyance, I’ll step into the Qi Condensation stage,” Luo Tian replied calmly. Then, with complete indifference, he glanced at Shen Lingbo, who was fuming at the side. “You want to spar with me?”

“That’s right!” Shen Lingbo replied with a proud smile, brimming with self-confidence. Seeing this so-called villain about to be humiliated under his iron fists filled him with indescribable delight.

“Very well, I accept. Senior Brother Zhang, would you kindly serve as witness and judge?” Luo Tian said nonchalantly.

Dueling was a strict rule in Shenyang Sect: whether one was an Outer Sect or servant disciple, personal disputes could not be settled by private fighting. Everything had to be resolved through formal duels, with a judge of higher rank present for fairness.

The rules were simple: if one party conceded or lost the ability to fight—lying on the ground for ten seconds—the match was decided. However, conceding due to weakness was one thing; but if you surrendered just to avoid a challenge, severe consequences followed. Servant disciples had their daily tasks doubled; upon promotion to Outer Sect, they had to contribute a thousand sect points within a year, or be expelled. Outer Sect disciples who conceded had to pay five thousand points in a year, or they too would be cast out.

In short, while you had the right to refuse a challenge, to forfeit during the duel itself was to invite disaster.

So straightforward?

Shen Lingbo was surprised, but soon concluded that Luo Tian simply wanted to get his humiliation over with quickly—eager to be beaten while the new batch of servant disciples was away, so he’d lose less face.

Laughable! Once I defeat you, I’ll make sure everyone knows. You’ll never lift your head again as the number one useless servant!

“Yes, Senior Brother Luo!” The judge, who had intended to intervene, saw that Luo Tian had already agreed, so he had no choice but to act as witness. “Servant disciple Luo Tian and servant disciple Shen Lingbo, under the witness of Outer Sect disciple Zhang, will now begin the match!”

Li Min had already used his foot to sketch a rough circle in the ground. In Ziyang Mountain, there was a proper dueling platform, but in the servant quarters, simplicity sufficed.

“Haha, Luo Tian, you blockhead, you actually accepted?” Shen Lingbo mocked triumphantly. “Don’t you know I’ve taken a Strength-Boosting Pill?”

Despicable!

Seeing his expression, the judge gritted his teeth. The Strength-Boosting Pill, a low-grade human-level pill, was highly prized among Body Tempering cultivators, just like the Body-Refining Pill.

Taking the Strength-Boosting Pill increased one’s physical strength by a hundred jin! At the Qi Condensation stage this might mean little, but among servant disciples at Body Tempering, it was a huge advantage.

A Strength-Boosting Pill, is it?

Luo Tian curled his lip. The benefits of having all his meridians unblocked were simply unimaginable. Luo Tian had tested it—if he unleashed his full power, he could surpass fifteen hundred jin!

That was more than half again the peak of normal Body Tempering cultivators.

“Well, are you scared?” Shen Lingbo almost wanted to throw his head back and howl with glee. He couldn’t wait to see Luo Tian weakly collapse, unable even to speak. “All you have to do is respectfully call me Senior Brother Shen and admit how much you regret—”

Before that fool could finish, Luo Tian suddenly exploded into action!

His right foot stomped the ground as he shot forward like lightning. Even this simple movement seemed to carry a howling wind, so swift it caught everyone off guard.

Senior Brother Shen? Dream on!

He lowered his body.

He punched.

Luo Tian’s right hand cracked audibly at the knuckles—a sure sign of a tightly clenched fist.

So fast!

Both the judge and Li Min felt as though even their breathing had stalled for a moment.

A muffled thud echoed as Luo Tian’s heavy fist pounded Shen Lingbo’s abdomen, and Shen Lingbo let out a strangled yelp of pain.

It hurt so much! It was unbearable!

Shen Lingbo felt as if his eyes were about to burst from their sockets—the pain was excruciating.

Luo Tian hadn’t even used his full strength, but it was more than enough for Shen Lingbo. He was sent flying several meters before crashing heavily to the ground.

Curled up, Shen Lingbo’s face was bright red, like a shrimp about to be boiled.

“One punch is all I need to beat you,” Luo Tian said, feigning a casual hand rub as he turned to the judge. “Shall we call the match?”