Martial Saint with Passives

The scorching sun hung high in the sky.

DONG—

A deep, resonant toll of a bell echoed throughout the Cangyun Sect.

「On the Central Martial Arts Arena.」

The clamorous roar of the crowd instantly fell silent.

All eyes were on the stage as two figures, one in white and one in black, simultaneously ascended the massive arena from opposite sides. The platform itself was carved from a single, enormous slab of Basalt.

From the east came Fang Muye, Chief of Liufeng Courtyard.

Today, he was dressed in a brand-new, moon-white Flowing Cloud Robe. His posture was ramrod straight, his features handsome.

But his eyes, which usually held a gentle warmth, were now as cold as frost, brimming with undisguised hostility and the will to fight.

From the west, it was Jiang Che, Chief of Yunhai Courtyard.

He was still dressed in simple black martial attire, his posture as straight as a pine, his expression as calm as still water.

It was as if he wasn’t about to face a duel that would decide the future of the Sect, but merely a common sparring match within his own courtyard.

The two stood thirty yards apart in the center of the arena, facing each other.

"Fang Muye of Liufeng Courtyard," Fang Muye’s voice was ice-cold, each word seemingly forced through gritted teeth. "I await your instruction."

The moment the words left his lips, a violent and majestic aura—one far surpassing that of an ordinary Martial Artist at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm—erupted from his body!

BOOM—

A visible shockwave of energy exploded outward from him. The robes of the disciples closest to the arena billowed in the force of the blast!

His aura was so powerful that the very air around him began to warp and distort.

"This... What is this aura?!"

"So powerful! Senior Brother Fang’s aura is more than twice as strong as it was during the last Inquiry Conference!"

"This... He’s almost on par with Qin Wuya, isn’t he?!"

The entire arena erupted in an uproar!

Everyone was stunned by the terrifying power Fang Muye was now displaying!

On the high platform, even a flicker of surprise passed through Gu Qingxuan’s normally cold eyes.

"He took a Dragon Blood Boiling Pill?" Xu Qingshan’s brow furrowed. He had seen through the facade at a glance. "Foolishness! While that pill can temporarily unlock one’s potential and cause a massive surge in power, it damages the user’s foundation once the effects wear off! It would take months of hard work just to recover! To win a single bout, he’s willing to throw away his entire future?!"

Everyone could see it: Fang Muye was putting his life on the line!

At that moment, the hearts of everyone who had held out a sliver of hope for Jiang Che sank to the pit of their stomachs.

Facing Fang Muye in this state...

...did Jiang Che even stand a chance?

However, at the center of that violent shockwave, Jiang Che still stood silently. His clothes whipped about in the wind, but his expression remained as placid as a forgotten well.

It was as if his opponent’s aura—an aura that would make any Martial Artist of the same realm tremble in fear—was nothing more than a gentle breeze to him.

"Jiang Che of Yunhai Courtyard. I await your instruction," he said calmly.

Fang Muye saw Jiang Che’s feigned composure as a profound insult, and the flames of rage in his heart burned even hotter!

"Enough of your act! Die!"

He roared, no longer holding back!

The Wind Spirit Boots on his feet flared with a brilliant light, and he vanished from sight!

An instant later, he reappeared behind Jiang Che like a phantom.

He formed a Finger Sword, concentrating his Jin Qi—honed to the absolute limit of the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm—at his fingertip. It transformed into an invisible, sharp blade, and with a sense of irreversible finality, he thrust it straight toward the center of Jiang Che’s back!

"So fast!"

To the crowd below, it was just a blur. In that instant, Fang Muye had already delivered the fatal blow!

At that moment, the hearts of all the Yunhai Courtyard disciples leaped into their throats!

However, just as the Finger Sword was about to pierce his robes...

Jiang Che moved.

He didn’t even turn his head. He simply took a casual Half-Step to his left.

It was this seemingly casual, yet perfectly executed Half-Step...

...that caused Fang Muye’s sure-hit attack to graze harmlessly past his body, striking nothing but air!

’What?!’ Fang Muye was horrified.

Before he could even react, an iron fist, sheathed in a dark silver Glove, appeared silently before his fingertip, as if it had predicted his every move!

CLANG!

The iron fist collided with the Finger Sword, producing the crisp ring of metal on metal!

Fang Muye felt as if his finger had struck a slab of Ten Thousand Year Profound Iron.

A tyrannical, overwhelming force rebounded up his arm, making his finger bone go numb and his Qi Blood churn violently!

"You’ve got some skill, but it’s not enough!" A vicious glint flashed in Fang Muye’s eyes. He instantly switched tactics, his other hand forming a knife-hand that sliced toward Jiang Che’s neck, trailing a sharp gust of wind!

Jiang Che met it with a fist of his own!

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The two instantly engaged in a furious close-quarters battle in the center of the arena!

Fang Muye’s Body Technique was pushed to its absolute limit!

Boosted by the Dragon Blood Boiling Pill, his body blurred into dozens of afterimages.

Fists, palms, fingers, and legs—every move was vicious. His assault was like a raging tempest, threatening to completely overwhelm Jiang Che!

But no matter how swift or unpredictable Fang Muye’s attacks became, Jiang Che always managed to neutralize each one with the simplest, most direct movements.

His defense was as solid as a mountain, impenetrable, as if he had already foreseen every single one of his opponent’s attacks!

The disciples below were already dazzled and terrified by the spectacle!

"He’s blocking them! Chief Jiang is actually blocking all of them!"

"Gods! He’s flawlessly defending against Chief Fang’s ferocious assault!"

The more Fang Muye fought, the more shocked and frustrated he became!

He felt like he was trying to strike a slippery eel!

No matter how much power he put into his attacks, his opponent always managed to deflect the majority of the force, leaving him feeling powerful but unable to land a solid blow!

"I don’t believe your defense is flawless!"