Martial Saint with Passives

In the spectator stands of the plaza, someone immediately recognized the man.

"It’s the Young Gang Leader of the Sea-covering Gang, ’River Flipping Needle’ Meng Jin!"

"Oh? You mean the Meng Jin who supposedly slew a Water Flood Dragon at the Peak Stage of the Refining Organ Realm all by himself with a pair of daggers during a great flood?"

"That’s right! That’s him! Even though he never made it onto the Hidden Dragon List, his skill in water combat is sublime. His strength is definitely not to be underestimated! I can’t believe Jiang Che ran into such a tough opponent in the first round!"

"Now it’s hard to say. Jiang Che is powerful, but his fame is recent. Meng Jin is a seasoned expert who’s been famous for a long time. His ’Sea-covering Stabbing Technique’ is unpredictable and mysterious. Even if Jiang Che can win, it probably won’t be that simple, right?"

On the arena stage, Meng Jin cupped his fist to Jiang Che in a solemn salute, his voice booming. "Meng Jin of the Sea-covering Gang! I have long heard of Chief Jiang of the Cangyun Sect’s great name. It is my honor to ask for your guidance today. Please, do not hold back!"

Although he knew he was most likely no match for Jiang Che, his face showed not a trace of fear. Instead, it was filled with the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.

For him, the chance to fight a prodigy from the Hidden Dragon List was an honor and a trial in itself!

"Jiang Che, of the Cangyun Sect’s Yunhai Courtyard. Please, give me your guidance." Jiang Che calmly returned the salute.

With the referee Elder’s cry of "Begin!", the battle erupted in an instant!

Meng Jin didn’t bother with any probing attacks. With a thunderous roar, he shifted his footing. His whole body seemed to glide as if through water, leaving a trail of afterimages as he advanced on Jiang Che with an erratic, unpredictable gait!

The pair of Water-Splitting Needles in his hands traced two bizarre arcs through the air. Like two venomous snakes lying in wait, one struck high and one low, aiming for Jiang Che’s throat and Dantian respectively!

Faced with this swift and cunning attack, Jiang Che didn’t even move his feet an inch.

He just calmly watched the two glints of cold light draw closer.

Just as the two Water-Splitting Needles were about to touch his body,

He moved.

There was no earth-shattering aura, no flashy, dazzling techniques.

He simply raised his right hand, covered in a dark silver Glove, and threw a seemingly light punch at the air in front of him.

A deep, muffled THUD, like an ancient bell being struck, boomed across the stage!

A visible, unbelievably ferocious wave of sheer Strength erupted from Jiang Che’s fist, fanning out before him!

Meng Jin, who was in the middle of his high-speed charge, felt his pupils shrink to the size of pinpricks!

He felt a terrifying power capable of shattering mountains rush toward him. Before this power, his prized Body-Protecting Qi was like paper, shattering in an instant!

The pair of Water-Splitting Needles in his hands let out a mournful cry as if overwhelmed and were sent flying from his grasp!

As for Meng Jin himself, it was as if he had been slammed by an ancient behemoth at full sprint. Unable to even let out a cry, he spat a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string. He flew dozens of yards before crashing heavily off the stage, knocked unconscious on the spot!

One move!

Again... a one-move knockout!

Jiang Che hadn’t even used his "Eighteenfold Strike"!

He looked at his slowly retracting fist, a little surprised himself.

’So... am I really this strong now?’

With the improvement of his Root Bone and his breakthrough in Realm, he hadn’t had a clear grasp of his own current strength.

But this single punch finally made him understand. He was no longer the novice he once was, the one who had to rely on trump cards just to contend with masters at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm!

After a moment of dead silence, the entire crowd erupted into a tsunami-like uproar!

"I... I’m not seeing things, am I?! One punch?! Just one punch?!"

"That’s ’River Flipping Needle’ Meng Jin we’re talking about! He couldn’t even take a single move?!"

"This Jiang Che... just what kind of monster is he?!"

...

Jiang Che ignored the tsunami of gasps and discussions around him.

He walked calmly off the stage and, under the countless gazes of awe, jealousy, and scrutiny, slowly returned to the ranks of the Cangyun Sect disciples.

Wherever he passed, the crowd unconsciously parted, clearing a path for him.

"Chief Brother is incredible!"

"So strong! That was a complete stomp!"

The disciples of Yunhai Courtyard immediately surrounded him in excitement, their faces flushed with pride.

Jiang Che just gave everyone a calm nod before turning his gaze back to the other arena stages.

The first round of matches was still proceeding with fiery intensity.

Top prodigies like Qin Wuya, Gu Qingxuan, and Xiao Qingge had all, without a shred of suspense, easily defeated their respective opponents with thunderbolt speed, displaying a terrifying level of strength that was on a completely different plane from the others!

As Jiang Che watched the fights, he silently assessed the strength and techniques of each potential opponent.

Soon, all sixteen matches of the first round were over.

Jiang Che got up and headed toward arena stage number three for his next match.

However, when he arrived at stage number three,

he found that the area around the stage was already surrounded by a massive crowd, packed so tightly it was impenetrable.

Blocked at the edge of the crowd, Jiang Che couldn’t squeeze through at all and couldn’t help but frown.

He raised his voice and said politely, "Excuse me, could you please make way?"

Hearing his voice, the people nearby turned. When they saw it was the man himself, they quickly stepped aside with expressions of awe, opening up a narrow path for him.

However, at the very front of that path,

a hulking man over two meters tall, powerfully built with broad shoulders and muscles as gnarled as lumps of iron, remained blocking the way, completely motionless, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.