Martial Saint with Passives

Xiao Qingge’s Strength was all but depleted. She was caught in that vulnerable gap where her old power had been spent and new power had yet to be generated!

Faced with this follow-up punch, just as world-ending as the last, she could no longer muster an effective defense!

All she could do was watch, wide-eyed, as the silver fist, which seemed to carry the aura of death itself, grew rapidly larger in her eyes!

In that moment of crisis, she barely had time to bring the Profound Iron Suona across her chest!

BOOM!!!

This time, it was no longer a clash of equals.

Xiao Qingge’s Body-Protecting Qi shattered like brittle glass on impact!

Her slender body, along with the indestructible Profound Iron Suona in her hands, was brutally... sent flying by that single punch!

She crashed heavily onto the edge of the stage, a trickle of fresh blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. On the Profound Iron Suona she held, a distinct, half-inch-deep Fist Seal was now visible!

The entire arena once again fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was dumbstruck...

If the first punch was a clash of equals, then this second punch...

Was a complete and utter demolition!

Qin Wuya, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them open at this moment!

His once-disdainful eyes now held a trace of solemnity.

Gu Qingxuan, clutching her sword, stared at Jiang Che’s plain-looking fist—a fist that held world-ending power—and an unusual ripple disturbed the cold calm of her eyes.

"He’s gotten stronger again..." she murmured to herself.

On the high platform.

The Sect Leader of the Taiyuan Sect, "Mad Lion" Zhao Qingtian, leaned his burly frame forward. His sharp eyes were locked on the stage, his voice filled with incredulous surprise. "An explosive ultimate technique of this caliber, and he can actually unleash it a second time?"

Beside him, Liu Ruyan, the Sect Leader of the Profound Sound Sect, could no longer maintain her composed elegance. For the first time, a look of shock appeared on her face.

’This kid... he’s a monster...’

She thought to herself as she watched the straight-backed figure on the stage.

’It seems Linfeng and Qingge... didn’t lose for nothing...’

Her expression as she looked at Jiang Che on the stage grew incredibly complex, ultimately resolving into a nearly inaudible sigh.

Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi, who had been watching calmly as if he were a detached observer, now stroked his long, silver-white beard, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

He slowly turned his head to the excited and proud Xu Qingshan beside him and smiled warmly. "Qingshan, you’ve accepted a fine disciple!"

Xu Qingshan quickly rose and bowed respectfully to the Sect Leader. "Thank you for your praise, Master!" he said, his voice trembling with excitement. "The boy earned it himself!"

Though his words were humble, his ramrod-straight posture, the ruddy glow on his face, and his astonishingly bright eyes all broadcast his inner ecstasy and pride to the world!

Not since his beloved disciple Lin Bihe had fallen had he felt such elation!

On the other side, Vice Sect Leader Xie Songnian also wore a gentle smile. He even nodded lightly in the direction of the stage and praised softly, "The younger generation is truly to be feared. Truly to be feared."

His expression was so sincere, so gratified, as if he were genuinely delighted that the Sect had produced another peerless genius.

But deep within those smiling eyes, a bone-chilling, intense killing intent roiled like the Nine Nether Ice!

’Excellent! What a Jiang Che! What a peerless genius!’

’He killed my son, stole my son’s destiny...’

’This boy... must not be allowed to live!’

...

Jiang Che stood on the stage and slowly withdrew his fist.

’And here I thought this would last a little longer...’

He thought to himself, looking at his still-abundant Strength.

He could unleash the Eighteenfold Strike five times in a row, and he had only used it twice.

Below the stage, Xiao Qingge used her Suona to prop herself up, struggling back to her feet.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her face held not a trace of dejection; instead, as she looked at Jiang Che, her eyes burned with an unprecedented, fiery excitement!

She had lost, but she was utterly convinced by the defeat!

Step by step, she walked up to Jiang Che, thumped him on the chest, and laughed heartily.

"Not bad, kid! You’re pretty good! Hiding your strength that deep! That punch of yours has some real Force!"

She was still as forthright as ever, as if she weren’t the one who had just lost the match.

Jiang Che looked at her and shook his head with a wry smile.

Suddenly, her smile faded slightly. Her expression turned serious as she warned him in a low voice,

"By the way, Junior Brother Jiang. In the finals... be careful."

"That guy, Qin Wuya... he’s far, far stronger than you can imagine!"

Having said her piece, she turned and strode away without a backward glance.

"Qin Wuya, you say..." Jiang Che murmured, watching Xiao Qingge’s retreating figure.

...

With Xiao Qingge’s somber departure from the stage, the final duel of the Young Alliance Leader selection tournament had finally arrived.

On one side was Qin Wuya, already famous throughout Cangzhou, widely regarded as the undisputed king of the younger generation, who had steamrolled his way into the finals.

On the other side was the tournament’s biggest—and only—dark horse.

Jiang Che, who had staged upset after upset, creating miracle after miracle, and battered his way into the final round with his incomparably domineering Fist Technique.

And yet, despite the countless, jaw-dropping miracles Jiang Che had performed to get here.

When faced with the seemingly insurmountable mountain that was Qin Wuya, still, no one favored him to win.

Murmurs rose and fell among the spectators in the plaza, but this time, public opinion was surprisingly unanimous.

"Sigh, I really want to root for Jiang Che, but... his opponent is Qin Wuya..."