74: Chapter 74 Shuffling, Stage 2

No flashy Moves, not even using much spiritual energy, just a simple punch delivered towards Wang Lin's chest.

As the fist swung out, it brought with it a faint whistling sound. It looked plain and unremarkable, but it sent alarm bells ringing wildly in Wang Lin's heart, causing him to instinctively raise his arm to block.

Bang!

The fist and arm collided, emitting a muffled thud.

Wang Lin felt an overwhelming force mixed with faint electrical currents surge over. His arm felt as if it had crashed into a high-speed Yao Beast, and his bones emitted an unbearable creaking sound, while the earth-yellow halo instantly dissipated.

His entire body was struck as if by a heavy blow, and he flew backward uncontrollably. With a thud, he fell off the Martial Arts Field, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He struggled a few times but was unable to climb up immediately.

The entire arena was deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared with wide eyes, looking at the composed Zhang Wen on the Martial Arts Field, then at the disheveled Wang Lin off the stage, their minds unable to process what had just happened.

It was too fast.

Ridiculously fast!

From the moment Zhang Wen moved to Wang Lin being knocked away, not even a single breath of time had passed. And that Wang Lin was at the Peak of the Initial Blooming Realm with a Rock Body! Even if he couldn't win, shouldn't he have lasted three or five rounds? The result? He was just stunned by one step from Zhang Wen, then blasted off the stage with one punch?

This... this is it?

What did I just see? When that step was taken, it seemed like there was Lightning Radiance?

Not just that, his final punch, while looking ordinary, likely held profound mysteries, otherwise the Rock Body couldn't have been so fragile!

After the brief silence, the Martial Arts Field erupted into an even more intense uproar. The seniors in their second and third years couldn't sit still either, and the faces of those who had originally been watching with a spectator's mindset grew a bit more solemn.

That's something... That footwork carries thunder force, capable of disrupting an opponent's movements. The final punch looked casual, but in reality, the timing and power were handled to perfection. It's a combination of pure technique and strength.

The student taught by that guy Lin Mo is truly not that simple.

Zhang Wen stood on the Martial Arts Field, patted the non-existent dust off his hands, and scanned the still-bewildered crowd off the stage, his expression remaining as usual.

To him, this was merely resolving a challenger with a casual wave of his hand.

But to everyone else, this short exchange of one breath had already struck their hearts like a heavy hammer.

So, an SSS-grade talent really could be this unreasonable.

While the lingering shock of Wang Lin's defeat hadn't yet faded, challenges on various platforms descended like a sudden rain.

The first change appeared on the seventh platform. Although Bai Wushuang's Heavenly Radiance Saint Body could condense Holy Light for defense, it couldn't withstand a continuous rotation of three New Students skilled in armor-breaking techniques.

Especially the last challenger, whose Moves were tricky and specifically targeted the weak points of the Holy Light. Bai Wushuang's spiritual energy was exhausted, and in the end, he failed to hold the platform.

After that, the seventh platform changed hands several times, finally being taken by a young girl named Li Menger—she possessed the S-grade Soul Dream Whisper talent, capable of easily subduing enemies with Soul power. Three consecutive victories, crisp and clean, she sat firmly in seventh place.

Han Hao on the eighth platform also failed to hold on to the end. Although his Sword Heart Clarity made his sword Moves precise and peerless, he fell behind when facing a youth carrying a rusted blade.

That youth was named Solitary Blade, possessing the S-grade Blood-Drinking Bone Blade talent. His blade seemed connected to his bones and blood; every slash carried a devouring blood aura, and he grew more courageous the longer he fought.

Han Hao's spiritual sword was knocked out of his hand, and he had no choice but to concede and leave the field. Solitary Blade remained on the eighth platform, and no one dared to challenge him easily again.

Zhou Mo on the tenth platform appeared even more disheveled. His Deep Sea Profound Water was good at large-scale attacks, but he was held back everywhere when facing a youth with exceptionally bright eyes.

That youth was named Wan Hao, and although he only had the A-grade Wood Leaf Pupil talent, he could see through the trajectories of water currents and spiritual energy nodes, always able to avoid attacks in advance and find flaws to counterattack.

Zhou Mo lost two consecutive matches and could only watch helplessly as Wan Hao climbed onto the tenth platform.

In contrast, the first six platforms and the ninth platform remained as steady as a rock.

After Wang Lin, four more people ascended Zhang Wen's first platform, but none could last three Moves.

Some tried to win with speed, only to have their trajectories easily locked by his Tremor Step Treading Thunder Marks; others wanted to withstand it with defense, but under his fists wrapped in faint Lightning Radiance, their defenses were like paper.

Zhang Wen didn't even use the true power of his Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder before sending all challengers home in defeat.

Zhao Ya's second platform was always burning with flames. The rotations and kicks of the Crimson Flame Dancer carried the force of burning the heavens; challengers were often scorched just by getting close and couldn't get near her at all.

The gaze she occasionally cast toward the first platform was filled with increasingly intense Battle Intent.

Ji Changkong's third platform was chilling; the Son of the Harsh Winter talent covered the entire surface with a layer of thin ice.

Some New Students who didn't believe in it tried to break the ice and attack, but their knees were frozen stiff just after taking two steps, and they could only concede in defeat amidst the ice mist.

Qin Huang's fourth platform was like an immovable mountain. When he activated the Thousand Jin Stalwart Body, his muscles were coiled like iron, and he remained unmoved regardless of the challengers' punches and kicks. With just one heavy counterattack, he could send his opponent flying off the stage clutching their chest.

On Feng Yingcai's fifth platform, air currents constantly circled his body. His Wind Whisperer talent made his figure elusive; his opponents couldn't even touch the corner of his clothes, and they were instead deflected by him using the wind's momentum, four ounces moving a thousand pounds. After several matches, he didn't even lose his breath.

However, the look in his eyes when he glanced at the first platform was already filled with gloom.

Wu Xuan's sixth platform was safe, but he had to fight five tough battles.

Although his Profound Iron Bones were hard, he was still beaten until his blood and Qi were surging. Fortunately, he was able to hold on to the end each time with tenacious resilience, maintaining his sixth position with only an A-grade talent.

Ding Siyi's ninth platform exuded a gentle yet strong aura.

The Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire transformed into powder-purple flame lotuses, capable of both defense and long-range attacks. Challengers were either left flustered by the flames or trapped by the lotuses, eventually having to concede.

The gaze she cast toward the first platform during the intervals of defending her spot always carried a sense of comfort.

When the golden glow of the sunset covered the Martial Arts Field and the last challenge came to an end, the Spirit Gathering Crystal leaderboard lit up again, and the final rankings were settled:

First Platform, Zhang Wen, SSS-grade Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder;

Second Platform, Zhao Ya, SS-grade Crimson Flame Dancer;

Third Platform, Ji Changkong, SS-grade Son of the Harsh Winter;

Fourth Platform, Qin Huang, S-grade Thousand Jin Stalwart Body;

Fifth Platform, Feng Yingcai, S-grade Wind Whisperer;

Sixth Platform, Wu Xuan, A-grade Profound Iron Bones;

Seventh Platform, Li Menger, S-grade Soul Dream Whisper;

Eighth Platform, Solitary Blade, S-grade Blood-Drinking Bone Blade;

Ninth Platform, Ding Siyi, S-grade Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire;

Tenth Platform, Wan Hao, A-grade Wood Leaf Pupil.

With the list finalized, the entire venue was silent for a moment, then erupted into thunderous discussion.

The top six didn't change at all! Are Zhang Wen and the others really that steady?

That Li Menger and Solitary Blade are dark horses! Especially Solitary Blade, that Blood-Drinking Bone Blade looks terrifying!

The scariest one is still Zhang Wen... I feel like he didn't even use his full strength. If he got serious, who could withstand it?

The discussions among the seniors were more solemn. A senior in his second year looked at the names on the list and muttered: 'This year's New Students are likely to be more lively than previous years...'

When Zhang Wen walked off the first platform, Ding Siyi was already waiting for him below with a food box.

Congratulations on successfully defending your platform.

The young girl smiled, her eyes curved, and handed over the warm spiritual rice porridge.

Zhang Wen took the bowl of porridge, his gaze sweeping over the livid-faced Feng Yingcai in the crowd, then looked at Zhao Ya, who was walking towards him. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint arc: 'This is just the beginning.'

He knew that the real competition was with those who possessed the 'qualification for upward challenges'—especially the second-place finisher before him, who walked with lotus flowers blooming at every step and whose body seemed to overflow with flames.

Zhao Ya stood still in front of him, her red clothes fluttering: 'Zhang Wen, in tomorrow's upward challenge, I will stand before you.'

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly spread to everyone around.

The air instantly tightened again.