72: Chapter 72 What the hell is this?

Emerging from the light curtain of the formation was none other than the second-ranked top Prodigy of the Transcendent Academy—Zhao Tieshan!

He had a burly build, standing nearly ten feet tall, with muscles all over his body that looked as if they were carved from granite, exuding a sense of explosive power.

Merely standing there, he was like an unshakable iron tower, radiating a suffocating pressure.

Ling Wanhe's expression instantly turned grave.

She whispered a reminder, "Be careful. This guy's 'Overlord Body' is no joke. His physical defense is downright perverse. Ordinary attacks can't even scratch him."

Ning Yuan, however, grinned mischievously, lightly patted her shoulder, and said with a sly smile:

"Second Sister, time for you to shine! Go on, use your charms to bewilder him!"

Ling Wanhe was instantly covered in metaphorical black lines.

Could this guy be even a little bit reliable?

The trio was about to proceed with their original plan—to sneak over and launch a surprise attack.

Suddenly!

Zhao Tieshan abruptly turned his head. Two sharp, knife-like gazes, almost tangible, pierced straight towards the bushes where the three were hiding!

"Who's there? Sneaking around like rats, get the hell out here!"

His perception was astonishingly acute, instantly seeing through the trio's concealment method!

Ning Yuan helplessly spread his hands.

"Well, looks like seduction is off the table."

Since they were already discovered, there was no need to hide any longer.

The three of them strode out confidently, forming a triangular formation, surrounding Zhao Tieshan in the middle.

Ning Yuan put his hands on his hips and shouted righteously:

"Hand it over!"

Zhao Tieshan was stunned for a moment, then, as if hearing the biggest joke in the world, laughed in extreme anger.

"Hand it over? Robbing *me*?"

He, the esteemed second-ranked powerhouse of the Transcendent Academy, even when facing that number one, Yu Wangji, the other would never dare to look down on him like this!

These three nobodies who popped out of nowhere actually dared to set their sights on him?

It was utterly ridiculous!

His eyes instantly narrowed, gleaming with a dangerous light.

"You... are you sure?"

Boom!

Before his words even faded, the layer of previously restrained black baleful aura on his body instantly swelled!

Behind him, a vague but overwhelmingly domineering Overlord phantom slowly condensed into form!

Ning Yuan couldn't be bothered with his nonsense.

"Enough talk! Hand over all the valuables on you! Or I'll beat you so badly your own mother won't recognize you!"

With that, the vast, boundless golden primordial sea within him trembled violently!

The Primordial Divine Elephant opened its eyes; the Nine Heavens True Dragon roared!

Although, to conceal his identity, he didn't manifest these two great phenomena externally, the unparalleled divine power they granted was absolutely real!

He threw a simple, straightforward punch!

The fist wind howled, compressing the surrounding air to its limit, producing a piercing sonic boom!

Zhao Tieshan's expression changed drastically.

An expert reveals their skill with a single move!

The power contained within this seemingly ordinary dark-faced kid's punch actually made *him* feel a trace of palpitation!

This kid was no simpleton!

Not daring to be overconfident, he let out a loud shout. The Overlord phantom behind him instantly solidified. The muscles all over his body swelled as if inflated, and he too threw a punch!

BOOM!!!

Two fists collided head-on without any fancy tricks!

A visible shockwave, centered on the two, wildly spread out in all directions!

The next second, something happened that no one expected!

Zhao Tieshan, renowned for his formidable physique, was actually sent flying back by this single punch!

He staggered back several steps, each step leaving a deep footprint in the hard ground, before barely managing to steady himself.

His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief!

"How is this possible?! This kid's physical strength is actually stronger than mine?!"

His Overlord Body had already been cultivated to the minor achievement stage! Among peers, in contests of pure physical strength, he had never lost!

Yet today, he was suppressed by some unknown dark-faced kid?

Since when did this year's Transcendent Academy hide such a terrifying existence?

Ling Wanhe, standing to the side, also widened her eyes.

Although she knew Ning Yuan was strong, she never imagined he was strong to *this* extent!

Without even manifesting his phenomena, he could clash head-on with Zhao Tieshan's Overlord Body and even gain the upper hand?

This was simply outrageous!

Having succeeded with his first strike, Ning Yuan immediately shouted.

"Second Sister! Third Sister! What are you waiting for? Attack together! Beat him up!"

Hearing this, Jiang Mingyue and Ling Wanhe instantly reacted.

The two of them moved in perfect sync, attacking simultaneously!

The pair of gorgeous wings behind Jiang Mingyue trembled, scattering countless beams of pure moonlight that transformed into incredibly resilient chains of moonlight, winding towards Zhao Tieshan!

Not to be outdone, Ling Wanhe flapped her multicolored wings behind her. Pinpoints of starlight converged, forming a massive net of stars that descended upon Zhao Tieshan!

Although the power of the two great phenomena was deliberately suppressed and altered in form, their essence remained immensely powerful!

Instantly, they bound Zhao Tieshan right where he stood!

"ROAR——!"

Zhao Tieshan let out a furious roar!

Veins bulged all over his body as the power within him erupted like a volcano!

The Overlord phantom behind him raised its head and roared at the sky, its hands tearing at the chains and net binding it, trying to break free by sheer force!

*Snap! Snap! Snap!*

A series of grating snapping sounds rang out.

The seemingly indestructible chains and net were actually forced open with cracks by his terrifying brute strength!

But Zhao Tieshan's heart was roiling with shock.

"These two aren't simple either!"

"Since when did so many hidden experts pop up in the Transcendent Academy?!"

A full breath of time passed.

Zhao Tieshan finally managed to completely shatter the restraints binding him!

But, for an expert like Ning Yuan...

A single breath of time was more than enough to do many things!

"Hehe! Perfect timing!"

Ning Yuan's figure appeared in front of Zhao Tieshan like a ghost!

He unleashed a flurry of punches, raining them down like a storm!

Within him, the Dragon and Elephant roared in unison. Vast primordial power poured forth without reservation!

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*

A series of dull thudding sounds echoed!

Having just broken free and not yet having time to catch his breath, Zhao Tieshan was instantly pummeled senseless by this barrage of punches, seeing stars!

"Bastards! Have the guts to fight me one-on-one!"

He roared in frustration.

If it were a one-on-one fight, he might not have lost so miserably!

Ning Yuan, however, curled his lip disdainfully.

"One-on-one? Are you out of your mind? I'm robbing you! Who the hell cares about chivalry and one-on-one duels here?"

"Strike while the iron is hot!"

Before his words faded, he delivered another powerful flying kick!

*Thump!*

Zhao Tieshan's massive body was sent flying once again!

Before he even hit the ground...

Jiang Mingyue and Ling Wanhe, who had long been ready, pounced like two hunting leopards, closing in from the left and right!

Moving in perfect sync, one from the left, one from the right, they simultaneously threw a heavy punch!

*Boom!*

Zhao Tieshan was blasted away again, tracing a miserable parabola through the air.

"Damn it! Damn it! Who the hell are you people? Have the guts to give me your names!"

Zhao Tieshan was utterly humiliated!

Having swaggered through the Transcendent Academy for so long, even when facing that number one ranked Yu Wangji, he only lost by a small margin! When had he ever suffered such indignity?

To be ground into the dirt by three nobodies!

Ning Yuan flashed and appeared right above him, wearing that trademark cheeky grin.

"Listen up! We travel under our true names! We are the Xing Dao Trio!"

With that, he raised his right foot, descending from the sky like a divine elephant stamping the earth, carrying the force of ten thousand jun!

It landed squarely on Zhao Tieshan's large, frustrated face!

*Thump!*

Zhao Tieshan's eyes rolled back, and he passed out completely.

In the last second before he lost consciousness, those few words, filled with question marks, echoed in his mind.

"Xing Dao Trio... what the heck is *that* supposed to be?"