58: Chapter 58 Three Punches

Afterimage!

The Wind-Chasing Footwork at Perfection level pushed to its limit, leaving behind an afterimage so realistic it was indistinguishable from the truth, created in the blink of an eye within a tiny space!

This completely exceeded everyone's expectations, and even more so, it exceeded Constable Lie Ming's cognition!

His Fire Poison Palm, which he was certain would land, vicious and ruthless, had only shattered empty air!

"No——! Impossible!" The sinister grin on Constable Lie Ming's face twisted completely, transforming into incredulous shock and rage.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he let out a beast-like roar, "Die! Die! Die!"

In his fury, he no longer cared about any strategy or technique, pushing the vigorous, scorching Qi and blood within his body to the limit.

He struck out with both palms in rapid succession, the crimson palm shadows carrying a scorching, fishy wind, like an out-of-control volcanic eruption, frantically sweeping toward every possible position Lin Tian could occupy!

The ferocity of the Fire Sand Palm and the deviousness of the Fire Poison Palm were mixed together, unleashed without reservation,

aiming to completely tear apart and incinerate that detestable gray figure!

However, Lin Tian's figure seemed to have truly merged into the wind.

In that violent and blazing storm of palm shadows, he was always able to dodge and maneuver at impossible angles by a hair's breadth.

The Perfection level footwork brought not only absolute speed,

but also precise prediction and control over the flow of Qi, space, and the enemy's trajectory of force.

Although Constable Lie Ming's palm power was fierce, it was always a fraction of a second too slow, futilely tearing through the air,

leaving scorched palm prints on the ring, unable to even touch the corner of Lin Tian's clothes.

"How can this be?! How can I not hit him?!" After dozens of palms missed, Constable Lie Ming's state of mind gradually slid from rage toward the edge of collapse,

and his Moves inevitably began to show slight disorder and impatience.

This feeling of frustration and powerlessness—striking with full force only to hit cotton, unable to even touch the opponent's clothing—almost drove him mad.

Just at the moment when his mind was momentarily distracted by the prolonged failure to land an attack, and his palm momentum slightly stalled——

Lin Tian, who had been dodging and weaving, seemingly only defending and not attacking, had a flash of cold light erupt in his eyes!

The Qi and blood circulated by the Perfection level Five Elements Stance surged thunderously,

the sharp, armor-piercing intent of the Metal Element Fist and the supple, penetrating force of the Wood Element Fist, under the mystical guidance of the "Fusion Technique," were not simply added together,

but spiraled and intertwined, merging into a more condensed, more destructive, and peculiar force that gathered on his right fist!

"Metal-Wood Fusion——Mountain Breaker!"

With a low shout, Lin Tian's figure cut into the opening Constable Lie Ming had exposed due to his impatience, moving like a ghost,

and the spiraling fist aura, which had been gathering momentum for a long time, struck directly at his chest without any fancy tricks!

Although shocked, Constable Lie Ming did not panic. He roared, the crimson light on his palms surging, and he crossed them in an X-shape in front of his chest, fiercely blocking!

He was confident that even if he responded in a rush, his strength, which surpassed his opponent's, and his vigorous Qi and blood would be enough to block this blow!

"Boom——!!!"

The fist and palms collided solidly for the third time!

It erupted with a deafening, terrifying sound far greater than any previous collision!

The violent wave of air completely ripped up and shattered the wooden planks of the ring beneath their feet!

However, the result this time was completely different!

Constable Lie Ming only felt a terrifying force, condensed to the limit and carrying a strange, rotating, penetrating power,

like a drill, fiercely tearing through his crossed palm defense, striking heavily at the intersection of his arms!

That power was not merely ferocity; it also carried a supple, lingering force that penetrated through his body!

"Pfft——!"

Constable Lie Ming's face instantly turned from crimson to pale white, and he sprayed a mouthful of blood,

his whole body feeling as if it had been hit head-on by a charging giant elephant, stumbling backward seven or eight steps,

leaving deep footprints on the hard ring with every step before he could barely steady himself,

but his arms were already filled with bone-chilling pain and trembling slightly, his Qi and blood churning like boiling water, and his internal organs felt as if they had been displaced!

"It's not over yet!" Lin Tian, pressing his advantage, tapped his foot, pushing his Perfection level footwork once more,

and pursued like a shadow, the second "Metal-Wood Fusion" already gathering momentum,

before the fist even arrived, the terrifying intent of the spiraling, grinding force already made Constable Lie Ming's scalp tingle!

"Block it for me!" Constable Lie Ming's eyes were completely red, ignoring the pain in his arms,

he frantically urged his remaining Qi and blood, thrusting his palms out again fiercely, attempting to withstand it head-on.

"Boom——!"

The second collision!

Constable Lie Ming was like a person hit again by a battering ram; his protective Qi and blood completely collapsed, and his arms emitted a teeth-grinding "crack" of breaking bones,

unable to steady his body any longer, flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the pillar at the edge of the ring, then bouncing back to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

His right arm bent at a strange angle, blood instantly staining his sleeve red,

and his left arm hung limply, clearly with fractured bones.

Lin Tian's eyes were cold; without the slightest pause, his figure swept over like a gale,

the third strike, the "Metal-Wood Fusion" which condensed all the remaining strength in his body, carrying an unstoppable determination,

crashed down toward Constable Lie Ming, who had fallen and could not rise, and was unable to block!

"Spare him!" Below the stage, Liehuo Hall Master's eyes were splitting, and he shouted sternly, but he dared not actually step onto the stage.

The judge's figure flickered, appearing in front of Constable Lie Ming, and with a light flick of his palm, he neutralized most of the force of Lin Tian's final fist,

but the aftermath still sent Constable Lie Ming rolling away again, knocking him completely unconscious, blood gushing from his mouth,

his injuries only heavier, not lighter, than those of Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang!

"Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, Lin Tian wins!" The judge took a deep look at Lin Tian and announced loudly.

He won!

Lin Tian had actually won!

And it was in a manner that was nearly a crushing victory, heavily injuring the arrogant and insufferable Constable Lie Ming with three fists!

The entire venue was silent for a moment, then erupted into an uproar and exclamations like a landslide or tsunami!

"My god! Three fists! Just three fists!"

"Constable Lie Ming... lost? Lost so miserably?!"

"What kind of fist technique was that? Can Metal Element Fist and Wood Element Fist be used like that? The power is too terrifying!"

"The footwork just now... it was simply ghostly! Constable Lie Ming's Fire Poison Palm couldn't even touch the edge of him!"

The people from Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall were first dumbfounded, then erupted into ecstatic cheers!

Liu Yunfeng and Wang Yu jumped up in excitement, punching the air fiercely.

Even Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, who was always composed, could not help but clap and laugh at this moment, his eyes full of gratification and relief: "Hahaha! Good! Well won! My Disciple won well!"

Seeing Constable Lie Ming's outcome, which was even more miserable than that of his own Disciple, Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang, he finally vented most of the pent-up anger in his chest.

Du Fei froze in place, the gloating smile on his face long since frozen, turning into a pale, incredulous terror.

He had previously felt unconvinced, thinking that Lin Tian had won against him by taking advantage of speed.

But those three fists just now... that "Metal-Wood Fusion," which was destructive, combined hardness and softness, and had terrifying power,

made him realize instantly that if Lin Tian had used this Move on him on the ring back then, he would not have just simply lost,

he feared his outcome would not have been much better than Constable Lie Ming's now!

A chill of lingering fear instantly coursed through his entire body.

Senior Sister Chen Yu stood beside her father, her beautiful eyes fixed unblinkingly on the young man on the ring who was slowly retracting his stance, breathing slightly but still standing straight as a pine,

her cold eyes rippling with brilliance, surprise, and admiration,

as well as a trace of a ripple that she herself had not noticed, quietly rising due to her father's previous words, causing two faint blushes to quietly steal onto her beautiful cheeks.

On the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall side, it was a different scene. Exclamations, curses, and incredulous roars rang out in a chorus.

Several Elders' faces were livid, and they rushed onto the stage to treat the unconscious Constable Lie Ming.

Liehuo Hall Master suddenly sprang from his seat, his eyes spitting fire, glaring fixedly at Lin Tian on the ring,

and then shot a vicious glare at the happily laughing Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, his face turning red and then white,

as if he had been slapped in the face dozens of times in public, it stung with pain!

Constable Lie Ming was his most proud Disciple, in whom he had high hopes; his strength, in his view, was enough to sweep through this assessment.

But now, under the gaze of everyone, he had been heavily injured and defeated by a little-known kid who had only been cultivating for a little over a year, in such a clean, neat, and nearly humiliating manner!

This was not just losing a match, but trampling the face of his Liehuo Martial Arts Hall underfoot and rubbing it in the dirt!

The killing intent in his chest was boiling, and he wished he could immediately rush onto the stage and kill Lin Tian under his palm.

But this was the Imperial Guard assessment site, and the cold gaze of Centurion Shen Lian, who was in the main seat, had already swept over, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and he dared not make any Move.

Indeed, in the main seat, Centurion Shen Lian, who had always been indifferent, now had his gaze fixed on Lin Tian, and in his calm eyes, a trace of obvious appreciation flashed,

nodding slightly, he whispered to an aide beside him: "This child's footwork has reached the Transcendent level, his fist technique has unique skills, his Foundation is solid, and his Heart-Nature is resolute; he is a good seedling. Note it down."

"Yes, sir." The aide hurriedly replied.

Even Centurion Shen Lian had praised him personally!

The representatives of various forces watching from around the ring instantly became even more intense as they looked at Lin Tian.

Exclamations, envy, and the intention to befriend were written all over their faces.

Even many Clan Chiefs or stewards of families began to whisper instructions to their subordinates,

to immediately go and inquire about the detailed background of this Lin Tian, especially... whether he was married! If they could recruit him or arrange a marriage, the Family might gain a strong helper for the future!

At this moment, the name of Lin Tian truly resounded throughout Qianlong Villa, becoming the most dazzling and eye-catching new star in the entire venue!

And Constable Lie Ming, who had passed out, when being carried away by the people from Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, again spat out a mouthful of black blood due to the agitation of his injuries from anger and anxiety, his aura becoming increasingly feeble.

The subsequent matches had no more suspense.

Having witnessed Lin Tian's ghostly footwork and the terrifying power of his Metal-Wood Fusion, the remaining Martial Artists who had not yet been eliminated already felt timid in their hearts.

Occasionally, those who were drawn to face Lin Tian either barely held out for a dozen Moves before voluntarily admitting defeat, or simply gave up directly.

Lin Tian went all the way like a hot knife through butter, and with a perfect record, he indisputably passed the second round, the ring combat assessment,

successfully obtaining the qualification of a Jinyiwei Trainee Flag Officer!

Senior Sister Chen Yu, relying on her superb ice-type Cultivation Technique and footwork, also successfully advanced and obtained the qualification.

Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang, due to being afflicted with Fire Poison, had heavy injuries; although he was treated in time by Hall Master Chen Qingfeng using the solution in the "Fire Poison Palm" booklet and his injuries were stabilized, he could no longer continue to compete and was regrettably eliminated.

Constable Lie Ming had fractured arms, injured internal organs, and was unconscious, so he was naturally also eliminated.

The remaining two Disciples of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall also had decent strength; after fighting for a while, they also successfully passed the assessment.

Two people from Baiyun Martial Arts Hall also performed well and obtained qualifications.

As for the other Family forces, those with better luck had one person selected, while most were completely wiped out.

At this point, the Heishan City Jinyiwei Trainee Flag Officer selection assessment had settled.

The list of ten young Martial Artists who obtained qualifications was announced on the spot and recorded.

Centurion Shen Lian stood up again, encouraged the ten people who passed the assessment, and announced that in two days, they should go to the Heishan City Jinyiwei Company Office to report and officially take up their posts.

At that time, specific duties would be assigned, waist tokens and uniforms would be collected, and regulations would be made known.

As for those who failed, they could only leave Qianlong Villa dejectedly with their respective sect Elders, carrying their unwillingness and regret.

Their path of martial arts was not cut off, but to obtain such an Opportunity to ascend to the sky in one step again, they did not know how many years or months they would have to wait.

Inside and outside the villa, some were happy and excited, looking forward to the future; others were dejected and disheartened.

And Lin Tian, under the gaze of countless eyes—some envious, some jealous, some friendly, some resentful—

slowly left the ring that had determined his turning point in fate, following the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall team.