42: One punch defeated a Foundation Establishment Level 6 cultivator, thus advancing to the True Disciple level!

In stark contrast to Palace Master's excitement and wild joy was the Grand Elder Zhang Wanyi by her side.

Zhang Wanyi's face looked absolutely terrible at this moment!

Sword Intent?!

It was actually Sword Intent?!

Comprehending Sword Intent at the Foundation Establishment Stage?!

How is this possible?!

In the entire Eastern Region, how many people could achieve this?!

She finally understood why Wang Ming had remained so calm and composed all along!

He simply—or rather, never—truly took Xiao Ce to heart!

They weren't even on the same level!

Xiao Ce had used a blood-burning pill to forcibly reach the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, and while he seemed imposing, he was nothing more than a paper tiger before Sword Intent!

Her painstaking plots and the high price she paid for the blood-burning pill on the black market seemed so fragile in the face of Wang Ming's despair-inducing talent!

She could even feel the subtle gazes being cast her way by the other Elders.

It's over... everything is over... Zhang Wanyi's nails dug deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain, only a chilling coldness.

Meanwhile, on the Martial Arts Stage.

Xiao Ce also felt that Destruction Sword Intent that made even his Soul tremble!

He saw the heart-palpitating black electric arcs on Wang Ming's arm!

His pupils constricted, and his charging momentum came to a halt.

What is this?!

He wanted to retreat, but at this point, the arrow was already on the string; he had no time to stop and nowhere to run!

He could only brace himself, gathering all the violent spiritual power from the blood-burning pill into his fist, and with a roar, he swung toward Wang Ming!

"Stop playing tricks! Break for me!!!"

At that moment, Wang Ming's right fist, which had gathered strength to the limit, finally moved.

There were no fancy flourishes.

Just a simple, straightforward thrust.

"Shattering Moon!"

He muttered in his heart.

An Earth Rank High Grade sword technique bared its fangs in actual combat for the first time.

Except, the medium was a fist.

Boom—!!!!

Xiao Ce's seemingly invincible and violent spiritual power melted away like snow under the sun the moment it touched the black electric arcs!

The expression on Xiao Ce's face froze instantly.

He felt as if his full-power strike had hit an eternal divine mountain.

The counter-shock force rolled back like a tsunami!

Xiao Ce was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, hurtling backward even faster than he had come!

While still in the air, he sprayed blood, filling the air with a red mist!

His aura, which had been forcibly boosted to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, deflated like a punctured ball and instantly withered!

"Bang!!!"

His body slammed heavily onto the hard bluestone Martial Arts Stage and rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.

He didn't move.

His face was as pale as golden paper and his breath was as thin as silk; he had completely lost consciousness.

Only the slight rise and fall of his chest proved he was still alive.

On the Martial Arts Stage, the dust slowly settled.

Wang Ming stood quietly, the black electric arcs on his right arm having vanished without a trace.

He slowly retracted his fist, his breathing not even slightly disturbed.

Silence!

The entire venue fell into an eerie silence!

Every Disciple, every visitor from other Sects in the Guest Courtyard, and even many Elders stared at Wang Ming with wide eyes in disbelief.

Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer... against Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer... and he was... one-punched?!

After the brief silence.

Exclamations instantly swept across the entire Martial Arts Arena!

"My god! One punch! Just one punch!"

"Senior Brother Xiao... lost?!"

"That wasn't simple spiritual power! That was Sword Intent! I felt it! It's Sword Intent!!"

"Sword Intent at the Foundation Establishment Stage! A monster! He's a monster!"

"Senior Brother Wang! Senior Brother Wang is too cool!!"

"From today on, Wang Ming is my idol!"

"The number one Genius of Qingxin Palace has changed hands!!"

"You can't say such things recklessly. In terms of talent, Senior Brother Xiao Ce could only be ranked second. The number one person in Qingxin Palace is Senior Sister Gu Qingyi!"

Those Disciples who had supported Xiao Ce before now looked at the green-robed figure on the stage with fanatical gazes.

Strength is always the strongest credential in the cultivation world.

Wang Ming had conquered the vast majority of people present with the absolute strength he displayed!

In the spectator stands, Palace Master slowly sat down, her chest still heaving slightly as her excitement was beyond words.

She looked at Wang Ming with burning eyes.

"Good! Good! Good!"

She said 'good' three times in a row before saying to Zhang Wanyi, whose face was ashen, "Grand Elder, this boy... is the future hope of our Qingxin Palace! Pass down the order: bestow upon Wang Ming the status of Core True Disciple, grant him the highest monthly stipend, and ensure all cultivation resources are provided to him with priority!"

Zhang Wanyi's lips trembled as she tried to say something, but in the end, she couldn't utter a single word and only nodded with great difficulty.

She knew the tide had turned.

Below the stage, Ouyang Yaoxi's clenched fists slowly relaxed, her palms drenched in sweat.

She looked at the figure in the spotlight, her eyes sparkling with brilliance, and something in her heart seemed to be deeply touched.

She suddenly felt that her father's arbitrary matchmaking back then... might not have been entirely a bad thing.

Beside her, Gu Qingyi retracted her gaze.

The playful smirk on her exquisite face had vanished, replaced by the thrill of finding a worthy opponent.

She lightly patted Ouyang Yaoxi's shoulder. "Junior Sister Yao Xi, your eye for people is quite good."

After saying that, she didn't stay any longer and turned to leave.

A surging Battle Intent rippled out from her.

Wang Ming... interesting.

Very interesting.

She began to look forward to the day she would truly fight this little Junior Brother.

In an inconspicuous corner at the very edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

A figure shrouded in a large black robe seemed out of place amidst the surrounding excitement.

Ye Chen's breathing quickened uncontrollably.

In the shadows of his hood, his face was slightly pale.

That punch just now... he had seen it clearly!

If it were him in Xiao Ce's position... he had to admit, he also lacked the confidence to take it!

The gap between him and Wang Ming... was still very large!

Ye Chen suddenly clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Time!

He needed time!

He shot a deep look at Wang Ming, then turned decisively and vanished silently from the Martial Arts Arena.

Cultivate!

Cultivate like a madman!

With the Sunflower Manual and the resources of the Palace Master's Personal Disciple... he believed that surpassing Wang Ming was only a matter of time!

...The Palace Master's decree was passed down with extreme efficiency.

Almost as soon as Wang Ming returned to the Guest Courtyard, a Deacon Disciple arrived with various items and a new identity token, respectfully leading him to his exclusive residence, the Listening Bamboo Pavilion.

It was independent and quiet, with Spiritual Qi several times denser than the Guest Courtyard, a private courtyard, swaying bamboo shadows, and an elegant environment.

The moon-white gold-trimmed robes symbolizing his status as a Core True Disciple and a Jade Slip granting him permission to access high-level Cultivation Techniques were all provided.

His monthly stipend also took effect immediately.

One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, a bottle of Jade-Condensing Pills to aid Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, and various other cultivation resources.

"One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones a month?"

Wang Ming picked up the Storage Pouch containing the Spirit Stones and weighed it, curling his lip. "Tsk... this Personal Disciple status is a bit too poor."

He had just extorted tens of thousands of Spirit Stones from the Ye family, so these one thousand were indeed a bit of a pittance.

However, even a mosquito's leg is still meat; since it was free, there was no reason not to take it.

If his disdainful look were seen by those ordinary Inner Sect Disciples who had to work hard to complete Sect missions for just a few dozen Spirit Stones, their eyes would likely turn red with envy.