Translator – Misty

Chapter 64: Left Hand Thunderclap, Right Hand Dark Extermination

Mu Zibai and the other two were beaten up?

And not just that, they were kicked by a mysterious young man so hard that they spewed blood from their mouths and noses?

Was that even possible?

No one knew.

No one could say for sure whether it was true or not. Although Li Zheng and his group spoke as if it was a fact, most disciples found it hard to believe. After all, the three of them were the top disciples of the Twelve Courtyards, their cultivation and strength were exceptional. Mu Zibai, in particular, had established a Three-Colored Spiritual Root and possessed the Colorful Spirit Shield. How could he be kicked into spitting blood? Even the personal disciples of the Nine Peaks from the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect wouldn’t have such ability, would they?

The conflict between Mu Zibai and Li Zheng’s sides grew heated, swords nearly drawn. Fortunately, as the elders arrived, the dispute was quelled.

With the elders’ arrival, it signaled the official start of the Twelve Courtyards Chief Disciple Competition.

This was a major event.

The sect’s elders paid close attention to it. More than forty inner and outer sect elders and enforcers were present. In addition to Elder Ren De, who presided over the tournament, even Elder Mu De attended. Of course, Daoist Fei Xue, Daoist Guang Yuan, and several other high-ranking figures from Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect were also present.

The rules for competing for a chief disciple position were straightforward: each participant would draw lots to determine which chief disciple they would challenge. If they won, they would take that position.

The rules were direct and brutal, yet also fair. They not only encouraged the disciples but also reminded the Twelve Courtyards’ chief disciples that stagnation meant elimination. If they did not work hard, their position could be taken at any time.

Every year, many disciples participated in the chief disciple competition, and this year was no different, with more than thirty contestants. Without exception, nearly all of them had ranked among the top in last year’s Inner Sect Grand Competition.

These disciples, whether in cultivation or immortal arts, were all outstanding, with formidable overall strength. Unfortunately, there was still a significant gap between them and the chief disciples of the Twelve Courtyards.

The competition had been going on for an hour, and more than half of the thirty contestants had already been eliminated. Some who drew lots to face Mu Zibai and Li Zheng even chose to forfeit on the spot upon stepping onto the stage.

This greatly disappointed Elder Ren De.

“Mu Zibai and Li Zheng are indeed strong, but these disciples don’t even have the courage to fight? Do they think that if they draw another chief disciple, they would stand a chance? Participating in this competition should not be left to luck! This is truly disappointing, extremely disappointing.”

Elder Ren De shook his head in dismay, his expression barely able to conceal his anger. “From now on, disciples like these will no longer be allowed to register. If they don’t even have the courage to fight, what’s the point of them?”

The competition continued, and soon, more contestants were defeated.

Elder Ren De sighed again. “Another batch trying to rely on luck to become a chief disciple. How many times must they be told that Foundation Establishment Realm is not the same as the Innate Realm? In the Innate Realm, the difference between nine levels is not too great, but in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the difference between each level is like an insurmountable chasm. The gap between the fourth and sixth levels of Foundation Establishment may seem like just two levels, but in reality, it is as vast as two mountains.”

While Elder Ren De was still lamenting, not far away, Tan Siru, who stood beside Daoist Fei Xue, chuckled.

“Junior Sister, did you hear Elder Ren De’s words? In the Foundation Establishment Realm, every level is like a chasm. The gap between the fourth and sixth levels is like two mountains.”

“What do you mean?” asked Ouyang Ye, slightly puzzled.

“Heh, nothing much. I just wanted to say that your dear crush is truly lacking self-awareness. He’s completely overestimating himself. Does he think that just because he defeated Li Can, he’s qualified to challenge a chief disciple of the Twelve Courtyards? Li Can is only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, while Huang Yao is at the sixth level. Does he think the gap between four and six is small…?”

Ouyang Ye ignored her and instead focused on the ongoing battle in the arena.

Inside the arena, the fight was between Huang Yao and a disciple at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

Huang Yao was at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. Although the gap between them was only one level, the difference in spiritual power was enormous. Just as Elder Ren De had said, in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the gap between each level was like a mountain.

The disciple at the fifth level was no match for Huang Yao at all. He was completely suppressed, unable to fight back.

Moreover, Huang Yao’s martial arts were highly advanced. He had cultivated three martial techniques, all at the Peak Stage. All three were centered around ferocity and brute force—whether it was Thunderclap Palm or Dark Extermination Palm, each strike carried immense power. A single palm strike would unleash either fifty-four principles of Thunderclap or fifty-four principles of Dark Extermination, an overwhelming force.

Watching the battle, Ouyang Ye couldn’t help but feel worried. She couldn’t understand why Gu Qingfeng had to take part in the chief disciple competition.

Yes, he had an Mutated Body with a powerful physical constitution.

Yes, he had cultivated Blazing Thunder Technique to Grand Completion.

But… what use was it?

Everyone knew that spells were unsuitable for direct combat. If one cultivated multiple spells, it might be possible to engage in a battle of attrition, but relying on a single spell? If the first strike failed to take down the opponent, the only outcome would be certain defeat.

Spells lacked the versatility of martial techniques, the agility of swordsmanship, and the unpredictability of formations.

In the arena—

The Foundation Establishment fifth-level disciple who challenged Huang Yao had already been beaten to the point of vomiting blood. But Huang Yao didn’t stop. He roared, swinging both arms. A dazzling light burst forth—his left arm crackling with lightning, containing the power of fifty-four principles of Thunderclap, while his right arm was wreathed in black mist, infused with fifty-four principles of Dark Extermination.

Both palms struck forward!

Boom!

With a muffled groan, the disciple spat blood as his clothes were torn apart. He was sent flying off the stage, landing heavily with over twenty wounds on his body.

Brutal!

Ouyang Ye couldn’t bear to look at the injured disciple and grew increasingly anxious about Gu Qingfeng.

“How dare you challenge me, Huang Yao? You don’t know your own limits!”

In the arena, Huang Yao stood proudly, hands behind his back. Since Li Zheng had exposed the incident in the cave dwelling earlier, causing him to lose face, he seemed determined to reclaim his dignity. He glared at Li Zheng and the others, shouting, “My left hand wields Thunderclap, my right hand wields Dark Extermination! In this world, who can even scratch me?!”

His words were arrogant, even conceited.

But after witnessing how he just defeated a Foundation Establishment fifth-level disciple, everyone knew he had the right to be arrogant.

“Who’s next? Get up here!”

On the high platform, Elder Ren De stroked his beard and nodded approvingly. “I did not expect Huang Yao to simultaneously unleash both Thunderclap Palm and Dark Extermination Palm. Impressive… truly impressive. Left hand Thunderclap, right hand Dark Extermination, both at Peak, striking together with such power. Our disciples of Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect should be as creative as him.”

The surrounding elders nodded in agreement, recognizing Huang Yao as a promising talent.

Elder Ren De asked, “Who’s next?”

“Gu Qingfeng!” an enforcer responded.

Hearing this name, Ouyang Ye’s heart skipped a beat, while Tan Siru chuckled gleefully.

“Oh my, Junior Sister, your dear crush is about to challenge Huang Yao… This will be exciting. I can’t wait to see who will get beaten down—him or Huang Yao?”

(End of Chapter)