Chapter 3: I, the Useless One, Will Defeat You in a Single Move!

Xiao Yang raised a single finger.

Everyone was momentarily stunned. They couldn't fathom what this so-called good-for-nothing was attempting now.

"Then as a useless nobody, would it be acceptable if I defeat you with just one move?"

At once, the crowd erupted. Had they heard correctly? A notorious loser was boasting he could defeat Liu Yuan—a member of the outer sect’s top hundred—with a single move.

Madness! Utter madness.

"You're courting death!" Liu Yuan was instantly furious. Power surged through his body, bones popping and muscles coiling with the sound of a beast’s roar.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd cried out in surprise.

"Look quickly, it's Senior Liu's signature technique: Lion King Roaring Fist!"

Among the crowd, there were some with decent cultivation who saw at a glance that Liu Yuan’s fist technique was no ordinary strike.

"The roar of the fist—the Lion King Roaring Fist has reached mastery in Liu Yuan’s hands," a slender youth commented.

This remark sent another ripple through the crowd.

"Wow! In just two years, Senior Liu has brought the mid-tier Yellow-grade Lion King Roaring Fist to mastery. Senior Liu, I adore you!" A young girl shouted loudly, desperate to catch Liu Yuan’s attention.

A punch struck out, thundering like a lion’s roar.

Xiao Yang, however, stood motionless, as if petrified with fear.

Bang!

The punch landed squarely on Xiao Yang’s chest.

The crowd cheered uproariously.

"Truly a loser—so afraid he couldn’t even fight back. Senior Liu is so cool."

But Liu Yuan’s expression suddenly changed. His fist felt as though it had struck steel—pain shot through his knuckles.

"You..." A flash of shock appeared in his eyes.

Xiao Yang lifted his head slightly.

"Is that all?" he said, utterly disdainful.

Liu Yuan was instantly consumed by humiliation. Losing all sense of decorum, he drew his blade, aiming to cut Xiao Yang down.

"Worthless!"

He snorted coldly as Xiao Yang threw a punch in return.

There was no grand display, just a simple, ordinary punch.

Thud!

A muffled sound echoed. Liu Yuan’s eyes bulged and he staggered backward.

But it wasn’t over.

With each retreating step, another surge of force exploded within his body.

Nine steps in all—only then did he finally steady himself.

He looked at Xiao Yang in disbelief, mouth opening to speak, but a sweet taste filled his throat.

Spurt!

A stream of blood shot several meters from his mouth.

Liu Yuan’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed straight backwards.

The crowd, moments before so boisterous, fell into a stunned silence. Their minds struggled to comprehend what had just occurred. Every eye was wide and dumbstruck, staring at the fallen Liu Yuan.

They could not recover their wits for a long time.

"I have won," Xiao Yang said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Only then did the onlookers snap back to reality, glancing at the collapsed Liu Yuan in utter confusion.

If not for the bitter enmity between the two, they might have suspected the fight was staged.

A perfectly ordinary punch had toppled a renowned ninth-level martial artist—and it was delivered by a man infamous for his incompetence.

"How could this be? That loser actually defeated Senior Liu Yuan?"

"I must be seeing things." Some people rubbed their eyes, convinced they were hallucinating.

Liu Yuan remained unconscious, while Xiao Yang stood unscathed.

"Hurry, get Senior Liu to the Medical Hall!" someone finally shouted, seeing Liu Yuan still coughing up blood.

At that moment, a figure darted over at great speed.

Upon seeing the unconscious Liu Yuan, he roared in fury.

"Who did this?"

The newcomer wore gray robes, embroidered with the character for 'spirit' on his chest—a steward of the Giant Spirit Sect, and Liu Yuan’s master.

With a sect steward present, many in the crowd turned their gaze to Xiao Yang, but none dared to speak up.

After all, Xiao Yang had just defeated Liu Yuan, a member of the outer sect’s top hundred.

Wang Lu followed everyone’s gaze and spotted Xiao Yang immediately, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

"You injured Liu Yuan."

Given the man’s position, Xiao Yang had no choice but to reply respectfully.

"Reporting to Steward Wang, Liu Yuan tried to harm me, so I struck back in self-defense."

Yet his tone remained calm and unyielding.

At once, Wang Lu’s aura erupted, bearing down on Xiao Yang.

"I only want to know—did you injure Liu Yuan?"

"Yes!"

With that, Wang Lu moved like an unleashed beast, covering seven or eight meters in a single stride to stand before Xiao Yang.

"So ruthless at such a young age—you cannot be allowed to live!" he declared, striking with his palm.

"Damned!" Xiao Yang realized at once that Wang Lu intended to kill him on the spot.

He mustered all his strength, blood and energy surging to their peak.

"Martial Skill: Ninefold Force!"

He unleashed his most powerful blow.

Bang!

Fist clashed with palm.

Wang Lu was a Grandmaster, his vigor like that of a savage beast—Xiao Yang was no match.

On the Spirit Martial Continent, the realms were: Martial Disciple, Martial Master, Grandmaster, and Martial Marquis!

In the next instant, Xiao Yang was sent flying like a severed kite, crashing brutally against a wall and spitting up a mouthful of blood. His face turned pale as death.

The gap in strength was simply too great; even with the power of the Mountain Sage and a profound-grade martial art, he was no match.

Wang Lu paused, surprised. A surge of force appeared in his body, threatening his organs, but compared to his own inner energy, it was insignificant and instantly crushed.

Still, surprise flickered in Wang Lu’s eyes, and his murderous intent deepened.

With such talent, if not eliminated swiftly, this boy would become a calamity in the future.

He strode toward Xiao Yang, voice cold.

"Today, I will rid the sect of this threat," he declared, as if Xiao Yang were nothing more than a pig or dog to be slaughtered at will.

"So this is the Giant Spirit Sect? Twisting truth and silencing witnesses," Xiao Yang sighed, a self-mocking smile on his face.

Wang Lu sneered, unmoved.

"Ruthless and cruel, harming your fellow disciples—you were caught by me today. You cannot be allowed to live!"

Hearing this, the crowd lowered their heads, fully aware of the real reason behind it all.

Everything stemmed from Xiao Yang offending Zhang Long.

Zhang Long’s master was the sect’s Grand Elder, wielding vast authority. Wang Lu, an outer sect steward, was eager to curry favor.

But he was far beneath the Grand Elder, so his hopes centered on Zhang Long.

Given the situation, Xiao Yang was doomed.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, an angry cry rang out as a graceful figure rushed over.

Seeing Xiao Yang’s wretched state, tears streamed down her face.

"Senior brother, are you alright?" the young woman asked anxiously.

Everyone recognized her—Zhou Yan, an inner sect disciple.

Had it been any other inner sect member, Wang Lu might have ignored them, but Zhou Yan’s father was the Third Elder of the Giant Spirit Sect—a man Wang Lu dared not offend.

"Yan’er, what brings you here?" Xiao Yang forced a smile, summoning the last of his strength.

Wang Lu hesitated for a moment; this was his only chance. If he missed it, he might never get close to Zhang Long again.

After weighing his options, a chilling glint flashed in his eyes.

As long as he killed Xiao Yang, he would be under the Grand Elder’s protection and need not fear the Third Elder.

With that thought, he rallied his energy, yanked Zhou Yan aside, and threw another punch.

Wang Lu’s fist was so swift that Xiao Yang had no time to react.

As the fist hurtled toward him, Zhou Yan cried out in panic.

"No!"