Volume One: First Signs of Brilliance Chapter 43: A Blow

As soon as those words were spoken, Wang Jue’s pupils contracted sharply, and waves of shock crashed through his heart.

Goodness gracious!

To become someone who sets the rules?

He never expected Lan Yiyi to have such high hopes for him. Although he’d had similar ambitions ever since he acquired his golden finger, he couldn’t forget that, at present, he was merely a novice at the Body Tempering stage, still leagues away from the summit of martial arts.

Wang Jue understood clearly that this goal was far too lofty for him. Even with his golden finger, he wasn’t certain he could achieve it; for now, he could only keep a low profile and focus on steady growth.

“We’re down to the final task. Let’s spar, as agreed. After our match, you’ll receive a martial skill from me.”

Lan Yiyi managed to force a rare smile onto her face. “Let me be clear: don’t hold back your strength. If you want a good martial skill, you’ll have to show me your full potential. Let me see where your basic martial techniques stand—advanced, or perfected?”

It must be said, this moment was the true test for Wang Jue.

From the very beginning, Lan Yiyi’s intention had been to find out just how far Wang Jue’s martial skills had advanced—enough for him to nearly annihilate a Spirit Accumulation stage warrior while still only at the third layer of Body Tempering.

It was well known that the Body Tempering and Spirit Accumulation stages were separated by a major realm, and any Spirit Accumulation stage cultivator was not one to be challenged by someone at Body Tempering.

No, that wasn’t quite right. Those with enough talent at Body Tempering could indeed contend, perhaps even defeat their opponents.

Of course, defeating and killing were two very different things.

For someone like Wang Jue to nearly kill a Spirit Accumulation stage cultivator while only at the third layer of Body Tempering was an event rare enough to happen once in centuries.

“Relax, don’t be so nervous. Just treat it as a game.”

As she spoke, Lan Yiyi stepped onto the central platform, casting a curious glance at Wang Jue, who hadn’t moved. “Don’t tell me you’ve never sparred with anyone at the martial academy?”

“Actually, I haven’t.” Wang Jue nodded honestly.

He was joking—he’d only joined the academy yesterday, how could he have had the chance to spar?

A faint curve appeared at Lan Yiyi’s lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”

Wang Jue: “…”

Watching Lan Yiyi already on the platform, he was a bit speechless.

He hesitated, then climbed up, wary and making no move to strike. “No, you misunderstand me. I’m worried I might hurt you.”

“What did you say? Hurt me?”

Lan Yiyi laughed—not mocking, nor with any other intent, just a genuine chuckle, as though she recalled something delightful. “If you can hurt me, I’ll grant you one reasonable request. Money, martial skills, cultivation methods, resources—you name it.”

From this, it was clear how confident Lan Yiyi was.

She had always displayed absolute confidence in herself.

Perhaps, she was truly a martial artist in spirit.

Unlike Wang Jue, who was, at best, a slightly capable ordinary person.

When it came to mentality, Wang Jue was self-aware—he was still far from her level.

“Uh…” Wang Jue swallowed, tempted, but just as he was about to speak, the scene before him interrupted him.

Suddenly, Lan Yiyi’s fist shot toward his head, giving him no time to prepare.

Her punch was fast—so fast Wang Jue couldn’t react in time.

A terrifying punch!

The wind from her fist nearly struck his face, making it sting.

No way to dodge!

Terrifying.

Utterly terrifying.

At that moment, Wang Jue sensed that Lan Yiyi was entirely different from anyone he’d met before.

The unfortunate fellow Lan Yiyi had been tracking, whom Wang Jue had nearly killed, was not even in the same league as the Lan Yiyi before him now.

Without a doubt.

The speed and power Lan Yiyi unleashed were truly frightening. It was true Wang Jue’s attention wasn’t focused, but that was entirely because her movements were so swift and without warning.

Wang Jue even suspected that this punch was harder to evade than a bullet.

Danger!

Extreme danger!

He realized he couldn’t escape this punch and would have to take it head-on.

Gritting his teeth, just as he prepared to endure, perhaps the sense of peril awakened his instincts again, and without hesitation, he ducked low, barely evading the attack.

“That punch was an explosive move from the basic fist technique—not an advanced martial skill, but an introductory one.”

Lan Yiyi, seeing Wang Jue escape her punch in such a sorry manner, didn’t attack again but withdrew her fist, explaining for his benefit. “So, do you still think you can hurt me?”

“Hoo…”

Wang Jue took a deep breath, facing reality: even a simple martial skill left him defenseless. “Understood.”

Now, his focus shouldn’t be on avoiding hurting her but on how to claim the reward she offered.

Those rewards had no other conditions—not like the risky resources required to join the hunting team…

“Go ahead, it’s your turn now. Don’t worry about me.”

Lan Yiyi stepped back two paces, then spoke earnestly to Wang Jue, clearly ready for battle.

“Forgive me.”

Wang Jue wasted no time. As she finished speaking, taking advantage of his lingering instinct, he charged at Lan Yiyi.

Gathering his strength into a punch, he unleashed all his power, accompanied by a whistling wind, arriving before her in an instant.

Unexpectedly, his probing, full-force blow missed its mark.

Lan Yiyi dodged easily.

Although Wang Jue had anticipated this, he couldn’t help but feel something was off.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Lan Yiyi before him felt like a leaf drifting on the wind, giving him a dreamlike sensation.

He didn’t stop or give up.

Driven by instinct, Wang Jue threw punch after punch.

Having never learned the basic fist technique, his attacks were chaotic and disorderly, erupting from him in unpredictable patterns. Each swing of his fist was answered by the strength in his muscles.

Guided by instinct, he was already preparing his next attack before the previous one had ended.

Though instinctive, he knew this was to prevent being interrupted and counterattacked.

He was well aware: he couldn’t stop now.

If he paused, Lan Yiyi would surely retaliate, and he would lose instantly.

Therefore, he had to seek out her weakness, seize it, and strike decisively.

Unfortunately.

The idea was beautiful; reality was harsh.

No matter how hard Wang Jue fought in the following moments—

Punch after punch, attacking with all his might, exhausting his physical strength, he couldn’t land a single blow. In fact, he couldn’t even touch the edge of her clothes.

Lan Yiyi’s movements and footwork were ethereal and elusive, making him unable to anticipate her actions, even with his instincts.

Forced to adjust quickly—not because he didn’t want to keep attacking, but because his body had reached its limit.

This high-intensity burst was far more taxing than a full-speed sprint.

For his final move, Wang Jue clenched both fists. Since one hand’s punch had been dodged, he thrust both fists forward together.

This was his last strength, his most powerful outburst.

Swift as the wind, fast as lightning, Wang Jue’s double punch was so fast even the air failed to react.

In that moment, it was as if the wind itself had ceased.

Smack.

The sound of fists striking.

Hit.

For the first time, he landed a blow, making him feel both excited and exhilarated.

It was a rare accomplishment, considering he’d swung countless times before, always missing, and the pressure had been immense.

But before Wang Jue could savor his excitement, he sensed something was wrong.

A delicate sensation—not clothing, for his fists hadn’t touched Lan Yiyi’s attire, but were intercepted before that.

Both fists were encased by Lan Yiyi’s small hands.

With a tug and a release, a surge of force swept over him, and he had no time to resist before he was flung flat onto the ground.

“Not bad. Very impressive—your physical strength forced me to block directly, which is quite remarkable.”

Lan Yiyi looked at Wang Jue, breathing hard on the ground, and continued, “Your moves are terribly messy. From this, I’d say you haven’t learned any fist-type martial skills yet?”

Like a teacher grading a student’s work.

Before Wang Jue could respond, she went on, “Originally, I intended to dodge all your attacks, but you’re more talented than I thought. That last move was fast and fierce, and the power you unleashed was already on par with a Spirit Accumulation stage cultivator.”

Listening to her judgment, Wang Jue wasn’t happy at all. The incident where he nearly killed a Spirit Accumulation stage warrior had made him wonder if he was truly formidable.

After all, he had almost taken that person down.

But now, standing before the leader of the hunting team, he was like a lamb—his speed and strength utterly outclassed.

He was crushed.

Utterly crushed.

Ever since Wang Jue acquired his golden finger, he’d become somewhat inflated.

In his mind, his cultivation lagged behind most of his peers, but with his “cheat,” he’d soon catch up and surpass them.

Early progress doesn’t count; it’s the later leap that matters!

After sparring with Lan Yiyi, Wang Jue finally realized he had no grounds for arrogance.

Perhaps, in the Body Tempering stage, he was invincible, even capable of wrestling with Spirit Accumulation stage cultivators.

But he could not forget: Body Tempering was merely the entry level for martial artists.

Although he was disheartened, Wang Jue quickly faced reality. “Captain Lan, your hunting team members—are their minimum cultivation levels all Spirit Accumulation stage?”

“Yes, that’s the basic standard.”

Lan Yiyi didn’t hide anything, nodding. “The hunting team is always on missions. The targets are either notorious Spirit Accumulation stage warriors or first- and second-level star beasts. Without Spirit Accumulation cultivation, you simply won’t manage.”

“Are there no Body Tempering stage members?” Wang Jue asked curiously.

Lan Yiyi raised her brows. “There are some, but they rarely require our intervention. Usually, the guards handle them.”

As expected.

The hunting team deserved its reputation as the most mysterious and powerful among the three major squads.

Its members’ cultivation levels did not fall below Spirit Accumulation stage.

At this moment, Wang Jue finally understood why Lan Yiyi had said earlier that he couldn’t join the hunting team.

At the end of the day, it was simply a matter of insufficient strength!