Chapter 33 - 33: You Really Have Guts
Chapter 33: You Really Have Guts
Chapter 33: You Really Have Guts . . .
Whipping, a disciplinary measure, found frequent application in the academy, where students faced its punitive lashings. This form of punishment, unlike mundane whippings, involved the use of a low-grade Spirit Artifact whip. Each stroke dispersed the student's protective essence energy, inflicting searing pain to the bone.
Ordinarily, a student committing an error would endure around 30-50 lashes, necessitating a ten-day recovery period. In Wan Yuan's case, facing a sentence of 100 lashes, he anticipated a prolonged recovery, rendering him unable to walk for at least twenty days.
Recognizing the public disdain he had garnered, Wan Yuan refrained from challenging Huyan Yong. Glaring fiercely at Ye Yuan, he declared, "Hmph! In a while, we will come and collect your corpse!"
Undeterred, Ye Yuan retorted confidently, "Many thanks then. But I think you better collect the corpse of your family's dog. I won't see you off." With a dismissive wave, Ye Yuan bid Wan Yuan farewell.
In a hypothetical non-deathmatch scenario, Wan Yuan would have seized the opportunity to confront and dismantle Ye Yuan. Yet, for now, he was compelled to depart, nursing his resentment.
With Wan Yuan's departure, Huyan Yong, his expression stern, announced, "Deathmatch resumes!"
Fei Qingping, now recovered, harbored a seething hatred, seemingly eager to dismantle Ye Yuan. Accusing him of despicable tactics, Fei Qingping denounced Ye Yuan for employing underhanded methods.
Unfazed, Ye Yuan responded with a gaze of disbelief, "Hey, you were the one who said that you will allow me three moves. Now you turn around and blame me for being despicable? Did you really become a pig's head?"
Infuriated, Fei Qingping erupted, "Little bastard! You are dead!!" His anger-laden threats were met with Ye Yuan's swift execution of Instant Flash, sending Fei Qingping flying once again.
This time, spectators on the grandstand observed a nuance. Unlike the initial instance where Fei Qingping underestimated his opponent, this time, he was prepared for a counterattack. Nevertheless, he proved slower by half a beat.
Puzzled, Zuo Bugui remarked, "Is Instant Flash supposed to be this quick?" Reevaluating his understanding, he realized that Ye Yuan had already mastered the great circle stage of Instant Flash.
Long Tang confirmed Zuo Bugui's realization, adding, "Looks like we were both wrong. Ye Yuan's Instant Flash had already reached the great circle stage."
Astonished, Zuo Bugui acknowledged the new revelation, "Siii... Great circle stage... Do you also know Instant Flash?"
Long Tang admitted, "I still cannot find the crux to step into the Great Circle Realm."
Mulling over the developments, Zuo Bugui muttered, "This Ye Yuan... is truly monstrous! Looks like in the future, we will have another terrifying opponent."
Maintaining his fighting spirit, Long Tang responded, "If he can rise up, he would be a pretty good opponent." Despite the age disparity, Long Tang's determination hinted at a prolonged period of isolation within Dan Wu Academy.
Dismissive of Zuo Bugui's concerns, he continued, "You are indeed a sicko! Even though I don't know what happened to Ye Yuan, most likely he can't cause any threat to you. After all, your cultivation realm is much higher than his."
Long Tang, however, countered, "It may not necessarily be so! Don't tell me you still believe that Ye Yuan rising two minor cultivation realms in a row was the result of his father pulling the shoot to help it grow?"
Zuo Bugui shook his head, expressing skepticism, "Even though I don't know how he did it, he is definitely not those sorts of Third Level Essence Qi Realm with superficial foundations! From the start until now, he had continuously used over a dozen Instant Flashes and Stacking Wave Layered Palms. All these no longer support the principle where his foundation is superficial. But looking at him, he doesn't seem to be under strain. Instead, he seems to be doing it with ease. But the question is... how does he do it?"
Acknowledging the mysteries surrounding Ye Yuan, Zuo Bugui felt that many occurrences surpassed his understanding. Although not considering Ye Yuan a direct opponent due to the difference in their realms, Zuo Bugui foresaw Ye Yuan becoming a formidable adversary in the future.
In the ongoing duel, Ye Yuan coldly addressed the fallen Fei Qingping, warning, "I don't care how you scold me, but if you scold my parents, I won't stand for it. If you have the guts, try scolding another sentence. The next time I strike, it will no longer be light." Ye Yuan's resolve remained unyielding.
Struggling to rise from the ground, Fei Qingping shook his swollen head and unleashed a grotesque smile. "Hahaha... Just relying on you? So what if you managed to learn the Stacking Waves Layered Palm? It's just the First Layer Wave! Even if I let you hit me, can you even kill me? Once your essence energy is fully exhausted, you are dead! So what if I scold you?! Little bastard! Little bastard! Little bastard! Come on! Come hit me!"
Displaying newfound wisdom, Fei Qingping remained on high alert as he spoke, secretly channeling essence energy, preparing to employ the Lesser Capturing Hand at any given moment. Aware that he couldn't match Ye Yuan in movement technique, he opted for a defensive stance, intending to drain Ye Yuan's essence energy entirely.
Contrary to expectations, Ye Yuan showed no immediate intention of striking. Instead, he gazed at Fei Qingping, wearing a smile that emanated an icy intent, sending shivers down the spines of the students on the grandstand.
Observing this, Huyan Yong narrowed his eyes, recognizing Ye Yuan's genuine anger. Anticipation filled the air, as the next attack promised to descend like a thunderbolt. Huyan Yong, however, grappled with the mystery of how Ye Yuan would bridge the gap in their cultivation realms.
While the Stacking Waves Layered Palm, First Layer Wave, proved ineffective, Huyan Yong wondered if Ye Yuan possessed an unrevealed trump card. The enigma surrounding Ye Yuan intrigued him, sparking a faint sense of anticipation.
"Very good. You really have balls. I'm coming. You better prepare your Lesser Capturing Hand properly," Ye Yuan remarked, his smiles holding a sinister edge. In the next instant, Fei Qingping noticed Ye Yuan's figure gradually blurring. Recognizing the impending danger, Fei Qingping hastily executed the Lesser Capturing Hand, attempting to impede Ye Yuan's swift movements.
Yet, his efforts proved futile.
In the blink of an eye, Ye Yuan materialized in front of him, delivering a palm strike almost identical to the previous one. "Stacking Waves Layered Palm, Second Layer Wave!"
Fei Qingping soared through the air like a broken kite, landing with a resounding thud. A torrent of blood accompanied his landing, revealing the severity of his internal injuries.
"Second Layer Wave! He mastered the Second Layer Wave! H-how is that possible? I-it's only been three days!" Zuo Bugui's disbelief echoed through the grandstand. The sheer shock of witnessing such a feat left him speechless.
The power escalation might only be fourfold, but the cultivation difficulty was far from a mere linear increase. Long Tang's earlier estimation suggested a minimum of three months to master the Second Layer Wave, yet here was Ye Yuan achieving it in just three days.
Was Ye Yuan truly human? The astonishment reverberated not only in Zuo Bugui's mind but also in the silent contemplation of Long Tang, who stood witness to the seemingly impossible. The rapid progression of Ye Yuan remained an enigma, leaving both onlookers in a state of incredulity.