Chapter 128: Dugu Lin
Chiming Sea was completely enraged, charging forward and saying, "Who are you calling unambitious? Do you dare to fight me?"
The new student from the East Courtyard raised an eyebrow, smiled slightly, and said, "Your cultivation is too weak. You are not worthy of fighting me."
Hearing this, the female students from the West Courtyard also showed cold anger in their eyes, quite dissatisfied, feeling that the new student from the East Courtyard was too arrogant.
No matter what, Chiming Sea was still among the top ten new students of the West Courtyard, yet the other party actually said Chiming Sea was not worthy of fighting him—wasn't that slapping the West Courtyard in the face?
"Shua!"
Chiming Sea could no longer hold back, drawing a seven-foot-long Purple Yan War Blade.
Gripping the hilt, he channeled his true qi, dragging a long blade light as he slashed toward the new student from the East Courtyard.
The East Courtyard new student curled the corner of his mouth, revealing a contemptuous smile, as if he had been waiting for Chiming Sea to make a move.
"Good timing!"
He quickly extended a finger, channeling his true qi to the fingertip.
A white sword qi shot out from his fingertip.
"Bang!"
The sword qi struck the edge of the Purple Yan War Blade, producing a loud noise, sending the blade flying.
Chiming Sea's arms went numb from the shock, his five fingers feeling as if they were about to break.
Suddenly, a figure flashed before his eyes, and before Chiming Sea could react, a foot kicked him in the chest.
"Slap!"
The sound of ribs breaking rang out.
Chiming Sea spat blood, flying backward like a kite with a broken string, his whole body losing strength as he lay on the ground, unable to get up.
The East Courtyard new student stared at Chiming Sea, shaking his head and sighing: "I originally thought the male students of the West Courtyard were just lacking in talent, which was why they couldn't match the female students. Now it seems the male students of the West Courtyard are also lacking in brains, acting too impulsively!"
The new students of the West Courtyard were all horrified. Chiming Sea was among the top ten new students of the West Courtyard, yet he was defeated in two moves and severely injured.
Were the East Courtyard new students all that strong?
Before the joint new student martial arts competition had even begun, the West Courtyard had already lost a top new student, greatly dampening morale. The mood among the West Courtyard new students collectively sank, deeply shaken by the power of that East Courtyard new student.
A West Courtyard student angrily said, "You were too ruthless. Today is the joint martial arts competition of the four courtyards. You severely injured Senior Brother Chiming; how can he still participate in the competition?"
That East Courtyard new student smiled and said, "Everyone saw it clearly. He made the first move, and I merely responded. How can you blame me? Blame only his impulsiveness. Teaching him a lesson is actually a good thing for him."
The Vice Dean of the East Courtyard and several senior students did not intervene, instead standing by to watch the show.
If a single new student could suppress the morale of the West Courtyard, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Liu Chengfeng raised his voice, speaking with a sarcastic tone: "So what if the East Courtyard's top new student defeated one of the West Courtyard's new students? Can he defeat our West Courtyard's top new student?"
"What? He's the East Courtyard's top new student?"
"So he's the East Courtyard's top new student, Dugu Lin. No wonder he's so formidable."
"Although Dugu Lin is strong, our West Courtyard's top new student, Zhang Ruochen, is no pushover either."
"Zhang Ruochen's talent is definitely above Dugu Lin's, but his cultivation is still too low. He can't possibly be a match for Dugu Lin."
"Exactly! Zhang Ruochen is mainly too young. If he trained for another two years, he could easily crush Dugu Lin. But now, it's not possible."
……
……
Dugu Lin clasped his hands behind his back, looking exceptionally handsome and spirited, and laughed loudly: "I've long heard that the West Courtyard's top new student is a remarkable prodigy, but I've never had the chance to meet him. Junior Brother Zhang, do you dare to come out and fight me?"
Too arrogant, it was practically a provocation.
Everyone's gaze turned to Zhang Ruochen.
Some looked at him with concern, while others eagerly hoped Zhang Ruochen would step up, preferably to thoroughly suppress Dugu Lin's arrogance and vent the frustration of the West Courtyard's male students.
"Ninth Brother, Chiming Sea just now acted impulsively and fell into Dugu Lin's trap, getting severely injured and losing the ability to compete. You must not act rashly. Dugu Lin's cultivation has reached the peak of the Mysterious Extreme Realm's Great Extreme Stage, making him nearly invincible among the new students of the four courtyards. If you also lose to him, the West Courtyard's morale will be completely destroyed!" Zhang Shaochu said with great concern.
Anyone with clear eyes could see that Dugu Lin wanted to crush the West Courtyard's morale before the joint competition.
By forcing Zhang Ruochen out to fight, he aimed to completely suppress the West Courtyard.
The logic was clear, but Zhang Ruochen had no choice. If he didn't step up, wouldn't he be seen as a coward by the other three courtyards?
A faint smile hung on Zhang Ruochen's face as he walked out from among the many students, standing opposite Dugu Lin, and said, "Senior Brother Dugu, you truly are a young hero. I heard that not long ago, you defeated a top-ten expert from the East Courtyard. I truly admire that."
Hearing Zhang Ruochen address himself as junior brother, the West Courtyard students were all displeased, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was disgracing the West Courtyard.
In the Martial Market Academy, the stronger one was called senior brother, the weaker one junior brother.
Unless there was a significant age difference, one would show respect and call the other senior brother.
But Dugu Lin was clearly here to provoke, yet Zhang Ruochen not only called him senior brother but also praised him to the skies. The West Courtyard students naturally thought Zhang Ruochen was timid and afraid, losing face for the West Courtyard.
Even Huang Yanchen clenched her fists, showing anger, wanting to rush up and give Zhang Ruochen a good beating.
Duanmu Xingling tugged at Huang Yanchen's sleeve, smiling, "Sister Chen, don't rush. Wait and watch the show. There's a saying: the higher you lift them, the harder they fall."
Huang Yanchen snorted coldly, staring intently at Zhang Ruochen. If Zhang Ruochen didn't help the West Courtyard regain its dignity today, she would drive him out of the Dragon Martial Hall.
The East Courtyard new students, hearing that the West Courtyard's top new student called Dugu Lin senior brother, all burst into laughter.
One East Courtyard new student sneered mockingly, "The West Courtyard's top new student really knows how to read the room. I like people like that."
"A wise man submits to circumstances, right? Haha!"
"I heard from the elders that this year's new students' overall quality puts the West Courtyard in second place, making them our East Courtyard's strong rival. I was a bit worried before, but now it seems my worry was completely unnecessary." Xun Guihai, the top expert of the East Courtyard, laughed.
Xun Guihai was also a Xuan List martial artist, ranked fourteenth on the Xuan List.
Among the outer disciples of the four courtyards, no one was a match for him except Luo Shuihan.
Dugu Lin also showed a smug smile, staring at Zhang Ruochen, and said, "I am four years older than Junior Brother Zhang, so it's only natural for you to call me senior brother. What's so funny about that?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "The younger calling the older senior brother is a sign of respect from the younger to the elder. But what if the younger also wants to be the senior brother?"
Dugu Lin smiled, "Of course, they would have to defeat the elder and let strength speak for itself..."
Suddenly, Dugu Lin realized the meaning behind Zhang Ruochen's words and said solemnly, "Could it be that Junior Brother Zhang also wants to be the senior brother?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Martial arts cultivation is about constant progress. While respecting our predecessors, we must also surpass them. Senior Brother Dugu, don't you agree?"
"Good! If you can truly defeat me, I will willingly call you senior brother."
Dugu Lin was very confident in his cultivation, but he didn't underestimate his opponent. He activated all the true qi in his body, reaching his optimal combat state.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If Senior Brother Dugu can withstand my first move, I will voluntarily concede. We are all fighting for the honor of our courtyards. Junior Brother, I will make the first move."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Lin saw Zhang Ruochen, who had been standing ten zhang away, charge toward him at lightning speed, his body splitting into two figures.
"So fast!"
Dugu Lin's expression changed. He mobilized his blazing flame true qi to his palms, both hands wrapped in flames, and spread his arms apart to meet the two Zhang Ruochens.
"Dragon-Elephant Phantom!"
The two shadows of Zhang Ruochen simultaneously struck out with their palms, producing a sound of dragon and elephant harmonizing.
The left Zhang Ruochen seemed to unleash a Dragon Claw Hand, while the right one appeared to execute an Elephant Seal Palm.
"Bang! Bang!"
Taking the two palms from Zhang Ruochen, Dugu Lin's arm bones shattered with a cracking sound. He staggered back more than ten meters, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his palms, staring at Dugu Lin, whose arms hung limp, and said, "Senior Brother Dugu, do we need to continue fighting?"
With both arm bones broken, half of Dugu Lin's body was numb with pain. How could he still have the strength to fight?
The smiles on the East Courtyard students' faces vanished instantly. Everyone stood frozen as if petrified, too shocked to speak.
In just one move, Dugu Lin had... lost?
Xun Guihai snorted coldly, "Zhang Ruochen, you were too ruthless! You broke Dugu Lin's arms. How can he still participate in the joint competition of the four courtyards?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Xun Guihai and replied with the words Dugu Lin had used earlier: "Senior Brother Dugu should experience some setbacks. It's a good thing for him."
The West Courtyard students erupted in excitement, everyone feeling immensely satisfied, shouting in approval.
"When Dugu Lin severely injured Chiming Sea, wasn't he just as ruthless?"
"Are you saying only the East Courtyard can be ruthless, while the West Courtyard can't retaliate?"
"Everyone saw it clearly. The top new students of the East and West Courtyards fought fairly. It's only Dugu Lin's fault for being a coward, his cultivation far inferior to Senior Brother Zhang's."
……
……
Xun Guihai's gaze turned cold, a powerful martial aura emanating from his body. He glared fiercely at the West Courtyard students, finally fixing his stare on Zhang Ruochen.
"Xun Guihai, losing is losing. Don't be a sore loser. Do you want to spar?" At this moment, Huang Yanchen felt extremely relieved. Zhang Ruochen had finally avenged the West Courtyard, making the East Courtyard taste the West Courtyard's strength.
Xun Guihai calmed down and said, "Huang Yanchen, I know you've recently grown stronger, ranking thirty-first on the Xuan List, but you're still no match for me. In two months, during the intermediate relic exploration exam, we'll naturally have a chance to settle this."
"I'll be waiting!" Huang Yanchen gently stroked her fair chin, sneering coldly.
……
Sigh! I finished writing at 2:30 in the morning, exhausted. I'll revise one chapter first. There are two more chapters, to be updated at noon. Before I sleep, please give me some recommendation votes!