Chapter 42: God-like Martial Arts
"Heh Heh…that chap is really unlucky…" Min Yan silently celebrated the inevitable misfortune that was about to befall Min Hong, while gazing at the latter who was still trying to dig out a massive treasure from his nostrils.
To a certain extent, Min Bai was a little superior to Min Jiao and Min Gui in talent. In fact, if they were given the same treatment and resources, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they would be eating his dust in a cultivation race.
Now that Min Hong had finally met Min Bai in this round, it seemed like Min Hong's journey to the top spot of this tournament would be short lived.
"Too bad, I had originally planned to personally teach him a very good lesson. Looks like I won't need to stress myself in the end." Min Yan sneered as she commented.
"To think that his opponent would be Min Bai…" When Min Rou heard the announcement of Min Hong's opponent, the former could not help but furrow her brows in frustration. Clearly this name was not foreign to the castle members of the Min Family.
On one side, Min Qing couldn't help but feel worried. If this Min Bai's talent was really as great as everyone made it to be, and Min Jiao was currently in the 2 Star Dan Formation stage, then what stage would his cultivation base be?
"Don't be overly worried. Even if he loses to Min Bai, he would have still made the most of this terrible situation. After all Min Hong is the only person in the entire Min Family next generation, who had trained for only a little over five years."
Upon hearing Min Rou's words, Min Qing did not say anything else. Her eyes shifted to gaze upon the young man on the stone platform, who was finally excited to see the big blob of treasure he had been looking for within his nostrils.
"Pfft!" Seeing the silly look on Min Hong's face, Min Hong's face, Min Qing couldn't help but let out a stiffed laughter. Even though she couldn't understand why, in her heart, she just couldn't help but anticipate a different outcome.
"Hong would not lose so easily…" she muttered with a smile.
"You…" Min Qing's confidence in Min Hong left Min Rou utterly speechless.
After Min Bolin's announcement, a youngster dressed in grey colored clothes silently walked out of the crowd, before heading up to the training platform.
This youngster was rather skinny, yet his sharp gaze was as penetrating as that of an eagle's. Looking at him, one could tell that not only was he wise and cunning, he also possessed an unwavering determination.
Having witnessed how mediocre the next generation of the Min Family was becoming, and how much he had suffered in the hands of bandits, all in the name of training, this young chap had inevitably matured way earlier than his peers.
"Min Bai." The young man dressed in grey colored clothes slowly announced his name as he faced Min Hong.
"Min Hong." Min Hong courteously responded, as he solemnly cupped one fist in his other palm, giving his opponent the respect, he truly deserves. Min Hong rather admired this young man a lot.
"I will not hold back." Min Bai warned Min Hong as he started at the latter.
"Thank you." Min Hong smiled.
"Since the both of you are here, let the match begin." Min Bolin worryingly glanced at Min Hong before he waved his hands and spoke.
"Thump!" the moment Min Bolin's voice faded, Min Bai narrowed his eyes, and in a single step, he ferociously charged towards Min Hong, as he gripped his five fingers into a fist and directly attack Min Hong's chest.
Faced with the approaching Min Bai and his fist, Min Hong didn't retreat. Instead to the astonishment of the spectators, he took a step forward, as his right palm quickly extended to welcome Min Bai's fist.
The moment Min Hong's palm collided with Min Bai's fist; the latter was unexpectedly blown to the side upon impact. Just as his fist was deflected, Min Bai's body stance abruptly shifted, effectively evading the follow up palm strike Min Hong threw his way.
Clenching both fists together, he suddenly sent it towards Min Hong's face.
Layer upon layer of fist images were like torrential hailstorms descending from the sky. This kind of power isn't one that any sane person would dare to clash against.
"Winter Hail Fist?" this familiar technique caused Min Hong to raise his eyebrows. He had seen Min Gui execute this fist technique before, but compared to the one Min Bai just executed, Min Gui's fist technique would appear to be riddled with critical flaws.
"Shuu…" letting out a deep but rapid breath, Min Hong knew in his heart that the power of the 'Winter Hail Fist' would continually grow stronger and more difficult to handle. Thus, he understood that he would have to face it head on at its early stages.
"Ka Ka Ka Ka Ka…" seeing that he could not retreat, Min Hong wore a serene expression on his face as he released his fists into a palm. Immediately, a series of subtle sounds echoed out from atop the training platform.
'One with World' level willow leaf palm!
Upon witnessing this sight, many people in the crowd were slightly alarmed. They never expected this mediocre palm technique which was highly favored by Min Tian could be this spectacular, neither did they anticipate a boy of such age obtaining any insight on it.
"This boy…to think that he had made such progress…" Min Rou was also stunned at Min Hong's sudden display, though a cheerful look surfaced on her face some moments later.
"Hnmmm…Not bad..." In the VIP booth, Min Tian stroked his beard and nodded slowly. Being able to utilize the Willow Leaf Palm in a 'One with World' level at such a young age was an extremely impressive accomplishment.
"Yet the force behind Min Bai's Winter Hail Fist is also extremely strong, and it was even supported by his Qi. Therefore, even though his accomplishment with the Willow Leaf Palm is great, it still won't be enough to handle or overpower the former…"
Though he was thoroughly amazed, Min Tian still maintained a discerning gaze on the ongoing battle, as he kept assessing the situation.
Kum! Bang!
However, the instant Min Tian's words finished, another slightly audible sound spread through the air, but due to the silence in the arena, many people still heard it.
At this moment, the entire arena went into shock. Most were confused, others were awestruck and some other set of people were just blatantly lost as to what just happened.
A fist strike! As far as the castle members of the Min Family could remember, the Willow Leaf Palm was named that way because it consisted of three consecutive palm moves. Therefore, no one was able to fathom just how a fist strike ended up becoming Min Hong's last move.
Swish! In a flash, every member of the spectators immediately turned towards Min Hong. This time, they managed to hear some faint dragon tattoos bulging on Min Hong's skin, then came the roars echoing out from within Min Hong's body.
4-Star King stage! 4-Star Qi Sea stage!
"Crack!" Min Tian's grip on his teacup tightened, as cracks ran across its body and broke apart. He blankly stared at the young boy standing atop the training platform. The 4 Star Warrior stage? A follow-up fist strike instead of a palm strike?
Min Hong…since when did his body cultivation stage become this high.
"Brilliant!" As he sat on the Family Head seat, Min Tian was briefly shocked, before he abruptly blurted out the compliment. Everyone who knew him personally, understood that the strength Min Hong just displayed caused him to be extremely satisfied and pleased.
But they still didn't get the full memo. Although, as Min Tian only knew that Min Hong was cultivating a body refining technique, as to which stage, he was in…Min Tian had no idea.
Then, even the cultivation stage he just displayed was not all, as only himself, Min Rou and Min Hong knew that he had reached the 5 Star Qi Sea stage. This only meant…He was still holding back!
Standing in a corner, Min Lei's expression darkened completely. He kept his lips tightly sealed and did not utter a single word. Standing behind him, Min Kong's expression also darkened slightly.
"This brat is already cultivating the 'Jade Primal Dragon Body'?"
"Thump!" Under the crowd's stupefied and stunned gazes, like a massive boulder Min Hong's fist collided against Min Bai's fist.
A tremendous shockwave exploded outwards as the latter's body was blown backwards like a kite with broken strings, before landing on the ground just outside the perimeter of the stone platform.
"Crash…" Seeing that Min Hong had blown Min Bai out of the training platform with just a punch, the surrounding spectators burst into heavy uproar. Those who had known Min Hong before, had their jaws slack open, as they were absolutely unable to believe that he had made this much progress in just about six years of cultivation, especially knowing that he started out with extremely feeble body.
Min Bolin was likewise stunned silly by the strength that Min Hong just displayed. A short period after, he hastily announced the results.
"Min Hong wins!"
The training grounds abruptly exploded into whistles and cheers as they realised Min Hong had reached this stage of the tournament unscathed not through luck, but by the genuine strength he possessed.
Min Hong watched the roaring spectators from his spot atop the training platform, as a smile tore through his lips. He leapt off the training platform and extended a hand to Min Bai; "Are you alright?"
"A technique in the 'One with World' level, 4 Star King stage and 4 Star Qi Sea stage. My defeat is justified." Min Bai looked at Min Hong with a smile on his face. He continued "I guess there are some talents within the castle members after all. If there is ever an opportunity, I would like to spar with you once again."
Finishing his words, Min Bai did not linger around anymore and chose to leave instead.
Gazing at Min Bai's back, Min Hong smiled. Towards him, he had quite a deep favourable impression. If there was ever a chance in the future, perhaps they could get to know each other better.
However, before that, he still had to finish Min Kong off, or else he would continue to act conceited…
Min Hong turned his head and cast his gaze toward Min Kong's direction, only to see that the latter was also looking back at him with faint disdain in his expression.