Chapter 92: Chapter 59: The Soft Persimmon Hardens, Part 2

As all eyes turned to him, Zhao Rui smiled calmly, took a step out from the line, and said, “I’d be happy to oblige!”

“What an act. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was some kind of master.”

“What’s he even trying to prove, forcing his way onto the Martial Arts Team? He’s not even a real Martial Arts Student anymore.”

“Who knows!”

“I heard he’s Luo Min’s old classmate. You think maybe…”

“Could be. He really doesn’t know his place.”

A flurry of whispers immediately broke out among the freshmen. In the vast Martial Arts Arena, the autumn wind rustled, its faint whistling mingling with the indistinct buzzing of their voices.

“Zhao Rui, you joined the Martial Arts Team a few months before them, but your foundation is weak, so don’t feel any pressure.”

“Ge Wenlei, Zhao Rui, you two come up and have a sparring match. Pay attention to the rules…”

Seeing the situation unfold, Wang Zhanshan nodded. He spoke up, granting the freshmen’s request.

“Just make a statement for our side. Don’t beat him so badly that the veteran members start complaining.”

In the freshmen’s line, Wang Dalong instructed the person beside him, Ge Wenlei, with a solemn expression.

“Got it, Brother Long!”

After speaking, Ge Wenlei was the first to move, leaping onto the platform.

The kid went for intimidation right from the start. He used an exquisite Lightweight Skill, seemingly stepping on air as he leaped from his spot in line, over ten meters away, and landed on the platform.

This display of Lightweight Skill alone made many of the veteran team members look on in shock. None of them were capable of such a feat.

Zhao Rui, however, was in no rush. He calmly vaulted over the ropes and into the ring, then methodically put on his mouthguard and other protective gear.

Only then did he walk to the center of the ring, where he gave his opponent a cupped-fist salute in greeting.

“I look forward to your instruction, Senior Brother Zhao!”

Ge Wenlei said with a smirk.

“You’re too kind! I’m not necessarily older than you!”

Zhao Rui replied with a smile. ’Since they want to use me to establish their dominance, I have no reason to indulge them.’

’In the Martial Arts Realm, the strong are revered. Restraint only invites more intense bullying.’

Ge Wenlei hadn’t expected Zhao Rui to be so composed as to trade quips with him. He let out a disdainful laugh, assumed an opening stance, and shouted, “Begin!”

“Begin!”

Zhao Rui didn’t hesitate. He brought his palms together before his chest, his footwork tracing the pattern of the Seven Stars. His cupped palms seemed to cradle the air itself, as if supporting the weight of Sumeru Mountain.

His energy rose from his Dantian, traveled up the Shaoyin Kidney meridian of the foot, passed the Huiyin and Mingmen acupoints, and then split into two streams to pour into his Jianjing Acupoints.

This was the first technique of the Prajna Palm: Sumeru Emergence.

“After you, Junior Brother!”

’If you’re going to call me Senior Brother, then you can be the Junior Brother!’

Hearing this, a cold glint appeared in Ge Wenlei’s eyes. He instantly lashed out with a palm strike, aiming for the vital points on Zhao Rui’s torso.

Zhao Rui calmly dodged back, smoothly transitioning the movement into a diagonal push with his right palm while his left palm struck at the Yanggu acupoint on Ge Wenlei’s forearm.

Ge Wenlei bent his arm to block, shifting his vital points out of harm’s way. He followed up with a flurry of kicks, fast and fluid as a willow in a gale, instantly unleashing a storm of attacks.

Zhao Rui pushed down with both hands, launching himself into the air to evade the flurry of kicks. As he landed, he spun into a sweeping kick, smoothly transitioning into the Great Vajra Leg Technique.

Their legs collided, and an immense force erupted from the point of impact, creating a series of dull THUDS.

’Such profound Inner Strength!’

Ge Wenlei’s expression froze. From the clash, he felt a formidable Inner Strength that was in no way inferior to his own.

’This guy… He’s just a freshman, but he has this level of Inner Strength? How could he have failed the entrance exam for the Martial Arts Academy?’

Ge Wenlei’s composure was instantly shattered. He had assumed that since his opponent failed to get into the Martial Arts Academy, he was a Level 4 at best.

’Even with a few months of Cultivation at the Martial Arts Academy, he should be Level 5 at most. Or, if I’m being generous, Level 6.’

’But this one exchange revealed that Zhao Rui’s Inner Strength was at least at the level of a Seventh Level Martial Artist, if not higher.’

“Impressive Inner Strength, Senior Brother!”

“You’re not bad yourself!”

After the brief exchange, they re-engaged.

This time, Ge Wenlei abandoned the idea of overwhelming Zhao Rui with raw Inner Strength. Instead, he utilized the refined Martial Arts he had learned to probe for an opening.

Seeing his opponent’s techniques suddenly become incomparably refined, Zhao Rui remained unperturbed. He continued to use his Prajna Palm, his defense seemingly empty yet solid, as immovable as a mountain.

Their exchange was a blur of exquisite techniques and swift movements. In just a short time, they had already traded dozens of blows.

Wang Zhanshan’s eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing within them.

He hadn’t expected Zhao Rui to be so calm and composed while facing Ge Wenlei.

His execution of the Prajna Palm was especially stunning.

Even some of the third-year team members couldn’t necessarily match his level of proficiency.

He couldn’t help but recall something Zeng Hongyi had once said to him about Zhao Rui.

“Zhao Rui’s innate talent is a bit lacking, but his comprehension is excellent. He’s worth observing.”

’So that’s how it is.’

Realization dawned on Wang Zhanshan.

Meanwhile, the fight on the platform remained at a stalemate. Ge Wenlei began using his specialty, the Eight Trigrams Linked Palm. His body moved like a graceful, coiling dragon, his feet gliding as if wading through mud in a deep stream.

His hands, sometimes striking alone, sometimes together, weaved a complex pattern high and low. He dodged direct attacks to strike from the flank, using feints to create openings. His palms flew in a continuous flurry, his footwork flowing like water around his opponent.

Seeing Ge Wenlei’s exquisite palm technique and footwork, Zhao Rui was secretly delighted. He had activated the copy function on his system panel long ago.

Of course, he hadn’t passed up the chance to copy that Lightweight Skill from earlier, either.

’Since you’re here, you can leave all your techniques behind!’

With profound Martial Arts at his command and nearly twenty years of deep Inner Strength to back him up, Zhao Rui naturally stood his ground without a trace of fear.

He unleashed the full extent of his Prajna Palm, fighting Ge Wenlei on equal footing.

Down below, the freshmen who had been watching for entertainment, expecting to see Zhao Rui get taken down in a few moves, were utterly dumbfounded.

’With skills like that, you’re telling us his talent is poor?’

’Are you kidding me?’

While Ge Wenlei wasn’t a Level 8 master like Wang Dalong, he was still widely acknowledged as one of the geniuses in this year’s freshman class.

With the power of a Seventh Level Martial Artist and a repertoire of refined Martial Arts, very few could defeat him.

But they never imagined that someone who couldn’t even test into Dongqi Martial Arts University could actually fight him to a standstill.

A few of the freshman girls who “knew” Zhao Rui couldn’t help but turn their gazes to Luo Min, who was standing off to the side.

Luo Min also wore a look of utter shock. When she noticed their questioning gazes, she gave a slight shake of her head, indicating that she had no idea either.

“Brother Lei, stop holding back! You’ve already been fighting for nearly half an hour.”

After a while, someone in the crowd below could no longer hold back and shouted up at the platform.

His shout instantly drew everyone’s attention.

This was especially true for some of the sophomores and juniors.

However, these gazes didn’t seem to hold any praise for his comment; instead, they were filled with reproach.

He moved like a dragon, switched techniques like an eagle, sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows, channeling all his energy into his palms…

Ge Wenlei displayed the entirety of his learning, his Eight Trigrams Linked Palm forming an impenetrable defense.

But as time dragged on, he grew increasingly anxious.

His prolonged attacks failed to break through, and he constantly had to be wary of Zhao Rui’s counters, keeping his mind stretched taut.

’It wasn’t even this hard when I was sparring with Wang Dalong…’

Looking at Zhao Rui’s perfectly composed demeanor, a bitter taste welled up in Ge Wenlei’s heart.

’Why did I have to be the one to step up?’

TWEET!

The two had been fighting for too long. With a sharp blast of a whistle, Wang Zhanshan stepped forward and separated them.

*Phew!*

As they were separated, Ge Wenlei couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. ’Not losing is as good as winning.’

He quickly suppressed his frustration, gave Zhao Rui a cupped-fist salute, and then stepped off the platform.

“What happened?”

Back in the line, Wang Dalong immediately asked in a low, puzzled voice.

“That kid’s Inner Strength is just as profound as mine, and he’s mastered several High-tier Martial Arts. I couldn’t beat him quickly.”

“Hmm, alright. I get it.”

After hearing Ge Wenlei’s explanation, Wang Dalong couldn’t help but look over at Zhao Rui, who was now waiting for a second opponent.

’This is getting more and more interesting!’

Wang Dalong smiled, crossing his arms and looking at the platform with great interest.

“Who else wants to come up for a match?”

“Weren’t there several of you a moment ago? Li Yi, didn’t you want to spar with Zhao Rui?”

When no one volunteered after a moment, Wang Zhanshan grew displeased and directly called out one of the students who had been so eager earlier.

“Coach, I’m not feeling well. Maybe another day!”

The boy, Li Yi, instantly lost his nerve. He didn’t even dare to meet Zhao Rui’s gaze.

“Since there are no more challengers…”

“Sir, I want to fight him!”

Just then, Luo Min suddenly took a step forward and walked straight toward the platform.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep