CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 157: SHANG JUNMING, COME TO BATTLE_2

Martial Arts Realm, each realm marked a new level of the heavens.

Although, the Da Jing Dynasty was vast, there still circulated rumors that someone in the Refining Internal Realm had defeated a Blood Exchange Realm opponent.

But those Blood Exchange Realm powerhouses, without exception, had forcefully broken through, their realm unstable and lacking any foundation.

It was only then that those geniuses at the peak of the Refining Internal Realm could defeat them, crossing a full realm gap.

But that kind of situation would absolutely never happen on the arena stage.

All were scions of great families, and with their cultivation techniques and martial arts all being Middle Grade,

the realm gap was their power gap!

As Wang Liancheng had just relaxed his fingers, suddenly a voice called out from behind. Someone swooped onto the arena like a falcon pouncing on a rabbit.

"Luo Pengzhan, I heard you reached the Blood Exchange Realm last time too. Let me see how much you’ve improved over the Refining Internal Realm now that you’ve reached Blood Exchange."

Staring at Zhang Yunsu, who seemed stunned, her face full of disbelief,

Wang Liancheng shook his head and stepped toward Luo Pengzhan.

The two of them didn’t use any weapons.

But true force gathered between palms and fists, and every collision boomed like thunder.

The ten clan leaders didn’t remain idle either; each moved to put up a shield of true force around the whole arena, forming a massive dome of energy.

Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artists, just how powerful were they.

If not controlled, the entire plaza would be destroyed in a single bout.

"Blood Exchange Realm... So strong..."

Watching Zhang Yunsu, who in her mind had always been incredibly powerful, get defeated so easily, Zhang Ruo couldn’t help but murmur. She looked at the two blurred figures atop the arena and shook her head.

*Fights at the Refining Internal Realm, she could still make out a few moves. But Blood Exchange Realm? She wondered if she would ever reach that level in this lifetime.*

"Wang Liancheng is about to win."

Jiang Shu watched with keen interest. Indeed, Martial Artists who had trained in the provincial city were truly built differently. With his practiced eye, he could see right away that Wang Liancheng was handling Luo Pengzhan with effortless ease—the control over his own body was almost miraculous.

*Compared to Luo Pengzhan, Wang Liancheng’s combat experience was without question far richer.*

Luo Pengzhan’s every move, the instant he attacked, Wang Liancheng found flaws, dodging them with ease and counterattacking at a leisurely pace.

The two were both in Blood Exchange Realm, yet if it were to the death, Luo Pengzhan wouldn’t last more than three moves!

County town, county seat, state city.

Being from different places, even Martial Artists in the same realm could be oceans apart!

"Brother Wang’s palm techniques are like thunder; Luo Pengzhan gladly admits defeat."

There came a thunderous crash—Luo Pengzhan’s body was struck by one of Wang Liancheng’s palms, sent flying straight into the energy dome.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning a mix of blue and red, then cupped his hands and stepped down from the stage.

"Who else?"

Wang Liancheng stood atop the arena.

There actually weren’t that few Blood Exchange Realm geniuses in Yongning County, but the county’s Genius Gathering had an age limit for what qualified as a genius.

Only those under twenty could participate.

At such an age, at such a level, how many could there even be?

"Let me try your techniques, Brother Wang."

A genius of the Qian Family stepped forward, having witnessed the last bout. He held nothing back—once he took the stage, his energy surged, both arms sweeping as true force poured out like mercury, his assault relentless as the tide.

Faced with such a powerful attack, Wang Liancheng advanced rather than retreating.

"Bang."

"Bang."

"Bang."

Bursts of true force exploded on the stage, and even the energy dome set up by the clan leaders trembled again and again beneath the blows.

No telling how many people watched the match, stunned beyond words.

After a full half quarter-hour.

The Qian Family genius, unable to break through after so long, grew more and more anxious.

Finally, Wang Liancheng seized his chance—his figure flashed ghostlike to the Qian genius’s back, and sent a palm strike down.

"Wang Liancheng, victory!"

The Zhang Family clan leader couldn’t help but let out a breath, announcing the result.

This Genius Gathering, barring any surprises, ought to crown Wang Liancheng as champion.

In a moment, he would announce the mysterious great prize.

With this offering, Wang Liancheng certainly wouldn’t refuse to set a wedding date with Zhang Yunsu.

The Zhang Family could thus renew their alliance with the Wang Family.

For a few years, there should be no more turmoil.

"Is there any other genius who wants to take the stage? If no one comes up, this county’s Genius Gathering champion will go to Young Master Wang Liancheng!"

The Zhang Family clan leader stepped onto the stage and called out, his voice booming across every corner of the plaza.

"So strong."

In the plaza’s corners, the Zhang Family’s household retainers voiced their admiration. Zhao Zhen and Li Qi, who had come with Zhang Ruo, were among them.

Their gazes wandered between the arena and the spectators’ stands.

"I really don’t get what junior sister is thinking, actually inviting that Shang guy to watch. Isn’t he from some backwater county? Sure, his realm was higher back then, a little stronger than us, but in the county seat, what is he really worth?"

"Forget the current Blood Exchange Realm geniuses; even the last Refining Internal Realm genius could crush him single-handedly."

Li Qi couldn’t help but say.

After he and his junior, Zhao Zhen, joined the Zhang Family, not only had they cultivated to the peak of Bone Forging Realm, but they’d also racked up enough contribution points to exchange for Middle Grade cultivation techniques.

*Who knows, in a few years, the two of them might even break through to the Refining Internal Realm.*

*As for this Shang Junming, what skills did he have, really?*

*Probably still hadn’t learned a Middle Grade technique even now—he’d be stuck in Bone Forging for life!*

Zhao Zhen nodded, eyes glancing at Jiang Shu’s back. He said, "So sooner or later, junior sister will see his true colors."

Up in the spectators’ stands, the guests were also applauding nonstop. Anyone could see how powerful Wang Liancheng was now. Defeating two Blood Exchange Realm geniuses in a row—the championship was well deserved.

"The Wang Family really keeps producing geniuses. I remember Young Master Wang Zhenyue even made it onto the Little Dragon Tiger List."

"We’ve had our share of geniuses in Yongning County these last few years. If only Zhao Chengxuan from the Zhao Family had shown up. Then he and Young Master Wang would’ve had an epic duel."

"I just wonder what the Zhang Family’s mysterious great prize actually is?"

Everyone waited eagerly with long necks.

On the arena, Wang Liancheng stood with hands clasped behind his back, unmatched.

None of the Blood Exchange Realm geniuses below dared challenge him again.

The Zhang Family clan leader saw this and pursed his lips in a smile. Just as he prepared to announce the results—

From the crowd outside the plaza came a commotion.

The group that had been huddled together parted to open a path.

A figure whom hundreds of guests knew well walked forward step by step.

"Zhao Chengxuan, are you here to compete too?"

For the first time, Wang Liancheng, who had always appeared calm and unruffled on the stage, revealed a change in expression. He looked to Zhao Chengxuan, brows knitting.

"I didn’t come for you."

"Back in the state city, you already weren’t my match—let alone now?"

Zhao Chengxuan walked in, step by step, passing through the stands amid everyone’s focused stares. Shaking his head as he spoke, he moved toward the arena, "Qi Boosting Pills are great and all, but it’s not like my Zhao Family doesn’t have any."

"I’m not interested in the mysterious great prize either."

"This time, returning to the county seat, I was only dropping off some messages for my cousin. I planned to rest briefly, then head back to the state city to aim for the Little Dragon Tiger List."

On the arena, Zhao Chengxuan glanced around, showing he didn’t take Wang Liancheng seriously at all.

"It’s just that as I was about to leave today, I heard some rather intriguing news."

"In the Danxia chamber of commerce, an A-class genius they invested in last year has now reached the Blood Exchange Realm."

Zhao Chengxuan spoke calmly, almost quietly, yet down below the stands, the guests collectively widened their eyes in shock.

An A-class genius, reached the Refining Internal Realm at seventeen.

*In their Yongning County, when did another genius like this emerge?*

"What’s his name?"

The clan leaders seated in the private booths couldn’t sit still, rising to ask.

*Such news had never reached their ears.*

This could only mean this genius was definitely not from one of the top ten families!

Their noble houses still had a chance to recruit him!

Whichever family won him over, that family’s strength would truly leap forward.

The Zhang Family clan leader’s heart pounded wildly.

Wang Liancheng was admittedly a fine pick,

but an alliance with the Wang Family was, at best, a forced decision.

If now, the Zhang Family could find this genius and bring him into their fold—

the Zhang Family would have nothing to worry about for decades!

Everyone worked to digest this tremendous news, their gazes honing in on Zhao Chengxuan, waiting to hear details about the genius.

Yet, under everyone’s shocked and expectant stares,

Zhao Chengxuan gave no answer.

He just stood there on the arena, and continued speaking to himself,

"I figured he would show up at this county Genius Gathering, so I waited out here to see for myself—see just what he’s made of."

"But since he still hasn’t taken the field, it means he, like me, isn’t interested in this arena."

"We’re both aiming straight for the state city and the Little Dragon Tiger List."

"If we’re destined to fight in the state city sooner or later, then... why not try it now?"

"Shang Junming, come and fight!"