Being regarded as an equal by FoundationEstablishment cultivators was not necessarily a good thing.
Because once a Foundation Establishment expert attacked him, they would no longer hold back out of consideration for bullying the weak.
⸻
"Junior Brother Zhang, it's ready!" Wang Teng's voice rang out, edged with anger.
The low-grade fire-attribute spiritual weapon in his hand flared brilliantly.
With a sharp slash—
A fiery serpent burst forth, writhing with strange, unpredictable movements, roaring as it hurtled toward Zhang Fan, carrying monstrous fury.
It struck hard.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the ring.
Zhang Fan staggered back, coughing up a mouthful of blood. His face turned pale as he clutched his chest, looking badly beaten.
⸻
"Good! Well done, Brother Wang Teng!"
"That's it—beat him hard!"
"Teach Zhang Fan a lesson!"
The Blazing Heaven Sect disciples erupted in cheers.
Their grudge against Zhang Fan was not deep, but his closeness with the Murong sisters made him an easy target for their resentment.
⸻
"Brother Zhang!"
Murong Xue's face tightened with worry. She stepped forward, ready to rush onto the stage to stop the fight.
Even Murong Bing's cold expression shifted slightly, though she did not move.
Jian Wuhen extended a hand, blocking Murong Xue.
"No rush—he hasn't admitted defeat yet."
Murong Xue hesitated, her eyes flickering. She clenched her fists and fixed her gaze on Zhang Fan.
⸻
"Brother Zhang!" Wang Teng called out.
"The moment you step into the cultivation world, you must understand—there are always people stronger than you. Arrogance will only lead to your teeth being shattered!"
"I'll give you one chance—surrender now! You cannot defeat me!
In this world, there are few young talents who can match me, Wang Teng. And you, Zhang Fan, are not one of them!"
He held his Blazing Heaven Sword with a solemn expression.
⸻
"Yes, Brother Wang is right," Zhang Fan replied calmly. "But the person beyond this world is me—and the sky beyond the sky is also me, Zhang Fan."
"Oh?" Wang Teng sneered. "You still think you can win?"
Zhang Fan nodded.
"Every person's body is different. Mine… within an hour of a breakthrough… is invincible against opponents of the same realm."
⸻
"Invincible within an hour of breakthrough?" Wang Teng was stunned.
The spectators were dumbfounded.
Even Jian Wuhen, well-known the myriad physiques of the cultivation world, was taken aback.
Was there truly such a constitution?
Normally, breaking through left one's cultivation unstable—yet Zhang Fan claimed otherwise.
⸻
"So what if you're invincible at the same realm?" Wang Teng scoffed. "You can't possibly break through right now, can you?"
"I said," Zhang Fan's tone grew solemn, "physiques are different from person to person. For me… when the moment demands it, I can break through."
Wang Teng frowned. He understood every word individually, but put together, they made little sense to him.
⸻
"And one more thing," Zhang Fan continued.
"When I have the courage to take that step… when I believe I can ascend to the second layer of Qi Refining… then I will break through."
He looked Wang Teng in the eye."All together, that means… Zhang Fan—right now—is about to break through to the second layer of Qi Refining. And when that happens… this battle will be mine."
⸻
He stepped forward.
Then again.
And again.
With every step, his aura swelled, surging stronger and stronger.
On the fifth step, standing before Wang Teng—
Boom!
Zhang Fan's cultivation soared. He had broken through to the second layer of Qi Refining—right in front of everyone.
⸻
"You… you actually… really… broke through!"
Wang Teng's eyes widened. He stared at Zhang Fan as if doubting reality.
Zhang Fan had truly ascended a realm in the middle of battle.
Damn it… is it really true that some physiques defy common sense?
⸻
"It's over," Zhang Fan said flatly.
He clenched his fist, his eyes blazing, and struck Wang Teng squarely in the chest.
Boom!
"Puff!"
A powerful force slammed into Wang Teng, sending him from the stage. Blood surged in his chest, and he spat out a mouthful before crashing heavily to the ground.
⸻
Silence.
Utter silence.
All eyes turned to the man standing proudly on the ring.
Murong Xue's cheeks flushed, her gaze shimmering as she looked at him.
Murong Bing's expression was complicated—How could he be this strong? What kind of physique does he have?
Even Jian Wuhen looked upon Zhang Fan with satisfaction.
⸻
Zhang Fan swept his gaze across the Blazing Heaven Sect disciples below.
"I, Zhang Fan, will be among the top three in this year's competition. If anyone is unconvinced—step forward."
Not a single disciple dared to speak.
⸻
"Hahaha! Zhang Fan, Murong Xue, Murong Bing—you three have done well!"
"Especially you, little friend Zhang Fan—you've truly surprised me!"
Sect Leader Li Guang strode forward in the Great Hall, laughing heartily as he handed each of them a storage bag.
"These are the Spirit Stones our sect rewards you with. You will follow Elder Jian to Myriad Sword Sect and participate in the Peerless Genius Martial Meet. The three of you must make the name of Blazing Heaven Sect resound across the Eastern Region!"
⸻
[Ding! Contract target Murong Xue has received 10,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. 100x return—congratulations, host, you receive 1 million low-grade Spirit Stones.]
[Ding! Contract target Murong Bing has received 10,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. 100x return—congratulations, host, you receive 1 million low-grade Spirit Stones.]
[Ding! Contract target Murong Xue has received a 100-cubic-meter storage bag. 100x return—congratulations, host, you receive a 10,000-cubic-meter storage bag.]
⸻
Zhang Fan silently calculated.
Ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones per person… Blazing Heaven Sect is really bleeding for this.
That amount could easily buy a low-grade spiritual weapon.
It was just a pity he couldn't take advantage of the system's loophole—otherwise, giving more to Murong Bing and Murong Xue to double again would have been perfect.
⸻
"Sect Leader Li is truly generous," Jian Wuhen said with a smile. "But a frog who has glimpsed the vast world will never be content to sit at the bottom of the well. These thirty thousand Spirit Stones… I fear they may not be enough to keep them."
Li Guang chuckled.
"What Elder Jian says is true. But no matter what, they are disciples of my Blazing Heaven Sect. In the future, as they flourish, our sect will flourish as well. This is no waste."