Chapter Twenty-Three: Victory in the First Battle

“Ah...” With a thunderous roar, the monkey sprang up in an instant, his body darting like a cunning hare, his robes whipping up a sharp wind, as his right fist shot straight for Lin Xiaobao’s face. Now, he no longer cared about the pouch at Lin Xiaobao’s side; he wanted nothing more than to knock Lin Xiaobao to the ground and wash away the humiliation he’d inflicted upon all the senior disciples.

Such speed! Although the new disciples had all seen the monkey strike before, they still found his velocity astonishing, rivaling even the strongest of ninth-level martial artists.

Yet, this speed meant nothing before Lin Xiaobao, whose powerful spiritual sense rendered him faster than sight itself. He no longer viewed the world with his eyes, but with his spirit; in the instant the monkey’s shoulders twitched, Lin Xiaobao had already discerned the trajectory and impact point of the attack.

Rather than retreating, Lin Xiaobao advanced. With a subtle twist of his foot, his body shifted aside, evading the blow, and stepping forward into the monkey’s blind spot, he drove a heavy fist into the monkey’s chest.

Seeing Lin Xiaobao take the initiative, the new disciples were startled. Lin Xiaobao’s movement was not particularly swift, and under the monkey’s rapid assault, the new disciples could not perceive the brilliance in his counterattack.

The monkey’s expression changed suddenly. He hadn’t expected his opponent’s vision to be so sharp, finding a flaw and retaliating in an instant. He swung his left arm forcefully to block his chest, convinced he could intercept Lin Xiaobao’s attack before it landed.

If the monkey’s opponent were anyone but Lin Xiaobao, his reaction would have been flawless. Even if facing a ninth-level martial artist, his speed and defense would give him the upper hand—unless the opponent possessed overwhelming strength.

Unfortunately for him, his adversary was Lin Xiaobao, whose spiritual power was monstrous and who had mastered the Dragon-Slaying Sword Technique.

Lin Xiaobao’s formidable spiritual force enabled him to control his body to a meticulous degree. The essence of the Dragon-Slaying Sword Technique was one word—speed! Although he wielded no blade at this moment, his cultivated speed surpassed even that of the monkey, an eighth-level martial artist.

Sensing the monkey’s reaction, Lin Xiaobao’s right fist accelerated sharply. Before the monkey’s left hand could reach its defensive position, Lin Xiaobao’s punch was already imprinted upon his body.

A muffled groan erupted in the hall as the monkey’s body, propelled by the force of Lin Xiaobao’s punch, staggered backward. Lin Xiaobao followed with swift footwork, landing two more rapid blows to the monkey’s chest.

As a spray of blood bloomed in midair, the monkey’s body traced a graceful arc and landed at Han Yongfeng’s feet, twitching a few times before falling still. If not for the faint movement of his chest, many would have suspected he’d died.

Silence reigned. The grand hall, filled with hundreds of disciples, was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. All eyes, filled with incredulity, were fixed upon Lin Xiaobao.

Though the series of events seemed slow in the telling, they had transpired in the blink of an eye.

In that instant, the expressions of both new and old disciples underwent a dramatic transformation.

Those new disciples who had worried for Lin Xiaobao now stood frozen, their faces blank. Even with the evidence before them, they could not believe what had transpired.

Was this the same monkey who had swaggered about yesterday? The same monkey who had gravely injured Wang Dashan just yesterday? How could he be so easily defeated by Lin Xiaobao? These questions raced through the minds of the new disciples—and the old ones as well.

Those senior disciples who had expected Lin Xiaobao to be easily defeated now felt a chill crawl up their spines as they looked upon the fallen monkey. Even Han Yongfeng couldn’t have won so effortlessly against the monkey, could he?

Was it really settled in a single move? Remembering the scene, it seemed Lin Xiaobao had done nothing remarkable, leaving them wondering if they themselves could have bested the monkey just as easily.

“I hadn’t expected that this year’s new disciples would harbor such hidden dragons and crouching tigers!” Han Yongfeng signaled, and two disciples quickly carried the monkey away. He regarded Lin Xiaobao with cold eyes. With his ninth-level martial artist’s gaze, he could see clearly how fast Lin Xiaobao’s final two punches had been. In terms of speed, Lin Xiaobao was every bit the monkey’s equal.

Yet, Han Yongfeng had also observed that Lin Xiaobao possessed only seventh-level martial prowess. The monkey’s downfall was due to underestimating his opponent. As long as Han Yongfeng took care, he could easily subdue Lin Xiaobao—and boost his reputation among his peers.

“Whether there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers, we’ll soon find out.” Having avenged Wang Dashan, Lin Xiaobao had no intention of involving himself further. But seeing that his opponent wasn’t about to let him go, Lin Xiaobao decided he might as well demonstrate his spirit to the new disciples.

“You’re ignorant of the world’s vastness! Do you think that your seventh-level martial power is enough to turn the tide?” Han Yongfeng looked at Lin Xiaobao with disdain.

Yet his words sent a chill through the new disciples. When Lin Xiaobao and Wang Dashan entered the Hall of Wind and Snow, neither had even attained martial artist status. Now, one was seventh-level, the other sixth, and Wang Dashan’s powerful physique was no secret. But what about Lin Xiaobao? What was his constitution? His strength seemed even greater than Wang Dashan’s.

Shaking the pouch at his waist, Lin Xiaobao said, “If you want to fight, then fight. You didn’t come here just to talk nonsense, did you?”

Though his earlier victory had been swift and spectacular, Lin Xiaobao hadn’t felt fully satisfied. Especially after gaining immense confidence from the fight, he felt that if he didn’t show off his hard-earned prowess, it would be a waste.

“Very well. Today, I’ll show you just how high the heavens are, and how deep the earth is!” Han Yongfeng advanced toward Lin Xiaobao, speaking lightly but moving with caution.

Facing a ninth-level martial artist, Lin Xiaobao felt some pressure. A flash of cold light—his refined iron sword leapt from his pouch into his hand, the blade vibrating with a resonant hum.

Han Yongfeng’s expression tightened, his hand moving toward the hilt at his waist.

Clearly, Lin Xiaobao showed none of the martial artist’s etiquette. Without waiting for his opponent to draw his sword, Lin Xiaobao suddenly launched himself forward, the sound of the sword whistling through the air, blade leading, body following, tip aimed straight at Han Yongfeng’s throat.

If the monkey had not been unconscious, he would not have felt his defeat was unjust, for Lin Xiaobao’s speed now surpassed even the earlier display.