Chapter 43: Flipping the Table
Tenglong Martial School was one of the four largest schools in Qingfeng City. Its head, surnamed Fang, was skilled in hidden weapons—a talent that made him especially popular with female students, of whom there were many.
Today, half of the disciples present were female.
That Fang Junyu was the headmaster’s own grandson; he, too, had achieved an eighth-grade cultivation level and had inherited his grandfather’s true techniques.
He took out a black cloth strip, bound it over his eyes, and then the disciples of Tenglong Martial School released sparrows from cages that had been prepared in advance.
The birds flapped and fluttered chaotically around the hall.
“He’s beginning.”
He listened to the wind, judged direction, drew several throwing darts from his bosom, and suddenly threw them.
Four or five sparrows mid‑flight were pierced by the darts and fell to the floor.
“Bravo.”
Everyone cheered.
The ability to listen to the wind, pinpoint direction, and strike five flying sparrows wasn’t achievable without years of harsh training.
Then Fang Junyu removed the blindfold and addressed Chen Ming: “Among you, if anyone can match that, you win.”
Chen Ming’s companions all looked troubled—the first test had already defeated them.
Deng Ziyang whispered to Zhuang Xiaotian, “Third Brother, can you do it?”
Zhuang Xiaotian sighed and shook his head. Though he could judge direction by sound, he could not match Fang Junyu’s level. He refused to go up and make a fool of himself.
For a moment, everyone didn’t know what to do.
“Okay.”
At that moment, Chen Ming stepped forward, took the black cloth, tied it over his eyes, and said, “Let’s go.”
The Tenglong disciples again released five sparrows.
When the birds had flown a bit farther, he reached toward his bosom.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the flash of a moment, all five sparrows fell, pierced by darts.
“Excellent!”
“Disciple Chen’s throwing‑knife skill is remarkable.”
…
Chen Ming received widespread applause.
Only Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian exchanged glances.
That throwing‑knife technique was exactly what Zhuang had taught Chen Ming last year—Chen Ming had already refined it to this level?
Zhuang, especially, felt a pang of defeat. He had trained for so many years—yet this newcomer had caught up in just one year. It shook his spirit.
…
“This… how is that possible?”
Fang Junyu’s smile froze.
Staring dumbfounded at Chen Ming, he realized no one in Tenglong had matched him in blindfolded killing of five birds—until now, when this youth, nearly a decade younger, had done it.
He removed the blindfold and asked stiffly, “How do you feel?”
“If you've done it, it counts as passing,” he said, then returned to his position.
Lei Zhenguang cast a deep glance at Chen Ming. He had not expected this young fellow to conceal such ability. He spoke: “Since Young Master Chen has passed the first challenge, then…”
“I think there’s no need to go further.”
Before he could finish, Chen Ming interrupted.
Everyone froze in surprise.
Lei Zhenguang frowned. “Young Master Chen, what do you mean by that?”
Chen Ming said, “I heard that the Sihai Martial School specializes in lightness skill and the Chaoyang School has a powerhouse with immense strength. If I’m not mistaken, the next two tests are about those, right?”
“And so?”
Chen Ming said, “I only came to open a martial school, not to have to win over those three schools in each of their signature disciplines.”
Lei Zhenguang’s expression turned cold. “That is the rule of our martial‑school guild. If Young Master Chen wants to open a school in Qinghe City, then you must follow our rules. Otherwise, our guild will never agree.”
At that moment, a bearded man shouted, “Brat, if you don’t dare to compete, then admit defeat and get out of Qingfeng City!”
His words immediately drew a wave of laughter.
Chen Ming, however, remained unbothered. He replied calmly, “Your martial school guild has its own rules—that’s fine, I respect them. But I’m someone who loves to spar with others. With so many seniors and experts here, I’m truly excited. I’ll be sure to visit each of you one by one someday.”
As soon as he said this, many people’s expressions changed drastically.
Everyone could hear the meaning in his words—he intended to challenge each of them in the future.
Tenglong Martial School’s headmaster, who had a fiery temper, slammed the table and roared, “Brat, are you threatening us?”
Chen Ming’s expression turned cold. “Yes, I’m threatening you. So what? Since you don’t want to let me take a seat at the table, don’t blame me for flipping the table over. What, not convinced?”
He pointed at the bearded man from earlier and said, “You. Yes, you. If you’ve got the guts, come over and spar with me.”
“You brat, you’re asking for death!”
That bearded man was Li Ankun of Wind and Thunder Martial School, the uncle of Li Xiangrong. His nephew had been injured and his reputation had taken a hit—he had long been holding in his anger.
Now, unable to suppress it any longer, he leapt forward like a giant eagle, pouncing at Chen Ming.
This was Wind and Thunder Martial School’s famed technique, Eagle Strike Technique.
Chen Ming stretched out his hand and drew the saber from Deng Ziyang’s waist.
With a backhanded upward slash, he aimed straight at the opponent’s abdomen.
Li Ankun twisted his body to dodge the blade.
From the side, a young man shouted, “Master, your sword!” and threw a longsword toward him.
Once Li Ankun caught the sword, he unleashed the signature Wind and Thunder Sword Technique, every move aimed at Chen Ming’s vital points.
At this point, things had escalated beyond what either side had anticipated.
After all, both Wind and Thunder Martial School and Chen Ming had shown restraint earlier—no one had expected them to fight at the drop of a hat.
It could only be said that young people acted on impulse.
Soon, those from the Huo Sect grew increasingly shocked. “When did Junior Brother Chen learn the Five Elements Saber Technique?”
“Third Senior Brother, did you teach it to him?”
“That move, Setting Sun Weeps Blood, could be used like that?!”
“Whoa…”
They were all stunned by the brilliance of Chen Ming’s saber techniques—this level was no less than that of their late senior brother.
The most shocked of all was Zhang Mingyu.
Watching Chen Ming, who was currently fighting Li Ankun evenly with the Five Elements Saber Technique, he couldn’t help but feel dazed.
It had been this time last year when Chen Ming had just arrived at the Huo Residence as a sparring partner.
Back then, he had only reached the second level of Iron Horse Stance and was decent at Three Talents Fist…
In just one year, he had already grown to this level.
It was truly unbelievable.
It gave him a sense of unreality.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
At that moment, the clash of blades and sabers in the arena intensified—fast against fast, the ringing so rapid it almost became a continuous hum.
Clang!
With a loud clang, a longsword flew into the air, spun midair, and landed on the ground with a clatter.
“Spare him!”
From the host’s seat, Lei Zhenguang shouted and was just about to intervene.
But then—smack!
Chen Ming changed his slash into a slap, using the flat of the blade to strike Li Ankun’s face squarely. Then he stepped back a few paces and returned the saber to its sheath at Deng Ziyang’s waist.
He stood tall, casting his gaze over the dozens from the twelve martial schools present.
For a moment, everyone was overawed by his presence. No one dared speak.
“I’ll kill you…”
Li Ankun, blood covering his face, collapsed to the ground.
He frantically struggled to his feet, intent on fighting Chen Ming to the death.
He could not accept being publicly defeated by a young brat.
Chen Ming didn’t even spare him a glance. He merely looked at Lei Zhenguang, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Lei Zhenguang gave a low shout, “Yucheng!”
Lei Yucheng immediately stepped forward and grabbed hold of Li Ankun.
Li Ankun had completely lost his senses and even turned to attack him, but was knocked unconscious with a single palm strike from Lei Yucheng, then carried away.
The remaining eleven martial schools looked upon Li Ankun’s miserable state and felt unsettled.
No matter how much they disliked the loudmouthed Li Ankun, witnessing his decades-long prestige ruined in a single moment still made them feel a chill deep down.