With a muffled grunt, Wang Ruokun's body suddenly staggered backward.

After retreating more than ten steps, he finally managed to steady himself.

"How could this be..."

Seeing this scene, Wang Ruochi and Luo Yuxiu were both full of disbelief.

The eyes of everyone around them also froze there, with some people even rubbing their eyes constantly, as if they couldn't believe what they had just seen.

"He really is this strong."

Wang Xiuhui and Wang Xiuyan both showed expressions of shock. Although they were mentally prepared for this, they still found it unbelievable.

"How is this possible?"

At this moment, Wang Ruokun's expression was dazed, full of disbelief.

Even without using martial techniques and treasure artifacts, he had the power of four oxen just with his physical strength. How could he lose to someone at the Eighth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm?

Moreover, he could also feel that Wang Ruoxie's strength was far inferior to his own, but for some reason, the opponent's power was even more ferocious and destructive, easily overwhelming his strength.

"Now, can I prove that I am capable of hunting Tier Two Low Level Demon Beasts?"

Wang Ruoxie glanced indifferently at Wang Ruokun and slowly spoke.

Although his strength was only the power of two oxen and one tiger, after displaying the Ninth Layer Force and Spiral Force techniques, he could unleash even greater might. Otherwise, he would not have been able to hunt so many Tier Two Low Level Demon Beasts.

"You hid yourself very well, but I must remind you, no matter how strong your physical strength is, it has its limits. The martial art is vast, and the Body Tempering Realm is just the beginning. Without a Sea of Qi, you can never break through."

Wang Ruokun stared coldly at Wang Ruoxie and said, "Maybe you can't understand the difference, but I can tell you, if I use martial techniques and treasure artifacts, I can kill you with one move."

The people around all nodded secretly upon hearing this. Indeed, in the Body Tempering Realm, physical strength is fundamental, but once you break through to the Energy-Introducing Realm, start cultivating techniques and martial arts, and condense True Qi within your body, your strength can increase significantly.

Therefore, no one doubted Wang Ruokun's words. The strength of the Energy-Introducing Realm lies in martial techniques and treasure artifacts, with True Qi being the real foundation, not mere physical strength.

Moreover, Wang Ruokun was the direct disciple of an Elder from the Cyan Luo Sect, and his strength must far surpass that of others in the same realm. Killing someone at the Eighth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm would naturally pose no problem.

"You can try."

Wang Ruoxie smiled faintly and replied.

"Ignorant."

Wang Ruokun snorted coldly, then turned his head away, unwilling to bother with Wang Ruoxie anymore. He certainly wasn't foolish enough to use martial techniques and treasure artifacts to kill Wang Ruoxie in front of so many people.

"Third Young Master, there's no need to be upset with him. Even if he has innate divine power, so what? If he can't break through to the Energy-Introducing Realm, he can't touch the real martial arts. But you will break through to the Element Transformation Realm in the future and maybe even reach the Celestial Human Realm. You are a dragon; he is a worm, forever incomparable to you."

Luo Yuxiu suddenly spoke, not knowing whether she wanted to comfort Wang Ruokun or convince herself that her choice was not wrong.

"That's right, Third Brother. True combat isn't won by raw power alone; there's no need to stoop to his level."

Wang Ruochi also chimed in supportively.

"I know, let him have his brief moment of glory."

Wang Ruokun nodded and said coldly.

In ten days, it would be the Wang Family's annual clan meeting, where they would assess the young members of the family. At that time, he could openly use all means to teach Wang Ruoxie a lesson.

Moreover, his master would also be there to preside over his wedding. If that guy dared to cause trouble, even if he went too far, his father wouldn't blame him.

At this moment, no one doubted Wang Ruoxie's strength anymore. Even Wang Ruokun couldn't match Wang Ruoxie in strength, so hunting seventy-three Tier Two Low Level Demon Beasts naturally wouldn't be a problem.

Next, Meng Ying announced the results for Wang Xiuhui and Wang Xiuyan. They had hunted sixty-three and sixty-one Tier Two Low Level Demon Beasts respectively, but this did not shock the crowd too much.

After all, they both had a Second Layer cultivation in the Energy-Introducing Realm and were disciples of the Cyan Luo Sect. Such results were not surprising.

"Now, I shall announce the final ranking of this hunting competition."

At this moment, Meng Ying addressed the crowd, "First place, Seventh Young Master Wang Ruoxie, reward of fifty thousand taels of silver. Second place, First Young Lady Wang Xiuhui, reward of thirty thousand taels of silver. Third place, Second Young Lady Wang Xiuyan..."

"Commander Meng Ying, I'd like to offer these twenty thousand taels of silver as compensation to the family of that Tiger Ferocity Army brother."

After accepting the reward of fifty thousand silver notes, Wang Ruoxie took out twenty thousand and handed them to Meng Ying, saying.

After all, that Tiger Ferocity Army soldier died because of him, so he felt it was only right to provide compensation.

"Meng Ying, on behalf of Xiao Hu and his family, thank the Seventh Young Master."

Meng Ying did not refuse, accepting the silver notes, and bowed slightly towards Wang Ruoxie.

"We thank the Seventh Young Master on behalf of Brother Xiao Hu."

The hundreds of Tiger Ferocity Army soldiers behind Meng Ying simultaneously bowed deeply towards Wang Ruoxie, saying in unison.

At this moment, all the Tiger Ferocity Army soldiers, including Meng Ying, looked at Wang Ruoxie with more warmth in their eyes.

Although the twenty thousand taels of silver might not mean much to Wang Ruoxie now, to these ordinary soldiers, it was a considerable amount. Their monthly silver salary was only a few dozen taels, and even if they died in service, the compensation they could receive would only be a few thousand taels of silver.

"Hmph, hypocrite."

Wang Ruochi snorted coldly, disdainfully.

Wang Ruokun's eyes suddenly showed a trace of coldness, even a glimmer of killing intent.

"In ten days, it's the Wang Family gathering. I must improve my cultivation to the Ninth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm, or even break through to the Energy-Introducing Realm before then."

Feeling the killing intent in Wang Ruokun's eyes, Wang Ruoxie muttered in his heart.

Though he had won first place in the hunting competition, to truly gain that person's attention, elevate his mother's status, and ensure her absolute safety, this was far from enough.

After all, he couldn't stay in the Marquis's Mansion forever. The path of martial arts requires not only hard cultivation but also venturing out to seek opportunities. Otherwise, striving to regain his past life's cultivation level and break through to even higher levels would be nearly impossible.

...

In these ten days, breaking through to the Energy-Introducing Realm might be impossible for ordinary people, but for Wang Ruoxie, it wasn't without hope.

The heart's blood of seventy-three Tier Two Low Level Demon Beasts was enough to fill an entire porcelain bottle, sufficient for his cultivation use.

After returning to Wuyi County City, Wang Ruoxie once again visited Jisheng Hall and retrieved all the silver obtained from consigning the Divine Grade elixirs and Blood Pills with Ling Xiang.

He now had a total of 170,000 taels of silver notes on him, a modest fortune.

As for the Top Grade Mortal Artifact level bow and the black longsword, as well as the two Lower Grade Treasure Artifact level greatswords, he stored them all in his Storage Pouch.

Though this Storage Pouch originally belonged to that Tiger Ferocity Army soldier, Wang Ruoxie left all seventy-three Tier Two Low Level Demon Beasts' corpses for the Tiger Ferocity Army. Therefore, Meng Ying naturally didn't take back this Storage Pouch from him.

"First, buy a Qi Gathering Pill to break through the Energy-Introducing Realm."

Wang Ruoxie muttered to himself and then lifted his steps, heading towards the Star Universe Pavilion.

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