Chapter 459: Chapter 250: Dark Horse (Part 2)

"I don’t know either!"

Xu Yang shook his head, but a thought stirred within him.

Sun Tao’s talent should have taken him at least a few years to reach Marrow Cleansing, but after accidentally picking and consuming a strange Spirit Medicine in the Yunling Mountain Range, he broke through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm overnight. The strange phenomena affecting his body only disappeared after many days.

’To reach Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement this quickly... it must be related to that strange Spirit Medicine.’

"Brother Sun is likely a late bloomer whose hard work is finally paying off!" Jiang Fan said with a laugh.

When they were Outer Disciples, they lived in the same courtyard, so he and Sun Tao were naturally on good terms.

"What’s your name?" Yang Yuanzhou asked, looking in surprise at this unknown disciple. His aura was profound, and his Cultivation was already approaching Marrow Cleansing Great Success.

With all eyes on him, Sun Tao was so excited he felt the urge to let out a long roar. ’From this day forward,’ he thought, ’I, Sun Tao, will no longer be a nobody in the Purple Sun Sect!’

"This disciple’s name is Sun Tao, a disciple of Li Fire Peak," Sun Tao said, cupping his hands.

Yang Yuanzhou was bewildered. Many of the Li Fire Peak disciples also looked confused; they didn’t recognize Sun Tao at all.

"Whose disciple is this?" asked Yue Zhong, the Master of Li Fire Peak.

He then discovered that all four Elders of Li Fire Peak looked just as baffled. None of them recognized a disciple named Sun Tao.

In an instant, he understood. This disciple named Sun Tao must have broken through to Marrow Cleansing while still an Outer Disciple. Although he had joined Li Fire Peak, no Elder had taken a liking to him, so he had no master.

Over here, no one else came forward to issue a challenge. Xu Yang and the others had already stepped off the arena stage, leaving it open.

It wasn’t that Xiong Kun would fight every single one of his challengers. Instead, all those who wished to challenge him would fight each other, and the strongest among them would be chosen to face Xiong Kun.

"Senior Brother Sun, you’ve truly amazed everyone!" Xu Yang said with a laugh, cupping his hands.

Whether Sun Tao’s challenge against Han Feng succeeded or not, he had made a name for himself today. Everyone now knew of a good-for-nothing that no Elder was willing to take as a disciple, who had suddenly caused a sensation at the Ten Heroes List ranking challenge.

Lu Ren and Jiang Fan, two people who knew Sun Tao, also walked over to congratulate him.

Sun Tao was a bit emotional, responding with a smile.

"Our last fight wasn’t satisfying enough. If you can give me a proper fight later, it’s not impossible that I’ll have the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion resume its sponsorship of you."

Li Chuyang suddenly walked over, his face full of fighting spirit as he spoke to Xu Yang.

Their brief, two-move clash in Tianfeng Valley had ended in a draw with Xu Yang, something he considered a great humiliation. Today was the perfect opportunity to defeat Xu Yang openly and honorably.

Xu Yang glanced at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s Shopkeeper, Tao Hujin, on the viewing platform not far away, and replied expressionlessly, "No need!"

"Are you scared?"

Li Chuyang snorted coldly. "What happened to your arrogance? It’s useless, though. You can’t avoid this today."

Hearing this, Xu Yang couldn’t be bothered to explain. He had meant that he would no longer have any involvement with the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

"Li Chuyang, using your connections to bully others isn’t real skill. Without Li Lingdu, you’re nothing. If you want a fight, I’ll be your opponent," Jiang Fan said coldly.

Li Chuyang’s gaze was aggressive. "I will naturally fight you as well."

He wanted to fight Xu Yang, but he wanted to fight Jiang Fan even more.

Time passed, and the group of challengers for Xiong Kun’s spot quickly produced a winner. Surprisingly, it was Xie Zhan.

However, he had already fought three matches and was now sitting in meditation to regulate his breathing.

"Han Feng, Sun Tao, to the stage!"

Yang Yuanzhou shouted from the arena stage, initiating the challenge match between Sun Tao and Han Feng.

"May you have a victorious start, Senior Brother Sun!" Xu Yang said with a smile, cupping his hands.

"I’ll take you up on those auspicious words, Junior Brother."

Sun Tao let out a clear laugh, spread his arms, and leaped like a great bird, landing lightly on the stage.

"Please!" Han Feng also landed on the stage, his entire body radiating fighting spirit.

Han Feng had often seen Sun Tao with Xu Yang, so he recognized him. But he never would have imagined that the one challenging him today would be this person he had never paid any attention to.

The two exchanged no unnecessary words. After a simple salute by cupping their fists, they began to fight.

Both carried Weapons, and both were swords. However, as if by tacit agreement, neither drew their weapon, seeming to want to compete with their fists and feet first.

"Watch out!"

Sun Tao’s Gang Qi surged like a tide. Facing Han Feng, the genius who had once placed first in the Outer Disciple grand competition, he was actually the first to strike.

A tyrannical Fist Gang condensed around his hand, emitting a dazzling red light. With a hard stomp of his foot on the stage, his body shot forward, carrying the momentum of a powerful assault as he charged straight at Han Feng.

"Wind-Breaking Fist!" Xu Yang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

What Sun Tao was using was precisely the Wind-Breaking Fist he had obtained from Qingfeng Ridge, which he had traded for with Xu Yang.

In nearly two years, Sun Tao had also cultivated the Wind-Breaking Fist to the Great Success Realm.

The fist, as fast as a meteor, tore through the air with a piercing shriek. Visible ripples spread through the air. Before the fist even arrived, the turbulent force of the punch was already causing Han Feng’s rising Protective Gang Qi to waver.

In an instant, Han Feng’s expression grew solemn. The power of this punch was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

’This person was completely unknown before. How did he become so powerful?’

Han Feng took a large stride forward and threw a punch of his own, meeting Sun Tao’s fist head-on.

"BANG!"

As their fists collided, a deep, muffled boom echoed out. The two Fist Gangs crashed, and the resulting Vigorous Energy tore outward in a rotating sweep. The entire stage shook with a deafening RUMBLE. The Gang Qi around both fighters surged violently, and they simultaneously let out a muffled grunt.

Sun Tao was forced back involuntarily, a red light flickering around him. He took three steps back before managing to stop his retreat.

Han Feng, however, retreated even further. He stumbled back a total of five steps before stopping, his face flushing red.

"A head-on clash, and Han Feng is actually at a disadvantage?"

Everyone showed a look of astonishment, not expecting such an outcome.

’Senior Brother Sun’s Gang Qi is so dense and pure!’ Xu Yang’s eyes burned with intensity.

Sun Tao’s Gang Qi was actually purer and more substantial than Han Feng’s.

"Exhilarating!"

Sun Tao let out a long cry, his presence flaring. He flashed forward, pushing his Wind-Breaking Fist to its absolute limit. Each punch was faster than the last, its power growing more tyrannical.

After a dozen or so moves, Han Feng was actually forced to the edge of the stage, seemingly unable to parry his opponent’s fists.

Those who were familiar with Sun Tao were stunned by his combat prowess. Throughout the fierce battle, it was as if he had unlocked his potential, his strength continuously increasing.

"Get back!"

A sharp glint flashed in Han Feng’s eyes. He knew that if this continued, he would inevitably be knocked off the stage by Sun Tao.

Seizing an opportunity, he drew the longsword from his waist. A crimson sword light swept out, forcing Sun Tao to retreat and momentarily avoid its sharp edge.

The next moment, Sun Tao also drew his sword.

Fine Rain Shocking Wind Sword!

Another Cultivation Technique obtained from Xu Yang was unleashed. A tide of Sword Qi surged toward Han Feng.

"BOOM! BOOM..."

After dozens more exchanges and having his Protective Gang Qi shattered several times, Han Feng was forced to admit that he was no match for Sun Tao. If he continued to fight, he would only prolong the struggle; defeat was inevitable.

’If I get seriously injured, I might really fall off the Ten Heroes List. If I preserve my strength, I can still compete with Xiong Kun and Xie Zhan for the tenth spot.’

"I concede!"

At this thought, Han Feng conceded defeat.

Sun Tao’s surging Gang Qi subsided. He stepped aside, cupped his hands, and said with some excitement, "Thank you for the match."

At this moment, he felt as if he were in a dream. He never thought he could actually accomplish this—defeating Han Feng, the ninth-ranked on the Ten Heroes List.

One had to remember that the former Han Feng was a genius whose shadow he could never hope to touch.

An uproar swept through the crowd!

Below the stage, all the Inner Sect Disciples were in a clamor. The famous genius Han Feng, the talent who had won first place in the Outer Disciple grand competition, had actually lost to a nobody.

Before today, ninety-nine percent of them had never even heard the name Sun Tao.

’Just what was that Spirit Medicine Senior Brother Sun took?’ Xu Yang wondered, inwardly shaken.

He realized that Sun Tao’s transformation didn’t seem to be over yet; or rather, he hadn’t fully absorbed the effects of the Spirit Medicine.

"Han Feng actually lost!"

Lu Ren wore an expression of disbelief. He himself wasn’t confident he could defeat Han Feng, yet Sun Tao, who had always been weaker than him, had actually done it—and won with such ease.

"This is bad!" Xiong Kun’s expression changed drastically.

Originally, it was only Xie Zhan competing with him for tenth place, and he was confident he could remain on the Ten Heroes List. But now, with a dark horse like Sun Tao suddenly appearing and defeating Han Feng, his position as tenth on the Ten Heroes List was in jeopardy.

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