"Array-Martial Arts!"

What Tang Yan executed was his sole Array-Martial Arts technique, "Rain Blades"!

Although it was only a first-rank technique, its power was truly formidable. Furthermore, by catching his opponent off guard and striking later yet arriving first, it immediately disrupted Qin Sheng's rhythm.

Bang!

Clang! Clang! Clang...

Under the dual assault of the Array-Martial Arts and martial technique, the two men's moves finally clashed together.

Boom! The entire arena shook violently from the impact of their collision.

Everyone craned their necks to stare at the stage.

Thud, thud! Qin Sheng stumbled two paces back.

Tang Yan also retreated two steps, equally steadying his stance!

Seeing Tang Yan withstand yet another of Qin Sheng's strikes, the entire venue boiled over.

Even if Tang Yan lost this battle, he would win the respect of everyone present.

Following the strike, Tang Yan did not pause as expected. Beneath the astonished gazes of the crowd, his figure violently surged forward, charging straight at Qin Sheng.

He knew very well that his second move had relied on a clever trick, seizing the initiative through a surprise attack.

If they clashed head-on again, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage. To secure victory, he had to seize the initiative.

With his Combat Heart rapidly circulating, Tang Yan's voice grew slightly hoarse. "Since you want to use martial techniques, try taking another one of mine."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tang Yan had already rushed to Qin Sheng's side.

Bang! The first strike of the Thousand Mountains Fist poured out.

"What fast attack speed!" Seeing Tang Yan's agility, a flicker of panic flashed through Qin Sheng's eyes. But sensing the power behind the blow, Qin Sheng sneered, "Like an egg striking a stone."

Bang!

The moment Qin Sheng easily blocked this strike, Tang Yan immediately unleashed the second strike of the Thousand Mountains Fist.

Third fist, fourth fist, fifth fist... one strike directly following another.

Although Qin Sheng possessed stronger cultivation, his attack speed simply could not compare to Tang Yan, who had comprehended the Combat Heart.

Furthermore, Tang Yan's dantian had undergone continuous evolution. Like a tireless mechanism, it channeled True Qi with absolute smoothness.

By seizing the first move to unleash the Thousand Mountains Fist, Tang Yan unexpectedly suppressed Qin Sheng at every turn.

By the time Tang Yan threw his seventh fist, Qin Sheng's boiling fury could no longer be contained.

For a dignified Black Rank ninth-grade expert to be forced into such a passive state by a mere seventh-grade youth was an absolute disgrace.

"Golden Shield!" A translucent, ethereal protective barrier suddenly materialized around Qin Sheng.

"A Dharma Treasure?" Astonished voices rippled through the crowd.

"This... this is far too shameless." A chorus of boos swept the venue. Although there was no rule forbidding external items, Tang Yan's cultivation was already lower; for Qin Sheng to rely on a Dharma Treasure was truly disgraceful.

Tang Yan's eyes turned icy. He naturally knew of such things as Dharma Treasures. Back when he fought Yun Zhonghe and the cold beauty for the heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure, all three of them had relied on Dharma Treasures to reach the summit.

In certain situations, a Dharma Treasure could play a crucial role.

What Qin Sheng had activated was clearly a defensive Dharma Treasure.

However, the seventh strike of the Thousand Mountains Fist was already Tang Yan's current limit.

According to his original plan, he intended to rely on rapid, explosive strikes to force Qin Sheng into a disadvantage, then completely drag him down with a dense flurry of attacks.

But now, he had to use a stronger move to inflict any substantial damage on Qin Sheng.

Yet, there was no time to switch to another martial technique.

"Let's see if there is anything the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame cannot burn!" Tang Yan roared in his heart. A wisp of deep-blue flame abruptly sprang forth, completely wrapping around his fist.

Seeing Tang Yan recklessly charge forward to overestimate his own strength, a hint of mockery flashed across Qin Sheng's eyes.

The shield could buy him ten seconds of time. Ten seconds was more than enough for him to catch his breath and unleash an absolute killing blow!

Pfft-

A muffled sound rang out. Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Tang Yan's fist smashed directly through the barrier and landed heavily on Qin Sheng's body.

Bang! The heavy fist struck Qin Sheng squarely.

Immediately after, Tang Yan's left hand also passed through the barrier, striking him right over the heart.

The barrier that everyone assumed was indestructible was like mere paper before Tang Yan!

Without True Qi to support it, the barrier instantly dissipated. Tang Yan stepped forward, raining fists down upon Qin Sheng's body as if they cost him nothing.

Bang! Bang! Bang...

Watching the black-clad youth brutally beat Qin Sheng upon the stage, everyone was stunned. What had just happened? How did Tang Yan break the shield's barrier?

Only a small handful of people stared at Tang Yan with deep wariness. The terrifying aura radiating from that deep-blue flame made their very bones palpitate with fear.

...

Qin Sheng's internal Qi was completely shattered, leaving him without the slightest power to resist. After being pinned down and beaten by Tang Yan for a long while, he finally lay motionless on the ground.

The surroundings fell into a dead, breathless silence. Not a single voice spoke.

A Black Rank seventh-grade defeating a Black Rank ninth-grade across realms! No matter how difficult the victory had been, this battle record alone proved that his title as the number one freshman of the Eastern District was completely deserved!

His good habits had already taken root. Tang Yan skillfully claimed Qin Sheng's Storage Ring, retrieved his Star Token to clear out its Star Values, and casually tossed it back onto the ground. He waved to Lin Dongxue and the others, leading them away.

The surrounding crowd automatically parted to form a path. Even the members of the Victory Gang did not dare to find trouble with Tang Yan. After all, Tang Yan had Yu Juechen, an expert in his own right, standing beside him; they would gain no advantage.

"Tang Yan, you are simply too fierce! You actually defeated Qin Sheng!" Fang Xuan exclaimed in awe.

"He merely underestimated his enemy. If he had been a bit more cautious, I wouldn't have had any advantage.

Therefore, in your future battles, you must not look down on any opponent. Even if he is only at the Origin Rank, there is no guarantee he won't possess some bizarre hidden move," Tang Yan advised.

"The Origin Rank? That's far too weak..." Yu Juechen shrugged, assuming Tang Yan was joking.

Tang Yan's expression instantly turned solemn. He stared at them and said, "Killing does not necessarily rely on martial force!

Poison can be colorless and odorless, hiding in any corner. Once you are afflicted, even against an ordinary mortal, you won't have the strength to resist.

Underestimating the enemy is the greatest taboo for a warrior. Defeats are often born from this exact reason!"

"We have learned our lesson!" The group, who had initially not taken it seriously, instantly felt their spirits shake.

"Tang Yan, was that Array-Martial Arts you used earlier?" Lin Dongxue asked curiously.

"En, I only learned it recently," Tang Yan nodded.

"You joined the Array-Martial Arts class?" A hint of surprise flashed through Fang Xuan's eyes.

"There's an Array-Martial Arts class? I didn't join it. I learned from a Senior named Elder Zhen. His mastery in Array-Martial Arts is extremely high." Tang Yan did not hide anything from his brothers.

Hearing Tang Yan's words, Wan Fei and the others froze in their tracks.

After a long while, Yu Juechen asked in a daze, "Who did you just say? Elder Zhen?"

"Yeah, is there a problem?" Seeing their astonished expressions, Tang Yan was a little confused.

"Do you even know who Elder Zhen is?" Yu Juechen asked.

He truly hadn't looked into it... Tang Yan scratched his head. "Is he an Elder of the Azure Dragon Academy?"

The gazes the four of them directed at Tang Yan were filled with a mixture of speechlessness and envy.

Lin Dongxue rolled her beautiful eyes at Tang Yan and explained softly, "Aside from Academy Master Xiao, the higher-ups of the Azure Dragon Academy consist of thirteen Elders. They form the core authority of the Azure Dragon Academy!

But there are two people who are extremely special. Although they do not hold Elder seats and do not manage academy affairs, their status transcends those fourteen.

Their identities are highly exalted. They are the stabilizing pillars that protect the Azure Dragon Academy.

One is Elder Huo, and the other is Elder Zhen! For you to gain Elder Zhen's favor, you have truly stumbled upon immense heavenly luck."