Chapter 026: Challenging a Half-Step Martial Artist

"Good thing nothing happened. This kid is really cunning, and I like it." The three examiners exchanged glances, and one of them, a man in black robes, laughed heartily, showing undisguised admiration.

"Not bad. This kid is decisive in killing, has perfect control over his blood energy, and has excellent talent. In the future, he might even surpass us. He's worth cultivating." The man in white nodded and said with a faint smile.

"Yang Tian, you must die." Suppressing the rage in his heart, Wang Long exuded murderous intent. The rich blood energy within him burst forth like a blazing furnace. His eyes fixed on Yang Tian, he said coldly.

"Wang Long, stand down. Don't forget your identity." Kuang Lang hurried over, glanced at Wang Xing's corpse, frowned slightly, then looked at Wang Long's furious appearance and shouted.

"Stand down? He killed my son, and you tell me to stand down?" Wang Long's fists crackled as he clenched them. Biting his lip, rage threatened to consume his mind. He snorted.

"Hmm." Kuang Lang frowned slightly. At the same time, the full force of his martial artist aura burst forth. The surging momentum froze the atmosphere of the entire area.

"The city lord is incredibly powerful." The crowd below stared wide-eyed. Under this pressure, they couldn't muster a single thought of resistance, their chests feeling tight.

Wang Long's heart tightened. He stared at Yang Tian's disdainful expression, endless fury churning within him. But as his aura continued to climb, a trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes.

"City Lord, I have a request." Taking a deep breath, Yang Tian suddenly cupped his hands and smiled.

"Oh?" Kuang Lang glanced at Yang Tian with a puzzled look, but he didn't put on airs with such a talented youth. He then said with a faint smile, "Speak your mind. With me here, Wang Long won't dare to do anything to you."

"Old bastard, has all my tribute over the years been for nothing?" The anger in his heart was reignited, but he dared not say it out loud, only roaring inwardly.

"Could Xiao Tian be planning to challenge Wang Long?" Not far away, Lin Yuan suddenly had a thought. Just as he was uncertain, Yang Tian's voice slowly rang out.

"I want to challenge Wang Long. I ask the City Lord to preside over it!"

Gasps! The entire venue fell silent instantly.

Stunned gazes fixed on Yang Tian. When they noticed he wasn't joking, Kuang Lang took a deep breath. Murmurs of discussion rose from below.

"This Yang Tian is too bold. A half-step martial artist and a Blood Refining ninth layer are not on the same level."

"Why is he so reckless?" Huo Die frowned slightly, her jade hands suddenly clenching.

Wang Long was a half-step martial artist with seasoned experience, not comparable to Wang Xing. Moreover, Yang Tian had just cunningly killed Wang Xing. On the arena, even if Wang Long killed Yang Tian, Kuang Lang couldn't say much.

"Haha, challenging me? Truly a newborn calf unafraid of tigers!" Wang Long's cold gaze fixed on Yang Tian, and he laughed scornfully.

"Xiao Tian, come down quickly. Don't be foolish." Lin Yuan hurried over.

"Foster father, I'm fine. Trust me." Patting Lin Yuan's arm, Yang Tian turned and looked at the city lord: "Please grant my request, City Lord."

Kuang Lang looked at Yang Tian with a doubtful gaze, but finally waved his hand and said, "Fine. Remember to stop at the point of contact."

On the battle stage.

The gazes of the two clashed, their murderous intent undisguised.

This battle was the focus of everyone's attention. The combat power of a half-step martial artist and a Blood Refining ninth layer was incomparable, especially since Wang Long was an established veteran.

But when they saw Yang Tian's faint smiling face, they felt that Yang Tian might create a miracle today.

"Little beast, I admire your courage, but today is your death day." Wang Long's wrinkled old face twisted into a cruel smile, his voice sinister.

"Heh, your son is waiting for you down below. It's you who deserves to die." With a cold laugh, Yang Tian's blood energy began to churn. The pent-up frustration of these days, he would unleash it all today! Not a trace left.

"Good, good, you've got guts." Wang Long smiled coldly, then his body suddenly blurred, leaving several afterimages as he appeared eerily in front of Yang Tian.

Swish! Swish!

He struck out two palm prints in succession, but found Yang Tian no longer in front of him. Suddenly, a roar shook the heavens and earth.

"Old man, I've already experienced this movement technique on Wang Feng. Too bad, he wanted to kill me, but I killed him instead!"

"What!" Hua Qi spat out the water he had just drunk, his eyes bulging. He stared at Yang Tian's mocking face, shock flooding his features.

"Could what this kid said be true?" Kuang Long's eyes flickered. "No wonder Wang Long hates him so much."

"What a monster." Looking at Wang Long's instantly darkened face, Hua Die felt a surge of shock. "No, he's a freak."

"Yang Tian killed Wang Feng? Really?"

"Probably true. Look at that old man's face—all black and blue." Two men whispered.

Not far away, a group of disciples from the Star Martial Arts Academy showed fear on their faces. Most were considering whether to leave the academy.

"Fine, you've got guts." Wang Long's icy gaze fixed on Yang Tian. At the same time, endless regret welled up in his heart. For the sake of some unknown treasure, the Star Martial Arts Academy was completely finished.

Now, only by killing Yang Tian could he regain some prestige and avoid total defeat.

"Die!" Wang Long roared repeatedly, his figure flickering rapidly, much faster than before. In an instant, he was in front of Yang Tian, striking out with a palm as clear as jade.

"Ha!" Yang Tian stomped his foot, his blood energy surging. Facing a half-step martial artist, he dared not be careless.

"Boom! Boom!" He unleashed three consecutive punches, each one fierce and unyielding, completely blocking the incoming palm strikes.

"Shua!" Wang Long's body suddenly twisted, appearing behind Yang Tian, and fierce palm winds surged continuously.

"Wind-Splitting Palm." Yang Tian's body retreated rapidly. At the same time, several energy blades shot from his palm, crossing layers of space and colliding with the palm winds.

"Bang! Bang!" Dazzling light burst forth. The hearts of countless onlookers tightened. Watching Yang Tian dodge several lethal attacks in succession, they couldn't help but feel admiration.

"This Yang Tian is formidable. His combat experience is no weaker than Wang Long's, and his blood energy is much denser than ordinary martial artists, with a more solid foundation. I wonder who taught him."

Hua Qi glanced at Lin Yuan, whose face was now full of surprise.

Lin Yuan hadn't expected Yang Tian to progress so rapidly. But thinking of the fruit Yang Tian had brought, he felt relieved. During this time, Yang Tian had not only experienced life-and-death battles but also suffered retaliation from the Star Martial Arts Academy.

"Bang! Bang!"

On the battle stage, sparks flew. Red and cyan blood energies clashed fiercely. The flickering figures within were hard for those with low cultivation to see clearly, but the cracks spreading on the ground made them understand the danger of this battle.

Bang! Bang!

The ground kept cracking. Yang Tian's figure swayed continuously. The river of blood energy hanging above his head constantly shook the heavens and earth, its momentum like crashing waves, surging endlessly.

"Third, who do you think will win?" Several miles away, the man in white stared at the battle site and suddenly smiled.

"Probably that old man. Although Yang Tian has abundant vitality, he's been on the defensive." The man called Third pondered for a moment and said slowly.

"How about a bet? I bet Yang Tian will win. What do you think?" The man in white shook his head slightly and suddenly said with a faint smile.

"A bet?" Third's heart tightened, and he looked at the man in white warily. "Second, I don't have anything good left."

"I'll bet my Jade Dragon Pendant against your Single Scale Jade Beast. How about it?" The man in white squinted.

"Jade Dragon Pendant? That's a top-grade Mysterious Artifact." Third's heart skipped a beat. Then, looking at the man in white's serious expression, he nodded. "Fine. Don't go back on your word if you lose. Big Brother will be our witness."

Bang! Bang!

On the battle stage, winds raged wildly. The two suddenly clashed in mid-air, the shockwaves spreading. Yang Tian's body was sent flying backward.