In the Jinyiwei training grounds, all eyes were fixed on Xu Ming and the Grand Pillar of the Nation.
The Grand Pillar narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp and focused as he observed the young man standing before him.
In his view, this junior possessed an admirable spirit—one reminiscent of the warriors of Wu Kingdom in the past.
Many of Wu Kingdom’s young men had grown complacent after years of peace, lacking the fiery determination of their forebears.
The more the Grand Pillar looked at Xu Ming, the more he appreciated him.
Previously, that Xiliang envoy had urged him to crush Xu Ming’s prestige and humiliate him as much as possible.
Yet, he found himself admiring this young man.
That was why, from the very start, he had been reluctant to do so.
The Grand Pillar had given Xu Ming multiple opportunities, treating him with courtesy in hopes that they could both back down gracefully.
But to his surprise—Xu Ming was just that stubborn.
The Grand Pillar found himself both helpless and reassured by this.
“Please, Grand Pillar, throw your punch.”
Xu Ming removed the Tang-style horizontal blade from his waist and cupped his hands in salute.
The summer wind stirred his robes, his graceful yet composed demeanor causing many young women in the crowd to widen their eyes, their hearts pounding uncontrollably.
Women from other human kingdoms typically admired refined and scholarly men.
But for the women of Wu Kingdom, the ideal man was one who possessed both wisdom and martial prowess—someone who could govern the land with intelligence and charge into battle with unwavering courage.
Ordinary scholars held little appeal for them.
Xu Ming, on the other hand, was the very embodiment of their ideal man.
“You’d better be careful. I won’t be holding back,” Mo Peinan warned.
He removed his outer robe, and the moment he assumed his fighting stance, a powerful surge of martial energy spread throughout the entire Jinyiwei compound.
Even those standing at the edge of the training grounds could feel the oppressive force of his battle-hardened aura crashing against their faces like waves.
The Grand Pillar had yet to even throw a punch, yet everyone present already felt a deep sense of dread.
Some even felt their knees go weak, the instinct to kneel and beg for mercy rising uncontrollably within them.
“So this is the power of a Limit Realm martial artist…”
Wu Yanhan clenched her fists tightly as she watched, her heart pounding.
She had never witnessed a Limit Realm martial artist in action before.
Even though the Grand Pillar had deliberately suppressed his cultivation to the Wandering Realm—only two levels above Xu Ming—his sheer force was still beyond her comprehension.
Standing beside her, Tang Ningzhi furrowed her brows.
She had great confidence in her own strength.
But she knew full well—if she had to take this punch from the Grand Pillar, she would not survive.
She would either be gravely injured or outright killed.
Let alone three punches.
Ten meters away, Xu Ming also assumed his fighting stance, patiently awaiting the Grand Pillar’s strike.
Seeing this posture, the experienced Grand Pillar immediately recognized it—Heaven Splitting Fist.
“This kid is thinking about attacking, even in a situation like this?”
The Grand Pillar chuckled inwardly.
Heaven Splitting Fist was an aggressive martial art, focused entirely on offense with no defensive techniques whatsoever.
Its philosophy was simple: Attack is the best defense.
So this kid planned to counter his punch with sheer offense?
Well then—let’s see if he could manage it!
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rang out as the stone tile beneath the Grand Pillar’s foot shattered instantly.
In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, appearing right in front of Xu Ming—
His fist hurtling straight toward Xu Ming’s chest!
Everyone present—whether Jinyiwei officers, ordinary citizens, or even Tang Ningzhi and Wu Yanhan—held their breath, their hearts leaping into their throats.
Xu Ming did not attempt to block.
Instead, he launched Sea Cleaving Form, the first form of Heaven Splitting Fist!
BOOM!
Another deafening explosion echoed across the training grounds as Xu Ming’s fist collided with the Grand Pillar’s. The sheer force of the impact sent violent waves of martial energy rippling through the air, shaking the entire arena.
Ordinary citizens watching from the sidelines were knocked off their feet by the blast.
Fortunately, the protective formations within the Jinyiwei compound activated in time, dispersing the shockwave and preventing any serious injuries.
As the common folk scrambled back to their feet, they turned their eyes toward the battlefield.
Xu Ming and the Grand Pillar had already separated.
The Grand Pillar stood completely unscathed, looking just as composed as before.
Xu Ming, however, was in a less favorable state—his right hand was visibly trembling.
“Not bad.”
The Grand Pillar nodded approvingly as he observed the young man who had withstood his punch.
“Even among warriors of my own level, few can take a direct hit from me. Let alone someone two realms below me.
I had assumed that practicing both swordsmanship and martial arts would weaken your foundations. But it seems I was wrong.
Your fundamentals are solid. I can tell you’ve put in a great deal of effort into your martial training.”
Xu Ming smiled. “Thank you for your praise, Grand Pillar. But let’s be honest—I only managed to endure that punch because you held back.”
The Grand Pillar chuckled. “I won’t deny it. Which is why I’ll give you one last chance—give up now.
You have talent, that much is undeniable. But you won’t be able to withstand my next two punches.
You’re only twenty years old. There’s no need to be this stubborn. You have plenty of time ahead of you.
The next two punches won’t be as gentle as the first.”
Mo Peinan studied Xu Ming carefully, a flicker of regret flashing in his eyes.
This young man truly had remarkable potential in martial arts.
And this was considering the fact that he had divided his focus between swordsmanship and martial arts.
If he had devoted himself entirely to martial cultivation, he could very well become the next Limit Realm Martial Artist.
Besides the Princess, perhaps he might be the only one to have the chance to reach the legendary realm that no one had ever set foot in.
But the Grand Pillar quickly dismissed that thought, finding it somewhat laughable.
The path of the warrior was ultimately a dead-end.
Breaking past that limit, stepping beyond the pinnacle—such things were easier said than done.
Even he, after all his years of cultivation, saw no hope of surpassing it.
Compared to the longevity of sword cultivators, who could live for thousands of years, why would anyone willingly endure the hardship of martial cultivation?
“I’m about to throw my second punch. You’d best be careful.”
The Grand Pillar wasted no words. His gaze remained calm, locked onto Xu Ming.
“Please, Grand Pillar—teach me!”
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