The Grand Pillar clenched his fist tightly and threw another punch. This punch carried the explosive roar of thunder, and even flashes of lightning crackled around his fist.
Xu Ming’s punches could also be imbued with lightning and carry the power of thunder, but that was merely a passive skill granted by a previous system reward.
However, the Grand Pillar’s punches were different. He cultivated the Great Thunder Fist.
The name of this technique might sound ordinary, but in reality, it was one of the most supreme martial arts in existence.
Not just any martial artist could practice the Great Thunder Fist.
To cultivate this technique, the prerequisite was having an exceptionally vigorous blood essence.
If one’s blood essence wasn’t strong enough, they wouldn’t even be able to withstand the power of this fist technique.
Forget about executing it—just attempting to use it could cause their body to explode and perish.
Facing the Grand Pillar’s incoming punch, Xu Ming took a deep breath, assumed his stance, and clenched his fist.
He also threw a punch.But this time, it wasn’t the Sea Cleaving Fist from earlier. Instead, it was a technique he had only recently comprehended—Hammer God Fist.
“Boom!”
Once again, their fists collided.
The Grand Pillar still used his left hand from before, and Xu Ming still used his right hand, as if he was too stubborn to back down. Even though his fist was already injured from their previous clash, he refused to admit defeat.
The moment their fists collided, crackling bolts of lightning erupted at the point of impact.
Xu Ming was sent flying backward by the force of the Grand Pillar’s punch, retreating twenty meters before finally stabilizing himself.
He coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, dropping to one knee on the ground.
The thunderous martial true energy surged wildly through his meridians, rampaging as though it sought to tear his body apart.
Xu Ming furrowed his brows, quickly pressing his index and middle fingers against several key acupoints.
Then, he coughed up another mouthful of blood, forcibly expelling the invading true energy from his body.
But after that punch, his right hand was completely incapable of fighting—it hung limp at his side, as if dislocated.
Still, Xu Ming struggled to his feet, his gaze locked onto the Grand Pillar.
The Grand Pillar, too, found himself astonished.
That punch just now had contained seventy percent of his full power.
The only reason he hadn’t gone all out was that he was afraid he might kill Xu Ming with a single blow.
If such a promising young talent of the Wu Kingdom were to die at his hands, it would be an immeasurable loss for the nation.
His original intent was simply to knock Xu Ming down so thoroughly that he would have no choice but to rest and recover for at least a year.
But what he hadn’t expected… was that Xu Ming had actually endured the blow.
Even though his condition was far from good, he still managed to stand back up.
“One more punch. Please grant me your guidance, Grand Pillar.”
Xu Ming’s gaze remained locked onto his opponent.
Despite his ragged breathing and his evident injuries, he had not retreated even a single step.
Outside the training grounds, many of the watching young women covered their mouths with their hands, their eyes glistening with unshed tears.
They gazed at the tall, unyielding figure in the center of the training ground.
They wished they could rush up, pull him down from that battlefield, hold him tightly in their arms, and comfort him with all their might.
The Grand Pillar, Mo Peinan, sighed.
“Xu Ming, do you realize… that my last punch was only at seventy percent strength?”
He shook his head slightly.
“Let alone with my full power—are you sure you can even withstand another one of my seventy-percent punches in your current state?”
“You have an unlimited future ahead of you. There’s no need to risk everything here. This challenge can be resolved in other ways. Are you truly unwilling to take a step back?”
Xu Ming smiled.
“If it were just about myself, then it wouldn’t matter. But I am the Commander of the Jinyiwei.
My brothers have been injured, and I must take responsibility for them.
Here in Wu Capital, someone has violated the Wu Kingdom’s laws, and it is our duty as Jinyiwei Guards to defend them with our very lives.
If we shrink back just because of fear—if we hesitate because of what we ‘can’ or ‘cannot’ do—then how are we any different from any other institution?”
“Hahahaha! Good! Very well!” The Grand Pillar let out a hearty laugh.
“Since that’s the case, then I shall grant your wish! Prepare yourself—watch closely! This will be my strongest punch!”
“Rest assured—if you die, I will personally visit your grave each year to offer incense.”
As the Grand Pillar’s words fell, he took a deep breath and reached toward the sky with a powerful grasp.
The once-white clouds above darkened into deep black.
Suddenly, the sky erupted with flashes of lightning and deafening thunder, as if the heavens themselves were responding to his call.
“Boom!”
With a thunderous roar, a bolt of lightning descended straight from the sky, striking down toward the Grand Pillar.
But instead of harming him, the lightning coiled around his body, crackling wildly.
At that moment, the Grand Pillar stood enveloped in arcs of electricity, his body crackling with a deafening sizzle.
His hair stood on end, resembling a thunder beast awakened.
“The Great Thunder Fist was passed down to me by my master.
He told me that this technique is not something ordinary people can wield.
The world believes that it requires immense blood essence to use.
But that is only part of the truth.
To master this technique, one must cultivate within the heart of a thunderstorm itself.
But tell me—how many can endure the wrath of true lightning?”
“The Great Thunder Fist originally had eight moves.
But after years of refinement, I have created one more.”
“Once, with this very punch, I shattered a Immortal Realm Yinglong.”
[T/N: A mythical Dragon in chinese mythology.]
“And now, I shall repay your resolve with my full strength.
This is the greatest respect I can offer you.”
“This punch—
—is called Thunder God!”
“Boom!”
The Grand Pillar launched his fist at Xu Ming.
In an instant, his body transformed into a streak of lightning, streaking forward with the speed of a storm.
Where the lightning passed, a colossal thunder dragon seemed to manifest, roaring through the air.
And at the head of that lightning dragon—
—was the Grand Pillar’s fist.
At that very moment, Xu Ming closed his eyes.
His Dao Heart whispered to him with absolute clarity—
This punch must not be taken head-on.
If he tried to endure it, he would surely die.
For the first time, Xu Ming felt true fear.
For the first time, despair crept into his heart.
Even his very soul trembled—this punch carried the weight of his death sentence.
Then—
“The technique I am about to pass on to you is called Heaven-Splitting Fist.
It is an attack that knows no defense.
One punch—capable of splitting the heavens.”
“This technique is incomplete.
I only have half of it.
But for you, even half will be enough.”
“Remember this well—no matter the opponent, no matter the battlefield—
—you must believe in your fists.
Even if you have no strength left—
—you must still throw that final punch.”
The voice of Madam Wang echoed in Xu Ming’s mind.
And just as fear threatened to consume him, just as he accepted his inevitable death—
—his mind slipped into a state beyond comprehension.
Slowly—
Xu Ming raised his fist.
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