Chapter 276

Chapter 276: Chapter 275: Ye Tianchen said no more. Facing this group of prideful masters, he merely walked to the very center of the clearing, ready to challenge them all with his strength alone.

This was not Ye Tianchen being overly confident, nor was it an act of arrogance. He could see that among the more than ten people present, each was an exceptional master. He was greatly pleased inside, as Wuxue’s ability to build up a force had exceeded his expectations; to have recruited over ten top-tier masters was akin to laying down a successful foundation for the fledgling power.

It was precisely because every single one of the individuals present was a top-notch expert, with incredibly formidable skills, that Ye Tianchen chose such a method to subdue them. He understood a principle—the greater the master, the more the need to awe them. Only by making them truly acknowledge his strength could he get them to set aside their pride and wholeheartedly follow his lead. Otherwise, they would look down on him. And if they didn’t respect him, how could they work for him?

To awe these people with strength was the most effective method. No matter what he said, it would not compare to the hardness of his fists. By using his fists to show the group he was worthy of being their leader, that was the most correct approach.

In this world, some people could be swayed with money, with power, but some could only be won over with strength!

At that moment, Ye Tianchen stood in the middle of the clearing. According to Wuxue, among the group, Wang Jie, who had the strongest capabilities, had stepped away to relieve himself. Zhang Wuquan and another middle-aged man named Deng Shuang, both followers of Wang Jie, simultaneously stepped forward, ready to make a move against Ye Tianchen.

At this instant, the atmosphere was exceptionally quiet. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Ye Tianchen, because the display of skill from this young man, whom they had looked down upon, had surprised and even shocked them.

Zhang Wuquan was extremely powerful, said to be second only to Wang Jie. The fact that he was able to stand toe-to-toe with Bao Tianglong, a former warrior of the Heavenly Gang level, spoke volumes of his prowess. The most formidable aspect of Zhang Wuquan was his attack speed—swift as lightning. It was with this that he went toe-to-toe with Bao Tianglong; otherwise, in a head-on fight, Zhang might not have beaten him.

To everyone’s surprise, Zhang Wuquan’s incredibly swift kick, which many onlookers thought themselves incapable of dodging, was easily evaded by Ye Tianchen, who even almost wounded Zhang. Had Zhang’s skills not been equally formidable, he might have been seriously injured.

"Do you really have a death wish, wanting both of us to strike at once?" Zhang Wuquan asked coldly, staring at Ye Tianchen.

"I already said, a few more of you could join in, and I would still be standing!" Ye Tianchen said with a casual, confident smile.

"I’m not one for idle chatter. Let’s deal with this kid and then go find Wang Jie. We’ll leave this boring place together!"

Deng Shuang spoke last but was the first to charge at Ye Tianchen. Zhang Wuquan hesitated for an instant, but then, clenching his fist tightly, he followed Deng’s lead and rushed toward Ye Tianchen.

All onlookers watched the scene intently, eager to see who would prevail. Wuxue, Hu Long, Lin Duan, and Bao Tianglong too watched tensely. They were all aware of Ye Tianchen’s formidable power and incomprehensible strength, but they still harbored some worries because Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang were among the most skilled of the group, second only to Wang Jie. Defeating their combined assault would be extremely difficult. If Ye Tianchen lost, then the dozen or so masters they had worked so hard to recruit would certainly all leave, and not one would remain.

Bang!

Ye Tianchen was not careless; he knew Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang were strong, extraordinarily so. To defeat them, he had to give his all. The slightest inattention could result in injury. So, when Deng was the first to reach him and threw a punch, Ye Tianchen’s right hand clenched tight; King-level Superpower Realm’s force surged through him as he threw his own punch out.

With a single punch, Ye Tianchen sent Deng flying several meters away. Deng was unharmed, yet he was immensely startled. Having only seen Zhang Wuquan’s move against Ye Tianchen, he had not expected this young man to be so powerful that a single punch had sent him reeling back, especially considering that Deng’s strength was not lesser than Zhang Wuquan’s.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just as Ye Tianchen had sent Deng flying with a punch, Zhang Wuquan reached him and unleashed his best move, Lightning Fist. True to its name, it struck with the speed of lightning, constantly targeting Ye Tianchen’s vital points. For a moment, Ye Tianchen could only continuously dodge and retreat, looking for an opening.

"Ha, I told you this kid’s no match for Zhang and Deng!"

"He was bound to get taken out; it was only a matter of time!"

"But to withstand Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang’s joint attack – he’s got to be commended for that!"

Among the remaining group, some couldn’t help but express their thoughts. Up to now, even though Ye Tianchen had not yet defeated Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang, the combat power he had displayed already amazed many. Facing two great masters like Zhang and Deng alone and not only avoiding immediate defeat but still managing to fight back was undeniably shocking.

Zhang Wuquan’s fists were indeed fast, resembling actual lightning, especially since they were infused with enormous Inner Strength. This Inner Strength felt different to Ye Tianchen than that used by other masters. Zhang Wuquan’s Inner Strength was not just fierce and powerful, but it also complemented his rapid fists, constructing a kind of blockade on his opponent, leaving no avenue for escape. A slight miscalculation could result in serious injury.

Then, Deng Shuang charged forward again, this time with a Military Blade materializing in his right hand. The Inner Strength flowing out of the blade was so colossal it was frightening, turning a short blade into a gleaming, flashing military saber.

Whoosh!

As a massive blade shadow descended from the sky, Ye Tianchen was dodging Zhang Wuquan’s rapid fist attacks. He frowned slightly at the terrifying aura the blade cast, but the corner of his mouth revealed a hint of a smile. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for, the chance to defeat both Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang at the same time.

"Rise!"

With a roar from Ye Tianchen, a wall of earth materialized in front of him, utilizing his Earth Element Superpower Skill. When both Zhang Wuquan’s and Deng Shuang’s fists and blade hit the earthen wall, their attacks were as ineffective as mud oxen plunging into the sea; they were startled and rapidly converged beneath the wall, launching their most formidable attacks. They aimed to shatter the earthen barrier, hoping to crush Ye Tianchen severely.

Unbeknownst to them, as Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang approached the base of the wall, several more earthen walls sprang up, encircling them both, hiding them from the view of those outside.

Bang! Bang!

With two loud impacts, Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang burst forth from the earthen walls above, displaying phenomenal strength. But at that moment, a figure descended from above, fists pounding towards them simultaneously—it was Ye Tianchen.

With no foothold in mid-air, Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang had no choice but to counter the attacks. They were pummeled back into the space surrounded by the earthen walls by Ye Tianchen’s fists as he himself charged in after them.

By now, no one outside could see the battle between Ye Tianchen, Zhang Wuquan, and Deng Shuang inside the earthen walls. The walls surrounded every side, and no one dared to approach carelessly. All three of them were absolute experts, and the fight was likely raging furiously; an inadvertent approach could easily result in serious injury.

Bang!

A fist punched through, blasting a large hole in the earthen wall and rushing into the sky!

Whiz!

A blade shadow cut through the earthen wall and surged out as well, striking a nearby bamboo, shearing it cleanly into two equal pieces—a testament to the attack’s sheer force, which would have undoubtedly cleaved a person in half.

Boom! Boom!

Two figures burst from the barrier of earth and fell to the ground, both looking ahead with reluctance. Those two were Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang, who had lost. They were defeated by Ye Tianchen, who still bore a slight smile as he stepped out from the earthen walls, astonishing all observers to the point of nearly dropping their jaws.

"This... Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang lost? How is that possible?"

"No, can’t be, right? They’re both so strong, who could possibly stand against them when they join forces? And yet they’ve been defeated?"

"Unfathomably deep, Ye Tianchen has unfathomably deep strength..."

"Such formidable Superpower Skill, no wonder Wuxue and the other three immensely strong individuals would swear undying loyalty!"

The spectators who had been watching without joining the fight couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves. They indeed hadn’t expected Ye Tianchen not only to resist the combined strength of Zhang Wuquan and Deng Shuang, both very powerful in their own right, but to defeat the duo. This truly was beyond anyone’s expectations.

"Welcome everyone to join us, I am Ye Tianchen!" Ye Tianchen said to everyone with a smile.

At this moment, many people were filled with surprise and conflicted feelings. They marveled at Ye Tianchen’s extraordinary power, but also felt conflicted about his age. Could they really be commanded by a twenty-year-old? And could they truly carve out a legacy following this young man? Many remained skeptical.

"Everyone, assemble, attention!" Ye Tianchen suddenly bellowed.

In a moment of confusion, everyone instinctively straightened up their bodies and stood in neat formation. They were not soldiers, yet they had the quality and discipline expected of martial experts, and this young man before them had indeed caused a tremendous shock, compelling them to respect him.

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)