Chapter 33: Stunned!
Chapter 33: Stunned!
Thud!
Yet, unexpectedly, when Tang Hu’s seemingly immensely powerful punch slammed into that green shield, it didn’t produce any deafening impact or explosion; only a soft, muffled sound was heard.
“Hmm? What happened?”
Tang Hu felt like his punch had struck empty air, encountering no resistance whatsoever. He hadn’t managed to pull back his force in time and almost ended up making a fool of himself. The green shield before him seemed unchanged, still hovering quietly in the air.
“What’s going on?”
“Did it not work?”
Tang Jinbiao and the others were also slightly stunned, looking somewhat perplexed.
“Hah!”
“Ha ha, turns out it’s just a paper tiger!”
“Ha ha, that’s ridiculous!”
The onlookers below, previously somewhat intimidated by Tang Hu’s imposing presence, now burst into raucous laughter upon seeing that it was all show and no substance—an outwardly strong but inwardly frail paper tiger. Still, a few did not laugh.
“That lad!”
The Great Elder seated on the Elders’ Podium opened his eyes slightly, a complex expression flickering across his face.
“This?”
“How is this possible?”
The other Elders, too, had varying expressions of astonishment.
“Second Rank already?”
The Third Elder’s face also showed a look of shock as he murmured to himself.
“Ha ha, kid, hurry home! Don’t embarrass yourself here, this place isn’t for the likes of you!”
“Ha ha, kid, go back and play in the mud for a few more years!”
“Ha ha…”
“Ha ha…”
The more they saw the expression on Tang Hu’s face, the louder the crowd’s mocking laughter grew, their jeers intensifying.
“Ah Hu, what’s wrong?”
Tang Jinbiao sensed something wrong. Tang Hu’s punch had clearly carried tremendous force moments ago. Why, after hitting the green shield, was there no reaction at all? It was like an average person had thrown a feeble tap.
“Brother Biao, I really don’t know,” Tang Hu remained standing there in a daze, utterly bewildered. “I definitely used all my strength; I even used concealed force. But the moment my fist struck the green shield, it felt like a massive absorbing force suddenly appeared on it, dissolving all the force I poured into my punch!”
Tang Hu stood there dumbfounded. He had definitely struck with immense power, yet hitting that green shield produced almost no effect. He had even imagined shattering the shield with one blow.
“Third Elder, this test of yours…”
Tang Jinbiao immediately realized something and meant to question the Third Elder for clarification. However, he instead saw a flicker of disappointment cross the Third Elder’s face as he shook his head.
“Third Elder, what is it?”
Seeing the Third Elder’s expression only heightened Tang Jinbiao’s unease as he pressed, “What happened?”
For some reason, the Third Elder seemed to age ten years in an instant. He glanced toward the Elder Platform and sighed, saying, “Alas, it appears we may indeed have been mistaken!”
Those at the Elder Platform seemed to notice something, their expressions one by one growing complicated.
“Young rascal, you go home…”
“Young ras…”
“…”
Even the Tang Family youths beneath the Platform Stage, who had been mocking so gleefully moments earlier, gradually noticed the Elders’ troubled expressions. Their voices fell silent.
“Third Elder, speak quickly! What on earth is the matter?”
The longer the Third Elder remained silent, the more Tang Jinbiao felt a flicker of tension stir within him.
“Hehe, lad, couldn’t tell, couldn’t tell at all! Who knew this young brother of yours, at such a tender age, had already reached the Second Tier of Body Refining! Though it’s unclear whether he consumed some divine treasure or earned it through sheer hard work. If it’s the former, hardly surprising. But if it’s the latter… well, even this old man must voice his admiration! Regardless, achieving such a feat at this age is simply remarkable. Body Refining is a brutal path, alas! But… such a pity. This boy may accomplish great things in the future, yet he will forever be unable to touch the true Great Dao! Alas!”
At that moment, Huang Biaozi’s voice abruptly echoed in Tang Jinbiao’s mind.
“What? You’re saying Tang Hu is now at the Second Tier of Body Refining? Doesn’t that mean he’s a full rank above me? I’m only at the First Rank of Body Refining!”
Upon hearing Huang Biaozi’s words, Tang Jinbiao was profoundly shocked and immediately responded.
“Hehe, whether he is or not, you’ll find out soon enough! And as for you…? Haha, haha!”
Huang Biaozi chuckled darkly, his words hanging in the air before he seemed to vanish, leaving no further trace.
Haaa!
Tang Jinbiao suppressed the shock within and waited silently for the Third Elder to announce the test results.
“Hoho, indeed, heroes emerge young! Young man, well done! Very well done!”
The Third Elder concealed his astonishment, revealing a faint smile that hinted at his acceptance of Tang Hu as he spoke warmly.
“Huh? Third Elder, what do you mean?”
Tang Hu was slightly baffled, unsure of the Elder’s implication.
“What exactly did the Third Elder mean just now?”
“Could he be saying that kid is powerful?”
“What?”
“Impossible!”
Many in the audience were naturally confused, though the quicker-witted reacted swiftly. As comprehension dawned on them, expressions of shock spread across their faces one by one.
“Hoho, you are at the Body Refining Second Rank (Advanced) level. I suspect even you didn’t know that, did you? Keep striving, young man. The path ahead stretches long and far for you!”
A gentle, genuine smile bloomed on the Third Elder’s face – the kind of affectionate look an elder bestows upon a cherished junior, a warmth Tang Jinbiao had never witnessed directed towards himself.
“Third Elder?”
Tang Hu remained bewildered.
“Ah Hu, hurry up and thank the Third Elder! You are now at the Body Refining Second Rank (Advanced), a Cultivator boasting strength akin to a Late Foundation Building Stage Cultivator!”
Tang Jinbiao was naturally the first to grasp the situation and urged swiftly.
“What?”
Tang Hu’s face showed an expression of disbelief, but he recovered moments later, revealing ecstatic joy. He quickly knelt and prostrated, saying, “Thank you, Third Elder! Thank you, Third Elder!”
“Haha, no need, no need! All this was earned by your own efforts and has nothing at all to do with me. I merely informed you of the fact!”
Third Elder shook his head, smiling as he spoke. After all, he refused to believe Tang Hu had consumed any heaven-defying treasures. The Tang Family had no neighbors within hundreds of miles, and Tang Hu had never left the Tang estate—a strict family rule forbade leaving Tang territory before reaching Foundation Building.
Indeed, the reality was this: Body Refiners differed from other Cultivators. While Cultivators could perceive their cultivation level through inner spiritual energy, Body Refiners simply continuously tempered their bodies. Their only sensation was their body growing progressively stronger, yet they couldn’t clearly discern exactly how strong they had become or what level they had attained. Only through genuine combat could they make that judgment.
Bang!
“What?”
“Impossible!”
“He’s so young, how could he be Second Tier of Body Refining?”
“That defies logic!”
“You must have taken bribes!”
The people below the stage naturally heard Third Elder’s words. Some gradually began to comprehend, but upon realization, others immediately voiced opposition and denial. Although few in the Tang Family truly practiced Body Refining, it didn’t mean they were ignorant of it. On the contrary, they understood Body Refiners’ strength quite well. Particularly before Core Formation, a Body Refiner of the same tier was virtually invincible among peers. Even if ambushed, the attack had to guarantee instant death; otherwise, a Body Refiner was every Cultivator’s nightmare.
“Hmph, what do all of you know? If you don’t believe me, fight him yourselves tomorrow!”
Third Elder seemed to notice the shock on the faces below. Snorting disdainfully, he replied. The competition rules only applied to ordinary Qi Condensation Cultivators; Foundation Establishment Cultivators were exempt. Though Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the same age were certainly more gifted than Qi Condensation practitioners, after the annual trials, the Tang Family would grant only one Foundation Establishment Cultivator a spot, while the other two came from Qi Condensation Stage contenders. Thus, after this test, Tang Hu could simply wait for the trial on the third day.
“What?”
“This isn’t fair! We demand a test fight!”
“Unfair! We require verification!”
The crowd below naturally would not agree. Perhaps spurred on by hidden instigators, they clamored incessantly.
“Hmph!”
Third Elder snorted contemptuously, appearing unwilling to engage with them. He then turned to another youth, saying, “It’s your turn to test!”
“Unfair!”
“We demand inspection!”
The crowd below continued their shouts and protests. The youth froze momentarily but quickly recovered, striding over eagerly. After positioning himself, he threw a powerful punch onto the target.
“First Rank, Intermediate Grade! Assigned to the Qi Condensation Seventh Layer group!”
Third Elder glanced briefly at the green shield and responded impassively.
“Cough!”
Hearing the result, the youth looked utterly dejected and walked back with his head hung low.
“Haha, it’s alright! You’re really quite capable.”
Seeing the youth’s despondency, Tang Jinbiao offered words of comfort.
“Mhm, understood, Brother Biao!”
The youth nodded in response.
“Next up—you!”
Immediately, Third Elder pointed to another person.
That person naturally stepped forward full of hope, but the result was the same—assigned to Qi Condensation Seventh Layer. He returned with a bitter expression. The remaining youth was placed in the Qi Condensation Fifth Layer group. Initially, the atmosphere below was tumultuous, but after testing the final few participants, the crowd gradually calmed down, their initial agitation subsiding into silence.
“Tang Jinbiao, your turn to test!”
Finally, it was Tang Jinbiao’s turn. Having watched the previous tests, he felt both eager and uneasy. Anxiety churned within him because his training differed significantly from others.
Others trained diligently and painstakingly. Only he, in the beginning, had merely run—daily jogging—until recently, just two to three months ago, when he finally began practicing punches. Even then, he had only started training Ape Art and hadn’t endured much hardship. He began doubting whether he truly was, as Huang Biaozi claimed, capable of fending off ordinary Qi Condensation Fourth or Fifth Layer Cultivators.
“It’s finally my turn!”
Tang Jinbiao realized his name was called. Taking a deep breath, he moved forward slowly…