These words caused a stir throughout the hall.
Wan Lei’s intention was simple. He was filled with rage, unable to vent, and looking for a punching bag to release his frustration. If he chose an ordinary disciple, he might kill his opponent as soon as he made a move. Before even entering the Five Elements Hall, he’d be sent to prison to join his wife.
However, others clearly misunderstood his meaning.
“Arrogant! Do you think you can disregard our Five Elements Hall disciples just because you have good talent?”
“How confident are you in your combat power? Today, I will show you what real strength looks like.”
“I have strong defense, being an Earth Hall disciple. Stand still and let me hit you, can you even hurt me?”
“This young brother who hasn’t even joined us is quite confident. If I were to fight, you probably wouldn’t even reach eight thousand points, and you’d regret it.”
“You’re choosing someone with strong defense, not high offense, trying to stall for time, aren’t you? Everyone, don’t fall for this person’s trick, pick someone with high offense.”
The people outside were indignant. Once someone was chosen, if Wan Lei couldn’t defeat them, he would face endless ridicule and would never be able to hold his head up in the Five Elements Hall again.
He could only defeat his enemies overwhelmingly to live up to his words. People wouldn’t resent him; instead, they would feel he truly had the capability.
The officiating elder scanned the crowd. After much deliberation, he pointed to a disciple and said,
“Yao An, it’s you. Are you willing to spar with Wan Lei?”
The disciple named Yao An was broad-shouldered and sturdy, standing two meters tall. He hadn’t expected the elder to choose him, even though he had been shouting the loudest earlier.
After a moment’s pause, Yao An immediately flew up, laughing heartily, and landed on the arena, facing Wan Lei from a distance.
“According to the rules, the disciples responsible for fighting the examinees must be ranked after the hundred-thousandth place in the Creation Pagoda, for fairness.
However, considering you are an unparalleled prodigy, I have selected a disciple ranked in the nine-thousandth place for you. He is also in the top one thousand within the Earth Hall. Wan Lei, if you are unwilling, I can find someone else for you.”
This elder was quite considerate, first asking for the opinions of both parties.
“Junior has no objections.”
Wan Lei nodded immediately.
Yao An laughed heartily,
“You wanted someone who could take a beating, right? I, Yao An, specialize in defense and body cultivation in the Earth Hall. Don’t be fooled by my ranking of ninth thousand-something; even disciples in the top one thousand can’t defeat me. I can outlast my enemies!”
Wan Lei remained unfazed, but he pondered, these Five Elements Hall disciples always mentioned their rankings in the Creation Pagoda. Was that the four-story pagoda in the Five Elements Hall?
Was this pagoda important?
He committed the pagoda to memory, planning to inquire about it thoroughly after passing the assessment.
“Hmm? Why are you quiet now? Are you scared? It’s alright, I’ll fight with you for a while longer, and I won’t defeat you too quickly. At least I’ll let you get two thousand points. You already have six thousand points, and with another two thousand, you can enter the Five Elements Hall. Don’t worry, I won’t eliminate you too quickly, hahahahaha…”
Although his words seemed to be for Wan Lei’s benefit, his tone was full of mockery.
He successfully increased Wan Lei’s anger level slightly.
Already brimming with resentment, Wan Lei looked up coldly at his opponent, his fighting spirit igniting.
Seeing that Wan Lei was ready, Yao An also brought out his weapon.
It was a shield, extremely heavy, about one and a half meters tall, appearing to be made of bluestone, but its material was definitely not stone. Perhaps it was a magic artifact crafted from a special ore.
“This is the Yaoguang Shield. I exchanged five hundred merit points for it. It’s indestructible. I’ll stand here and let you hit me. If you can injure me within fifteen minutes, then I’ll acknowledge you as a man!”
Yao An placed the shield heavily on the ground, looking quite smug.
Wan Lei remained silent, channeling the fire lightning within him. Instantly, runes filled his body, enhancing his physique and combat power. Simultaneously, multicolored lightning crackled around his fist, and the "Five Thunders Striking the Top" technique was ready.
However, hidden within the multicolored lightning were five other types of lightning: Nature’s Lightning, Cultivation Lightning, Heavenly Dao Lightning, Origin Lightning, and Abyssal Underworld Lightning.
This punch from Wan Lei could unleash his strongest combat power.
He was ready to give this punching bag in front of him a good beating.
With both sides prepared for battle, the surrounding disciples erupted in excitement.
“Wan Lei, go for it! Let’s see how powerful Origin-level talent is. Don’t let your combat power be unworthy of your talent!”
“Yao An, if you lose, you’ll be beaten so badly you won’t even be able to excrete back in the Earth Hall!”
“Hurry up and start! I bet the fight will be over in half an hour.”
“Don’t embarrass the Five Elements Hall. After so many years of cultivation, if you’re still inferior to a rogue cultivator, Yao An, don’t even think about going back.”
“Yao An just needs to last half an hour. I think Wan Lei is very formidable, and Yao An is no match for him.”
“I also think Wan Lei can get full marks!”
The people around shouted various things. Yao An was also fired up by the cheers, pounding his shield forcefully, urging Wan Lei to attack.
Wan Lei smiled slightly, reminding his opponent,
“Please use your strongest power to defend.”
Yao An’s expression shifted slightly, then he sneered,
“Hmph, arrogant. I see runes on your body, you must be a cultivator from the East Land. No wonder you don’t use weapons. Come, come, let me see how strong the runes from your East Land are!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Lei charged at him like a bolt of lightning. His right hand, holding the ten types of lightning, clenched into a fist and smashed towards the shield with world-splitting might.
Wan Lei’s speed was astonishing. Before the people around could even get a clear look at his figure, his fist landed on the shield.
With a mere crack, the shield split like a piece of paper, then shattered into pieces, crashing down.
Wan Lei’s punch, its momentum undiminished, slammed into Yao An’s chest.
Yao An felt as if he had been hit by a mountain. A sharp pain shot through his chest, his heart and ribs being directly pulverized by the punch. He spat blood and fell to the ground.
Wan Lei’s rage had not yet been fully vented. With his fighting spirit surging, he felt an exhilarating release, but it was still not enough.
He flashed forward and straddled Yao An. Yao An looked up, about to beg for mercy and surrender, but Wan Lei’s fists rained down on his face like a storm.
Bang, bang, bang, bang…
In a mere five seconds, Wan Lei threw over a hundred punches. By then, the surrounding elders had reacted.
Some shouted to stop, declaring the fight over, while others manipulated formations, extending tentacles to pull Wan Lei aside.
A person dressed in white then stepped onto the stage to examine Yao An’s injuries.
Yao An had been severely wounded by Wan Lei’s first punch, and facing the subsequent barrage of intense attacks, he had already lost consciousness.