Not far away, a man with a sallow complexion heard the reward for first place, and a gleam flashed in his eyes. He showed a confident smile, as if winning the top position was merely a matter of course!
He was the second of the top ten experts, Li An, a martial artist at the peak of the Postnatal Ninth Layer. In fact, he had long since reached the brink of breaking through to the Transcendence Realm, but he had been suppressing his cultivation level.
It was all for the reward of becoming first in the Wooden Dummy Alley, a low-tier Profound Level martial technique. Even within the Inner Sect, cultivating it required a vast amount of Contribution Points, which were not easily accumulated by an ordinary Inner Sect first place.
Opposite him, a black-clothed man was surrounded by others. This man was Fang Jie, a martial artist at the early stage of the Postnatal Ninth Layer, though his speed was not much slower than Li An's!
Seeing the eager expressions on the disciples below, the Elder revealed a satisfied smile. Every sect needed fresh blood, and the Outer Sect disciples provided that freshness and could inject new vitality into the Inner Sect!
"Now, Outer Sect disciples at the Sixth Layer of Postnatal, step forward and you may participate in the Wooden Dummy Alley!"
The Elder said slowly. Entering the Wooden Dummy Alley meant entering an ancient path lined with wooden dummies. As soon as one enters, the wooden dummies would attack, and the first to reach the other side would be the winner!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three to four hundred disciples came forward from the Outer Sect, eager looks on their faces. Among them was Chu Ming, causing others to turn their heads in surprise. They clearly did not expect Chu Ming to have reached the Postnatal Sixth Layer as well!
"Now, begin!"
The Elder announced, his voice not loud but clear enough for every disciple present to hear!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Immediately, all the participating disciples sprinted into the Wooden Dummy Alley, where wooden dummies stood in ranks. These were the wooden dummies.
These wooden dummies were made of ironwood, their bodies harder than iron itself. Only those at the Transcendence Realm could easily destroy them, while a casual strike from these dummies was enough to leave ordinary Outer Sect disciples in dire straits.
Chu Ming used his Misty Step, moving at extreme speed. In the blink of an eye, he pulled ahead of the majority of the Outer Sect disciples.
Many Outer Sect disciples gritted their teeth, trying to catch up, but in no time the gap widened, forcing them to give up.
Buzz buzz buzz
The surrounding wooden dummies activated, their fists attacking the entering disciples.
Swoosh
A golden light emanated from Chu Ming's hand, a deep golden hue!
"Domineering the Four Directions!"
Boom
The wooden dummy in front of Chu Ming was instantly sent flying. Not bothering with further entanglement, Chu Ming sped ahead. The Wooden Dummy Alley wasn't long. If the dummies didn't activate, Chu Ming could reach the end in two minutes.
Swish!
Ahead of Chu Ming was a slender figure holding a Refined Iron Sword. Sword light flew from his hands, sending nearby wooden dummies flying. Though none could get near him, his movement speed was significantly impeded!
Sensing something, the slender figure turned, showing a trace of anger on his face.
Wu Ming!
"Chu Ming?!" Wu Ming was slightly surprised. When Cheng Lin had reported that Chu Ming had greatly improved, he had been skeptical. Now, seeing Chu Ming here, he realized Cheng Lin might have been correct.
However, mocking laughter soon appeared in his eyes. Suddenly, he sheathed his Refined Iron Sword and clenched his fist. A red spiritual power shot from his fist, sending all the wooden dummies before him towards Chu Ming.
"Humph!"
Chu Ming had heightened his alertness to the maximum. His Refined Iron Sword was unsheathed, and a sharp aura emanated from him.
"Gentle Breeze!"
A green, invisible wind spread around. Hidden within it was a sword light. With his current strength of the Postnatal Eighth Layer and the third layer breakthrough of the Cyan Yuan Technique, his power was greatly enhanced!
Pfft
The wooden dummies were instantly blown away, marked by a white streak across their surfaces.
This wasn't the end. After using the dummies to block Chu Ming, Wu Ming quickly left. Chu Ming immediately pursued him.
Wu Ming was now at the peak of the Postnatal Eighth Layer, certainly no match for Chu Ming.
"Cyan Light Kill!"
Suddenly, the surroundings darkened, and a sword light appeared, striking like an illusion with incredible speed, hinting at a cyan sword intent!
Feeling the powerful energy behind him, Wu Ming's pupils contracted. He gritted his teeth and turned, releasing a red sword aura from his sword that seemed to blaze like a raging fire.
"Fire Clouds Spread!"
Pfft
The cyan Shadowless Sword Aura cut through the fire like water, shattering the Fire Clouds Spread.
In terms of martial techniques, the Fire Cloud Swordsmanship was two levels higher than the Cyan Yang Swordsmanship, but Chu Ming had reached mastery in the latter, while Wu Ming had only achieved great success in the former. Additionally, Chu Ming's spiritual power was much stronger, so the Fire Clouds Spread was easily broken!
Pfft
Blood trickled from Wu Ming's chest, staining his clothes and making him look extremely wretched.
"Chu Ming!!!"
Wu Ming gritted his teeth and roared, but Chu Ming only gave him a cold glance before activating his Misty Step and leaving.
This time, Chu Ming's target was the first place in Wooden Dummy Alley. Such matters weren't worth his time, and with Wu Ming injured and obstructed by the dummies, he stood no chance of making the top ten.
Chu Ming's Misty Step had reached mastery, making his speed comparable to an ordinary top-tier Yellow Level body technique!
Sixth place... Fifth place... Fourth place... Third place...
The number of disciples ahead of Chu Ming dwindled, and those he overtook showed shocked expressions.
Soon, only two remained ahead—Li An and Fang Jie. Chu Ming now saw their figures.
Not far away, Li An and Fang Jie were neck and neck, their speed almost equal despite Li An's abundant spiritual power and Fang Jie's focus on body technique.
A common sense told them someone was approaching, and they turned to see Chu Ming closing the distance, their eyes filled with shock and a trace of fierceness. They had not expected another contender!
Boom
Li An suddenly struck, his hands turning blue with a gleaming light quietly flowing over them.
"Flowing Cloud Palm!"
Both palms struck towards Fang Jie. The Flowing Cloud Palm was a top-tier Yellow Level technique, perfected by Li An, allowing him to change and control it at will; his eyes showed disdain.
Originally planning to strike later, Li An had to act earlier due to Chu Ming's unexpected appearance, not wanting to be outmaneuvered!
Fang Jie was prepared, counterattacking as Li An struck. His legs became wind gusts, two blue whirlwinds countering the Flowing Cloud Palm.
"Ghost Fire Kick!"
With his expertise in body techniques, Fang Jie's lower body technique prowess was evident, his Ghost Fire Kick formidable.
Boom
The two collided with a loud bang, wind and waves spreading in all directions, creating a vacuum area with displaced air and rising dust.
Though Li An was superior, Fang Jie trembled and retreated. Using the recoil, he leaped forward quickly.
Li An's eyes flashed angrily. With less than a hundred meters to the end of Wooden Dummy Alley, they were close to the finish!
By now, Chu Ming had caught up, almost level with Li An. In terms of speed, both were inferior to Chu Ming, who had mastered Misty Step.
"Fang Jie, you won't escape!"
As Fang Jie neared the finish line, Li An shouted, releasing a green ripple from his hand that spread rapidly like a shattered mirror, touching Fang Jie in an instant!
"Water Pattern Palm!"
The green ripple exploded like the ocean's waves, making Fang Jie feel as if he were in mud, unable to use his body technique, allowing Li An and Chu Ming to overtake him instantly!
"Impossible?!"
Li An gazed at Du Ming with shock. The Water Pattern Palm affected the entire vicinity, thus hindering any martial artist within range. Though a low-tier Yellow Level technique, normally useless, it proved highly effective in Wooden Dummy Alley.
"Elder, isn't this against the rules?" A nearby White-clothed Youth queried the Inner Sect Elder, shocked by Li An's use of Water Pattern Palm!
Li An's innovative use of the Water Pattern Palm in Wooden Dummy Alley was unprecedented, as martial techniques were typically combat-oriented.
"Hahaha, which rule does this break?" The Elder laughed. Stumped, the disciple couldn't cite any breached regulation, even as an Inner Sect disciple.
The Elder admired Li An. Within moments, Li An and Chu Ming neared the finish line. Chu Ming had almost surpassed Li An, likely securing first place.
"Die!" Li An's eyes turned vicious, his hand glowing with white light, exuding an indestructible aura, the air crackling.
"Bone Shattering Palm!"
Chu Ming looked serious. Li An, using Bone Shattering Palm with his peak Postnatal Ninth Layer strength, could rival a Transcendence Realm attack.
"Rainfall Kill!"
Buzz buzz buzz
The air grew humid, raindrops falling, and silence ensued. Then, in the dimming light, a bright flash appeared, infused with Rainfall Sword Intent!
Pfft