Martial Immortality: Starting with the Spirit Beast Scroll

"If you want to enter the Wuxiang Institute, you’ll have to get through me first!"

Shi Jiangyong barked, his right fist suddenly rising. He charged forward, aiming a punch straight at Zhao Lin’s chest.

The move was simple and direct, without any flourish, yet it made the faces of the disciples on the sidelines change drastically.

At the Third Layer of the Qi Realm, one’s projected qi could reach a thickness of over an inch. Strands of azure light coiled around Shi Jiangyong’s arm, churning and roiling like scales on a fierce beast.

In a mere instant, his aura reached its peak.

Zhao Lin saw the ferocity of his opponent’s punch. He knew he couldn’t retreat, nor did he need to.

He had intentionally held back, worried his opponent might have some tough fist or claw technique. If it was a simple contest of strength, however, that was exactly what he wanted.

He stomped his right foot forward, rapidly closing the distance between them. With his fist enveloped in the qi of the Stone Roar Fist, he too threw a punch.

The might of a bear!

A disdainful sneer curled Shi Jiangyong’s lips. His Qilin Force specialized in strengthening his arms, granting them unparalleled ferocious power. Few disciples at the Third Layer of the Qi Realm dared to meet his fists head-on.

’This kid has some nerve, daring to clash head-on right from the start. But it’s like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly foolish.’

"Looks like it’ll be over in one move."

The five elders also shook their heads secretly, not expecting Zhao Lin to be so reckless.

When fighting someone from a higher realm, one should play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses, aiming for a surprise victory. Yet Zhao Lin had chosen to clash head-on from the very beginning. It was a surefire way to lose quickly.

BANG!

The two fists collided. Zhao Lin only swayed slightly before steadying himself.

Shi Jiangyong, however, was lifted off his feet, flying backward as if a rope were pulling him up by the back of his neck.

The disciples on the sidelines and the five seated elders stared at Shi Jiangyong in mid-air, completely dumbfounded.

Elder Water Mirror, who had already given up all hope, suddenly perked up at the sight. He muttered to himself, "Go after him! Don’t let him land!"

Shi Jiangyong felt an immense force. Somehow his feet had left the ground, and now he was in mid-air, his face pale with shock.

’How does he have so much strength?’

Just as he was about to be flung out of the arena, his martial instincts took over. He directed his qi downward, channeling it into his legs to drop straight down from the air.

Zhao Lin, of course, wouldn’t let this golden opportunity slip by. He slid forward, arriving directly at the spot where he predicted Shi Jiangyong would land, and threw another punch.

The moment Shi Jiangyong’s feet touched the ground, Zhao Lin’s punch, carrying an inch of force, was already upon him. With no way to dodge, he could only brace himself and take the blow.

Another loud CRASH. This time, Shi Jiangyong wasn’t sent flying. Instead, he stumbled backward, unable to stop, carving a white scar into the blue brick floor as he was forced out of the arena.

Li Ying’s figure flashed, and he quickly caught Shi Jiangyong to keep him from falling and embarrassing himself further.

"I was lucky." Zhao Lin cupped his fist and spoke politely.

Shi Jiangyong’s face paled and flushed. He was utterly unwilling to accept a defeat where he hadn’t even gotten to show his full strength. Yet, he had been beaten in the very area he was most proud of—his power. He had no choice but to concede.

"What was that fist force you just used?" Shi Jiangyong asked, his voice hoarse.

"Stone Roar Fist," Zhao Lin replied.

Shi Jiangyong’s mouth twitched, his face filled with shame. To think he had lost to such a common, run-of-the-mill fist technique.

But a loss was a loss. He couldn’t ask for a rematch; he could only swallow this bitter pill.

"Zhao Lin is victorious." Hu Xuancheng, after staring blankly for a good while, finally remembered to announce the result.

The spectating disciples looked at each other, speechless. Though they weren’t fighting, they had sharp enough eyes to know they couldn’t have blocked a single punch from Shi Jiangyong, let alone send him flying.

"Junior Brother Zhao possesses Innate Divine Power. I’m impressed," Li Ying said as he slowly walked into the arena.

"It’s just brute force. I ask for Senior Brother Li’s guidance," Zhao Lin replied humbly.

"Junior Brother Zhao, please."

Having learned from Shi Jiangyong’s example, Li Ying didn’t rush to attack. Instead, he gestured for Zhao Lin to make the first move.

Zhao Lin didn’t stand on ceremony. He took a probing step with his left foot and thrust a palm toward his opponent’s face.

Li Ying’s figure blurred as he sidestepped and threw a kick.

Zhao Lin’s palm strike had been a feint. He instantly changed it into a fist, striking downward to block.

Li Ying retracted his leg, his body flickering, and kicked out once more.

Without hesitation, Zhao Lin retreated, dodging the attack by a hair’s breadth and punching toward the sole of his opponent’s foot.

SHFF SHFF SHFF...

Li Ying used quick, shuffling steps, his legs a blur as he unleashed seven kicks in a row.

The Spiritual Snake Leg wasn’t just about leg power; it was paired with the Mist Step, making it as fast as lightning and utterly unpredictable.

Zhao Lin’s expression was grave. He didn’t dare let his focus waver for a second. This opponent was far more difficult to handle than Shi Jiangyong, especially since his understanding of the Six Harmonies Fist was clearly a level above his own.

And that was indeed the case. Li Ying had practiced the Six Harmonies Fist for eight years, while Zhao Lin had only practiced for one. Their mastery of the Fist Skill was naturally on different levels.

However, Li Ying was also secretly shocked. He had always prided himself on his agile Body Technique, yet Zhao Lin was even faster. If not for his superior Fist Skill and footwork, he feared he would have followed in Shi Jiangyong’s footsteps.

Their figures intertwined, fists and feet flying. The two fought faster and faster, exchanging forty or fifty moves in the blink of an eye.

The five elders’ eyes were glued to Zhao Lin’s figure, not leaving him for a moment. They all had the same question in their minds: ’Zhao Lin hasn’t cultivated any leg techniques or footwork, so how is he even faster than Li Ying?’

’Innate Divine Power is one thing, but is his speed innate as well?’

The disciples weren’t thinking that deeply. They were just dazzled by the speed of their Body Techniques. ’If I were up there,’ they thought, ’I probably wouldn’t last twenty rounds against either of them.’

Zhao Lin, unable to gain the upper hand after a long struggle, thought of a way to win.

’If I just use the thirty-six acupoints modified by the Sharp-tailed, White-throated Swift to jet out qi, I can suddenly change direction mid-movement and launch a surprise attack. It would definitely catch Li Ying off guard.’

’But... doing that in front of the five elders would be asking for trouble. How would I explain my acupoints suddenly jetting qi afterward?’

Just then, Li Ying suddenly chopped out with his palm, a powerful wave of qi slashing toward Zhao Lin’s neck.

Besides the Spiritual Snake Leg, Li Ying had also cultivated the Willow Leaf Palm Force. The wind from the edge of his palm was like a blade, sharp and vicious.

Although Zhao Lin had the advantage in strength, he didn’t dare to meet it head-on. He immediately dodged backward, and a scene from his battle with the Drilling Mountain Leopard surfaced in his mind.

His arm shot out like an ape’s, grabbing swiftly for Li Ying’s shoulder. At the same time, he took a diagonal step, formed a fist, and aimed it at Li Ying’s heart, holding the punch back.

This move was learned from the Drilling Mountain Leopard; he had simply replaced the claw with a fist.

Seeing Zhao Lin suddenly use such a strange move, Li Ying’s body faltered for a moment before he spun away to dodge.

Zhao Lin seized the opportunity, stepped forward, turned sideways, and used a "Horizontal Mountain Ram" to crash into Li Ying.

Li Ying was startled. With no room to dodge left or right, he had no choice but to guard his chest with his left hand and bring his right palm chopping down fiercely.

Zhao Lin had already activated his Turtle Shell Force. A hard armor of qi covered his upper body, allowing him to endure the blow, but his shoulder also slammed into Li Ying’s chest.

BANG!

The force of Li Ying’s palm strike broke through the Turtle Shell Force and landed on Zhao Lin’s shoulder. Then, a sharp pain blossomed in his own chest, his vision went black, and the air was knocked from his lungs. Dazed, he staggered backward.

Zhao Lin felt his entire arm go numb. Hissing in pain, he chased after Li Ying and, using his uninjured arm, thrust out a palm that knocked him out of the arena.

Shi Jiangyong rushed over and caught Li Ying.

Li Ying struggled to open his eyes and looked toward the center of the arena.

"Senior Brother Li, I was lucky," Zhao Lin said, clutching his shoulder.