With True Qi infused, the branches were no less formidable than ordinary divine weapons.
Furthermore, Yang Feilong's True Qi far surpassed the internal energy of cultivators at the same level. Thus, even a casual strike from him possessed power far exceeding that of ordinary Spiritual Martial realm cultivators. Consequently, Cao Bin, who had reached the peak of the Profound Martial realm, was sent flying by Yang Feilong's effortless blow.
However, this left everyone present utterly astounded.
Previously, they had all assumed that even if Yang Feilong was a Spiritual Martial realm cultivator, he was at best in the early or middle stages. Fighting with a mere branch was akin to fighting bare-handed. In such a scenario, even if he won, it wouldn't be easy.
But what was the outcome?
It was a complete and effortless crush, the gap so vast it was like a strong man fighting a kindergarten child. There was no possibility of resistance.
At this moment, everyone present finally understood that Yang Feilong's earlier suggestion to attack him all at once was not arrogance, but a testament to his overwhelming strength. Only by ganging up would they have a sliver of a chance; individually, there was none.
Yang Feilong then looked towards Wu Chong and the others, his expression calm as he spoke, "Do you still want to come one by one?"
His words sounded peaceful, but to the hearts of the younger generation, they felt stifling. The gap was simply too immense.
"I'll go!" Wu Chong took a deep breath. Although he felt the disparity, he would not retreat. To withdraw without a fight would be too disgraceful!
Yes, even as he decided to step forward, he felt he had no chance of winning. But even so, he couldn't back down now!
*Whoosh!*
The next moment, he leaped onto the stage, his long sword in hand, his fighting spirit surging.
He had already made up his mind: even if he lost, he would lose with dignity. Moreover, he wasn't without a chance, as the opponent was using a branch, not a weapon!
He had thought it through, aiming to lose with some semblance of honor, but the outcome was still something he couldn't accept.
Yang Feilong unleashed his branch, and Wu Chong felt as if a giant mountain was bearing down on him. Despite his full resistance, he was still shaken off the stage.
"One move!"
"Just one move, and Wu Chong was defeated?"
"Is this Yang Feilong that strong?"
"The latest edition of the Heavenly Pride List has been released, and Yang Feilong is ranked 18th on the Human Ranking of the Heavenly Pride List!" At this moment, a startled cry rang out. He had been curious and logged into the martial artist official website to check Yang Feilong's information. This check revealed an updated Heavenly Pride List, and a brand new name on the list left him deeply shocked.
Because Yang Feilong had actually appeared on the Heavenly Pride List.
One had to know that the standards for the Heavenly Pride List were extremely high, with only those above the Yuan Martial realm eligible for entry.
The Heavenly Pride List had three rankings: the Heaven Ranking, the Earth Ranking, and the Human Ranking!
The Heaven Ranking comprised peerless prodigies whose cultivation had reached the Earth Martial realm. The Earth Ranking and Human Ranking were both for Yuan Martial realm prodigies!
However, comparatively, the Earth Ranking consisted mostly of those at the peak of the Yuan Martial realm, with a few at the late stage who possessed combat power equivalent to the peak. The Human Ranking, on the other hand, encompassed cultivators in the early, middle, and late stages of the Yuan Martial realm.
While the strength of these individuals varied, one needed Yuan Martial realm cultivation to even make the list!
And being ranked eighteenth on the Human Ranking of the Heavenly Pride List meant possessing at least late-stage Yuan Martial realm cultivation!
"What? Yuan Martial realm? And possibly late-stage Yuan Martial realm?"
"No way! He's so young, yet such a powerful ancient martial arts practitioner?"
"Ranked eighteenth on the Human Ranking of the Heavenly Pride List, this… this is a height achievable only by late-stage Yuan Martial realm strength!"
"My heavens!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was dumbfounded. Even Tie Rushan stared in disbelief and quickly took out his phone to log into the martial artist official website.
Such rankings were published by the Martial Artist Association, making them official.
While the rankings on the official website might not be perfectly accurate, they were infinitely more reliable than those from underground organizations, thus carrying considerable authority!
"It is indeed true!" Seeing the name on the list, Tie Rushan couldn't help but gasp.
Even the last person on the Human Ranking of the Heavenly Pride List likely possessed strength not much weaker than his own, as he himself was only in the early stages of the Yuan Martial realm.
"His strength is actually greater than mine! No wonder he could so easily kill that notorious rapist!"
At this moment, the young people looked at Yang Feilong on the stage with complex expressions. They had assumed they were all young, and that any difference in strength wouldn't be too significant. But reality had delivered them a resounding slap in the face!
The gap was truly immense!
"..." Wu Chong had been somewhat dejected after being defeated in one move, but now, he felt a sense of relief.
No wonder Lin Yunxi had taken a liking to this Yang Feilong; it turned out he was this outstanding!
He, too, was young and naturally hoped to ascend the Heavenly Pride List before the age of thirty, as there would be no opportunity afterward. Despite his yearning, he knew how difficult it was to get onto the list!
After all, breaking through to the Yuan Martial realm before thirty was incredibly, incredibly hard!
But now, his 'love rival' was such a figure, and so young at that. It wouldn't be long before he would ascend to the Earth Ranking of the Heavenly Pride List. As for the Heaven Ranking, that was harder to say, because the step from Yuan Martial realm to Earth Martial realm was immense, akin to ascending to the heavens in a single leap.
Lin Yunxi's small mouth was also agape, and she was somewhat astonished. She naturally knew Yang Feilong was strong, far stronger than Wu Chong, but she hadn't expected him to be so powerful as to make it onto the Heavenly Pride List!
Although she had only officially embarked on the path of ancient martial arts cultivation this year, spurred by Yang Feilong, her progress had significantly slowed after breaking through to the Profound Martial realm, as her previous accumulation had been depleted.
Moreover, she had used spirit stones for cultivation over the past few months, essentially taking a shortcut!
In her mind, it would be good if she could break through to the Spiritual Martial realm in another two or three years. The Yuan Martial realm? There was hope of reaching it before thirty, but the odds were slim.
This was because cultivation became increasingly difficult as one progressed!
To break through to the Yuan Martial realm before the age of thirty, even before twenty, one would at least need to have broken through to the Profound Martial realm. This was because as age increased, qi and blood would first rise, reach their peak around twenty-five or twenty-six, and then gradually decline.
She had assumed Yang Feilong was at the late or peak stage of the Spiritual Martial realm, but she never expected him to possess cultivation approximating the late stage of the Yuan Martial realm.
However, she was unaware that Yang Feilong's true realm was indeed equivalent to the late stage of the Spiritual Martial realm.
"Feilong, you've kept me in the dark for so long!" At this moment, Tie Rushan walked over with a complicated expression.
"I haven't kept you in the dark!" Yang Feilong replied with a wry smile.
"You're this strong? And you say you haven't kept me in the dark?" Tie Rushan glared.
"You didn't ask either!" Yang Feilong spread his hands helplessly.
"..."
Alright, it seemed he really hadn't asked. Tie Rushan rubbed his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed, then looked at Lin Yunxi with a hint of resentment.