The entire arena fell silent.

Someone had been killed!

A murder had occurred right after the referee declared the match over!

"No!!! Brother!!"

A roar of utter grief, like that of a wounded beast, exploded through the air.

Below the stage, Sun Yan’s eyes bulged with fury, instantly flooding with blood until they were crimson.

"BOOM!"

The ground beneath his feet shattered as he shot forward like an enraged bear, surging with a monstrous killing aura as he charged directly onto the stage!

The terrifying Qi and Blood of the Third Acupoint burst forth, its thundering roar striking fear into everyone’s hearts.

"You beast! I’ll have your life!!"

A massive iron fist, accompanied by a sonic boom, slammed viciously towards Su Yu’s head!

Su Yu’s entire body tensed, as if he had been targeted by a savage beast.

Before the terrifying force of the punch even arrived, the wind it generated scraped painfully against his skin, making it hard to breathe.

A single thought screamed through his mind:

’I can’t block this!’

’I’m going to die!’

In the nick of time!

A graceful figure appeared between them as if teleporting. A hand that seemed delicate and soft, now glowing with a faint golden luster, casually pressed against Sun Yan’s terrifying iron fist.

"BOOM—!"

A deafening blast rang out.

A shockwave billowed outward. As if struck by lightning, Sun Yan’s massive frame was sent stumbling backward with a muffled grunt. The bluestone floor shattered under his feet with every step until he was forced to the very edge of the ring.

"Sun Yan, get back!"

Lin Wanzhu glared coldly at Sun Yan, her eyes filled with killing intent.

Su Yu let out a long sigh of relief. For a moment there, he had truly felt the shadow of death. He was only safe thanks to his Senior Sister’s timely intervention!

He looked at Sun Yan, a flicker of killing intent flashing deep within his eyes.

At this moment, the referee, his face ashen, went over to Sun Shi. He checked for breath and found that he had completely stopped breathing.

"He’s dead!"

At these words, Sun Yan went completely berserk.

"Damn it, get out of my way! I will avenge my brother!"

Seeing Sun Yan charge forward again, Lin Wanzhu immediately struck out with another palm.

"Insolence!"

Just then, from the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall’s side, a figure let out a sharp cry and leaped onto the stage.

A withered but iron-like eagle claw, carrying a wind that tore through the air, aimed straight for Lin Wanzhu’s wrist.

"BANG!"

The two collided. Lin Wanzhu was outmatched and stumbled back several steps!

Her gaze grew serious as she looked at the newcomer.

Kou Xun!

A veteran expert at the Perfection level of the Flesh Refining Realm!

She was at the Late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, so naturally, she was no match for him. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"This boy killed our junior brother. A blood debt must be paid in blood! No one will stand in my way!"

The next moment, Kou Xun attacked again, his iron eagle claw tearing through the air as he lunged at Lin Wanzhu.

However, just as the iron claw was about to land, a large, warm, and steady hand suddenly appeared, catching it firmly.

"BANG!"

The Qi and Blood of two Flesh Refining Realm Perfection masters collided, sending a gale-force wind blasting in all directions and forcing the audience below to scramble for cover.

A figure as steady as a mountain stood before them.

Eldest Senior Brother, Qi Linfeng!

His expression was stern as he blocked Kou Xun’s attack with one hand. His Qi and Blood was like a white ape holding a mountain, completely unmoving. "Elder Kou, on the stage, life and death are one’s own responsibility! What’s more, Sun Shi launched a sneak attack after the match. His death was well-deserved. For you, an elder of your years, to attack us juniors is hardly appropriate!"

"They’re going to fight! Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall and White Ape Martial Arts Hall!"

"Sun Shi is dead! This has blown up!"

"Get back, things are about to get chaotic!"

Seeing the Flesh Refining Realm experts from both sides appear one after another, the audience below quickly backed away, watching from a distance with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

Seeing the situation escalating beyond his control, the referee quickly sent someone to get help.

"Hmph! Such a sharp tongue! A life for a life, that is the unalterable law!"

Following a roar like a clap of muffled thunder, a tower-like figure from the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall suddenly stood up. The terrifying aura of his Qi and Blood made the surrounding spectators turn pale and stumble back.

The Vice Hall Master of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall, Xiong Wu!

He was the master of both Sun Yan and Sun Shi!

His frame was absurdly burly, his body a mass of knotted muscle. His Nine-Turn Iron Armor Skill, which he had cultivated to its pinnacle, emanated a heart-stoppingly deep, black glow.

After standing, Xiong Wu didn’t look at the people on the stage. Instead, he looked at Qin Fangqiong opposite him, his voice domineering: "Qin Fangqiong, your disciple killed my disciple. Have him pay with his life!"

"Hahahaha!"

Qin Fangqiong threw his head back and laughed wildly. Then he slowly stood up and casually brushed some sunflower seed shells off his clothes.

"Xiong Wu, I haven’t fought in many years. It seems you’ve forgotten how feared I once was! Since a good-for-nothing like you dares to push me..."

He took a sudden step forward. His slightly stooped body instantly straightened up like a pine tree, and the sound of his Qi and Blood exploded like thunder:

"Get over here!"

"Old bastard! You’re courting death!"

Completely enraged by this contemptuous attitude, a savage light gleamed in Xiong Wu’s eyes.

"BOOM!"

He pushed off from his feet, his entire body shooting forward like a meteorite wrapped in a suffocating gale, crashing down in front of the members of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall.

Facing this overwhelming momentum, like Mount Tai itself crashing down, Qin Fangqiong’s expression did not change.

"Begone!"

His explosive shout was like a clap of spring thunder.

He threw a seemingly casual punch. There were no fancy moves, only a speed so extreme the naked eye couldn’t follow it, leaving just a blurry afterimage and the sharp whistle of compressed air.

"Ban Lan Chui!"

Not to be outdone, Xiong Wu’s fist swirled with power as his iron fist met the attack.

"BOOM!"

Two seemingly ordinary fists collided in mid-air with no fanfare.

There was no astonishing sound, only an incredibly dull thud, as if a fist had struck someone’s very heart.

Immediately after, a vast wave of energy erupted from the point of impact, spreading madly in all directions!

"CRACKLE! CRACK!"

The bluestone slabs under their feet instantly fractured and turned to dust.

"Run!!!"

The crowd, which had just been enjoying the show, now looked as if they had seen a ghost, screaming in terror as they scrambled to get away.

One unlucky soul who was too close was struck in the arm by a piece of stone sent flying by the shockwave. He let out a wretched scream as his tendons snapped and his bones broke.

Muscle Forging Realm!

Now *this* was a true God of Slaughter!

A fight between those in the Flesh Refining Realm could at least be followed, but at the Muscle Forging Realm, the major tendons of the body were like dragons, and their power flowed freely. Every single move contained terrifying Inner Strength.

A mere graze could injure, and a direct touch meant death!

Just as the battle was about to spiral out of control, another thunderous shout rang out.

"Insolence! Stop this at once!"

The furious shout, backed by a torrent of Qi and Blood, exploded in everyone’s ears like a thunderclap on a battlefield.

The Commander of the Black Stone Army, Pang Xuan, was seen striding over like a meteor, his greatcoat flapping behind him.

With every step he took, the ground cracked beneath him. The blood-soaked killing aura of a veteran soldier forcibly inserted itself between the two Muscle Forging Realm experts, tearing apart the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere.

Behind him, Zhao Long Ge was dressed in white robes purer than snow, his expression aloof, exuding the undeniable authority of a great noble family.

"Hall Master Xiong, Hall Master Qin."

Pang Xuan’s gaze was as sharp as a blade as he swept it over the two men. "This is the Martial Examination, not some back alley for your private duels! To fight in my presence... are you openly trying to rebel?"

A muscle in Xiong Wu’s jaw twitched. Forcibly suppressing his rage, he slowly withdrew the iron fist that glowed with a metallic sheen.

"Brother Pang, it’s not that I refuse to show you respect. It’s just that the White Ape Martial Arts Hall has gone too far! That brat Su Yu is vicious and merciless; he murdered my disciple after the match was over! If I don’t avenge this, how can my Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall show its face in public again?"

"Bullshit!"

Qin Fangqiong sneered and pointed at Xiong Wu’s nose as he cursed, "Xiong Wu, have you no shame? Hundreds of pairs of eyes saw it. It was your disciple who couldn’t handle losing and launched a sneak attack first! My disciple was only fighting back in a desperate situation and killed him by accident! What, your disciple is allowed to kill people, but mine isn’t allowed to save his own life?"

Pang Xuan ignored their conflicting accounts, his gaze shooting like lightning toward the referee, Liao Hong, at the side. "Liao Hong, is what they say true or false?"

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Liao Hong’s forehead.

On one side was Xiong Wu, whose Direct Disciple had just died. On the other was Qin Fangqiong, who was notoriously protective of his own. And stuck in the middle was his direct superior, the Commander of the Black Stone Army.

’What rotten luck to be stuck in this mess.’

He wiped the sweat from his brow and, bracing himself, said, "Reporting to Lord Pang, this is what happened... I had already declared the match over and was turning to leave the stage. Afterward, Sun Shi launched a sudden sneak attack. Su Yu dodged, and then killed Sun Shi with a single counter-attack."

"See! It was Sun Shi who broke the rules first with a sneak attack after the match. His death was well-deserved!" Qin Fangqiong sneered.

Xiong Wu’s face flushed with anger. "Even if my disciple was wrong to launch a sneak attack, it was an attempt that failed! That brat Su Yu is so vicious! He had already dodged, but he still chose to land a killing blow! That is a blatant disregard for the rules of the Martial Examination! According to the law, he should be executed!"

As he spoke, killing intent surged in his eyes. He glared at Su Yu, looking as if he would strike at any moment.

"That’s a load of horseshit! Xiong Wu, your disciple launched a sneak attack after the Martial Examination was over, trying to kill my disciple. *That* was the brazen act, the blatant violation of the Martial Examination’s rules!"

Seeing the killing intent in Xiong Wu’s eyes, Qin Fangqiong reached back and grabbed the long saber that Qin Yu was carrying for him. It was a Horse-cutting Saber, a full six feet long, with a thick, heavy blade that glinted with a chilling light.

"BOOM!"

The Qi and Blood of his Muscle Forging Realm erupted without reservation. Qin Fangqiong’s hair and beard stood on end, and he looked like an enraged giant ape. "Old bastard! You want to touch my disciple? Come on! Let’s see which one of us walks away from this alive!"

"Qin Fangqiong, I will destroy your White Ape Martial Arts Hall today!"

Xiong Wu’s own savagery flared. The joints all over his body cracked loudly as he prepared to attack again.

Seeing the situation about to fly out of control, Pang Xuan’s face grew so dark it looked like water could drip from it.

"Enough!"

He placed his hand on the hilt of the Battle Saber at his waist and said sharply, "Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall, White Ape Martial Arts Hall, do you want to be trampled flat by the Black Stone Army? Anyone who moves again will be considered a traitor and killed without mercy!"

This grave accusation finally made the two of them freeze.

At this moment, Zhao Long Ge, who had been watching from the sidelines, gave a light chuckle and slowly walked forward. "Everyone, please calm down," he said faintly. "The Martial Examination isn’t over yet. Let’s set this matter aside for now. All grievances can be settled after the examination is concluded."

With both Pang Xuan and Zhao Long Ge having spoken, Xiong Wu knew he could no longer act recklessly.

So he suppressed the killing intent in his eyes, flicked his sleeve, and turned to walk back to the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall’s group.

Before turning, he left them with a parting threat, "This isn’t over!"

...

The storm was temporarily quelled by the forceful intervention of the Black Stone Army and the Zhao Family.

Qin Fangqiong snorted coldly, tossed the Horse-cutting Saber back to Qin Yu, and motioned for his people to return to their seats.

After this bloody incident, the rest of the matches seemed bland and uninteresting.

As for the top five, there were no more surprises. Cui Wanhe, Dai Xing, and Liu Li all defeated their opponents as expected.

Sun Yan’s opponent, not daring to face the enraged man, forfeited immediately.

With that, the top five were decided.

As for the rankings within the top five, there was no difference between fourth and fifth place, while the top three received additional fame and rewards.

Su Yu and Liu Li also forfeited their matches directly.

Dai Xing didn’t compete against the other two either, thus directly taking third place.

"Next up, the final battle for the title of Martial Examination Champion Scholar: Cui Wanhe versus Sun Yan!"