Eternal Heavenly Emperor

Students in the academy varied widely in strength, but when it came to the most basic elements, they were all clear on them.

For instance, if two people both possess strength exceeding a thousand pounds, during combat, if they collide with each other, they are unable to dissipate the immense force and will end up shattering their clothes. This provides a very direct way to measure the disparity in strength between the two sides!

——If someone's clothes are shattered, it shows their strength is insufficient. Conversely, if the clothes are not shattered, it indicates greater strength and better capacity to dissipate that force!

When Chu Hao clashed with Cheng Peiyun, to everyone's surprise, it was the clothes on Cheng Peiyun's arm that burst apart, indicating that he was unable to fully neutralize the force of Chu Hao's punch. The leftover energy erupted from his arm, causing his clothes to be torn to shreds!

Which means, Chu Hao is more powerful!

How is this possible!

Everyone was dumbfounded. They knew that Cheng Peiyun used to be number one in the Eastern Sect, and after a fortunate encounter, his strength increased by more than ten thousand pounds. Now, he was of the Fourth Tier Great Mahayana Realm!

To surpass Cheng Peiyun, could it mean that Chu Hao's strength is at the fifth-tier, or even higher?

Most people were merely shocked, but for some, their feelings were complex and indescribable—a mixture of various emotions.

For example, the Mo Family brothers, like Feng Yuan, were doing fine though they had some grudges with Chu Hao, but they were merely competing in spirit. However, Lin Yuqi was different; the depth of her enmity with Chu Hao was beyond description. Now that Chu Hao was rising so strongly, what was she to do!

Seventeen years old and at least the Fifth Tier Great Mahayana Realm—what level of cultivation would Chu Hao reach when he turned 30 and reached the peak of his martial arts career?

The Vajra Realm was inevitable; the only question was to which tier he would ascend!

Lin Yuqi's pretty face kept changing colors. She remembered when she was swept out of the house, Chu Hao had said she would regret it. At that time, she scoffed at him and even when Fortune Full Building started to rake in money, or when Ma Long suffered losses in front of Chu Hao, she had no regrets!

After all, no amount of money could replace martial value, and though Chu Hao had some achievements in martial arts, he only shone in the Earthly Institute. The Earthly Institute... was merely a transition.

But now, she truly regretted it!

Chu Hao would definitely enter the Vajra Realm, and judging from his rate of progress, his future would at least reach the Fifth Tier Vajra Realm! Maybe even the Seventh Tier, Ninth Tier, Tenth Tier!

How she regretted it to her guts!

"How is this possible!" Cheng Peiyun's face was filled with disbelief. What was going on with this year's Heavenly Court, with one freak after another appearing! There was first Fu Xue, with her extraordinary strength, who, during the attack of the ferocious beasts, completely outdid his and Zhao Fang's achievements, seizing the title of the strongest fighter of the Thousand Winds Academy!

Next was Chi Zhong, who defeated Fu Xue with a single punch, and up until now, no one has dared to challenge him!

And now, there was Chu Hao emerging!

Heaven, even if he couldn't sit on the throne of the first position, would he even lose the third spot?

Cheng Peiyun couldn't believe it. He took a deep breath; while strength might be a martial artist's core element, the skill displayed in combat was equally critical. He clenched his fists, his gaze calming down as his family's advanced martial technique "Tiger Roar Fist" was ready to launch.

"Tiger Roar Dragon Fist!" he bellowed, throwing out a fierce punch!

Chu Hao had always looked down on those who shouted their techniques' names while fighting, considering it idiotic, but it depended on the situation. As commanding as Cheng Peiyun was with that punch, the roaring just added to its brilliance, as if putting the finishing touch on a dragon!

He too condensed his right fist, prepared with the Triple Wave.

One fist against another, a collision of equals, a battle to decide the victor!

Boom!

Cheng Peiyun's punch was both fast and heavy; ordinary people might only see a blur before being hit, completely unable to block or dodge!

But Chu Hao's ability to predict was too strong. As soon as Cheng Peiyun's elbow moved, he could judge where the punch was coming from and where it would strike.

He threw out his fist, perfectly meeting Cheng Peiyun's punch.

Bang!

A muffled sound erupted as Cheng Peiyun's bare right arm seemed to ripple like water disturbed by the wind, his skin showing waves of movement, veins dancing! As the fluctuations reached his shoulders, snap, snap, snap, his clothes began to burst violently!

——The power he received was too intense, his body unable to completely dissipate it!

Like a grand magic trick, in an instant, his clothes transformed into fiery butterflies, fluttering in the air. And there stood Cheng Peiyun, as bare as a newborn, without a thread on him.

Unfortunately, still reeling from the overpowering force, he continued to stagger backward, snap, snap, snap, stepping out of the circle, unable to stop himself.

Only after retreating twenty-seven steps did Cheng Peiyun finally come to a halt, his face turning white then flushing red as he vomited blood. Yet before the vomiting could stop, he realized his dire situation. With an angry roar, he covered himself with one hand in front and one behind and took off running.

But given the many steps he retreated before, who hadn't seen clearly? Laughter erupted throughout the arena, witnessing the once number one expert of the Heavenly Court's naked escape—what a rare spectacle!

Some female spectators, however, had their eyes gleaming, staring intently at Cheng Peiyun's lower body—some men are naturally endowed, and Cheng Peiyun had more than his fair share of "length"!

"Chu Hao wins!" the judge announced.

He actually won!

Who would have thought, a former simpleton, not only shedding the label of fool, but now poised to rival Fu Xue and Chi Zhong, competing for the title of the academy's top fighter!

Life's events are truly unpredictable!

Chu Hao sat cross-legged, beckoning challengers to come forth.

But who dared?

Even Cheng Peiyun had been defeated with a single punch, streaking away in defeat; who would want to follow in his footsteps?

Tang Xin's face twitched with embarrassment. Earlier, Chu Hao had even egged the two of them on to spar a little. Fortunately, he hadn't agreed, or he might have had to run naked as well! What a terrible friend, so sly!

With nobody challenging Chu Hao or Zhao Fang for the time being, only one spot remained.

After Mo Guyun had rested for half an hour, someone immediately stepped up to challenge him.

Mo Guyun was quite formidable, but after enduring four matches, he was finally defeated. Then the flag above the city walls changed repeatedly with each new Arena Master, until Tang Xin took the stage at three in the afternoon and the position stopped changing hands.

By six o'clock, as the sun set, the selection battle came to an end.

"The five representatives for the battle against Fluttering Wind Academy have been decided: Fu Xue, Chi Zhong, Chu Hao, Zhao Fang, and Tang Xin! Rest well for three days; after that, fight for the glory of our academy," Fan Kaisan announced.

The crowd gradually dispersed, but Zhao Fang approached Chu Hao, saying, "I honestly didn't expect Junior Brother Chu to emerge so prominently! I look forward to fighting alongside you!"

Chu Hao smiled faintly, appreciating the goodwill from Zhao Fang. He didn't necessarily need to become good friends with Zhao Fang, but he acknowledged the gesture. Nodding, he replied, "I, too, am eager to join forces with Senior Brother Zhao for battle!"

Having exchanged pleasantries, Zhao Fang left with a smile.

"You little rascal, you've really made a name for yourself now!" Tang Xin came over and thumped Chu Hao in the chest, "How did your cultivation progress so swiftly?"

"I had some fortunate encounters while training outside," Chu Hao explained, which was indeed true, be it the Star Stones or the heart blood from the dry corpse elder.

Full of envy, Tang Xin knew he was the most favored of the Tang Family's generation, and Old Master Tang was overly indulgent, never allowing him out of the city to train. Now, it seemed that such coddling had kept him safe, but it also left him far behind Chu Hao in cultivation!

In this regard, the Tang Family could not compare to the Fu Family; Fu Xue's talent was even higher than his, yet she had ventured outside the city on her own countless times, honing a fearsome strength!

"Alright, your cultivation speed isn't slow either, and the higher your Realm, the faster your strength will grow. You'll reach my level soon enough!" Chu Hao reassured him.

"By the way, what exactly is your cultivation level?" Tang Xin asked.

Chu Hao hesitated briefly before replying, "Let's not say; I don't want to demoralize you!"

Tang Xin scoffed and said, "Don't underestimate my martial arts determination, how could I easily be discouraged—"

"Eighth Tier of the Great Mahayana Realm!"

"Pff!"

Tang Xin was immediately stunned into silence.

Chu Hao waved his hand in front of Tang Xin's eyes, but he remained unresponsive as if hit by a daze spell. Sighing, Chu Hao said, "You didn't believe me and now you're shocked, right?"

"You bastard!" Finally snapping out of it, Tang Xin jumped up, aiming for Chu Hao's neck, "I can't accept this! I used to be able to crush you with just a finger, and now you're so much stronger than me!"

Chu Hao chuckled. He hadn't even taken the two Earth Origin Pills yet; once he did, his cultivation level would soar even further!

And that would take at most two months!

How amusing Tang Xin's expression would be by then!

Sigh, repeatedly striking a blow to his good friend was hard to bear! Despite thinking this, Chu Hao's face was already twisted with a barely suppressed smirk.

"No, I have to go out and train too!" Tang Xin clenched his fists, his epiphany slower than Fu Xue's and Chu Hao's. If he didn't work hard, he wouldn't just fail to catch up with them; he would fall further and further behind!

His pride and self-respect wouldn't allow it!

"Will your grandfather agree?" Chu Hao inquired.

"If he doesn't, I'll sneak out of the city!" Tang Xin declared, his eyes shining with determination.

Chu Hao's mouth twitched as he said, "Go if you must, but please don't say you were influenced by me; I don't want to be scolded by your grandfather!"

"Heh, of course it's because of your influence, trying to deny it now!" Tang Xin replied roguishly.

"Come on, I really chose the wrong friend!" Chu Hao exclaimed.

"Psh, it's me who chose the wrong friend. You were obviously struggling to hold in your laughter just now, don't think I didn't notice!" Tang Xin immediately called him out.

"Why make life harder than it already is?"

"What does that mean?"

"Life is already difficult; let's not reveal too much and make it harder."

"Get lost!"