Chapter Thirty-Nine: Massage by the Blind?

Hearing Jiang Xiaotian’s words, Fang Ye was stunned at first, then burst out in wild laughter.

This was the funniest joke he had ever heard.

“You’re going to kill me? Did I hear you right? Jiang Xiaotian, have you finally given up on yourself? Lost your mind, have you?” Fang Ye laughed so hard he was nearly breathless, but Jiang Xiaotian remained unmoved, his expression blank, staring at him as though Fang Ye were already a corpse.

Of course, these words completely enraged Fang Ye. He hadn’t planned to fight Jiang Xiaotian again, thinking it a waste of energy. All he wanted was to humiliate him a little, then withdraw from the competition, letting Jiang Xiaotian win, so that Chen Yu could take the stage next.

Yet this man dared not only to disregard him but also to utter such wild boasts!

In Linhai, Fang Ye was hailed as the youngest genius, the one most likely to become the city’s top master one day. Now, a doomed nobody dared to mock him?

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, but I’ll certainly cripple you. As for your life, I’ll leave that for Senior Chen Yu to take,” Fang Ye said, his laughter fading, a vicious glint overtaking his features.

Even as his words fell, the aura within him surged explosively.

Fang Ye’s strength at the mid-stage External Force Realm was on full display. Yet, though others present were at the same realm, their expressions shifted, and they quickly made way for him, daring not to block his path.

His status in Linhai was extraordinary. Talents like him appeared only once in many years, so his resources were unrivaled, far beyond the reach of his peers.

Thus, even among those of the same rank, few could truly stand against him.

Especially those who had just entered the mid-stage—they wouldn’t dare face him head-on. In terms of martial arts, none could match his breadth; in terms of martial might, none could match his depth. His arrogance wasn’t for show—he truly had the strength to back it up.

On the other side, Chen Yu watched and called out, “Young Master Fang, show some mercy. I still need to avenge my disciple.”

“Rest assured, Senior! I won’t kill him,” Fang Ye replied, channeling all his martial energy through his body. He twisted his joints and stretched himself, each step forward increasing the pressure on those around him.

Jiang Xiaotian stared back, his face calm, his heart steady.

Indeed, mid-stage External Force was formidable. If it had been his former self, this would have been a difficult fight. Now, it was no longer an issue.

But he would take his time, not only to familiarize himself with a martial artist’s fighting style, but also to make a statement.

Since these fence-sitters only recognized strength, he would show them whose fist was truly harder.

All eyes on the dueling platform turned to the two of them, yet no one believed Jiang Xiaotian could win.

Even the family elders were shocked.

“Fang Ye seems to have improved again.”

“I’m afraid so. He’s been hiding his abilities, and only now are they revealed. I’d wager within a year, he’ll reach the peak of the External Force Realm…”

Some were pleased, their faces beaming with pride at Fang Ye’s glory, while others frowned with worry.

At this rate, in just a few years, Fang Ye might even step into the Internal Force Realm. With such youth and power, his family would dominate all.

Everyone discussed Fang Ye; no one cared about Jiang Xiaotian. His defeat was certain. From his previous two fights, he might have had some skill, but at most, he was at mid-stage Internal Force. Unless he was at the very peak, there was no way he could be Fang Ye’s match.

“What’s wrong, are you scared?” Seeing Jiang Xiaotian standing motionless, Fang Ye sneered.

The veins on his arms bulged, his slender frame packed with explosive strength.

He assumed a bow stance, ready for battle. In contrast, Jiang Xiaotian stood casually, as though he could be defeated with a single punch.

“Right, you act like a rabid dog. I’m afraid if you bite me, I’ll need a shot,” Jiang Xiaotian replied with a smile.

Fang Ye narrowed his eyes, unwilling to banter further. His anger had reached its peak.

He bent forward slightly, coiled like a leopard ready to pounce. The next instant, he shot toward Jiang Xiaotian like a bullet, unstoppable.

Unlike all the opponents before, Fang Ye’s entire body was like steel rods—he specialized in body techniques, blending speed and power. Anyone he got close to had no chance to retaliate.

Sure enough, just as Jiang Xiaotian took a step, Fang Ye’s fist struck his chest like lightning.

With a thunderous crash, Jiang Xiaotian’s body flew uncontrollably backward, rolling several times across the ground before coming to a stop at the edge of the platform.

He lay there, motionless.

“Well done! Young Master Fang is incredible!”

“My god! If he punched me like that, I’d be dead on the spot!”

Everyone was stunned. Fang Ye’s speed was simply terrifying! They’d always thought Jiang Xiaotian was fast, but before Fang Ye, he was no different from a toddler.

Fang Ye shook his fist, basking in the cheers and praise, looking down at Jiang Xiaotian, now like a dead dog, his eyes full of disdain.

“Kill me? You’re not even worthy.”

He shook his head, swaggering off the stage.

Jiang Xiaotian was clearly incapable of fighting; there was no need to continue.

But just as Fang Ye was about to step down, Jiang Xiaotian’s lazy voice drifted over, “What’s wrong? Didn’t have lunch?”

Fang Ye stopped, cracked his neck, and slowly turned around, shaking his head at himself with a wry smile. “Blame me for holding back.”

Under the startled gazes of the crowd, Jiang Xiaotian got up, dusting himself off.

“If it weren’t for your claim to be a martial artist, I’d have thought you were the blind masseur downstairs at my place,” Jiang Xiaotian said, hands clasped behind his back, showing no sign of injury.

Fang Ye closed his eyes, took a deep breath to calm himself, then stripped off his shirt, revealing a body like forged iron.

“Provoking me? Very well… Very well… If you die, I’ll have to apologize properly to Senior Chen Yu!” His eyes were fierce as he strode toward Jiang Xiaotian.

“Mid-stage Internal Force? How disappointing. I thought with all your bravado, you’d be much stronger,” Jiang Xiaotian remarked, standing at ease, completely unafraid.

“Only a cooked duck keeps up such a tough front!” Fang Ye roared, his hand slicing through the air like a blade, slashing toward Jiang Xiaotian’s temple with lightning speed!

He concentrated all his martial power into his hand for a single, lethal blow—this time, he held nothing back. He wanted Jiang Xiaotian dead.

This strike was the pinnacle of his strength.

Fang Ye was confident—Jiang Xiaotian could not possibly defend himself.

As the hand-blade was about to smash his skull, some of the girls even covered their eyes, unable to bear watching.

“Jiang Xiaotian is finished. With Fang Ye’s full-force attack, even I couldn’t withstand it!” one of the mid-stage External Force martial artists exclaimed, heart pounding with fear, relieved that he wasn’t the one facing Fang Ye.

But Jiang Xiaotian’s lips curled into a smile.