At this moment, Shen Mo had already stepped up to the power-testing pillar. He took half a step forward with his left leg and slowly gathered strength in his right arm. His body was taut like a drawn bow.

In the next instant, a tremendous force converged into his right fist. He struck out with a punch!

Bang! 

The silver liquid shot up to a height of one foot and three inches!

The deacon’s mouth dropped open in shock. “One foot… one foot and three inches! This… this must be the strength of a Qi Condensation Realm!”

His gaze towards Shen Mo changed dramatically. His foundation was destroyed, yet he had cultivated back to the Qi Condensation Realm? The low murmurs of mockery and ridicule from the crowd below abruptly ceased. Everyone was stunned. They couldn’t fathom how Shen Mo, previously only at the entry level of the Body Tempering Realm with a ruined foundation, had suddenly reached the Qi Condensation Realm!

Xiao Fan’s intrigued expression froze suddenly. Lei Xiaojun, Liu Yuefeng, and Gao Peng, who had been relaxed and at ease, also had their expressions change abruptly.

Shen Mo turned around to face the crowd. “I, Shen Mo, have regained my place as the top of the outer sect today. Does anyone object?”

The entire venue fell silent, eyes lowered, no one dared to meet his gaze. Xiao Fan, who had previously been ungrateful and felt guilty, lowered his head when Shen Mo glanced at him. Only Shen Mo stood proudly!

Suddenly, Lei Xiaojun shouted, “Junior Brother Shen, wasn’t your foundation destroyed? How can you cultivate again?”

His voice echoed across the martial arts field, piquing everyone’s curiosity. Indeed, someone with a destroyed foundation being able to cultivate to the Qi Condensation Realm again was too strange.

Shen Mo smiled slightly. “I was lucky and found a Marrow Cleansing Pill, which restored my foundation. Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Lei.”

As soon as he said this, the crowd below erupted in astonishment.

“No way? He found a Marrow Cleansing Pill? What luck!”  

“A Marrow Cleansing Pill is a top-tier profound-grade pill! My god, when will I ever have such luck!”  

“Shen Mo is so lucky! If only I could have a bit of that luck…”

Suddenly, Lei Xiaojun smiled broadly. “Junior Brother Shen, you seem to have never displayed the strength of the Qi Condensation Realm during this period. Why did you deliberately hide it?”

Shen Mo returned his smile. “Naturally, I was worried about someone harming me.”

Their gazes met in the air. It was as if two forces clashed in the sky, sparks flying. Some shrewd disciples quickly noticed the undercurrent between the two.

Gao Peng, beside Lei Xiaojun, whispered, “This man is likely connected to your cousin’s death!”  

Liu Yuefeng also said in a low voice, “We should act tonight, lure him out of the sect, and kill him!”  

Lei Xiaojun sneered. “No, you’re all underestimating this person, and so did I. If he dares to show his strength now, it means he’s already prepared. If I’m not mistaken, his next step is… to challenge me.”

On the martial arts platform, Shen Mo turned to the deacon beside him. “Senior Brother Deacon, can I challenge an inner sect disciple now?”

The deacon was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly replied, “Of course you can! The top three of the outer sect can challenge an inner sect disciple at any time. If you win, you can take their place!”

After speaking, the deacon froze, a terrifying thought rising in his mind. “Junior Brother Shen, you’re not thinking of challenging Lei…?” he said in shock. Lei Xiaojun was at the Minor Achievement level of the Qi Condensation Realm!

Generally, when outer sect disciples challenge inner sect disciples, they challenge those at the entry level of the Qi Condensation Realm. That way, their chances of winning are much higher. No one was foolish enough to challenge an inner sect disciple at the Minor Achievement realm of the Qi Condensation Realm. That wasn’t a challenge; it was a beating.

Shen Mo pointed at Lei Xiaojun in the pavilion, still wearing that smiling expression.

“Senior Brother Lei, would you accept my challenge?”

The voice wasn’t loud, but as soon as he finished speaking, the whole venue was shocked.

“He just reached the Qi Condensation Realm and dares to challenge Lei Xiaojun?!”  

“My heavens, Shen Mo is too bold!”  

“Yeah, even Xiao Fan failed when he challenged Lei Xiaojun. Xiao Fan is a genius, and if he lost, Shen Mo, who can’t compare to Xiao Fan, definitely isn’t a match for Lei Xiaojun.”

The disciples were buzzing with discussion, all staring at Shen Mo with bewildered expressions. Is this guy, Shen Mo, out of his mind? Out of all the people to challenge, why choose Lei Xiaojun?

Everyone turned their attention to Lei Xiaojun, curious to see his reaction. Lei Xiaojun smiled. “I always enjoy a good sparring match. Since Junior Brother Shen is so interested, I naturally can’t refuse. However, I am a bit stronger. If Junior Brother Shen gets hurt, you can’t blame me.”

He leaped forward gracefully, like a falling leaf, landing lightly. Then, he quickly walked towards the martial arts platform. The disciples hurriedly made way for him. Lei Xiaojun stepped onto the platform, facing Shen Mo. The deacon quickly retreated. When two Qi Condensation Realm cultivators fought, being too close could result in injury.

The two came to a distance. Lei Xiaojun still wore a smile and spoke in a voice only they could hear. “I never expected this. I tested you so many times, and you managed to evade each one. You’re revealing your strength today, so you must think you’ve surpassed me? Young man, you’re still too young and impatient.”

Shen Mo smiled back. “You’re acting all high and mighty, but you’re only three years older than me.”

Lei Xiaojun’s face stiffened, then he sneered. “All you have now is a sharp tongue.”

In the next moment, he pounced like a fierce tiger descending a mountain. The muscles on his arm bulged. A strong wind rushed at Shen Mo! A huge fist aimed straight for Shen Mo’s face!

Shen Mo responded with a punch.

Bang!

Their fists collided. Both of them stepped back simultaneously. Shen Mo took five steps back, while Lei Xiaojun took three steps.

The outer sect disciples watching were wide-eyed. 

What the heck? Only a difference of three and five steps? Doesn’t that mean Shen Mo’s strength is comparable to Lei Xiaojun’s?

The outer sect disciples were in disarray. It was hard to accept this fact in such a short time. Lei Xiaojun’s face also darkened. He didn’t expect Shen Mo to hide his strength so deeply. In that punch exchange, he clearly felt the other’s strength, only slightly weaker than his own. If he didn’t use martial skills, even if he won, it would look bad. He had to use martial skills to defeat him decisively and cleanly!

Shen Mo’s expression remained unchanged. He had deliberately held back slightly. It was all part of his plan to act for everyone. Only this way could he justify going all out to defeat Lei Xiaojun later.

Lei Xiaojun suddenly laughed heartily. “Junior Brother Shen is indeed powerful after years of hidden cultivation! Very well, I will use my Thunderclap Fist, watch closely!”

Xiao Fan’s eyes flashed. “Lei Xiaojun is going to use his strongest card, the Thunderclap Fist! I heard he has cultivated this fist technique to the fourth level, significantly enhancing its power.”

Liu Fei nodded. “Yes, cultivating Thunderclap Fist to the fourth level is a qualitative change, increasing its power by at least 30%. Lei Xiaojun relies on this technique to suppress many inner sect disciples.”

Facing the incoming Thunderclap Fist, Shen Mo’s eyes remained indifferent. Thunderclap Fist, a top-tier yellow-grade martial skill, was nothing. He didn’t even need to use his trump card, the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique. He could easily handle it with the Tiger Roar Fist.

After all, he was at the Great Achievement Realm of Qi Condensation, while Lei Xiaojun was only at the Minor Achievement Realm. The gap between them wasn’t something a Thunderclap Fist could bridge.

Shen Mo also shouted loudly. “Senior Brother Lei is indeed powerful. I must go all out! My trump card is the Tiger Roar Fist!”

“However, the power of my Tiger Roar Fist is immense. Once I use it fully, even I’m afraid. If Senior Brother Lei gets injured, don’t blame me!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel