Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Path of the King
Shi Hao showed no mercy and stomped three times in succession, crippling all of Luo Chen’s limbs.
He didn’t kill him; the primary reason wasn’t fear of a martial venerable, but rather he wanted Luo Chen to taste what it was like to be disabled.
Whenever he decided to leave the Imperial Capital, he could go finish Luo Chen off. There was no rush.
Around him, not a single student made even the slightest peep.
That was a disciple of a martial venerable, yet Shi Hao didn’t hesitate or show any mercy in crippling him.
How incredibly audacious was that?
In their shock, they also filled with admiration, daring to challenge a martial venerable—just that courage alone was admirable.
Especially the girls, whose legs went weak from Shi Hao’s imposing aura, and to top it off, the boy was so good-looking!
Shi Hao dusted off his hands and strode forward, he still had a martial arts tournament to attend.
Luo Chen lay there like a dead dog, his whole body trembling.
To cripple him and then walk away, how utterly contemptuous was that of him?
Grinding his teeth, Luo Chen’s tears flowed uncontrollably. He swore he would kill Shi Hao.
He couldn’t do it alone, he still had his master!
Duan Jinghong, a martial venerable powerhouse, a pillar of the nation.
As if nothing had happened, Shi Hao walked straight to the martial arts competition grounds.
Having been there last year, he naturally knew his way around this time.
Crippling Luo Chen didn’t excite him because it was what he expected, but he figured it was time to face a martial venerable head on now.
“In my memory, there are a few techniques that can multiply strength several times in a short period, which might allow me to take on a martial venerable head on, but they have severe side effects on the body,” he thought.
“I have practiced the Tyrant Body Technique, making my physical condition much stronger than the average person, so, I should be able to withstand a burst or two occasionally.”
Shi Hao was quite composed as he entered the competition grounds, found a teacher from the academy to verify his identity, and headed to the waiting room to await the start of the competition.
Typically, the tournament would last three days; contestants from thirty-six counties would go through multiple preliminary rounds to determine two winners, who would then compete on the third day in the finals.
However, Shi Hao found Gu Dong and asked him to seek out the vice-principal of the Imperial Capital Academy.
“What!” The vice-principal was about to announce the start of the elimination round, but upon receiving Gu Dong’s message, he was taken aback and confirmed with Gu Dong, “Really?”
“Really!” Gu Dong nodded confidently.
“Well, the rules do allow for that.”
The vice-principal stepped into the center of the grounds and declared loudly, “The elimination round will not commence, someone has triggered the King’s Road Challenge.”
The King’s Road Challenge!
Hearing this term, everyone showed a look of shock.
My God, someone actually chose to take the King’s Road Challenge.
What is the King’s Road Challenge?
It’s when a contestant challenges and defeats all other contestants in one go; success means no further contests are necessary.
To suppress the many with one’s prowess is to be the king.
“Who is it, who’s so arrogant?” everyone was curious.
“If someone from our academy, a senior brother or sister perhaps, chose to take the King’s Road, it wouldn’t be surprising, after all, we are the Imperial Capital Academy.”
“The problem is, our academy does not participate in such matches.”
“Heh, I’d like to see who is so overconfident.”
“I want to see as well.”
The students of the Imperial Capital Academy all showed disdain. Why doesn’t the Imperial Capital Academy participate?
Simple, because the prize for winning is entrance to the Imperial Capital Academy, so why would they compete?
At the vice-principal’s command, thirty-five contestants all came forward, their faces full of anger. Someone dared to trigger the King’s Road Challenge, how utterly contemptuous of them?
Fine, then let’s smash this guy to pieces.
Amidst everyone’s anticipation, Shi Hao slowly walked out.
Wow, such a young guy.
The girls immediately had stars in their eyes, each one nearly going crazy.
“Isn’t that the handsome brother from last year?”
“Yeah, after he was defeated last year, I actually cried.”
“I cried too. The brother’s look of utter despair stayed in my mind for so long, it broke my heart.”
“He’s back again this year.”
“Seems like he’s gotten even more handsome.”
The girls went wild, their enthusiasm beyond imagination, and suddenly, there was a chorus of cheers for Shi Hao.
This made the other thirty-five contestants look sour-faced.
Really, is that necessary?
“The Path to Kingship, begin!” the vice-chancellor commanded, then stepped off the field.
Instantly, the thirty-five contestants surrounded Shi Hao.
“Beat him up!” one shouted as he initiated the attack, and the others joined in.
Suddenly, figures flew about like scattered flowers from the heavens.
In just a few breaths’ time, the field was littered with bodies, with only one person still standing proudly.
Of course, it was Shi Hao.
This shocked everyone to the core; it was sheer dominance, utterly one-sided.
“He’s completely unmatched.”
“They couldn’t even force out his true strength.”
“He must be at least a Primary Level martial master.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, to think a small border town could produce a martial master, that’s truly remarkable.”
Everyone sighed with admiration. Who would have thought that outside of Imperial Capital Academy, there could be such a powerhouse?
This was also the first time in the many years of the Imperial Capital martial arts competition that someone had passed the Path to Kingship. It even caught the principal’s attention, prompting him to come forward in person to announce Shi Hao’s admission into the academy.
Such talent, if nurtured well, had limitless potential, and he might even become a Martial Venerable.
Shi Hao closed his eyes and said in his heart, “Foster father, can you see from the spirit above? I’ve become a student of the Imperial Capital Academy!”
What followed was inconsequential to him, given that Imperial Capital Academy had nothing to teach him.
“Hold on!” Just at that moment, a voice rang out, full of arrogance.
Everyone turned to look, only to see a young man striding over, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, ordinary-looking, but with unusually long arms that dangled down to his knees.
“The ninth disciple of Sect Master Duan.”
“It is said that he has already reached the level of a high-ranking martial master.”
“Only twenty-three years old!”
The crowd murmured among themselves, filled with envy; being taken as a disciple by a Martial Venerable meant that the least one could achieve was to become a Martial Sect.
Li Lei walked over, surveying the scene with a hint of contempt.
These people think being accepted by a Martial Venerable guarantees becoming a Martial Sect?
Wrong, without sufficient talent, how could one catch the Venerable’s eye?
He stopped and said indifferently, “I bring a message from my master.”
A message from the Martial Venerable?
That was as significant as an imperial edict; even the emperor himself would show full respect to a Martial Venerable.
Li Lei glanced at Shi Hao with a deep sneer, “My master said, Shi Hao is of malicious character, unsuitable to be a pillar of strength, and thus, he advises Imperial Capital Academy not to admit him!”
Suddenly, the whole venue erupted in commotion.