I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 710: Chapter 4: Progress

The betrayal from the two elders came unexpectedly, turning their former allies into bitter enemies. Tang Qingshan and Tang Yao’s unspoken mutual understanding and determined gazes collided, forming an alliance in an instant.

As if facing an unstoppable foe, the two decided to stand together, ready to take a head-on blow from the newly emerged major enemy!

“Please hold on, respected Elders!” Tang Yao stood up first, addressing everyone in the hall, “The position of team leader is no child’s play. Although Minister Luo became known as the ‘First Son’ a few years ago, he’s been in seclusion for several years and many people within the alliance have forgotten about him. Now that he’s returned and given such an important task, I fear it will be hard to convince everyone.”

Everyone present, aside from the elders, were promising young talents who have been given significant roles in the past few years. Everyone except for the smiling Tang Bin agreed with Tang Yao’s opinion.

Time dulls everything, especially among fearless young people. Instantly facing a boastful cousin, and the elders exhibiting such a different attitude, their displeasure was obvious.

Over the past two years, the entire Tang Clan has made tremendous strides thanks to Beimang Ji Clan’s body forging elixirs and spiritual medicine support. Talented young men grew like bamboo after the rain. Each person felt they were no weaker than the previous prodigies. Placing Tang Luo’s achievements from two years ago in the current situation didn’t feel unreachable. Having him suddenly appear and become the team leader was hard to accept, and even though most of them were over thirty years old, they started chiming in to support Tang Yao.

Facing the young man who stood with his hands behind his back, Tang Luo, without any expression, asked, “You’re Tang Yao, aren’t you?”

“Indeed, I’ve long heard of Minister Luo’s great reputation,” replied Tang Yao with a courtesy, his tone neither warm nor cold.

“Really?” Tango Luo shook his head in disbelief, “Two years ago you were second on the merit list but not even close to me. Your trained Martial Hall members were knocked down by my good-for-nothing brother, and yet you’re the first to object. Doesn’t seem right.”

Because when you hit someone, you aim for the face for it to hurt; when you abuse someone, you target their weaknesses for it to be effective.

Insults like ‘fool’, ‘pighead’, or ‘annoying spirit’ aren’t criticisms, they’re endearing terms.

As a sturdy man who lived through the information explosion era, Tang Luo maintained his iron-like style of speech. His combos turned Tang Yao pale, but the clash was far from over.

“Or do you think you’ve made significant progress in the past two years and can challenge me? I’m giving you a chance then. If I can’t knock you down with one punch, you can take over the role of team leader, how about that?” Tang Luo stretched out his right hand, laughing and slowly closing his opened five fingers. As the fingers tightened, a thunderous roar echoed, the resulting shockwaves ripped through the air. His fist seemed to hold the universe as everyone’s eyes turned to him.

“Just one punch, want to give it a try?” Tang Luo pushed forward his fist the size of a sandbag, causing countless gusts of wind from half an elbow distance away. It forced everyone in the room to squint their eyes.

If it had been him from two years ago, seeing such a punch might not have been that impressive. But after two years of training, Tang Yao’s perception had improved drastically.

It’s exactly because he could see through it that he understood how terrifying of a force Tang Luo just demonstrated with just a squeeze of his fist. By comparing his own power, Tang Yao despairingly concluded that maybe only after reaching the Fierce Realm could he have a chance of catching up. If he were to confront it now, there’s absolutely no chance of survival!

The color of Tang Yao’s face darkened even further, hardly able to believe that such a huge gap existed between his and Tang Luo’s fighting prowess, even though they were both mortals who transformed into martial artists.

How would he take on such a punch? And dare he take it on!?

It wasn’t just him, seeing this punch silenced all other outstanding talents entrusted with the position of primary instructor. Just watching Tang Luo’s fist already made them jumpy. Could this person really be their cousin, it’s all so unreal!

The room fell silent. Tang Yao, with a gloomy face, still stood there defiantly. Fourth Elder Tang Shuo shook his head and stood up, pushing the willful young man next to him back into his seat, nodded towards Tang Luo and signaled, “Minister Luo is most deserving of the duties of the team leader, with you leading, I can rest easy.”

“Hehehe.” Tang Luo pulled back his fist, nodded with a smile to Fourth Elder Tang Shuo, “You’re too kind, Fourth Elder.” Then turned to Tang Yao, “It seems you’ve made considerable progress in the last two years, to see the subtleties in this punch, well done.”

Just like an elder praising the younger, although Tang Yao’s expression didn’t change, his eyes were full of humiliation, both fists clenched on his knees as he desperately tried to control his emotions.

But resolving one issue did not mean the path became smoother, because the Tang Clan isn’t short of hot-headed youngsters. That punch might scare the chief instructor of Qutang, but it wouldn’t make Tang Qingshan waver.

The robust warrior stood up like a black tower, facing Tang Luo, “Tang Qingshan wants to try Minister Luo’s punch!”

“Tang Qingshan, correct?” Tang Luo turned to look at this clan member who made a name for himself in the Xiling arena, nodded and said, “Then give it a try.”

“Wait a moment!”

Just as Tang Luo was about to make a fist, Third Elder Tang Zhenghao stood up with furrowed brows, looked at Tang Qingshan, and said, “What are you trying to stir up? The martial arts competition is in September. If you get hurt today, what will you do then? Sit down!”

If it were about fighting ability, Tang Zhenghao believed that Tang Qingshan might be stronger than Tang Yao, but when it came to seeing the big picture, eight Tang Qingshans together likely couldn’t compare to Tang Yao.

What Tang Luo just showed off with his clenched fist wasn’t something a mere mortal could resist. Unless Tang Qingshan’s Undying Battle Body could advance further or breakthrough to a new realm, facing that punch would inevitably lead to injury. As Tang Qingshan’s uncle, of course, he had to prevent this.

But the stubbornness of those young hotheads couldn’t be persuaded in a few words. In Tang Qingshan’s eyes, his great-uncle was biased towards Tang Luo, wanting him to smoothly take over the position of team leader. Since he had integrated his Steel Body Bloodline with the fifth level of the Indestructible Battle Body, even facing a mysterious level Spirit Art, he had never been injured. For him to fear a punch from a mortal, that’s ridiculous!

“Third Elder, this is the clan’s hall of debate, where duties matter, not kinship! This is between Minister Luo and me and pertains to a family resolution. Please don’t interfere!” The black-tower-like sturdy man’s cold response drew an angry stare from the Third Elder.

Hearing his nephew’s ungrateful words stoked up a fire in his heart. The fruits of stupidity are only tasted by the one who lacks wisdom. Tang Zhenghao huffed, closed his eyes, and sat down, no longer willing to give his foolish grandnephew another glance.

Tang Luo, seeing Third Elder’s good intentions shattered by such blunt words, sympathized and also felt a strong sense of connection. Kids these days are hard to handle. This is why warriors need to learn culture and study techniques to understand propriety, distinguish right from wrong.

Shaking his head, Tang Luo said to Tang Qingshan, “Chief Instructor Qingshan, get ready, I’m coming.”

Without his great-uncle’s “intervention,” Tang Qingshan focused all his attention on Tang Luo. He channeled his spiritual power into the spiritual formations etched into his meridians, simultaneously activating the power of his Steel Body Bloodline. A silver-light-reflecting steel warrior stood before Tang Luo.