Lin Zhao took Xiao Shitou and Xiao Jiuer to live in the mountain top villa overnight. He also cleaned up the ancestral home, locked the door, and then left with peace of mind. This ancestral home was where his father and mother lived in those years, and no matter what, Lin Zhao could not abandon it like a worn-out shoe.
...
The next morning, Lin Zhao still took Xiao Shitou and sent Xiao Jiuer back to the town's study to study. Although practicing punches was important, he didn't really care about this little bit of time. Moreover, sending Xiao Jiuer to the study made Lin Zhao feel at ease and comfortable all the way. This state of mind was beneficial for both martial artists practicing punches and sword cultivators practicing swords.
Afterward, he returned to the mountain top villa and had Xiao Shitou practice punches in the backyard, while Lin Zhao ordered the soldiers to summon all ten elites.
Shu Zhi and Luo Yang, the outstanding among the young ten, were both sixth-realm sword cultivators. Especially Shu Zhi, this beautiful young girl had opened a second Sword Accumulating Lake at a young age and possessed two flying swords, her strength surpassing Luo Yang's. Such a sixth-realm sword cultivator could almost always defeat a sixth-realm martial artist, and could even cross realms to fight a seventh-realm cultivator.
Therefore, Shu Zhi, holding her sword, looked at Lin Zhao with a hint of doubt in her beautiful eyes, wondering why Chu Huai Xi would let this person be the master of the mountain top villa. It shouldn't be like this!
Luo Yang's gaze at Lin Zhao was even more undisguisedly provocative.
Mu Zha, on the other hand, was arrogant, looking at Lin Zhao as if he wished he could punch him.
As for Lei Yue, Wu Lian, and Hua Ping, these three sixth-realm female cultivators were well-behaved girls who abided by Chu Huai Xi's wishes and were respectful to their captain, Lin Zhao. They believed in Commander Chu and thought that if Commander Chu let this person be their captain, he must have extraordinary abilities, and there was no need to resist.
Zhu Zhi and Gu Luan, these two sixth-realm martial artists, looked at Lin Zhao with raised eyebrows, seeming to have the intention of competing.
The remaining few were somewhat perfunctory, but still relatively respectful.
"Greetings, sir!"
Shu Zhi cupped her fists first, then Luo Yang, Mu Zha, and the others also cupped their fists one by one.
Lin Zhao returned the salute and said, "Everyone, don't be nervous. I am younger than all of you. I just moved into the villa today, so there are many things that require your guidance."
"En!"
Hua Ping nodded first and smiled, "Lin Zhao, I lived on the front street before entering the villa. We've met."
"Yes, we've met."
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded.
Shu Zhi immediately turned to look at Hua Ping, and instantly the cute girl dared not speak. If she spoke again, she would be glared at by her elder sister.
Lin Zhao naturally knew the reason for this and smiled without saying anything.
"Lin Zhao."
Luo Yang raised her eyebrows and said, "I heard that... our Tianchi Army killed eight thousand elite demon beasts in the Battle of Jiuzhangyuan, scaring the great demon Yu Zhi into retreating hundreds of miles overnight. As for the ambush plan, was it your idea presented to Commander Chu? Is it true? How old are you? How many battles have you fought to come up with such a brilliant strategy?"
"There was no brilliant strategy."
Lin Zhao shook his head and said, "I just luckily guessed the intentions of the great demon Yu Zhi. As for why the ambush was successful, it was Commander Chu's command and courage, and it has nothing to do with me."
Mu Zha chuckled and said, "Tsk tsk, it seems you have some self-awareness..."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly.
...
Shu Zhi slowly stepped forward and said, "For this morning's training, will we all do it together? Or will we each hone our own cultivation?"
"Lin Zhao is the captain, so he should decide," said the girl Lei Yue.
"En?!"
Shu Zhi also glanced at Lei Yue, and instantly the girl dared not speak.
Lin Zhao chuckled inwardly. Shu Zhi was just a nineteen-year-old girl, not so cunning. She was simply unconvinced. After all, she was such a young sixth-realm sword cultivator with two flying swords, and her strength was evident. It was normal to be unconvinced, so Lin Zhao didn't bother to argue. He just smiled and said, "What do you all think? Should we each practice swords and punches, or should we spar and exchange techniques together?"
Luo Yang chuckled and said, "I'd really like to spar with you, sir, but it seems... as a first-realm sword cultivator, you don't have much sword technique to spar with."
"Hahahaha~~~"
Mu Zha laughed heartily, gently bumping his muscular fists together in front of his chest. The clash of fist intent reverberated, and he said, "Lin Zhao, how are you going to do your job as captain? We are all older than you, have more seniority in the army, and are at higher realms than you. How can you lead everyone when you can't even defeat any of us?"
Lin Zhao had already expected this, so he didn't say much more. He rolled up his sleeves and stepped down the stairs, saying with a smile, "I am fifteen years old this year, and my realm is low. I am still a lower-five-realm martial artist. I am indeed a bit of a drag, but... it's not necessarily true that I can't defeat anyone, right? Mu Zha, you are the strongest martial artist among the ten?"
"Yes."
Mu Zha also began to roll up his sleeves and said with a smile, "If you can win a fistfight against me, then I, Mu Zha, will be completely convinced of you, Lin Zhao, and will be your lackey for life. It's not just me, Gu Luan and Zhu Zhi will also be your lackeys, after all, there are only three martial artists among the ten, and you, Lin Zhao, are the fourth. That's very rare."
"Alright."
Lin Zhao stood firm, his body trembling slightly. Instantly, the fist intent of the Farmers Three Punches flowed out, causing both Shu Zhi and Luo Yang to be slightly stunned. Whether a martial artist's punches were mere showmanship could be seen at a glance. Lin Zhao merely adopted a simple boxing stance, yet the fist intent and aura emanating from him showed that it was honed through bloody battles.
"Do I need to suppress my realm?"
Mu Zha smiled slightly and said, "A punch from a sixth-realm martial artist, and I'll cripple you with one punch. If Commander Chu investigates, I, the humble Mu Zha, won't be able to bear the responsibility."
"It's okay, use sixth-realm!"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Otherwise, it won't be fun!"
"As you wish!"
Mu Zha let out a low roar, adopted a combat boxing stance, and his entire being was filled with immense fist intent. He chuckled and said, "Lin Zhao, I'll let you make the first move, so that no one can say I bullied you because of your low realm."
"Good!"
Lin Zhao took a step forward. The moment he charged out, he ignited a green speed talisman in his left hand. This Mu Zha looked strong and simple-minded, but if he wasn't truly defeated, Mu Zha would probably never show him any respect, let alone follow his commands in future battles. Therefore, he would use any means necessary. When fighting a higher realm with a lower realm, what rules were there to follow?!
Under the speed talisman, Lin Zhao directly transformed into the "Formation Horse and Strong Sail" boxing stance. In an instant, his speed was like lightning. When Mu Zha looked down, his chin had already been lifted, and he was sent flying by Lin Zhao's punch!
In the wind, Lin Zhao spun and threw another punch!
With a loud bang, Mu Zha's body flew out, heavily colliding with the training barrier in the center of the small courtyard. He was quite disheveled. As he flipped up, he threw a punch, and the fierce wind made it almost impossible for Lin Zhao to breathe. He hastily tilted his head to avoid the punch, and at the same time, he grabbed the opponent's wrist with his left hand and delivered a heavy punch to Mu Zha's abdomen!
Fighting speed with speed, this was the third time Mu Zha had been hit.
But a sixth-realm was still a sixth-realm. After being hit three times, Mu Zha only suffered minor injuries. He twisted his body and threw a punch towards Lin Zhao's chest. Lin Zhao saw it coming and couldn't dodge it, so he met it with a punch!
"Boom..."
The fist winds collided, instantly stirring up a gust of wind that knocked over flower pots in the courtyard. The young girl Shu Zhi narrowed her eyes, even more astonished. Was this Lin Zhao a freak? To be able to trade a punch head-on with Mu Zha, a freak like that? He was crazy!
"Good, that was satisfying!"
Mu Zha's fighting spirit grew stronger, and he threw punch after punch, while Lin Zhao parried and countered. Relying on the speed advantage of the speed talisman and the "Formation Horse and Strong Sail" stance, Mu Zha would throw one punch at Lin Zhao, and Lin Zhao would throw three punches at Mu Zha. But Mu Zha's punches were too heavy. This innate divine strength was no joke. In a short while, Lin Zhao had been hit multiple times, and even blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth.
But he didn't stop, continuing to spar with Mu Zha, punching him with every blow, while also taking punches himself. He let the fist intents of both of them collide. This was a rare opportunity for tempering for Lin Zhao. His fifth-realm martial artist cultivation had been completely filled a few days ago, and he was just waiting for a battle to break through. While breaking through, he was also honing his boxing skills!
And Mu Zha was like a gift from heaven, a strong opponent, but not strong enough to kill him.
...
So, on the surface, Mu Zha took more punches, but Lin Zhao suffered more, because the opponent's punches were heavier. Even Hua Ping pursed her red lips and said, "Why don't... why don't we stop them? Otherwise, someone will be seriously injured..."
"No need."
Luo Yang shook her head, "For martial artists sparring, how can it end before a winner is decided?"
"Indeed."
Zhu Zhi narrowed her eyes and nodded.
...
"Still not calling it off!?"
Mu Zha landed a heavy punch on Lin Zhao's face, and Lin Zhao flew backward. Mu Zha lunged forward and threw another punch, roaring, "Do you want me to beat you to death?"
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao staggered backward and then smiled faintly. Relying on the speed of the speed talisman, he suddenly moved sideways to avoid Mu Zha's next punch, and at the same time, he landed a heavy punch on the opponent's face.
Mu Zha rolled out, his face full of a smile, "Your punches are too light!"
"Is that so?"
The moment Lin Zhao lunged forward, there was a "boom" within his body, as if a certain restraint had been broken. The next punch landed heavily on Mu Zha's chest. Instantly, Mu Zha rolled along the ground, heavily colliding with the barrier. This time, he was truly enraged. He spun and his fist collided with Lin Zhao's!
"Oh?"
Luo Yang raised her eyebrows, "He broke through. Lin Zhao is now a sixth-realm Kai Shan realm martial artist."
"En."
Shu Zhi nodded, "But he may still not be Mu Zha's opponent. Mu Zha has been in the sixth realm for half a year, with a solid foundation. Lin Zhao has only been in the sixth realm for a few breaths. Coupled with Mu Zha's immense strength, in the end, Lin Zhao's stamina will inevitably be inferior."
But at this moment, after being hit in the shoulder by a punch, Lin Zhao retreated. He grabbed the opponent's wrist with one hand, pulled hard, and simultaneously, his right fist landed on Mu Zha's throat, hitting him dizzy and shattering his protective fist aura!
"You!"
Mu Zha was completely enraged. Before he could throw a fierce punch, with a "swish," a wisp of silver light was placed at his throat, where his protective fist aura had just been shattered. With just a thought from Lin Zhao, Mu Zha, this talented martial artist, would perish.
"You!"
Mu Zha refused to admit defeat. He angrily retreated, roaring, "I'm not convinced! You used talismans first, then flying swords. This fight is completely unfair!"
Lin Zhao frowned. This attitude was not good.
...
Just then, someone on the eaves sneered, "Can't afford to lose?"
It was Huang Tingyu, holding a wine gourd and watching the show while drinking.
"Vice Commander!"
Everyone cupped their fists and saluted together.
Huang Tingyu waved his hand and continued to sneer, "What right do you, Mu Zha, have to be unconvinced? How old are you? Eighteen years old, a full three years older than Lin Zhao! If Lin Zhao were given another three years to grow, would you, Mu Zha, dare to trade punches with him at your current realm? I'm really worried, worried that you, the young number one martial artist of the Great Chen Dynasty with innate divine strength, will be beaten to a pulp by Lin Zhao!"