#1115 - Chapter 1115: Initial Show of Strength

Ye Kong's eyes flashed with golden light. Just a glance at the woman in red was enough to discern the intense dark and bewitching aura emanating from her.

The woman in red turned her head, and between the strands of her flowing black hair, Ye Kong saw a pair of eyes that were completely white and turbid, devoid of any black pupils.

The woman in red had sharp, unparalleled claws at the tips of her ten fingers. Her hands were shaped like claws. With a sudden burst of force, she leaped forward, flying towards Ye Kong once more, aiming to grab his neck.

Ye Kong spun and soared into the air, effortlessly dodging the red-clothed woman's attack.

As he descended, Ye Kong gathered energy at his Tianling point (crown of the head), circulated it back to his Dantian (energy center), and with his right palm charged, he accurately and ruthlessly struck down on the red-clothed woman's Tianling point.

With this simple strike, the woman in red let out a painful wail, her figure faltered, and she fell straight down.

Before the woman in red had been down for even a moment, a terribly foul odor emanated from her entire body.

Ye Kong waved his sleeve to cover his nose, wanting to examine the fallen woman in red more closely, but before he could approach, her entire body dissolved into black mist, dissipating and vanishing.

Ye Kong narrowed his eyes slightly, using his divine sense to probe through the darkness. A scene flashed through his mind, and Ye Kong lifted his foot and continued forward.

In the darkness, a figure vaguely appeared. As the distance closed, the person's face became clearer, and Ye Kong realized it was Zhang Tie.

Zhang Tie chuckled with simple honesty, scratching the back of his head as he said to Ye Kong, "Hey, Ye Kong, where did you run off to just now? I didn't see you anywhere."

Faced with Zhang Tie, who had suddenly disappeared and then reappeared, Ye Kong remained outwardly calm and composed, but inwardly he had become wary of him.

Ye Kong pretended that nothing had happened, calmly saying, "Oh, it's nothing. I just took a wrong turn. Let's continue looking for the exit."

Having said that, Ye Kong walked directly in another direction, without even looking at Zhang Tie.

Just as Ye Kong turned to leave, a glint flashed in Zhang Tie's eyes, and then Zhang Tie followed behind Ye Kong.

The two walked for an unknown amount of time, eventually arriving at the other end of the stone chamber.

The entire stone chamber seemed to be sealed off, without any exit.

Looking at the stone wall with its tiny seams between the bricks, Ye Kong reached out his hand, wanting to find a hidden exit.

Zhang Tie also helped, searching all over the stone wall.

Just as the two were searching, countless pale, withered hands suddenly stretched out from the stone wall, reaching out and firmly grabbing Ye Kong's wrists and ankles.

A tremendous pulling force suddenly yanked him, and Ye Kong crashed headfirst into the stone wall.

Ye Kong was trapped by the suddenly appearing hands, unable to move, but he stubbornly struggled.

On the other side, Zhang Tie saw that Ye Kong was trapped.

"Ye Kong!"

Ye Kong's body shook, and a wave of energy spread out from him, directly blasting away the hands that were binding him.

Then, he reached out his hand and blocked Zhang Tie's sword.

A hint of panic flashed in Zhang Tie's eyes, then disappeared.

Ye Kong raised an eyebrow, looking at Zhang Tie with a smile that was not a smile.

"Are you trying to save me, or..." take my life!

Zhang Tie withdrew the sword in his hand, smiling foolishly, "What are you talking about? I was trying to save you just now, but the sword went astray."

Zhang Tie's explanation was pale and weak. Ye Kong did not expose him, and continued searching for a potential hidden exit in the stone wall.

While Ye Kong was searching, Zhang Tie's right hand was behind his back, slowly gathering red elemental energy.

Ye Kong was engrossed in his search, and Zhang Tie pretended to approach, then directly launched a surprise attack on Ye Kong.

Ye Kong didn't even turn his head, a smile on his lips.

"Finally showing your true colors."

Ye Kong spun around, charging his strength and delivering a palm strike to Zhang Tie.

Ye Kong's palm seemed to shatter the entire stone chamber, causing the surrounding darkness to tremble slightly. Compared to Ye Kong, Zhang Tie, who had attacked first, was much slower.

The moment Ye Kong's palm struck, Zhang Tie felt a strong gust of wind rushing towards him.

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Tie was slammed into the stone wall in the darkness by a surge of immense power.

Cracks immediately spread around the stone wall. Zhang Tie seemed to be embedded in the stone wall.

Ye Kong's figure flickered, appearing directly in front of Zhang Tie.

Not giving Zhang Tie time to react, Ye Kong reached out his hand, purple elemental energy condensing in his palm, slowly wrapping around Zhang Tie.

Ye Kong exerted a little force, and Zhang Tie's face turned completely red, veins bulging.

Ye Kong smiled slightly, increasing the force in his hand.

"So, you are the exit."

Before Zhang Tie could answer, Ye Kong pinched his fingers, and the purple spiritual essence wrapped around Zhang Tie's neck enveloped his entire body.

In an instant, Zhang Tie disappeared, leaving behind only a slowly swirling vortex of spiritual energy in the darkness.

Without hesitation, Ye Kong stepped out.

-

At the Taichu Academy, it was already broad daylight. The map that had trapped Ye Kong and the other was suspended above the martial arts stage of the Taichu Academy.

Standing neatly around the martial arts stage were the disciples of the Taichu Academy, while the elders standing on the high platform were all highly respected cultivators of the Taichu Academy.

On the martial arts stage, there were more than a dozen maps besides the one that had trapped Ye Kong.

This was the final test of the Taichu Academy for the newly recruited disciples.

It was already noon, but no one had escaped the Youjing scroll yet. The disciples of the Taichu Academy were all secretly guessing who would be the first to come out.

The Siming Ye and the others on the high platform were also full of anticipation for this Youjing test, after all, this Youjing scroll test was unusually difficult.

Just then, a Youjing scroll showed signs of activity. In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn to it.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ye Kong's Youjing scroll emitted a dazzling green light. The surrounding disciples were shocked, their mouths involuntarily opening.

Even Siming Ye and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unclear thoughts.

The Youjing scroll then cracked open several seams. Siming Ye's pupils shook.

"Bang!"

The next second, the Youjing scroll exploded directly, the ineffective fragments flying everywhere.

A burst of commotion erupted around them. A stream of light flashed, and Ye Kong appeared in everyone's sight.

Ye Kong didn't know that he had just found the exit too easy, and with a casual spell, he had directly destroyed the Youjing scroll.

After a moment of silence, Siming Ye on the high platform coughed heavily twice, pulling everyone's thoughts back from their surprise.

The disciples then turned their heads and shifted their gazes to Siming Shizun, but most of them were still sizing up Ye Kong.

Although Ye Kong had only entered the Taichu Academy recently, he knew some of the highly respected cultivators in the Taichu Academy.

And the one standing in the first position could only be the head of the Taichu Academy, Siming Ye.

Ye Kong sensibly clasped his fist and bowed, but this action of his did not ease Siming Ye's heavy mood.