Chapter 207: Can't Laugh Anymore

Tang Tianlong looked as if he had heard the funniest joke.

“Intended to? Changed your mind?”

“Jiang Fan, are you trying to make me laugh so hard I cramp up, hoping that will get you through the assessment?”

The surrounding disciples were somewhat speechless.

“Does he even know what he’s saying?”

“He’s acting as if he can pass the assessment just because he wants to.”

“He hasn’t even seen the miserable state of his senior brothers and sisters. He doesn’t know when to hold back and just keeps saying nonsense.”

Among the Sovereign Peak disciples, Wang Chengjian watched like he was observing a clown, remarking playfully, “This fellow really isn’t afraid of making people laugh their teeth out!”

Besides Tang Tianlong, he was the person who most hoped Jiang Fan would fail. Naturally, he was happy to see Jiang Fan make a fool of himself.

A few disciples couldn’t help but whisper, “Is this really funny?”

“If Jiang Fan loses, won’t that bring shame upon our Sovereign Peak?”

“How can Senior Brother be laughing?”

Hearing this, Wang Chengjian quickly suppressed his smile and argued, “I’m angry that Jiang Fan isn’t taking the assessment seriously!”

This, in turn, drew differing opinions from the Sovereign Peak disciples.

“What good would being serious do? Which of the previous senior brothers and sisters wasn’t serious?”

“If I were Jiang Fan, I’d scold him severely!”

“Yes, Jiang Fan is saying this for the honor of Sovereign Peak; we should support him!”

Wang Chengjian found himself in a no-win situation. His gaze at Jiang Fan grew even more displeased. He couldn’t wait to see Jiang Fan defeated within three moves, receive a “fail” evaluation, and be expelled from the sect!

Liu Wenchen also let out a long sigh. It was truly unbearable to watch. Several of his favorite disciples had already been defeated; could he possibly still hope Jiang Fan would redeem him? Jiang Fan might be capable in other areas, but in martial arts, he was not.

“What’s the point of sighing?” Zhuang Yuanyin was also in a bad mood. Wanting someone to vent his frustration on, Liu Wenchen just happened to be sighing nearby, annoying him even more.

“Blame yourself for not rigorously overseeing your disciples’ cultivation, giving others an opportunity.”

“And when recruiting disciples, you weren’t strict enough, letting just anyone into the sect.”

“Now look, we’re about to have a failing disciple.”

“I wonder if you’ll be embarrassed!”

He gazed at Jiang Fan’s retreating figure from afar, seething with anger. If a disciple didn’t receive a good evaluation, it could still be explained by the disciple not working hard enough, or his ineffective teaching methods. But a failure... For over a decade, there had never been a disciple who failed. Even the lowest-ranked peaks had never had a failing disciple. This was because the inner sect disciples undergoing the assessment were all prodigies carefully selected by the masters of their respective peaks.

But now, that record was about to be broken. And by the strongest, Sovereign Peak, no less. If this unprecedented event got out, he feared it would not only be a disgrace within the sect, but it would spread across the lands of the Nine Sects, becoming widely known! Sovereign Peak’s reputation would plummet.

Liu Wenchen chuckled awkwardly and whispered, “Don’t worry, Grand Elder.”

“I secretly gave him a Foundation Establishment ninth-level jade talisman.”

“He definitely won’t fail.”

Hearing this, Zhuang Yuanyin glared at him and admonished, “How could you be so reckless?” Although the use of jade talismans was not explicitly forbidden for disciple evaluations, relying on external objects for victory was naturally inappropriate and easily criticized. However, considering how maliciously Tang Tianlong was targeting Sovereign Peak, what harm was there in using a jade talisman? No one should point fingers!

His expression softened, and he said, “This time is an exception; don’t let it happen again.”

Liu Wenchen breathed a sigh of relief. He secretly prided himself on his foresight. This way, Jiang Fan was at least guaranteed to pass the assessment.

In the center of the arena, watching Tang Tianlong laughing uncontrollably, Jiang Fan calmly said, “Go ahead and laugh while you still can.”

“Soon you won’t be able to laugh anymore.”

Tang Tianlong found this even funnier. “Haha! Jiang Fan, you really are trying to make me die laughing!”

“Do you have no idea about the gap between you and me?”

Looking at Jiang Fan’s calm and unruffled expression, Tang Tianlong couldn’t stop laughing. “Alright, then I’ll let you personally experience how pathetic you are in front of me.”

He used only half of his spiritual energy, casually throwing a punch at Jiang Fan. He didn’t want to eliminate Jiang Fan in one blow. Instead, he wanted to torture Jiang Fan severely, both physically and psychologically, making him regret his actions!

However, to Tang Tianlong’s surprise, Jiang Fan showed no intention of using spiritual energy. He still stood with his hands behind his back. Only when his fist, carrying a fierce wind, reached Jiang Fan did Jiang Fan unhurriedly extend a palm. He casually caught Tang Tianlong’s fist. No matter how the spiritual energy within the fist vibrated, it couldn’t budge his palm.

Jiang Fan calmly said, “Use your full strength. I’ll make you truly convinced.”

After speaking, he lightly flicked his palm. Tang Tianlong instantly felt as if he had been kicked by an elephant. He staggered backward repeatedly, almost falling onto his backside. This caused an uproar throughout the entire venue.

“Huh? I’m not seeing things, am I?”

“Jiang Fan pushed Tang Tianlong back?”

“That punch wasn’t weak; many senior disciples couldn’t block it.”

Among the elders, it also sparked considerable discussion. Wen Hongyao looked disappointed, complaining, “Why isn’t this kid playing by the rules?”

“Wouldn’t it have been better if he was knocked down with one punch?”

Zhao Wuji folded his arms across his chest and said proudly: “Didn’t I tell you? This kid’s martial arts strength is definitely not weak.”

Li Qingfeng looked surprised. “Huh?”

“That’s not right. How do I feel like he’s gotten even stronger?”

Among the Grand Elders, a stir also emerged. Huang Zhantian blinked, wondering, “Strange. This kid isn’t just perceptive; he’s actually a top talent in body cultivation.”

“He can even withstand a Foundation Establishment eighth-layer cultivator!”

Shi Kaitian, meanwhile, took a slight gasp. “*Hiss!* This brat’s physique has gotten stronger!”

“How long has it been, and his body cultivation has made such significant progress!”

Immediately, he glared fiercely at Liu Wenchen. The feud over stealing disciples was now fully cemented between them!

Liu Wenchen felt a chill down his spine from the glare, utterly confused. Where had he offended Grand Elder Shi Kaitian? That look, as if he wanted to beat him up.

Zhuang Yuanyin showed surprise. “Huh? This kid’s physique is that strong?”

“Tang Tianlong’s punch just now wasn’t something an ordinary disciple could block.”

“Moreover, this kid not only blocked it but pushed him back.”

Liu Wenchen then remembered he hadn’t properly introduced Jiang Fan yet. He immediately said, “I forgot to tell you, Jiang Fan has good body cultivation talent.”

“During the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, he defeated Kong Wushuang, the body cultivation prodigy of the Giant Sect.”

“He really brought a lot of honor to our Sovereign Peak.”

Zhuang Yuanyin said, astonished: “Is that true?”

“I’ve heard of Kong Wushuang. He’s Kong Yuanba’s nephew and showed extraordinary physique from a young age.”

“Jiang Fan can win against him in body cultivation?”

Liu Wenchen said, “The entire sect witnessed it; it’s no falsehood.”

Zhuang Yuanyin looked astonished, murmuring in admiration: “This fellow has no spiritual root, yet he’s unexpectedly a top talent in body cultivation.” He then regained his composure, looking at Liu Wenchen and asking, “Wenchen, tell me honestly.”

“Did you take him as a disciple because you recognized his body cultivation talent?”

Of course not. But since the Grand Elder was praising his discernment so much, could he say no? So, with a sheepish grin, he guiltily replied, “Exactly.”

Hearing this, Zhuang Yuanyin playfully punched him lightly on the chest: “I knew you must have been overthinking things, giving someone special treatment!”

“So you wanted to give me a surprise!”

“You rascal, when did you get so slick?”

Though it seemed like a rebuke, the smile on his face couldn’t hide his inner joy. He let out a long breath, feeling lighthearted and pleased. “Ah, our Sovereign Peak truly has no weaklings.”

“Even one without a spiritual root is a top body cultivation talent.”

“Heh heh, heh heh heh.”

Liu Wenchen, listening beside him, felt incredibly guilty.

Meanwhile, in the arena, the situation changed again.