Qin Yang burst out laughing; he'd been itching for a fight, and Nangong Ling was playing right into his hands.
"Heavens above! Earth below! You're framing an innocent man!" Qin Yang roared, startling both humans and wolves alike.
"You think I can control the entire wolf pack?" Qin Yang chuckled. "With your archery skills, how come you can't hit me in close combat?"
Can't hit me...
The words weren't inherently offensive, but something about them felt deeply unsettling.
Nangong Ling felt like he'd swallowed a bitter pill. It wasn't outright insult, yet the words tasted vile. He wanted to retort, but how could he? If he claimed he could hit, how explain the distance he'd just put between them?
"You bastard! Who do you think you are? To dare insult the Eight Divine Clans!" Nangong Ling snarled.
"What a big hat you're throwing around, heh!" Qin Yang shrugged. "So what if I insulted you? You gonna hit me? You got the muscles for it?"
He flexed his bicep in emphasis.
"Boy, don't forget your roots. You're one of the Eight Divine Clans too!" Dragon Jade whispered from the sidelines.
Qin Yang's face turned dark with frustration, leaving him utterly speechless...
At that moment, everyone suddenly noticed that although the shadow wolves were all staring intently at Qin Yang, none of them dared to attack first!
Moreover... a high-level demonic beast had been killed with a single headshot!
Wei Yu swallowed hard. The Heavenly Secrets Sect's ranking of young generation talent had placed the first and second-ranked cultivators here, yet this kid clearly outclassed them. Where had he come from?
Could even the Heavenly Secrets Sect make mistakes?
"Is this just some high-level demonic beast? You think I can't kill it?" Nangong Ling sneered. "As for fists? What a joke. No matter how hard your fist is, is it faster than my arrows?"
Qin Yang burst into laughter as he slowly approached Nangong Ling.
The battle was drawing to a close. As Qin Yang advanced, the remaining shadow wolves abandoned their fight and fled.
Everyone watched curiously to see what Qin Yang would do next. Nangong Ling tensed, ready to strike at any moment.
"Your arrows were faster earlier. Now it's my fist's turn," Qin Yang said softly as he came to a stop.
The crowd finally understood. Wei Yu stared at Qin Yang in disbelief.
"Ten steps away, arrows win. Within ten steps, fists rule..." Nangong Ling repeated, narrowing his eyes. His heart tightened as he considered the implications.
"Within ten steps, his punches are faster? This guy might be strong, but he's clearly not too bright. How can anyone move faster than an arrow?"
"Exactly! I thought he was here to help us, but with that big mouth of his, he's starting to look more like someone here to steal our kills!"
"I refuse to believe Nangong Ling can't take down that wolf leader!"
"Nangong Ling, teach him a lesson. Show him whether your arrows or his fists are truly faster!"
Nangong Ling tightened his grip on the longbow. Though uncertain, he refused to believe a cultivator at this level could move so swiftly.
With his unparalleled archery skills, even defeating enemies beyond his current realm was possible. Yet here stood a cultivator only slightly more advanced than himself, daring to make such bold claims?
Nangong Ling's expression remained calm, but his eyes grew increasingly cold.
Most importantly, this brat had noticed his earlier attempt to flee!
He gently caressed the exquisite longbow and smiled faintly. "You claim your fists are faster at this distance? What if I don't believe you?"
Qin Yang shrugged. "What do you think?"
A flicker of killing intent crossed Nangong Ling's eyes. "Shall we... test that theory?"
"Perfect timing. I'm in the mood for some fun today." Qin Yang nodded in agreement.
Nangong Ling felt a tightness in his chest, and Wei Yu also seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
How dare they look down on a disciple of the Eight Clans like this?
"Who does this guy think he is? He looks like some elder from a clan!"
"Don't get skewered by an arrow later. That would be too humiliating!"
Qin Yang laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I'll make sure he can't even nock an arrow!"
"Is he implying Nangong Ling can't get hard?"
"That probably isn't it..."
"Are you ready? Let's begin!" Nangong Ling had reached his limit. He would make this brat pay, even if it meant killing him. In these circumstances, no one would question his actions.
"Wait!" Qin Yang reached into his robe and produced a badge, fastening it to his chest.
"A Combat Badge?"
Everyone froze. Had this guy actually joined the Fight Union? Was he some kind of Martial Maniac?
"You don't have one?" Qin Yang asked.
"Hmph. The Fight Union? We Eight Clans' disciples wouldn't deign to join such a thing! If your strength is sufficient, they'll list you in their rankings and grant you a Combat title even without membership," Nangong Ling snorted.
"Actually, I showed my badge just to tell you two things," Qin Yang said, extending a finger. "First, you challenged me. If you lose, you can't say I'm bullying you."
Nangong Ling's face alternated between green and purple. The Heavenly Secrets Sect's top young talent was being repeatedly looked down upon like this!
"And the second?" Nangong Ling asked through gritted teeth.
"Second," Qin Yang sighed, "I'm a big name at the Fight Union. Each match is sixteen thousand. Since you don't have a Combat Badge, let's just say it's free for you."
His face wore an expression of pure disdain, completely unhidden.
Nangong Ling was about to inflate like a pufferfish from anger. "Do you think I don't have spirit stones?" he roared. "Are you talking about sixteen thousand low-grade spirit stones?"
Qin Yang's eyes darted around. He felt an urge to change it to mid-grade spirit stones. But considering the hundred-fold difference, it seemed too unreasonable. He nodded immediately. "Exactly."
"What else do you want?" Nangong Ling demanded. "Better say it all at once!"
Qin Yang thought for a moment. "Hmm... I still feel like I'm bullying you a bit. How about this? Let's make the rules like this: If you can shoot one arrow—no matter where it lands—you win. If you can't even shoot one arrow..."
"Preposterous!" Nangong Ling seethed inwardly: I'll pierce your heart with a single arrow! Aloud, he demanded, "You call this a rule? You're insulting me!"
"No, no, I'm not!" Qin Yang shook his head vigorously. "I truly think this is unfair to you..."
Nangong Ling was on the verge of losing his composure. Another word from this fool and he'd abandon all pretense of dignity!
"Enough! Can we begin?" Nangong Ling roared.
Qin Yang nodded. "Very well."
Wei Yu stepped forward. "Three... two... one... Now!"
Nangong Ling drew his bow taut, lips curling in triumph. Victory was within reach! His finger released, and the black-tier treasure bow glowed with ethereal light as the arrow prepared to strike like lightning.
The familiar sensation of power settled in his bones, yet Qin Yang remained frozen in place - though strangely... blurred?
A thought flashed through Nangong Ling's mind: Why is he blurred? Could it be...
"Residual image!"
"Gulp!" Nangong Ling swallowed hard, his neck stiffening as he glanced down at the bow.
Though he'd clearly released the string, the bow remained bent, the arrow suspended in mid-air!
A hand now gripped the arrowhead!
"I told you," Qin Yang said calmly, "you wouldn't be able to shoot."