Chapter 94: Martial Arts Association

After persisting for another two hours, Pang Yun couldn’t hold on any longer.

The potion could restore Star Power, but it couldn’t restore physical strength or mental energy.

He was now exhausted, drenched in sweat, and had no choice but to retreat near Jiang Changkong.

“You keep killing for now. Once I recover, I’ll definitely catch up to you,” Pang Yun gasped for breath.

Jiang Changkong ignored him and continued killing Star Demons on his own.

Pang Yun spent two hours recovering but didn’t leave. He truly resumed killing Star Demons.

After another three hours of killing, Pang Yun couldn’t hold on again.

Jiang Changkong was still killing Star Demons.

Pang Yun watched him while panting heavily.

He watched for several hours but never saw Jiang Changkong take any recovery potion. “Don’t you need to recover?”

“A man must have endurance,” Jiang Changkong said disdainfully.

If you can’t fight for a whole day, how can you call yourself a man?

Pang Yun’s expression turned serious. “You have endurance, but besides endurance, a man must also be able to unleash powerful strength.”

“Hmm, my bursts are strong too.”

Jiang Changkong spoke confidently.

“I don’t believe it. From start to finish, you’ve only used ordinary Blade Qi,” Pang Yun asserted. “If you burst like I do, you wouldn’t be able to last this long either.”

Jiang Changkong chuckled lightly, not bothering to argue, and continued killing Star Demons with Flame Blade Qi.

Pang Yun recovered and resumed killing, saying, “Are you really from Jiangcheng Martial Arts School?”

“That’s right,” Jiang Changkong replied indifferently.

Pang Yun pondered for a moment before suddenly saying, “You’re a senior from Jiangcheng Martial Arts School of the Jianghai Martial Arts Association, right?”

Though puzzled, he spoke with great certainty.

“Martial Arts Association?” Jiang Changkong frowned. “What’s that?”

“You don’t know?”

Pang Yun was stunned, growing even more confused. “If you’re not a senior who left earlier and not part of the Martial Arts Association, how could you have such strength?”

In his impression, only those seniors from Jiangcheng Martial Arts School who had long graduated and been assigned jobs possessed such strength.

Jiang Changkong mused, “Explain the Martial Arts Association clearly, and I’ll give you a chance to challenge me.”

“Really?”

Pang Yun’s face lit up with joy, his eyes fixed intently on him.

“You’ve expended too much today. Go back and rest now. Tomorrow at six in the morning, one kilometer north of this place, I’ll be waiting for you.”

After saying this, Jiang Changkong glanced at the seemingly endless horde of Star Demons, made a few leaps, and left the area.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for you.”

Pang Yun rubbed his hands together excitedly and left in high spirits.

Finally, he had encountered a master. What did endurance matter? Sometimes, explosive power was more important.

Tomorrow, he would definitely show that guy his true skills.

Once Pang Yun left, Jiang Changkong reappeared and continued killing.

He kept killing until nightfall, rested briefly, and then resumed.

When he finally extracted the Essence, it amounted to over sixteen thousand!

A worker who didn’t need wages, only needed to take a beating—such an ambitious young man was hard to find.

If he could keep him helping like this, in just half a month, he could perfect two martial arts techniques.

After extracting the Essence, Jiang Changkong killed for a while longer.

He didn’t pay much mind to the upcoming duel the next day. It wasn’t until two or three in the morning that he finally stopped.

He found a random spot to rest and headed to the duel location at five-thirty.

A burly young man, a three-foot-long broadsword, scorching heat, and an invisible wave of energy spread out, flattening the surrounding weeds.

His face was resolute, his hair short and messy, and his gaze sharp.

Jiang Changkong walked over slowly. Pang Yun had been waiting for a long time.

High fighting spirit, robust Star Power, scorching heat—the young man appeared extremely exhilarated.

Pang Yun stood with his broadsword held horizontally, his expression unprecedentedly serious: “I can’t see your depths; you should be the best opponent I’ve ever encountered.”

“I won’t bully you either. If you can force me back one step, I’ll consider it your win.”

Jiang Changkong stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

“I hope your strength is as strong as your words.”

Pang Yun’s broadsword trembled, the surrounding temperature skyrocketed, and dazzling flames shone like a blazing sun.

Under the terrifying heat, not a single spark was visible, and the surrounding weeds instantly withered and turned yellow.

Suddenly, the high temperature contracted, turning inward, completely converging into the blade.

“Blazing Desolation Blade.”

The broadsword swung, compressing the air and producing a loud bang.

A majestic aura accompanied this strike, as if it could split everything apart and cleave through mountains.

Facing this strike, Jiang Changkong neither dodged nor avoided it. Instead, he extended two fingers.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out, like the clash of sword and blade. His two fingers clamped onto the tip of the broadsword, and the blade could not advance an inch.

A surge of blazing Star Power poured from Jiang Changkong’s fingers, completely dissipating into the ground.

“How is this possible?” Pang Yun said in disbelief.

Even a senior at the Star Sea Peak would have to treat this strike of his with caution.

Yet, someone had actually clamped it with just two fingers, and the Blade Qi within the blade had been completely neutralized!

“You’ve lost.”

Jiang Changkong withdrew his hand and said calmly, “Now, tell me about the Martial Arts Association.”

Pang Yun fell silent for a moment before explaining: “Jianghai has only one Martial Arts Association…”

The Martial Arts Association is a guild jointly organized by the geniuses of a city or a province.

Each Martial Arts Association is composed of the geniuses from each city.

The Jianghai Martial Arts Association is formed by the geniuses from the five cities of Jianghai. The threshold is not low: one must be a Martial Artist at the Mid Star Sea Stage under the age of twenty-five.

Moreover, one must be a professional Martial Artist with a clean background.

Those who can join the Martial Arts Association are mostly graduated Martial Artists.

The Federation allocates funds every year to support the operation of the Martial Arts Association, and the president of the association holds significant power.

Jianghai Province is too small, so there is only one Martial Arts Association, located in Jiangshui City.

In major provinces, there is almost one Martial Arts Association per city.

“It sounds like, aside from the president, there aren’t many benefits.”

Jiang Changkong sat down on the ground, indifferent.

Pang Yun sat down beside him and said, “The benefits are huge. Not to mention major provinces and ordinary provinces.

Even in our small province of Jianghai, we can gather quite a few resources.

Since you’re a student of a Martial Arts School, do you know about the Martial Arts Exchange Meeting?”

“Naturally, I know, though I haven’t participated yet,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

“You haven’t participated yet?”

Pang Yun’s eyebrows twitched. With such strength and not having participated, could it be that he wasn’t a senior but someone who had recently emerged?

Previously, Yang Chengan had investigated, and there was no one so formidable in Jiangcheng Martial Arts School.

Puzzled, Pang Yun continued, “The purpose of the Martial Arts Exchange Meeting is actually to compete for spots to enter the Starlight Distortion Land.”

“Starlight Distortion Land?” Jiang Changkong frowned.

“When the world underwent a great change, starlight fell, and powerful Star Power distorted the space in certain areas.

That place holds treasures that fell along with the starlight back then. The exchange meeting only offers three spots.”

At this point, Pang Yun’s face showed envy: “But the Martial Arts Association gets five!”

Without waiting for Jiang Changkong to speak, he continued, “Besides that, there are also places where ores and medicinal herbs grow.

Special Star Demons—any good resources within Jianghai Province—are distributed and announced in the form of tasks.”

“Listening to you, joining this Martial Arts Association seems to have only benefits and no drawbacks,” Jiang Changkong pondered.

“Of course, there are also obligations, such as capturing fugitives or helping the city kill Star Demons when needed.”

Pang Yun said, “These are all minor matters. If you want to join the Martial Arts Association, you can first transfer to the Jiangshui City Martial Arts School.”

“Hmm? I have to transfer schools?” Jiang Changkong frowned.

“Yes, there are too few people from Jiangcheng in the Martial Arts Association, and their strength isn’t up to par, so they don’t have much say.”

Pang Yun shrugged and said, “Many seniors are in the Jiangshui City Martial Arts School.”

“If they have the strength but won’t let me join, that’s their loss,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

“I think it’s your loss. Sometimes, the stronger you are, the less they want you to join,” Pang Yun replied.

Jiang Changkong smiled faintly and said nothing. Were they afraid he would increase his influence if he joined?

Standing up, Jiang Changkong turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Pang Yun called out from behind.

“To kill Star Demons.”

“Take me with you…”