Chapter VII: Great Zhou Institute Part IV

"Let's begin," Yao Long declared, putting an end to the banter. His voice was firm, exuding a quiet confidence that demanded attention. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, akin to an old tree with roots reaching deep into the earth, and motioned for Xu Lin to make the first move.

The surrounding youths exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of Yao Long's strategy. They could sense there was more to him than met the eye, and their curiosity was piqued.

"Since brother Yao can't wait to be humiliated, I'll gladly oblige," Xu Lin retorted, his rage boiling from feeling belittled by Yao Long. His eyes narrowed, revealing a flicker of determination mixed with fury.

With a sneer, Xu Lin forcefully stamped his foot on the ground, causing dust to scatter around him, and he lunged forward like an arrow, his fist clenched with immense power. The air around him seemed to tremble, almost in reverence to the strength of his punch.

Yao Long didn't flinch; instead, he crossed his arms in a defensive stance as Xu Lin's punch connected. The impact was tremendous, and the ground quaked beneath them. Yao Long's feet slid slightly backward, but he maintained his balance, absorbing the force of the blow.

Dong!

A muffled sound echoed through the practice arena. To everyone's surprise, the one who cried out in pain was Xu Lin, not Yao Long. He clutched his fist, which had turned entirely red, as if he had struck solid steel.

"You! What did you hide in your sleeves?! Despicable!" Xu Lin howled at Yao Long, the pain almost bringing tears to his eyes. He felt humiliated and infuriated, unable to comprehend how his powerful strike had backfired.

The surrounding gazes fixated on Yao Long, a mix of astonishment and bewilderment evident on the faces of the spectators. They were perplexed, trying to comprehend how Yao Long had managed to withstand Xu Lin's powerful punch without any apparent effort.

Whispers spread like wildfire among the crowd, each speculation more intriguing than the last. "Could Yao Long have used some underhanded trick to protect himself?" one student mumbled, suspicious of the unexpected outcome.

"Is it possible that he employed some secret technique? I can't believe he could endure Xu Lin's attack like that," another student speculated, trying to make sense of the situation.

Amidst the murmurs, some began to recall their encounters with Yao Long during practice sessions. "I remember seeing him studying Genesis Runes intensely. Maybe he has discovered some advanced defensive technique," a curious onlooker suggested.

Others nodded in agreement, realizing that Yao Long's expertise in Genesis Runes might hold the key to his remarkable defense. The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Under the crowd's apprehensive gazes, Yao Long slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing a complex rune of light on his arms. The rune emitted faint black light, giving the impression that Yao Long's skin had transformed into unyielding black metal.

As numerous students witnessed the intricate Genesis Rune etched upon Yao Long's arms, a hushed awe filled the air. They recognized it immediately as the Metal Skin Rune, a foundational Genesis Rune taught by the esteemed lecturer.

In the crowd, whispers and gasps of astonishment spread like wildfire. "That's the Metal Skin Rune! How is he able to draw it on his body?" one student marveled.

"I've seen it before, but only on a jade tablet. Drawing it on the body requires a profound understanding of Genesis Runes," another student remarked, admiration in their voice.

Su Youwei breathed a sigh of relief, her heart swelling with pride and admiration for Yao Long.

Zhou Yuan agreed, acknowledging Yao Long's exceptional talent. "His understanding of Genesis Runes is incredible; it's evident he's a high talent in this field," Zhou Yuan whispered to Su Youwei.

Xu Lin regained his composure, unable to believe that Yao Long had actually drawn a Genesis Rune on his body. Drawing it on the body was more challenging than on a jade tablet, as it required intricate knowledge of the body's acupuncture points and meridian channels.

To Xu Lin's surprise, while they were still grappling with the basics, Yao Long had already mastered and used them on himself—an impressive feat.

"You really thought I would rely on my meridian channels to face someone like you?" Yao Long retorted with a mocking smile. His eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement, reveling in Xu Lin's bewilderment.

Xu Lin's face turned a steely green shade as he felt the anger of being toyed with. "Do you honestly think that using a Metal Skin Rune will be enough to defeat me?"

Yao Long remained unfazed, muttering to himself, "Opening two channels, huh?" He studied Xu Lin's physique and aura, calmly calculating his next move.

"Since I let you attack first, it's my turn now," Yao Long said, determination in his eyes. His body seemed to emanate an air of concentration, as if he was about to unleash a hidden power.

The instant these words were spoken, Yao Long's foot stamped firmly on the ground as he charged straight at Xu Lin. The ground shook beneath him, echoing the forceful beat of his heart.

"Arrogant. Your speed, power, and the innate quality of your body are no match for mine. How dare you attack me?" Xu Lin sneered as he saw Yao Long charging towards him. His confidence soared as he believed he had the upper hand.

"Is that so?" Yao Long's lips curved into a smile, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his eyes. He seemed to have something up his sleeve, ready to surprise Xu Lin once again.

Suddenly, faint light surfaced at his ankles, and runes of light spread, barely visible to the naked eye. The air around him seemed to shimmer with energy, enhancing his aura.

Rustle!

Yao Long's body seemed to grow lighter, and with the Light Body Rune on his ankles, his speed sharply increased as he lunged forward like a cheetah.

His movements became graceful and swift, leaving Xu Lin momentarily stunned.

"That is... the Light Body Rune!" someone with sharp eyesight cried out as they saw the light runes on Yao Long's ankles. The revelation further intensified the crowd's fascination with Yao Long's capabilities.

The crowd watched in awe as Yao Long closed in on Xu Lin. With a sudden jerk of his shoulder, a faint glow emerged from inside his sleeves, capturing everyone's attention.

Though not clearly visible, everyone could feel the rampaging power that filled Yao Long's fist. The energy surrounding him seemed to swell, amplifying his presence.

"Rampaging Bull Rune!" another person exclaimed as they saw the faint glow emanating from Yao Long's arm.

The crowd couldn't help but marvel at the sight of three Genesis Runes being employed in quick succession.

Metal Skin Rune, Light Body Rune, Rampaging Bull Rune!

Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei couldn't believe their eyes. In a matter of moments, Yao Long had activated three Genesis Runes in succession, displaying a mastery beyond his years.

This meant that the three Genesis Runes taught by the lecturer had already been mastered by Yao Long, and he could use them on himself.

The realization left the onlookers in awe, unable to fathom the depths of Yao Long's talents.

Bang!

Under the watching eyes of the crowd, Yao Long's punch landed with overwhelming force, sending Xu Lin flying until he crashed outside the practice arena, unconscious.

Silence enveloped the platform. The crowd stared at Yao Long in utter disbelief, unable to comprehend the extent of his abilities.

No one could have imagined that the fight would end this way. Yao Long's performance had exceeded all expectations, leaving the spectators in awe of his prowess.

Yao Long withdrew his fist, the runes of light on his arms fading as if they had expended their power. He retrieved the newcomer exam token from Xu Lin's clothes, quipping that it was best for Xu Lin to skip the exam to avoid losing face.

Upon hearing these words, Xu Lin once again felt the mocking gazes around him. A miserable feeling filled his heart, and he could not help but vomit a mouthful of fresh blood. The scene before his eyes turned to darkness as he fainted.

He knew that, come tomorrow, he would become the newest laughing stock of the many Great Zhou Institute students.

As the days passed, news of Yao Long's astonishing display during the duel spread like wildfire throughout the Great Zhou Institute. Whispers of his mastery over multiple Genesis Runes and his exceptional understanding of the ancient art filled the air, reaching every corner of the institute. The admiration and curiosity surrounding Yao Long only intensified, making him the center of attention among the students. Some even considered him a potential prodigy in the making.

The practice arena buzzed with discussions about Yao Long's feat. Students huddled in groups, sharing their thoughts and speculating on his hidden talents. Even senior disciples and professors took notice of the young prodigy who had managed to master

multiple Genesis Runes at such a tender age.

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Please read my original novel called The Nameless Monster by Yuan_T, I hope you like and support this novel that I wrote and that you can join forces make this novel of mine a world hit!

See you there,

The author, Heavens_Sovereign

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