Chapter 160: What Kind of Trick Are You Trying to Play?

With the death of Yuan Honggang, a sudden, dead silence fell over the entire venue, both on and off the stage.

Everyone felt a chilling cold seep into their bones; not a single person dared to raise their eyes to look at Qin Mu’s retreating figure.

With just a single punch, he had beaten Yuan Honggang—who had stepped into the Hua Realm—to death?!

Just what level of strength did Qin Mu possess?

The pinnacle of Internal Energy? Or could it be...

That he, too, was a Hua Realm master?!

A Hua Realm master in his early twenties—this was simply too shocking and earth-shattering!

One had to know that ordinary martial artists, even with exceptional talent and starting their cultivation from early childhood, might still find themselves firmly stuck at the pinnacle of Internal Energy by the age of forty, struggling bitterly and unable to touch the threshold of the Hua Realm.

However, what shocked them even more was that they had originally thought Qin Mu, even if he won, would at most cripple Yuan Honggang and teach him a lesson.

Never did they expect Qin Mu to be so ruthless, killing Yuan Honggang directly with a single punch!!

And this was the acting head of the Yuan family!

"Clearly, your strength already completely crushed Yuan Jun, so why did you have to drive him to his death!"

"Furthermore, I had already shouted out loud to command you to stop!"

"You simply do not hold me, Sato Mukai, in any regard at all!!"

Sato Mukai flew into a rage out of shame, his face contorted in a grimace as he pointed an accusing finger back at Qin Mu.

Qin Mu looked at him, paused slightly, and instead of answering, asked a question of his own, "Why is a cultural artifact belonging to China in your possession?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Sato Mukai froze instantly, instinctively retracting the hand he had extended.

For on his left wrist, he was wearing precisely the jade bracelet that Yuan Honggang had presented to him a couple of days ago!

"What do you mean, your China? This is something from Japan! With such exquisite craftsmanship, how could it possibly be made by you despicable Chinese!"

Sato Mukai naturally could not admit it and let out a cold snort, never expecting that Qin Mu could tell the origin of the jade bracelet with just a single glance.

Yet, a second thought crossing his mind, a smile of appreciation for talent bloomed across his face as he said, "Kid, your physical foundation looks quite good, far superior to those other Chinese good-for-nothings."

"I, Sato Mukai, have always been a man who cherishes talent. If you are willing to join our Martial Arts Association and become my sparring partner, I can let bygones be bygones regarding what just happened!"

"Not only that, if you show enough sincerity, I can even impart to you the formidable martial arts of my Japanese nation! With your talent, practicing Japanese martial arts will definitely make you at least twice as strong as you are now!"

Sato Mukai spoke at length, elegantly boasting and extending an olive branch on behalf of the Martial Arts Association.

And as soon as these words left his mouth, countless martial artists off the stage were dumbstruck.

Even the few Japanese individuals who had accompanied Sato Mukai were completely baffled by this statement.

This was, after all, the renowned Martial Arts Association, boasting a century-old heritage of national martial arts!

If Qin Mu agreed, it would be equivalent to having the Martial Arts Association as his backing; even if the Jiang Alliance wanted to settle scores, they would have to think twice!

Seeing that the sentiment in the crowd was fermenting nicely, Sato Mukai generously pointed to Qin Mu's neck and said,

"Of course, my kindness does not come for free either. If you wish to enter our Martial Arts Association, first hand over the jade pendant around your neck to me as your initiation gift!"

He spoke with extreme nonchalance, as if it were only right and proper.

Seeing Qin Mu remain silent, the people off the stage were instantly seized by a wave of nervous panic.

"Th-this can't mean he's actually thinking of agreeing, right? Wasn't he just acting like he utterly detested those Japanese martial artists?"

"What detesting? It was all just big talk! But this is the world-renowned Japanese Martial Arts Association we're talking about! What martial artist could possibly resist an invitation from the Martial Arts Association?" a rat-faced man muttered with disdain.

At these words, many in the crowd felt a heavy gloom settle in their hearts.

After all, being able to join the Japanese Martial Arts Association was, for any martial artist, an opportunity as rare as ascending to the heavens!

Mere national disgrace—what did that even matter?

Yet at that exact moment, Qin Mu lashed out with a palm, striking viciously across the face of the rat-faced man who had just spoken, shattering half his face and violently slamming him dead onto the ground.

The entire venue gasped in shock!

"What is the meaning of this? I am extending an invitation to you on behalf of the Martial Arts Association! According to your Chinese traditions, you ought to kneel and give thanks for the honor!!"

Sato Mukai shouted loudly, only to be met with a cold, disdainful sneer from Qin Mu, who then raised his head proudly, unyielding, and faced him directly.

"What do you think your Martial Arts Association is?"

"And you—what kind of thing are you?"

"Baka!! What are you saying?!" Hearing Qin Mu's response, Sato Mukai flew into a fury, hurling foul abuses.

Qin Mu paid him no mind, instead shifting his feet slightly and pressing forward with his question.

"You haven't answered my question from earlier."

"Why is a Chinese cultural artifact in your hands?!"

With a cold glare, Qin Mu tapped his toes lightly against the ground, his figure flashing instantly into a streak of lightning as he charged off the stage.

"What?!"

Sato Mukai’s eyes widened as he abruptly felt an overwhelming, silent, yet terrifyingly ultimate pressure bearing down on him.

The next instant, Sato Mukai felt his collar tighten, lost his balance completely, and was violently hauled up, hurled straight off the referee's platform, and smashed heavily into the arena ring!

"Pfft!!"

Qin Mu’s throw slammed him so hard it gouged another massive crater into the ring, countless shards of shattered stone piercing deep into Sato Mukai’s back, causing him to instantly spew a mouthful of blood in a continuous torrent!

"Despicable! To launch a sneak attack on Master Sato!!"

"You Chinese are born utterly despicable! You only know how to resort to these cheap, base methods, just as base as your very character!!"

The group of Japanese followers who had come with Sato Mukai saw Qin Mu strike without warning and burst into furious curses.

"Noisy."

Uttering just two words, Qin Mu picked up a few silver needles from the ground, turned his back, and without even bothering to look directly at them, flicked his wrist to launch them backward through the air!

Swish—

Swish—

Several streaks of cold light pierced through the air, directly puncturing the throats of those foul-mouthed Japanese men.

Clutching their throats with veins bulging violently across their bodies and terror lingering in their eyes, they stood swaying for barely two seconds before collapsing heavily to the ground.

The crowd collectively held their breath; not a single person dared to speak out of turn.

This young man appeared refined and serene.

Yet in reality, he was someone whose bottom line must never, ever be touched!

For the moment it was touched, death was absolute and certain!