"Chen Zong, are you certain you want to forfeit?"
"Yes," Chen Zong nodded.
The other person's gaze was peculiar, but since forfeiting was Chen Zong's choice, they said nothing more.
What Chen Zong was giving up was the final round of the Battle of Heroes among the top three contenders from each Martial City. Winning this round would grant him a reward from the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy.
Under normal circumstances, Chen Zong would never have given up. He would have fought tooth and nail for a spot in the top three. Even if he couldn't secure a top-three finish, sparring with geniuses from other Martial Cities would have been invaluable for his own improvement.
Unfortunately, his internal injuries, which had yet to fully heal, had worsened slightly due to recent combat. Given his natural healing rate, it would take at least ten days to recover completely, and even with medicinal treatment, several days would be needed. The final round was scheduled for tomorrow morning—too rushed. Further combat would only worsen his condition, potentially leading to fatal consequences.
Chen Zong had to choose the path most beneficial for his future.
Having made his decision, Chen Zong stopped dwelling on the matter.
Encounter with Bai Yulou
"Sister Yun is practicing with her sword, so she must be at the Sword Radiance Hall. I wonder where that is?" Chen Zong thought. Wanting to find Chen Chuyun but unsure where to start, he decided to ask around. Perhaps someone would know.
Just as he stepped out the door, he saw two figures approaching.
"Bai Yulou..." Chen Zong recognized one of the men. It was the same person who had recently tried to seize a mid-grade courtyard from him and, failing, had resorted to threats. The other man, walking beside Bai Yulou with a cold smile, radiated an aura of menace.
Sensing their Qi Blood Power, Chen Zong discerned that Bai Yulou was at the peak of the Sixth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm, while the other man was at the Seventh Layer.
"I've already told you," Bai Yulou said, stopping before Chen Zong, his face cold and menacing. "The Bai family has considerable influence here. Now, kneel and bow to me, transfer this courtyard to my name, and I might spare you. In the future, if you encounter any troubles, you can come to me. If I'm in a good mood, I might even show you some favor."
"I'd rather you stop bothering me," Chen Zong replied calmly.
"Refusing the courtesy, you'll have to drink the punishment. Third Young Master," the other man said with a cold laugh, stepping forward. "People like this need a proper lesson. Otherwise, they won't understand their place."
"I don't want to fight," Chen Zong said, his brow furrowing slightly, speaking the truth.
"A mere Fifth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm? You won't get a chance to move a finger against me, Bai Yan," the man sneered, lunging forward like an arrow released from its bow. His right fist clenched and shot toward Chen Zong's abdomen with devastating force.
The punch whistled through the air, carrying an extraordinary momentum.
Chen Zong's figure seemed to be lifted by the wind as he retreated, causing his opponent's punch to miss.
"Quick reflexes," the opponent said. "But what about this sword?" As the words left his lips, the sword left its sheath with a piercing screech. The blade's cold light, like a crescent moon slicing through the air, carried a chilling aura that pierced the air.
After a slash, before Chen Zong could react, the sword thrust forward, a cold glint like a falling star piercing the air.
This sword was too fast.
Chen Zong retreated and drew his own sword.
His sword broke through the air with a melodious clang. First, sword flowers danced in the air, then a single cold glint shot out from among them, speeding toward his opponent.
His opponent flicked his wrist, causing his sword to tremble. He then thrust his sword tip toward Chen Zong's blade. The two swords clashed, sending a terrifying force rippling out, bending both blades. The opponent chuckled, his arm vibrating as his sword straightened with a terrifying force, striking Chen Zong's blade.
Chen Zong retreated to dissipate the force, but the gap in their cultivation bases was too great. The overwhelming force aggravated his internal injuries, causing excruciating pain. He couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood, his face paling.
"What a waste," Bai Yulou said, his initial surprise quickly replaced by contempt. "How dare someone like this compete for a mid-grade courtyard?"
Bai Yan, a martial artist at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Blood Realm, was also surprised. The sword strike just now had carried considerable power, but it shouldn't have forced his opponent to cough up blood. Could he be injured?
But what does this have to do with me?
"Come at me again, and accept the consequences," Chen Zong said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. His eyes turned cold and sharp, his aura subtle and hidden. If Bai Yan attacked again, he would unleash the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword, even if it meant killing him.
The Seven Luminaries Martial Academy's rules clearly stated that disciples were forbidden from killing each other. Violators would be punished—either expelled or executed outright.
But at this moment, Chen Zong had no other choice.
Letting go of all reservations, he became resolute. A thread of killing intent condensed within him, his eyes as sharp as a sword's edge.
Bai Yan paused, a flicker of gravity passing through his eyes.
He suddenly sensed a genuine threat from this opponent, a danger that could potentially injure or even kill him.
He's only at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm. How is that possible? Bai Yan wondered inwardly. The answer was unclear. He realized that anyone who could enter the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm must possess extraordinary talent. Yet even with such talent, it should be impossible to challenge someone at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Blood Realm.
Then why this overwhelming sense of danger?
Bai Yan dared not act recklessly. He stared intently at Chen Zong, circulating his Qi Blood Power relentlessly.
Pain wracked his body. The longer this continued, the more disadvantageous it became for him, but Chen Zong remained resolute.
"Bai Yan, are you still hesitating?" Bai Yulou frowned.
Chen Chuyun's Arrival
"Bai Yan, how dare you bully my younger brother? You've got some nerve!" A cold voice cut through the air like a freezing wind, sending a chill down Bai Yan's spine.
He didn't need to turn around to know who had arrived, and his body trembled slightly.
"Sister Yun," Chen Zong said, turning with a faint smile.
"Junior Brother Zong, you're injured?" Chen Chuyun's brow furrowed, fury burning in his eyes. He suddenly moved with lightning speed, as if gliding on the wind, his Precious Iron Sword unsheathing with a flash of water-like light. The blade's edge sliced through the air with wind-like speed, piercing straight toward Bai Yan.
"Chen Chuyun, his injury has nothing to do with me!" Bai Yan's face paled as he scrambled backward, his sword movements becoming frantic. But Chen Chuyun's strike was unstoppable, shattering Bai Yan's defenses like glass. The sword came to rest against Bai Yan's neck, its icy edge sending goosebumps across his skin, chilling him to the bone.
"He was already injured before I arrived. Ask him if you don't believe me," Bai Yan stammered, shivering at the sight of Chen Chuyun's cold, icy eyes.
Chen Chuyun turned to Chen Zong, a flicker of gentleness in his gaze.
"Sister Yun, my injury isn't his fault," Chen Zong said calmly.
"Get lost," Chen Chuyun said, sheathing his sword. The single word was as cold as ice.
Bai Yan didn't dare protest. He hurried over to Bai Yulou, whose face was darkening. "Third Young Master, let's get out of here."
Though Bai Yulou burned with anger, he knew he couldn't handle the situation alone and reluctantly followed Bai Yan.
"Who is he?" Bai Yulou asked coldly as they retreated.
"His name is Chen Chuyun. He joined the hall last year from the Chen Clan of Wind Martial City. He's a prodigy in sword technique," Bai Yan replied truthfully.
"A mere martial artist from a minor clan in Martial City? How talented could he possibly be? Could he possibly compare to my cousin Yushan?" Bai Yulou's expression grew even colder.
"In terms of cultivation base, Chen Chuyun indeed falls short of Young Master Yushan. But in sword technique, he's no less skilled. His strikes are ruthless, showing no mercy to his enemies. He once slaughtered thirteen bandits in the Eighth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm in quick succession, each strike fatal. He's earned the nickname 'Rakshasa Sword' and is considered the foremost disciple in the Eighth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm within the Sword Radiance Hall. He can even hold his own against opponents in the Ninth Layer without defeat." Bai Yan's face paled as if recalling something, his body trembling involuntarily.
"Waste," Bai Yulou said coldly, shooting Bai Yan a contemptuous glance. "No matter how skilled he is, how could he possibly compare to my cousin Yushan?"
"Of course not. Young Master Yushan is in the Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm and the Chief Senior Brother of the Sword Radiance Hall," Bai Yan immediately responded. "But... Young Master Yushan isn't currently in the hall."
Healing and Conversation
"Junior Brother Zong, how serious is your injury?" Chen Chuyun's disciple asked, his cool gaze softening as he looked at Chen Zong's pale face, filled with genuine concern.
"It's an internal injury. I'm afraid it will take over ten days to heal," Chen Zong replied truthfully. Chen Chuyun was both a sword technique mentor and an elder sister to him, and he felt very close to him.
"How did you get injured?" Chen Chuyun's brow furrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Chen Zong briefly explained the incident and his suspicions.
"The Fine Rain Gang... they must be eliminated," Chen Chuyun declared. Chen Zong keenly sensed that compared to his usual demeanor, Sister Yun's aura of killing intent had grown much stronger, his presence even colder.
"Sister Yun, let me handle the Fine Rain Gang myself," Chen Zong said.
"Agreed," Chen Chuyun nodded. He reached into a hidden pouch in his robe, pulled out a small porcelain bottle, opened it, and poured out a white pill with green spiral patterns. A refreshing fragrance wafted from it. "This is a Grass Return Pill, highly effective for internal injuries. Take this, and your injury will heal within three days."
In truth, there were pills even more effective than the Grass Return Pill for treating internal injuries, some capable of healing them within hours. However, these cost at least a hundred thousand White Jade Coins.
Even a single Grass Return Pill cost over ten thousand White Jade Coins.
Chen Zong accepted the pill Sister Yun offered without hesitation and immediately swallowed it. As the pill dissolved, a cool, refreshing energy quickly spread throughout his body, rushing to the site of his internal injuries and enveloping them. It felt like countless invisible hands, carrying a hint of coolness, were skillfully kneading the damaged areas, bringing him immense relief.
"I thought you wouldn't apply to Seven Luminaries Martial Academy for another two years," Chen Chuyun said, watching Chen Zong swallow the pill. "I didn't expect you to come after just one year."
"I realized my strength could get me into the top hundred of the Battle of Heroes, so I decided to apply," Chen Zong replied with a smile.
"It's good you came early," Chen Chuyun nodded. "Seven Luminaries Martial Academy has more geniuses, fiercer competition, and a better cultivation environment. When I came here a year ago, I was at the peak of the Sixth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm. Now, my cultivation base has reached the Eighth Layer. If I had stayed in Wind Martial City, it might have taken two years or more to reach this level."
"Having ranked among the top hundred in Wind Martial City's Battle of Heroes with a cultivation base at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm, your sword technique must be formidable. Let's spar once your internal injuries have healed. I'd like to see it for myself," Chen Chuyun said.
"Agreed," Chen Zong replied. He was equally eager to gauge Sister Yun's mastery of the sword.
The brother and sister settled at a stone table in a corner of the Mid-Grade Courtyard, chatting casually. Chen Chuyun was astonished to learn that Chen Zong had actually secured first place in Wind Martial City's Battle of Heroes. He felt a pang of regret when he learned he had been forced to withdraw from the subsequent competition among the top three Martial Cities due to his internal injuries.
Last year, Chen Chuyun herself had placed second in Wind Martial City's Battle of Heroes. During her journey to Seven Luminaries Martial Academy, her sword technique had advanced significantly. She went on to win third place in the academy's competition, using the rewards to rapidly elevate her cultivation base to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Blood Realm.