Martial Grounds of Wutong Prefecture, West Arena.
"Swish, swish!"
Riding forward, smoothly drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, shooting the target!
Hearing the Summoning Officer shout out "First Class",
Jiang Yi from Divine Capital wipes the sweat from his forehead, a youthful expression of satisfaction appears on his still somewhat tender face.
The family's fortunes have declined, the rank in Lingxiao Pavilion cannot be inherited without a certain level of cultivation.
In Great Zhao, martial arts reign supreme; a minor officer or junior clerk might offer protection to descendants, but for those who shoulder great responsibilities like hereditary princes, noblemen of the sort...
to desire to wear a crown, one must bear the weight, there is no talk of inheriting without merit!
Those born into noble military families might remain noble thanks to their arrogant capital, but it's because the descendants work hard to convert resources into cultivation.
If they do not strive...
they end up like his ancestors, where the rank was cut off within Lingxiao Pavilion, hanging in vacancy, with no one able to inherit!
This dragged him to his generation, striving to seize resources, traveling long distances to this ancestral Wutong Prefecture, hoping for a chance to touch the Military Sacred Land that only the Prefecture Leader can reach, to gain the right to comprehend the 'Martial Temple'!
As legend has it,
within the Martial Temple, there resides a wisp of 'Hero Spirit' from Great Zhao throughout the ages, their former essence and spirit forged into pillar-like statues.
If one can obtain its recognition,
one might even inherit their former 'gift'!
When Great Zhao was founded, the situation was difficult, and under such circumstances, anyone who rose up was an unparalleled hero.
Even if only a tenth could be gained, it would be enough to revive the family business, inheriting the ancestors' legacy.
Moreover, among them, some have become such figures in Divine Capital whose slightest influence causes the situation to quake threefold, if one can establish myriad connections with them...
Not just revival,
but even surpassing the past, is not impossible!
"Xie Mansion's Song Chai Xin, technique level: First Class!" The Summoning Officer's voice rings out again.
Xie Mansion's Song Chai Xin?
That Half-Demon...
Jiang Yi hears this with a shock, glancing in the direction of the voice,
there he sees the iron-like, bone-strong form, falling star-like arrows of Song Chai Xin, involuntarily pressing his lips, feeling a vague threat.
But...
If he cannot cross this step.
how can he talk of becoming the rightful 'Young Master'?!
...
On the other side, East Arena!
"Ha!"
Xu Zuorong exhales like an arrow, transporting his energy and blood, elevating his whole state to its peak.
Hearing those words like 'First Class, Second Class', such words of focus, couldn't even lift his eyelid slightly.
Jiang Yi.
Song Chai Xin.
Names pass by his ear.
Yet none attracted his gaze.
No matter how good others' performances were, could staring a few more times allow him to subdue tigers and dragons, creating cowardice within them?
Certainly not!
It's better to use the time to raise his foundation and state to the highest level.
Then in one fell swoop, fight through the arena, standing legitimately and forthrightly in the last and most crucial stage of 'Contest', is the true way.
As for losing...
That doesn't matter.
Xu Zuorong hails from the 'Demon-Suppressing Great Wall', not here to covet the top ten seats, governing his region, he seeks to personally enter the Martial Temple, inheriting a strand of that 'Divine Thought', to join the lineage!
If he cannot achieve it,
then he shall return home, continuing to slay demons and hone himself.
A Great Sage once said, victory and defeat are the common affairs of the military.
With unceasing foundation,
life is full of green hills!
Moreover,
he simply does not believe that a noble scion from Divine Capital and a Half-Demon with demon blood can defeat him!
...
[With a 'First Class' rating, you break through the technique barrier, listed as upper class, ranking among the top three!]
[According to the rules, the first two stages 'Hunting' and 'Technique', a total of thirty-six participants, will compete in the final 'Contest', deciding the top ten seats.]
[The contest takes four rounds, using a three-to-one advancement system, thirty-six advancing to eighteen, eighteen advancing to nine, and as one of the top three, after the second round, if not eliminated, you, Jiang Yi, and Xu Zuorong will skip one round, with the remaining six deciding three to join you in the fourth round.]
[As the sky grows dim and the sun sets,]
[you, with dazzling Fist Dao, knock down a Martial Artist who also holds a decent rank, he occupies one of the top six seats but...]
[can only be within the top six.]
[When the twilight, like the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, cloaks over you.]
[You scan the surroundings, among the three platforms, except for yourself, unsurprisingly, only Jiang Yi and Xu Zuorong remain.]
[Then, you ponder for a moment, laughing freely, walking down the platform, before the Summoning Officer even indicates who among the top three will fight first, or who will skip a round...]
[You've already leaped onto the high platform, aiming your fist directly at Jiang Yi!]
[Choosing him, not because you think he's weaker, just that you casually took out a copper coin in leisure time, tossing it in front of everyone, deciding based on its face, and thus choosing Jiang Yi, nothing more.]
[Your action clearly displayed, making this noble scion from Divine Capital surprised but not angry, instead laughing: "What sharpness! Perhaps even compared to those tiger sons of military families in Divine Capital, you're not much less!"]
[Having said that, without hesitation, he draws the sword from his waist, a hand wave produces fire light attached, apparently his sword technique reached 'Intention', simultaneously a thin layer of qi covers the sword blade's surface, directly attacking towards you!]
[With Circulation Qi Collection, Sword Intention realized, this is Jiang Yi, far surpassing previous Prefecture Leaders, counting three generations forward and backward, the leader would undoubtedly be him, but...]
[yet, he met you.]
[To attain 'genuine' fist style recognition in Martial Gate Foundation Establishment, subtly improving the body... is virtually nonexistent.]
[Because achieving recognition in Martial Gate Foundation Establishment, compared to Great Innate recognition in 'Fist Dao', 'Sword Dao' and the like, is tenfold more difficult, thus even with noble birth, it's in vain.]
[Though you haven't mastered 'Fenghuo Langyan', you have condensed fist style, inherently set higher than prestigious fist techniques by a whole level.]
[Jiang Yi's Sword Move sharply exposes edges, yet ultimately hasn't trained to the highest 'Martial Arts Celestial Form', unable to break through all with singular force.]
[A mere half incense stick time!]
[As Sword Intention crumbles under fist force,]
[simultaneously 'crumbling', is a Dao Heart that seemed like a rising sun.]
[But your steps, do not halt at this.]
[After all, the enemies defeated by your hand will only watch your back until it vanishes.]
[You cast your gaze towards Xu Zuorong, observing with arms crossed and brow furrowed, without hesitation, in one vigorous effort, fly forward with a punch!]
[At this moment, the thought within you is singular, just to win!]
[And that person then slowly draws the blade.]
[Without surprise, he also realized intentions and mastered qi collection, you fall into a bitter battle, even retreating, continuously defeated.]
[When skill, experience, technique, realm are neck and neck with the enemy, or even surpassed, the scale of victory naturally tips.]
[You've already come this far...]
[You won't resign yourself.]
[The part of the Flood Dragon within your bloodline, though you don't acknowledge it, is still connected to your very essence.]
[You believe you carry cursed blood,]
[And between your eyes... emerges a near-suicidal determination!]
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
The training ground was a forest of banners, under the setting sun, a strong wind blew mightily!
Song Chai Xin's body was covered in relentless knife wounds, bleeding profusely, and even the Water and Fire Immortal Robe couldn't completely block the sharp blade.
Xu Zuorong furrowed his brows tightly. His whole body formed the most common defensive stance of military strategy, resembling the coiled forms of a turtle and snake, as he eyed the enemy before him.
No, to say it was an enemy.
But upon his back, it was as if he wore a devouring Flood Dragon!
This one called Song Chai Xin wasn't fighting in a duel!
He was fighting for his life!
Slash!
The agile youth before him leaped, lifting a robust arm, exposing a large opening on his right shoulder. Xu Zuorong seized the opportunity without hesitation, adding another gash to Song Chai Xin.
But then!
Thud!
"Ugh!" Just after landing a blow, Xu Zuorong's face turned pale as his chest was struck viciously with a punch, almost dislocating his internal organs!
Trading injury for injury!
He stepped back two steps, but the guy who should have been even more gravely injured smiled broadly: "You're the first person I wanted to defeat since I began practicing my fist for six months."
Six months?
For the fraction of a second, Xu Zuorong was stunned.
Are you kidding me?!
He honed his skills for ten years to master this blade!
You practiced for six months, and you think you were born with such knowledge?
Yet, before Xu Zuorong could respond, a pair of cold eyes, blood-red, swept over him, sending a chill down his spine.
Only then did he realize, the guy before him was a Half-Demon!
Song Chai Xin's physique was stronger than his own!
But what could be done? He had already exhausted all his means. Was he to concede?
How could he be satisfied with that!
With this in mind,
despite the life-threatening situation, the so-called 'green mountains' he had considered earlier were instantly thrown to the back of his mind by Xu Zuorong.
And so,
under the shining sunset.
Bang bang bang!!
Crash crash crash!!
Fist and blade shadows intertwined.
The two figures were riddled with wounds.
A completely reckless way of fighting, even more savage than demons.
Jiang Yi, who came from the Divine Capital, was watching dumbstruck.
He finally understood...
Where he had lost.
He lacked the determination to risk his life, his mind preoccupied with restoring honor and glory, but forgetting that everything for a Martial Artist is fought for with their life!
Unable to even accomplish this,
How could he compare to these two?
Until————
Clang!
A punch!
Seizing Xu Zuorong at the limits of his physical endurance, Song Chai Xin let out a ferocious smile and struck his skull, slightly retracting his strength, finally, at the point of near exhaustion...
Knocked him down!
"Thud!"
A heavy muffled sound echoed on the stage.
Xu Zuorong's eyes glazed over, and he fell unconscious.
Song Chai Xin's slight restraint also led Xiang Zhulu and Lin Shao, who almost stood up, to sit back down.
As he sat down, shocked, Xiang Zhulu didn't forget to turn to the right and smile:
"How was it?"
"Our officer said to wait and see!"
To this, the middle-aged Commander-in-Chief simply snorted without words, his face expressionless.
Instead, Prefecture Venerable Bai Qiuyi's eyes shone bright, his old face beaming with a smile, as if seeing a rare treasure:
"Not bad, not bad!"
"After serving as Prefecture Venerable for so many years, these three are the best talents I've seen."
"Being acknowledged as their 'Master' is truly an honor!"
And on the stage.
Song Chai Xin was already exhausted, unable to stand steady.
Until the Summoning Officer announced Prefecture Venerable Bai Qiuyi's command, in a haze, he heard the words:
"The current leader of Wutong Prefecture————"
"Xie Family's Song Chai Xin!"
Only then completely unable to hold on, about to collapse.
Expecting to be like Xu Zuorong, falling alone on the stage.
Unexpectedly,
from the nearest viewing stand, a slender figure with nimble steps flew towards him, catching him just in time, and dragged him off the stage.
Ruan Xiuxiu looked at the young man before her, covered in blood, with her clean, porcelain-like delicate arms. Hesitating for a moment, she still lifted her sleeve to wipe his face.
Seeing that face, at once wicked and resolute with a touch of sharpness,
recalling the figure from moments ago, like a deity.
And the overlap with six months ago...
Suddenly, as if hitting her soul directly.
Ruan Xiuxiu then felt...
The heartbeat from her chest.
Audible even in silence.
(ps: having written 6000 words, was a little late. I update daily with five to six thousand words in the new book stage, slightly more than others. There will be a more massive update on release; please remember to track these updates daily, as this data is very important, really important, please QAQ!)