On the other side, below the arena, Shen Xiuhan squeezed through the crowd with large strides and arrived by Shen Huai's side.
The front of Shen Huai's robes was stained completely red. Blood and foam continuously bubbled from his mouth, his face as pale as golden paper, rendering him unable to utter even a single word.
The surrounding disciples of the Mei Courtyard all wore expressions of deep worry.
Jiang Qinghong's brow furrowed tightly. She fished out a heart-protecting pill and slipped it into Shen Huai's mouth to keep him breathing.
Right then, everyone's vision blurred as Mei Shuangfeng and Ji Shuying landed right in front of them.
Without a word, Mei Shuangfeng leaned down, pressed her index and middle fingers together, and swiftly tapped several major acupoints on Shen Huai's chest.
Her finger force penetrated the body to seal the acupoints. Shen Huai's rapid breathing instantly stabilized a little, and he stopped coughing up large mouthfuls of blood.
“Four of his ribs are broken, and his sternum is damaged.”
Mei Shuangfeng stood up, her expression softening slightly as she spoke with a trace of relief:
“Fortunately, his internal organs weren't damaged. After taking a high-grade pill from the courtyard, supplemented with bone-setting ointment for external application, he should be able to walk again after resting for two or three months.”
Around them, the disciples, whose heartstrings had been wound tight, all let out a collective sigh of relief.
Jiang Qinghong called over two outer courtyard disciples to carry Shen Huai back to the martial arts hall.
Seeing that Shen Huai was out of danger, Shen Xiuhan felt at ease and departed.
He and Shen Huai were merely nodding acquaintances, but as fellow disciples, there was still a bond of brotherhood between them.
Behind him, Mei Shuangfeng and Ji Shuying stared at his departing back.
“Shuang-jun...”
Ji Shuying lowered her voice, her tone still filled with disbelief:
“You said earlier that the technique... is truly based on the Meishan Heart Method, yet it carves out a completely new path pointing directly toward Gangjin?”
“Indeed.”
Mei Shuangfeng nodded slowly.
“I have pondered it repeatedly for several days. There is absolutely no mistake. The vision of that 『Golden Eagle Soaring Technique』 is so grand, and its force manipulation so exquisite, that it far surpasses the Meishan inheritance.”
“Then the origin of this technique...”
“There is no need to ask.”
Mei Shuangfeng raised her hand.
“Martial artists of the martial world obtain their own opportunities. Since Han'er is unwilling to speak of it openly, he must have his own difficulties. As his mentors, we do not need to pry. If he wishes to speak, he will naturally tell me.”
Hearing this, Ji Shuying nodded silently and did not press further.
Pausing for a moment, she shifted the topic, her tone turning solemn:
“Shuang-jun, then how confident are you... in breaking through to Qi Tempering?”
Huajin is divided into three refinements: Qi Tempering, Essence Tempering, and Spirit Tempering.
The so-called Qi Tempering—
—was to convert the force within the nine acupoints of Anjin into qi.
Like mist and clouds, it could be released and gathered at will.
From then on, one's combat power would undergo a complete metamorphosis, rendering them incomparable to ordinary Anjin martial artists.
Hearing this, Mei Shuangfeng fell silent for a moment before saying, “Once I regulate my breathing for a month... I should have a sixty percent chance.”
“Sixty percent...”
Ji Shuying's brow furrowed slightly. Then, she reached into her sleeve, pulled out a small porcelain bottle, and handed it over.
“This is...”
Mei Shuangfeng was slightly startled, her gaze falling on the porcelain bottle.
Ji Shuying took a deep breath and said word by word:
“The 『Five Elements Qi-Refining Pill』!”
Mei Shuangfeng's pupils contracted slightly, a flash of astonishment crossing her eyes.
“The secret Huajin pill of the Five Elements Sect in the imperial capital, Linzi?”
“Indeed.”
Ji Shuying nodded, her gaze sincere and candid as she spoke slowly:
“This pill was a treasure from the Linzi Treasure Auction a month ago. At the time, the Five Elements Sect sold a bottle of them, which was bid on and won by General Qi Shengjun of the 『Autumn-Slaying Army』, who guards the west. Our chamber of commerce purchased a single pill from her at a premium...”
“I am still a year or two away from the Great Perfection of the Anjin Rank, so keeping this pill would only be a waste. It is better to prioritize your needs first.”
Mei Shuangfeng gazed at her, her expression gradually softening. Without any awkward hesitation, she took the porcelain bottle and tucked it into her robe.
“Very well! With the assistance of this pill... I now have an eighty percent confidence in breaking through!”
...
The hour of You drew to a close.
The setting sun was as red as blood, dyeing the vast surface of Cloudwater Lake a crimson hue.
Shen Xiuhan stood below the stage, noting the fighting styles of several formidable opponents in the Mingjin group, and prepared to leave.
As for the Anjin arena... he merely cast a few distant glances toward it.
This was because someone had completely stolen the spotlight over there.
Xiao Wu.
On the very first day of the tournament, he had displayed a terrifying and fierce prowess!
He had defeated two Anjin experts in a row all by himself!
And his opponents were both fairly well-known experts!
When the crowd learned that Xiao Wu came from the lowest rungs of the Outer City and had risen step-by-step from being a mere mine laborer to where he was today...
...the entire lakeshore erupted!
The spectators could not help but marvel in awe!
Even the spotlight on Wang Xuanyang, the son of the Zhendong General, was completely overshadowed.
As Shen Xiuhan was leaving, he happened to catch a glimpse of a scene.
Having been overshadowed, Wang Xuanyang not only harbored no jealousy but instead went over to friendly strike up a conversation with Xiao Wu, intending to book an entire restaurant to invite him for a celebratory drink.
Being a hearty and magnanimous person, Xiao Wu naturally agreed without hesitation.
Shen Xiuhan, however, had no time to dwell on such matters. He returned home to nurture his spirit and quietly await his turn to fight the next day.
The night passed without a word.
It was the forty-first day that Ninth Chief Tu Xiaotian of Chenjian Dock had been blind to his true worth.
At three quarters past noon, the tournament gongs and drums echoed once more.
Shen Xiuhan's entry number was near the front, and his name was soon called.
“Group Thirteen, Second Match: Shen Xiuhan of the Mei Courtyard versus Liu San of Changyun's Huichun Hall!”
Just as the words fell, the disciples of the Mei Courtyard on the slope raised their arms and cheered:
“It's Senior Brother Shen!”
“Senior Brother Shen is going up!”
“Junior Brother, show them the prestige of our Mei Courtyard!”
Xu Chuan had the loudest voice, cupping his hands around his mouth and roaring until his face was flushed and his neck veins bulged.
Not to be outdone, a group of men from Huichun Hall bellowed in response:
“Guard Liu, crush him!”
“Show that kid the power of our Huichun Hall's Iron Sand Palm!”
Amidst the cheers and roars, Shen Xiuhan walked calmly onto the stage.
On the opposite side, a burly man as imposing as an iron tower leaped onto the platform.
He was built like a bear, his bare upper body covered in ripples of thick flesh, his arms as thick as thighs, and a patch of black hair on his chest. He looked exactly like a standing black bear.
Thud!
When he landed, the ten-foot-high arena groaned under his weight, the wooden planks vibrating and causing the apricot-yellow flags at the four corners of the stage to sway.
Liu San chuckled, looking extremely pleased with himself. He sized up Shen Xiuhan's slender figure, a flash of disdain passing through his eyes as he casually cupped his fists.
“Liu San of Huichun Hall!”
“Shen Xiuhan of the Mei Courtyard.”
Seeing that both sides had finished their greetings, Wang Youjun announced indifferently, “Begin the match!”
Boom!
The instant the words left his mouth.
Shen Xiuhan stomped his foot hard. His body shot forward like a furious arrow released from a bowstring, leaving a green afterimage in his wake.
Fast!
Astonishingly fast!
Before the smirk could fade from Liu San's face, his pupils suddenly contracted.
He only felt his vision blur as a fist rapidly enlarged in his line of sight.
It was completely unavoidable!
Bang!
A dull thud echoed, sounding like a heavy hammer slamming into wet mud.
Liu San's broad face twisted in agony, his nose bridge bending to one side. Several bloody white teeth shot out of his mouth, clattering onto the wooden floor.
Blood gushed from both his nose and the corners of his mouth.
Shen Xiuhan's eyes were cold and unperturbed.
For this punch, he had intentionally held back seventy percent of his strength.
Had he only held back fifty percent, Liu San would already be lying on the ground unconscious.
Seeing Liu San swaying and staggering, Shen Xiuhan transitioned his fists into palms. His hands moved as if lifting a heavy cauldron, his ten fingers gripping both sides of Liu San's jaw and scooping upward.
Under this lift, Liu San's massive, two-hundred-pound frame was hoisted off the ground as easily as a piece of straw.
『Thirty-Six Paths Sky-Collapsing Kick: Rising Dragon Kick』!
Shen Xiuhan launched a kick from where he stood!
His right leg whipped up like a soaring dragon raising its head, his calf straightening and his instep tensing as his foot slammed squarely into Liu San's abdomen.
Bang!
Liu San... flew!
Drawing an arc through the air, he sailed over the heads of the densely packed crowd below the stage, flying dozens of feet away under everyone's astonished gazes!
Thud!
A heavy thud sounded.
Liu San crashed heavily onto the muddy shore, splashing up a large sheet of mud.
Pfft!
He spat out a mouthful of blood as he lay on his back, struggling to raise his head to look at the youth standing on the stage with hands clasped behind his back, his green robes completely undisturbed. Disdain was no longer present in his eyes, replaced entirely by lingering dread.
With that kick just now, he had clearly felt a domineering force that instantly withdrew the moment it struck him.
Had it not been for that, his internal organs would have been completely shattered by now. How could he still be alive?
Clutching his chest, Liu San coughed as he wheezed out:
“Thank... thank you for showing mercy...”
Shen Xiuhan turned around silently, offering no response.
Beside his ears, Wang Youjun's sonorous and powerful voice rang out:
“Shen Xiuhan of the Mei Courtyard, wins!”
Rate on N.U.
