109: Chapter 109 First Martial Arts Test

On the second day of the exchange meeting, at the Qinglan City Martial Arts Field.

Just as dawn broke, the area around the Martial Arts Field was already packed with people.

This was a venue several times larger than the Dao Discussion Platform, with ten arenas standing side by side in the center.

Each arena was five zhang in diameter and about one zhang high, built from hard Qinggang rock and covered in reinforcement runes, enough to withstand a full-force strike from a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator without damage.

Today's rules were simple: draw lots for duels, and the winner advances.

However, every first-round loser would have one more chance.

If they lost in the first round, they could enter the Loser's Bracket and continue fighting.

Qinglan Sword Sect, Jinyang Sect, Medicine King Valley, Qingxin Pavilion, Blood Fiend Sect...

The ten competing Disciples from each Sect had all arrived. Some were talking in low voices, some were resting with their eyes closed, and others were stretching their muscles. A faint air of tension permeated the atmosphere.

A long line had formed in front of the drawing station.

The slip Li Changsheng drew had a number written on it: seventeen.

"Arena number seventeen."

The deacon Disciple in charge of registration took a look and pointed into the distance.

"Over there, the seventh one."

Li Changsheng nodded and walked toward that arena.

Quite a few people were already standing around the arena, waiting to watch the excitement.

Li Changsheng leapt onto the arena and waited quietly for his opponent.

Before long, a Disciple from the Jinyang Sect also leapt onto the stage.

He was in his early twenties, with an ordinary appearance and a cultivation at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 8. A standard-issue longsword hung at his waist.

Seeing Li Changsheng, he was slightly taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "Ma Jiang of the Jinyang Sect. Please advise."

Li Changsheng returned the gesture.

"Li Changsheng of the Qinglan Sword Sect."

The referee stepped onto the arena, glanced at the two of them, and announced the rules.

"The rules are simple: if one side surrenders, falls off the arena, or loses the ability to fight, the other side wins."

"Intentional killing is forbidden; violators will be disqualified."

The two nodded.

The referee stepped back, and the gong sounded.

"Dang!"

Ma Jiang instantly drew his sword, his figure moving like lightning as he charged straight at Li Changsheng!

His sword technique was sharp, and his first move was a killing blow, clearly part of Chen Yuanba's lineage Legacy.

The sword light was like snow, and the Sword Qi was like frost. Every strike aimed for a vital point without mercy.

Li Changsheng's expression was calm, his footwork light as he wove through the sword light like a spirit ape climbing branches.

He was in no hurry to counterattack, merely maneuvering with the basic sword techniques of the Qinglan Sword Art, meeting each move and parrying to neutralize his opponent's offensive.

Five moves, ten moves, fifteen moves.

Ma Jiang became increasingly anxious as the fight progressed.

Although his sword technique was sharp, every strike felt like it was hitting cotton; he couldn't even touch the edge of Li Changsheng's clothes.

And the other's composed manner made him feel even more flustered.

On the nineteenth move, Ma Jiang's sword missed, revealing a tiny opening.

A sharp light flashed in Li Changsheng's eyes!

The green steel sword left its scabbard, and he thrust it forward!

This strike was as fast as lightning, aimed straight for Ma Jiang's throat!

But when the tip of the sword was only an inch from the throat, he flipped his wrist, turning the blade and striking with the flat of the sword instead!

Bang!

The blade struck Ma Jiang's chest, sending him flying backward and off the arena!

"Li Changsheng of the Qinglan Sword Sect wins!"

The referee announced the result.

Ma Jiang scrambled up from the ground, clutching his chest with a complicated expression.

He knew that if the other party hadn't shown mercy just now, he would already be a dead man.

He cupped his fists and turned to leave.

Li Changsheng sheathed his sword and leapt down from the arena.

It was an easy victory.

He walked back to the Qinglan Sword Sect area and felt several gazes fall upon him.

Lin Jingyun was giving him a thumbs-up, his face full of smiles.

Zhou Yuan looked at him and nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes.

Over at the Qingxin Pavilion, Su Qianxue's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she looked away.

The Junior Sisters beside her were whispering something, looking at Li Changsheng with curiosity.

And...

Over at the Blood Fiend Sect, Li Sha was staring at him coldly.

Those blood-red eyes were like a venomous snake staring at its prey.

Beside him, Xu Sen whispered a few words in his ear. Li Sha nodded, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze, his expression calm, and returned to his seat.

"Impressive,"

Shi Tiezhu said loudly.

"Finished it in one move."

Li Changsheng shook his head.

"He was too impatient. If he could have stayed calm, he could have fought for dozens more moves."

Shi Tiezhu laughed.

"Didn't you force him to be impatient? If I were in his place, facing that evasive footwork of yours, I would have lost my cool long ago."

Li Changsheng didn't say more, only looking toward the arenas.

The first day's matches were still continuing.

On the ten arenas, battles were taking place simultaneously.

On the third arena, Mo Han was fighting a Disciple from the Medicine King Valley.

That Disciple was at the Early Stage of Qi Refining Level 9, and his palm technique was quite exquisite, but before Mo Han's "Water-Severing Sword," he was completely unable to withstand a single blow.

In less than thirty moves, he was knocked off the arena by a single sword strike.

Mo Han sheathed his sword, his expression cold, as if he had only done something trivial.

On the fourth arena, Lu Yu's opponent was from the Medicine King Valley, at the Early Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

Lu Yu's "Gale Sword" lived up to its name, being so fast it was a blur.

This young man from the Medicine King Valley had reached his Realm by piling up Medicinal Pills; his Foundation was not solid, and he was not skilled in combat. He only lasted over thirty moves before being struck in the shoulder by Lu Yu's sword and surrendering.

Lu Yu smiled and waved to the crowd below, drawing a burst of cheers.

On the ninth arena, Li Changqing was in a bitter struggle.

Her opponent was a female Disciple from the Qingxin Pavilion, at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining Level 8.

That female Disciple's sword technique was light and her movement agile—the true Legacy of the Qingxin Pavilion.

Although Li Changqing's cultivation was slightly lower, she excelled in having rich practical combat experience, and they fought back and forth.

The opponent's sword technique was also exceptionally exquisite, making the fight very difficult for her.

Thirty moves, fifty moves, eighty moves.

Several wounds appeared on Li Changqing's body, but the female Disciple was not having an easy time either.

Both were giving their all, neither willing to surrender.

At the hundred and twentieth move, Li Changqing finally caught an opening and struck the opponent's shoulder with her sword!

The female Disciple stumbled back and fell off the arena!

Li Changqing stood on the stage, panting heavily and drenched in sweat.

But she had won.

After the referee announced the result, she walked down from the arena, nearly collapsing.

Li Changsheng supported her and fed her a healing Medicinal Pill.

"Are you okay?"

he asked.

Li Changqing nodded and grinned.

"I won."

On the first arena, Zhao Yuan was not so lucky.

His opponent was a Disciple from the Blood Fiend Sect, at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 8.

That person's strikes were vicious, every blow lethal. Zhao Yuan gave his all but only lasted twenty moves before being knocked off the arena by a saber strike, coughing up blood.

Zhao Yuan lay on the ground, his face pale.

The Blood Fiend Sect Disciple stood on the stage, spat at him, and sneered.

"Trash."

Zhao Yuan clenched his fists but was powerless to retort.

Several Disciples from the Qinglan Sword Sect rushed forward to help him up.

Li Changqing was trembling with rage and wanted to go up and argue, but was stopped by Li Changsheng.

"The Loser's Bracket,"

Li Changsheng said.

"There's still a chance."

Zhao Yuan grit his teeth and nodded.

The first day's matches continued until evening.

As the sun set, the battles on the ten arenas finally all concluded. A total of fifty Disciples from the five great Sects had competed in twenty-five matches.

Of the ten participants from the Qinglan Sword Sect, four advanced and six entered the Loser's Bracket.

Mo Han, Lu Yu, Li Changsheng, and Li Changqing all moved on to the next round of the Winner's Bracket.

Although Zhao Yuan lost in the first round, he still had a chance for revival. The other five Disciples were heavily injured and would likely find it difficult to achieve further results.

On the Jinyang Sect's side, ten participated, seven advanced, and three entered the Loser's Bracket.

Chen Yuanba, Liu Ruyan, Zhou Yuan, Lin Jingyun, and others all advanced easily without a single defeat.

On the Medicine King Valley's side, ten participated, six advanced, and four entered the Loser's Bracket.

Yun Yifei and several of his Senior Brother and Senior Sister at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9 also successfully advanced.

On the Qingxin Pavilion's side, ten participated, five advanced, and five entered the Loser's Bracket.

Su Qianxue and her Junior Sisters also advanced with total victories.

On the Blood Fiend Sect's side, ten participated, three advanced, and seven entered the Loser's Bracket.

Li Sha and Xu Sen both won, and one other Disciple also advanced.

They were vicious in their strikes, with blood drawn in every match, but within the scope of the rules, the referee could not interfere.

As night fell, the Martial Arts Field gradually grew quiet.