115: Chapter 115 Martial Arts Competition and Literary Contest

Li Changsheng looked down at the bead in his hand; its glow had dimmed slightly, but nearly half of its power remained.

He took a deep breath, carefully put the bead away, stood up, and pushed open the door.

Outside, Li Changqing and Shi Tiezhu were already waiting.

The moment they saw him, both of them were stunned.

“Changsheng, you...”

Li Changqing’s eyes widened. “Your aura...”

Li Changsheng nodded. “I broke through.”

Li Changqing and Shi Tiezhu exchanged a glance, both seeing the pleasant surprise in each other's eyes.

“That's great!”

Shi Tiezhu grinned.

“Now we have even more confidence!”

Li Changsheng shook his head and said nothing.

Middle Stage of Qi Refining Level 9 still had a gap compared to the Peak of Level 9.

But at least, the gap had narrowed.

Today was the seventh day of the martial arts competition, and the atmosphere at the Martial Arts Field had reached an unprecedented Peak.

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

When Li Changsheng's group arrived at the Martial Arts Field, it was already a sea of people.

Disciples of various sects, Loose Cultivators from Qinglan City, commoners from the city, and even some Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators had come.

They stood or sat, surrounding the entire Martial Arts Field so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through; everyone was waiting for the start of this Peak confrontation.

“I heard that today won't be direct combat; first, there will be two special 'semi-finals'.”

“Special? Special in what way?”

“It seems to be a literary competition. Chen Yuanba and Li Sha will compete in killing intent, while Yun Yifei and Li Changsheng will compete in medicinal herbs.”

“A literary competition? That's quite novel.”

The crowd buzzed with discussion, speculating on what the results would be today.

In the area belonging to the Qinglan Sword Sect, Li Changsheng had also learned of the situation; the competition had been adjusted.

To him, he would deal with whatever came his way; adjusting his mood, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

In the center of the Martial Arts Field, two high platforms had already been set up.

On one platform sat a stone table, upon which lay a longsword so red it was almost black, the result of long-term slaughter.

It was prepared for Chen Yuanba and the Blood Butcher, Li Sha.

On the other platform, a stone table was similarly placed, with several Spiritual Plants laid upon it.

Those were prepared for Yun Yifei and Li Changsheng.

On either side of the stone tables on the two platforms, a prayer mat was placed one zhang away.

City Lord Xia stepped onto the central platform and announced the rules:

“Today's semi-finals are divided into two matches.

The first match: Chen Yuanba of the Jinyang Sect versus Li Sha of the Blood Fiend Sect, competing in 'killing intent'.

The rules are simple: the two will sit facing each other and clash with Sword Intent.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, whoever loses their mental composure first, loses.”

An uproar broke out below the stage.

Clashing with Sword Intent?

Isn't that the legendary 'Sword Dao Duel'?

Only those whose Sword Dao has reached an extremely high Realm can engage in this kind of silent battle.

“The second match: Yun Yifei of Medicine King Valley versus Li Changsheng of the Qinglan Sword Sect, competing in 'medicinal herbs'.”

“The Spiritual Plants on this table are all rare treasures.”

“The two must respectively state the name, age, medicinal properties, uses, and the optimal refining method for each Spiritual Plant. The one who is more accurate and comprehensive wins.”

Once the rules were announced, the competitions on both platforms began simultaneously.

The first platform.

Chen Yuanba and Li Sha sat facing each other, two zhang apart.

Chen Yuanba had his eyes closed, his iron sword resting across his knees; his entire being was like a mountain, steady and heavy. Li Sha also had his eyes closed, those blood-red eyes hidden for now, making his expression unreadable.

The incense stick was lit.

In an instant, an invisible pressure radiated from the two of them!

Below the stage, everyone unconsciously took a step back.

That pressure was too strong—so strong it was suffocating!

Chen Yuanba's killing intent was pure and sharp, like an unsheathed iron sword pointing straight at the heart!

His Sword Dao emphasized 'charging forward without retreat', and his killing intent was the same—no flourishes, only the purest slaughter!

Li Sha's killing intent, however, was completely different.

It was a cold, viscous killing intent that seemed to carry the scent of blood.

It was like an invisible web, slowly enveloping the entire platform, penetrating every crack, and corroding Chen Yuanba's mind!

The two forces of killing intent collided, intertwined, and fought in the air!

Below, everyone held their breath, staring intently at the two men on the platform.

One breath, ten breaths, thirty breaths.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Chen Yuanba's forehead.

His brows furrowed tightly, and his breathing became rapid.

Li Sha's face remained deathly pale, but a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

At fifty breaths, Chen Yuanba's body trembled slightly.

At seventy breaths, his face turned pale.

At ninety breaths—

“Pfft!”

Chen Yuanba suddenly snapped his eyes open and spat out a mouthful of blood!

He had lost.

Li Sha opened his eyes, those blood-red pupils staring at Chen Yuanba as the smile on his lips deepened.

“Your killing intent is not yet enough.”

Chen Yuanba wiped the blood from his mouth, stood up, gave Li Sha a deep look, and turned to leave the stage.

He didn't speak, but in that gaze, there was unwillingness, wariness, and... a hint of respect.

Below the stage, the Disciples of the Jinyang Sect looked very grim.

Chen Yuanba was their strongest Qi Refining Disciple; how could he lose so miserably?

Lin Jingyun clenched his fists and whispered,

“Li Sha... is even stronger than imagined.”

Zhou Yuan nodded and said nothing.

In the first match, Li Sha won.

The second platform.

Yun Yifei and Li Changsheng stood facing each other with the stone table between them, five Spiritual Plants laid upon it.

Yun Yifei still wore that smiling expression, but there was a hint more seriousness in his eyes.

He looked at Li Changsheng and smiled.

“Brother Li, on the day of the Dao discussion when you spoke of cultivation being like planting a tree, I knew you had researched Spiritual Plants.”

“Today let's compete and see who identifies them more accurately.”

Li Changsheng nodded and said nothing.

The referee stepped forward and picked up the first Spiritual Plant.

It was a small plant, fiery red all over, with long, thin leaves that had golden patterns on the edges, emitting a faint, warm aura.

“Please identify it,” the referee said.

Yun Yifei's eyes lit up, and he blurted out,

“crimson flame grass, a Rank 3 Spirit Medicine, fifty years old. It is hot in nature and used in fire-attribute Medicinal Pills. It can be used to refine 'Red Flame Pills', which can increase the cultivation speed of fire-attribute Spiritual Roots. The best refining method is...”

He spoke volubly for the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

From judging its age to analyzing its medicinal properties, from refining methods to precautions, he spoke with great logic and detail.

Below the stage, the Disciples of Medicine King Valley clapped one after another, their faces full of pride.

The referee looked at Li Changsheng.

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

“crimson flame grass, Rank 3 Spirit Medicine, sixty-two years old.”

Yun Yifei's smile stiffened slightly.

Sixty-two years old?

He had said fifty years!

Li Changsheng continued.

“It is hot in nature and belongs to the fire element, but it can also enter the wood element. Wood produces fire, and fire also produces wood. By pairing crimson flame grass with wood-attribute Spirit Medicines, one can refine 'Wood-Fire Pills', which can both enhance fire-attribute Spiritual Roots and nourish wood-attribute Meridians.”

Li Changsheng paused and then added,

“The best refining method is not to put it directly into the pill.”

“Rather, one should first nourish it with wood-attribute spiritual power for three days to remove the dry, violent energy within, and then neutralize it with cold-attribute Spirit Medicines. Only then can a High Grade Medicinal Pill be refined.”

Below the stage, there was a dead silence.

Yun Yifei's smile completely froze.

He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but could find no words.

Because everything Li Changsheng said was correct.

That crimson flame grass was indeed more than fifty years old, it could indeed enter the wood element, and it indeed needed to be nourished before refining.

It was just that while he had heard of these details, he hadn't noticed them just now.

The referee nodded and picked up the second Spiritual Plant.

It was a small, silver-white flower with dense petals and a light purple stamen, emitting a faint, cold fragrance.