12: Chapter 12 Three Clans Martial Arts Tournament

Finally, the day of the Three-Clan Martial Competition arrived.

On the open ground in front of the Black Iron Mine, three high platforms were arranged in a triangular formation.

The banners of the Li, Wang, and Zhao families snapped loudly in the wind.

Dozens of people from each of the three major families stood in distinct groups.

The Li Family was led by Li Zhenshan, with the younger generation standing at the very front.

Li Changsheng stood in the center, with Li Changhu on his left and Li Changqing on his right.

Her injuries had healed, and her cultivation had reached the Peak of the fifth level of the Acquired realm.

On the Wang Family's side, Wang Lie stared gloomily at Li Changsheng, his eyes filled with hatred.

Standing beside him were three others: a cold-faced young man in green at the sixth level of the Acquired realm, and a pair of similar-looking twins, both at the fifth level of the Acquired realm.

The Zhao Family was relatively low-key, with two young men at the sixth level of the Acquired realm standing side by side, followed by two at the fifth level.

After all three parties arrived, a white-haired old man stepped onto the central platform.

He was the Mayor of Qinghe Town, a notary jointly invited by the three major families.

“The three-year term has come to an end. As agreed, the mining rights for the Black Iron Mine for the next three years will be decided through a martial competition,”

the old man's voice boomed.

“The rules are as follows: Each Family will field four combatants for an arena-style challenge.”

“The loser leaves the stage, while the winner remains to defend the arena until one side has no one left to fight.”

“The last Family standing on the stage wins.”

“Furthermore—”

The old man paused.

“For the sake of fairness, each Family has one ‘substitution’ opportunity, allowing them to temporarily change their chosen combatant before their turn to enter the stage.”

This rule made the elders of the three families nod in approval.

This meant they could arrange their lineup strategically.

“Now, please hand the list of combatants to this old man.”

As Li Zhenshan handed over the list, he whispered,

“Changsheng, act according to the plan.”

Li Changsheng nodded.

They had already formulated their strategy last night.

Li Changqing would go first to wear down the opponent's strength; Li Changhu would go second to aim for a victory; he himself would go third and must win consecutively; the last person would serve as a backup for any accidents.

“We will draw lots to determine the order of the challenges.”

The old man took out three bamboo slips.

“The one who draws the red slip will be the first to challenge the arena.”

The Wang Family head, Wang Minghao, drew the red slip.

A cold smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

“Wang Lie of the Wang Family requests guidance from the Li Family!”

It was actually Wang Lie who went up first, and he specifically challenged the Li Family!

The crowd below broke into an uproar.

This was blatant revenge, and an attempt to eliminate the Li Family first!

Li Zhenshan's face darkened as he looked at Li Changsheng.

Li Changsheng’s expression remained unchanged as he nodded to Li Changqing beside him.

“Li Changqing of the Li Family accepts the challenge!”

The young girl took a deep breath and leaped onto the arena with her sword.

She knew her chances of winning this fight were slim, but as long as she could exhaust some of Wang Lie's stamina, it would be a victory.

“Heh, sending a woman to her death?”

Wang Lie grinned savagely.

“Fine, I’ll start by dealing with you!”

The battle erupted instantly.

Wang Lie struck with fury, his palm winds like thunder, every move lethal.

Li Changqing executed her Family's sword technique, focusing primarily on defense and struggling to hold her ground.

Ten moves, twenty moves...

“Pfft!”

On the twenty-fifth move, Li Changqing was struck by a palm, spat out blood, and was sent flying off the stage.

“The Li Family is nothing more than this!” Wang Lie stood proudly in the center.

The Li Family members rushed to catch Li Changqing; her injuries were not light, but she gritted her teeth and said,

“I... I held on for twenty-six or twenty-seven moves, he's quite exhausted...”

Li Zhenshan nodded and looked at Li Changhu.

“According to the plan, you’re up.”

Just as Li Changhu was about to step onto the stage, Li Changsheng suddenly pressed down on his shoulder.

“Wait.”

“Brother Changsheng?”

Li Changsheng looked at Wang Lie, then at the Wang Family camp, a flash of insight crossing his eyes.

“Wang Lie’s state is not right.”

“When he struck just now, on the seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first moves, there was a slight stiffness in his right shoulder. That's a sign of an unhealed old injury.”

“You mean...”

“In his haste for revenge, he forced himself out of seclusion; his injuries haven't fully recovered.”

Li Changsheng said quickly.

“If I'm not mistaken, the Wang Family let him go first because they wanted him to end it quickly and intimidate everyone. But he won't be able to last long.”

He turned to Li Zhenshan.

“Uncle, substitute him. I’m going up.”

“Now?”

Li Zhenshan frowned.

“According to the plan, you’re the third match...”

“Plans change with the situation.”

Li Changsheng said in a deep voice.

“Wang Lie is the Wang Family's strongest combatant. If we can defeat him now, it will not only strike at the Wang Family's morale but also force them to use their substitution opportunity early. And...”

He looked toward the Zhao Family camp.

“The Zhao Family is watching. If we appear too weak, they might join forces with the Wang Family to eliminate us first.”

Li Zhenshan took a deep breath.

“Alright! Substitution, Changsheng is up!”

When Li Changsheng leaped onto the arena, the crowd broke into an uproar again.

“The Li Family is sending out their strongest combatant so soon?”

“They're going head-to-head with Wang Lie!”

“This is getting interesting...”

When Wang Lie saw Li Changsheng, the hatred in his eyes almost became tangible.

“Li Changsheng! I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time!”

“It's been three months, your injuries haven't fully healed yet, have they?”

Li Changsheng said calmly.

Wang Lie's expression changed.

“You...”

“The ‘Jianjing Point’ on your right shoulder stings every time you exert force, doesn't it?”

Li Changsheng continued.

“That's a hidden injury from when you forcibly broke through your cultivation level.”

“I suggest you admit defeat and step down, otherwise, after today, that arm of yours will be useless.”

These words were half-true and half-false, but they struck right at Wang Lie's concerns.

He did indeed have a hidden injury, but he was confident he could suppress it.

“Arrogance!”

Wang Lie roared.

“Take a palm from me!”

The Gale Palm was unleashed once more, its power thirty percent greater than it was three months ago!

Li Changsheng didn't meet it head-on; instead, his body moved like a spirit ape, dodging past the edge of the palm winds every time.

He was observing, waiting.

Twenty moves passed. Wang Lie's attacks were like a tide, but Li Changsheng only defended and did not attack.

“Is all you can do hide?!”

Wang Lie roared again, his state of mind already in disarray.

At the very moment his old injury flared up and his right shoulder hesitated for a fraction of a second,

Li Changsheng moved!

It wasn't the Spirit Ape Fist, but the power of the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique exploding forth!

He crushed the bluestone with one step, his body shooting out like a cannonball, delivering a simple and direct punch!

This punch had no flourishes, only pure power and speed!

Wang Lie tried to parry in a hurry, but he felt an overwhelming force surging toward him!

“Crack!”

The sound of a breaking arm bone was clearly audible.

Wang Lie screamed as he was sent flying, crashing heavily below the stage, his right arm twisted and deformed—completely ruined!

One punch, just one punch!

The entire field fell into a dead silence.

In the Wang Family camp, Wang Minghao stood up abruptly, his eyes spitting fire.

“Li Changsheng! How dare you strike so ruthlessly!”

“Fists and feet have no eyes, Second Master Wang, please forgive me.”

Li Changsheng withdrew his fist, his breathing steady.

“Next?”

The remaining three members of the Wang Family looked at each other, and finally, that cold young man leaped onto the arena.

“Wang Han of the Wang Family, please advise.”

Wang Han, at the Peak of the sixth level of the Acquired realm, was the true number one of the Wang Family's younger generation.

He used a saber in his right hand with a cold and lethal technique, while his left hand used palm strikes for constant sneak attacks.

In this battle, Li Changsheng no longer held back.

The Spirit Ape Fist Intent was fully unleashed, and combined with the powerful Physical Body from the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique, he wove through the saber light and drifted through the palm shadows, landing solid punches.

After thirty moves, Wang Han's saber technique was already in disarray.

“Break!”

On the forty-second move, Li Changsheng shattered the saber's blade with a punch, and the residual force shook Wang Han off the stage.

Two consecutive victories!

Only the two fifth-level twins remained for the Wang Family.

According to the rules, they could substitute.

But Wang Minghao's face was ashen.

Substitute with whom?

The elite of the Wang Family's younger generation were already here!

“The Wang Family...”

“For this match,”

“admits defeat.”

Wang Minghao said through gritted teeth.

The Wang Family was eliminated early!