44: I'll take care of you within three breaths!

At the Dongshan Martial Academy Martial Arts Arena, massive banners blotted out the sun, and scarlet iron-blood war flags fluttered and snapped loudly in the cold winter wind.

By the time Lin Yi arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, it was already close to the Fifth mark of the Si hour (10:00 AM).

At this moment, the snow on the field had long been cleared away. The surrounding ceremonial stands and bleachers were already packed with high-level academy officials and spectators from all directions.

They watched the dozens of Disciples on the field, wielding various weapons and fighting bronze mechanical men with a series of "clangs," their faces filled with excitement, indifference, or flushed with agitation.

"Lin Yi is here."

As soon as Lin Yi arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, Teacher Sun, the middle-aged scholar who had been by Zhao Haihong's side during the entrance examination, approached him and smiled.

"I was thinking that if you hadn't shown up in another fifteen or thirty minutes, I'd have gone to your residence to call you!"

"After all, today is the Dongshan Martial Academy's monthly grand competition. Even if you can't break into the top three and get the chance to enter the Red Dragon Pool, there are still plenty of rewards if you can make it into the top ten or top five. You absolutely cannot miss it."

"Mm, thank you for your concern, Teacher Sun. I naturally wouldn't miss such an important event as the academy competition. However, I figured there wouldn't be much for me to do even if I came early, so I just stayed home to Cultivate for a while."

Hearing this, Lin Yi replied with a smile.

The rules for the Dongshan Martial Academy's competition were different from those of the Guangling Martial Academy.

In Guangling Martial Academy, the final rankings for the top twenty, top ten, top three, and first place were determined through two rounds: a battle against bronze mechanical men and then arena matches.

In Dongshan Martial Academy, although there were also two rounds—bronze mechanical men and arena matches—the bronze mechanical man round was only required for ordinary Disciples who had ranked outside the top ten in the previous competition.

As for the top ten Disciples, they didn't need to participate at all and instead advanced directly to the second round of arena matches.

Furthermore, the rules for the arena matches weren't like Guangling Martial Academy's, where Disciples were paired one-on-one and eliminated one by one.

Instead, the Disciples who had just ranked in the top ten of the first round were allowed to challenge the Disciples from the previous top ten based on their own wishes.

Once one of these first-round Disciples defeated a previous top-ten Disciple, they would automatically take over that Disciple's rank.

Although Lin Yi hadn't participated in the previous Dongshan Martial Academy competition, he had demonstrated formidable strength during the school field assessment.

Therefore, Dean Zhao Haihong had specifically allowed him to skip the first round of bronze mechanical man assessments today. Instead, he would wait until the first round concluded to challenge the previous top ten alongside the ten victors of the first round.

Because of this, Lin Yi had been able to Cultivate peacefully at his residence today, managing to Breakthrough to the Sixth Rank, Late Stage in one go.

Reflecting on this, Lin Yi stood with Sun Wenfang, watching the Disciples' matches while waiting silently.

Time passed quickly, and soon, an hour had gone by.

On the Martial Arts Arena, the final batch of Disciple challenges came to an end.

A moment later, a burly man with a sturdy build stepped into the center of the arena, took a sheet of white paper from the recording teacher nearby, and announced loudly:

"I declare the end of the first round of the Dongshan Martial Academy's end-of-November assessment."

"In this round, ten Disciples, including Huang Can, Liu Yingying, Zhang Yuanlong, and Bai Xian, have performed excellently. Along with Lin Yi, the Disciple from Guangling Martial Academy who came to our Dongshan Martial Academy for further studies at the beginning of this month, the eleven of you will advance to the second round together, earning the right to challenge the top ten Disciples from the previous competition."

"Next, the eleven of you and the ranked Disciples from the last competition, please come onto the stage for the second round!"

"Yes!"

Hearing the burly man's voice, the twenty-one people, including Lin Yi, responded in unison and stepped onto the testing ground.

"Heh, kid, so you're Lin Yi?"

As soon as Lin Yi stepped onto the Martial Arts Arena, a burly youth with solid muscles, dark skin, standing over two meters tall, and covered in thick hair—looking much like a gorilla—grinned at him, his face full of provocation.

"That's right! I am Lin Yi! What, is something the matter?"

Seeing that the newcomer seemed hostile, Lin Yi frowned slightly.

"Kid, I heard you're quite arrogant!"

The burly youth gave a sinister laugh.

"A country bumpkin from the sticks. You just arrived at our Dongshan Martial Academy a month ago and you already dare to step on our Disciples to make a name for yourself? You're looking for death!"

"I've been wanting to teach you a good lesson for a month now. It's just a pity you bumpkin hid so well that I never found an opportunity."

"Heh, you can't hide today, can you? I ask you, do you dare to accompany me onto the arena for a battle now?"

"What! Wan Yong wants to challenge Lin Yi!"

Seeing this, before Lin Yi could even answer, the crowd of Disciples immediately erupted.

"Haha! It's starting! It's starting! Wan Yong and Lin Yi are going at it!"

"Haha! Well said, Wan Yong! A mere kid from the countryside, relying on a bit of strength to be so arrogant. I've been annoyed with him for a long time. If it weren't for my lack of strength, I would have taught him a lesson long ago!"

"Haha! Qian Chuan, you'll get your satisfaction this time. Wan Yong was ranked sixth in the last competition. Not only has he also achieved Extreme Strength Minor Achievement and Fourth Grade Martial Art Major Achievement, but his cultivation is also higher than Lin Yi's, having reached the Sixth Grade Middle Stage."

"With him taking action this time, Lin Yi will definitely be defeated!"

"Exactly! This country kid will definitely be taught a harsh lesson by Wan Yong this time."

...The Disciples said one after another, full of excitement.

Although Lin Yi had displayed Divine Might last time and conquered some Disciples with his powerful strength, many more were still unconvinced in their hearts.

After all, the Disciples of Dongshan Martial Academy were used to being arrogant and had long been accustomed to looking down on the Disciples from the subordinate commandery academies.

Now that a commandery Disciple had come and dared to step on their faces, they were naturally furious. They had only endured it temporarily because of their insufficient strength.

But now, seeing a powerful Disciple standing up for them, they were naturally excited.

On the other side, hearing the words of the "gorilla youth" Wan Yong, Lin Yi's expression turned completely cold.

"Oh, hiding?"

"Heh! What kind of thing are you? You're worthy of making me hide?"

"Since you want to fight, then I shall fight you!"

"However, in the second round of the Dongshan Martial Academy competition, each Disciple only has three chances to battle others."

"Now you, this waste, want me to waste a precious opportunity to fight you. I ask you, what price can you pay?"

"Price? What do you want?"

Hearing Lin Yi's scolding, Wan Yong's heart was also filled with towering rage. However, in order to get Lin Yi to accept the challenge, he suppressed his inner anger, narrowed his eyes—which shot out dangerous glints—and snorted.

"It's very simple!"

Lin Yi spoke indifferently.

"We will fight. If I win, you give me three thousand taels of silver plus the reward you obtain in this academy competition."

"Of course, it must be at least the reward for the top ten, which is two thousand taels of silver. Otherwise, you'll have to pay the difference out of your own pocket. This is also to prevent you from intentionally failing to make the top ten after losing to me just to give me less silver."

"And if I lose, I will give you the reward I obtain in the competition, which will also be at least the reward for the top ten. How about it?"

"No problem!"

Hearing Lin Yi's conditions, although Wan Yong felt it was somewhat unfair to him, he agreed without hesitation.

Because he never considered that he would lose to this country kid with his strength.

After all, who was he?

Ranked sixth in Dongshan Martial Academy! A peerless Genius at the Sixth Grade Middle Stage who had achieved Extreme Strength Minor Achievement and Fourth Grade Martial Art Major Achievement! Would he lose to a kid from the countryside?

"Good! Then let's go to the arena!"

Lin Yi nodded, then pulled a long saber from a nearby weapon rack and walked slowly toward the arena.

Seeing this, Wan Yong also pulled out a black iron staff over ten feet long and walked toward the other side of the arena.

Soon, on the massive arena that was over three hundred meters long and fifty meters wide, Lin Yi and Wan Yong stood facing each other from a distance.

"Heh! Kid, you've got guts, actually daring to step onto the arena with me."

Looking at Lin Yi opposite him, Wan Yong grinned, revealing a row of sharp white teeth. Combined with his ugly, gorilla-like appearance, he looked extremely menacing.

"I can guarantee that this will be the most mistaken decision you've ever made in your life!"

"Alright! Seeing as you have such guts, I'll let you make the first move today, lest people say I, Wan Yong, am bullying a country kid like you!"

"Oh, you're letting me make the first move?"

Lin Yi smiled indifferently, then slowly extended his left hand and held up three fingers.

"What? You mean letting you strike first isn't enough? You also want me to give you three free moves?"

Seeing Lin Yi's gesture, Wan Yong frowned, but then he smiled confidently.

"Fine! Since you're such a waste, I'll give you three moves. Strike!"

"No."

Hearing this, Lin Yi shook his head slightly.

"I mean, within three breaths, I will resolve you!"

"Boom!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yi's body instantly became like a cannonball fired from its chamber.

In an instant, he tore through layers of air, leaving behind bursts of sonic booms and afterimages.

Finally, holding the long saber, he struck with a single slash toward Wan Yong!