In the Martial Arena
Bai Tian and Mu Rulan were fiercely exchanging strikes with each other.
Clash! Swoosh! Woosh!
The sound of sword and spear clashing echoed through the stadium.
Bai Tian wasn't in a hurry to finish the battle. Since it was his first official fight, he wanted to learn and gain more experience.
Mu Rulan also had not used her astral energy at all. She was competing with him purely in martial techniques.
As Instructor Jianhong often praised Bai Tian, she also wanted to know the gap between them.
Even though she didn't voice it loudly, martial techniques were where she was always confident in herself. That was also the reason she decided to become a pure weapon cultivator.
After a while, some of the audience once again saw the familiar scene.
"Double Dragon Plays with Pearl."
Mu Rulan's spear split into two, spinning like twin blades as she launched a fierce, rapid assault. Striking from both sides, she pressed hard to overwhelm Bai Tian.
In contrast, Bai Tian wielded only a single sword.
Because of the multiple spear attacks, he was pushed backward.
But the Tianyu sword in his hand began to swing faster and faster until, finally, he managed to keep up with her and defend against her attacks with precise timing.
The crowd's excitement slowly faded. For many spectators, especially those from other divisions, the duel felt too straightforward, just a back-and-forth clash of weapons without the spectacle they craved.
Unlike the previous duels filled with skillful techniques and elemental displays, this battle felt blunt and uninspired.
However, the instructors and outside guests saw things differently.
"This girl is very skilled. Purely on martial techniques, she is equal to Mingyu."
The instructors chatted among themselves.
They had heard about Bai Tian and Zhao Mingyu from Instructor Jianhong but didn't know there was someone so skilled.
Those guests from Misty Rain and beyond were similarly amazed.
"Amazing! Such high achievement in weapon cultivation."
"It shouldn't be difficult for them to break into Foundation if they reach Great Circle."
"That will be the most difficult thing for both. One cannot cultivate, the other one is from a poor background."
"Ha… ha… ha… If she can get into Central Greenwood Academy, it's certain that someone will recruit her."
Everyone agreed. Even their own factions would easily recruit her, so there was a high possibility of her reaching the Foundation Realm.
...
After a while, Bai decided it was time to end this.
Even though he was enjoying the exchange, he still wanted to be at his best to fight against Zhao Mingyu.
Suddenly the entire momentum of Bai Tian changed.
"Crashing Force Chain," he softly muttered.
Then he sprinted forward and launched a bunch of sword strikes.
Unlike before, Mu Rulan couldn't block at all. She had no choice but to use her astral energy.
Even using astral energy, she was pushed back; there was already blood in her mouth.
Though she had heard rumors about his incredible physical strength, only by experiencing it did she realize why he was hailed as the second strongest even without cultivation.
Clenching her spear, Mu Rulan hesitated, but after a while, with a determined look, she spoke softly, "Sequence Technique."
Suddenly, both of them started clashing once again like before. But this time they were moving very, very fast.
Some spectators were not even able to keep track of their movements.
Mo Tian had his eyes widened.
"Sequence Technique, and both of them."
He clenched his fist so hard, his face pale.
Ren Ming up there still kept watching without showing any emotion.
Similarly, those senior students of the Martial Division were also muttering in shock. They murmured with shocked expressions in their eyes.
"So, this was the reason for Instructor Jianhong's high opinion," muttered Wen Yu.
He hadn't known about this at all.
Still, he knew that those capable of comprehending it had a high chance of breaking into the Foundation Realm.
More importantly, Bai Tian was using more than one sequence technique.
...
As they were fighting, Bai Tian's eyes also showed some surprise.
"Silver Thread Dance." He knew about that sequence technique Mu Rulan was currently executing.
He acknowledged that he had underestimated her. Therefore, now it became even more evident that he should quickly defeat her.
"Stone Wall Reversal," he once again spoke softly.
With that, it became even more difficult for Mu Rulan to persist; her face was already pale, blood leaking.
After a while, Instructor Jianhong appeared.
"It's enough. Bai Tian wins."
Then he angrily stared at Mu Rulan.
"Don't you know when to admit defeat?"
She had lowered her head, but there was still a stubborn look in her eyes.
In anger, even Bai Tian wasn't spared.
"And you? Don't you know any finishing moves?"
Bai Tian was stunned. With a puzzled look, he didn't know what to say. He thought, How is it my fault that she didn't admit defeat?
Instructor Jianhong sighed. These two idiots knew nothing except fighting and cultivation. He spoke, "Fine, you can leave."
With that, both of them left the arena.
Bai Tian quickly left, but Mu Rulan hesitated, kept staring at his back for a while, then also left.
But there was still someone witnessing all this very clearly. She didn't know the reason, but Zhao Mingyu clenched her fist.
....
Shortly after, Ren Ming and Ma Yuan, the eldest of the Ma brothers, entered the arena.
Just like in his previous bout, Ren Ming easily defeated his oponenet using the Emerald Gale cultivation technique.
The matches continued.
Mo Tian barely clinched victory against Wu Meng, while poor Wen Yu was unfortunately matched up against Zhao Mingyu. With no other option, he admitted defeat rather than making a fool of himself.
Bai Tian didn't comment. He knew better than anyone that Wen Yu was thoroughly outclassed by Zhao Mingyu, and not by a small margin. It would've been foolish for him to even attempt a fight.
Then came the highly anticipated battle between Ren Ming and Zhao Mingyu.
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Stakes were high. One was the heir of Sovereign Island, the other, the scion of the second strongest island in the Misty Region.
More importantly, it was a clash between two rare and powerful cultivation techniques, often spoken of in legends.
Both were already in the arena.
Zhao Mingyu looked composed as ever in her dark blue battle robe, exuding supreme confidence.
Ren Ming, for once, appeared solemn, a far cry from his usual playful self.
Everyone noticed the dagger in his hand. In every previous match, he had effortlessly defeated his opponents with nothing but a folding fan.
Though familiar with one another, they had never exchanged a word.
As soon as Instructor Jianhong's voice rang out,
Ren Ming made the first move, retreating rapidly.
A small wind vortex appeared where he had stood a moment earlier.
More surprisingly, Zhao Mingyu was within it, blood at the corner of her lips.
But thanks to her ice armor, she escaped serious harm.
Without hesitation, she fell back, summoning an ice barrier before her.
A slash cleaved it apart.
Only then did she hear his voice: "Gale Tempest Slash."
Eyes narrowing, she immediately executed Froststep Mirage. The temperature within the arena plummeted slightly.
The next instant, the two figures were locked in a fierce exchange of blows, faster even than Bai Tian's duel with Mu Rulan.
After a brief but intense clash, both retreated. This time, Ren Ming's face was pale, his robes marred by countless scratches.
He turned toward Instructor Jianhong and declared, "I admit defeat."
Without another word, he left the arena, leaving the crowd bewildered.
Outside the stadium, he coughed up blood and muttered, "How ruthless…" before sighing.
He'd given it his all, perhaps even bent the rules a little. His opening move, the Gale Tempest Surge, fueled by half his energy reserve, would've felled most opponents.
He had even chained it with Gale Tempest Slash and Phantom Gale Strike.
Yet it wasn't enough.
And with his energy depleted, continuing would've made him little more than a punching bag.
The spectators remained confused until the seniors began explaining what had happened, and understanding dawned.
Among the visiting guests, murmurs of admiration spread.
"The students this year are outstanding."
"With talents like these, they might just win the Greenwood Exchange."
"That Ren Clan boy was as cunning as the reports claimed. He prepared his opening strike before the match even started."
"But that Zhao girl is terrifyingly strong."
"If she can stop that brat from Central Greenwood, Sovereign Island's chances will skyrocket."
"She really has three meridians opened. Even Ren Ming has opened two." Wen Yu was shocked to learn this.
He had once joked about Zhao Mingyu having three meridians open, never imagining it to be true.
Even with abundant talent and resources, it typically took a year to open a single meridian.
He, considered decently gifted himself, hadn't even opened one.
He sighed, determination hardening within him. He had to open at least one before the Greenwood Contest.
His gaze drifted to Bai Tian, who hadn't even sensed astral energy yet, and he felt a little better about his own situation. But he would never speak that thought aloud.
At least when someone is accompanying you in hardship, it feels a little less bitter.
Bai Tian, meanwhile, was carefully analyzing the earlier fight. He had already suspected Zhao Mingyu had three meridians open. If not, she would've been too easy a target for him.
Suddenly, his name was called.
....
Mo Tian's face darkened as he stepped into the arena.
It wasn't enough to defeat Bai Tian — he wanted to humiliate him, to crush him so thoroughly no one would dare mention his name again.
His gaze flicked to the northern stand.
Zhao Mingyu sat there, calm and distant, her eyes never once sparing him a glance.
His fist clenched.
"Why do you always ignore me?"
The memory of her exchanging a few casual words with Bai Tian during the preliminaries still gnawed at him. A man who couldn't even cultivate — yet stronger than him in raw physical strength. It was a humiliation he could neither forget nor forgive.
But Mo Tian knew the truth. Bai Tian's so-called strength was temporary.
"Once our cultivation rises, that body of yours won't mean a damn thing."
He smirked coldly.
"And by then, you'll be nothing but a joke."
But even so, he wanted to crush Bai Tian now. To stomp him into the dirt while Zhao Mingyu was watching.
"Even people from the Zhao Clan might be here."
Another glance at Zhao Mingyu. Still indifferent.
"Fine. I'll use it. I didn't want to waste my technique on you, but it seems I have no choice."
Across the arena, Bai Tian stepped forward, calm as always. As if nothing in the world concerned him.
That calmness only fueled Mo Tian's rage.
"You think you're untouchable just because you're strong now? Wait till cultivation leaves you behind."
He ground his teeth, his killing intent spiking.
"You are mine, Zhao Mingyu. Only mine."
And with that, the match began.