Chapter 31: The Martial Arts Tournament Begins

The leader of the two disciples from the Xianshan Sect was a man with short hair. As he approached, he immediately began to mock them.

"Isn't this Senior Disciple Shen of the Five Forms Sect? I heard you didn't even make the top twenty in the last tournament. Surely not? Isn't the Five Forms Sect supposed to prioritize talent when selecting senior disciples? Could it be that your skills are lacking, Shen, or perhaps the Five Forms Sect has fallen so far..."

"Jin Xuan, if you want to fight, step onto the ring. Don't waste your breath here," Shen Han replied coldly.

"Very well, I've been waiting for those words from you, Senior Disciple Shen!" Jin Xuan laughed.

The two exchanged a glance and leapt onto the ring. There was someone else fighting on the platform, but Jin Xuan carelessly shoved him off, sending him crashing hard to the ground. Shen Han signaled for his companion to step aside; the man dared not protest, and upon seeing the attire of the Five Forms Sect, he promptly turned and left.

Small sects have no way to resist the powerful disciples of these major organizations. To put it bluntly, the masters of those small sects might not even be able to defeat a random inner-circle disciple from the larger ones. Beyond the time required, training a professional fighter costs millions, and some resources are simply impossible to find. Fading, small sects lack both money and resources; if they manage to cultivate two professional fighters, it is considered a blessing from their ancestors—they are in no position to compare themselves to the major sects.

Once only the two remained on the ring, Shen Han raised his hands into the leopard-style starting position. Across from him, Jin Xuan revealed a stance from a sect Zhang Ji had never seen before.

Instantly, the two moved, and Shen Han darted forward in a blur. The speed was so great that even Zhang Ji couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. In terms of explosive power, only the speed demonstrated by Li Long and Pang Yanyang during their battle on Shanli Island could surpass this.

*Snap! Bang, bang, bang!*

The air crackled with the sound of rapid strikes as their palms and fingers clashed. Jin Xuan was completely suppressed by Shen Han’s explosive assault, yet he remained calm, focusing solely on defense and parrying. The strength of the leopard-style punch lies in its speed and explosive power, but its weakness is equally obvious: stamina is poor, and its endurance is far lower than that of its peers. If one can survive the opponent's initial flurry, their strength will inevitably decline, making the fight much easier.

Shen Han, naturally aware that such momentum cannot be sustained, intended to decide the match in one go. Mid-exchange, he suddenly lunged a claw toward Jin Xuan’s throat. This strike unleashed his full power, ferocious and violent, truly mimicking a leopard’s pounce. It was so swift that Jin Xuan failed to react in time.

The sharp claws landed near Jin Xuan’s neck, checked by a layer of resilient Yuan Qi. Jin Xuan swiped his hand to parry, deflecting the blow, but only partially.

*Rip!*

The clothing on Jin Xuan’s shoulder was torn, taking a chunk of flesh with it. Simultaneously, Shen Han followed up with a kick, sending him flying off the platform. The members of the Xianshan Sect rushed forward to support him.

"Pah!" Shen Han stood on the ring, looking at Jin Xuan with disdain. "If you don't have the skills, why act so tough? You're a complete moron!"

With that, Shen Han gave him the middle finger, jumped off the ring, and turned to leave with Zhang Ji, leaving behind only the resentful glares of the Xianshan Sect members.

...

"Hiss!"

They hadn't walked far when Shen Han suddenly gasped, his breath hitching. He extended his palm, which was already flushed deep red and covered in sporadic crimson dots.

"What is this?" Zhang Ji asked, his expression shifting with unease.

"It's a Yuan Qi technique from the Xianshan Sect! It’s extremely insidious. If one’s hard-body training isn't sufficient, or if one lacks enough internal Yuan Qi cultivation, once tainted, it will scorch the bones and devour the flesh, eventually damaging the internal organs until one slowly marches toward death..." Shen Han said. "I must go find the senior brothers. You should head back too. There’s no point in wandering around today; try not to get into any conflicts with the Xianshan Sect."

After saying this, Shen Han turned and walked away quickly. Zhang Ji watched him go with a cautious gaze, feeling that in future fights, he would need to be on guard against such things. When he had fought that woman from the Xianshan Sect previously, he had nearly fallen victim to a similar underhanded trick. Fortunately, his hard-body training was strong and her skills were not fully mastered, otherwise, he would likely be in the same state as Shen Han right now.

That said, the ways of the [Yuan Qi Sect] are indeed diverse.

After the War of the Saint Kings, the [Yuan Qi Sect] was able to establish itself as an independent school of thought precisely because Yuan Qi itself can manifest different attributes and functions based on the martial arts practiced, the individual’s body, and external influences.

The scene he just witnessed was the most direct example. The martial arts of the Xianshan Sect produce a Yuan Qi that can enter a human body, consume the energy within, replicate itself, and cause destruction. The Yuan Qi of the Dragon-style punch, however, is fierce and powerful, centered on direct penetration, with secondary attributes that slowly nourish the spirit and physique. There are other Yuan Qi combat techniques Zhang Ji knows of that can heal wounds, freeze enemies, release high-temperature attacks, and so on. It is virtually all-encompassing.

Zhang Ji still remembered that in one Ruins Realm, there was a purple (epic) grade martial art called the "Great Formless Scripture." The Yuan Qi it produced could simulate the effects of other Yuan Qi techniques, often with effects even stronger than the original.

Thinking of this, Zhang Ji couldn't help but sigh at the missed opportunity. There are so many wonderful things in this world, yet he can almost never get his hands on them. Either he has to travel abroad, they are already in someone else's hands, or the version information doesn't match, and he cannot find the corresponding locations. He had searched online for information on several wild treasure locations, but he didn't dare to go. The exotic beasts guarding those treasures were incredibly ferocious, the weakest being D+ rank; he would just be throwing his life away. If he asked the Five Forms Sect for help, he couldn't easily explain how he knew about them, and he worried whether the items would actually end up in his possession.

Sighing inwardly, Zhang Ji returned to his room and continued practicing the Dragon-style punch. It is the truth that one should focus on what they can actually grasp rather than dwelling on what is out of reach.

...

October 1st. The headquarters of the Kyoto Martial Arts Association.

After the Association President delivered his speech, the disciples from each sect participating in the grand event appeared one by one. Drones hovered in the air, broadcasting live footage as cameras zoomed in to capture the scene. The audience seats were packed. This was Zhang Ji’s first time participating in such a competition, and the large crowd made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

After a lap around the venue, they arrived at the preparation area. Li Long cautioned Zhang Ji, "The competition here is different from Shanli Island. Hold back a bit; maiming is fine, but don't kill anyone."

Given Zhang Ji’s fierce track record, Li Long felt compelled to add the extra warning. Killing someone here would be a significant amount of trouble.

"What about the people from the Xianshan Sect?" Zhang Ji asked.

"Just leave them with a breath," Li Long said.

Zhang Ji nodded, indicating he understood. In that case, he knew what to do.

After the warm-up performances, each sect sent representatives to draw lots. Li Long was the representative for the Five Forms Sect. He would not be competing himself—having a Grandmaster enter the fray would be a bit of a bully move. Thus, Li Long sat at the judges' table, watching the matches with the older generation of experts.

After the draw, the matches began. Zhang Ji was placed in Group B. This group did not include the Xianshan Sect, and the only notable expert was an inner-circle disciple from the Lishan Sect. A professional level five.

The first round quickly reached Zhang Ji. The host began to introduce his identity.

"Wearing the attire of the Five Forms Sect is Zhang Ji, a senior disciple of the school. This is his first time participating in the martial arts tournament. Based on his robes, he seems to be one of the rare disciples practicing the Dragon-style punch... On the other side is Qiu Qing, the current chief senior disciple of the Mantis Fist. The martial arts they practice are also a form of imitative fist. Not long ago, contestant Qiu Qing passed the professional level four qualification match; his strength is truly remarkable... Let us look forward to the clash between these two..."

After Zhang Ji and Qiu Qing exchanged formal bows, in the very next instant, Qiu Qing’s figure suddenly flew backward, tumbling off the spacious ring.

*Bang!*

Qiu Qing landed, skidded a distance, struggled to rise, then collapsed again, ultimately being carried away on a stretcher. The arena erupted in an uproar.

"What happened? I don't think I even saw it! Director, do we have a slow-motion replay?"

The host’s expression was one of shock. As a disciple of the Northern Dao Sect and a professional level six fighter himself, he hadn't seen it clearly either.

The slow-motion replay played shortly after: the two, standing ten meters apart, had exploded into motion simultaneously. Zhang Ji’s speed was blinding; upon closing the distance, he delivered a light palm strike that landed squarely on Qiu Qing’s chest, launching him off the massive platform.

"So strong! He must be at least professional level seven!!"

...

"Contestant Qiu Qing couldn't even block a single move. Let us congratulate Zhang Ji on his victory. However, we must remember that while winning is important in this tournament, the primary goal is martial arts exchange. Fists and feet have no eyes, so one should stop at the appropriate point."

The host announced the result while subtly implying that Zhang Ji’s attack had been too ruthless. Zhang Ji showed a hint of disdain and, without even returning the bow, turned and walked off the ring. This scene drew insults from many, yet it also made the blood of many young people boil.

"He has no martial virtue! Such a person only brings shame to the martial arts world!"

"Martial virtue? Only the winner is qualified to talk about virtue!"

"He probably didn't expect his opponent to be so weak; after all, it was only one move..."

...

At the judges' table, Ma Rui spoke to Li Long, whom he had specifically arranged to sit beside him, "Young Master Li, your disciple must be nearing Grandmaster strength, right? How old is he?"

"I'm not sure, probably close to twenty," Li Long replied. He knew perfectly well that Zhang Ji’s bone age was only sixteen, but to have this level of strength at sixteen was truly beyond imagination, so he added a few years to the estimate. Li Long himself had reached this level of strength at twenty, but it had taken him nearly five more years to reach the level of Grandmaster. That final step was not easy.

"Young Master Li truly is a great teacher producing a brilliant student. It seems the Five Forms Sect is about to produce another young Grandmaster," Ma Rui said, gently stroking his beard with a sigh of admiration.

"Senior, you praise him too much. He still has many shortcomings!" Li Long replied humbly.

Though he said this, Li Long’s eyes were filled with anticipation for Zhang Ji. He had witnessed Zhang Ji’s unstoppable progress since leaving Shanli Island. He believed Zhang Ji’s talent exceeded his own, and perhaps, he might even become a Grandmaster before the age of twenty.