Over the next few days, Fang Yan devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.
During the day, he practiced the Profound Ice Force, tempering his Profound Ice True Qi and making it more condensed. At night, he circulated the Ice Soul Art to consolidate his cultivation and tried to fuse the internal energy of the two techniques. Although his progress was slow, he could clearly feel his strength steadily improving.
At the same time, he did not neglect his martial skills. With the support of his Profound Ice True Qi, the force of the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger became colder and sharper, and its penetrating power grew stronger. After being tempered by his battle with the Misty Giant Python, his spear technique with the Ink Ice Spear had also become exceptionally refined.
Chu Feng was cultivating diligently as well. His Blazing Sword Technique had successfully broken through to the third layer, and his Sword Qi had become even more ferocious, greatly increasing its power. The two occasionally sparred together, confirming what they had learned from each other, and both advanced rapidly.
Soon, the day of the grade-level Martial Arts Competition arrived.
The competition was held at the school's open-air martial arena. At its center stood a massive alloy platform, while students and teachers filled the seats around it. The principal, dean of academic affairs, and directors of the various departments had all come to the rostrum in person.
Su Wan had come as well. When she saw Fang Yan and Chu Feng, she smiled and nodded, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Students and teachers, welcome to Kyoto University of Science and Technology's first-year Martial Arts Competition!" The host's voice rang across the entire venue through the loudspeakers. "This competition will determine the top three contestants. Not only will they receive generous rewards, they will also represent our school in the upcoming National Collegiate Martial Dao League! Now, I declare the competition officially open!"
As the host made the announcement, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from below the stage.
The competition used a single-elimination format, with opponents decided by drawing lots.
Fang Yan's first opponent was a brawny man named Zhao Hu, whose strength was at the Martial Warrior Late-stage Peak.
Once the match began, Zhao Hu launched the first attack. He practiced the Great Strength Vajra Palm, and when he struck out with one palm, it came with immense force and a howling wind.
Fang Yan remained unhurried. He circulated his Profound Ice True Qi and sidestepped Zhao Hu's attack. At the same time, he thrust out a finger with his right hand. The force of the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger carried bone-piercing cold and shot straight toward Zhao Hu's wrist.
Zhao Hu had not expected Fang Yan to be so fast, much less that his attack would be so chilling. He hurriedly withdrew his palm to block, but he was still a step too slow, and the finger force grazed his wrist.
"Hiss!" Zhao Hu sucked in a sharp breath. A bone-piercing pain shot through his wrist, as if it had been stabbed by ice needles, and his entire arm grew somewhat numb.
Fang Yan seized the opportunity, leaped into the air, and appeared with the Ink Ice Spear in hand. He thrust it toward Zhao Hu's chest.
Zhao Hu was horrified. He wanted to dodge, only to discover that his body could no longer keep up with his thoughts. All he could do was watch helplessly as the Ink Ice Spear came toward him.
At that moment, the referee promptly shouted, "Stop!"
The Ink Ice Spear halted an inch from Zhao Hu's chest, and its chill made him tremble all over.
"First match, Fang Yan wins!" the referee announced.
A burst of applause rose from below the stage. Although his opponent was not very strong, Fang Yan's attacks had been clean and decisive, displaying composure and strength far beyond his peers.
Chu Feng's match also went smoothly. Relying on the might of his Blazing Sword Technique, he easily defeated his opponent.
In the next several matches, Fang Yan and Chu Feng both cut through their opponents one after another and smoothly advanced to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Fang Yan encountered a formidable opponent—Li Hao.
Li Hao stood on the platform, looking coldly at Fang Yan with a trace of disdain at the corner of his mouth. "I truly didn't expect you to make it this far. But your good luck ends here."
Fang Yan said nothing. He merely tightened his grip on the Ink Ice Spear. He could sense that Li Hao's aura was steadier than it had been in the Scripture Repository. His strength should have reached the Martial Master Early-stage Peak, and he might even have touched the threshold of the Martial Master Mid-stage.
"Begin!"
At the referee's command, Li Hao immediately launched his attack. He practiced the Gale Step, moving at incredible speed. With a flash of his figure, he appeared before Fang Yan, the long sword in his hand carrying fierce Sword Qi as it stabbed straight toward Fang Yan's throat.
Fang Yan's gaze sharpened. He circulated the Profound Ice Force, infused his Profound Ice True Qi into the Ink Ice Spear, and raised the spear horizontally to block.
"Clang!"
The long sword collided with the Ink Ice Spear, producing a crisp ringing sound. The tremendous force numbed Fang Yan's arm, and the Ink Ice Spear nearly flew from his grasp.
"Hmm? Your strength has actually increased this much?" Li Hao was somewhat surprised, but immediately sneered. "However, that alone isn't enough!"
His figure flashed again as he circled behind Fang Yan. The long sword swept horizontally toward Fang Yan's waist.
Fang Yan reacted extremely quickly. He touched the ground with the tip of his left foot, his body rising into the air as he avoided Li Hao's attack. At the same time, he turned and thrust out the spear, its tip aimed straight at Li Hao's back.
Li Hao seemed to have anticipated this. He suddenly lunged forward, avoiding Fang Yan's attack, then stabbed backward with his sword toward Fang Yan's abdomen.
The two exchanged blows back and forth, fighting fiercely. Li Hao was incredibly fast, and his swordsmanship was sharp, with every move aimed at taking life. Fang Yan, meanwhile, relied on the defensive power of his Profound Ice True Qi and the Ink Ice Spear's advantage in reach to barely withstand Li Hao's attacks.
The spectators below were dazzled by the exchange and cheered loudly for both fighters.
Chu Feng stood below the stage, watching Fang Yan nervously. "Keep it up, Fang Yan!"
Su Wan also furrowed her brows. She could tell that although Fang Yan's strength had improved, he was still slightly inferior to Li Hao in experience and speed.
On the platform, Fang Yan gradually began to feel the pressure. Li Hao's attacks grew denser and denser, rapidly draining both his stamina and internal energy.
This can't go on. Fang Yan thought to himself. I have to find a way to counterattack.
He deliberately exposed an opening, leaving his chest unguarded.
A glimmer of delight flashed through Li Hao's eyes. Thinking he had found an opportunity, he immediately leaped into the air. The long sword carried his strongest strike as it stabbed toward Fang Yan's chest.
Just as the sword was about to pierce Fang Yan, he suddenly circulated the Profound Ice Force, pouring all the Profound Ice True Qi in his body into the Ink Ice Spear.
"Ice Dragon Roar: Ice Version!"
A massive deep-blue ice dragon phantom roared out from the spear tip, carrying an earth-shattering aura as it crashed toward Li Hao.
Li Hao's expression changed drastically. He had never expected Fang Yan to have such a killing move hidden away. He wanted to dodge, but it was already too late.
"Bang!"
The ice dragon phantom slammed heavily into Li Hao. With a scream, his body flew away like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily below the platform before he passed out.
The referee immediately ran over and checked Li Hao's condition before announcing, "Quarterfinals, Fang Yan wins!"
Thunderous applause and cheers instantly erupted from below the stage.
Fang Yan panted heavily and flexed his slightly trembling hand. That single strike had nearly exhausted all the Profound Ice True Qi in his body.
"Well done, Fang Yan!" Chu Feng ran over and excitedly slapped him on the shoulder.
Fang Yan smiled but said nothing. He knew this had only been the quarterfinals. Even stronger opponents were waiting for him ahead.
After resting for a moment, the semifinals began.
Fang Yan's opponent was a girl named Lin Mengyao. She wore a pink martial arts uniform and was very beautiful, but her eyes were extremely sharp. Her strength was also at the Martial Master Early-stage Peak, and she practiced the Flowing Water Sword Technique, whose movements were graceful and fluid, changing unpredictably.
Once the match began, Lin Mengyao launched the first attack. Her swordsmanship was light and agile, flowing like water as it attacked Fang Yan without end.
Fang Yan did not dare to be careless. He focused all his attention and used the Ink Ice Spear to block each attack one by one.
Their fighting styles were completely different: one fierce and forceful, the other graceful and agile. On the platform, spear shadows and sword shadows interwove, leaving the spectators below unable to take their eyes off the battle.
The fight continued for a long time, and both of them were already exhausted. Yet neither showed any intention of admitting defeat.
Fang Yan knew that continuing to wear each other down would disadvantage him. He took a deep breath and circulated the Profound Ice Force once more, preparing to launch a fatal strike.
At that moment, Lin Mengyao suddenly changed her sword technique, making it fierce and forceful. She shouted, and a faint layer of watery light rose over her long sword as she stabbed toward Fang Yan's heart.
"That's the killing move of the Flowing Water Sword Technique—Raging Waves!" someone exclaimed from below the stage.
Fang Yan's eyes narrowed. He could sense that the strike's power was extraordinary. Rather than take it head-on, he flashed aside and avoided it. At the same time, he thrust the spear backward toward Lin Mengyao's shoulder.
Lin Mengyao had not expected Fang Yan to evade her killing move. Startled, she hurriedly withdrew her sword to block.
"Clang!"
The Ink Ice Spear struck the long sword. The tremendous force numbed Lin Mengyao's arm, and the long sword fell to the ground.
Fang Yan took the opportunity to step forward. With the Ink Ice Spear pointed at Lin Mengyao's throat, he said, "You've lost."
Lin Mengyao looked at Fang Yan. A trace of unwillingness flashed through her eyes, but she still nodded. "I've lost."
The referee announced, "Semifinals, Fang Yan wins!"
Thus, Fang Yan successfully advanced to the finals. In the other semifinal, Chu Feng also defeated his opponent with overwhelming strength, joining Fang Yan in the final.
The final was about to begin, and the entire martial arena was boiling with excitement. Everyone was eagerly anticipating this clash at the summit.
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