Challenge

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.

Just as Zhang Qingyuan was preparing to leave the sect gate once more to take on tasks outside and earn cultivation resources,

news came from the Separate Courtyard.

Headmaster Liu would personally give a lecture at tomorrow's gathering.

It seemed the Outer Sect Grand Competition was approaching.

The Separate Courtyard's results were tied to Headmaster Liu's sect rewards, so he had specially spent some time increasing the number of lectures for the Outer Sect Disciples of the Seventeenth Branch, raising the cultivation of the disciples under his charge.

As an expert of the True Essence Realm,

Zhang Qingyuan naturally could not miss Headmaster Liu's lecture.

So he temporarily remained behind.

The next day,

the sun rose.

The morning bell of the Seventeenth Branch rang through the mountain valleys.

Figures shot out from their respective residences one after another,

leaping and bounding,

and gathered atop Chaoyang Peak in one sweep.

Zhang Qingyuan was among the crowd as well.

However,

he discovered

that the atmosphere around him seemed somewhat unusual.

Seated cross-legged at the end of the second row, Zhang Qingyuan sensed that quite a few people in the Separate Courtyard had turned their gazes toward him.

They whispered in low voices,

seemingly discussing something.

Zhang Qingyuan's expression darkened slightly.

"Qingyuan, be careful today. That fellow Yao Ping advanced to the Late Spirit Essence Realm half a month ago, and he has been saying all along that you should get the hell out of that seat yourself."

"Headmaster Liu is here today too. I'm afraid that fellow has already prepared to make trouble for you."

At that moment,

Jiang Yuan, a fellow sect member who had appeared from who knew where, told Zhang Qingyuan the reason in a low voice.

Zhang Qingyuan did not have many friends in the Seventeenth Branch,

but he still had one or two friends with whom he was on good terms.

Jiang Yuan was one of them.

"That fellow Yao Ping—last time I passed by, I saw him publicly declaring that you, Qingyuan, are nothing more than a useless cultivator piled up by resources, one who only hides in the sect and does not even dare to go out and hunt Low-level Demonic Beasts. He's probably held a grudge ever since you took his seat last time. Qingyuan, be careful this time."

His tone held both indignation and concern for Zhang Qingyuan.

Like Zhang Qingyuan,

when Jiang Yuan needed to take Outer Sect tasks to obtain cultivation resources, he usually took assignments in Area C and Area D involving planting Spirit Fields and tending Spirit Plants. As a result, people like them were not skilled at combat.

It was precisely because they often took such tasks and had that in common that Zhang Qingyuan and Jiang Yuan had become fairly good friends.

But

before Yao Ping, who had gained a modest reputation in the Seventeenth Branch through his Combat Power and was known as the Little Fierce Tiger,

having been targeted by him,

there was naturally no way not to worry.

"Don't worry. If he really dares to provoke me this time, I'll teach that fellow a proper lesson."

Patting Jiang Yuan on the shoulder,

Zhang Qingyuan thanked him for his goodwill.

"Ah, Qingyuan, if you really can't beat him, admitting defeat isn't shameful either."

Clearly,

Jiang Yuan lacked confidence in this fight and wanted to offer some consolation.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Zhang Qingyuan did not explain.

Over the past month or so, his strength had improved considerably. If he used every method at his disposal, standing against a cultivator at the late Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level would not be a difficult matter.

Perhaps

his combat experience truly fell short of Yao Ping's,

but the fourth layer of the Water Origin Art, the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles at Great Accomplishment, and the newly purchased magic tool Silver Shadow—

compared to before Headmaster Liu's Last Time lecture,

how could his strength have increased by merely a little?

If the other party still treated him according to his former strength, he would probably suffer a huge loss.

However,

Zhang Qingyuan did not explain the details to Jiang Yuan.

No matter how much you explained, others' impression of you would remain stuck in the past. Actual performance was far more convincing.

The two spoke quietly for a while,

then Jiang Yuan returned to his seat with some concern.

Zhang Qingyuan gathered his thoughts again,

when he suddenly felt as though someone was watching him.

Turning his head,

he saw Yao Ping seated cross-legged in the first seat on the left side of the third row, staring into his eyes. Yao Ping formed his hand into a blade and drew it twice across his neck, his gaze brimming with provocation.

Zhang Qingyuan's expression darkened slightly.

He did not respond.

A trace of anger rippled through his once-calm heart.

But it quickly subsided.

By then,

most of the Outer Sect Disciples in the Seventeenth Branch had gathered atop Chaoyang Peak.

Not long after,

Headmaster Liu arrived on his sword,

drifting down gracefully from the high altitude.

After a few simple words of encouragement,

Headmaster Liu began that day's lecture.

Zhang Qingyuan hurriedly focused and listened.

This lecture

concerned Martial Skills, mainly their application in battle: how to inflict the greatest damage upon an enemy, what to watch out for when cultivating Martial Skills, how to improve the speed of one's Martial Skill cultivation, and so on.

During this time,

Headmaster Liu also focused on the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist and the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles, the two most common Basic Martial Skills of the Cloud Water Sect Outer Sect.

Among them,

the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist was an internal cultivation Martial Skill. It tempered one's bones and blood, fused the entire body into one, and strengthened one's physique. It was the most widespread fist Martial Skill in the Cloud Water Sect Outer Sect.

Of course, this fist art focused on circulating the Blood Qi inside the body and tempering the bones.

Thus, it did not possess much offensive power.

But according to Headmaster Liu, once the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist reached Great Accomplishment, its power could not be underestimated.

If several of its offensive moves reached perfection, they would possess unimaginable force.

As for the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles,

named after the Cloud Water Sect, it was naturally also the sect's most widely taught sword art, without equal.

Though these thirteen sword styles were plain and unremarkable,

as the Basic Sword Style cultivated by Outer Sect Disciples,

they were the foundational essence of sword styles compiled by the sect's true core experts. Their power might not be high in the early stages, but their importance lay in giving Outer Sect Disciples an excellent foundation.

Let alone the fact that if one cultivated them deeply, their power would not be low either.

This was a sword art with a low floor that required vast amounts of effort to cultivate, yet once one achieved something with it, its upper limit was exceedingly high.

It was said

that if one could cultivate the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles to perfection, the Inner Sect had an advanced sword art based upon it, and its power was astonishing.

On the high platform, Headmaster Liu laid out the fruits of his own cultivation in a clear and methodical manner, explaining profound principles in simple terms.

The crowd below listened with great relish.

Zhang Qingyuan amid the crowd was no exception.

When he lacked enough Contribution Points to purchase other offensive spells or Martial Skills, these two Martial Skills were among Zhang Qingyuan's most important means of facing enemies.

[You listened carefully to Headmaster Liu's lecture and compared it with your own cultivation. You gained some insight into cultivating the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist. Your Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist proficiency +1]

[You listened carefully to Headmaster Liu's lecture and compared it with your own cultivation. You gained some insight into cultivating the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles. Your Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles proficiency +1]

Within the Data Panel deep in his mind,

lines of text continuously emerged.

Until two hours later,

the sun hung at its zenith.

Headmaster Liu stopped the lecture.

At this moment, Zhang Qingyuan's Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist proficiency had reached 740, while the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles had also increased by 8 points.

Name: Zhang Qingyuan

Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist: (Great Accomplishment: 740/1000 (+11))

Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles: (Great Accomplishment: 21/1000 (+8))

That was not all he had gained.

There were still some parts of Headmaster Liu's explanation that Zhang Qingyuan had yet to digest.

Once the gathering ended and he returned to the Inner Residence,

if he cultivated once more,

then the proficiency of both Martial Skills would rise again!

"The Outer Sect Grand Competition is approaching. Cultivate well, all of you, and strive to obtain a better ranking in the Grand Competition."

After saying a few customary formalities,

just as Headmaster Liu was preparing to leave,

suddenly,

a voice rang out from below the platform:

"Reporting to the Dean, this disciple Yao Ping challenges Zhang Qingyuan. I ask the Dean to grant permission!"

Headmaster Liu gave Yao Ping below the platform a faint glance.

His gaze did not ripple much.

"Since that is the case, begin."

The Cloud Water Sect Outer Sect

did not forbid battles between disciples.

After all, some resources were ranked according to strength, and Headmaster Liu had no intention of stopping it.

Very quickly,

on the empty arena atop Chaoyang Peak,

Yao Ping leaped into the field.

His eyes provocatively swept toward Zhang Qingyuan amid the crowd.

Facing the many gazes around him,

Zhang Qingyuan remained expressionless.

With a light sweep of his body, he drifted gracefully into the field.

"Two months ago, I said it already: don't think entering the late Spirit Essence Realm ahead of me makes you so impressive. Today, I'll let you know that with your three-legged cat kung fu, you're nothing but a joke!"

Within the arena, Yao Ping glared viciously at Zhang Qingyuan across from him.

Zhang Qingyuan frowned.

"I have never thought myself particularly formidable. On the contrary, you—it is merely a seat. Why must you provoke me again and again?"

"Hmph! If you hadn't occupied that spot and claimed the share of resources that should have belonged to Laozi, I would have broken through to the late Spirit Essence Realm a month ago!"

"Enough nonsense. Come on! Today, I'll teach you, you piece of trash, a proper lesson!"

Provoked again and again,

the anger in Zhang Qingyuan's heart could not help but rise to his face.

Did you really think victory was already yours?!

Having made his preparations,

the battle began!

Yao Ping made the first move.

With a furious roar, an air wave actually surged forth and swept the air clear!

He stomped fiercely, making the ground tremble. A fine crack split open, and a ring of Smoke and Dust Visible to the Naked Eye burst upward. His body turned into an afterimage and shot out, smashing down toward Zhang Qingyuan's head through the air. His Fist Intent was upright and majestic, fierce and mighty, Filled With an overwhelming, unshakable force of pure masculine power!

Heavenly Dipper Dragon Tiger Fist!

Roar!!!

Faintly,

A faint yet resounding tiger's roar suddenly echoed through the air,

A fierce, masculine aura

Whirled up a gale in the air, like a tiger descending the mountain, filled with irresistible, overwhelming might!

"Good!"

Yao Ping's fist came like a rainbow, his assault like crashing tides, Fierce Fiendish Qi shaking the heavens.

At once, it drew a chorus of cheers from the other Fellow Sect Members below the arena.

"As expected of Yao Ping, known as the Little Fierce Tiger. His Heavenly Dipper Dragon Tiger Fist has already reached Great Accomplishment and gained a trace of a tiger's essence. I'm afraid not many cultivators at the early Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level could withstand this move!"

Yao Ping had always loved battle.

Within the Seventeenth Branch, he had long borne the title of Little Fierce Tiger.

Before Zhang Qingyuan advanced to the Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, he had already been the strongest below the Late Spirit Essence Realm.

Now that he had entered the Late Spirit Essence Realm,

His might and strength had climbed another floor.

Even the Outer Sect Disciples ranked fifteenth and sixteenth felt a pressure rise in their hearts at the sight.

This Heavenly Dipper Dragon Tiger Fist—

If they had been the ones facing it, they might not have gained any advantage either!

"Looks like Zhang Qingyuan is going to lose. It seems the only thing he's good at is the Spring Breeze Fine Rain Technique."

"Yeah. In comparison, whether in combat experience or mastery and understanding of Martial Skills, the gap between them is more than a little."

The crowd below the stage

Whispered among themselves.

In their words, none held much hope for Zhang Qingyuan.

And at that moment,

Facing Yao Ping's savage and brutal punch,

Zhang Qingyuan shifted his Footsteps, his body moving through the void like a phantom. With a gap no wider than a hair's breadth, he forcefully evaded Yao Ping's fierce, masculine strike!

The Fist Intent struck empty air,

Making the air hum and tremble.

Seizing the instant when Yao Ping's punch missed, Zhang Qingyuan closed in. One palm drew the air along like rippling water as it descended toward Yao Ping's chest!

The currents of air surged violently,

Spirit Essence spread from between his palm, scattering Misty energy!

Turning defense into offense,

This reversal

Had occurred in no more than an instant,

Leaving the Disciples below the stage staring in shock.

Yao Ping's expression changed,

For he clearly had not expected

Zhang Qingyuan to evade his certain victory of a punch, much less still have the strength to counterattack. Judging from the majestic force behind that palm, if it landed solidly, he would likely be severely injured on the spot and lose all Combat Power!