Over the next few days, Chen Qinglin practiced martial arts peacefully in the courtyard, while Chen Qingshi occasionally went out with Jiang Zhong for a stroll.
On the day of the competition, the Iron Sword Martial Arts School arrived at the Martial Arts Arena.
Before them stretched a vast square. Five raised platforms stood in the middle, surrounded by spectator seats.
The judges were already in place on the high platform, but several rows of seats behind them were still empty. Presumably, the important people had yet to arrive.
There was no sun in the sky that day, only a dim, overcast gray. A cold wind swept through, bringing a chill, but it couldn't dampen everyone's enthusiasm.
The square was packed with people, bustling with excitement.
Martial arts schools from all over Dingyuan County had gathered there. Some attendees carried sharp weapons and wore solemn expressions.
Others were dressed in fine clothes and chatted with those around them.
They stood or sat, closed their eyes to rest, or prayed silently, waiting for the competition to begin.
When Chen Qinglin and the others reached their assigned spot, they saw a wooden plaque there bearing the words "Iron Sword Martial Arts School." Everyone took their seats and waited for the competition to begin.
Before long, a crowd ushered several people onto the high platform.
Once they were seated, one of them announced the start of the competition.
"Brother Han, have any promising talents emerged this year?"
"Haha, Brother Shen, you're joking. What talent could compare to a disciple of Qingfeng Mountain?"
"Still, I've heard that Qi Hanfei of Blood Saber Martial Arts School is only fifteen, yet he's already reached Body Tempering Seventh Level. The other martial arts schools have some decent disciples too. Just take a look, Brother Shen."
County Magistrate Han Lang pointed toward the platforms.
"Oh? Not bad at all! At least I won't have made this trip for nothing."
After the competitors drew lots to determine their matchups, the first event began: a competition for new disciples under the age of sixteen.
"Iron Sword Martial Arts School's Chen Qinglin versus Rock Martial Arts School's Zhao Shiguan."
"Master, Qingshi, I'm going up."
"Qinglin, beat him!" Chen Qingshi cheered him on.
"Don't worry."
"Rock Martial Arts School, Zhao Shiguan."
"Iron Sword Martial Arts School, Chen Qinglin."
Zhao Shiguan held a long staff. When he saw Chen Qinglin hadn't even drawn his sword, he grew furious and opened with a blow aimed straight at his head. Chen Qinglin slipped aside, then countered with a punch that sent him flying to the ground, where he couldn't get back up.
"Iron Sword Martial Arts School, Chen Qinglin wins!" The judge stepped forward to check on Zhao Shiguan, then announced the result.
Chen Qinglin climbed down from the platform. The match on the neighboring platform had just ended, too. A cold-faced young man glanced at him, then turned away and walked off without another thought.
Twenty-three martial arts schools had entered the competition, with a total of one hundred and thirty-six participants.
Aside from disciples of the county town's eight major martial arts schools, most of those from schools in the surrounding towns were at Body Tempering Second Level, with a few at Third Level and a handful at Fourth Level.
Among the disciples of the eight major schools, only a few were at Body Tempering Third Level. Most had reached Fourth Level, and some were at Fifth or even Sixth Level.
Before long, cries of dismay rang out from the many martial arts schools. In just two rounds, most of their disciples had already been knocked out.
Chen Qingshi also competed twice. In his first match, he faced a disciple from a town school and fought dozens of rounds before narrowly winning.
In his second match, he ran into an opponent at Body Tempering Fourth Level and was knocked down in two moves.
Four rounds of competition were held that day. Chen Qinglin swept through every match, defeating each opponent with a single move.
He made it into the top seventeen. The final matches of the competition would begin the next day.
By then, almost all the remaining competitors were disciples from the county town's eight major martial arts schools.
Changhe Martial Arts School, Rock Martial Arts School, Blood Saber Martial Arts School,
Chasing Wind Martial Arts School, Divine Fist Martial Arts School, Fierce Tiger Martial Arts School,
Heavy Rain Martial Arts School, Flying Dragon Martial Arts School, and Iron Sword Martial Arts School, where Chen Qinglin trained.
The only opponents who might make him fight seriously were Qi Hanwen of Blood Saber Martial Arts School, Xin Shuming of Changhe Martial Arts School, and Zhong Qing of Heavy Rain Martial Arts School. All three were at Body Tempering Seventh Level.
On the way back that evening, Xie Feng was in high spirits. The heads of several martial arts schools from the surrounding towns came over to congratulate him.
"Qinglin, are you confident about tomorrow?"
"Master, tomorrow only Xin Shuming of Changhe Martial Arts School, Qi Hanwen of Blood Saber Martial Arts School, and Zhong Qing of Heavy Rain Martial Arts School are at Body Tempering Seventh Level, like me."
"I can't guarantee first place, but I'll at least make the top four."
"You've already reached Body Tempering Seventh Level?!" Xie Feng was astonished.
"Good! Wonderful! My Iron Sword Martial Arts School has finally produced a genius. Hahaha..." At that moment, Xie Feng seemed to see a young dragon about to soar into the sky—and it was his own disciple.
Overjoyed, he returned to his room and had a few drinks.
The next day, the sky was pale with dawn, and sunlight spilled across the ground. Xie Feng greeted everyone he saw, making no attempt to hide that the old man was in a splendid mood today.
Seeing this, the head of Changfeng Martial Arts School, who had a grudge against Xie Feng, muttered under his breath, "What are you showing off for? You'd think your disciple had already taken first place."
"Ye Hao, Lin Long, Qi Hanwen, Zhou Fang, Gan Yu, Chu Wen, Chen Qinglin... You seventeen, come up and draw lots."
Chen Qinglin reached into the box, pulled out a slip, and opened it. "Number seven."
When Ye Hao came up after him and opened his slip, it was blank. He happily held it up for the organizers to see.
"Ye Hao has a bye."
"First round: Gan Yu of Chasing Wind Martial Arts School versus Chang Jian of Heavy Rain Martial Arts School, number sixteen."
Both schools were renowned for their swordsmanship. The two stood facing each other with swords in hand. As soon as the match began, they swung their weapons and charged.
Their swords clashed, flashes of light glinting between them as they darted back and forth across the platform, unleashing their signature techniques. The battle was fierce.
Both were at Body Tempering Sixth Level, and their swordsmanship was evenly matched. The Wind Chasing Sword Art was swift and graceful, while the Heavy Rain Sword Technique was fast and fierce.
Chang Jian's blows grew more powerful with every strike, and Gan Yu found it harder and harder to hold his ground.
Chang Jian seized an opening and knocked the Long Sword from Gan Yu's hand, winning the match.
On the other platforms, blades and swords flashed and clashed, stirring the surrounding audience into a fever of excitement.
"Number seven, Chen Qinglin of Iron Sword Martial Arts School, versus number eight, Xin Shuming of Changhe Martial Arts School."
"You're no match for me. You might as well concede now." Once they were on the platform, Xin Shuming addressed Chen Qinglin with an air of arrogance.
"Too bad. If you hadn't run into me, you could've fought for a place in the top five. Now you'll have to settle for fighting for tenth."
"The winner hasn't been decided yet. Anything could happen," Chen Qinglin replied calmly.
"If you refuse to accept it, then I'll make you taste defeat. Only then will you understand the gap between us."
Chen Qinglin said no more. As the match began, he revealed his Great Accomplishment in swordsmanship and launched an attack on Xin Shuming.
In the blink of an eye, Chasing Wind and Pursuing Lightning and Linked Flower Slash burst forth in a fierce succession. They knocked the long saber from Xin Shuming's hands, and Chen Qinglin laid his sword against the man's throat.
"How is that possible?!" Xin Shuming stared in disbelief.
"Looks like you'll have to fight for tenth now." Chen Qinglin sheathed his sword and stepped down from the platform. Xin Shuming's face turned deathly pale. He staggered back to Changhe Martial Arts School.
"What a fine young talent. He's at Body Tempering Eighth Level, and he's brought his swordsmanship to Great Accomplishment!" Shen Shi stroked his beard, his face alight with excitement.
"Congratulations, Brother Shen. Looks like first place in this competition is already decided," Han Lang said, offering his congratulations. But inwardly, he was thinking of how to get around Shen Shi and lure Chen Qinglin into the Great Profound Academy.
"Old fox, don't think I don't know what you're plotting. Let me make this clear: this is Cangzhou. You'd better behave yourself. Qingfeng Mountain is taking this young man."
Shen Shi looked at Han Lang with disdain.
"Ahem, Brother Shen, I haven't even said anything!" Han Lang hadn't expected Shen Shi to see through him before he could make a move. His plan had fallen apart...
"Good. See that you don't!"
After defeating Lin Long and Zhou Fang in succession, Chen Qinglin advanced to the semifinals. Qi Hanwen and Zhong Qing were the other two remaining.
"Brother Chen, I know I'm no match for you, but I'd still like to try. Please go easy on me. Don't let me lose too badly, or I'll be in trouble when I get back ╥﹏╥"
Standing across from Chen Qinglin, Zhong Qing pleaded with him.
"Brother Zhong, you're too kind."
"I'm serious. Who knows? We might even end up as fellow disciples someday."
"Let the match begin!"
The amiable look vanished from Zhong Qing's face. He turned stern and attacked Chen Qinglin with his sword. His strikes were swift and forceful, one following another without pause.
Rainy Wind Sudden, Heavy Rain Gale, Lightning Flash Thunder Roar—the Heavy Rain Sword Technique came crashing toward Chen Qinglin.
Chen Qinglin's eyes lit up. At last, he'd found an opponent who was pretty good—someone who'd trained his swordsmanship to Minor Accomplishment.
Sure enough, one must never underestimate the people of the world.
Chen Qinglin swung his sword to counterattack.
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