Within Three Breaths, I'll Deal With You!

In the Dongshan Martial Academy's training grounds, massive banners obscured the sky, and crimson battle flags fluttered and snapped in the cold winter wind.

When Lin Yi arrived at the training grounds, it was already close to 10 AM.

At this moment, the snow accumulated on the field had long since been cleared. The viewing stands and spectator areas surrounding the grounds were already filled with high-ranking officials from the Martial Academy and spectators from all directions.

They watched as dozens of disciples on the field, wielding various weapons, battled against Bronze Automatons with clanging sounds. Their faces showed excitement, indifference, or flushed with fervor.

"Lin Yi, you're here."

As soon as Lin Yi stepped onto the training grounds, he saw Teacher Sun, the middle-aged scholar who had been beside Zhao Hai Hong during the entrance examination, approach him with a smile.

"I was thinking that if you still hadn't arrived in another hour or two, I would have come to your residence to fetch you!"

"After all, today is the Martial Academy Grand Competition, which only happens once a month for Dongshan Martial Academy. Even if you can't break into the top three and get the chance to enter the Red Dragon Pool, if you can make it into the top ten or top five, there are still plenty of rewards. You absolutely cannot miss it."

"Mm, thank you for your concern, Teacher Sun. The Martial Academy Grand Competition is a very important event, and I naturally wouldn't miss it. However, I figured there wasn't much for me to do if I came here earlier, so I simply cultivated at home for a while."

Lin Yi replied with a smile.

The rules for the Dongshan Martial Academy Grand Competition were different from those of Guangling Martial Academy.

At Guangling Martial Academy, the Martial Academy determined the final rankings of the top twenty, top ten, top three, and the first place through two rounds of competitions: Bronze Automatons and arena battles.

However, at Dongshan Martial Academy, although there were also two rounds of competitions, Bronze Automatons and arena battles, the Bronze Automaton round was only for ordinary disciples who ranked outside the top ten in the previous competition.

As for the disciples in the top ten, they did not need to participate and directly advanced to the second round, the arena battles.

Furthermore, the rules for the arena battles were not like those at Guangling Martial Academy, where disciples fought one-on-one and eliminated each other.

Instead, the disciples who had just ranked in the top ten in the first round could challenge the disciples who had ranked in the top ten in the previous competition, according to their own wishes.

Afterward, once these first-round disciples defeated a disciple who had ranked in the previous top ten, they would automatically acquire that disciple's rank.

Although Lin Yi had not participated in Dongshan Martial Academy's previous Grand Competition, due to the powerful strength he displayed during the training ground assessment last time.

Dean Zhao Hai Hong had specifically allowed him today to skip the first round of Bronze Automaton assessments. He was to wait until the first round concluded and then, along with the ten individuals who qualified from the first round, challenge the disciples who ranked in the top ten of the previous Martial Academy Grand Competition.

Therefore, Lin Yi was able to cultivate peacefully in his residence today, successfully breaking through his cultivation to the Late Sixth Rank.

Lost in thought, Lin Yi then watched the matches of the disciples in the field with Teacher Sun, silently waiting.

Time passed quickly, and soon half an hour had gone by.

On the training grounds, accompanied by the challenges of the last group of disciples.

A moment later, a burly man with a sturdy physique emerged from the side and took a white paper from the statistical teacher. He then announced loudly:

"I declare that the first round of Dongshan Martial Academy's end-of-November assessment has concluded."

"In this round, disciples Huang Can, Liu Yingying, Zhang Yuanlong, Bai Xian... and ten other disciples performed excellently. Together with Lin Yi, a disciple from Guangling Martial Academy who is currently undergoing advanced studies at our Dongshan Martial Academy, you eleven will advance to the second round and earn the qualification to challenge the disciples who ranked in the top ten of the previous Martial Academy Grand Competition."

"Next, all eleven of you, along with the disciples who ranked in the previous competition, will come onto the stage to participate in the second round of assessment!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing the burly man's voice, Lin Yi and the other twenty disciples responded loudly in unison, and then they all entered the competition area together.

"Heh heh, kid, you're Lin Yi?"

On the training grounds, as soon as Lin Yi stepped onto the stage, a muscular, dark-skinned, over two-meter-tall, hairy, ape-like young man grinned at Lin Yi, his face full of provocation.

"That's right! I am Lin Yi! What, do you need something?"

Seeing that the newcomer seemed hostile, Lin Yi frowned slightly.

"Kid, I heard you're quite arrogant!"

The muscular young man sneered:

"A bumpkin from the countryside, you dared to make a name for yourself by stepping on our Dongshan Martial Academy disciples just a month after arriving here. You're asking for death!"

"I've wanted to teach you a good lesson for the past month, but unfortunately, you country bumpkin have been hiding so well that I haven't had the chance."

"Heh heh, you can't hide today, can you? I ask you, do you dare to step onto the arena with me for a fight right now?"

"What! Wan Yong is challenging Lin Yi!"

Upon witnessing this scene, before Lin Yi could even reply, the surrounding disciples erupted in an uproar.

"Haha! It's starting! It's starting! Wan Yong and Lin Yi are going at it!"

"Haha! Well said, Wan Yong! This kid from some backwater place, relying on a bit of strength, actually dares to be so arrogant. I've been unhappy with him for a long time. If I weren't weaker, I would have taught him a harsh lesson long ago!"

"Haha! Qian Chuan, you must be relieved now. Wan Yong ranked sixth in the last competition. Not only did he also achieve Minor Accomplishment in Extreme Strength and Great Accomplishment in Fourth-Rank Martial Art, but his cultivation level is also higher than Lin Yi's, reaching the Mid Sixth Rank."

"With him taking action this time, Lin Yi is absolutely doomed to lose!"

"Indeed! This country bumpkin will definitely be severely taught a lesson by Wan Yong this time."

The disciples exclaimed excitedly.

Although Lin Yi had displayed immense power last time and conquered some disciples with his strength, many more disciples were still unconvinced in their hearts.

After all, the disciples of Dongshan Martial Academy were accustomed to arrogance and had long been used to looking down on disciples from the county town martial academies.

Now, a disciple from a county town dared to slap their faces, and they were naturally furious. However, because their strength was insufficient before, they had temporarily endured it.

But now that they saw a powerful disciple stepping up for them, they were naturally excited.

On the other side, upon hearing the words of "Monkey Boy" Wan Yong, Lin Yi's expression turned completely cold:

"Oh, dodge?"

"Heh! What do you think you are! You think you're worthy of me dodging?"

"Since you want to fight, I'll fight you!"

"However, in the second round of the Dongshan Martial Academy Grand Competition, each disciple only has three chances to fight other disciples?"

"Now you, a good-for-nothing, want me to waste a precious opportunity to fight you. I ask you, what price can you pay?"

"Price? What do you want?"

Hearing Lin Yi's scolding, Wan Yong's heart was filled with rage. However, to get Lin Yi to accept the fight, he suppressed his inner anger, narrowed his eyes, and a dangerous glint shot out from them as he snorted coldly.

"Very simple!"

Lin Yi spoke calmly:

"If I win our fight, you will give me three thousand taels of silver and whatever rewards you receive in this Martial Academy Grand Competition."

"Of course, at least the rewards for the top ten, which is two thousand taels of silver. Otherwise, you'll have to pay out of your own pocket to make up the difference. This is to prevent you from intentionally not making it into the top ten and giving me less money after losing to me."

"And if I lose, I will give you the rewards I receive in the competition, of course, also at least the top ten rewards. How about it?"

"No problem!"

Hearing Lin Yi's conditions, Wan Yong felt it was a bit unfair to him, but he agreed without hesitation.

Because he never thought he would lose to this country bumpkin with his own strength.

After all, who was he?

Sixth in Dongshan Martial Academy! A peerless genius with Sixth Rank mid-stage cultivation, Minor Accomplishment in Extreme Strength, and Great Accomplishment in Fourth-Rank Martial Art! Would he lose to a country boy?

"Good! Then let's go to the stage!"

Lin Yi nodded, then drew a long saber from the weapon rack beside him and slowly walked towards the stage.

Seeing this, Wan Yong also drew a black iron long staff, over ten feet long, and walked to the other side of the stage.

Soon, on the massive stage, which was over a hundred feet long and more than fifty meters wide, Lin Yi and Wan Yong stood facing each other from a distance.

"Heh heh! Kid, you've got guts, actually daring to get on stage with me."

Looking at Lin Yi opposite him, Wan Yong grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. Coupled with his ugly, ape-like appearance, he looked ferocious.

"I guarantee this will be the biggest mistake you ever make in your life!"

"Alright! Since you've got guts, I'll let you make the first move today. That way, no one can say I, Wan Yong, bullied you, a country bumpkin!"

"Oh, let me make the first move?"

Lin Yi smiled faintly, then slowly raised his left hand, holding up three fingers.

"What? You mean letting you make the first move isn't enough? You want me to let you have three moves first?"

Seeing Lin Yi's gesture, Wan Yong frowned, but then he smiled confidently.

"Fine! Since you're such a useless piece of trash, I'll let you have three moves. Go ahead!"

"No!"

Hearing this, Lin Yi gently shook his head.

"I mean, I'll finish you within three breaths!"

"Boom!"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Yi's body instantly shot out like a fired cannonball.

In an instant, it tore through the air, leaving behind sonic booms and afterimages.

Finally, holding his long saber, he slashed towards Wan Yong with a single strike!