Effort Brings Miracles

The military drill ground of the prefectural garrison stretched eight hundred zhang in both directions. It was the widest, flattest place in all of Li City. The north wind howled, and battle banners fluttered.

On ordinary days, not even common folk—let alone nobles and wealthy merchants—could enter this place.

Today, it was packed with people!

The high platform on one side was filled with Li City's dignitaries, while the other three sides held over ten thousand commoners. The atmosphere was exceptionally lively.

Throughout the Thirteen Prefectures of the Central Land, martial strength reigned supreme. The Martial Academy Grand Competition was not merely a grand occasion for the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy, but a celebration for all of Li City.

Powerful local clans and country gentry from the counties and villages under its jurisdiction would even make the journey days in advance specifically to watch the battles.

"Sixteen into eight!"

The burly middle-aged referee on the arena had a voice like a great bell. As a Proficient Expert, his voice easily suppressed the clamor coming from every direction. "He Zhong wins!"

"Haha, I won! I won!" The tall, lanky youth on the arena viciously planted his unopened spear on the ground, removed his protective gear, and swung his fist. His face was brimming with excitement.

The spectators all around immediately erupted into fervent discussion as well.

The round of sixteen into eight was already part of the latter half of the competition.

The Martial Academy Grand Competition first held internal selections to choose sixty-four elite disciples, then opened the event to the entire prefecture for one-on-one battles!

During the Grand Competition,

not only would high-ranking officials of the prefecture and Martial Academy supervisors oversee it, but a six-man Inspection Team formed by Hengyun Sect Headquarters and the prefectural capitals of two other prefectures would supervise it as well.

Thus, the Martial Academy Grand Competition was incomparably fair. It was the finest opportunity for countless common-born disciples to leap through the Dragon Gate.

First place would enter the Cloud Martial Hall!

The top sixteen would enter the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy—namely, the Nanmeng Martial Academy.

"I lost!"

Wu Sheng tossed aside his weapon and protective gear, then jumped down from the arena and entered the waiting area. His face was filled with regret. "Brother Yuan, I was so close. Just a little more, and I could've made the top eight."

"You're half a year younger than He Zhong. It's normal for there to be a slight gap," Wu Yuan said with a comforting smile.

"Just a little more." Wu Sheng was still full of regret.

"Damn it!"

"Ah Sheng, stop pretending, will you? I can see you're practically blooming with joy." Luo He could not help saying from the side, "What's the difference between the top sixteen and the top eight? The silver reward just goes from Ten Taels to twenty taels. Either way, you can enter the Nanmeng Martial Academy directly."

"Unlike me—I was so unlucky that I ran into Xu Yuanhan in the very first match." Luo He shook his head.

"Ah He, even if you hadn't run into Xu Yuanhan, who do you think you could've beaten?" Wu Sheng looked at him with utter disdain. "Making it to the public matches was already you stepping in dog shit. Your father will definitely buy your way into the Nanmeng Martial Academy."

"Don't put it so bluntly, all right?" Luo He laughed and cursed. "I saved my father ninety thousand taels of silver."

Wu Yuan watched his two friends with a smile.

Their results had both exceeded expectations.

Luo He's martial talent was quite average, but his family was wealthy. They were one of Li City's ten richest merchant families, and the Luo Family was a true local powerhouse. Even the Prefect had to show them some respect.

Any of the sixty-four strongest competitors in the Martial Academy Grand Competition could enter the Nanmeng Martial Academy by spending ten thousand taels.

Of course, if one had enough money, then for one hundred thousand taels of silver, the Nanmeng Martial Academy would accept them even if they possessed no martial foundation whatsoever.

As for Wu Sheng, he had hovered around thirtieth place in several previous Martial Academy Minor Competitions. This time, he had charged straight into the top sixteen, which was likewise beyond expectations.

"Brother Yuan!" Wu Sheng suddenly turned around. "The three of us brothers admire you the most."

"Exactly!"

Luo He nodded as well. "In terms of circumstances, Brother Yuan, you have it the worst. But in terms of diligence and martial achievements, you're the best! You train like a madman. You'll definitely defeat Xu Yuanhan and take first place!"

Why else would someone like Luo He hang around Wu Yuan? It was because he admired Wu Yuan.

In terms of age, Wu Yuan was the youngest, yet the other two willingly called him "Brother."

"Take first place, enter the Cloud Martial Hall!" Wu Sheng shouted as well.

His voice was so booming that many waiting disciples nearby turned their heads to look.

Yet no one dared say anything. Wu Yuan, Wu Sheng, and Luo He's little group carried considerable intimidation among the Martial Academy disciples.

Xu Yuanhan, seated on the other side, merely cast them a cold glance without saying anything.

"Stop shouting." Wu Yuan smiled. "The next matches will be quick. We'll have the results soon enough."

"Mm."

Wu Sheng and Luo He both nodded repeatedly. "Brother Yuan, cultivate quietly for now. We'll wait beside you."

Wu Yuan smiled.

"This Martial Academy Grand Competition is far more ceremonious than the college entrance exams in my previous life." Wu Yuan swept his gaze over the sea of people in the distance. "If one had to compare it, it was like the ancient imperial examinations."

It was not exactly a single step to the heavens.

But standing out from the Martial Academy and becoming one of the top sixty-four already represented astonishing potential. There was still a great chance of becoming a Martial Master in the future.

If one could enter the Nanmeng Martial Academy, it further meant there was a certain chance of becoming a Proficient Expert.

"People from some powerful clans must have already set their eyes on me." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

Snatching sons-in-law beneath the arena was a tradition.

Why did so many powerful clans and great families go through the trouble of coming here? Just to watch the fun?

No! More often, they came to choose talented young martial artists with potential as sons-in-law, or to befriend dazzling geniuses.

Compared to ancient Blue Star, passing the imperial examinations with high marks did not mean one would definitely become a high-ranking official.

But martial experts built themselves upon their own strength. They were destined to be extraordinary!

"Still, participating in the Martial Academy Grand Competition has probably made Dean Zhang and General Xu furious." Wu Yuan smiled and swept his gaze toward the two men seated in the center of the high platform.

Dean Zhang wore a broad smile, while General Xu's face was icy.

What Wu Yuan had originally agreed to was withdrawing from the Martial Academy Grand Competition.

After all, he was only fourteen. He could choose to withdraw, and the sect's Inspection Team would not pay him much attention.

Yet at the final moment, Wu Yuan had chosen to participate.

Time passed.

Match after match took place. Wu Yuan fought another battle midway through and successfully advanced into the final four.

At last, he heard his own name.

"Four into two." The burly referee's voice echoed across the drill ground. "Wu Yuan, Liu Ruyan! Take the stage!"

"It's the semifinals now."

"Wu Yuan!"

"Liu Ruyan is valiant and heroic. Her spearwork just now was truly beautiful."

"Wu Yuan is even more formidable! In the most recent Martial Academy Minor Competition, he took first place! He's the hottest favorite to win it all."

"Watch carefully." The many spectators around them discussed animatedly. As the duels continued, they became ever more exciting, and the competitors became increasingly familiar to the crowd.

In particular, the powerful clans and great families who had come specially had long since obtained the list of elite Martial Academy disciples and carefully studied every one of them.

"Wu Yuan is only fourteen. I heard he attained Martial Dao Enlightenment, and his strength has advanced by leaps and bounds recently."

"The key is that he isn't from a great clan. The Nanmeng Wu Clan is respectable enough, but the Li City Wu Clan is only a minor family. This is an opportunity."

"Pay close attention to him!"

"If he enters the Cloud Martial Hall, we'll have no chance. The great families of the prefectural capital will likely all pursue him. But if he fails to take first place?"

"Then it's an opportunity!"

"Watch closely. With his talent, becoming a Proficient Expert in the future is practically nailed to the board. He may even have hopes of becoming a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist." The heads of numerous powerful clans and great families all stared wide-eyed at the arena.

There were not many truly fine young men.

Some were not talented enough, some were already promised in marriage, and some came from great clans that would not easily form marital alliances.

Someone like Wu Yuan, however—highly talented yet of lower birth—was the most sought after.

On the high platform,

"Hmph!" General Xu snorted coldly, his eyes full of frost.

"General, please remain calm." Dean Zhang spoke softly from beside him. "The Inspection Team is here. Don't lose your composure."

"I, Xu Shouyi, will not tolerate being deceived," General Xu said coldly.

Dean Zhang smiled helplessly, but there was no way for him to persuade the man. In terms of personal strength, he believed he was not much weaker than the other party.

In terms of status? The difference was vast.

Moreover, the other man was only in his forties and still had room to improve.

Once he stepped into the Third-Grade Realm? He would truly become one of Hengyun Sect's upper echelons!

"Wu Yuan." Dean Zhang gazed at the heroic youth on the arena and sighed inwardly. Should I call you clever, or foolish?

...On the arena.

"Wu Yuan, I'm not your match, but I won't give up." Liu Ruyan, her youthful face framed by a ponytail, held a long spear. There was a resolute spirit about her.

"As a martial artist, how can one admit defeat before even fighting?" Wu Yuan held his saber in hand and smiled. "Give it everything you have. A miracle might happen!"

"A miracle?" Liu Ruyan frowned.

Just one minute later.

"Clang—"

A lightning-fast spear thrust came hurtling toward him. Wu Yuan seemed unable to draw his saber in time, and the thrust broke through his guard and struck him in the chest.

"Bang—"

The tremendous impact carried by the spearhead instantly blasted Wu Yuan, armor and all, to one side. He crashed heavily off the arena.

"Four into two, Liu Ruyan wins!" the referee immediately declared.

"What?"

"Wu Yuan lost?"

"What an enormous upset! Liu Ruyan actually made it into the final battle? She'll face Xu Yuanhan in the final showdown?"

"What a pity! Wu Yuan is still too young. His combat experience is somewhat lacking. He was clearly flustered in that final exchange." A wave of uproar swept through the crowd, and many martial experts revealed regretful expressions.

"I won?" Liu Ruyan on the arena was somewhat dazed.

She recalled her final thrust.

"Wu Yuan had clearly blocked it, so why did my spear suddenly seem to slip faintly out of my control, then shake violently and knock his saber away?" She could scarcely believe it. "Since when had my spearwork become this strong?"

"Could effort truly bring miracles?"