Su Mo remained calm. Though he did not know when he would get his turn, as long as he stepped onto the stage, first place in this martial meet would not slip away.
"Go, Jin Guangqing!"
At the center of the arena, as Jin Guangqing took the stage, the Guande Martial Arts School disciples erupted in cheers. They believed their school's genius would surely sweep through the disciples of Qiufeng Martial Arts School and Changchun Martial Arts School.
"Jin Guangqing is quite famous. I heard that when he faced Donglai Martial Arts School before, he accomplished the incredible feat of defeating nine opponents in a row, nearly suppressing all of Donglai Martial Arts School's Body Tempering Realm disciples by himself. His strength is truly exceptional."
"Could it be that Jin Guangqing plans to recreate his feat against Donglai Martial Arts School today?"
"Impossible. Cao Xuanchu of Changchun Martial Arts School and Mo Chengjun of Qiufeng Martial Arts School are mountains he cannot cross. Not to mention that those two schools still have many elite disciples who have yet to fight. Once they take the stage, Guande Martial Arts School's odds of victory will be slim."
Many people around them were also fixedly watching Jin Guangqing as he stepped onto the platform. They knew of his record—his astonishing feat of defeating nine opponents in a row against Donglai Martial Arts School, cutting through its Body Tempering Realm disciples all on his own. His reputation was considerable, and his name had spread through several major towns neighboring Qingshan Town.
"Jin Guangqing? I hope you won't disappoint me!"
Over at Changchun Martial Arts School, a handsome man carrying a black saber spoke indifferently. No aura leaked from his body, yet the elite disciples around him, all at the peak of the late Body Tempering Realm, looked at him with nothing but reverence.
For this handsome saber-wielding man was Changchun Martial Arts School's long-renowned genius, Cao Xuanchu.
A saber prodigy who had cultivated the Basic Saber Technique to the Great Accomplishment Realm, he had once defeated a late Body Tempering Realm opponent with a single slash. Once his Basic Saber Technique at Great Accomplishment was unleashed, even Martial Artists of the same realm would struggle to withstand three of his strikes.
The Basic Saber Technique at the Great Accomplishment Realm was already no weaker than ordinary martial arts cultivated to the Proficient Realm.
Moreover, bolstered by his talent in the saber, the power Cao Xuanchu could unleash was even greater.
That was why Changchun Martial Arts School's elite disciples held Cao Xuanchu in such awe.
Cao Xuanchu could have cultivated other superior saber arts, but the Basic Saber Technique was the beginning of all saber techniques. If he could cultivate it to the Perfect Realm, then when he later trained in other martial saber arts, his progress would only become faster.
That was why Cao Xuanchu was so devoted to the Basic Saber Technique.
This time, with Zhong Wanyu and Qi Yaxue of Guande Martial Arts School not participating, he did not think much of the remaining Zheng Mengyang, Qin Shuqin, and Jin Guangqing.
On the arena stage, with Jin Guangqing's appearance, battle was on the verge of erupting. Jin Guangqing's opponent was the elite disciple from Qiufeng Martial Arts School who had defeated Yang Feng in the previous match. This elite disciple was under immense pressure facing Jin Guangqing, since he had only recently broken through to the peak of the late Body Tempering Realm.
He was certainly no match for a genius like Jin Guangqing, who had been tempered at the peak of the late Body Tempering Realm for a long time. Against Jin Guangqing, he had never intended to win. At most, he wanted to wear Jin Guangqing down a little, making things easier for the fellow disciples who came after him.
Jin Guangqing's fists shot out like lightning and rolling thunder, fist shadows flying as they tore through the air. This was Jin Guangqing's signature technique, the Thunderous Body Refining Fist.
Faced with such a ferocious and tyrannical assault, Qiufeng Martial Arts School's elite disciple was utterly unable to fend it off. After blocking several of Jin Guangqing's moves, openings began appearing everywhere. Jin Guangqing sent him straight off the stage with one punch, ending the match.
Jin Guangqing, victory!
"Jin Guangqing is incredible!"
Seeing Jin Guangqing defeat Qiufeng Martial Arts School's elite disciple so cleanly and decisively, everyone on Guande Martial Arts School's side was fired up.
"Good!"
Even Second Senior Sister Ao Lingyu could not help letting out a delighted cry. Clearly, Changchun Martial Arts School and Qiufeng Martial Arts School's earlier actions had made her furious. Sending Jin Guangqing out was meant to show those two schools that Guande Martial Arts School was not so easily bullied.
First Senior Brother Liu Feiliang, however, wore a grave expression, because the true contest between the three martial arts schools had only just begun.
First place in the martial meet, as well as second and third place, would be decided among these geniuses.
Very soon, after Qiufeng Martial Arts School's defeat, Changchun Martial Arts School immediately sent an elite disciple onto the stage. This disciple was likewise at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, but he was clearly stronger than Qiufeng Martial Arts School's elite disciple from the previous bout.
"My name is Wei Caiyong."
After taking the stage, this elite disciple from Changchun Martial Arts School announced his name, wanting Jin Guangqing to remember it.
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"I have no interest in remembering your name."
Jin Guangqing had not expended much energy, so he did not step down to rest and instead chose to continue fighting. As for his opponent's name, he had no interest in knowing it.
"Is that so?"
The elite disciple named Wei Caiyong was not angered by this. He merely smiled. Then his body moved, and like a wild dragon striking in an instant, he arrived at Jin Guangqing's side.
He was so fast that many people present had not even reacted.
Jin Guangqing reacted swiftly, throwing out a Thunderous Body Refining Fist. The blow was immensely powerful; if an ordinary disciple at the peak of the late Body Tempering Realm suddenly faced this punch, they would surely panic. Yet Wei Caiyong, who had chosen to fight at close quarters, remained unhurried and composed, throwing out a punch of his own.
Bang!
The instant their fists collided, a powerful rebounding force suddenly erupted. Jin Guangqing could not help but stagger back two steps, while Wei Caiyong retreated three.
Jin Guangqing's heart grew solemn. This man's strength was actually on par with his own, yet he had never even heard of him.
The crowd had not expected Wei Caiyong to be able to exchange moves with Jin Guangqing without falling behind. Though it was only the first clash, it was enough to show that Wei Caiyong was no weakling.
Below the stage, Su Mo silently watched the situation unfold. He thought Jin Guangqing and Wei Caiyong possessed decent combat strength, but if they faced him, they would have absolutely no chance.
Bang! Bang!
Then Jin Guangqing and Wei Caiyong moved at once, clashing again. Force tore through the air, fist power shrieked, and they fought in an inseparable tangle. Though Wei Caiyong did not have Jin Guangqing's reputation, his strength left Jin Guangqing no room for carelessness. In the end, after fifty hard-fought exchanges—
Wei Caiyong finally could no longer hold on. Jin Guangqing seized an opening and defeated him.
With that, Jin Guangqing secured two consecutive victories.
Jin Guangqing did not choose to continue fighting, because his expenditure had truly been too great. He could only step down to rest.
The disciples on Guande Martial Arts School's side were all thrilled and excited, but the school's higher-ups—First Senior Brother Liu Feiliang, Second Senior Sister Ao Lingyu, Luo Lianbo, and the others—showed not the slightest trace of joy.
Because Jin Guangqing's victory over Changchun Martial Arts School's elite disciple Wei Caiyong had been far too difficult. He had even been on the verge of losing at one point, nearly frightening everyone into breaking out in a cold sweat.
Keep in mind, Cao Xuanchu and Mo Chengjun had yet to make a move at this stage.
Were elite disciples alone enough to overturn the geniuses of Guande Martial Arts School?
"Zhou Changchun, the disciples of your Changchun Martial Arts School are truly formidable!"
Yu Guande, seated on the high platform, could not help speaking up. An inscrutable meaning flickered in his aged eyes.
Clearly, Changchun Martial Arts School and Qiufeng Martial Arts School had come thoroughly prepared this time. Their goal was to knock Guande Martial Arts School from its pedestal and ruin its reputation.
"Old Master, not at all. The disciples of my Changchun Martial Arts School are all worthless lot. Compared with Guande Martial Arts School, there is still quite a gap!"
Zhou Changchun replied with a smile, but anyone with eyes could see the dagger hidden behind that smile, even as he kept flattering Guande Martial Arts School.
That left Yu Guande unable to say anything.
However, seeing this, Zeng Qiufeng, the master of Qiufeng Martial Arts School at the side, sent out another elite disciple at the peak of the late Body Tempering Realm.
The aura of this elite disciple was not the slightest bit weaker than Wei Caiyong of Changchun Martial Arts School.
Clearly, the foundations of the two great martial arts schools ran far too deep.
"Qin Shuqin, you go."
With no other choice, Ao Lingyu could only send out Qin Shuqin, one of the school's geniuses. If she sent any other disciple up like before, they would likely be defeated before they could even buy Jin Guangqing time to rest and recover.
Su Mo was still not asked to take the field.
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