A Genius Falls

The tense, trembling murmurs spread through the crowd like a plague.

"Xiao Li! That's Xiao Li from Hongzhan Martial School! He... crippled Zhao Jin!"

"My heavens... Zhao Jin's hands... They're completely mangled! Bone fragments are sticking out!"

"He's insane! Does Xiao Li not care about his future? To strike so viciously during the preliminary exam!"

"Didn't you see? Zhao Jin was the one who started acting like a beast! Every move aimed below the belt or at Xiao Li's joints—vicious as could be! Xiao Li was pushed too far!"

"An old grudge! It has to be! I heard the two martial schools had a score to settle years ago!"

"Make way! Get out of my way!" A roar like that of a wounded beast exploded, tearing through the din.

Shi Kaishan, the head of Guangchang Martial Arts Hall, had bloodshot eyes and a bristling beard and hair. A violent surge of energy radiated from him as he shoved his way out through the crowd.

Behind him, several disciples carried a hastily assembled stretcher, stumbling as they rushed out.

Zhao Jin lay on it, his face drained of color, eyes wide open but empty.

Most horrifying of all were his arms. They hung limply, twisted at angles no human arm could possibly bend. The joints at his elbows and wrists were visibly caved in and misshapen, with ghastly white bone fragments even jutting through his skin.

This was no ordinary fracture. Overwhelming force had completely pulverized the structure of his bones!

No medicine could save him!

His path in martial arts had come to an end!

Cui Hao looked away from the stretcher and toward Xiao Li, standing proudly on the platform.

Was this Xiao Li's own decision, or Xu Dian's idea...?

Up in the stands, Xu Dian's expression shifted between light and dark. This hadn't been his idea; Xiao Li and Zhao Jin had simply fought in earnest and gone too far!

Qian and He saw their old friend's troubled expression, but for a moment, neither knew what to say.

Before long, the next round of drawing lots began.

With the bamboo slip in hand, Cui Hao gathered his thoughts and continued watching the other platforms while he waited for his turn.

The fights on the platforms grew increasingly heated. For those limited cultivation resources, the examinees were practically fighting for their lives. The thud of fists and feet meeting sounded like war drums, and now and then someone spat blood and went flying.

Still, few fought with the intent to cripple their opponent, as Zhao Jin and Xiao Li had.

Most were focused on winning. Serious injury was as far as they went.

Soon, it was Cui Hao's turn to step onto the platform.

His opponent came from Guangchang Martial Arts Hall, a disciple named Liu Nian. He too had reached the peak of the Mortal Martial Realm.

In an instant, the platform where Cui Hao and Liu Nian stood drew countless eyes.

"Guangchang Martial Arts Hall... They just lost Zhao Jin, and now they're up against someone from Hongzhan again..."

"That Cui Hao seems pretty formidable too. Liu Nian... can he handle him?"

"This should be a good show. Will Liu Nian fight desperately to avenge Zhao Jin?"

"Hard to say. Look at Liu Nian's face... He's gone a little pale."

On the platform, Liu Nian took a deep breath, forcing down the fear roiling inside him and a trace of grief and indignation.

The sight of Senior Brother Zhao Jin's injuries still lingered before his eyes, and now he was facing someone from Hongzhan Martial School—the powerhouse Cui Hao.

Composing himself, Liu Nian clasped his hands. "Liu Nian of Guangchang Martial Arts Hall. Please show me your skill!"

"Cui Hao of Hongzhan Martial School." Cui Hao returned the greeting, his gaze calmly sweeping over his opponent.

Liu Nian was lean and muscular, with thick knuckles and calluses covering his palms and fists. It was clear that his hands were his strong suit.

"Please!"

Liu Nian barked and launched the first attack! His footwork was swift as the wind as he circled Cui Hao, avoiding close contact.

Suddenly, Liu Nian halted. His right arm darted out like a striking snake, fingers pressed together like a cone. A razor-sharp surge of energy gathered at his fingertips as he thrust at the gap beneath Cui Hao's left ribs. It was one of the Killing Moves of the Piercing Edge Hand: "Drilling Wind, Piercing the Gap"!

The technique focused force at a single point to break through the whole, targeting weak spots such as joints and acupoints.

Cui Hao slid sideways, bringing his left arm across to block with the bone of his forearm. He held back his strength, aiming only to parry.

Fingers struck forearm with a sharp crack.

Liu Nian felt as if his fingertips had hit an iron plate. The force of the rebound left them tingling, and his heart tightened. As expected, his opponent's bones and sinews were incredibly tough.

When his first strike missed, Liu Nian immediately changed moves. Using the rebound to spin around, he lashed out with his left arm like a whip—not to strike, but with his fingers curled into a hook. They whistled through the air as they darted for the Jianjing acupoint on Cui Hao's right shoulder!

This move was called "Flowing Cloud Locks the Pass." Its execution was tricky; if it landed, half the body would go numb.

Cui Hao lowered and rolled his shoulder, barely evading the fingers. At the same time, his right fist seemed slow but was in fact swift, driving straight toward Liu Nian's centerline with a whoosh. He held back a third of his strength.

Liu Nian hurriedly retreated, crossing both palms and pressing down in a "Twin Bridges Block the River" stance to seal off the punch.

"Boom!"

Fist met palm. Liu Nian was jolted two steps backward, his blood and qi surging, but he wasn't injured.

By this point, how could Liu Nian not understand? Cui Hao had no intention of fighting to the death.

Relieved, Liu Nian brought the Piercing Edge Hand's strengths fully to bear, his movements elusive as his fingers, palms, hooks, and grabs shifted unpredictably.

At times, he sprang like a nimble gibbon leaping a ravine, swiftly striking at the vital points all over Cui Hao's body.

At others, he was like a crane's beak parting the water, two fingers together as they sliced toward the tendons in Cui Hao's wrist.

Then he shifted into "Silken Thread Entanglement," his arms winding like vines as he tried to lock Cui Hao's joints.

Cui Hao held his ground with the Broken Fist, his punches deep and solid as he guarded himself and countered each move. He deliberately kept his strength just a hair above Liu Nian's, while always leaving Liu Nian room to react and change his moves.

The two clashed across the platform, exchanging more than thirty moves in the blink of an eye.

Their fists and fingers crossed in a flurry, the clang of metal on metal ringing without pause. They looked evenly matched, and the fight was intense.

The crowd below watched without blinking.

"Liu Nian's moves are exquisite! The Piercing Edge Hand lives up to its reputation!"

"Cui Hao's style is too forceful, with too little variation. Liu Nian's nimble approach has him at a disadvantage."

"But Cui Hao's foundation is rock solid. Liu Nian's thrown so many killing moves at him, and he's blocked or dodged every one."

"Liu Nian's giving it his all, standing up for his fellow disciples!"

Hearing the murmurs, Liu Nian felt a little bitter. He and Cui Hao were obviously putting on a show—were they all blind?

Not everyone was blind, of course. Xu Dian had seen that the two were only playing around.

That was about enough. Cui Hao neatly caught Liu Nian's right wrist as he thrust forward!

He caught, guided, and sent him flying!

Liu Nian felt a gentle force he couldn't resist travel down his arm. It sent him stumbling forward of his own accord and tumbling off the platform.

Cui Hao clasped his hands on the platform. "Senior Brother Liu, you let me win."

Liu Nian stood there in a daze, his expression shifting before finally settling into complicated relief and gratitude. He cupped his hands in return.

The examiner glanced at the two of them, especially Liu Nian's unharmed hands and composed expression, and understood. He announced loudly, "Cui Hao wins!"

A wave of chatter rose from the crowd, most of it praising how "brilliant" and "intense" the fight had been.

Cui Hao descended from the platform with a calm expression. It wasn't that he was softhearted; winning was enough. There was no need to cripple his opponent.

Besides, Xiao Li and Zhao Jin had already forged a deep feud in their fight to the death. There was no need for him to add fuel to the fire.