The Grand Tournament Begins, Knocking on Their Door

Two days later, the Flying Bird City Martial Hall Grand Tournament officially began.

Every martial hall in the city hung a golden token on its signboard.

The token signified that the hall had registered for the competition.

At the same time, the token also represented points.

According to the tournament rules, in the first round of preliminaries, over one hundred and thirty martial halls across the city would be narrowed down to sixteen that advanced to the second round.

The screening method for the first round was a points competition.

One token counted as one point.

From the start of the competition day, any martial hall could challenge others. In the end, based on points ranking, the top sixteen would enter the next round.

However, there was one prerequisite: a hall could not lose its own token; otherwise, it would be considered eliminated.

So while this seemed like an offensive contest, defense was actually more important than offense.

Inside the Flying Bird First Martial Hall.

Shen Zhou, Tan Tong, Dongfang Hongyu, and A Dai were all present.

In terms of personal cultivation, Tan Tong ranked first with the peak of Coagulation Eighth Realm plus the second layer of the Golden Body Art.

Shen Zhou, at Coagulation Sixth Realm with the second layer of the Golden Body Art, ranked second.

Next came Dongfang Hongyu, Wang Xiaomao...

As for A Dai, he was currently at Blood Coagulation Third Realm, and his saber technique was said to have reached the entry level.

Xi Mei, Blood Coagulation Third Realm, sword technique at entry level.

San Mazi, Blood Coagulation Second Realm.

The three of them were just there to gain experience.

After assessing everyone's strength, Tang Shan said, "According to the competition rules, you need to split into two teams: one team handles offense to earn points, and the other handles defense to ensure our home base isn't lost. If we're talking about importance, defense is definitely the priority. After all, no matter how many points you win, if your home base is gone, winning is pointless.

So decide among yourselves who goes on offense and who stays on defense."

Meng Gang and a few other senior brothers nodded. As hall masters, they couldn't participate, so this competition relied entirely on Shen Zhou and the others.

After hearing his senior brother's analysis, Shen Zhou quickly made a decision. "Since defense is more important than offense, Senior Brother Tan Tong, as the strongest, you should handle defense. I'll take charge of offense."

Tan Tong had no objections.

In the end, after some discussion, Tan Tong would lead Wang Xiaomao, A Dai, and Xi Mei—who weren't skilled in combat or fond of stirring up trouble—to guard the hall.

Shen Zhou would lead Dongfang Hongyu and San Mazi to issue challenges.

After leaving the Flying Bird First Martial Hall, San Mazi and Dongfang Hongyu were like hounds just unleashed, even more eager than Shen Zhou.

San Mazi's eyes gleamed. "Which one do we hit first?"

Dongfang Hongyu already knew Shen Zhou's plan, so he said, "The Yang Family or the Wu Clan—which one do you pick?"

San Mazi was surprised. "Going straight for the clan-affiliated halls?"

Dongfang Hongyu: "Who told them they've got a grudge against us?"

San Mazi caught on. "Makes sense. Let's go with the Wu Clan then. Even though Wu Jiuyan is dead, I still can't stand those Wu bastards."

Shen Zhou made the final call. "Alright, the Wu Clan it is. Let's move!"

Meanwhile, in the city's most upscale restaurant.

Watching the chaos among the martial halls on the streets below, Xu Family Head Xu Mengfu sat high in the building, a celadon teacup in hand, confident and in control. He said to an elder behind him, "Elder Xu You, how are things at the mine?"

Xu Baxia was also present. Hearing this, he looked at the Xu elder behind him in confusion.

Elder Xu You, nearly sixty but still vigorous, replied, "Rest assured, Family Head. Everything is ready. Soon, once the workers discover the secret realm entrance, the plan can begin."

Xu Mengfu smiled faintly. "To take, one must first give. The Qin Family truly thinks our Xu Clan will befriend them—how naive."

Elder Xu You also wore a smile, looking just as cunning as the family head.

Only Xu Baxia was baffled. "Father, do you have some plan?"

The family head turned to look at his son and said flatly, "You don't need to concern yourself with that. All you need to know is that once the city tournament ends, the Qin Family and that Shen Zhou will both vanish from the city."

Xu Baxia's expression shifted.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled what his father had said during the mine negotiations back then. "Could it be that Father was serious when he said he wanted to turn the Qin Family Divine Weapon into the Xu Family Divine Weapon?"

"By clan decree, this tournament we ignore all other halls. Only the Qin Family and those White Deer Academy bastards. So now, move out!"

"Get them!"

"They dared kill our hall master—an irreconcilable blood feud. Fight them!"

Inside the Wu Clan Martial Hall.

A group of fierce martial artists was just about to set out, but before they could leave, they ran into a lean, dark-faced, sturdy youth. He carried a massive iron sword on his back, flanked by two chubby fellows, and strode in with a hostile expression.

Someone immediately barked, "Who the hell are you, daring to barge into the Wu Clan Martial Hall? Tired of living?!"

The dark-faced youth said coldly, "People here to challenge you!"

The people from the Wu Clan Martial Hall were stunned, then the entire venue burst into laughter.

Although it was the Citywide Martial Hall Tournament, as a martial hall under a noble family, the Wu Clan Martial Hall had never gone out of its way to challenge others in previous tournaments—they were grateful enough not to be challenged. Who would have thought someone would now actively challenge them?

Wu Xu was the frontrunner of the Wu Clan Martial Hall, and his strength at the peak of the Coagulation Ninth Realm made him quite confident when facing challengers.

He stepped forward, staring at the dark-faced youth, and said, "Do you know that my Wu Clan Martial Hall is under the Wu Clan noble family? You haven't come to the wrong place, have you?"

The dark-faced youth let out a scornful laugh, his tone dripping with provocation. "Does the tournament rule say that noble family martial halls can't be challenged?"

Sensing the hostility from the other party, Wu Xu's fighting spirit surged, his blood and qi faintly stirring. He said coldly, "Fine, I accept your challenge. It won't take much time anyway. Clear the area!"

The people from the Wu Clan Martial Hall immediately cleared an open space, and everyone stared coldly at the dark-faced youth and his two companions.

These three were none other than Shen Zhou and his group, who had come specifically to stir up trouble.

The large iron sword on Shen Zhou's back was something he had specially prepared for this tournament.

Old Man Ji had told him not to use the Shen Family Divine Weapon and to temper his own martial path. Shen Zhou thought that made sense, but he hadn't said he couldn't use another sword.

After all, he wouldn't go easy on the Wu Clan.

On the field, both sides took their positions.

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Shen Zhou reversed his hand and drove the large iron sword behind him into the floor with a sharp shriek. The sword was heavy, sending gravel flying.

Wu Xu frowned at the sight and said coldly, "What do you mean by this? Are you planning to fight me without a weapon?"

Shen Zhou gave a contemptuous smile. "I'll use a weapon, but you have to earn the right to make me use it first."

These words were nothing short of extreme provocation.

It was like a woman asking a man, 'Can you even do it?'

Any real man couldn't take that.

Wu Xu was enraged. "Arrogant enough. Then let me see if you have the skill to back it up."

As his words fell, Wu Xu made his move.

He lunged like a fierce tiger, his blood and qi exploding, charging forward. His fist came down like a heavy hammer, straight for Shen Zhou's face, carrying an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Shen Zhou wanted to test his own strength, so he didn't dodge or evade. He planted his feet in a horse stance, and with a thought, a layer of bluish-gray blood and qi quickly surged over his entire body, like donning a suit of stone armor.

The second layer of the Golden Body Art, the Stone Skin Realm!

The next moment, he met Wu Xu's fist with a fierce punch of his own.

Fists collided.

A thunderous boom echoed across the field, and even the ground trembled from the impact.

Both of them couldn't withstand the force and staggered backward.

Wu Xu stepped back once.

Shen Zhou stumbled back five steps.

The difference in strength was clear.

But Wu Xu frowned. He subtly flexed his wrist, feeling a faint pain radiating from his fist, then spoke, "So you're a body-tempering martial artist. Your realm isn't high, but your body has been trained to this level. No wonder you're so cocky. But if this is all you've got, you can't beat me."

Shen Zhou also stretched his body.

That one punch had already made him aware of the gap between himself and the Coagulation Ninth Realm.

In terms of raw power, the other party was definitely stronger.

But Shen Zhou had the advantage of a tougher body.

That was also the hallmark of a body-tempering martial artist.

Shen Zhou let out a mocking laugh and replied, "This is just the beginning. What's the rush? Again!"

With that, he struck first this time.

Raising his hand, the Wild Desolate Art activated automatically. Blood and qi surged through his body like a roaring river, and the power of his blood and qi skyrocketed, as if his realm itself had risen.

This was the unique benefit of the Xu Family's clan-defining technique. Besides refining essence to nourish the body, during battle, it could also refine essence to temporarily boost blood and qi power.

It was essentially a low-grade version of a Bloodburst Pill.

Shen Zhou stepped forward in one stride, appearing before Wu Xu, and swung the Wild Desolate Fist straight down with immense force.

Wu Xu knew Shen Zhou's physical body was formidable, but his realm advantage and masculine pride kept him from dodging. Instead, he chose to clash head-on.

"I want to see how long you can hold out!"

The two locked horns, neither giving an inch, and began trading blows on the field.

Their fists met flesh with every strike, thunderous sounds echoing, and the scene grew intensely heated, with the situation briefly balanced.

The disciples of the Wu Clan Martial Hall watching from the side couldn't help but murmur.

"Where did that dark-skinned kid come from? He's been holding his own against Senior Brother Wu Xu for this long with just the Coagulation Sixth Realm."

"I bet he was trained by some other martial hall, trying to make a name for himself in this tournament. But unfortunately, they picked the wrong opponent."

"That's right, if it were any other martial arts hall, they might still have a chance at victory. But facing Senior Brother Wu Xu, they're doomed to lose!"

On the other side.

San Mazi wasn't the least bit worried that Shen Zhou might lose—as long as Zhou-ge picked up his sword, victory was only a matter of minutes.

Instead, Dongfang Pangpang grew curious about the big iron sword Shen Zhou had stuck in the ground. He asked San Mazi, "What's Shen Zhou doing with that big iron sword? It's not a Qin Family Divine Weapon, so what use is it? Just to scare people?"

San Mazi, afraid he'd have no explanation later if Shen Zhou's strength suddenly changed, racked his brain for an excuse. "Brother Zhou hid the Taixuan Sword inside that big iron sword before he came. That way, he can perfectly conceal the true form of the Qin Family Divine Weapon while still borrowing its power—killing two birds with one stone!"

"..."

Dongfang Pangpang was stunned.

You could do that?

Boom...

On the field, Shen Zhou and Wu Xu exchanged another punch and then separated.

Shen Zhou rubbed his chest, wincing in pain.

Wu Xu wasn't faring much better either; his arm was turning bruised.

One of them had higher cultivation and stronger strength; the other had better defense and could take a beating.

In the end, they were roughly evenly matched.

Of course, given the gap in their realms, Shen Zhou had definitely taken more hits than Wu Xu.

With that in mind, Shen Zhou stretched his limbs, then turned and walked toward the big iron sword stuck in the ground behind him, muttering under his breath, "Old Man Ji, this isn't me breaking my word. I've finished tempering my martial arts, and the facts have proven that fighting a Blood Coagulation Ninth Realm is indeed a bit strenuous for me now. So next—"

His hand gripped the sword.

The Entry was instantly activated.

Under the power of Sword Invincible, the minor injuries he'd just sustained healed in an instant.

Then he looked at his opponent and said, "Warm-up's over. I'm getting serious now!"

After their exchange, Wu Xu had already gauged Shen Zhou's strength. He sneered, "Keep fighting, and you'll definitely lose. Even with a sword, it's the same."

"Is that so?"

Shen Zhou finished speaking and let out a low shout, "Lone Nine Swords!"

The next moment, a sky full of sword shadows enveloped his opponent.