Atmosphere

Regardless of what followed, as long as he could cross the threshold of the Inspectorate, the troubles behind matters like the Zhou Wu incident, as well as any other potential covetous eyes, would no longer be fatal threats.

Anyone wishing to move against him would first have to weigh the consequences of his backing by the imperial court.

This was an opportunity Li Yuan had to seize!

"Originally, it was scheduled for these next few days, but because the chief judge has not yet arrived, the registration has been postponed to start in three months."

Hearing this, Liu Yan's eyes brightened, her tone firm: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As martial artists, if we do not wish to live lives of mediocrity, how can we let this pass?"

"I will certainly give it my all to fight for a spot in the top fifty!"

Her personality was naturally quite assertive, and she was determined to succeed in this matter.

Zhao Qin frowned, a look of hesitation appearing on his face as he thought of his own talent and his family responsibilities.

Zhao Qin's talent was average, and with a family to support, it could be said that his heart was not entirely devoted to the martial path.

"Master, while the Inspectorate is indeed excellent, once selected, one must head to the Prefecture City."

"In the future, I fear I will no longer be the master of my own fate... I, I need to return and discuss this with my family."

Zhao Qin's concerns were realistic; between a stable home and an uncertain future, he needed to make a choice.

Lin Mingsheng nodded; he was in the same position and also needed to return to consult with his family.

Yang Chong nodded with understanding: "This matter concerns your future, so it truly requires careful consideration."

"However, you may also inform the other junior brothers in the academy about this."

"This tournament is not just about the top fifty having a chance."

"Moreover, even for those outside the top hundred, if they display certain special potential during the matches, it is not impossible for the chief officials of the Inspectorate to take notice and recruit them as an exception."

"Yes, Master." The group replied in unison.

Soon, the news of the Three Counties Joint Tournament and the recruitment by the imperial Inspectorate spread throughout Wuxi County in a short time, radiating outward from the county seat.

What was originally a grand event limited to the circles of martial arts halls and noble families instantly became the focus of heated discussion across the entire city.

The condition of being under thirty years of age, regardless of background, ignited the spark of hope in countless commoner martial artists and even some descendants of fallen noble families.

What if? What if they were chosen? That would be a true leap over the dragon gate, a single step to the heavens!

The entire county seat grew restless because of this, and many young people who usually kept a low profile began to sharpen their resolve.

Whether they were noble scions from the Inner City, disciples of martial arts halls, or gang members and ordinary fighters from the outer city.

Even some farmhands who thought they had a few tricks up their sleeves felt an itch in their hearts caused by this sudden news.

The imperial Inspectorate! A chief official at the Organ Refining Realm personally recruiting! The top fifty would not only receive generous rewards but could also ascend to the heavens, entering that legendary institution and potentially even going to the Prefecture City for further training!

Not to mention, the thirty-year age limit gave too many people the fantasy of "what if?"

In every teahouse, tavern, and street corner of the county, everyone was talking about this upcoming grand event.

As a result, the news of the defeat at the frontier, which had been spreading wildly, was actually suppressed.

After the news spread, Li Yuan also took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incomparably firm.

"Three months... I must break through to the Iron Skin Realm within three months!"

With the strength of the Stone Skin Realm, he feared he wouldn't even be able to stir up a ripple in a competition of this scale.

Only by reaching the Iron Skin Realm could he be considered to have a real ticket to enter the fray.

The immense pressure brought Li Yuan unprecedented motivation.

From this day on, Li Yuan's daily rhythm returned to the state it was in when he first entered the Five Animals Academy, or perhaps even more frantic.

He devoted almost all his time to cultivation.

Every day before dawn, he would set up his stance for the Five Animals Stance Technique in the small courtyard, his blood and qi surging and flowing with his long, steady breaths.

Once the stance training was finished, he would repeatedly practice the Five Animals Ape Form Fist.

He had now mastered two of the fist techniques, and only the last one remained before he could attempt to break through to the Iron Skin Realm.

He calculated that at his current pace, he could master the Ape Form Fist in about two months.

During this period, the atmosphere within the Five Animals Academy was also clearly different.

In the past, although the apprentices practiced diligently, there was always a sense of routine to it.

Now, it was as if a fire burned in everyone's eyes; there was a bit more ferocity in their punches and kicks, and they were more invested during sparring.

This news made every martial artist want to fight for this opportunity.

Sometimes, such an opportunity might only come once in a lifetime.

Even some of the older disciples, who knew they couldn't rank at the top, hoped to show their faces in the tournament—what if they possessed some special potential that caught the eye of the chief judge?

This was a chance for the impoverished to truly change their fate.

That evening, the afterglow of the setting sun cast a faint golden hue over the ground of the Five Animals Academy.

Li Yuan finished his cultivation, wiped away his sweat, and prepared to head back to read.

"Li Yuan!"

A cold, low shout came from behind him.

Li Yuan turned his head to look, only to see Liu Yan staring at him with burning eyes.

She was wearing a tight-fitting navy blue training suit that outlined her figure to perfection.

The top was stretched taut, highlighting the full curves of her chest, while years of martial arts training had made her legs look exceptionally long and powerful, brimming with explosive potential.

She had just finished sparring with Zhao Qin, and fine beads of sweat still clung to her temples; she seemed unsatisfied with the previous bout.

"Let's spar. We've been in the courtyard for so long, yet it seems we've never truly exchanged pointers."

Liu Yan walked to the center of the arena and spoke in a crisp, direct tone.

Li Yuan pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well, please enlighten me, Second Senior Sister."

He, too, wanted to test his strength against her.

The two stood their ground in the arena. As Zhao Qin shouted the start, Liu Yan moved, darting out like a nimble deer with astonishing speed.

She currently specialized in Deer Form, Crane Form, and Ape Form, with both her Deer Form and Crane Form already reaching great completion.

The moment she struck, she displayed the swiftness and agility of the Deer Form Fist, her fingers shaped like a beak, aiming straight for Li Yuan's shoulder well point, while her footsteps remained light, ready to shift tactics at any moment.

Li Yuan dared not be careless; he unleashed his Tiger Form Fist, meeting her with the momentum of a fierce tiger descending a mountain, his punches whistling with a domineering, rigid force.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Fists and feet collided, producing a constant series of dull thuds.

Liu Yan alternated between her various forms, making her movements impossible to guard against.

Li Yuan fought steadily, his Tiger Form Fist and Bear Form Fist forming an airtight defense, occasionally seizing an opportunity to counter with a heavy punch that forced Liu Yan to retreat and defend.

The two traded blows, and in the blink of an eye, they had fought twenty or thirty rounds, remaining evenly matched with no clear victor.

In the midst of the battle, Liu Yan suddenly realized that Li Yuan had actually mastered two forms of fist arts? He had only been in the sect for a few months!

Such speed? Even Cao Chuan hadn't been this fast when he was a junior brother!

Unable to break through after a long assault, Liu Yan felt that, having practiced skin-tempering for years, her strength should be superior to Li Yuan's.

Her eyes narrowed, and spotting an opening, she swept a leg toward Li Yuan's head.

Seeing this, Li Yuan countered with a punch.

"Thud!"

Both of their bodies shuddered, and they each took two steps back.

However, just as Liu Yan steadied herself and prepared to attack again, a faint "rip" sound was heard—her training suit, which she had worn for a long time, had given way.

Because the range of her leg sweep had been too wide, a one-inch tear had burst open, revealing the fair skin beneath.

Liu Yan froze, immediately noticing the mishap. A flush of red instantly flew to her cheeks as she instinctively covered the tear.

Li Yuan noticed it as well; he immediately withdrew his stance and turned around without hesitation, refusing to look at what was improper.