But Li Beichen naturally couldn't let a woman stand up for him.
"Fifth Senior Sister, you can handle the Ninth Grade match. I'll take the Eighth Rank."
Zhang Meng chimed in from the side.
"Let Old Seven handle the Eighth Rank match. Fifth, there's no need for you to get involved."
But Fang Meiqin's brows shot up.
"Zhang Meng, what are you thinking, letting Li Beichen fight an Eighth Rank opponent?"
"Even if we want to win, we can't do it like this!"
She thought Zhang Meng was trying to use the Tian Ji horse-racing strategy: have Li Beichen face the Eighth Rank opponent and have her face the Ninth Grade one to improve their chances of winning.
Zhang Meng was so stunned by her rebuke that he choked on his words. He glanced at Li Beichen, who was watching the show beside him.
"Old Seven, aren't you going to say something for me?"
Only then did Li Beichen speak.
"Senior Sister, I've actually already broken through to Eighth Rank."
"So naturally, I should be the one to face the Eighth Rank martial artist from Thunderbolt Martial Hall!"
"What?! Eighth Rank?!"
Not only Fang Meiqin, but Wang Dao, Yang Ling, and Han Fengqi beside her were so shocked that they involuntarily rose to their feet.
"Li Beichen, what did you say?! You've already reached Eighth Rank?"
"That's right, Senior Sister. I broke through just two days ago. Leave the Eighth Rank match to me!"
"It's only been a few months, and he's already reached Eighth Rank..."
Han Fengqi looked a little dazed. Of the disciples who had joined the Inner Courtyard later, he had the best talent.
But he'd been Ninth Grade for over a year, and could only just manage to land eight consecutive strikes. He'd still need another half a year to officially break through to Eighth Rank.
And he'd already thought that was fast progress.
Wang Dao looked at Li Beichen.
"Seventh Junior Brother, let's spar and see. There are three Eighth Rank martial artists from Thunderbolt Martial Hall. I've dealt with them all, so I can give you a few pointers."
"Sure, Third Senior Brother. I haven't fought an Eighth Rank martial artist since breaking through."
When Li Beichen agreed, a hint of fighting spirit flashed in Wang Dao's eyes.
He wanted to see just how strong such a genius really was.
The two immediately went to the training ground outside the Inner Courtyard.
Li Beichen and Wang Dao stood ten paces apart, while Zhang Meng and the others gathered around to watch.
"Seventh Junior Brother, come at me. Don't hold back!"
Since Wang Dao had said as much, Li Beichen didn't stand on ceremony. He unleashed his full strength, only holding back his Hidden Force and Shuriken.
Giant Elephant Stomp—Boom!
Li Beichen drove power through the soles of his feet, using the first form of Giant Elephant Fist to accelerate.
In an instant, he covered the ten paces.
He flashed right in front of Wang Dao.
Ivory Thrust!!
Wang Dao's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected Li Beichen to be so fast.
He hurriedly raised his arms to block.
Bang!
But Li Beichen's strength far exceeded his expectations.
The moment they clashed, Wang Dao's guard was blasted open, and agony shot through his arm.
He hurriedly retreated.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
He shook out his arm and stared at Li Beichen as if he were a monster.
"Seventh Junior Brother, you're so short and not even especially muscular. How can you have such terrifying strength?"
"No need to spar anymore. Those Eighth Rank fighters from Thunderbolt Martial Hall aren't much stronger than me."
"Go ahead and face them. You're sure to win!"
Zhang Meng rubbed his chin from the side.
"Old Seven, your fist technique is crisp and clean. There's even a murderous edge to it."
"How'd you train it?"
Li Beichen lowered his hands and stood straight. He didn't hide the truth.
"Before I learned martial arts, I made my living hunting in the mountains. Even after I started training, I hunted a few wolves."
"Maybe that helped hone my fist technique."
Fang Meiqin, Han Fengqi, and Yang Ling fell into thought when they heard this.
Yang Ling voiced his question.
"I often go into the mountains to hunt too, and I've fought beasts to hone my fist technique. Why didn't I get the same results?"
"Maybe you haven't reached the point of a qualitative change..."
"That makes sense."
Li Beichen's formidable strength gave everyone a shot in the arm, and their pressure eased at once.
The oppressive atmosphere lifted as well.
Yang Ling even ingratiatingly said to Fang Meiqin,
"Fifth Junior Sister, how about letting me take the Ninth Grade match after all?"
"If you can beat me, you can take it!"
At Fang Meiqin's reply, Yang Ling's face fell.
Although Fang Meiqin was a woman, she was indeed the strongest of the three: Yang Ling, Han Fengqi, and her.
"With Old Seven and Eldest Senior Brother, we're sure to win this martial contest. Can't I go out there and bask in the glory a little...?"
"What were you doing just now, then?!"
Fang Meiqin still sounded annoyed, but much less so than before.
Everyone seemed to have returned to their usual harmonious relationship as senior and junior disciples.
At last, Zhang Meng swept his hand through the air, his eyes brimming with bold confidence.
"This time, we'll make sure Thunderbolt Martial Hall bites off more than it can chew!"
Thunderbolt Martial Hall, Inner Courtyard study.
Lin Xiong stood with his head bowed before Huang Baitao.
His eyes rested on Huang Baitao's yellowed beard, which hung straight down to his chest.
"Have you made the arrangements?"
"Master, it's all arranged. Old Five will handle the Ninth Grade match, Old Three will handle the Eighth Rank match, and the Seventh Rank match... I'll take it myself."
"Mm. Are you confident?"
"For the Ninth Grade match, Like-Elephant Martial Hall will probably send Fang Meiqin. Old Five has even odds against her."
"For Eighth Rank, Wang Dao will face Old Three. Old Three will win easily."
"As for Zhang Meng..."
At this point, Lin Xiong's expression turned troubled.
"That... Zhang Meng's strength is not to be underestimated..."
"Master, Yuan Dazong was the one who killed Junior Brother Huang Shan. Why are we making such a huge wager on a martial contest against Like-Elephant Martial Hall?"
Lin Xiong had placed a wager of one hundred thousand taels on the martial contest with Like-Elephant Martial Hall.
But he had only done so on Huang Baitao's instructions.
Lin Xiong himself had no idea why Huang Baitao wanted to do this.
"Huang Shan was just an accident. That unfilial son... dead is dead."
"My target has always been Meng Juxiang."
Hearing Huang Baitao's cold words, Lin Xiong felt a chill in his heart.
Although Huang Baitao hadn't cared for Huang Shan, he was still his own son.
Huang Shan had died a gruesome death outside the city, yet Lin Xiong had never seen Huang Baitao shed a single tear—or even show the slightest hint of grief.
But Lin Xiong didn't dare say more, so he returned to the matter at hand.
"Master, Meng Juxiang has the Giant Elephant Sect behind him, and he's formidable in his own right. He won't be easy to deal with..."
Huang Baitao let out a sneer.
"The Giant Elephant Sect's brutes rely on their deadweight muscles and Elephant Soldiers to run roughshod over everyone. They're certainly hard to handle, and everyone has to give them some leeway."
"But when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Han Sanbian, the Giant Elephant Sect's leader, is dead. They're leaderless and in chaos. It's hard to say whether they can even hold on to their status as a major sect."
"Now's the perfect time to strike!"
"Someone like Han Sanbian can die too?!"
Lin Xiong's pupils contracted. He felt he'd just heard something he shouldn't have. Then it hit him.
"Master, does Meng Juxiang not know this yet?"
"Of course not. The Giant Elephant Sect has its hands full. How could they have time to keep tabs on all the Elephant Guards like Meng Juxiang stationed throughout the region?"
A trace of greed appeared in Huang Baitao's eyes.
"Now, I'm going to use Like-Elephant Martial Hall as my stepping stone."
"First, I'll feast on its flesh and blood, then crack its bones and suck out the marrow. Before anyone realizes what's happening, I'll have eaten until grease runs down my chin."
"You just said you weren't sure about Fang Meiqin and Zhang Meng, right?"
"Fang Meiqin... she's the Cloth Guild girl, isn't she? Invite the old master of her family over."
"As for Zhang Meng, take my letter and invite him to meet with me. Let a few things slip at the right moment. He's a clever man; he'll come too."
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