Heaven-Tier Martial Skill Fragment!

"Heh, what a coincidence!"

From atop the high platform, Zhou Tong, patriarch of the Zhou Family, looked down at the crowd below Arena A. His gaze landed precisely on Liu Qingyun and Chen An, and a teasing smile rose to his face.

As a Xiantian Realm expert with profound cultivation, even seated on a platform dozens of meters away, he could take in every movement and every word within the martial arts grounds below.

Zhou Tong had long seen through the grievances and enmity between Chen An and Liu Qingyun.

Turning his head, Zhou Tong looked at Fan Suiyun seated beside him and said teasingly, "Brother Fan, tell me—did you secretly rig this and deliberately arrange for these two enemies to meet on the same arena?!"

"Brother Zhou, you jest! The martial examination is a matter of great importance to the court, with strict rules. Besides, you and the County Lord are both here to oversee it. How would I dare engage in favoritism or fraud?!"

Facing Zhou Tong's teasing, Fan Suiyun smiled calmly. His eyes swept lightly over Arena A below as he said in an even tone, carrying a hint of deeper meaning, "The drawing of lots in the examination grounds is entirely arranged by fate. Enemies crossing paths is merely a coincidence of destiny!"

"Haha, then it seems this really is fate!"

Zhou Tong laughed heartily. He had merely been making a casual joke, so naturally he did not pursue the matter seriously.

His interested gaze fell upon the two about to step onto the arena, and he slowly stroked his beard as he said:

"But speaking of which, Qi Condensation sixth level against Qi Condensation ninth level—there's a full three minor realms between them."

"In this battle, that boy named Chen An is likely in grave danger!"

In his eyes, cultivation was the foundation of a martial duel.

A gap of three realms was something ordinary martial artists simply could not cross!

"This official does not see it that way!"

Zhang Xuanming, who had remained silent at the side, suddenly spoke softly. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Chen An below, who still appeared composed, and an unfathomable depth flashed through his gaze.

"Oh?!"

Seeing Zhang Xuanming actually speak, Zhou Tong's eyes shifted as he smiled. "Could it be that the County Lord thinks more highly of that boy Chen An?!"

"A martial duel naturally places great importance on cultivation, but..."

Zhang Xuanming's gaze flickered as he said blandly, "Temperament, foundation, martial skills, and adaptability in battle are all crucial to determining victory or defeat."

"High cultivation does not necessarily mean great combat strength, and a lower realm does not necessarily mean certain defeat!"

"The County Lord speaks rightly!"

Zhou Tong's eyes flickered before he said, "However, this old man still thinks more highly of Liu Qingyun."

"Since that is so, would the County Lord be interested in having a wager with this old man?!"

"How does Senior Zhou wish to wager?" Zhang Xuanming narrowed his eyes slightly and turned to look at Zhou Tong.

"This old man recently purchased an earth-tier realm-breaking pill from an auction in the prefectural city. If this old man loses, that earth-tier realm-breaking pill shall belong to the County Lord!"

"But if the County Lord loses..."

Zhou Tong paused slightly, looked at Zhang Xuanming, and slowly said, "This old man has heard that the County Lord possesses a fragment of a heaven-tier martial skill. Might this old man borrow it for a few days?!"

As soon as those words fell, the atmosphere atop the high platform tightened slightly.

An earth-tier realm-breaking pill was a precious pill that could help a Houtian Realm martial artist break through into the Xiantian Realm. A single pill was worth more than a million primordial crystals.

As for a heaven-tier martial skill, it was an exceedingly rare divine art in this world, pointing directly toward the Grandmaster Realm above the Grandmaster Realm. Even a mere fragment was of immeasurable value.

Fan Suiyun, seated nearby, could not help but shrink his pupils as shock flashed through his eyes upon hearing Zhou Tong's words.

He had not expected Zhou Tong to be willing to stake an earth-tier realm-breaking pill, much less dare covet the County Lord's treasured fragment of a heaven-tier martial skill.

Zhang Xuanming's gaze darkened slightly. He looked deeply at Zhou Tong, then turned his gaze toward Chen An, who was calmly making his way toward the arena step by step, before finally speaking.

"Agreed!"

Hearing Zhang Xuanming accept the wager, Zhou Tong could not help but grin as he stroked his beard.

In his view, Liu Qingyun was certain to win this duel.

The reason was that, from the students' discussions below, he had already learned everything about the two men's identities, backgrounds, cultivation realms, and past grudges.

Liu Qingyun was at the peak of Qi Condensation ninth level. He came from a decent family—his father was a Houtian Realm instructor at the county academy. He possessed high-grade martial bones, had cultivated high-tier techniques since childhood, ranked among the best students even in Class A, had a solid foundation, and possessed abundant practical combat experience.

Chen An, on the other hand, was merely a student of Geng Class. Before the county examination, he had only displayed Qi Condensation second-level cultivation. With neither father nor mother and an ordinary background, he had gained only a little fame because he and Shen Qinglan, the county academy's top student, were childhood sweethearts.

Though Zhou Tong did not know why Chen An had suddenly raised his cultivation from Qi Condensation second level to Qi Condensation sixth level,

he did not care.

Not only had he, as a Xiantian Realm expert, seen far too many geniuses and monstrous talents, but he also knew that countless opportunities existed in this world.

Let alone breaking through several minor realms in a few days—even breaking through an entire major realm overnight was something he had heard of before.

So what if Chen An was at Qi Condensation sixth level?!

Liu Qingyun was at the peak of Qi Condensation ninth level, a full three minor realms higher than Chen An.

What was more, Liu Qingyun had a Houtian Realm instructor for a father. He had cultivated high-tier techniques and martial skills since childhood, and his practical training on the county academy's arenas far surpassed that of ordinary students.

Moreover, Liu Qingyun did not look like a softhearted person.

The killing intent he had hidden deep within himself toward Chen An was as clear to Zhou Tong, a Xiantian Realm expert, as a blazing torch burning in the blackness of night—impossible to miss.

Had Fan Suiyun not spoken earlier to warn and restrain him, Liu Qingyun likely would have been unable to hold himself back and would have dealt Chen An a lethal blow on the spot.

Zhou Tong sneered inwardly. He truly could not imagine how, with such a vast disparity between them, Liu Qingyun could possibly lose to a mere Qi Condensation sixth-level Chen An?!

That fragment of a heaven-tier martial skill was already his for the taking!

Arena A!

Upon hearing the two names called by the instructor serving as referee on the arena, Liu Qingyun first froze. Then he abruptly turned his head toward Chen An in the distance, a savage grin curling across his lips.

He had waited far too long for this moment!

Heaven had eyes!

It had actually allowed him to encounter Chen An in the very first duel.

Seeing Chen An walk calmly and indifferently toward the arena without even sparing him a glance, intense killing intent churned in Liu Qingyun's eyes. He too strode toward the arena.

"A fragment of a heaven-tier martial skill?!"

As Chen An walked toward the stone steps leading up to the arena, his gaze suddenly swept toward the high platform, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

He had not expected Zhang Xuanming, the County Lord who was merely in the Xiantian Realm, to possess a fragment of a heaven-tier martial skill.

"Chen An!"

Just as Chen An was about to step onto the arena, a graceful figure suddenly darted to his side.

Chen An turned at the sound.

He immediately met a pair of beautiful eyes filled with worry. It was Shen Qinglan!

According to the examination grounds' rules, people were not permitted to move about freely during matches. Yet Shen Qinglan was the county academy's top student and had entered the Houtian Realm at such a young age, granting her an exceptional status.

The instructors on duty in the arena, as well as the gathered experts seated atop the high platform, all understood without needing words. They turned a blind eye, one and all.