Won

On the high platform not far away.

Bai Qiqi held a steamed bun in his hand, chewing as he spoke:

"Senior Brother, why did you deliberately provoke them today? Chew, chew, chew~"

Su Ji replied: "The martial hall is too comfortable."

"The price of comfort is gentleness."

"And what a martial artist needs least is gentleness; gentleness breeds laziness."

"What a martial artist truly needs is blood and courage."

"And anger can break through this. The only thing that can truly inspire progress is rage. Besides that, no amount of effort or motivation works. Only by deeply realizing one's own fragility and incompetence, coupled with an unwilling heart, can great courage be born..."

Bai Qiqi, however, heard a hint of heaviness in Su Ji's words. After a long moment, she reacted and stuck out her tongue: "Senior Brother, why are you suddenly so serious..."

Su Ji said:

"Junior Sister, I will be leaving Jiaqing County in less than a month. I probably won't be able to stay until the Seven Halls Martial Competition."

Bai Qiqi was stunned: "Ah? Senior Brother, you're leaving!? Where are you going!"

As the eldest brother is like a father, Su Ji had been diligent and responsible as the senior disciple for so many years, and everyone in the martial hall respected him.

Moreover, his strength was outstanding among the younger generation. It could be said that the reputation of the martial hall in recent years depended on Su Ji.

"My father used my contribution points from the Peace Guard to exchange for me an entry token to the Heavenly Saber Sect in Willow Sect Prefecture."

"I was supposed to go this month, but I still have two Peace Guard missions. After I complete this last mission, I will go to Willow Sect Prefecture."

"In recent years, the martial hall has been lacking in successors, and most of the disciples are lazy, showing no proper martial arts demeanor."

"You and Junior Brother Xiao are too young, Junior Brother Bai Suo is too self-centered, and Liu Lie's heart is not in the Martial Way. The gap between the disciples of our martial hall and the other six halls is even more obvious. The Seven Halls Martial Competition will likely be a disaster."

"I have no opportunity to repay the master's kindness, so I want to leave something behind. At the very least, I hope the fierce spirit and blood of a martial artist can remain, so that the disciples of the martial hall will not lose too miserably."

"Oh... does Master know?" Bai Qiqi said dejectedly, lowering her head.

"He doesn't know. I haven't found a chance to tell him yet," Su Ji replied.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

At the same time, the battle on the Martial Practice Platform below finally began.

Lin Yi and the other three were fighting against a Peace Guard named Hu Biao.

Hu Biao was at the middle stage of Houtian.

Lin Yi and the other three had just been promoted to the early stage of Houtian.

The battle was imminent.

"Come on, you guys attack first, otherwise you won't have a chance later," Hu Biao beckoned to the four.

The Zhang brothers exchanged glances, their eyes communicating for a moment.

Then, in the next second, both of them erupted.

The elder brother, Zhang Lu, used the Gengjin Saber Art of the Gengjin Martial Hall, attacking from above.

The younger brother, Zhang Chang, used a leg technique, attacking from below.

The two cooperated seamlessly, even creating a situation where one plus one was greater than two.

Hu Biao glanced at the two approaching figures, a smirk on his lips: "Still too green..."

He stood in place, as steadfast as a mountain.

The moment the two attacked, Hu Biao seemed to have predicted their moves. He dodged Zhang Lu's saber strike with a subtle shift of his body and angle. Then, he concentrated his True Qi in his calf, moving with agility and speed. He first blocked Zhang Chang's incoming attack, then shifted his footwork and delivered a kick.

He directly kicked Zhang Chang off the Martial Practice Platform.

"Brother!" Zhang Lu panicked.

He instinctively turned his head to look.

"Then you can go accompany him."

A playful voice sounded in his ear.

Zhang Lu snapped back to reality, and a palm as large as his head slapped him across the face, sending him flying out as well.

The defeat was swift, lasting only five breaths.

The surrounding crowd was unfazed.

These appointed officials were usually appointed as soon as they reached the Martial Artist realm.

Apart from their cultivation level, they knew nothing else.

Being crushed was the norm.

"These two idiots, the Gengjin Saber Art and Duojin Leg from the martial hall, are not meant to be used like that. They have no originality, completely copying the movements from the manuals..."

Below the Martial Practice Platform.

A Peace Guard captain, who had previously come from the Gengjin Martial Hall, couldn't help but feel that his junior disciples were a disgrace.

Hu Biao raised an eyebrow, his ears twitching.

Without hesitation, he drew the long saber at his waist and blocked directly at the back of his neck.

A crisp clash of blades rang out.

"The killing intent is too obvious."

Hu Biao infused True Qi into it, and the blade suddenly trembled.

The True Qi traveled along the crossed blades, all the way into Zheng Yu's arm.

In an instant, Zheng Yu's wrist felt numb.

"Heh heh, learn from this, an advanced use of True Qi." Hu Biao chuckled, shaking his wrist with force.

The sword in Zheng Yu's hand immediately dropped.

"I lost."

There was no quibbling.

There was no doubt.

Zheng Yu calmly picked up the dropped blade, squeezed her palm hard, and walked off the stage step by step.

In the blink of an eye, the entire process didn't even take half an incense stick's worth of time.

Three early Houtian stage martial artists were dealt with.

Lin Yi finally understood why no one had come to the Peace Guard for a temporary posting before.

This was a complete one-sided crushing.

He estimated that after staying for five or six days, people's mental states would collapse.

"It's your turn, kid." Hu Biao looked at Lin Yi, "You're from Rainbow Martial Hall, right?"

Lin Yi nodded, "Rainbow Martial Hall, Lin Yi."

Hu Biao smiled, "What a coincidence, I used to be from Rainbow Martial Hall too."

"But don't expect your senior brother to go easy on you."

Lin Yi nodded:

"Understood."

"I'll only use one strike. If I can't win, I'll admit defeat."

Hu Biao took it as Lin Yi also believing he couldn't win and wanting to save face.

Of course, it wasn't just Hu Biao who thought so.

Basically, everyone present thought the same.

"As you wish." Hu Biao grinned.

Lin Yi slightly lowered his stance and exhaled gently. On both sides of his cheeks, fiery mist gradually appeared clearly.

Su Ji narrowed her eyes, and the fingertips that were lightly tapping the railing paused.

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?" Bai Qiqi asked curiously.

"He seems to be using some kind of saber technique martial skill with an attribute, not one of the saber techniques I'm familiar with in the martial hall." Su Ji said, "But this aura seems very strong..."

Bai Qiqi's eyes lit up, "Then do you think this Lin Yi can beat Hu Biao?"

Su Ji paused and replied, "Very difficult."

"This martial skill has a long charging time, so its power should be considerable, but its flexibility is very low and difficult to control. Hu Biao should be very familiar with dealing with such rigid martial skills."

Bai Qiqi said, "Heh heh, then Senior Brother, why don't you bet with me."

"I bet Lin Yi will win. The stakes will be that batch of smuggled gambling stones from the Green Wood Gang that you confiscated earlier. Let me choose five."

Su Ji said helplessly, "Junior Sister, those gambling stones are smuggled and will be confiscated later."

Bai Qiqi pouted and mumbled, "I know, but Senior Brother, aren't we from the Peace Guard, the officials?"

Su Ji: "..."

At the same time, Lin Yi moved.

The True Qi around him erupted with full force, as if his entire body was coated in burning flames. He charged forward, leaving behind residual flames formed by True Qi.

Hu Biao's pupils contracted, and the corners of his mouth curled up. He thought to himself.

"He's got something."

"But it's still a reckless fighter's move."

"The impact of this saber technique causes immense damage, but it also leaves openings in defense. In fact, as long as the opponent gets close, if you slightly shift your body and kick this kid in the waist, he'll have no power to resist..."

"Isn't this a bit too ruthless..."

"Forget it, let's switch to a gentler fighting style. After all, we're colleagues..."

In an instant, Hu Biao thought of nine methods.

Nine ways to defeat Lin Yi.

Each one more brutal than the last.

After much deliberation, Hu Biao still chose the most "gentle" method.

"Come on, junior brother."

"Prepare to receive your senior brother's guidance."

In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts raced through his mind, and Lin Yi had already closed in.

Hu Biao confidently predicted Lin Yi's saber slash.

He lowered his body, simultaneously preparing a charged punch, aiming directly for Lin Yi's liver.

In an instant.

The phantom True Qi flames behind Lin Yi dissipated, and he abruptly stopped right in front of Hu Biao.

Hu Biao, somewhat awkwardly, maintained his posture of lowering his body and cocking his fist.

The scene instantly became awkward.

"?" Hu Biao was stunned.

Lin Yi smiled, the corners of his lips curling into a wide grin.

The next second, Lin Yi moved with extreme speed, extending his foot and channeling all his True Qi into his leg, stomping down hard on Hu Biao's toe.

Instantly, an intense pain shot from his toe straight to his brain.

"Hiss!!!"

Hu Biao gasped, his mind going blank for a moment.

When Hu Biao reacted again.

Lin Yi, chuckling softly, had already placed his saber against his neck.

"Senior brother, I think I won."