Questioning Him

Gu Zhibei held the Azure Edge Sword level and stared intently at Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu, meanwhile, looked completely relaxed, his gaze fixed on Li Feifei, who was shouting herself hoarse beneath the arena.

Whoosh!

A fierce sword wind appeared by his ear.

"You still dare to lose focus while fighting me? You're far too arrogant." Gu Zhibei's sword stabbed toward Zhang Yu's body like lightning.

A black gleam flashed over Zhang Yu's left chest as Iron Soul, the martial true intent of the Iron Shirt, activated instantly.

Clang!

The sound Gu Zhibei had expected—the Azure Edge Sword sinking into flesh—never came. Instead, a crisp clang of steel striking steel rang out.

How is this possible? How could a third-rate Iron Shirt block my sword? What level has he trained it to? Could it be martial true intent? Gu Zhibei's resolve wavered slightly.

Star-Pointing Finger.

Whoosh!

Crack!

Though shock surged through Gu Zhibei's heart, his life-and-death experience allowed him to remain calm on the surface. When his first sword strike failed, he jabbed Zhang Yu's neck with the Star-Pointing Finger of his left hand.

Black light flashed again at Zhang Yu's neck. With a crack, Gu Zhibei's left index finger broke.

The pain instantly brought beads of sweat the size of beans to his forehead, and he hurriedly retreated.

Only then did Zhang Yu turn his head. Looking at the rapidly retreating Gu Zhibei, he said, "Finished? My turn now."

Whoosh!

His body vanished from where he stood.

[Following Wind in Motion]

As Gu Zhibei retreated, he felt a breeze brush past him, and Zhang Yu appeared before him.

Mountain-Crushing.

Bang!

One punch landed on Gu Zhibei's abdomen. Already retreating, Gu Zhibei was sent flying straight off the arena. With a thud, he crashed face-first onto the ground.

He pressed both hands to the ground and tried to rise. When he had only lifted himself halfway, he spat out a mouthful of blood, then slammed face-first onto the ground again.

Zhang Yu had severely injured Gu Zhibei with Mountain-Crushing using only Bright Force. Standing on the arena, he withdrew his fist and looked at the deacon overseeing the match beside him.

"Zhang Yu of the Bedrock Institute wins," the deacon announced.

The aristocratic disciples who had been chattering moments ago now fell silent, leaving only Li Feifei's voice.

"Senior Brother Zhang Yu is mighty!"

"Senior Brother Zhang Yu is number one!"

The other disciples wore expressions of utter disbelief. Even Gu Zhibei had been instantly defeated in one move.

This...

The aristocratic disciples could not accept it, especially not the fact that Zhang Yu, a commoner disciple, had taken first place in the Azure Eagle Tournament.

"He blocked Gu Zhibei's sword, blocked the Star-Pointing Finger, and even shattered Gu Zhibei's finger from the impact. He truly deserves first place," one aristocratic disciple said.

"Yeah, but how did he train it? The Iron Shirt can block Gu Zhibei's Azure Edge Sword? Unbelievable."

"The secret art Star-Pointing Finger struck his body and broke instantly. Is he some kind of monster?"

"Martial true intent—the Iron Shirt's martial true intent. That's the only explanation." Some disciples still recognized quality when they saw it.

Zhang Yu paid no heed to the disciples' discussions. He had entered the Azure Eagle Tournament for two reasons: first, to obtain the Marrow-Washing Fluid; second, Shi Cangyue had personally named him to participate, so he had to give him face.

Thus, the heated Azure Eagle Tournament came to an end. No one had expected Zhang Yu, a commoner disciple, to take first place in its inaugural tournament.

Gu Zhibei came in second.

Yu Hongbai came in third.

Pei Wang had had his palm pierced by Gu Zhibei's finger, which greatly affected his Returning Cloud Hand, and he lost in his match against Yu Hongbai.

Zhang Yu received the first-place rewards on the spot: two jade bottles and a jade box.

The first jade bottle contained three drops of Marrow-Washing Fluid;

the second jade bottle contained ten top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pills;

the jade box held a spirit crystal.

Zhang Yu tucked the items into his robes. He planned to save the top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pills for disciples such as Li Yue and Niu Mancang. As for the three drops of Marrow-Washing Fluid, he decided to try one himself first. If it had no effect, he would give the remaining drops to Li Yue and Chu Qingwen.

Wen Hua's aptitude and comprehension were both outstanding. Even without the aid of Marrow-Washing Fluid, he could temper his organs and blood vitality to their optimal state.

Niu Mancang had awakened the Feral Ox Physique, giving him even better cultivation aptitude than Wen Hua, so he did not need it either.

After receiving the rewards, Zhang Yu prepared to return to his residence. Before he could leave, his master Shi Cangyue's voice sounded in his ear.

"Disciple, come to your master's courtyard."

Sound gathered into a line.

Only he could hear it.

Zhang Yu bowed toward the high platform to show that he had heard, then turned and left.

The disciples surrounding the arena consciously made way for Zhang Yu. This was their awe of the strong.

Li Feifei followed behind him, borrowing the tiger's might to flaunt her power, her face brimming with smug delight.

The many disciples from aristocratic clans and the inner academy all took the initiative to make way for Zhang Yu, calling out, "Senior Brother Zhang!"

Though they were not calling for Li Feifei, she shared in the glory.

Zhang Yu went to Shi Cangyue's courtyard. Li Feifei also returned to the outer academy residence, then flaunted the Everlasting Flower Pill before Su Wan in every possible way.

Su Wan was so angered that she slammed her door shut.

Shi Cangyue's residence.

He tossed a jade bottle to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu caught it, examined what was inside, and saw ten drops of milky-white liquid. Not knowing what it was, he looked at Shi Cangyue with a puzzled expression.

"Five-hundred-year Stalactite Milk, a treasure for nourishing the dantian," Shi Cangyue explained.

"Thank you, Master." Zhang Yu immediately bowed in thanks.

He was just about to open his dantian, so this was exactly what he needed.

"Prepare well. It would be best if you can step into the True Qi Realm before the Golden Mountain Tournament. Only then will you be able to overpower the prodigies of the Azure Cloud Sect and Golden Sword Sect in the competition." Shi Cangyue had great expectations for Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu put away the Stalactite Milk, looked up at Shi Cangyue, and asked timidly, "Master, if I overpower the geniuses of the other two sects at the Golden Mountain Tournament, what reward will there be?"

"Besides the tournament rewards, the academy will also award you a drop of ten-thousand-year Stalactite Milk. For martial artists in the middle three realms, the size of the dantian determines the amount of true qi. One drop of ten-thousand-year Stalactite Milk can double the size of the dantian and make it exceptionally resilient. Its benefits are numerous," Shi Cangyue said.

"Rest assured, Master. This Golden Mountain Tournament's first place will definitely belong to your disciple," Zhang Yu immediately declared.

He was determined to obtain that ten-thousand-year Stalactite Milk.

"Very good. Your master was able to reign supreme among the elders of the Astral Qi Realm because, in my youth, I overpowered the prodigies of the other two sects at the Golden Mountain Tournament and obtained a drop of ten-thousand-year Stalactite Milk. It made my dantian far larger than other people's."

Afterward, Shi Cangyue began teaching Zhang Yu the cultivation chant for the third level of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art.

Aside from the first-level chant, all the other cultivation chants of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art were passed down orally. The Dharma was not passed to six ears.

An hour later, Zhang Yu left Shi Cangyue's residence and returned to his small courtyard with an excited expression.

"I really came to the right place by joining Hidden Spirit Academy. Not only did I obtain a method to open the dantian, and a profound-grade cultivation art at that, I also received so many rewards."

"Hidden Spirit Academy's rewards are really easy to earn!"

Zhang Yu sighed.

Should I have Niu Mancang join Hidden Spirit Academy too? Whenever there's a competition in the future, I can send Mancang to fight and collect the rewards myself.

Forget it. Once I win the Golden Mountain Tournament and render the academy great service, I'll bring it up with Shi Cangyue. He'll probably agree.

When Zhang Yu reached the gate of his small courtyard, he found a figure pacing outside.

"Xu Yang!"

"Mas... ter!" Xu Yang called out with difficulty.

He truly was not used to calling a youth his master, but thinking that Zhang Yu might have a way to help him recover his talent, he bowed and said, "Congratulations, Master, on taking first place in the Azure Eagle Tournament."

Zhang Yu opened the courtyard gate and glanced at him. "Come in."

"Thank you, Master!"

Xu Yang followed Zhang Yu into the courtyard.

Thud!

The moment he entered, Xu Yang knelt before Zhang Yu. "Master, can dispersing my cultivation truly solve my cultivation problem?"

Zhang Yu looked at Xu Yang, his brows slightly furrowed. Questioning him? If Xu Yang did not believe him, he did not have to practice. If not for the fact that Xu Yang possessed the Frostbound Myriad-Sword Physique, Zhang Yu would have wanted to throw him out directly.

Fine. Geniuses have privileges. I'll endure it. Zhang Yu consoled himself.