Questioning Him

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

Zhang Yu looked completely relaxed, his gaze directed at Li Feifei, who was shouting her heart out beneath the arena.

Whoosh!

A sharp sword wind sliced past his ear.

"Facing me and you still dare to lose focus? You're far too arrogant." Gu Zhibei's sword shot toward Zhang Yu's body like lightning.

A black gleam flashed over Zhang Yu's left chest as Iron Shirt's Martial Dao True Intent, [Iron Soul], activated instantly.

Clang!

The sound Gu Zhibei had expected—the Azure Edge Sword piercing flesh—never came. Instead, there was a crisp ring of steel striking steel.

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 Dao True Intent? Gu Zhibei's resolve wavered slightly.

Star-Pointing Finger.

Whoosh!

Crack!

Though Gu Zhibei was inwardly shocked, his life-and-death experience allowed him to remain calm on the surface. When his 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 beaded his forehead with sweat the size of soybeans, 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.

[Move with the Wind]

As Gu Zhibei retreated, he felt a breeze stir, 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, hitting the ground face-first with a thud.

He braced himself with both hands and tried to rise. When he was halfway up, he spat out a mouthful of blood, then crashed heavily back down on his face.

Zhang Yu had severely injured Gu Zhibei with just Bright Force-powered Mountain-Crushing. Standing on the arena, he withdrew his fist and looked at the deacon presiding over the match.

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

The noble-family disciples who had been chattering moments ago all fell silent. Only Li Feifei's voice remained.

"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 defeated in a single move.

This...

The noble-family 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 could block Gu Zhibei's sword and even withstand the Star-Pointing Finger. He even shattered Gu Zhibei's finger from the rebound. He truly deserved first place," one noble-family disciple said.

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

"The secret technique Star-Pointing Finger struck him and broke instantly. Is he some kind of monster?"

"Martial Dao True Intent—Iron Shirt's Martial Dao True Intent. That's the only explanation." Some disciples still knew their stuff.

Zhang Yu paid no attention to the disciples' discussion. 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 that the first Azure Eagle Tournament champion would be Zhang Yu, a commoner disciple.

Second place: Gu Zhibei.

Third place: Yu Hongbai.

Pei Wang's palm had been pierced by Gu Zhibei's finger, greatly affecting his Returning Cloud Hand. He lost in his bout against Yu Hongbai.

Zhang Yu received the first-place rewards on the spot: two jade bottles and one 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 contained a Spirit Crystal.

Zhang Yu tucked the items into his robe. He planned to save the top-grade Blood-Nourishing Pills for Li Yue, Niu Mancang, and the others. 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 talent and comprehension were both outstanding. Even without the aid of Marrow-Washing Fluid, he could temper his internal organs, blood, and qi to their optimal state.

Niu Mancang had activated the Feral Ox Physique, and his cultivation aptitude was even better than Wen Hua's, so he did not need it either.

After collecting his rewards, Zhang Yu was preparing to return to his residence when his master Shi Cangyue's voice rang in his ear.

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

Sound gathered into a thread.

Only he could hear it.

Zhang Yu saluted toward the high platform to indicate that he had heard, then strode away.

The disciples around the arena consciously made way for Zhang Yu. It was their reverence for the strong.

Li Feifei strutted along behind him, borrowing the tiger's might, her face full of smug delight.

Numerous disciples from great noble families and the inner court voluntarily stepped aside for Zhang Yu, calling out, "Senior Brother Zhang!"

Though they were not calling Li Feifei, she still basked in the reflected glory.

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

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

Shi Cangyue's residence.

He tossed a jade bottle to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu caught it and looked inside. There were ten drops of milky-white liquid. He had no idea what they were, so he looked at Shi Cangyue with a puzzled expression.

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

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

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

"Prepare well. It would be best if you can enter the True Qi Realm before the Golden Mountain Tournament. Only then can you overpower 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, raised his head to look at Shi Cangyue, and asked timidly, "Master, if I overpower the prodigies of the other two sects in the Golden Mountain Tournament, what reward will I get?"

"Besides the tournament rewards, the academy will also grant you one drop of Ten-Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk. For martial artists of the Middle Three Realms, the size of the dantian determines how much true qi they possess. A drop of Ten-Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk can double the size of your dantian and make it exceptionally resilient. Its benefits are many."

"Rest assured, Master. First place in this Golden Mountain Tournament will definitely be yours truly." Zhang Yu spoke at once.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk was as good as his.

"Very good. Your master was able to dominate among Aura Force Realm elders because, in my youth, I overwhelmed the prodigies of the other two sects at the Golden Mountain Tournament and obtained a drop of Ten-Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk. That made my dantian far larger than everyone else's."

Shi Cangyue then began teaching Zhang Yu the third-layer cultivation formula of the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art.

Other than the first-layer formula, the Bedrock Mountain-Forming Art's cultivation formulas were all passed down orally. The law was not passed to a sixth ear.

An hour later, Zhang Yu left Shi Cangyue's residence and returned excitedly to his small courtyard.

"I really came to Hidden Spirit Academy at the right time. Not only did I obtain a method for opening the dantian, it was even a Profound-grade cultivation art, and I received so many rewards too."

"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 have Man Cang fight while I collect the rewards."

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

When Zhang Yu reached the entrance to his small courtyard, he found a pacing figure standing there.

"Xu Yang!"

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

He truly was not used to calling a teenager Master. But thinking that Zhang Yu might have a way to restore his talent, he saluted 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 really solve my cultivation problem?"

Zhang Yu looked at Xu Yang, his brows slightly furrowed. He was questioning him? If he did not believe him, then he did not have to cultivate. If not for the fact that Xu Yang possessed the Frostbound Myriad-Sword Physique, Zhang Yu would have wanted to throw him straight out.

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