The Four Seas Martial Arts Hall.
Thunder Boy smiled. "They're fish balls too, just better quality. I had these left over from when I trained on the Second Floor. There are three left. Take them as your reward for last time."
"I couldn't." Li Xiuwen hurriedly waved his hands. He barely knew Thunder Boy, and this was no small favor. He would have to repay it someday.
Thunder Boy laughed. "Why stand on ceremony? Whenever I visit the hall for the holidays, I give people good stuff on a whim all the time. You joined late, so you just haven't heard about it."
Huang Sihai spoke up. "A Wen, take them... They'll expire if nobody eats them soon. That would be a waste."
Since his master had spoken, Li Xiuwen accepted them. Otherwise, he would be snubbing Thunder Boy.
Everyone else was green with envy at the sight, their eyes flashing red and green like traffic lights.
Liu Chun remained silent and expressionless, her fists clenched tight.
She did not care about the three fish balls. What bothered her more was that Li Xiuwen had won the favor of the Three Heroes.
This meant the Three Heroes might intend to bring Li Xiuwen into their circle.
It meant broader horizons, higher standing, and a wider network of connections.
After two months of grueling training and spending a considerable amount of her family's money, Liu Chun felt victory was assured. She had sworn to defeat everyone today and advance to the Second Floor.
Huang Sihai said, "Everyone's here, so let's begin this year's First-Floor Martial Contest. I specifically invited your eldest senior brother over from the Learning Society. Show him what you can do."
Xiao Tianhong smiled. "Junior brothers and sisters, don't feel pressured. Just leave no regrets. There's always next year."
The rules were simple. All participating First-Floor Disciples would spar against one another in a round robin, and whoever won the most matches would take first place.
Twelve people had signed up, but everyone knew there were only three seeded contenders:
The first seed was Liu Chun. She had reached Black Membrane several months ago, and her combat method had long since reached great mastery. With her well-off family, she represented the pinnacle of strength on the First Floor.
The second seed was Li Xiuwen. He had previously kept a low profile, but his comprehension was good, and his combat method had progressed at astonishing speed. He had made a name for himself in the earlier Hall Challenge.
The third seed was Big Silly Qiang. Blessed with innate strength, he was considered by many to be roughly on Li Xiuwen's level. They would likely have a fierce battle.
Everyone else, including A Zhen, was just there to make up the numbers.
Li Xiuwen calmly watched the platform, where the matches had already begun.
To avoid an unexpected upset, he had fought every First-Floor Disciple over the past few days, confirming that nobody else was hiding their strength as he was.
"A Wen, are you confident?" Old Chen asked after taking a sip of tea.
"Who knows? I'll find out once we fight," Li Xiuwen said with a smile.
Old Chen patted Li Xiuwen on the shoulder and smiled. "You became a disciple later, and you don't have Liu Chun's financial resources. You should prepare yourself mentally."
Clearly, even Old Chen, who was closest to Li Xiuwen, did not think he would win.
"Thanks for the reminder, Brother Chen. By the way... do you know anything about the martial arts schools around Thousand-Buddha Mountain in Qizhou Prefecture?" Li Xiuwen asked casually.
Old Chen murmured, "The Lu Region, Thousand-Buddha Mountain... I don't know much. I've only heard that Buddhist and Daoist schools flourish there, and grandmasters abound."
Li Xiuwen asked no more. Old Chen was not omniscient, after all. There were bound to be things he did not know. Li Xiuwen would have to investigate in person when he had the chance.
Suddenly, the disciples began cheering Liu Chun's name. She had stepped onto the platform.
Her opponent was A Zhen.
"Senior Sister A Chun, go easy on me. I'm a girl, you know," A Zhen joked.
Liu Chun nodded and said confidently, "A Zhen, I'll give you ten moves. If you can land a single palm strike on me, I'll concede."
Brimming with youthful confidence, Liu Chun naturally wanted to show off as much as possible and regain her lost dignity after her crushing defeat at Longlegs Seven's hands.
A Zhen smiled. "You said it."
On the platform, the two began to move.
A Zhen's palm technique flowed softly and continuously. Clearly, she had also reached minor mastery.
Unfortunately, Liu Chun moved with light steps, slippery as a loach.
A Zhen made ten moves without landing a single strike.
"Forgive me!" Liu Chun closed in and sent out a palm, pressing it lightly against A Zhen's lower abdomen. Unable to keep her balance, A Zhen stumbled off the platform.
A Zhen smiled. "What an impressive movement technique. You've learned one too, Senior Sister Liu Chun... It must be nice having money."
A Zhen could not help grumbling inwardly. Master Huang's claim that only those on the Second Floor could learn them was a lie.
With enough money, you could learn whatever you wanted.
Seeing that Liu Chun had also learned a movement technique, the disciples silently mourned for the other seeded contenders.
"Liu Chun is unbeatable on the First Floor now."
"There's no suspense left. The contest's already over. I thought A Wen might use his movement technique to hold his own against Liu Chun and overcome a stronger opponent."
"With the power of money, you can do whatever you want in Fragrant Sea."
The matches continued.
Li Xiuwen also took to the platform. He held back a little, taking dozens of moves to defeat each opponent.
Though victory was clearly already in his grasp, he still wanted to lull Chun Liu into complacency and catch her off guard.
Seeing Li Xiuwen's performance, Chun Liu felt slightly relieved. She had dealt with all those small fry in a single palm strike.
Only Huang Sihai, Xiao Tianhong, and a few Second-Floor Disciples vaguely caught on to what was happening.
Xiao Tianhong whispered in Huang Sihai's ear, "A Wen looks like he's fighting slowly, but every move is effortless. He reached Black Membrane a while ago, didn't he?"
Huang Sihai smiled faintly. "Yes. He's holding something back, probably hoping to catch Chun Liu off guard... His overall strength is still a notch below hers, after all. He can only resort to little tricks."
"Oh... a notch below?" A strange gleam shone in Xiao Tianhong's eyes. He merely smiled and said nothing.
In the blink of an eye, the contest had been going on for half a day.
Chun Liu, Big Silly Qiang, and A Wen were far ahead of everyone else in the standings.
At last, the three were matched against one another.
The first match was Li Xiuwen against Chun Liu.
He stepped onto the platform with a smile, his languid gaze turning serious.
"A Wen, sorry, but I really need that spot on the Second Floor. You'll have to wait until next year," Chun Liu said as she stepped up as well.
This was the first time she had spoken to Li Xiuwen in two months.
"Then let's let our fists do the talking," Li Xiuwen said with a smile.
The two moved at the same time.
Chun Liu unleashed her Thousand Waves, Floating Light movement technique. Her goal was to defeat Li Xiuwen within thirty moves.
Li Xiuwen charged straight at her instead. His right foot shook, drawing force up from the ground and sending it through his membrane and muscles, layer by layer, into his right palm.
Startled Shark, Fleeting Shadow!
What level of cultivation does he have to dare
clash head-on with me?! I thought he would rely on his movement technique to wear me down.
For a moment, Liu Chun was bewildered.
There was no time to think. Her calloused palm emerged from her sleeve as she, too, unleashed Hard-Soft Palm.
"Then I'll crush you head-on!"
Gusts of force crossed, and their palms collided!
A wave of air rolled outward. Li Xiuwen retreated three steps.
Liu Chun felt a terrifying force, no weaker than Longlegs Seven's had been, travel through her palm and into her entire body.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Her muscles and bones popped like roasting beans, her qi and blood surging wildly.
She staggered back more than a dozen steps, barely stopping at the edge of the platform. Opening her mouth, she spat out a great mouthful of blood, her eyes wide.
Without giving Liu Chun a chance to catch her breath, Li Xiuwen charged in again. He raised his palm, a fierce gust striking her face.
Chun Liu closed her eyes, her body trembling, her face filled with despair.
Li Xiuwen stopped, his palm hovering three inches from Chun Liu's face without striking.
After a pause, Li Xiuwen smiled. "We'll stop here. You've lost. Don't be discouraged. You're still young. Going to the Second Floor next year won't be too late."
He withdrew his palm and turned away, half joking, "I'm getting old. I have to make the most of my time."
Before you continue