Promotion to Grade-C, a Sweeping Victory!

The competition was divided into three rounds, corresponding to Grades A and B, Grade C, and Grade D. The Grade-D House Guard competition began first.

"The rules for this competition are simple. Anyone who wins seven matches in a row can become a Grade-C House Guard!"

Commander Pang sat inside a makeshift shed. Heavy snow was falling, blanketing everything in white. A brazier warmed him, and he had hot green tea to drink. He seemed quite at ease.

After explaining the rules, he took a small sip of hot tea. This was the "Kung Fu Tea" Madam had bestowed upon him. It helped loosen his muscles and bones, detoxify him, and nourish his Qi.

Madam had said that he had reached the "Half-Step Essence Consumption" stage and was at a critical point. She treated him with considerable care, often asking after his health and offering guidance.

In front of him lay a wide, flat clearing, with an Arena set up in the middle.

On the right side of the Arena stood more than forty people, all Grade-D House Guards taking part in the competition.

Li Xian was among them.

"I'll arrange each match myself. When I call your name, get up on the Arena at once."

"Does anyone have any objections to these rules?"

Commander Pang set down his teacup and swept his gaze over the crowd.

"None!" the crowd replied in unison.

"Commander Pang knows every Guard's strength best. It's only right that he choose our opponents."

From what Li Xian knew of Commander Pang, there should be no funny business with him in charge. Besides, iron must be forged while it is hot; as long as he had strength, everything else was empty talk.

"The competition begins. First match: Gao Xiong versus Zhang Wai."

As his voice fell, someone called out, "All right!" Then a figure suddenly leaped out of the crowd and sprang onto the Arena. His lightness left everyone wide-eyed.

This was Zhang Wai, who had served as a Guard for three years and had mastered a Leg Technique called "River-Linking Leg."

The man named Gao Xiong, on the other hand, walked onto the Arena. After exchanging brief formalities, the two began to fight.

Zhang Wai struck first with a kick, but his opponent seized him by the ankle and flung him away with all his might.

He flew off the Arena and slid sideways for several dozen feet, plowing a furrow through the snow before he could rise again.

"This man is formidable." Li Xian furrowed his brow, his guard rising.

Then he thought:

According to the rules, I need to win seven matches in a row. Though there are forty competitors, there's a very good chance I'll face this man in the fifth, sixth, or seventh match!

He took note of the threat, but did not panic.

"Gao Xiong wins!"

Commander Pang studied the list, pondered for a moment, then called out two more names.

One after another, people took the Arena to fight. The winners stayed, while the losers went to stand off to the side. After several matches, the crowd had thinned considerably.

It was not until the fourth match that Li Xian's name was called. Relying on his Four Directions Fist, he won with ease.

"Well done, lad. You're certainly capable." Commander Pang's eyes held a note of approval.

After the first round of matches, nearly everyone with a chance of competing for a Grade-C House Guard position had come to light.

There were eight in all, Li Xian included. They had all noticed one another and were sizing each other up, secretly comparing their strengths.

"Li Xian versus Ye Qing!"

After Li Xian had won four matches in a row, Commander Pang called his name again.

This time, his opponent was a veteran Guard of seven years. He had mastered seven martial arts and was one of the formidable opponents Commander Pang had mentioned.

"Forgive me!"

The two met on the Arena and exchanged formalities before launching into a fierce fight.

It was truly a fine battle. Ye Qing had learned several martial arts, including "Opening-and-Closing Palm," "Flying Flower Hand," "Four Directions Fist," and "Ground-Plate Leg." Though he had only reached the Proficiency level, the Inner Qi he had accumulated from several martial arts was quite impressive.

Seeing that Li Xian also knew Four Directions Fist, he began by using it to test him. He also seemed eager to prove his strength, pitting his strength against strength to see who came out on top.

"This man is rash. He has courage and strength to spare, but lacks precision." After exchanging a few moves with him, Li Xian silently judged.

Ye Qing traded a few blows with him using his fists. Realizing that he could not match Li Xian in this style, he immediately changed tactics and switched to Opening-and-Closing Palm.

This Palm Technique emphasized wide, sweeping movements. Combined with his Inner Force, if he had used it from the start, he could have made it hard for Li Xian to defend himself.

But he had started with Four Directions Fist, trading blows with Li Xian. That had let Li Xian get a feel for his fighting style. By the time Ye Qing changed tactics, Li Xian was already on guard.

Li Xian's fists naturally pressed in, preventing Ye Qing from fully extending his "Opening-and-Closing Palm."

The fight became frustratingly stifled. Opening-and-Closing Palm could neither open nor close properly, and less than a tenth of its power remained. Ye Qing was already growing annoyed. Seeing that Opening-and-Closing Palm had no effect, he immediately switched to "Ground-Plate Leg."

That was when he left himself open. As Ye Qing changed techniques, Li Xian struck with both fists, sending up a flurry of snow. At a glance, his two fists seemed to become four...

Ye Qing hurriedly tried to defend himself, but could not tell which blows were real and which were feints.

Thud!

Ye Qing was knocked off the Arena. Li Xian cupped his hands in salute, claiming victory.

"Ye Qing's Inner Qi is indeed powerful, but unfortunately, he couldn't make use of his advantage."

Li Xian felt even more confident. It seems these veteran Guards aren't especially experienced in facing opponents. Even if I lack a deep foundation, I still have plenty of room to maneuver.

After that fight, Li Xian had won five matches.

His sixth match was against "Gao Xiong." The man was truly a formidable opponent, far more troublesome than Ye Qing. He was born with tremendous strength. His movements looked clumsy, but he was actually very difficult to deal with.

He had learned three martial arts: one body-tempering art, "Vajra Technique," and two grappling arts, "Dragon-Grasping Hand" and "Crane-Grasping Hand."

Vajra Technique focused on "Outer Force," brutalizing the body and strengthening the flesh. "Dragon-Grasping Hand" and "Crane-Grasping Hand" were both meant for grappling.

Clearly, Gao Xiong's approach was to seize his opponent's limbs, then rely on his own tremendous strength to win. He was not trying to defeat his opponent through martial skill; he meant to throw him off the Arena.

Li Xian first used Four Directions Fist to mislead him, making it hard for Gao Xiong to tell the real punches from the feints. Naturally, this made it extremely difficult for him to seize Li Xian.

After a few exchanges, Gao Xiong was thoroughly worked up.

At that moment, Li Xian suddenly unleashed the forceful, ferocious Wild Bull Fist.

He deftly combined the two Fist Techniques. In the end, one punch struck Gao Xiong in the face, winning him the match once more.

"Impressive!" Commander Pang nodded repeatedly.

In these several matches, Li Xian had enjoyed advantages and suffered disadvantages, but he had done his utmost to avoid the latter and make the most of the former. He won cleanly and beautifully.

It was easy to underestimate how difficult that was.

Commander Pang had practiced boxing when he was young and knew that boxing was fierce by nature. When throwing a punch, a boxer relied entirely on instinctive reactions to deal with the opponent.

By middle age, once his skill in boxing had advanced further, he had learned to hold back and reserve his strength when punching, becoming more at ease.

Only then had he gradually begun to incorporate "thought" into his boxing. He learned to analyze strengths and weaknesses, and how to win through cleverness in a fight.

Being able to do that was enough to overcome a stronger opponent.

"This kid... I wasn't wrong about him. He really is gifted." By now, Commander Pang was certain that Li Xian would be one of the three selected.

Li Xian's final opponent was nowhere near as formidable as Ye Qing or Gao Xiong.

He won successfully.

Commander Pang announced, "The first person to be promoted to Grade-C House Guard in this Guard Competition is..."

"Li Xian!"

At his words, all the Guards present looked at Li Xian with envy.

"Li Xian really is incredible. He's been here less than a month, and he's already become a Grade-C House Guard. That's never happened before!"

"He already had a foundation in boxing, and he's incredibly good with Four Directions Fist. It's no surprise he won."

"A Grade-C House Guard... I dream of becoming one."

"He's become a Grade-C House Guard at such a young age. He truly has a boundless future ahead of him!"

The crowd buzzed with chatter.

"Li Xian, since you've won, come sit inside for a while. Come warm yourself by the fire."

Commander Pang beckoned him.

"All right."

Li Xian hurried into the shed and shook the snow off himself, then gently breathed out.

Starting today, he had taken another step forward and climbed one more rung. He was now a Grade-C House Guard!