Promoted to Grade-C, a Complete Victory!

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

"The rules for this competition are simple: whoever wins seven matches in a row may become a Grade-C House Guard!"

Pang Long sat inside a temporarily erected shelter. Heavy snow was falling outside, leaving the world a vast expanse of white. A brazier warmed his side, and hot green tea sat before him. He looked thoroughly at ease.

After explaining the rules, he took a small sip of hot tea. This was "kung fu tea" bestowed by the Madam; it helped soothe the muscles and bones, purge toxins, and nourish one's vital energy.

The Madam had said that he had reached the Half-Step Essence Consumption realm and was at a crucial juncture. She treated him with considerable care, often asking after his health and offering guidance.

Before him lay a broad, open stretch of ground, with a fighting platform set up in its center.

More than forty Grade-D House Guards stood to the right of the platform, all participants in the competition.

Li Xian was among them.

"Every match will be arranged by me. Whoever I call, get on the platform at once."

"Do any of you have objections to these rules?"

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

"No objections," everyone replied in unison.

"Commander Pang knows every house guard's strength best. It couldn't be more fitting for him to arrange the opponents."

From what Li Xian knew of Pang Long, there should be no underhanded tricks with him presiding. Besides, iron had to be hard to withstand the hammer. So long as he possessed strength, everything else was empty illusion.

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

As soon as the words fell, a cry of "Good!" rang out. A man suddenly sprang from the crowd and leaped onto the platform. His lightness of body was enough to make one's eyes widen.

This man was Zhang Wai. He had served as a house guard for three years and had Proficiency in a leg technique called River-Linking Leg.

The man named Gao Xiong, meanwhile, simply walked onto the platform. After exchanging brief salutes, the two began their match.

Zhang Wai struck first with a kick, only for the other man to seize his ankle and fling him away with force.

He flew off the platform, slid several yards sideways, plowed a trench through the snow, and could not rise again.

This man is formidable indeed. Li Xian frowned, wariness rising in his heart.

Then he thought:

According to the rules, I need seven consecutive victories. Though there are forty contestants, the chances of meeting this man in the fifth, sixth, or seventh match are extremely high!

Though he kept this in mind, he did not panic.

"Gao Xiong wins!"

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

One after another, people took the stage to fight. The winners remained, while the losers went to stand outside the field. After several matches, the number of people had dwindled considerably.

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

"Good lad. His strength really is quite decent." Pang Long's eyes showed approval.

After everyone had gone through one round, those qualified to contend for the Grade-C House Guard positions had more or less emerged.

Including Li Xian, there were eight in total. All of them had noticed one another, sizing each other up and comparing themselves in secret.

"Li Xian versus Ye Qing!"

After Li Xian won four matches in a row, Pang Long called his name once more.

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

"Excuse me."

The two met on the platform. After saluting each other, they immediately began to fight in earnest.

It was truly a fine battle. Ye Qing had learned many martial arts, including Opening-and-Closing Palm, Flying Flower Hand, Four Directions Fist, and Ground-Plate Leg. Though all remained only at the Proficiency level, the inner energy accumulated through so many martial arts was quite impressive.

Seeing that Li Xian also knew the Four Directions Fist, Ye Qing used it first to probe him. He also meant to vie fiercely, to use strength to suppress strength and determine who stood higher.

This man is rash by nature. He has more than enough courage and martial vigor, but lacks precision. After exchanging several moves, Li Xian made his silent assessment.

After trading a few moves with his fist technique, Ye Qing realized he could not match Li Xian in that path. He immediately changed techniques and switched to Opening-and-Closing Palm.

This palm technique emphasized grand opening and closing movements. Paired with his inner force, had he used it from the start, he could have made Li Xian struggle to fend him off.

But he had first used the Four Directions Fist to battle Li Xian. That allowed Li Xian to thoroughly grasp his fighting style. By the time he switched techniques, Li Xian was already prepared.

Li Xian's natural fist force clung to him, preventing his Opening-and-Closing Palm from truly opening and closing as it should.

The fight became exceedingly stifling. His Opening-and-Closing Palm could neither open nor close properly, and its power was not even one-tenth of what it should have been. Ye Qing was already frustrated. Seeing that it was ineffective, he immediately switched to Ground-Plate Leg.

And in doing so, he exposed a flaw. At the instant he changed moves, Li Xian struck out with both fists, sending a flurry of snow into the air. At first glance, his two fists seemed to become four...

Ye Qing hurriedly tried to defend, but he could not discern the real from the false.

Bang!

With that sound, Ye Qing was knocked off the platform. Li Xian cupped his hands in salute, declaring his victory.

"Ye Qing's inner energy is indeed powerful. Unfortunately, he failed to bring his advantage into play."

Li Xian grew even more confident. It seems these veteran house guards do not have much experience fighting opponents either. Even if my foundation is lacking, I still have plenty of room to maneuver.

After this fight, Li Xian had won five matches.

His sixth match was against Gao Xiong. This man was truly a powerful foe, far trickier than Ye Qing. He was born with immense strength. Though his movements appeared clumsy, they were in fact extremely difficult to withstand.

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

Vajra Technique was a martial art focused on "external force," brutalizing the physique and strengthening the flesh. Dragon-Grasping Hand and Crane-Grasping Hand were both designed for grappling.

It was clear that his path was to seize an enemy's limbs, then rely on his own immense strength to win. He did not seek to defeat his opponent through martial arts, but to throw them off the platform.

Li Xian first used the Four Directions Fist to create illusions, leaving Gao Xiong unable to distinguish real punches from fake ones. Naturally, it became extremely difficult for him to reach out and grapple Li Xian.

After several exchanges, Gao Xiong grew thoroughly hot-headed.

Then Li Xian suddenly unleashed the fierce and powerful Wild Bull Fist.

He used the two fist techniques with flexibility. In the end, one punch landed on Gao Xiong's face, winning him another victory.

"Impressive!" Pang Long nodded repeatedly.

Across these matches, Li Xian had strengths and weaknesses alike, yet he did everything he could to avoid his weaknesses and bring his strengths into play. His victories were clean and beautiful.

Do not think this was simple.

Pang Long had practiced boxing in his youth and knew well that fist techniques were fierce and forceful. When fists were thrown, one relied entirely on instinctive reactions to face the enemy.

By middle age, once one's attainment in fist techniques improved further, one learned to restrain and reserve one's force while throwing punches, becoming far more at ease.

Only then did "thought" gradually enter fist techniques. One learned to analyze strengths and weaknesses, and how to seize victory through skill in battle.

Being able to do this was already enough to defeat the strong with the weak.

This kid... I was not wrong about him. He truly has great spiritual aptitude. Pang Long had now fully decided that one of the three positions would certainly belong to Li Xian.

Li Xian's final opponent was far inferior to Ye Qing and Gao Xiong.

He successfully claimed victory.

Pang Long announced, "In this house guard competition, the first person promoted to Grade-C House Guard is..."

"Li Xian!"

As his voice fell, all the house guards present looked at Li Xian with boundless envy.

"Li Xian is truly something else! He's been here less than a month, yet he has already become a Grade-C House Guard. Nothing like this has ever happened before!"

"He already had a foundation in fist techniques. His Four Directions Fist is frighteningly good. It is no surprise that he won."

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

"At such an age, he has already become a Grade-C House Guard. His future is truly limitless!"

A wave of chatter rose from the crowd.

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

Pang Long called to him.

"Alright."

Li Xian quickly ran into the shelter, shook the accumulated snow from his body, and let out a soft breath.

From this day onward, he had taken another step forward, crossed another rank, and become a Grade-C House Guard!