"An arranged bout?" Zhou Muyun frowned. "Who is the opponent? When and where?"
Since he had accepted the Leng Household's support, he would not shirk something like an arranged bout.
But accepting a bout rashly without knowing anything about the opponent was not his style either.
Seeing that Zhou Muyun had no intention of refusing and had instead proactively asked about the opponent,
the last trace of doubt in Leng Ni's heart vanished completely. She had originally feared that Zhou Muyun would refuse or brush her off.
After all, when she had begun supporting him, she had never mentioned that he would need to do anything else for the Leng Household.
And Zhou Muyun could not yet be considered a retainer of the Leng Household.
Retainers and sponsorship were two entirely different things.
"It will be at the West Market Arena, at noon seven days from now. The opponent is Long Qian of the Dragon Household."
Leng Ni took out a sheet of paper containing Long Qian's information and handed it to Zhou Muyun.
Zhou Muyun took the paper and read it carefully.
"Third young master of the Dragon Household, entered the Organ Refinement Realm half a year ago, suspected to be mid-stage, skilled in the leg technique Cloud-Climbing Leg..."
Studying the information on the paper, Zhou Muyun began to analyze it carefully.
In terms of raw strength, Long Qian had reached the Organ Refinement Realm earlier than I had. That is a disadvantage.
But I cultivated the Seven-Colored Glazed Body. In the next two days, I can bring my Copper Skin to completion. That should make up for this disadvantage and may even catch him off guard.
Thinking this, Zhou Muyun put away the paper, returned it to Leng Ni, and nodded. "Senior Sister Leng, I have no problem with it."
Hearing Zhou Muyun's affirmative answer, Leng Ni immediately felt more at ease.
In her eyes, Zhou Muyun was steady and diligent, and he would never bite off more than he could chew.
Since he had agreed after reviewing the opponent's information, he surely had some confidence.
"Junior Brother Zhou, do not let your guard down. And since you are fighting this bout for our Leng Household, I will make up the other two bottles of Body-Tempering Liquid for these seven days."
Leng Ni was perceptive enough to quickly realize that Zhou Muyun's trump card was likely the body-refining technique he had mentioned.
"Then thank you, Senior Sister Leng." Zhou Muyun cupped his hands.
"See you at the West Market in seven days."
Leng Ni nodded, then turned and left.
"These seven days will save me quite a bit of silver again. This arranged bout is not entirely without benefits."
Watching Leng Ni's departing figure, Zhou Muyun thought to himself.
Arranged bouts made injuries easy to come by, and getting injured would certainly slow his training progress.
Originally, Zhou Muyun had been unwilling.
But on second thought, Leng Ni had supported him for months and had never made any similar request.
Combining that with her hesitant expression from the start, Zhou Muyun understood at once.
Someone in the Leng Household was probably unwilling. Since that was the case, he would naturally go all out this time.
After all, only those with value could receive more support.
Afterward, Zhou Muyun stepped into the training ground again and began practicing Flurry Fist.
[Flurry Fist, Minor Mastery (5/1200)] [Flurry Fist, Minor Mastery (6/1200)]
Late at night, in the Zhou Household courtyard, Zhou Muyun was bare-chested as he practiced the Seven-Colored Glazed Body.
At this point, five days remained until the arranged bout.
Steam rose from his entire body, sweat pouring continuously from him. The stabbing pain and tearing sensation were constantly tempering his physique.
He gritted his teeth and endured, low growls issuing from his throat.
[Seven-Colored Glazed Body, Copper Skin (597/600)] [Seven-Colored Glazed Body, Copper Skin (598/600)]
As his proficiency continued to rise, Zhou Muyun could feel that the breakthrough would come tonight.
Second by second, time passed. Sweat had already soaked the ground beneath his feet.
Then, the blood throughout Zhou Muyun's body began to boil like scalding water. His sweat-soaked clothes dried in an instant, and white mist abruptly shrouded his entire body.
A brass-like hue gradually covered every inch of his skin, until his whole body resembled a bronze statue.
This was precisely the sign of the Seven-Colored Glazed Body reaching Copper Skin completion.
[Seven-Colored Glazed Body—Iron Bone Stage (1/1200)]
The skin over his entire body was like brass, tough to the touch.
The scorching sensation quickly faded, replaced by an indescribable comfort throughout his body. Zhou Muyun felt his strength increase by fifty percent out of thin air.
He walked over to the stone lock he had bought and effortlessly lifted the five-hundred-jin weight.
One had to know that an ordinary Peak Organ Refinement Realm martial artist possessed only around eight hundred jin of strength.
Copper Skin completion alone had brought his strength to the level of a mid-stage martial artist.
Then he picked up the long saber beside him and slashed it down at his own arm.
Clang.
The long saber struck as if it had hit metal. It left only a white mark on his arm, without drawing even a drop of blood.
Zhou Muyun looked at the white mark on his arm, greatly satisfied.
His expenditure of money and time on training had not been in vain. He had gained several more measures of confidence for the arranged bout.
He was already faintly looking forward to the changes the coming Silver Blood Realm would bring him.
After spending four days, and adding money-burning medicine on top of it, he had finally brought his Copper Skin to completion. Zhou Muyun planned to rest well tonight.
Training naturally required a balance between exertion and relaxation.
If Wu Biao learned that Zhou Muyun had completed Copper Skin in four days, he probably would not be able to rest in peace even in the underworld.
After all, it had taken Wu Biao a full three years after acquiring this body-refining technique to bring his Copper Skin to completion.
This was the benefit of Zhou Muyun bearing a Destiny Pattern: as long as he worked hard, he would surely reap rewards, and the direction of his progress would always be correct, without obstacles.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
A carriage slowly came to a stop outside Zhou Muyun's residence in the East Market.
"Master Zhou, please."
The coachman climbed down from the carriage and respectfully addressed Zhou Muyun, who stood at the entrance.
Dressed in neat black clothes, Zhou Muyun gave a slight nod and entered the carriage compartment.
The carriage slowly began to move. Inside, Zhou Muyun sat cross-legged, his eyes closed as he calmed his mind and focused his spirit.
He needed to adjust himself to peak condition in preparation for the coming arranged bout.
Zhou Muyun lived in the East Market, while the venue lay in the West Market. After the carriage traveled for quite some time, it gradually came to a stop.
"Master Zhou, we have arrived."
The coachman lifted the carriage curtain, poked his head in, and spoke respectfully.
"Good."
Zhou Muyun opened his eyes, rose to his feet, and stepped down from the carriage.
Not far from the carriage stood an arena. Beneath the awnings built on either side of it, quite a few people sat or stood.
His gaze swept across them, and when he saw Leng Ni sitting beneath the left-side awning, he strode over.
Leng Ni had been looking around expectantly and naturally spotted Zhou Muyun as well. She hurriedly came forward to meet him.
"Junior Brother Zhou." Leng Ni came to Zhou Muyun's side, pointed across the way, and said in a low voice, "That man is the head of the Dragon Household, Long Teng. The young man beside him is Long Qian, your opponent today."
Zhou Muyun looked in the direction she indicated.
Long Teng sat in a chair, dressed in a light-colored robe, his face gloomy and sinister.
Long Qian beside him had sharply defined features and wore a light-colored training outfit. His legs in particular looked robust and powerful.
Long Teng naturally noticed Zhou Muyun's sudden arrival. A faint smile hung at the corner of his lips as he said lightly, "Qian'er, no matter what happens today, you must take this man down. Do not let him ruin the great plans of our Dragon Household."
Long Qian glanced at Zhou Muyun, confidence written across his face. "Please rest assured, Father. He is merely an obscure disciple from a martial hall.
If Bai Yu from their Greenwood Martial Hall had come, I might have been somewhat wary. But him? I do not even place him in my eyes."
Every word dripped with contempt for Zhou Muyun.
On this side, Leng Ni introduced the Leng Household members present to Zhou Muyun as well.
They were only some young disciples of the same generation as Leng Ni. Zhou Muyun was neither servile nor overbearing as he greeted them one by one.
Taking in the people present from both households, Zhou Muyun formed a guess.
The outcome of the arranged bout was probably not all that important to the Leng Household. Testing his worth was likely the real purpose.
After Leng Ni reminded Zhou Muyun of a few more things, she returned to her seat, while Zhou Muyun stepped onto the arena. Long Qian likewise walked up onto the arena from the other side.
"Who is the person fighting for the Leng Household? Why do I not recognize him?"
"I heard he is a disciple of Greenwood Martial Hall. Never heard of him before, and he has no reputation to speak of."
"Is the Leng Household planning to hand over their share on a silver platter? Then why fight at all? They might as well admit defeat directly."
"They still have to go through the motions for appearances' sake. I heard this man is a disciple supported by Leng Ni of the Leng Household. He should not be too bad, right?"
Discussion rose and fell beneath the arena, with most people not particularly optimistic about Zhou Muyun.
Leng Ni, meanwhile, was even more nervous. If Zhou Muyun lost, not only would his sponsorship have to change,
it would also make her seem unable to judge people, giving others another laughingstock.
Competition among the younger generation of the Leng Household was fierce as well.
Looking at Zhou Muyun standing firm on the arena, Leng Ni silently prayed, Junior Brother Zhou, you have to do your best!
Before you continue