Martial Meet

The fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The sky had not fully brightened when the training grounds south of the city were already bustling.

The grounds had originally been used for garrison drills, but Heavenly Peak Martial Arts Hall had rented them with silver.

As a martial hall that had only emerged in recent years, Heavenly Peak Martial Arts Hall had been exceptionally high-profile.

A ring of spectator stands had been erected around the area, with a stone arena placed in the center.

The platform had been covered with a layer of sand that rustled beneath one's feet.

Eight wooden poles stood around the arena, each tied with a flag that snapped loudly in the north wind.

A sea of people filled the space below. The three major martial halls, along with the Lesser Martial Academies from four nearby towns, had brought dozens of Qi-Gathering Realm fighters altogether.

Together with the commoners who had come to watch the excitement, the training grounds were packed to the brim.

Food vendors threaded through the crowds with shoulder poles, while children rode on adults' shoulders and craned their necks toward the arena.

Three grand chairs had been placed apart on the spectator stand.

Seated in the center was Heavenly Peak's hall master, Yue Wuyuan. He was in his fifties, his graying beard meticulously combed, a teacup in hand.

White Cloud's hall master, Bai Lingfeng, sat on the left. He was tall and thin, refined and easygoing, smiling as he chatted with old Yue in a gentle manner.

Xue Zhenshan sat on the right, his expression blank as his fingers lightly tapped against his knee.

The Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall team stood west of the arena.

Class B had four contestants in the Qi Gathering bracket: Zhou Yan, Liu Tiehe, Meng Lei, and Sun Zhiyuan.

Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall had originally planned to have a Qi-Gathering Peak fighter lead the team in this Martial Meet. However, that person had broken through to become a Martial Adept half a year ago and transferred to Class A. Thus, Zhou Yan had become the strongest member of Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall for this event.

He stood among the team, surveying the people around him.

Ma Tou'er stood at the front with his hands behind his back. His face showed little emotion, but he occasionally glanced at his disciples.

Ding Yong stood at the edge of the grounds with a bamboo cane, nodded at Zhou Yan, and said nothing.

Among Heavenly Peak Martial Arts Hall's team stood Zhou Hong in a fitted blue outfit.

A new leather belt was tied around his waist, and he wore brand-new cowhide boots.

He had clearly reached Lesser Qi Gathering.

Zhou Hong saw Zhou Yan as well. He assessed him from afar for a few moments, let out a soft laugh, and did not come over to greet him.

Leading White Cloud Martial Hall's group was a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted man who stood there like a wall. His name was Shi Meng, and he had reached Qi Gathering Perfection.

There was another person on Heavenly Peak's side worth noting.

Luo Chengyuan of the Breaking Wind Spear, at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement, stood at the very front of Heavenly Peak's team with a long spear in hand.

Liu Tiehe leaned over. "Have you heard of Luo Chengyuan? Heavenly Peak has been saying in private that first place in this year's Qi Gathering bracket is definitely his."

Meng Lei cut in from beside him. "He thinks he can take first just because he's at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement? Is Shi Meng just decoration?"

"His spear is fast," Liu Tiehe said. "Last year, he sparred with White Cloud's Shi Meng. Shi Meng couldn't land a single palm strike and got stabbed three times. Of course, that was only a private spar, so it doesn't count. Besides, Shi Meng hadn't reached Qi Gathering Perfection back then."

Sun Zhiyuan stood at the very edge, rubbing his hands together and breathing out white vapor.

He was a distant member of the Sun Family. He had only recently entered Class B and was at Qi-Gathering Entry, having been shoved in to fill numbers purely through his family connections.

He knew he was only there to make up the numbers, so he was not nervous. Instead, he looked around eagerly, enjoying the spectacle.

There were several eye-catching figures among the Lesser Martial Academies as well.

Ma Biao of Iron Ridge Martial Academy stood bare-chested in the cold wind, his body covered in hard muscle and his arms full of calluses left by practicing Iron Sand Palm.

He was at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement and was a notorious brute in his town.

Others practiced martial arts to rise in life. He practiced purely to beat people up.

Chen Fangyuan of River Mouth Martial Academy stood at the edge of the crowd with a sword on his back. He was thin and tall, wearing a bamboo hat.

He too was at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement. It was said he had picked up his swordsmanship when he was young. Though he had never received guidance from a famous master, his practical combat experience surpassed everyone else's.

River Mouth Martial Academy had only brought three people in total. Two were Body-Tempering Realm spectators, and Chen Fangyuan alone was there to uphold their reputation.

Qian Tieshan of Stone Bridge Martial Academy was around forty, with an unkempt beard and a faded gray cloth shirt.

He had run a martial academy in Stone Bridge Town for twenty years and taken in more disciples than even Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall. Yet he had remained stuck at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement his entire life. This Martial Meet was his last chance to make a name for himself. He had participated in many meets, all for the Qi-Condensing Pill that could break through his bottleneck.

The name Stele-Smashing Hand was well-known in the countryside. It was said that he could crack a stone stele with one palm.

Several disciples followed beside him, each with nervous expressions.

Fortunately, this Martial Meet only restricted cultivation, not age. Otherwise, this forty-year-old man would not have been allowed to compete.

Xu Changqing of Bluestone Martial Academy was the youngest, only seventeen. Bluestone Martial Academy had been unknown three years ago, but after this boy emerged and won several county competitions in a row, people finally learned that Bluestone Town had a martial academy. He had come to the Martial Meet this time with his master.

He stood among the adults, looking somewhat restrained.

Several longtime spectators below the stage were discussing the contestants.

"This year's academies brought some real monsters. Iron Ridge's Ma Biao is at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement, and Stone Bridge's Qian Tieshan is too."

"Martial academies dare compare themselves to the three great martial halls? They come every year just to get slaughtered."

"Don't underestimate them. That Ma Biao from Iron Ridge once smashed a stone mill with one palm in his town."

"So what? His cultivation method is inferior. No matter how fierce the Iron Sand Palm they practice in town is, can it compare to the true teachings of the three major martial halls?"

"Cultivation methods are cultivation methods, but look at that swordsman from River Mouth. He's at Qi Gathering Greater Achievement, a whole level above most people from the three martial halls."

"What's the use of Qi Gathering Perfection without a famous master's guidance? No matter how tricky his swordsmanship is, it's still a wild style. His Stake Stance is lacking. Once he gets on the arena and people figure out his methods, he'll be dealt with in two or three moves."

"Just wait and see."

The drawing of lots began.

The lot container was a bamboo tube filled with numbered bamboo slips.

The referee was a white-bearded old man in his sixties with an incredibly loud voice.

He had served as a referee for twenty years and had presided over the last three Martial Meets.

Zhou Yan drew number seven. His first-round opponent was Xu Changqing of Bluestone Martial Academy.

After drawing lots, Liu Tiehe came over to take a look. "Xu Changqing? I heard he's pretty talented, but he's only at Lesser Qi Gathering."

Meng Lei leaned over as well and reminded him, "Don't be careless. Bluestone Martial Academy is counting on that kid to make a name for them."

Zhou Yan nodded.

The first few matches ended quickly.

Ma Biao of Iron Ridge faced someone from River Mouth Martial Academy who had just entered the Qi-Gathering Realm. One palm sent him flying off the stage before anyone could even make out the move.

A buzz of discussion erupted below the stage.

Shi Meng of White Cloud Martial Hall faced a disciple from some unknown town academy and ended it with a single palm strike as well. The muscles on his arm bulged like iron lumps, and his strike kicked up a gust of wind.

It was Zhou Yan's turn.

Xu Changqing stepped onto the stage first. He wore gray clothes, his cuffs tightly tied, and his fighting stance was well disciplined.

There was some nervousness on his face, but even more excitement. His eyes fixed on Zhou Yan as he sized him up.

In this Martial Meet, he had to make Bluestone Martial Academy famous!

Zhou Yan walked onto the arena, sand rustling beneath his feet. Once he stopped, his entire body seemed nailed to the ground.

Several veteran instructors below the stage exchanged looks.

An expert could tell the moment someone made a move. From the few steps Zhou Yan took onto the stage to the moment he stopped, his lower stance had been unbelievably steady.

His Stake Stance had to be at least at greater achievement!

Anyone who could train their Stake Stance to greater achievement in the Qi-Gathering Realm was undoubtedly diligent and resilient.

The referee struck a bronze gong.

Xu Changqing moved first. His right fist probed forward, his left foot followed, and as his punch reached the centerline, it suddenly shifted and smashed downward.

The change was nimble. The transition from probing fist to smashing fist flowed in one motion without the slightest hesitation.

Several instructors below the stage nodded, while the people from Bluestone Martial Academy watched with eager anticipation.

Zhou Yan did not dodge. His left arm swung across to block the punch, while his right fist flipped out from beside his waist, sending a Mountain-Suppressing Fist directly forward.

The fist cut through the air with a whistle. Xu Changqing crossed his arms to block it, but the punch crashed into his forearms with a dull thud. He instantly slid back four or five steps, his shoes plowing two furrows through the sand.

The young man's face changed. That force was far too domineering!

The next punch arrived immediately. Xu Changqing turned aside to evade, but Zhou Yan's fist followed closely. The moment he had shifted his body, the fist was already there.

The fist wind swept across his shoulder, sending him stumbling back several more steps until he had reached the edge of the arena.

Then another punch struck Xu Changqing in the chest, sending the young man flying into the sand pit below the stage.

It had taken no more than three breaths.

However, Zhou Yan had not used his internal force, so the audience had been unable to gauge his true strength.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Senior Brother Zhou." Xu Changqing climbed up, brushed the sand from his backside, and cupped his hands in surrender.

He was smiling, not feeling ashamed despite losing.

He knew clearly that the man before him surpassed him in every regard. Holding on for three punches was not humiliating.

Moreover, his opponent had held back on the final punch.

Zhou Yan nodded.

The spectators below the stage burst into discussion.

"When did Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall produce a monster like this?"

"Those three punches just now—Xu Changqing couldn't even block them. And look at his footing. Xu Changqing's strike hit him, yet he didn't budge at all. That man's absurdly stable Stake Stance was the key too."

"Mountain-Settling Stance? Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall's Mountain-Settling Stance? Isn't that something practiced in the Body-Tempering Realm?"

"Who told you Stake Stances can only be practiced during Body Tempering? The better one's Stake Stance, the stronger one's foundation!"

Liu Tiehe patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder. "Not bad. Three punches."

Zhou Yan smiled. "I was just lucky. You could have done it too."

Zhou Hong's first-round opponent was Zhao Quan of White Cloud Martial Hall.

Zhao Quan's fist techniques were solid, but his realm was low. Qi-Gathering Initiation against Lesser Qi Gathering—Zhou Hong used the Yue Family Palm to knock him flat head-on.

Cheers rose from Heavenly Peak's side.

As Zhou Hong came down, he passed by Zhou Yan with a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Cousin, you've improved quickly."

Zhou Yan looked at him. "You too. I hope I don't meet you on the arena, Cousin. It would be bad if I embarrassed you."

The smile at the corner of Zhou Hong's mouth froze. He muttered something about gaining an advantage through words, then continued walking.

Liu Tiehe gave a chuckle beside him. "Your cousin's got quite the sharp tongue."

The most surprising result of the first round had not been Zhou Yan, nor had it been Zhou Hong.

It had been Qian Tieshan, head of Stone Bridge Martial Academy.

His opponent was Liu Qing of White Cloud Martial Hall, at Qi-Gathering Entry. His leg techniques were light and agile, and he was known in White Cloud Martial Hall for his speed.

The moment he took the stage, he began circling Qian Tieshan, intending to wear him down with speed.

Qian Tieshan did not care. He stood in the center of the arena without moving a single step.

Liu Qing circled him three times, tested him twice, then launched a chain of kicks. His leg shadows flowed one after another, and his speed truly was fast.

Qian Tieshan blocked two kicks with his left arm, but did not move in the slightest. Not even a mark appeared on his arm.

Someone below the stage sucked in a breath.

Before the third kick could even be launched, Qian Tieshan's right palm had already arrived.

Stele-Smashing Hand. His palm carried deep, heavy force as it struck Liu Qing squarely in the chest.

It was like a stone smashing into a wooden board. Liu Qing flew sideways and slammed into one of the arena pillars.

The flag tied to the pillar shook. Liu Qing slid down and sprawled in the sand, unable to get up for a long while.

The referee froze for a breath before going over to check on him.

White Cloud Martial Hall's people hurriedly rushed up and carried Liu Qing away.

Blood foam seeped from Liu Qing's mouth, and a clear palm print marked his chest through his clothes.

The smile on White Cloud's hall master froze, his teacup suspended in midair.

Old Yue set down his teacup and looked toward the martial academies a few more times, his brows furrowing.

The crowd below exploded.

"The three major martial halls might not be able to keep their pride this time!"

"Qian Tieshan has been holding himself back in the countryside for twenty years, just waiting for today."

"Stele-Smashing Hand truly lives up to its name. Liu Qing's leg techniques were considered impressive even at White Cloud Martial Hall, yet he went down with one palm."

Qian Tieshan stepped down from the arena, and his disciples gathered around him, their faces flushed with excitement.

Old Qian patted one of them on the shoulder. His expression was still as honest as a farmer's, but his eyes shone brightly.

Liu Tiehe and Meng Lei also won their first-round matches.

Liu Tiehe's opponent was from River Mouth Martial Academy. He endured several punches with his tough body training before Liu Tiehe ended it with a heavy blow.

Meng Lei encountered an independent cultivator from town. It had not been an easy fight, but he had won as well.

Sun Zhiyuan faced Sun Changfeng of Heavenly Peak Martial Arts Hall. The gap in their realms was huge.

Sun Changfeng was at Lesser Qi Gathering and knocked Sun Zhiyuan off the stage with a strike from the flat of his blade.

He climbed out of the sand pit, dusted off his clothes, and cupped his hands toward the stage. It was not too embarrassing.

He had come merely to make up the numbers anyway. Going out in the first round was not bad.

When he returned, Liu Tiehe patted his shoulder. "It's fine. We weren't counting on you anyway."

Sun Zhiyuan rolled his eyes at him.

After the first round, only sixteen people remained.

Mountain-Suppressing Martial Hall had advanced three. All four from Heavenly Peak Martial Arts Hall had advanced, while White Cloud Martial Hall had terrible luck and only Shi Meng remained.

Qian Tieshan, Ma Biao, and Chen Fangyuan from the Lesser Martial Academies had all advanced as well.

Ma Tou'er called Zhou Yan and the others over, his tone calm. "Don't be careless in the second round. All three of you made it through. Fight well."

Liu Tiehe grinned. "Don't worry, Ma Tou'er. We'll at least make it through one more round."

Meng Lei kicked him from beside him. "Don't jinx it."

Zhou Yan glanced toward Heavenly Peak. "Luo Chengyuan hasn't fought seriously yet. Let's first see what his style is."

Liu Tiehe followed Zhou Yan's gaze. "I heard the seventh form of Luo Chengyuan's Breaking Wind Spear is called Linked Pearls. One spear becomes seven shadows. It's Heavenly Peak Martial Arts Hall's trump card. If we run into him, we'll have a tough time."

Zhou Yan withdrew his gaze and said, "No matter how fast a spear is, it will still have an opening."

The discussions below the stage had yet to stop.

This year's Martial Meet had a very different momentum from previous years. No one had expected the martial academies to produce so many formidable contenders.