The Martial Dao Trial Candidates' Stage

As the two traded veiled barbs, quite a few disciples wondered why they addressed each other as senior and junior brothers.

Deng Qing had heard Li Cheng mention it before, so he was not surprised.

As Deng Qing listened quietly, Song Wuliang suddenly pointed at him. "Kid, keep a close eye on my Blacksteel Soft Sword."

With that, Song Wuliang drained the wine in his cup and strode away.

Li Dashan turned to Zhang Yan and asked for the reason.

Zhang Yan recounted the battle at Blackwind Ravine, where Deng Qing defeated Song Que and took the Blacksteel Soft Sword.

Li Dashan glanced at Deng Qing without saying anything, but there was approval in his eyes.

Ding Yuan ground his teeth hard enough to shatter them, yet there was nothing he could do.

Not long after everyone took their seats, a herald's voice suddenly rang out from beyond the venue.

The noisy hall immediately fell silent.

Several breaths later, a group entered. The man at the center wore official robes. Lean and scholarly, around fifty years old, he had a gentle face and composed bearing. He was Xia Chun, the Pacification Commissioner sent by Yanshan Prefecture.

Dongting County Magistrate Guo Wei accompanied him on the left, while Everjoy County Assistant Magistrate Gong Jun trailed half a step behind.

As soon as the officials entered, everyone rose to pay their respects.

Xia Chun raised a hand with a smile. "No need for such ceremony, everyone. Please, sit."

Once everyone was seated, Xia Chun swept his gaze around and declared, "Since the Donghuang Cult began its rebellion, warfare has never ceased throughout Yanshan Prefecture.

Officials, local militia, and fellow martial artists from every county have all suffered casualties. It has not been easy to reach the present state of affairs.

I have come here by order this time to convey Yanshan Prefecture's condolences and rewards to those who rendered meritorious service..."

He delivered a lengthy string of official pleasantries, chiefly commending those who had contributed greatly. He especially mentioned Li Dashan, who had distinguished himself in the Battle of Liangshan. Afterward, wine was brought out and poured upon the ground in sacrifice to the dead.

After all that, Dongting County Magistrate Guo Wei took charge of the proceedings. As his words fell, music and dance began.

A troupe of dancing girls filed in from the western side and began to dance gracefully in the center.

The atmosphere immediately relaxed, and everyone began chatting among themselves, heads bent together in conversation.

Though Deng Qing could not join the banquet, he watched without blinking. He felt that these dancing girls' foundations in dance surpassed those of Jin Chen and Liu Haocun by an unknown number of leagues.

After several pieces, the dancers withdrew.

Xia Chun set down his wine cup and said loudly, "Today, so many worthy talents from the two counties have gathered here, and quite a few outstanding young people have come as well. With the Martial Dao Trial soon to begin, merely drinking wine and listening to music would be rather dull.

Why not let the young people stretch their limbs? It would also allow me to see what exceptional figures the younger generations of these two counties possess."

The moment he said this, many young martial artists in the hall perked up.

Xia Chun looked at Guo Wei. "I hear County Magistrate Guo's nephew will also participate in this Martial Dao Trial? Why not have your nephew take the field and display what he has learned?"

Guo Wei repeatedly demurred. "These children have only studied a few years of rudimentary fist and kicking techniques. How could they dare make fools of themselves before so many masters?"

Xia Chun smiled. "Young people sparring is meant to sharpen and advance one another. Today is merely for entertainment; there will be no judgment of victory or defeat, life or death. Why hide it away?"

Guo Wei agreed with a smile and glanced behind him. A young man around twenty immediately stood, saluted in Xia Chun's direction, then strode into the center of the hall.

This was Guo Wei's nephew, Zhao Tang. He was tall and powerfully built, broad-shouldered and long-armed. At a glance, one could tell he had trained external martial arts bitterly for years.

More than ten breaths later, Zhao Tang settled into position in the center, drew a deep breath, and assumed a boxing stance.

Zhao Tang's fist technique was exceedingly fierce. Every punch produced a dull explosive crack, and whenever he exerted force through his feet, even the ground seemed to tremble.

Judging by sheer momentum alone, it was indeed impressive.

Cheers rose continuously from the Dongting County side, and Xia Chun nodded faintly as well.

Deng Qing understood it as clearly as a mirror. This was clearly a performance arranged in advance, all to make Zhao Tang famous.

A stage of fame and profit existed in every world.

A moment later, Zhao Tang finished his sequence of punches and drew his stance to a close. The entire hall erupted in applause.

Though Guo Wei continued to speak modestly, he could not conceal the pride on his face.

Everjoy County Assistant Magistrate Gong Jun smiled. "Zhao Tang truly is remarkable. But Dongting County has young heroes, and Everjoy County is no worse."

With that, he beckoned behind him.

A young man walked into the center and cupped his fists. "Sun Hui of Everjoy County. My grandfather once served as a Valiant Martial Colonel. Please excuse this humble display!"

Xia Chun smiled. "So you are descended from a military family. Very well, let everyone see your skill."

Deng Qing understood. With the Martial Dao Trial imminent, too many people needed a stage.

Sun Hui stepped forward at the call, but Zhao Tang did not leave the field.

"What is the point of performing alone?"

Zhao Tang cupped his fists toward Sun Hui. "Since Brother Sun is also participating in the Martial Dao Trial, why don't the two of us exchange a few moves?"

Sun Hui glanced at him. "I am already at the Skin Tempering Fourth Layer. Have you thought this through?"

"I am only at the third layer."

Zhao Tang said openly, "But when a true man practices martial arts, he should rejoice at the sound of battle. If I dare not fight today merely because you are one realm above me, then when I stand at the Martial Dao Trial, how could I speak of contending with the outstanding heroes of the world?"

Those words were beautifully delivered, and cheers immediately rose throughout the hall. Xia Chun also showed approval.

Sun Hui said no more. After the two exchanged formal greetings, they began to fight.

Zhao Tang struck first. Once his fist momentum unfolded, it was utterly different from his earlier demonstration. There was less deliberately cultivated spectacle, yet it was more fluid and ruthless.

Relying on his Skin Tempering Fourth Layer cultivation and fuller qi and blood, Sun Hui met him head-on with his palms. Fists and palms collided, producing continuous dull booms.

Li Dashan suddenly turned back and asked, "Deng Qing, who do you think will win?"

Several Celebration Hall disciples were all stunned. They had no idea when Deng Qing had caught Li Dashan's eye.

Deng Qing stared at the center of the hall. "Zhao Tang."

"Why?"

"Sun Hui's strength is greater, but he has not yet mastered his palm technique. Whenever he changes moves, his qi and blood seem to be driven a fraction slower.

"Zhao Tang's fist technique, however, has already become a single seamless whole. If Sun Hui cannot suppress him early on, then despite being one realm above Zhao Tang, dealing with him will only grow more difficult."

A trace of surprise flashed through Li Dashan's eyes. "Your discernment is not bad."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed into the center. "Zhao Tang practices Yuewang Dispersed Strikes, and his mastery is already sufficient.

"Though the Great Stele King Hand used by Sun Hui is not bad either, he has only grasped a few outward forms and has yet to truly master it.

"Though there is a gap between the Skin Tempering Third Layer and the Skin Tempering Fourth Layer, it is not so vast as to be uncrossable. Technique, experience, courage—if any one of these surpasses the other by too much, it can erase the gap between them."

Hearing Li Dashan's explanation, Zhang Yan shot Fan Sheng a look, and Fan Sheng's eyes held a smile.

Ding Yuan and the others, however, had complicated emotions in their eyes. Along the way, they had exhausted every effort, yet all they received from Li Dashan were a few lukewarm words of praise.

Yet Deng Qing had been questioned by Li Dashan alone and had even received instruction on the spot.

The difference between them was plain for anyone who was not blind to see.

The situation in the center indeed unfolded just as Deng Qing had predicted.

At first, Sun Hui could still use his stronger qi and blood to press Zhao Tang back, but as they fought, the raw awkwardness in his palm technique began to show.

Zhao Tang's fist momentum flowed on without end, its power growing ever greater.

After another dozen or so exchanges, Sun Hui's footwork faltered.

Zhao Tang suddenly surged through the central gate and threw several punches in succession, one fist landing heavily on Sun Hui's chest.

Sun Hui staggered back several steps before stabilizing himself, a thin line of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"My thanks for yielding."

Zhao Tang immediately withdrew his fists.

Sun Hui's expression was ugly. He wiped at the corner of his mouth. "I have not yet reached Grand Mastery in the Great Stele King Hand. Losing to you today does not mean I will still lose at the Martial Dao Trial."

"Once you reach Grand Mastery, we can fight again."

Zhao Tang said cheerfully.

The Dongting County side immediately burst into thunderous cheers. Guo Wei, seated at the head, cupped his hands toward Everjoy County Assistant Magistrate Gong Jun with a modest expression.

Yet despite winning, Zhao Tang still refused to leave the field. His gaze swept over the Everjoy County group as he called out loudly, "Since this is only for entertainment anyway, is there anyone else willing to offer instruction?"