I Have a Question

Time flew, and soon it was the day before the competition.

Ye An had not yet checked who his opponent was when Lu Xingzhou came running over.

"Senior Brother Ye! The results are out! Your opponent is Xu Zhao. He's at the peak of Mid-Meridian Opening, only one step from the late stage. He practices finger techniques, just like you." Lu Xingzhou added, "Honestly, I think you're probably going to lose."

Lu Xingzhou was not wrong. Anyone would think the same. Ye An did not mind much; he just committed the name to memory.

Shen Qing said nothing. She was waiting to see what Ye An would do tomorrow.

That night, Ye An continued cultivating as usual.

[Meridian Opening Formula: Second Layer: 93/200]

[Star-Shattering Finger (Micro): 115/200]

[Rosy Cloud Sword Technique (Micro): 106/200]

On the day of the competition, a sizable crowd had already gathered around the Inner Sect Martial Practice Ground.

Few people were competing, but plenty had come to watch.

The arena stood in the center of the grounds, a little higher than the platform used for ordinary practice. A red line had been drawn around it, and Inner Sect disciples packed the space beyond.

Eighteen people were competing in all.

A raised platform had been built north of the arena. It held only a single chair, occupied by an elderly man.

His hair was gray-white, his face lean. He wore a dark gray robe whose hem draped over the edge of the chair, and his calm gaze swept over everyone below.

People in the crowd whispered among themselves.

The elder was Fu Chongshan, an elder of the Four Symbols Sect's Elder Hall. His cultivation had long since surpassed Qi Condensation, and he had spent years in the Gathered Origin Realm. He was one of the Sect's true high-end fighters.

Fu Chongshan looked over the crowd, confirmed the number of competitors and the arena's preparations, then spoke. His voice was not loud, but every word came through clearly. "The rules of the Inner Sect Grand Competition remain unchanged. Matches are decided by lot. Winners advance; losers are eliminated. The final ten will enter the Four Halls. We begin now. Come up when your name is called."

Match followed match. The clash of weapons mingled with cheers and discussion from below.

Ye An waited beneath the arena for his turn. More than half the morning had passed before he heard his name called.

"Seventh match: Ye An versus Xu Zhao."

As Ye An stepped toward the arena, he heard Lu Xingzhou behind him, offering encouragement in a low, uncertain voice. "You can do it!"

He spoke so quietly it was as though he feared a louder shout would embarrass him.

Shen Qing stood beside him. She said nothing, only nodded toward Ye An in encouragement. She did not think Ye An could win, but she knew him, after all, and hoped he would.

Ye An climbed into the arena.

Someone stepped up opposite him at the same time. He looked nearly twenty, was of average height, and wore the gray uniform of an Inner Sect disciple. No weapon hung at his waist. His hands rested naturally at his sides, their finger joints thick, his knuckles slightly prominent.

He looked at Ye An and cupped his hands. "Junior Brother Ye."

Ye An returned the salute. "Senior Brother Xu."

Xu Zhao lowered his hands. His tone was neither courteous nor cold. "I'm determined to secure a place in the Four Halls. I won't hold back, Junior Brother, so I hope you'll forgive me."

He paused, then added, "I practice the Stone-Splitting Finger. It's a fierce, forceful technique. Its three styles flow together, each strike heavier than the last. Be careful, Junior Brother."

With that, he moved.

The first finger strike came straight at Ye An's chest, a sharp wind cutting before it. Ye An did not retreat. He met it with the Star-Shattering Finger, and a dull thud sounded as their fingers collided. Xu Zhao's finger force was heavy indeed. His fierce technique demanded a head-on clash, bearing down from the outset without giving his opponent room to breathe.

The instant their fingertips touched, Ye An felt Xu Zhao pour in more force, as though he meant to drive Ye An back in one breath. Ye An did not push straight against it. He angled his wrist slightly and sent the force of his Star-Shattering Finger forward on a slant, shedding nearly half the incoming pressure and throwing Xu Zhao's attack a little off course.

Xu Zhao withdrew his first strike. Without pause, his second came in lower and heavier. His finger traced an arc as he struck, hurtling down with a rush of wind.

Stone-Splitting Finger: Second Style: Hill-Breaking.

This strike was nearly thirty percent heavier than the first.

At the instant of contact, a subtle rotational force entered Ye An's Star-Shattering Finger. Like a tiny drill, it began boring inward the moment it touched Xu Zhao's fingertip. Xu Zhao's force held for an instant, then began to give way. His balance shifted half a step.

After steadying himself, he did not rush to launch the third strike. He glanced at Ye An's finger, then looked down at his own fingertip. "Star-Shattering Finger?"

There was recognition in his voice. He had once considered choosing that technique himself, but he had lacked the Contribution Points. Besides, he had reckoned that once he reached Qi Condensation, better Martial Arts would be available to him.

Xu Zhao said nothing more. His third strike was already on its way.

Stone-Splitting Finger: Third Style: Rock-Cleft.

There was no feint in this strike. All its force gathered at the fingertip and pressed downward, as though to split his opponent's defense down the middle. Ye An steadied his mind. The rotational force of his Star-Shattering Finger gathered into a thrust at his fingertip and met Rock-Cleft head-on. The two forces collided with a muffled bang. Xu Zhao's attack halted, then, in the next breath, was driven back. He took one step backward, then another.

By the time his ankle came down at the edge of the arena, he had lost his balance. All he could do was stop there.

The outcome was clear. Xu Zhao was silent for a moment before he spoke. "I lost, Senior Brother Ye."

He said nothing else. He cupped his fists to Ye An, turned, and walked down from the arena.

There was no disappointment, no anger, only a little regret.

Several more rounds passed, and the top nine were decided.

Fu Chongshan rose from the raised platform. His voice was level. "The rankings are settled. If anyone objects to their ranking, they may issue a challenge before everyone here."

The crowd fell silent for a moment. No one spoke.

By past custom, no one would say anything at this stage.

Fu Chongshan was about to confirm the list when a voice rang out from behind and to Ye An's right. "I have a question!"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

The speaker was the disciple ranked ninth. Ye An was eighth.

His gaze fixed on Shen Li. "I want to challenge the third-ranked disciple—Senior Brother Shen Li!"