Luck

After Chu Xisheng won, a beam of azure light delivered him off the platform.

The other three platforms were still locked in fierce combat, with six Three-Leaf disciples fighting in pairs.

They were evenly matched, with no great disparity in strength, making their prolonged battles all the fiercer and the outcomes difficult to decide.

Chu Xisheng simply sat down, regulating his breathing as he watched.

What drew his attention most was the southern platform. One fighter used the Wind-Chasing Blade, likewise following the path of swift saber strikes, his blade flashing like lightning; the other wielded the Nine-Palace Sword, his sword light unbroken, flowing like clouds and running water.

Both were also proficient in Light-Cloud Movement. Their movements were incredibly swift as they darted and shifted across the platform, almost leaving afterimages.

Chu Xisheng could tell that these two were clearly a whole cut above the fighters on the other two platforms in martial skill.

Even Liu Xingruo, the West Court's chief disciple, paled considerably beside them.

So much so that the two referees on the platform were extremely tense, staying within twenty feet of them throughout, ready to intervene at any moment.

Chu Xisheng watched the saber-wielding youth intently.

The youth's saber techniques gave Chu Xisheng a deeper understanding of Chu Yunyun's teachings.

But just as he watched with rapt attention, utterly unaware of time passing, an abrupt change occurred on the platform.

The saber-wielding youth unleashed Wind and Clouds Shift, a move from the Wind-Chasing Blade. His blade speed suddenly erupted, increasing by at least fifty percent!

A term immediately surfaced in Chu Xisheng's mind-Secret Move Totem!

It was the ultimate prize of this assessment.

A tattooed totem inscribed on the body like this could strengthen a particular move they practiced by fifty to sixty percent.

But the sword-wielding youth reacted instantly as well. His sword shot out like a serpent of lightning, meeting offense with offense, its momentum every bit as swift as his opponent's.

The change came so suddenly that neither referee beside them reacted in time.

By the time they intervened, one fighter's right chest had nearly been pierced through by the sword, while the other had suffered a bloody slash across his neck, cutting into his throat and windpipe.

In the end, both were grievously wounded.

Chu Xisheng could not help shaking his head, feeling deeply sorry for the two of them.

In terms of strength, these two ranked first and second among the inner disciples.

Chu Xisheng suspected that even three of him joining forces would be no match for either one of them. Yet they had met so early and both fallen in the second round of the combat assessment. It was truly a pity.

By then, the battles on the other two platforms had already been decided.

The light and shadows projected by the azure jade disk shifted again. Another two platforms on the training ground crumbled and collapsed, dissolving into specks of rainbow fluorescence.

Chu Xisheng was once again moved onto the platform on the left.

But there was no one before him. It was utterly empty.

Huh?

Chu Xisheng blinked. I actually got a bye?

Wasn't my luck a little too good-

At that moment, on the raised terrace to the north, all the instructors from the five courts, including Ye Zhiqiu, stared dark-faced at Jian Zangfeng, their gazes hostile.

It was one thing for Senior Brother Jian to cheat, but he was being far too brazen about it.

Even Ye Zhiqiu could no longer bear to watch.

Lei Yuan, too, was full of helplessness. He rubbed his temple with a headache. "Senior Brother Jian, this Chu Xisheng has excellent luck. Are his opponents being randomly assigned by the Four Symbols Duel Disk?"

It was a veiled reminder, asking this inspecting envoy to consider the repercussions and at least behave like a decent human being.

Jian Zangfeng quit while he was ahead. Laughing heartily, he drew his hand out of his sleeve and picked up his teacup as though nothing had happened. "This boy does indeed have rather good luck, but your abilities in training disciples are even more remarkable. I'm deeply impressed.

"What are the names of those two disciples just now? Not yet fifteen, and already at the third level of the Origin-Nourishing Art, with the combat strength of the lower eighth grade. They have bright futures. This must be properly recorded and brought to the elders' attention. Also, Junior Brother Lei, sorry for the trouble, but please allocate a few extra Origin-Nourishing Pills to them and tell the physicians to treat them carefully. Don't let any lingering problems remain."

At his words, North Court instructor Qiu Feng and South Court instructor Gao Yang both looked slightly relieved.

The two who had wounded each other on the platform were their disciples.

Moments after Chu Xisheng stepped onto the platform, the azure light sent him back down.

He could only sit cross-legged again and await the result on the other platform.

The two fighters on it battled fiercely for roughly a quarter of an hour before the outcome was finally decided. A tall, slender, pale-faced youth emerged victorious.

He was about fifteen, and his azure disciple's uniform was embroidered with copious gold thread. The clothing had also been altered in various places to make it particularly form-fitting.

He wore a feathered crown on his head and black boots threaded with silver on his feet, dressed like a graceful young gentleman. Yet his nostrils pointed skyward, and his face was somewhat like a hippopotamus's.

When the two were moved onto the platform together, the pale-faced youth cupped his hands toward Chu Xisheng with some surprise and delight. "I'm He Chao of the West Court. I never expected my opponent in the final to be Junior Brother Chu!

"Rumors have been circulating in the martial academy lately that your strength already ranks first among the inner disciples. I didn't believe them at first, but now it seems those rumors aren't entirely groundless. I'm fortunate to have the chance to experience your masterful techniques today, Junior Brother Chu. Please go easy on me."

Although He Chao spoke that way, a trace of coldness had already appeared in his eyes.

He was determined to win this final match.

He Chao did know a little about Chu Xisheng. Supposedly, his Origin Power had only just reached the second level.

Although He Chao did not understand how this person had eliminated his Senior Brother Liu and made it all the way to the final, presumably it had not been through his actual ability.

Besides, how strong could someone at the second level of Origin Power possibly be?

Chu Xisheng returned the salute without showing anything on his face. "Of course!"

He had indeed reached the final entirely through luck.

First, his Martial Dao Points had inexplicably risen to thirty-seven. Then Liu Xingruo, the West Court's chief disciple, had tried to trap him, only to fall into his own trap.

What followed went without saying: he had faced a Two-Leaf disciple in the second round and received a bye outright in the third.

His luck was so good it made him uneasy-

But by this point, Chu Xisheng could no longer lightly speak of giving up.

The Secret Move Totem could increase the power of any one of his Wind-Chasing Blade moves by fifty to sixty percent. It was something that could greatly enhance his combat strength.

Besides, having just watched He Chao fight, he now thoroughly understood the characteristics of He Chao's martial skills and his fighting habits.

Having come this far, he had to take a shot no matter what.

Chu Xisheng drew a deep breath and directed his gaze toward "Light-Cloud Movement" on the system screen.

-Spend three Martial Dao Points to raise Light-Cloud Movement to the first level?

Chu Xisheng had discovered that the Martial Dao Points required to improve any martial art or cultivation method were tied to his proficiency.

The more proficient he became in a martial art and the more deeply he grasped it, the fewer Martial Dao Points it took to improve it.

Conversely, the less familiar he was with a martial art, the more Martial Dao Points it required.

Chu Xisheng accepted without hesitation. As "Light-Cloud Movement (uninitiated)" in the martial arts section changed to "Light-Cloud Movement (first level)," a strange warm current once again arose within his body.

Chu Xisheng felt as though needles were pricking his mind, and unfamiliar memories suddenly formed within it.

They were images concerning Light-Cloud Movement, and they actually allowed him to understand every profound principle and key point of its first level in an instant.

His muscles also grew slightly warm, developing muscle memory for Light-Cloud Movement.

At the same time, the martial instructor responsible for refereeing and supervision tossed a copper coin into the air.

"Pay attention! The moment the coin lands, you may attack!"

At that instant, the gazes of more than four thousand people outside the platform were riveted to that copper coin.