Feeling Like the Sky Is Falling

Lin Changkong brought his foot down, and Zhang Qingyun let out a shrill scream, blood nearly spurting from his nose.

But not only did Lin Changkong not stop, he raised his foot and savagely stomped Zhang Qingyun's face again and again, each kick more vicious than the last.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

After more than a dozen consecutive kicks, even the stone slabs beneath Zhang Qingyun's head had shattered from the impact.

His face was a bloody mess, blood covering every inch of it, while his agonized cries echoed throughout the entire fighting arena.

"Stop!"

"Eighth match, Lin Changkong wins!"

Zhang Shanhe's voice rang out, announcing the end of the battle. At the same time, everyone in the stands was dumbfounded.

"What the hell was that? Zhang Qingyun got completely crushed?"

"What just happened? I didn't even see how Lin Changkong attacked."

"Wasn't he only at Body Refining Second Level? How could he crush Zhang Qingyun, who's at Body Refining Seventh Level?"

Terrified gazes fell upon Lin Changkong, filled with disbelief and horror.

Su Qingqing covered her mouth as she looked at Zhang Qingyun lying on the fighting platform, his face a mangled bloody mess, like a dead dog. Her mind went blank.

Zhang Qingyun had actually... lost!

And he had been instantly defeated. The entire exchange probably had not even lasted five breaths.

Was this really Lin Changkong, the one she had always looked down upon, treated as cannon fodder, someone who did not even qualify as a backup?

Hadn't he been at most Body Refining Sixth Level yesterday? How could he instantly defeat Zhang Qingyun, who was at Body Refining Seventh Level, today?

"How is that possible!"

Su Qingqing clutched her head, feeling as though the sky had collapsed.

Zhang Shanhe, the elder of the Servant Courtyard, also widened his eyes. He had some impression of Lin Changkong, but not because Lin Changkong was strong. On the contrary, it was because he was too weak.

Throughout the entire Servant Courtyard, Lin Changkong had always been among the very bottom. Many people who had entered later than him had already reached Body Refining Third Level, or even Body Refining Fourth Level.

Yet his progress had been slow. When he registered for the qualification tournament a few days ago, he had still been at Body Refining Second Level, and many people had laughed at him for it.

But in only a few days, he had instantly defeated Zhang Qingyun, who was at Body Refining Seventh Level, beating him so badly that he had no power to fight back.

What startled Zhang Shanhe even more was that the Eight Extremes Collapse Fist Lin Changkong used had been unleashed with complete freedom and ease, yet its power rivaled that of a Second-tier martial art.

"To bring out the power of a Second-tier martial art with a First-tier martial art, even reaching the perfected realm would be impossible—unless he had cultivated it to the realm of Beyond Perfection.

Beyond Perfection... let alone the Servant Courtyard, even those people in the Inner Sect called monsters have never achieved it.

This fellow... has hidden himself deeply!"

Zhang Shanhe suddenly realized that Lin Changkong was absolutely not ordinary. Either he had concealed his true strength before, or he had experienced sudden enlightenment overnight.

But regardless of the reason, there was no doubt that Lin Changkong was now a dazzling rising star beyond dispute.

Lin Changkong casually glanced at Zhang Qingyun lying on the ground and said flatly, "Trash!"

With that, he turned and stepped off the platform, leaving Zhang Qingyun lying there as his mentality completely exploded.

Only then did Zhang Qingyun come back to his senses and understand what had happened.

He had actually been instantly defeated by a single punch from Lin Changkong. He could not accept it; he only felt as if the sky had fallen.

An hour later, the qualification tournament ended.

After leaving the fighting arena, Lin Changkong began considering his next path of cultivation.

Today's qualification tournament had only been a warm-up. The true main event was tomorrow's advancement tournament. Only by reaching the top ten could he obtain a spot to become an Outer Sect Disciple.

And only by becoming an Outer Sect Disciple could he obtain a cultivation method that allowed him to cultivate to the Qi Gathering Realm.

Therefore, he had to secure this spot.

To be safe, he needed a better martial art, preferably one involving a weapon.

Weapons were permitted in the matches. Aside from him, Zhang Qingyun, and a few others, nearly everyone in today's qualification tournament had used weapons.

"I need to obtain a martial art before receiving tomorrow's cultivation level. That way, I can use the cultivation level distributed tomorrow to practice it."

Lin Changkong headed straight for the Martial Arts Hall.

The Martial Arts Hall was where martial arts were specifically stored. It had two floors: the first floor contained First-tier martial arts, while the second held Second-tier martial arts.

Martial arts above the third tier could only be cultivated by Outer Sect Disciples.

Moreover, it was not as though one could simply learn a Second-tier martial art at will. One needed sect Contribution Points, and only with enough Contribution Points could one go up to the second floor.

Or one could receive special treatment from the higher-ups due to exceptional talent.

Unfortunately, Lin Changkong's former self had been far too weak. He could only complete tasks such as Chopping wood and carrying water, so he had very few Contribution Points—nowhere near enough to go to the second floor.

As for receiving special treatment, given his former talent and strength, that was even more ridiculous.

Upon entering the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Changkong began searching through the first floor.

"Soul Breaking Spear, first tier. Its attacks are fierce, but its moves are simple and easily anticipated..."

"Flowing Water Sword Technique, first tier. Known for being precise and swift, tending toward softness..."

After looking through several books in a row, none satisfied Lin Changkong. In the end, he could only settle for second best and prepare to choose one at random.

"What, haven't found a martial art you like?"

A deep, resonant voice suddenly sounded from beside him. Lin Changkong turned around and saw Zhang Shanhe, the Servant Courtyard elder, standing nearby and smiling at him.

"Greetings, Elder Zhang."

Lin Changkong greeted him, neither servile nor overbearing, his tone calm.

"Mm, there really isn't any martial art I want. I can only make do with one."

Zhang Shanhe smiled. "There truly aren't any particularly good martial arts on the first floor. How about taking a look at the second floor?"

Lin Changkong's eyes brightened slightly. "I can go to the second floor?"

Zhang Shanhe patted him on the shoulder.

"Your Contribution Points aren't enough, but you can go up if I say so. You performed very well in today's qualification tournament, so I can give you special treatment."

Lin Changkong asked, "Are there any additional requirements?"

Zhang Shanhe was briefly stunned, then laughed.

"Don't worry. There are no requirements at all. I simply think that since you were able to endure and conceal yourself for so long, your temperament is exceptional. I'm giving you an opportunity. Perhaps you can go farther. That is all.

All right, go up to the second floor."

"Thank you, Elder Zhang."

Lin Changkong did not stand on ceremony. After thanking him, he immediately went upstairs.

Zhang Shanhe watched his departing figure, nodded, and secretly praised him.

"Neither servile nor overbearing, and able to endure for so many years. It seems I truly underestimated this fellow before. Perhaps he may one day claim a place in the Outer Sect, or even the Inner Sect."

Lin Changkong understood clearly that Zhang Shanhe's special treatment was definitely not given for nothing. It was because Lin Changkong's performance today had been too dazzling.

In the end, he had earned this opportunity through his own strength.

Zhang Shanhe's action was also a form of investment, and the foundation of that investment still rested on strength.

The martial arts stored on the second floor were greatly reduced compared to those on the first. Some were even incomplete manuals, but all possessed decent power.

Lin Changkong examined nearly all of them. After comparing them repeatedly, his gaze finally settled on a saber manual.

"Wind Breaking Saber, Peak Second-tier. You'll do!"