Chapter 72 - 71: One Shot

One day later, the summer heat had not yet dissipated, but a faint autumn chill was beginning to stir.

In the square at the intersection of the Outer City and Inner City, a massive crowd had gathered. The canal rippled, its silvery gleam reflecting off the vast expanse and shining with large patches of golden light.

The restaurants surrounding the square were already packed. Wang Ming had arrived very early. Sitting beside him were Xu Chun and Wang Wen. Naturally, Ji Xiaolu and Mrs. Xu were also present, but there was one unexpected addition to their group.

Cheng Lian’Er.

Wang Ming looked at Cheng Lian’Er, who remained as placid as ever before him, and a peculiar feeling welled up in his heart.

Last year, Wang Ming was nothing but an abandoned son of the Wang family, and Cheng Lian’Er’s calmness was merely a product of her good upbringing. Now, however, that calmness was accompanied by a trace of respect.

He greatly enjoyed this respect. Since Xu Guang had obtained the Five Divine Fruits, naturally, there would be a share for him. Although he had not yet broken through to Refining Viscera, it wouldn’t take much longer. During this time, Xu Chun had cooked many delicious meals specifically to nourish his Essence Blood. He had even gained some weight just to accumulate Essence Blood. Soon, he would be able to attempt a breakthrough.

He accepted Cheng Lian’Er’s respect with complete ease.

Ji Xiaolu also felt a bit unusual. This would be the first time she would witness her man fighting with her own eyes. She hoped she could help him, or at the very least, not hold him back.

The people in the square below seemed to be growing restless. The scheduled time for the duel had long passed, yet the arena remained entirely empty. It was as if both participants considered this duel to be utterly inconsequential.

Xu Chun chatted with Mrs. Xu, carefully pointing toward the top floor of the tallest building in the Outer City. Two chairs were placed there, and the one seated in the leading position was none other than the City Guardian of Feiyun City, Duan Jue.

The other chair, it was rumored, had been prepared for the Great Mage of the Yellow Heaven Sect, though it seemed that the Great Mage had no interest in watching the event.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted into a boil. Before the group could clearly see what was happening, a fierce-looking, burly man carrying a Thick-Backed Saber slowly ascended the high platform.

Yang Sha was no longer as agitated as he had been over the past few days. He had become extremely calm and didn’t curse out of anger over Xu Guang’s tardiness.

Martial Artists, after all, proved their true worth through their skills in combat.

This was a duel between Refining Viscera Martial Artists, a grand event rarely seen in Feiyun City for years. Many people had come.

In another imposing, sharply designed high-rise building, a man in a green robe stood before the window with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Brother Guan, hasn’t that Xu Guang arrived yet? What time is it already? We still have a mission later. Do you think that kid ran away because he’s afraid of dying?" a lazy voice drifted over from behind Guan Mountain.

Guan Mountain was expressionless as he recalled Xu Guang’s self-introduction from their last meeting. He wondered, "Xu as in ’to plan slowly,’ Guang as in ’to make widely known.’ So, are you going to make yourself widely known today?"

"Afraid of dying?" Guan Mountain gave his companion an inexplicable look. "He wouldn’t be afraid. Perhaps something came up."

In a certain alleyway.

Xu Guang walked slowly out of his front door, holding a Long Spear in his hand. His entire being exuded a sharp, imposing aura. The Big Spear was too long, so he had to tilt it sideways to pass through the doorway.

As he walked, his aura grew weaker and weaker until his gait almost resembled that of a drunkard.

This caused a person standing at the entrance of the alley to cast a sidelong glance. Ever since Li Zongkang began his cultivation, Duan Jue had told him that a tiger’s walk might look sickly, but once it moves, it follows the wind. Right now, Xu Guang looked exactly like a sick tiger.

"You’re here."

"You knew I was coming?" Xu Guang chuckled softly, saying nothing.

He believed that the City Guard’s Mansion would investigate his background and find out about his grudge with the Han Family. He was also certain that Duan Jue intended to eradicate the Han Family and would support him from behind the scenes. However, he wanted to know the extent of Duan Jue’s support. He had been waiting for this exact attitude.

"Mandarin Duck Tower." Li Zongkang gave Xu Guang a somewhat surprised look and uttered a single phrase. He paused, then added, "You have three hundred men and one chance."

After speaking, he turned around gracefully, though his gaze swept imperceptibly over the Big Spear in Xu Guang’s hand.

This was the City Guardian’s recognition of Xu Guang, as well as a test. If he succeeded, Xu Guang would become the Sixth Marshal. If he failed... then the person known as Xu Guang would cease to exist.

Of course, from beginning to end, Li Zongkang never believed that Xu Guang would lose to Yang Sha.

"Wang Ming, do you think Brother Guang can win?" Ji Xiaolu asked apprehensively.

Before Wang Ming could speak, another uproar was heard from afar.

The spectating crowd parted to make a path. A young man appeared in the middle of the path, his head lowered as he weakly dragged a Big Spear with one hand.

The youth had a white bandage wrapped around his forehead and wore coarse linen clothes, yet he managed to wear them with a bizarrely unique elegance.

Xu Guang slightly raised his head, revealing an incredibly genial smile. "Is it truly a fight to the death?"

Yang Sha flew into a rage. He abruptly stood up, pointed his Thick-Backed Saber at Xu Guang, and bellowed, "Could it be that you are afraid of death?

"Crawl through here, and you can live today!" He pointed to his crotch.

Xu Guang chuckled lightly and slowly walked up to the high platform. "Then... let us fight to the death!"

A hint of solemnity suddenly appeared on Yang Sha’s face. He felt that the Xu Guang before him had seemingly become incredibly bizarre. This bizarreness formed a strange aura that made him somewhat irritable. Therefore, he decided to strike first.

The Thick-Backed Saber drew an arc in the air. The blade hummed softly, and as it rubbed against the air, it formed a massive roaring sound. The air currents fluctuated violently, and the sonic wave drowned out everything else!

It was the simplest and most basic Sword Skill: chopping. Yet, Yang Sha had actually executed it with such tremendous momentum.

The splashing shockwaves even forced back some of the closer spectators. For a moment, people were thrown off their feet. The surroundings instantly erupted into an uproar. This was an Expert in Refining Viscera Martial Arts!

They looked at Xu Guang with horrified eyes, wondering how this handsome youth before them would respond. Soon, they saw it.

Xu Guang abruptly lifted the Big Spear in his hand. The Big Spear let out a humming sound, its tail and tip trembling. But... that was all. Because after completing this action, he stopped completely still.

The onlookers were somewhat surprised. Ji Xiaolu clenched her fingers tightly; Yang Sha’s saber was too fast, to the point where she could only see its shadow.

Xu Guang was entirely focused, trying hard to recall his previous encounter outside the eerie Divine Temple, trying to envision that spear strike of his that followed.

He had pondered over this strike for too long. The Mastery of Martial Arts realm was far too profound; it was a mysterious realm capable of birthing Martial Intent, yet he always felt there was a thin membrane blocking him.

Ancient texts recorded that men of old would nourish a sword for years, and when that single strike was unleashed, the heavens and earth would be astounded! They hid ferocity within the sword, hid the sword within the scabbard, and nourished both the sword and its momentum.

Xu Guang had found inspiration from this. Therefore, from the moment he stepped out of his house, he had been nurturing his momentum. If a sword has momentum, a spear has momentum too! He had been waiting for that profound sensation to brew and emerge.

Yang Sha’s saber was just a hair’s breadth away from landing on Xu Guang’s head.

He suddenly opened his eyes, having caught that fleeting Spiritual Mechanism. A sharp light burst from his eyes. Gripping the Big Spear in his hands, it was as if he had grasped the entire world.

BUZZ!

The Big Spear seemed to have finally awaited its master as Xu Guang raised it. A piercing sonic wave enveloped the surroundings, and the air currents were twisted and compressed by an immense force...

In that instant, the Thick-Backed Saber stopped dead in its tracks. Yang Sha lowered his head in disbelief, only to see a silver spear shaft trembling slightly. A very long section of it had disappeared directly into his chest.

"You?"

Feeling the vitality dissipating from his body, Yang Sha wore a ferocious expression, vainly attempting to use his last ounce of strength to swing his proud Thick-Backed Saber.

Only... there were no more chances.

Yang Sha’s massive body collapsed, stirring up a thick cloud of dust in the air. The Big Spear continued to vibrate on its own, emitting a humming sound. Xu Guang still gripped the tail of the spear tightly with one hand.

For a moment, the world fell silent.

One strike? An expert in the Training Refining Viscera Realm had just fallen like this? Was he even human?

Even in the direction of Xu Guang’s gaze, the spectators awkwardly shifted their feet, feeling as though the youth on the platform was a demon.

Xu Chun and Ji Xiaolu hugged each other and jumped up. Cheng Lian’Er tightly clenched her fists. Wang Ming revealed a look of absolute shock, his eyes motionless. Mrs. Xu was the most composed; still holding a Cow Eye Fruit that Wang Ming had brought, she said to Ji Xiaolu, "Lu, eat some fruit, it helps with having children."

Up on the high platform, Duan Jue stroked his beard and smiled. The recently arrived Li Zongkang remained expressionless, but the hand beneath his sleeve was trembling slightly. Clearly, his heart was not as calm as his exterior suggested.

This was... Martial Intent.

He acknowledged Duan Jue’s words; Xu Guang’s potential was no less than his own.

Guan Mountain’s companion couldn’t help but exclaim, "An Abnormal Person reaching Refining Viscera in two years, how terrifying!"

Guan Mountain responded with silence, feeling nothing but shock in his heart.

On a distant hilltop that rarely caught anyone’s attention.

The Cold Blade Sect Leader, Han Qiufeng, looked at the young girl before him with an equal gaze. "What do you think of this kid, Yuchan?"

Standing before him was none other than the breathtakingly beautiful young girl who had stunned the entire city, hailing from Ji State.

"If he reaches the Peak of Refining Viscera Cultivation and returns to fifteen years ago when the Military Examination was widely held, he could compete for the Martial Champion Scholar."

Han Qiufeng’s expression froze. The Military Examination was an institution established fifteen years ago by the Qing Sect, father of the current Shen Zong, meant to draw all the martial artists in the world into his fold. The Refining Viscera Martial Artists of that year had gathered the finest Refining Viscera heroes from all over Great Qian’s three capitals, Two Paths, and Fourteen States, among which were countless Abnormal People.

One could only imagine the cruelty of the competition. A flash of reminiscence crossed his eyes. He remembered that the Martial Champion Scholar of that year was now already the... General of the Northern Expedition, right?

Xu Guang possessed the caliber of a Martial Champion Scholar? This was an evaluation that not even Li Zongkang had received. He secretly shook his head. It shouldn’t be so. How old was the young girl before him fifteen years ago? She was probably just speaking casually.