Chapter 502 - 173: Martial Art: Hengjiang Du, the Grand Tournament Begins

As he browsed the martial arts manuals, he overheard the intermittent whispers of a few nearby Inner Sect Disciples.

They were discussing the fierce competition for the upcoming Fushan Grand Competition.

According to them, over four hundred Inner Sect Disciples from the Main Peak and the other branches had already signed up. By the time registration closed, that number was sure to grow even more.

Hearing this, Yang Jing was secretly astonished.

When he had participated in the Cyan Qilin Battle back in April, the total number of disciples had only been a little over thirty.

He hadn’t expected the Fushan Grand Competition to attract so many Inner Sect Disciples. The current number of participants alone was already more than ten times that of the Cyan Qilin Battle.

Yang Jing couldn’t help but reflect. ’Most of these Inner Sect Disciples usually keep a low profile, hiding away in some corner to focus on their training. They must have been drawn out by the generous rewards of the Fushan Grand Competition. There are bound to be hidden masters among them.’

At this thought, his heart sank. The trace of pride he’d felt that morning after breaking through to the Qi Eating Realm with his Indestructible True Skill vanished.

An hour later, Yang Jing finally stopped before an old, worn manual.

After much comparison, he finally selected a Body Technique of the Middle-grade True Skill level called "Great River Crossing."

The technique imitated the movement of a skiff drifting with the river’s current. Its footwork maintained an extremely low center of gravity, making advancing and retreating feel as simple as walking on flat ground. When turning and maneuvering, it possessed the fluid grace of rippling water.

Furthermore, it was subtly compatible with the water-based principles of his "Raging Wave Legs," so he didn’t need to worry about suffering Qi deviation from conflicting Inner Strength during his future training.

He checked the price listed at the end of the manual. It cost 118,000 contribution points, which was on the higher end for a Mid-grade True Skill.

Yang Jing took the "Great River Crossing" manual, turned, and went down to the first floor. He handed it to the middle-aged Steward, Chen Shuquan, who was guarding the entrance.

Chen Shuquan took the manual and said to Yang Jing, "One moment." He then walked up the wooden staircase, heading quickly toward the secure archives on the upper floor of the Talent Pavilion.

A few moments later, he returned carrying a more exquisitely bound, complete copy of "Great River Crossing."

Chen Shuquan then took out the sect roster to record the transaction. He took Yang Jing’s Sect Token and deducted 118,000 contribution points.

Once that was done, he formally handed the complete copy of "Great River Crossing" to Yang Jing and added a stern warning, "This is a sect martial art. You must not, under any circumstances, teach it to an outsider. Violating this cardinal rule of the sect will result in severe punishment."

Yang Jing replied respectfully, "I understand. I will take your words to heart and would never dare to teach it to another."

With that, he gave Chen Shuquan a respectful salute and hurried out of the Talent Pavilion, clutching "Great River Crossing."

After leaving the Talent Pavilion, Yang Jing went nowhere else, heading straight for the Training Room on Lingxi Peak.

He couldn’t wait to start training in "Great River Crossing."

’According to the rules of the Fushan Grand Competition, there’s only one round each day, so it’s bound to last for several days.’

’Maybe, during that time, I can even break through to the Qi Eating Realm with "Great River Crossing."’

’After all, I’ve already mastered both the Mountain-Breaking Seal and the Indestructible True Skill up to the Qi Eating Realm. My Inner Qi is abundant and refined. Going back to cultivate "Great River Crossing" now should be much easier.’

...

Time flew by as Yang Jing trained relentlessly, day and night.

In the blink of an eye, another seven days passed.

Dawn broke through the sky, scattering its light upon the peaks of the Xuanzhen Sect.

Today was the tenth of June—the day the Fushan Grand Competition would officially begin.