The man shrouded in black qi did not show his face. He crouched behind the heavy shields at the city gate, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
From the brief moment Chen Sanshi sensed it, that aura wasn't any weaker than many Meridian-Connecting generals he had encountered.
The Qi Observation Technique didn't directly reveal one's cultivation realm—it could only give a rough estimate. And since Chen Sanshi himself was only at tempering organs, his judgment was naturally limited.
But if that really was Meridian-Connecting level…
Then it could only be Zhang Huaimin.
The Seven Absolutes Sect was only a second-rate sect in Liangzhou, with just one Meridian-Connecting expert and four at Transforming Strength.
It could only be him.
But why did Zhang Huaimin have black qi on his body?
And stranger still—it flared and faded in waves, not constantly present.
Was it from consuming a poison beast?
Or had he somehow absorbed the same power that turned a beast into a poison beast?
Chen Sanshi didn't get closer.
Anyone above tempering organs was beyond the examinees' range of responsibility. Besides, his kill count was already high enough—there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
He continued harvesting low-realm martial artists with his bow while scanning the battlefield through Qi Observation Technique. After several sweeps, he confirmed only Zhang Huaimin emitted that strange black qi—or at least, he was the only one who had revealed it.
"Brothers, charge!"
"As long as we break through the Great Wall, we'll be citizens of the Sky Clan!"
"…"
There was no way out now.
The disciples of the Seven Absolutes Sect knew surrender meant certain death. So they fought like madmen, unleashing a desperate, suicidal ferocity equal to the Blood Oath of the Battlefield.
Unfortunately, the gap in strength was far too wide.
The elite soldiers of the Feixiong Garrison fought with perfect coordination, many led by Transforming Strength commanders. Within the time it took to drink two cups of tea, of the original 1,500 sect disciples, only two or three hundred remained.
Those Elite Selection candidates who hadn't yet met their quotas began to panic.
Cao Fan, Wen Qiushi, Lu Shuhua, and the others no longer cared about danger. They charged into the chaos, seeking out tempering organs opponents to kill.
"Stop right there!"
Wen Qiushi, wielding twin curved sabers, pursued a martial artist who had just reached tempering organs.
His blades flashed like two crescent moons descending from the heavens—each swing heavier and faster than the last, chaining together in an endless flow of killing intent.
Moon-Splitting Saber Technique!
"Nice saber technique," Chen Sanshi muttered to himself.
With the Heart of the Qilin, he analyzed Wen Qiushi's movements in an instant, seeing through the rhythm and structure of his technique. He could already identify its core strengths, though without fighting personally, he couldn't yet determine how to counter it.
This Wen Qiushi—he might act like a sycophant most of the time, but he was no weakling. He, too, had reached tempering organs Minor Achievement, and was only one step away from Major Achievement. His saber skills were impressive.
No surprise—he was, after all, the young master of Splitting Moon Manor, and his father was a Martial Saint.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Wen Qiushi's sabers spun like twin wheels of death, clashing violently with a Seven Absolutes Sect disciple's longsword. Both were at tempering organs Minor Achievement, but the difference in skill was overwhelming.
After fewer than ten rounds, the opponent's defense broke. His sword went flying, and the next instant, his body was cleaved into three pieces—blood spraying everywhere.
"Still short of one more tempering organs kill!" Wen Qiushi muttered under his breath.
He rushed toward the city gate, spotting a shadow behind the heavy shields. "Zhang Huaimin?!"
"Bang!"
A deafening crash shook the battlefield.
A massive black-iron shield flew up and smashed toward him like a falling steel mountain. Wen Qiushi crossed his twin sabers and unleashed all his strength in Exploding Blood state, barely managing to deflect the shield.
But by then, Zhang Huaimin had already lunged out from behind it, thrusting his sword straight at Wen Qiushi's throat.
Before it struck, a long spear intercepted the blade midair.
"You, fall back!"
Deputy General Guan Jizeng held the spear firmly. "Anyone above tempering organs—you're not authorized to engage."
"Thank you, General Guan!" Wen Qiushi exhaled shakily, clasped his hands in salute, and hurried off to fight elsewhere.
"Zhang Huaimin!"
Guan Jizeng pointed his spear at the man. "Surrender! Even if you escape Dongyi City, the Great Wall still stands before you. And if you reach the grasslands, do you think the barbarians will truly accept you?"
"Spare me your lies! You dogs of Sun Xiangzong all deserve to die!"
Zhang Huaimin roared, his sword wrapped in transparent Internal Force, clashing violently with Guan Jizeng's spear.
The two fought fiercely for over twenty rounds—both at Meridian-Connecting realm.
But Guan Jizeng was a seasoned veteran, his technique precise and steady. Whether from his battle experience or superior cultivation method, he gradually gained the upper hand.
At last, during a weapon lock, he stomped forward, driving his foot into Zhang Huaimin's chest.
His strike carried the full weight of his Internal Force—well over ten thousand jin of power.
Zhang Huaimin flew backward like a broken kite, slamming into the city wall so hard that a human-shaped crater formed. Blood gushed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Guan Jizeng stepped forward to finish him off—
"Not good. The black qi's returning."
Chen Sanshi, who had been watching closely, instantly noticed the black-red aura within Zhang Huaimin's body surging again. It thickened rapidly, completely drowning out the man's original colorless qi.
"Swish—"
Chen Sanshi loosed an arrow, aiming to help Guan Jizeng end it quickly.
He didn't yet know exactly what that black qi would do to a person—but he knew one thing for sure: it couldn't be anything good. Better to kill him fast.
However—
The supposedly dying Zhang Huaimin suddenly sprang up. The black qi within him erupted violently, his aura skyrocketing until it became almost tangible.
Chen Sanshi's eyes widened. He had seen this kind of transformation before—
Governor Liu had undergone the same change.
This was gang qi!
The Profound Manifestation Realm!
"Breakthrough?"
Chen Sanshi frowned.
Could that black qi actually help someone break through?
"What?"
Guan Jizeng also sensed it immediately. "Zhang Huaimin! When did you reach the Profound Manifestation Realm? With your talent, you shouldn't have broken through for another ten years!"
"I… I did it? I really did it!"
Zhang Huaimin stared at the gang qi swirling around him, disbelief turning to wild joy. "Heaven itself helps me avenge my sons! Kill, kill, kill! I'll slaughter every one of you dogs—avenge my children!"
"Clang—!"
Another clash rang out.
Once Internal Force transformed into gang qi, the increase in power was more than just a simple doubling—it was overwhelming.
How could Guan Jizeng, who was only at the Meridian-Connecting realm, possibly stand against that? After just two exchanges, he was defeated. The sword energy pierced straight through his abdomen, and he fell to the ground vomiting blood nonstop.
"Kill!"
Zhang Huaimin, now completely consumed by madness, swung his sword in a frenzy, his blade wrapped in violent gang qi as he lunged forward for the kill.
At that moment—
A thunderous sound erupted from afar.
For an instant, everything seemed to freeze.
High above in the night sky, a towering figure appeared. His armor burned black under the frost-white moonlight, and in his hands, the Fangtian halberd gleamed like a divine weapon descended from the heavens.
"Boom—!"
The halberd came crashing down with the force of roaring waves.
"Lü Ji! You deserve to die too!"
Zhang Huaimin roared back without fear. He stomped the ground, leaping upward with his sword. The two collided midair, several zhang above the ground.
"Crack—!"
The next moment—
Zhang Huaimin's sword shattered, his body crashing down like a falling cannonball. When he hit the hard yellow earth, the impact carved a deep crater into the ground. His bones shattered completely, leaving him motionless.
General Lü Ji descended right after, his landing shaking the earth and creating another pit.
He strode forward, grabbed Zhang Huaimin by the collar as if he were a chicken, and hurled him again. His skull smashed against the city wall, bursting into a bloody mess—ending the battle in an instant.
A clash between someone newly ascended to Profound Manifestation and a Martial Saint!
Chen Sanshi watched closely.
It was his first time witnessing a Martial Saint's true strength so clearly. Just one look made him understand why they were called "Saints"—their power was far beyond human comprehension.
Yet even so, Lü Ji himself had once been effortlessly crushed by Sun Xiangzong.
"Master!"
"Sect Master!"
The remaining Seven Absolutes Sect disciples were thrown into total panic. Before long, all of them were wiped out—none survived.
In the end, including Chen Sanshi, only four people achieved Class A in this assessment. Everyone else ranked Class B or lower.
"Enter the city and hunt down any survivors."
Thousands of soldiers poured into Dongyi City.
Lü Ji stepped over to lift Guan Jizeng from the ground. "How bad is it?"
"No major injuries!" Guan Jizeng clasped his fist. "This subordinate was incompetent. I failed to notice Zhang Huaimin's breakthrough and nearly caused a disaster."
"It's not your fault," Lü Ji said, patting his shoulder. "I didn't expect it either. Go heal your wounds—I'll send someone else to finish the cleanup."
"Thank you, General!"
…
The Battle of Dongyi City was over.
Feixiong Garrison officers handled the battlefield cleanup while the tens of thousands of remaining troops withdrew to their respective camps in perfect order.
Two days later, the final two stages of the Elite Selection would begin: dueling and bone examination.
"No one found anything unusual?"
Everyone dismissed Zhang Huaimin's last-minute breakthrough as coincidence. After all, breaking through in battle wasn't unheard of—there were plenty of similar examples throughout history.
Only Chen Sanshi, with his Qi Observation Technique, saw what truly happened.
He noticed how Zhang Huaimin's energy, after surging to Profound Manifestation, began to rapidly decline. Not just the black-red aura—but his own life essence as well.
If that state continued, even without Lü Ji's intervention, Zhang Huaimin's body would have collapsed within minutes—his blood and qi completely burned out.
'So that black qi could grant a temporary surge of power—but at the cost of life itself?'
'What a terrifying and twisted method!'
The gap between Meridian-Connecting and Profound Manifestation sounded small, but in truth it was a chasm that trapped countless cultivators for their entire lives.
The higher one climbed, the greater the divide became.
A Profound Manifestation expert could command a garrison on their own.
Across the Eight Northern Garrisons, only a handful had reached that level.
In ordinary regional armies, someone at that realm would already serve as the supreme commander.
The General Zhao of Liangzhou, for instance, was said to be Profound Manifestation.
Even though the number of Martial Saints had grown rapidly in recent years, they were still vanishingly rare—so few they could be counted on one hand. Saints were Saints for a reason.
If that black-red unknown mysterious qi could elevate a Meridian-Connecting cultivator to Profound Manifestation, then could it also push a Profound Manifestation cultivator to Martial Saint?
That would be terrifying beyond words.
Even stranger—Zhang Huaimin himself hadn't seemed aware of it.
Yes, Chen Sanshi was certain of that. His perception allowed him to read the smallest expressions and movements.
When Zhang Huaimin broke through, he was ecstatic—completely unprepared. His control over gang qi had been crude and unstable.
And that black qi—sometimes appearing, sometimes fading—was clearly not under his control. It was hidden somewhere deep inside his body, surfacing only at random.
'If that's the case… could someone have planted that black-red qi inside him? For what purpose? And how?'
'The Witch God Sect?'
It had to be them. Only the Witch God Sect, with their bloody rituals and demonic methods, could create something so unnatural.
But why?
Where did that black-red qi come from?
The mountains?
'I'll have to explore deeper next time I go hunting,' Chen Sanshi thought grimly.
This wasn't him being paranoid.
Based on his experience from those ten days in Yunzhou, if the Witch God Sect was involved, then it wasn't about one man—they were targeting the Eight Garrisons, Sun Xiangzong, and perhaps all of Liangzhou itself.
'When the nest falls, how can any egg survive?'
Still, these were only guesses—wild speculation without proof. It could all be wrong.
But even so, he needed to investigate.
"Good horse."
Not long after leaving Dongyi City, Qianxun galloped up to meet him. Chen Sanshi vaulted into the saddle and rode off at full speed.
[Skill: Horsemanship (Mastery)]
[Progress: 409/500]
His Horsemanship was nearing a breakthrough. He could already travel over 2,000 li in a single day. Once he advanced, Qianxun would truly become a beast of legend.
Aside from that, his Medicine (Mortal) skill had been set aside for now—but he knew he'd need to resume it once the Elite Selection ended. The ability to recognize and analyze medicine at a glance was too useful to abandon.
His Reading skill, however, was progressing painfully slow.
He had discovered that to improve, he needed to constantly study new and diverse texts—even in different languages. The common books sold on the streets barely contributed anything.
'Reading really is the hardest cultivation of all,' he sighed.
Then, looking up at the city gates ahead, he frowned.
"Why are the gates sealed shut?"
For now, they weren't under anyone's command. After the assessment ended, everyone would naturally disperse. Thanks to the speed of his White Swan horse, Chen Sanshi was the first to return to Liangzhou City.
But this time, the gates were sealed tight.
The Thousand-Household Officer guarding the entrance spoke sternly. "Curfew tonight. No one is allowed to enter or leave the city. Even those returning from the Dongyi City siege must find somewhere outside to stay for the night."
"Thousand-Household Officer!"
Chen Sanshi raised his voice. "Did something happen in the city?"
"Something happened, all right—and it's serious."
After verifying his identity, the officer lowered his voice. "It's not classified, so I can tell you. Half an hour ago, more than one hundred inner disciples of the Jade Maiden Pavilion, including their sect master, were all found dead—almost at the same time. Most likely the work of the Witch God Sect. The city's on lockdown—no one gets in or out until the search is complete."
"More than a hundred?"
Chen Sanshi was taken aback.
The Jade Maiden Pavilion was a second-rate sect on par with the Seven Absolutes Sect, and its master was at the Meridian-Connecting realm.
To kill over a hundred people in such a short time—including a Meridian-Connecting master—and still escape? That would take at least twenty skilled killers working together.
Now that the city was sealed, surely at least a few should've been caught.
"I understand."
Chen Sanshi turned his horse around.
Other soldiers arriving behind him were also stopped and told to camp outside.
…
The lockdown lasted for a full three days, delaying even the Elite Selection.
Chen Sanshi was temporarily quartered at the Feixiong Garrison's camp outside Dongyi City. He didn't waste the downtime—using the effects of spiritual grain to cultivate as much as possible. Though it was far too soon for a breakthrough, even a little progress counted.
[Technique: Unified Spear Technique (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 129/2000]
Interestingly, as his realm advanced, his ability to absorb spiritual energy improved significantly. His cultivation speed hadn't slowed down like most others who struggled the higher they climbed.
That afternoon, they finally received notice—the city was reopening, and the Elite Selection would resume in two days.
But despite the massive search, it yielded nothing.
Not a single suspect had been caught.
After the Witch God Sect's massacre, it was as if they'd vanished from the face of the earth, leaving no trace behind.
"Don't tell me it wasn't the Witch God Sect—what, was it ghosts?"
Bai Tingzhi scratched his head. "How can so many people die and nobody gets caught?"
"Yeah…" Tang Yingke nodded. "Liangzhou City is big, sure, but there aren't that many hiding places. The city was sealed right after the murders. They should've found something."
After being sidelined by others, Tang Yingke had gotten close to Bai Tingzhi lately.
"Ghosts or not, even they wouldn't dare go wild under the Grand Commander's watch."
A Meridian-Connecting general scoffed. "Just wait. It's only a matter of time before we catch them."
Whether they would or not was uncertain.
But one thing was clear—the Witch God Sect never targeted soldiers. Their victims were always sect disciples, and sometimes members of noble families.
"Farewell, Lord Chen!"
"Farewell."
Chen Sanshi nodded lightly, neither warm nor distant.
Twice before—once in the mountains, once during the Nine-Palace Eight-Trigram Formation—Tang Yingke had warned him in time. That was a favor he wouldn't forget.
As for why the young heir didn't dare get too close, Chen Sanshi understood perfectly. With his father serving in the capital, Tang Yingke had to be cautious—not everyone was as fearless and reckless as Bai Tingzhi, who had no family to worry about.
Chen Sanshi had originally planned to invite him for a drink, but seeing Cao Fan and others nearby, he didn't want to cause trouble for him and stayed silent.
Liangzhou City was vast.
Even though so many had died overnight, the streets looked the same as ever—calm, busy, pretending nothing had happened.
When Chen Sanshi returned to his residence, he could already hear laughter and voices from outside the gate.
"Master."
Siqin bowed and took the reins of his horse.
"Another visitor?" Chen Sanshi asked as he dismounted.
"Yes." Siqin nodded quickly. "A few guests came. They're waiting in the guest hall. You should go see them—it's good news."
"Oh?"
Chen Sanshi followed Mòhuà to the reception room.
Inside were several women—Madam Tong, the wives of some subordinates, and Sun Li.
"Lord Chen's back!"
"Greetings, Lord Chen."
"Now that you've returned, we'll take our leave."
"…"
The women quickly excused themselves, leaving only Sun Li behind.
"Shige'er."
Gu Xinlan stood up and said, "There's been so much trouble in the city these past few days. Sister Li came to stay with me for safety."
After returning to Liangzhou, Sun Li had focused on her saber practice—now she had reached tempering organs herself.
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Chen Sanshi clasped his hands.
Sun Li smiled. "You don't need to be so polite. We're all family now. Besides—congratulations, Junior Brother."
"Congratulations?"
He turned toward Lan jie'er, whose cheeks were slightly flushed. The realization hit him at once. "You mean…?"
Gu Xinlan bit her lip and nodded. "Mm."
Chen Sanshi froze for a moment. His emotions were mixed—neither pure joy nor worry. This was, after all, the first time in both his lives that he'd be a father. He had no idea what to feel.
He gently took her wrist to check her pulse. The result confirmed it—a happy pulse indeed.
Sun Li teased, "Junior Brother, since when did you learn to take a pulse?"
"I studied under Medical Officer Jiang," he replied with a smile.
Jiang was still working in the apothecary after their reassignment to Liangzhou.
"Lan jie'er," Chen Sanshi said seriously, "from now on, you shouldn't go out to gather herbs anymore. Whatever you need to eat or drink, I'll take care of it myself. If two maids aren't enough, I'll hire two more."
Gu Xinlan smiled. "You make it sound like I'm hard to serve. Siqin and Mòhuà are both diligent and clever. You focus on your work. If you're too busy to come home, that's fine too. Sister Li will be here to keep me company."
"Not coming home?"
Chen Sanshi thought wryly, 'So now that the seed's been planted, I'm no longer needed, huh?'
"Yes, Junior Brother," Sun Li said, turning serious. "Tomorrow is the final round of the Elite Selection. You should focus all your energy on that. My father places high hopes on you. He may not say it outright, but I can tell."
She added, "Your Nine-Dragon Body might not compare to some of the others, but as long as you win a few matches tomorrow, you'll at least secure a spot as an inner disciple. From there, after two more years, you'll have a chance to become a true disciple."
After the Elite Selection, results would determine not only rank but also how resources would be distributed in the future.
But nothing in the world was ever truly fixed.
After all, it wasn't as if someone who achieved military merit or had a sudden breakthrough later in life would be denied opportunity just because they had performed poorly in the Elite Selection.
For example, Seventh Senior Brother had once been an inner disciple. Later, after earning military achievements and breaking through to Profound Manifestation, he was promoted to a true disciple.
Still, the lowest anyone could start from was the inner sect.
"What a pity," Sun Li said regretfully. "It'd still be best if you could take first place…"
Chen Sanshi nodded, understanding what she meant.
Rumor had it that whoever took first place this year would directly receive true disciple status—and that title came with inheritance methods reaching beyond the Martial Saint realm itself. That was a completely different path from becoming an inner disciple first and working one's way up.
So, yes—winning the championship was the goal.
Tempering organs at perfection!
Even someone like Wen Qiushi would make a worthy opponent.
For Chen Sanshi, the combat trials were the final test.
He trained nonstop for two days and one night, resting only on the night before the tournament to recover his energy. The next morning, he received the summons to head to the dueling grounds.
"Go all out."
He encouraged himself quietly, mounted his White Swan horse, and rode to the military city.
At the drill grounds, several large platforms had been erected—more than ten in total.
As before, Thousand-Household Officer Li was the one to announce the rules.
"These bamboo slips are marked A, B, C, D, E, F… Each of you will draw one. Those who draw the same letter will face each other on the corresponding platform. Whoever can knock their opponent off the stage wins.
"The winners from each platform will then face one another in sequence. The examiners will rank participants by performance and issue grades accordingly. The final two will compete for the top title.
"All duels will be completed today."
He paused before continuing, his tone turning firm.
"Also, one reminder. You may surrender during your fight, and medics will intervene immediately. But remember—blades have no eyes. Even if you yield, serious injury—or death—can still happen. If you want to forfeit, do it before stepping on the platform.
"Once combat begins, if something goes wrong, it'll be too late for regrets.
"And another thing—no matter who your father is, or what powerful title your family holds, no one is allowed to retaliate afterward. Anyone caught doing so will have all results annulled, and the investigation will go straight to the top!
"All right—those still wishing to compete, come draw your lots!"
As the candidates stepped forward one by one to draw their slips, the main examiners, overseers, and regional officials began arriving at the stands above the city walls.
Eunuch Hou took his usual seat in the front right.
On the left sat the newly appointed Inspector-General—Pei Tiannan, one of the empire's eight current Martial Saints. His authority was immense: he oversaw troops from two provinces and, more importantly, he was a titled marquis.
Marquis of Eternal Righteousness (Yongyi Marquis).
In the seventy-plus years since the Yongchang Era began, only three people had ever been granted the title of marquis—Pei Tiannan was one of them.
"Lord Pei!"
"Lord Pei, it's been ages—your presence is as commanding as ever!"
One by one, the attending officials greeted him with smiles and bows.
Then, Pei Tiannan turned his gaze toward Eunuch Hou. His tone, though calm, carried rebuke.
"Eunuch Hou, weren't you and Liu Zhongxian a bit too negligent? Ning Changqun was personally appointed by His Majesty and highly favored by the Crown Prince. And now he's dead—dead in front of witnesses! Do you have any idea how much shame that brings upon the court? You couldn't even intervene?"
"Heh~"
Eunuch Hou rolled his eyes. "Lord Pei, it's easy to criticize from the sidelines. Fifteen years ago, when Sun Xiangzong stabbed the then–Minister of War, Lord Chen—your own master—right before your eyes, I don't recall seeing you intervene either."
"He was old!" Pei Tiannan clenched his fists. "Everyone said he was dying!"
"How was I supposed to know that?"
Eunuch Hou said mockingly, "Why don't you test that theory yourself when he arrives later? Challenge him, see if he's really near death?"
"You—!"
Pei Tiannan snorted coldly. "Hmph. At least I won't humiliate myself like the rest of you—or turn into a frightened fool like that waste Liu Zhongxian!"
"Ah, such backbone from Lord Marquis," Eunuch Hou said in his usual singsong tone. "Then I suppose we'll all enjoy the show when he arrives—"
Before he could finish, Pei Tiannan suddenly stood up, bowed deeply toward the front, and said with great respect, "Greetings, Grand Commander Sun!"
"Tch~"
Eunuch Hou's eyes nearly rolled into the sky, but he too quickly rose to bow.
Sun Xiangzong strode forward with a calm air. "Ah, it's young Pei. No need for formality—sit."
He sat down without another word.
Pei Tiannan himself poured him tea.
Sun Xiangzong glanced at the cup and asked casually, "I heard you also broke through to the Martial Saint realm a few years back?"
Pei Tiannan chuckled humbly. "I wouldn't dare call myself a Saint before you, Commander. If anything, I'm merely of your disciple's generation—or perhaps your disciple's disciple."
It was true.
Back then, the late Minister of War, Lord Chen, had broken through to Martial Saint only after receiving Sun Xiangzong's personal guidance.
"Please," Sun Xiangzong said lightly, sipping his tea. "I can't bear such praise. Let's begin the duels."
…
"The Inspector's really him…"
In one corner of the viewing stands, Fang Qingyun closed the book in his hand, frowning.
The appointment had been last-minute—no one knew he was coming.
"I've never seen him before," Sun Buqi muttered. "But judging from how meek he acts, he's probably no better than Liu Zhongxian. All bark, no bite—just a fancy title."
"You're wrong." Fang Qingyun's tone was calm but firm. "That man's infamous for being a smiling tiger. The ones who know how to advance by retreating—those are the ones you need to watch out for."
Then he lowered his voice. "So, did you find it?"
Sun Buqi looked at the pile of scrolls beside him. "Any Martial Saint ever born with the Nine-Dragon Body?"
"Not yet," Fang Qingyun replied, flipping through another record. "But your sister's Fire Lotus Martial Body—there was one five hundred years ago who reached the Martial Saint realm."
He kept reading. "I'll keep checking."
The drawing of lots ended.
There would be five rounds of duels in total.
In the first round, Chen Sanshi faced a young noble from a military family in Youzhou. His opponent was at tempering organs mastery, but couldn't last even two exchanges before Chen Sanshi slammed him clean off the stage.
The man's father, watching from the city wall, frowned deeply.
In the second round, Chen Sanshi fought a sect disciple from Yanzhou whose cultivation matched his own—tempering organs Minor Achievement. The fight lasted seven moves before Chen Sanshi won decisively.
If it had been someone from Poyang with the same cultivation, the match would've been over in three exchanges at most.
But everyone competing in this year's Elite Selection was a genius—none were pushovers.
Even so, Chen Sanshi felt no pressure.
After all, this wasn't a slaughter.
Though the rules stated that accidental deaths carried no punishment, most participants bore no deep grudges against each other. Unless a fight was too close to call, everyone tried to hold back a little—not killing if it could be helped.
Chen Sanshi did the same.
He always aimed to knock his opponent off the platform rather than strike fatal blows. If he fought seriously, he could have finished most in five moves or less.
After the second round, half the participants were eliminated.
Most of those who remained were at tempering organs Minor Achievement or higher. The only exception was Bai Tingzhi—he had just broken through to tempering organs mastery two days earlier. He even managed to defeat a sect disciple at minor achievement level.
The fight was brutal—nearly one hundred exchanges long—but he won. By the end, both fighters were drained of qi and blood, forced to rely purely on physical strength. Naturally, Bai Tingzhi's Diamond Body prevailed.
Yan Changqing wasn't so lucky. He drew Lu Shuhua in the second round—a fight many had anticipated as a clash of prodigies. But despite his talent, Yan Changqing was defeated early and eliminated.
There was a two-hour rest period after that.
At midday, the third round began.
Once again, Chen Sanshi won easily.
His opponent surrendered after five moves, and Chen saw no reason to press further.
Others, however, weren't so fortunate.
Xie Sishu of Yanzhou faced Lu Shuhua, the young sect master of the Tongxuan Sword Sect.
Both were tempering organs Perfection and possessed Innate Martial Saint Bodies. Their duel was fierce and evenly matched. After trading a final sword strike, Lu Shuhua barely emerged victorious—but at great cost.
It was clear that he wouldn't fully recover for the next round.
Bai Tingzhi's run also ended there—he fell in the third round.
On another platform, Tang Yingke politely cupped his hands toward Wen Qiushi. "Brother Wen, how about this? We fight twenty rounds for form's sake. After that, I'll surrender so I can report back to my father. How's that?"
Tang Yingke had come only because his father insisted he "gain experience." He knew his own limits—making it this far was already impressive.
"Sure."
Wen Qiushi twirled his twin blades. "Then let's get started."
Their voices were calm, almost casual.
When the fight began, twenty moves passed quickly.
Tang Yingke's defense crumbled soon after. Exhausted, he prepared to yield—but to his shock, Wen Qiushi didn't stop.
The twin blades of the Crescent-Splitting Saber Technique grew faster and stronger with each swing. Every strike carried deadly killing intent, forming a whirlwind of steel in Tang Yingke's vision.
"Brother Wen, what's the meaning of this?"
Tang Yingke's right hand trembled, the skin of his palm torn and bleeding. "We had an agreement—"
"Agreement?!"
Wen Qiushi's face twisted with fury. "You think you can walk away whole today? Not a chance unless you leave an arm behind!"
"Why?!"
Tang Yingke roared, bewildered. "Just because I didn't take your side—"
"You dare say that?!"
Wen Qiushi's voice dripped venom as his twin sabers blurred into streaks of light. "That's what you get for helping the wrong people—standing on the wrong side!"
Chen Sanshi, resting with his eyes closed and waiting for his next match, frowned as he noticed the commotion. Tang Yingke needed to surrender now.
"I surrender! I surrender!"
Tang Yingke shouted, doing his best to block the relentless blows.
The Meridian-Connecting officer supervising that stage immediately rushed forward upon hearing it.
But before he could intervene—
"Crack!"
Tang Yingke's sword was knocked from his grasp. Wen Qiushi's saber crashed down onto his shoulder, slicing through flesh and bone. His entire arm nearly came off, hanging by a strip of torn skin.
"Stop!"
The officer drew his own blade, deflecting Wen Qiushi's next strike. "He's surrendered. Enough!"
Wen Qiushi staggered back a few steps and sneered. "Hmph. Lucky you."
"Ahhh!"
Tang Yingke collapsed, screaming in agony.
His right arm was nearly severed. Only the finest elixirs could save it—and even then, it would take at least a year or two to heal. As for returning to training? That would take much longer. For the next two to three years, the prime of his youth would be wasted.
Chen Sanshi closed his eyes. The sound of that scream burned in his chest, igniting a silent rage.
All this—just because Tang Yingke had once helped him?
Hadn't he already stayed distant enough?
He'd barely spoken to the man in public to avoid suspicion, never even thanked him for his past kindness.
And still, this happened.
Was that not enough?
Did it really have to come to this?
The supervising officer carried Tang Yingke off the platform for treatment.
Chen Sanshi turned to him. "General, doesn't attacking after surrender count as breaking the rules?"
The officer didn't even glance back. "Breaking the rules? What rules? In full-force combat, who can stop mid-swing? Even if someone dies, it's not against the rules."
"Thank you for clarifying, General."
Chen Sanshi nodded expressionlessly.
The next matchups were already determined based on the platform divisions—no more drawing lots.
And his next opponent—was Wen Qiushi.
…
After that round, only four contestants remained—the semifinals.
Cao Fan, the injured Lu Shuhua, Wen Qiushi, and Chen Sanshi.
"Excellent!"
From atop the city wall, several officials applauded enthusiastically.
"This year's Elite Selection is remarkable!"
"Indeed. In the past, the strongest were only tempering organs beginner—most were still stuck at tempering bones or tempering blood Perfection."
"Master Wen's son is doing well. He's sure to make inner disciple rank."
"Indeed. The Master of the Splitting Moon Villa is already a Martial Saint, and now his son has a chance to become Grand Commander Sun's disciple. If that happens, Splitting Moon Villa might soon become the number one sect in Liangzhou."
"No one expected that Chen Sanshi would make it this far!"
"Right? I heard he only broke through to minor achievement right before the Elite Selection began."
"He's quite a talent. Does he have a wife?"
Someone began to ask.
At this stage of the tournament, the results were nearly settled, and people had already started scouting for ideal sons-in-law. Many, like Xie Sishu, had already caught the eye of wealthy families and would begin marriage talks once the event ended.
Even those who had been eliminated were still guaranteed inner disciple status and promising futures.
"He's already married."
"Yeah, I heard he has a wife from early on. What a pity!"
"Such a shame indeed."
"…"
Listening to their chatter, Sun Xiangzong's eyelids twitched slightly.
"Yan Changqing is unfortunate."
"Lu Shuhua even more so."
"He's seriously injured, while the Heir Apparent, Cao Fan, is still undefeated. Looks like this year's champion title will go to the Heir without question."
"You say that like he had it easy. Didn't he also face a tempering organs Perfection opponent and come out unscathed? That's not luck—that's skill."
"If anyone's been lucky, it's Chen Sanshi and Wen Qiushi."
"True, but it won't matter much. In the end, the title goes to one person. The rest will still end up as inner disciples."
"So, who do you think will win between those two?"
"Wen Qiushi, obviously. Chen only broke through recently. His foundation can't be solid."
…
"Unbelievable. That bastard Chen actually made it all the way to the semifinals."
Yin Hanwen hissed through gritted teeth. "Those fools were useless—but his luck's damn good!"
"Don't worry, Heir Apparent," Wen Qiushi said confidently. "I'll handle him for you! As long as I finish him off before the supervising general steps in, no one will interfere even if I kill him."
"Good."
Yin Hanwen's arm still ached faintly from the arrow wound, and his voice was cold. "Brother Wen, you must avenge me."
"He's broken through too. Don't underestimate him," Cao Fan warned. "If you can cripple him, do it. But if you can't win, surrender immediately. Don't hurt yourself."
"Thank you for your concern, Heir Apparent," Wen Qiushi said, bowing his head. "But I won't let him live."
After another two-hour recovery break, the fourth round of the tournament began.
As usual, all weapons were replaced with identical standardized ones.
This time, however, extra precautions were taken. Several officers personally inspected Chen Sanshi's weapon, confirming it had no modifications before handing it to him.
And in the corner of the audience stands, two new figures appeared—
The Sect Master of Tongxuan Sword Sect and the Master of Splitting Moon Villa.
Two Martial Saints.
Both had come to watch their successors fight.
"Brother Shao," Wen Zhi said with a faint smile, "I'm afraid your disciple's journey ends here. He's no match for the Heir."
"No need for you to remind me," Shao Yuqing replied coolly, hands clasped behind his back. "If anything, I was more worried about what would happen if he won—having to deal with the Heir afterward. This saves me the trouble."
"You're quite at peace with it."
Wen Zhi sighed. "To be honest, I actually hoped my son would win the title. To reach beyond the Martial Saint realm—after all, you and I have stood at the peak of martial cultivation for decades, unable to take that final step. Only Sun Xiangzong has ever shown a way beyond. If my son could receive his true teachings, perhaps he'd catch a glimpse of what lies above Martial Saint."
He shook his head. "But alas, we're all subjects of the Cao family. Even if we dared to compete, we couldn't match the Heir. His talent and discipline are extraordinary. He might well become a wise ruler one day."
"Brother Wen," Shao Yuqing said evenly, "even without the Heir, your son wouldn't make it to the end."
"What did you say?"
Wen Zhi glared at him, then turned toward the stage where his son stood, twin blades in hand. "Are you saying my boy can't even beat that Chen fellow? Impossible! Even if my son isn't exceptional, I taught him my saber technique myself!"
"Tell me," Shao Yuqing said with a faint smile. "Whose technique is stronger—your saber art, or Sun Xiangzong's spear art?"
Wen Zhi's heart sank.
…
On the arena platform.
"Lord Chen!"
Wen Qiushi rested both sabers across his shoulders, smirking. "You saw what happened to Tang Yingke, didn't you? Do yourself a favor—surrender early. Otherwise, I doubt the supervising general will have time to save you!"
Chen Sanshi stood quietly, spear in hand.
His expression was unreadable, his eyes deep and cold, devoid of emotion—like a calm abyss before a storm.
"Dong!"
The bronze gong sounded.
"Acting all mysterious? Let's see how—"
Before Wen Qiushi could finish his taunt, a flash of steel-light exploded before his eyes. In an instant, the long spear thrust straight toward his face. Though slender, it appeared in his sight as a massive blood-colored serpent, maw wide open, lunging at him with feral rage!
Unified Spear Technique—Wild and Unstoppable!
By the time Wen Qiushi snapped out of his shock, he had already lost the initiative. He could only block desperately, twin blades clanging as he tried to fend off the storm of spear strikes.
The Splitting Moon Saber Technique grew in power with each swing, relying on accumulated force to unleash overwhelming strength once fully charged.
But right now, Wen Qiushi couldn't even complete the first move of the first form. His opponent's intent was clear—he wanted to end the fight in seconds!
He had thought Chen Sanshi's rise was luck. Only now, facing him in person, did he realize—this had nothing to do with luck.
That spear technique…
It wasn't something a mere mortal should wield.
Once the initiative was lost, Wen Qiushi found no chance to counter.
And worse—Chen Sanshi's spear, like the Splitting Moon Saber Technique, grew stronger with every thrust. The illusion before Wen Qiushi's eyes deepened—the crimson serpent grew larger, until it became a colossal python swallowing the heavens.
Surrender!
Within just two exchanges, Wen Qiushi understood the truth—he wasn't the opponent here.
It didn't matter. He'd surrender. He didn't need to win. He could leave Chen Sanshi to the Heir later.
But before he could speak—
"Swish!"
A streak of wind brushed his face.
The spearhead of the Reed-Leaf Spear found a narrow opening.
For a moment, Wen Qiushi didn't even realize what had happened. Then, a searing pain spread across his mouth. Hot blood gushed down his chin, filling his throat with a metallic tang.
"Uhh… ughhh!!!"
His tongue and lips had been shredded to a bloody pulp by that strike. Blood poured freely from his mouth.
He couldn't even form words anymore—let alone shout the two that could've saved him: "I surrender."