Duan Haoshan sidestepped with a shout of wild laughter, his aura intensifying as he lunged back at Ji Changkong, his attack now fiercer and sharper.

Under his tempestuous assault, Ji Changkong yielded not an inch. Drawing upon the profound Yuan Li within him, the Tian Lei Jin surged violently through his arms, staunchly defending the vital points of his chest and abdomen, never revealing the slightest sign of defeat. (For the full novel text, visit .1⑥κ.(1κ.O.Literature.net)

Not only that, but the blood within Ji Changkong's body gradually began to boil, giving him the wondrous illusion of possessing endless, inexhaustible power. The fiercer Duan Haoshan’s offensive grew, the more unyielding his own defense became.

Slowly, Ji Changkong and Duan Haoshan became two streaks of phantom light, weaving and crashing across the fighting arena. The solid flagstones beneath Duan Haoshan’s feet shattered into fragments with every stomp, sending stone chips flying.

From beginning to end, Ji Changkong maintained the You Wo Zhi Jing state, allowing him to clearly perceive the location of Duan Haoshan’s gathered Yuan Li at every moment, striking a step ahead to intercept, thus preventing Duan Haoshan from ever breaching his defensive line.

Bang!

A strike, built up to its absolute peak, slammed fiercely into the open palm Ji Changkong presented. A blinding radiance instantly erupted from the clashing hands of the two men.

Duan Haoshan, whose momentum had been unstoppable since the start of the exchange, paused for the first time after unleashing this blow.

It was precisely at this moment!

Ji Changkong, who had been purely defensive, suddenly felt his eyes blaze. His lean frame shot forward with sudden, rigid force toward Duan Haoshan’s chest.

In that instant, the dazzling flurry of attacks was shattered by Ji Changkong’s counter. Surging power, wave after wave, relentlessly and satisfyingly hammered down upon Duan Haoshan.

Duan Haoshan stubbornly blocked a few strikes before abruptly abandoning his fierce attack, reluctantly switching to a defensive posture.

Under the relentless barrage, Duan Haoshan’s internal Yuan Li began to wane. The Kai Shan Lie Shi Jin, a close-combat secret technique boasting astonishing explosive power, consumed far too much Yuan Li. The disadvantage of running out of reserves finally became apparent.

This was the moment he had waited for!

A continuous stream of savage assaults burst forth from Ji Changkong, ceaseless like a surging, unceasing river.

Duan Haoshan broke out in a cold sweat, retreating steadily, his stamina flagging. Gaps began to appear in his previously impenetrable defense, and his imposing figure was struck repeatedly.

Boom!

A punch connected squarely with Duan Haoshan’s chest. His imposing body suddenly shot backward, landing amidst the surrounding crowd.

"Ji Changkong wins! Duan Haoshan is defeated!"

From the audience, a resonant, passionate cry suddenly rang out.

"Hah! Young brother, you are truly formidable!"

Duan Haoshan, sitting on the ground, gasped heavily, yet he laughed heartily.

"Brother Duan, you concede too generously. If you had held on for another quarter of an hour, I fear I would have been the one unable to sustain it," Ji Changkong also smiled. He found Duan Haoshan to be upright and honorable, a true man, so his tone carried a hint of camaraderie.

"Young brother’s Yuan Li is incredibly deep. I have refined my spirit, will, and perception to their limits, yet I still cannot match the depth of your Yuan Li. I accept this defeat wholeheartedly!" Duan Haoshan shook his head with a serious expression, then laughed heartily: "There's no need for further comparison below this. Among the cultivators at the San Cai Tian Zhi Jing, I doubt anyone can best you!"

Standing up, Duan Haoshan stretched his limbs, his disordered breath gradually stabilizing. He looked at Ji Changkong and smiled: "Young brother, if you don't mind, let your elder brother treat you to drinks later!"

"Good!"

Ji Changkong readily agreed. He glanced toward the person sitting by a stone table in the crowd and asked, "Who is the next opponent?"

With a wry smile, the organizer held up a thick stack of papers, explaining, "According to the previous tests, the papers in this stack represent increasingly stronger opponents the further down you go. Duan Haoshan was drawn from the very bottom. Your victory over him signifies that within the same realm, there are no opponents left here who can challenge you!"

The moment these words were spoken, the entire assembly erupted in murmurs.

His statement proved beyond a doubt that among the many Heaven Cultivators who had come for testing today, Ji Changkong was already number one in the San Cai Tian Zhi Jing realm!

In the viewing stands, influential figures from various great families and major Heaven Cultivator sects hurriedly whispered instructions to the stewards and servants beside them.

Suddenly, many stewards seeking expert Heaven Cultivators leaped down from the stands and rushed over, shouting loudly: "Young brother, come join our Panyun Sect, we..."

"Young friend, consider our Zhu Family again. Our Zhu Family guarantees you..."

"If you are willing to join our Xia Family, Yuan Shi and Heaven Cultivator secret techniques are yours to choose from. Furthermore, our Xia Family has several direct lineage young ladies who are yet unmarried, all exquisitely beautiful. Third Master has decreed that if you come, the Xia Family is willing to arrange a beautiful and young partner for you..."

"..."

Representatives from the great families and major sects each displayed their best methods; some led with wealth, others with lures of status and position. The Xia Family was particularly aggressive, even resorting to using feminine beauty!

Bai Qingya’s delicate features tightened slightly. She shot a disgruntled glare at the Xia Family representative, then suddenly walked through the crowd to stand before Ji Changkong. In full public view, she took hold of his arm and said sweetly, "Thank you all for your kind intentions, but my cousin only came today purely to observe and has no intention of joining any family or sect for the time being!"

"Young friend, please reconsider. Our Xia Family ladies are renowned for their stunning looks; you can inquire about them—they are truly women as beautiful as flowers!" The Xia Family representative did not give up, continuing his persuasion.

"Elder Xia, I already said no!" Bai Qingya’s brows furrowed, her expression turning displeased.

"His affairs are his to decide. Only if he personally refuses will I relent," the Xia Family representative insisted.

"Xiao Hui!!" Bai Qingya turned around, her bright eyes locking onto him.

With a wry smile, Ji Changkong truly hadn't expected to become so sought-after after stepping out. Under Bai Qingya's watchful gaze, he looked at the expectant representatives from all sides and politely refused with a smile: "I genuinely do not plan to take up a post in any family. Thank you all, esteemed elders, for your high regard."

Only then did the Xia Family representative cease his efforts, letting out a disappointed sigh before reluctantly returning to the stands.

"Let's go! We're leaving!" Bai Qingya pulled Ji Changkong, speaking in a low voice.

"I still want to watch the other Heaven Cultivator matches. The duels between those in the Si Xiang Tian Zhi Jing and Wu Xing Tian Zhi Jing realms should be even more spectacular; I haven't seen them yet."

"Forget watching; if you stay, those people will pester you endlessly! These fellows, in their scramble to recruit promising young cultivators, stop at nothing. It's all because you stood out too much! If you remain here, forget about finding any peace!" Bai Qingya urged him.

Nodding, Ji Changkong did not insist further. He followed Bai Qingya as they moved through the crowd, avoiding the gazes constantly directed at him, and left the residence.

"Young brother, I invited you for drinks; you promised me just now," Duan Haoshan chased after them, shouting loudly.

"No need; we have other things to do," Bai Qingya frowned, seemingly unwilling to let Duan Haoshan bother Ji Changkong, and quickly refused.

"Having a drink won't take long. What do you say, young brother?" Duan Haoshan looked hopefully at Ji Changkong.

"Alright."

He felt very good about Duan Haoshan; the man was upright and honorable, a genuine hero, so he agreed without much thought.

"Let's go!" Duan Haoshan burst into laughter and, without waiting for Bai Qingya to say more, threw an arm around Ji Changkong and led him away.

Bai Qingya could only follow, looking helpless.

...

In a crowded eatery, at a window seat on the second floor, Duan Haoshan loudly ordered a table full of food and wine, greeting them: "Young Brother Bai Hui, come, come, come! A man in this world should charge forward fearlessly in battle, and in daily life, he should enjoy hearty meat and large bowls of wine. The food and drink here at Baiyun Tower are famous throughout Tianshui City, and the 'Yan Yang Wine' is particularly potent—don't be shy."

Bai Qingya sat there, delicately picking up a few vegetable dishes with her slender fingers, chewing silently with her head bowed.

After taking a large gulp of 'Yan Yang Wine,' Ji Changkong frowned. Perhaps accustomed to the Huo Long Shao, the famous potent liquor of Tianshui City, 'Yan Yang Wine,' tasted bland as it went down. He stated his honest opinion: "The dishes are good dishes, but the wine is just a bit too mild."

"Eh!"

Duan Haoshan exclaimed in surprise, "Young brother, the wine here isn't strong enough?"

Smiling, Ji Changkong nodded. "It's too mild; it drinks like water, truly without spirit."

This remark not only stunned Duan Haoshan but also caused Bai Qingya, who had been quietly eating, to lift her head and look at Ji Changkong with curiosity, whispering, "Yan Yang Strong Wine is notoriously fiery, and Baiyun Tower is a century-old establishment; they certainly wouldn't serve fakes. Are you ill and unable to taste flavors properly?"

Smiling and shaking his head, Ji Changkong took a jar of Huo Long Shao from his storage pouch. He stood up, retrieved three empty bowls, filled them, and handed two of the filled bowls to Duan Haoshan and Bai Qingya. "Try this wine."

Duan Haoshan was stunned for a moment before taking the bowl and sipping.

With the wine down his throat, Duan Haoshan suddenly stood up, his face flushed crimson. After coughing loudly a few times, he gave Ji Changkong a thumbs-up and shouted, "Good wine! Excellent wine! I’ve drunk so much wine in my life, but I’ve never tasted such potent, fine liquor! No wonder! No wonder!"

Bai Qingya paused, then cautiously took a small sip of the Huo Long Shao Ji Changkong offered.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Bai Qingya coughed violently, quickly devouring a stack of green vegetables in front of her to try and counteract some of the spirit’s intensity.

"I never realized you were quite a little drunkard," she said, smilingly chiding him after recovering a bit and noticing that both Ji Changkong and Duan Haoshan were already flushed and acting like sworn brothers at the table.