The six thousand Black Armored soldiers immediately dispersed. Beneath the ground where they had been standing, there were eight large arenas paved with black stone. Each platform spanned ten zhang in both width and length, and the soldiers fanned out, surrounding the individual fighting stages.
“It seems even without Old Xia here last time, you, little brother, could easily trounce those two lads.” Xia Shuo showed no hint of embarrassment. “Well then, little brother, I’ll take the stage first. Feel free to come challenge me.”
With that, Xia Shuo pushed off the ground and soared onto one of the distant platforms, several zhang away.
The original eight Centurions all ascended their respective stages.
These eight individuals all offered a slight bow toward the four Grand Commanders and the Sect Master in the distance.
“Let the games begin! The nine of you may choose any one of them to challenge,” the silver-haired, black-robed elder stated calmly. The other three Commanders and the Sect Master stood lofty and aloof, gazing down at the contests about to commence on the eight platforms.
“Brother Niu, if any of us brothers get knocked off today, it’ll be a huge loss of face,” Xia Shuo turned and grinned at the Centurion ‘Niu Zhan’ on an adjacent platform.
“They think they can beat us brothers? Was all that blood we shed over the years for nothing? With Old Niu’s punch alone—harrumph… if I let them have one arm, they still wouldn't dare challenge me,” Niu Zhan was built similarly to Xia Shuo, both belonging to the larger frame types.
“Brother Niu is right, ha ha ha…” The Centurions on the other six platforms erupted in laughter too.
It was evident that these eight former Centurions possessed overwhelming arrogance.
“Who’s going to challenge first!” Niu Zhan bellowed.
“You blockheaded ox, let this young lady teach you a lesson!” The first one who couldn't contain her temper was none other than the yellow-robed maiden, ‘Wu Man’. Wu Man tapped the ground lightly and floated gracefully onto Niu Zhan’s platform. She also drew the longsword strapped to her back.
...
Teng Qingshan and the other eight top-tier martial artists were in no hurry. After all, the contest was only among these seventeen individuals. Observing the strength of others would benefit their own upcoming struggles.
“Qingshan, do you think that girl can win?” Teng Qinghu stood to the side.
“The girl named Wu Man?” Teng Qingshan shook his head. “I can’t be certain. This Niu Zhan clearly has more combat experience. However, Wu Man is said to be a disciple of the Sect Master of the Guiyuan Sect; perhaps she possesses some unique offensive techniques. We shall see!”
The battle hadn't started, so Teng Qingshan dared not make a final judgment.
“Ha ha, that child Xiao Man,” Sect Master Zhuge Yuanhong couldn't help but chuckle upon witnessing this.
The only female Grand Commander among the Four Commanders also displayed a rare trace of a smile when she saw Wu Man.
At this moment, almost everyone’s attention was fixed on that stage.
Niu Zhan frowned: “Xiao Man, you’re challenging me?”
“Big, stupid ox, listen clearly, your position as Centurion now belongs to this young lady. Hurry up and bring out your weapon, or you’ll regret it before long,” Wu Man held her longsword, brimming with confidence.
“Hmph, to be beaten off the stage by a mere slip of a girl—I might as well have wasted forty years practicing. Come then. Facing you isn't worth me drawing my weapon.” Niu Zhan didn't even pull the long spear tucked at his side, facing Wu Man empty-handed.
Wu Man snorted coldly, and her longsword moved—
“Swish!”
A streak of cyan light sliced through the air, the tip of the sword already before Niu Zhan.
Niu Zhan shifted his body sideways, his right hand swiftly moving to strike the blade's surface. Just as he seemed about to bring his palm down, Wu Man smoothly turned her sword, the edge now aimed directly at Niu Zhan’s hand. If Niu Zhan struck as planned, his palm would be severed.
“Boom!” The earth trembled violently.
The stones on the platform suddenly burst apart, and one piece shot up, striking Wu Man squarely in the abdomen.
“Pfft!” Wu Man spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning pale.
“You cheated!” Wu Man angrily pointed at Niu Zhan.
It turned out Niu Zhan’s move to strike the sword with his hand was a feint; his true technique was secretly using internal force to crack the stone floor. The moment Wu Man closed in, he used his toe to flick up a rock, imbued with internal energy, hurling it toward her.
Niu Zhan laughed heartily: “Xiao Man, if I had used more force just now, you’d be dead! True combat isn't won just because your swordsmanship is high.”
“Enough, Xiao Man, you lost,” Sect Master Zhuge Yuanhong announced loudly from the viewing stands.
“Hmph, big stupid ox,” Wu Man wiped the corner of her mouth and resentfully stepped off the stage.
Teng Qingshan smiled upon seeing this. The Centurions of the Black Armored Army had experienced life-and-death struggles; they were seasoned veterans. How much hardship could Wu Man have truly suffered while under the Sect Master’s protection? Even if her swordplay was superb and her internal force profound, she was instantly defeated in real combat.
After stepping down, Wu Man headed toward Teng Qingshan’s area.
“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan frowned.
“Senior Sister Wu Man!” A gentle, soft voice sounded from behind Teng Qingshan. He turned to see an exquisitely beautiful woman clad in pale yellow gauze robes walking alongside a young man in green. The soft voice had belonged to the beautiful girl.
The young man in green said playfully, “Senior Sister, didn't you say you were going to seize a Centurion position to show us? And you lost just like that, ha ha… Your Azure Light Electric Sword Art is powerful, but you’re too clumsy; you fell for a trick so easily!”
“Damn Xiaoyun!” Wu Man gritted her teeth. “And Qingqing, you’re siding with your brother to bully your senior sister, too?”
The stunning young girl couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Teng Qingshan noticed something: his cousin, Teng Qinghu, was staring intently at the exquisite girl without blinking. It wasn't just Teng Qinghu; many people nearby were looking toward this beautiful maiden.
“Is this girl naturally enchanting?” Teng Qingshan, having undergone rigorous psychological training as an assassin in his previous life, was hard to influence emotionally. However, simple young men like Teng Qinghu were easily swayed by charm.
“Senior Sister Wu Man, you mentioned there was a sixteen-year-old first-rate martial artist named Teng Qingshan. Where is he?” the young man in green inquired cheerfully.
“Look, isn't that him?” Wu Man pointed at Teng Qingshan.
The eyes of the young man in green lit up, and he walked over, smiling: “Brother Teng, my name is Zhuge Yun! I heard about your great reputation yesterday. This is my sister, Zhuge Qing.” The girl beside him scrutinized Teng Qingshan carefully and smiled sweetly: “I am Zhuge Qing! So you are Teng Qingshan, a genius just like my brother.”
“He can’t compare to Little Yun,” Wu Man interjected from the side. “He just has deeper internal force. Little Yun is a monster who grasped the artistic conception of the Azure Light Electric Sword Art in just three months!”
Artistic Conception?
Teng Qingshan took a closer look at Zhuge Yun. He knew this young man was the legendary genius of the Guiyuan Sect—the Young Sect Master, Zhuge Yun.
“Lost again!” Wu Man suddenly announced.
Although Teng Qingshan was talking, he was still observing the battles on the platforms. After Wu Man, another first-rate martial artist, ‘Liu Liang,’ went up to challenge. Liu Liang fought fiercely with the Centurion named Situ Ning for a long time, yet he was still sent flying off the platform by a single saber strike and lost!
In two consecutive matches, the challengers had both failed.
“Even the weakest Centurions of the Black Armored Army possess such strength,” Teng Qingshan marveled inwardly.
“Ha ha ha… Are there no strong ones among you nine? This one-sided display is too boring!” Niu Zhan declared with a loud laugh, and the surrounding Black Armored soldiers also burst into laughter. These soldiers inwardly supported the eight Centurions.
The over three hundred martial artists who passed the sect entrance examination wore grim expressions.
“Who says there isn’t one?” Wu Man shouted. “Big stupid ox, you’re the oldest here. Among us newcomers, there is one who is the youngest, a first-rate martial artist barely sixteen years old. He could defeat you.”
Teng Qingshan was stunned.
“Teng Qingshan, you need to win some face for us,” Wu Man winked at him, her expression carrying a hint of plea.
Teng Qingshan took a deep breath and looked at the platform before him.
In his heart, Teng Qingshan had always dreamed of testing his skills against the masters of the world. He wanted to see where the world’s experts differed from his internal martial arts.
Let this battle be the start! I hope you don’t disappoint me too much, Teng Qingshan thought silently. Then, grasping the Reincarnation Spear, he leaped onto the platform several zhang away. Whether it was the six thousand Black Armored soldiers or the three hundred-plus assessed martial artists, all eyes were fixed on that stage.
The oldest among the eight, Niu Zhan, against the youngest among the nine first-rate martial artists, Teng Qingshan.
...
“This Teng Qingshan looks quite composed, not at all rash,” Zhuge Yuanhong commented with a smile while observing the fighting stage from afar.
“But he is only sixteen, after all. What experience does he have?” the silver-haired, black-robed elder remarked instead.
“We shall see,” Zhuge Yuanhong said, watching the contest with interest.
...
Thousands of people gathered to watch this duel.
“A sixteen-year-old first-rate martial artist,” Niu Zhan laughed loudly. “Teng Qingshan, right? Your reputation is significant now. But… no matter how great your talent, it still needs tempering. Let Big Brother Niu temper you a bit.”
“Brother Niu, don’t be too harsh!” Xia Shuo from the distance also chuckled.
“Don’t worry,” Niu Zhan said, extending an arm and grabbing the black long spear beside him.
Teng Qingshan stood calmly in place, holding the Reincarnation Spear.
“See my spear!” Niu Zhan suddenly roared, whirling his long spear. The black great spear moved like a black flood dragon suddenly bursting from its lair, lunging toward Teng Qingshan. The spearhead materialized into several afterimages, enveloping Teng Qingshan’s head.
Fast, and vicious!
Seeing this, Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly: He hasn't even achieved unity between man and spear, nor can he fully control the spear's power. What a pity…
Teng Qingshan shook his spear slightly.
Whoosh!
The Reincarnation Spear shot out like a sharp arrow. The instant it made contact with the opponent’s black great spear, the Reincarnation Spear moved like a viper, borrowing the opposing force to shift slightly, easily deflecting the black great spear aside.
“Thwack!” The tip of the Reincarnation Spear vibrated and struck Niu Zhan’s waist.
Niu Zhan was flung upward like a tattered sandbag, soaring a full seven or eight zhang before crashing into the ranks of the Black Armored Army.
Not even slightly interesting, Teng Qingshan sighed internally. What he sought was a master who could make his eyes gleam. In his previous life, he had stood at the pinnacle of internal martial arts; at that peak, it was lonely. He needed an opponent who could bring him surprise.
But it seemed Niu Zhan fell short of Teng Qingshan’s minimum requirement.
...
Defeating Centurion Niu Zhan in a single move?
Everyone was stunned. Many hadn't even clearly seen what happened, only feeling that… Teng Qingshan had casually flicked his spear and defeated Niu Zhan’s seemingly formidable strike.
“This guy…” Wu Man was dumbfounded.
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