Zhuge Yun, the Young Master of the Guiyuan Sect, had eyes that shone brightly as he fixed his gaze on Teng Qingshan in the arena.

"Brother, how does this Teng Qingshan compare to you?" asked the maiden, Zhuge Qing, beside him in a soft voice. Zhuge Yun shook his head, but a strange smile played on his lips. "I don't know... Without a comparison, it's hard to say. But his power, it's truly immense. He has at least reached the realm of Man-and-Spear Unity!"

Zhuge Qing glanced with surprise at Teng Qingshan on the platform.

Since childhood, her brother Zhuge Yun had always been the most prodigious talent in the entire Guiyuan Sect, and Zhuge Qing held a degree of admiration for him. Yet now... here was someone the same age as her brother, whose strength seemed no less than his.

"Teng Qingshan..." Zhuge Qing finally studied the man in the arena with genuine attention.

!

The entire drill ground erupted into !

Niu Zhan, who lay sprawled on the ground, was initially stunned. He had just intended to 'spar a bit' with the opponent, but who would have thought he'd be sent flying off the platform by a single spear thrust. If it had been a fight to the death, the opponent could have easily pierced a hole through him with that same spear.

Niu Zhan struggled to his feet and looked up at Teng Qingshan on the stage, shouting loudly, "Fine spear work! Teng Qingshan, your spear skill is ten times stronger than mine, Old Niu. I deserved to lose."

Teng Qingshan, standing on the platform, smiled slightly and gave a slight bow.

"Brother Niu, your control over the force in your spear technique is still slightly lacking finesse. If you could improve that, whether you or I won today would be hard to say," Teng Qingshan responded without a hint of arrogance. In truth, in Teng Qingshan's heart, this small achievement was nothing to be proud of.

At this moment, the gray-robed middle-aged man in the distance announced in a clear voice, "Teng Qingshan is the master of the first arena platform. Others may also choose to challenge him. For this Centurion competition, the nine below, please continue!"

Challenge Teng Qingshan?

"A sixteen-year-old monster! Only sixteen, and he defeated that clumsy ox in one move. Challenge him? Does one desire more opportunities to be humiliated?" Wu Man muttered, having already failed once and possessing only one challenge opportunity left.

Wu Man knew Niu Zhan's strength well. His power was no less than hers, and his experience was deeper.

Defeating Centurion Niu Zhan in a single move?

What kind of strength was that?

"Monster!"

"Genius!"

The other first-rate martial artists shared similar thoughts. Although they couldn't decipher why Teng Qingshan's simple spear thrust had defeated Niu Zhan, it was precisely because they couldn't see through it... that meant the gap between them and him was too vast.

"I'll go!" a loud shout rang out, and a man with long, flowing hair, carrying a long saber on his back, leaped onto the platform. He challenged another Centurion.

The competition for the Centurion positions continued!

...

As the contest progressed, some of the original Centurions were consecutively defeated. Each of the seventeen participants had two chances to challenge, which intensified the struggle.

On the front viewing stand, the Four Commanders and the Sect Master sat high above, observing.

"The nine first-rate martial artists this time are genuinely quite strong. They are matching the eight original Centurions blow for blow," Zhuge Yuanhong said with a smile. However, the Four Commanders beside him did not share his cheerful expression. The silver-haired, black-robed elder snorted, "Sect Master, it's clear that our eight Centurions from the Black Armored Army are at a disadvantage; we can see it!"

This was because some among the nine first-rate martial artists had yet to make their move.

"Among these nine first-rate martial artists, three are exceptionally strong!" said a large man seated in a chair, whose entire frame seemed forged from steel. "That Gongyang Qing, who achieved such renown in Xuyang Commandery, must be a master. And that Teng Qingshan, though only sixteen years old... his power is truly formidable. As for the third, 'Yue Song,' he is the direct disciple of the senior, 'Cangjiang Sword.' His strength goes without saying!"

"A direct disciple of the venerable Cangjiang Sword, and regarded as his inheritor—this Yue Song must have reached an extremely high realm in the Cangjiang Sword Art," added another younger man.

"Master, what is your assessment?" Among the Four Commanders, the only female commander looked toward Zhuge Yuanhong.

Zhuge Yuanhong smiled, watching the arena. "Now, among these three, Teng Qingshan has already made his move, while Gongyang Qing and Yue Song have not yet fought."

"However, this Teng Qingshan who suddenly emerged truly surprises me; his realm is high. Look at him—on the platform, neither joyful nor sorrowful. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, fought Niu Zhan, to defeating him, while thousands around gasped in awe—Teng Qingshan's emotions haven't shifted in the slightest. Just this level of composure... The younger generation is awe-inspiring, truly awe-inspiring!" Zhuge Yuanhong clearly held Teng Qingshan in high regard.

The other four fell silent as well.

Indeed...

Being watched and marveled at by thousands, even a master would naturally feel a touch of self-satisfaction deep down.

Maintaining a mind like still water during ordinary combat is not rare!

But remaining perfectly calm while being praised and envied by thousands—that cultivation of mind has truly reached an extremely high level.

"His mastery of the spear is also supreme," Zhuge Yuanhong praised. "He didn't use dazzling or profound spear techniques. Yet, with that single, simple thrust, he has at least reached the realm of Man-and-Spear Unity, where complexity is reduced to simplicity!"

"Man-and-Spear Unity? Reducing complexity to simplicity?" The Four Commanders were secretly astonished.

They all knew that the Sect Master, 'Zhuge Yuanhong,' was a super-expert whose strength ranked on the Heavenly List! His judgment would never be false.

"Senior Brother, if Teng Qingshan and Yue Song were to fight, who would win?" asked the stalwart man who stood nine feet tall.

"Teng Qingshan's realm is high, but I don't know about his inner strength manual. After all, for an expert, inner strength is fundamental, and a peerless manual has immense utility. This Teng Qingshan, I hear, is local to Yicheng. I suspect... the inner strength manual he cultivates is likely an ordinary one. The fact that he possesses such profound inner strength is probably due to obtaining some spiritual fruit or medicine!" Zhuge Yuanhong speculated. "If compared to Yun'er, Teng Qingshan's only potential shortcoming might be in the area of his inner strength manual."

Powerful manuals yield terrifying effects.

Like Horizon Travel, which can massively boost one's speed.

And a potent inner strength technique or spear art manual can instantly amplify offensive power!

Zhuge Yuanhong's eyes were indeed sharp, and his deduction proved correct. Teng Qingshan had never cultivated any specialized inner strength manual. His application of inner strength was the simplest—pouring it into his weapon. The most basic, the most primal method!

"Yue Song has earned the praise of Senior Wei, the Cangjiang Sword. His realm must also be at a very high level. As for who would win between him and Teng Qingshan... without a direct contest, I wouldn't dare speak definitively," Zhuge Yuanhong chuckled lightly.

"Feng'er!" Zhuge Yuanhong looked toward the youngest man among the Four Commanders beside him. "Even if these two, Yue Song and Teng Qingshan, fall short of you, they won't be far behind. You must remain vigilant."

This was Zang Feng, one of the Four Commanders!

The undisputed top expert among the younger generation of the Guiyuan Sect! Although the Young Master 'Zhuge Yun' was a genius, he was still very young. Zang Feng, however, was already over thirty. But internal energy masters have long lifespans, so being in one's thirties still counts as the prime of youth.

"Yes, Master," Commander Zang Feng acknowledged.

"Hmm, Gongyang Qing is taking the platform now," the silver-haired, black-robed elder noted, and their gazes immediately shifted.

In this Centurion competition, the clash between Gongyang Qing, Teng Qingshan, and Yue Song was what was truly worth watching.

...

On the stage, Gongyang Qing held a massive war saber, his gaze icy. His opponent was Xia Shuo!

"If you can withstand three of my strikes without falling, I will step off the platform myself!" Gongyang Qing stated coldly.

"You, win against Old Xia in three moves? Dream on," Xia Shuo said, extending a hand to grab the black spear resting nearby. He kicked the spear shaft with his right foot, then smoothly grasped the shaft with his left hand, holding the tip with his right, and thrust it forward in a very simple motion—

Whoosh!

The tip of the long spear instantly streaked several zhang through the air, aimed directly at Gongyang Qing's head.

"Hah!"

Gongyang Qing let out a sudden, low roar. He gripped the war saber with both hands and brought it down in a fierce vertical chop! The air exploded with violent cracking sounds!

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"

The Black Armored Army soldiers below barely glimpsed three blurred, blood-red saber shadows. Then, a long spear was violently knocked from Xia Shuo's hand, flying away. Xia Shuo himself was struck heavily on the chest by the flat side of the saber.

"Pfft!" Blood sprayed from Xia Shuo's mouth as he was sent flying completely off the platform.

"Good!"

"Well done!"

Cheers immediately erupted from below, the loudest coming from Gongyang Qing's seven brothers. Simultaneously, the martial artists who had entered through the sect assessment also cheered excitedly.

"Gentlemen, anyone who wishes to challenge me, feel free to come forward," Gongyang Qing said coldly on the stage, looking down at the crowd.

Xia Shuo struggled to stand up from the ground, looking at his palm, which had split open and was bleeding.

"What a vicious saber!" Xia Shuo was still haunted by lingering fear.

...

"A saber filled with killing intent, fast and ruthless!" Teng Qingshan, still on the stage, had also watched the fight. He clearly saw Gongyang Qing's series of three strikes. "The techniques were simple and swift, hitting precisely at the opponent's weak points. What's most remarkable is that unwavering, killing-intent-laden aura!"

Teng Qingshan was certain that the man's saber technique had been forged in slaughter.

The killing intent at the instant the blade was drawn was too intense.

"I really want to test myself against him," Teng Qingshan felt a growing interest in Gongyang Qing.

This Gongyang Qing was worthy of him getting slightly serious.

...

After Gongyang Qing made his move, only one person among the seventeen vying for the Centurion positions remained who had not yet acted: the man in the blue silk robe who had been quietly observing the battles—Yue Song!

"Brother Yue, who are you planning to challenge?" The Young Master 'Zhuge Yun' was standing beside Yue Song now. Yue Song was tall, with extremely broad shoulders, and a resolute face as if chiseled from stone. Standing there, he resembled a mountain rooted in place.

Zhuge Qing also looked at Yue Song, the young master highly praised by her father, 'Zhuge Yuanhong.'

"Gongyang Qing is a master, but... I have some understanding of his strength; I have an eight-tenths certainty of defeating him. As for Teng Qingshan, I don't know him well, but I sense... he might be even more terrifying than Gongyang Qing!" Yue Song's gaze was fixed on Teng Qingshan in the arena.

Zhuge Yun and Zhuge Qing were both startled.

"You're going to challenge..." Zhuge Yun guessed.

"Teng Qingshan!" A smile broke across Yue Song's face, and then he pushed off the ground.

Whoosh!

Instantly, Yue Song arrived on the stage several zhang away.

"Cangjiang, Yue Song!" Yue Song carried a heavy black greatsword on his back, looking at Teng Qingshan on the platform.

Teng Qingshan's eyes lit up, and he smiled back in response, "Yicheng, Teng Qingshan!"