The Sky River revolved, and below in the Martial Arts Hall, waves of cheers washed over the arena in an unending tide.
Within the rest area of the Yan Bagua Gate.
Chen Jiahan sat cross-legged in a sealed room, surrounded by an eerie silence, with only a large character for ’quiet’ hanging on the wall.
Click.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open.
A person entered, closed the door, and sat down cross-legged on the floor just like the other.
Neither of them spoke; there was only the faint sound of their breathing, one following the other in a slow, asured rhythm.
About fifteen minutes later.
The visitor finally spoke softly.
"Aren’t you going to check out the strengths of the other competitors?"
"Too weak. What’s the point? It would only increase my disappointnt," Chen Jiahan said, opening his eyes slowly.
Many people believed that the eldest disciple of the Yan Bagua Gate was a brute with the strength of a bear, a formidable monster with innate power.
But only those who got close knew that wasn’t the case.
Chen Jiahan was around one ter ninety tall, with a slender build and delicate features; he had the natural appearance of beauty transcending gender.
His skin was like white jade, poreless, and without a single hair.
If he put on won’s clothing, he would absolutely eclipse all the female contestants in the arena.
Such a seemingly fragile and beautiful man was soone no one would believe could have been a champion in the national intense combat competition.
But that was the reality.
"Hai Sha has been seriously injured by soone of unknown origin. You might have to fight your own battles now," the visitor said, speaking in a hushed tone.
"It doesn’t matter," Chen Jiahan responded indifferently.
"We’ve collected data on the other schools. What about that newcor Li Chongnan from Dragon Whisker Sect? Are you confident?"
"Sowhat interesting, but that’s all. Just prepare everything. In this era, there’s no one who can be my match," Chen Jiahan said.
"Could it be... you’ve already... broken through?" The visitor’s voice rose slightly, filled with deep surprise.
"That’s none of your business," Chen Jiahan said. "After this, my Chen family will also be able to take advantage of the situation to break free from its plight and head to that place. Just don’t forget your promise."
"Don’t worry, we won’t." Now that the visitor was assured of the victory in the arena, they felt at ease. They began to discuss the details of the upcoming assassination with Chen Jiahan.
Prince Zhou Shuo would arrive during one of the final few matches, but specifically which one, no one knew.
All they knew was that he would definitely co.
And when that ti ca...
"As I finish off my last opponent, I will unleash my true strength in an instant, breaking through the protective barrier as it deactivates, and charge at the decoy target, drawing everyone’s attention. You must take that opportunity to act, making sure to finish within two seconds, and then retreat," Chen Jiahan said softly.
"No problem."
"The rest stays the sa unless Zhou Shuo shows up early. Stick to the plan," Chen Jiahan continued.
"This ti..." The visitor began, sighing as though wanting to say more but suppressed the urge and remained silent.
Chen Jiahan closed his eyes.
"Go back. This is how our era is."
"...."
The visitor stood up, walked to the door, hesitated for a mont, but still opened it and left.
*
*
*
With Li Chongnan defeating the Nuclear Fission Palm, he steadily advanced.
The intensity of the finals had officially reached a new level.
Days went by.
Bloody and brutal duels resulting in death or maiming were constantly enacted before tens of thousands of spectators.
Ever since that day Li Chongnan created the move Hundred Dragons, he beca increasingly composed. As he faced his opponents and achieved victory after victory, his spirit beca more vigorous.
The collapse of his opponents, the cheers from the audience, and the absolute presentation of victory all served as nourishnt, bolstering his confidence and self-esteem.
Very soon, on the fourth day after defeating the Nuclear Fission Palm.
Boom!!
A blood dragon flashed across the stage, exploded, and scattered into countless droplets.
Li Chongnan’s opponent, still in the motion of throwing a punch, froze a re ter away, his eyes gradually losing their light.
"Li Chongnan of Dragon Whisker Sect, wins!!" The announcer’s voice, full of passion, thundered through the arena once more.
Wow!!
The surrounding crowd roared with cheers.
"Li Chongnan! Dragon Whisker Sect!"
"Li Chongnan! Dragon Whisker Sect!"
Loud chants surged like a tide from all directions, so overpowering that they made breathing difficult and pained the ears.
Li Chongnan raised both hands, lifting his head as if savoring the cheers of the crowd.
From over a decade of obscurity to now being the center of everyone’s attention, the stark contrast erupted like a volcano within her, the emotions and will soaring high into the sky.
Countless invisible Swords of Wisdom swirled and surged around her.
It was as if they too could feel the cheers, the adoration, and the will to admire strength.
Turning around, he descended from the stage.
Li Chongnan locked eyes with his teacher Li Chengyi, who was waiting for him at the entrance to the rest area.
"Can you feel it?" Li Chengyi asked.
"Teacher, what exactly is this technique..." Li Chongnan actually felt sothing was off by now.
How could there be a technique that improved one’s abilities so rapidly?
At that mont, she had broken through again.
The fifth level.
She had reached the fifth level of the Holy Spirit Technique, only two steps away from the final seventh level.
"Rember today’s cheers," Li Chengyi didn’t answer but instead raised his hand and pointed to the surrounding spectator seats.
"Their strength will also beco your strength, unshakeable."
Li Chongnan was silent, listening carefully to the thunderous cheers around her.
Those voices seed to seep into her soul, like countless flas wildly searing her previously calm heart.
This searing had been going on for many battles already.
But none of the previous occasions were as intense as today’s.
’The kindling of all beings, the easy spirit is the furnace.’
This was a mantra from the next level of the Holy Spirit Technique.
And at this mont, she seed to be at such a critical juncture.
Hiss!
In a trance, Li Chongnan was about to lift her leg and return to the rest area.
Suddenly her body stiffened, frozen in place.
A very faint sound tinged her ears.
She felt as if she could hear a crisp sound coming from the deepest part of her body.
"Radiant Mirror Glow. Congratulations, you’ve laid the foundation for the sixth segnt," Li Chengyi’s smile grew even wider.
Relying on the will of all beings to successfully ignite her own Radiant Glow, Li Chongnan’s progress had been quicker than he had anticipated.
The sixth segnt ant the completion of Radiant Glow, then moving on to the final seventh segnt, the achievent of the Holy Infant.
Once the Holy Infant was done, he too would be able to unlock the new second layer of the Seven Spirit Holy Technique, creating the Second Holy Child.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the seven Holy Infants of the Seven Spirit Holy Technique beca stronger the further one progressed.
The First Holy Child was the weakest, and the Seventh Holy Child the strongest.
Of course, he couldn’t possibly put all his effort into this, as Evil Flower was the essence.
Developing new Flower Language Techniques and ultimately filling the Twelve Divine Flower Positions to unlock the Fusion Floral Language Dress was a much stronger vision.
The two returned to the rest area amidst the cheers.
What greeted them was Yu Long and his two companions looking at them full of grave concern.
By now, Yu Long no longer knew what attitude to take when facing them.
Any discerning person could see that the Combat Technique Li Chongnan used had nothing to do with Dragon Whisker Sect’s Combat Technique.
It’s less of Dragon Whisker Sect’s technique and more of Li Chengyi’s own creation of a potent thod.
He had co to know that this technique was called the Holy Spirit Technique.
"Xiao Yi, are we... going to continue fighting?" Yu Long asked hesitantly with a tinge of awkwardness.
By now, the three of them had beco re extras, just along for the ride, their previous roles reduced to just making up the numbers.
"Why not continue?" said Li Chengyi, who still had hopes that Li Chongnan could achieve a true Holy Infant in this competition.
"But..." Yu Long was about to say sothing else when another round of the competition proceeded.
News also broke out about many people being attacked outside the venue.
At this point, it had gone beyond simple competition.
Connections, backgrounds, power, personal ability—all these had beco capital for comparison.
A single misstep could lead to serious consequences.
"Soone has already approached ," Zhuang Yijing spoke up, "they offered two million for to withdraw."
"Just two million... soone offered five million," said Yu Yanxiao, speaking softly. "As long as we withdrew, failing to et the basic requirent of a three-person team, they would..."
"It’s fine, you guys withdraw," said Li Chengyi.
"!!??"
"!!"
Both of them suddenly looked up, staring at him in unison.
Li Chengyi had no awareness of the shock his words had conveyed.
"At this stage, with such a large gap in individual strength, continuing the fight would only result in unnecessary casualties and have no other significance.
With only a few battles left, the teacher and I will take the stage just to fill the numbers. If you want the money, go ahead and take it."
The two won were silent.
Compared with the competitors now in the arena, they were just ordinary people.
Dragon Whisker Sect and they had been pushed to a height of trepidation.
At first, entering the top hundred, they were very happy.
Latter on, moving into the top fifty, they started to feel a bit panicked.
Now, making it to the top ten.
They began to feel the enormous pressure of being in the spotlight.
At this ti, all of them ended up feeling more panic than joy.
Without paying attention to any response from the two won, Li Chengyi, accompanied by Li Chongnan, walked by and headed to the dical room for a massage and relaxation.
"Xiao Yi, after the competition, what are your plans, you and Xiao Nan? Are you considering joining the military?" Yu Long asked.
Back in his pri, he had made it into the top fifty and then went on to work in the military as a mid-level instructor.
Now that Xiao Nan had made it to the top ten, far surpassing him, once she could join the military... she’d probably start as a high-ranking officer right from the get-go.
A starting point far higher than his back then.
This was a bright and broad path, but at the sa ti, it was a point of no return. Once in the military, it would almost be impossible to switch to a different job later on.
"We will decide when the ti cos," replied Li Chengyi, who didn’t care at all about what position Xiao Nan could hold. What he wanted was the Holy Infant.
What he wanted was personal power. What he sought was the temporary authority equivalent to Grade Nine for the Li Family! With this, he intended to search for clues to the Hall of Oblivion, the Eternal Wishing Book.
He didn’t care about anything else.
"There are just a few more battles to finish, and after that, Xiao Nan can decide for herself,"
said Li Chengyi.
Yu Long looked towards Li Chongnan but noticed she didn’t even bat an eyelid, totally indifferent to the idea of a military career.
"Let’s go," Li Chengyi said as he took the lead to leave.
Li Chongnan followed closely behind, walking away with him.
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