C75 Martial Artists

Qing Yuan swiftly subdued Qing Anqi with a single palm strike, sparing no time for unnecessary struggle.

The arena had a strict time limit to prevent drawn-out battles, especially since competitors who knew each other often hesitated to strike, preferring to settle the match by seeing who could endure the longest before conceding. Rule changes were implemented with this in mind, as well as the fact that some fights were so extensive they could last months. The new regulations established a set number of defenses for the arena, and once the required number of victories was achieved, the competition would conclude, forcing a brisk pace among the contenders.

Otherwise, the frustration of being just one win short of qualifying while another secures their spot first was truly agonizing.

As soon as the referee declared the match over, Lee Yu leapt onto the stage, unable to contain his eagerness.

"You're going to suffer a terrible fate!" he declared, his gaze icy.

"Well, I'll be watching with interest," Qing Yuan responded casually, dismissing the threat with a wave of his hand.

The idea of a Fifth Grade cultivator being successfully intimidated by a Sixth Grade was laughable!

Without further ado, Lee Yu carried the unconscious Qing Anqi to the infirmary.

"How is she?" he asked after a lengthy wait, as a female doctor emerged from the treatment room.

"They're mostly superficial wounds. They may look severe, but they're just painful. She'll recover with some rest," the doctor quickly explained before rushing off to attend to others injured in the fierce competition, some with broken limbs.

"Is this your idea of pulling punches?" Lee Yu muttered under his breath as he entered the room to see Qing Anqi swathed in bandages, resembling a mummy. His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within them.

He stood vigil for a while, but Qing Anqi showed no signs of regaining consciousness. Cui approached with urgency.

"Young Master, the second round of the martial arts competition is about to start!" she whispered at the doorway.

She, too, was puzzled by the unprecedented intensity of this year's competition. Previously, an event of this scale would span a week, yet now it seemed set to conclude in a single day.

To ensure that everyone could swiftly regain their strength for the upcoming martial arts bouts, a generous supply of medicinal pills was provided.

"It's almost time," Lee Yu remarked, casting another glance at Qing Anqi, whose face was marred by a swath of bruises. After a moment's pause, Cui, unable to hold back any longer, was about to speak when Lee Yu finally looked up. "I'm heading over now. You stay here and take care of Anqi."

Cui nodded in agreement.

With the Qingshan Army patrolling just outside the infirmary, the area was secure.

Confident that all was well, Lee Yu made his exit.

"Sorry, so sorry!" Two boys, passing by, collided with Lee Yu, one of them apologizing profusely.

"No worries. Just watch out next time," Lee Yu replied, unfazed. With a casual wave, he continued on his way to the arena, leaving the boys behind.

Back at the arena, the rest of the competitors had already reconvened. Lee Yu surveyed the scene, surprised to find that Qing Xiumin, known for her fire attribute, had progressed. If his memory served him right, her last opponent was of the Sixth Grade.

"She's quite the dark horse," Lee Yu observed, giving her an appreciative look.

In addition to Qing Yuan, there was another face that sparked recognition: Qing Yunwei, the boy who had offered him advice on the high platform. The other two competitors, however, didn't leave much of an impression.

A referee approached and announced, "We'll follow the established protocol. Match your seed's color to the corresponding arena. You have five minutes to ready yourselves for combat. Personal weapons or illicit potions are prohibited; violators will automatically forfeit."

Lee Yu scanned the setup. This time, only three arenas remained, designated by yellow, blue, and purple colors, each significantly larger than before.

His was purple again.

Last round, unaware of the rules, he hadn't brought any armor or weapons. This round, even with the rules clear, he decided against bringing any.

"I hope it's you," Lee Yu murmured, his eyes settling on Qing Yuan before he stepped into the purple arena and closed his eyes to await his challenger.

Lee Yu was eager to discover the extent of his power when unleashed to its fullest.

Shortly thereafter, his opponent ascended the stage.

"Qing Pengcheng, a Sixth Grade Martial Cultivator!"

Lee Yu watched the young man before him with astonishment. Clad in heavy armor, he seemed devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations. His vitality surged like a colossal beast, marking Qing Pengcheng as Lee Yu's first encounter with a Martial Cultivator.

"Lee Yu, Sixth Grade Divine Dao Cultivator!"

Their meeting was by chance, and Lee Yu harbored no animosity towards his adversary, extending the same courtesy in return.

"You're the first on this stage to treat me with respect! Even Seventh Grade Divine Dao Cultivators look down on me!" Qing Pengcheng spoke with a deep voice, "Should I happen to win, I won't go hard on you!"

Divine Dao and Martial Dao—these were the two paths of cultivation for humans in this world.

Reaching the Sixth Grade in Martial Dao could make one a cornerstone in an average family. Alas, this was the Qing's, an extensive clan, or rather, a sovereign power in its own right.

For the Qing's peripheral branches, which commonly possessed Sixth Grade lineage, a Sixth Grade martial artist was often overlooked, even one in his early twenties.

"You needn't hold back with me. You're the first Martial Cultivator I've come across!"

Lee Yu shook his head, his interest in Qing Pengcheng piqued.

There was a common belief that Martial Dao paled in comparison to Divine Dao, with numerous theories and literary depictions highlighting the Divine Dao's peculiarities.

Yet, Lee Yu had yet to witness it firsthand, and his curiosity was kindled.

The referee approached, flanked by two Fifth Grade cultivators. One of them addressed the competitors.

"Lee Yu, are you ready?"

"Ready."

"Qing Pengcheng, are you ready?"

"Ready."

Both competitors nodded in affirmation.

"Begin!" the referee commanded.

As his words still hung in the air, he stepped aside.

"Here I come!"

Qing Pengcheng let out a low roar, his heavy armor clanking loudly. With each charging step, he left deep impressions in the ground.

Lee Yu, intent on gauging his opponent, didn't evade but readied his stance. The result was immediate—he was sent flying upon contact with Qing Pengcheng.

"He's like a bulldozer," Lee Yu said, shaking his arms to relieve the numbness from that last powerful strike. He thought to himself that even on Blue Star, a collision with a big rig wouldn't have left him feeling this way.

"He's got a lot of power, but his vulnerabilities are even bigger," Lee Yu whispered under his breath.

If that's all the strength Qing Pengcheng had and he couldn't match the speed, Lee Yu knew he had a multitude of ways to counter him. Even an average cultivator could probably handle him.

'Is there a connection between Qi and spiritual energy?' Lee Yu mused, intrigued by his observation.

"Let's go again!" Energized by the thought, Lee Yu's spiritual energy surged within him. He gestured to Qing Pengcheng, signaling for another round of their strength contest.

Their struggle was broadcast on the screen, capturing the attention of many onlookers who began to buzz with commentary.

"Can you believe it? Someone from the Divine Path going head-to-head with the Martial Path?"

"Which side is Lee Yu on, Divine or Martial? He's as unstoppable as a bull!"

"Isn't he missing the point? Everyone knows the Divine Path far outstrips the Martial Path. I've never seen a Divine Path cultivator of any real skill lose to a Martial Path one. What's he trying to prove?"

Meanwhile, outside the makeshift infirmary, Cui confronted two individuals.

"What are you two up to? Why do you keep lurking around here?"

"Where's the Green Mountain Army? Get over here!"