Chapter 059: Transcendent Martial Arts Technique

The Nine Yang City boasts nine martial arts academies, and Rising Sun Academy indisputably holds the top position. In contrast, Aurora Academy ranks among the bottom three. Had Xin Lang not defeated the twelve elites of Luoyang Academy, Aurora would have been dead last.

Today’s first group match of the league was meant to be a triumphant opening for Rising Sun Academy. However, their student Lin Fei was knocked off the stage by Xin Lang in just a few moves. Ouyang Feiyun attempted to suppress Xin Lang’s momentum with words, but did not expect Xin Lang to retort fiercely, declaring that Ouyang would not even have a chance to compete.

Ouyang Feiyun, slightly angered, said, “You alone think you can prevent me from entering the arena?” He was hoping to use today's performance to open the doors to the Martial Arts Academy or the Academy of War. If he couldn’t compete, how could he prove himself?

Xin Lang chuckled, “Don’t be impatient. The next match will be even more exciting.” Xin Lang’s confident smile sent a chill down Ouyang Feiyun’s spine, a sense of foreboding looming over him. “No chance to enter the arena? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Who does he think he is? Does Aurora Academy suddenly have two tenth-level martial apprentices? Even if they do, Rising Sun Academy would still defeat them!”

“The second match of the first group: Zhou Bufan from Rising Sun Academy versus Qian Baidu from Aurora Academy!” the referee announced on the stage.

Xin Lang whispered to Qian Baidu, “Win it beautifully.”

Qian Baidu grinned, “Hey, fellow negotiator, do I get ten gold coins for every victory?”

Xin Lang pulled out ten gold coins and tossed them to Qian Baidu, “If you lose, pay me back tenfold.”

“No problem! For these ten gold coins, I won’t let you down!” Qian Baidu laughed slyly. He had already cultivated his ‘Rob the Rich to Aid the Poor’ skills to a fair level, and even before going on stage, he couldn’t help but extort a bit from Xin Lang.

Qian Baidu had helped Xin Lang gain plenty of experience points in the past, so Xin Lang was willing to support him in this roundabout way.

After Qian Baidu and Zhou Bufan stepped onto the stage and the referee began the match, Zhou Bufan was about to make his move when Qian Baidu called out, “Wait, Zhou, I have something to say. Let me finish, then you can start.”

“What is it? If you want me to go easy on you, that’s out of the question!” Zhou Bufan replied solemnly.

“Well, uh…” Qian Baidu walked up to Zhou Bufan, put his arm around his shoulder, and pulled him to the side of the stage, away from the audience. He whispered, “How much does Rising Sun Academy reward you if you win this match?”

“Ten silver coins?” Zhou Bufan asked curiously. “Why do you ask?”

Qian Baidu replied, “I have twenty silver coins right here. How about you concede?”

“You want to bribe me? Dream on!” Zhou Bufan looked at Qian Baidu with disdain.

“Forty silver coins, that’s the limit!” Qian Baidu pressed.

“Impossible! I am an elite of Rising Sun Academy. You think you can buy me for forty silver coins?” Zhou Bufan proclaimed righteously.

“Haha…” Ouyang Feiyun heard Zhou Bufan’s words and laughed toward Aurora Academy’s side, “Unable to win, they resort to such underhanded tricks!”

Ouyang Feiyun shouted to Zhou Bufan on stage, “Zhou Bufan, stop wasting time. Win the match and the academy will reward you with fifty silver coins!”

“Yes, Young Master Ouyang!” Zhou Bufan’s face lit up. The reward had jumped from ten to fifty silver coins.

“Zhou, since I helped you get forty more silver coins, please go easy on me!” Qian Baidu pretended to plead.

“Qian, don’t worry. We have no grudges. I’ll show mercy!” Zhou Bufan shouted, “Basic-level mid-tier martial skill: Mountain-Pushing Palm!”

Though he claimed he would be merciful, Zhou Bufan unleashed the strength of a tenth-level martial apprentice.

His power shocked the senior members of all the academies in Nine Yang City. Someone exclaimed, “In the second match, they’re already using tenth-level apprentices and high-tier basic martial skills. Does Rising Sun Academy have even stronger cards up their sleeve?”

The leaders of the academies all frowned, especially those from Split Sun Academy and Arrow Sun Academy, Rising Sun’s main competitors. Rising Sun’s strength was the last thing they wanted to see.

Seeing Zhou Bufan display the power of a tenth-level apprentice, Ouyang Feiyun was delighted, “Zhou Bufan has advanced again! Excellent! Let’s see how Aurora Academy handles this. No chance to compete? Hmph!”

Ouyang Feiyun glanced at Xin Lang, but Xin Lang remained unfazed, still full of confidence as he watched the match.

Faced with Zhou Bufan’s Mountain-Pushing Palm, Qian Baidu stood calmly, hands poised. There was an air of unflinching composure, as if Mount Tai were collapsing before his eyes, but he remained unmoved. The sweeping palm wind fluttered his clothes, making him look like a martial arts master.

“No way! Facing a tenth-level apprentice’s Mountain-Pushing Palm and still so composed? What kind of prodigy has Aurora Academy produced this year?” cried the dean of Flying Sun Academy in astonishment.

Qian Baidu moved lightly, easily weaving between Zhou Bufan’s palm shadows. On stage, one attacked brilliantly, the other evaded gracefully.

Ouyang Feiyun, watching Zhou Bufan and Qian Baidu locked in a stalemate, grew anxious, fearing that prolonging the bout would lead to unexpected outcomes. He called out urgently, “Junior Zhou, stop wasting time—use your ultimate move!”

“Yes, Young Master Ouyang!” Zhou Bufan withdrew the Mountain-Pushing Palm and suddenly changed his stance, “Basic-level high-tier martial skill: Gale Shadowless Kick!”

Zhou Bufan leapt into the air, his legs transforming into countless shadows, kicking toward Qian Baidu. With such a wide-ranging attack, it was difficult for Qian Baidu to dodge as elegantly as before.

“Heavens! A basic-level high-tier martial skill! Rising Sun Academy truly lives up to its reputation as Nine Yang City’s premier academy, wealthy and powerful!” exclaimed one spectator.

“Looks like Aurora Academy’s contestant is in trouble!” another said.

Seeing Zhou Bufan unleash the Gale Shadowless Kick, Qian Baidu remained unperturbed. “High-tier basic martial skills? That’s nothing! Watch my basic-level super-tier martial skill—Heaven-Piercing Finger!”

Qian Baidu’s fingers swept through the air like a storm, countering Zhou Bufan’s Gale Shadowless Kick. His finger technique was astonishingly precise, each strike landing squarely on the soles of Zhou Bufan’s feet.

A series of faint sounds rang out as the fighters separated. Qian Baidu stood poised, exuding the aura of a grandmaster. Zhou Bufan, however, was far less composed. Upon landing, his feet stomped the stage several times before he collapsed with a thud.

Zhou Bufan struggled to stand, but after several attempts, he could not get up. Both of his feet were completely shattered; it would be months before he could stand again. “I… I… I concede!”

The audience was stunned. “Basic-level super-tier martial skill? When did that exist? How have we never heard of it? Incredible!”

PS: In two weeks, this book has already reached 120,000 words. Since there will be another burst on Monday, I need to control the word count, or else it’ll exceed 200,000 and drop off the charts. So for the next two days, there will be two chapters daily, but Monday will see another burst!