Martial Saint!
Chapter 179 - 0145 Huangshan Martial Arts University (4k)_2

Chapter 179: 0145 Huangshan Martial Arts University (4k)_2

A young man with delicate features, holding a folding fan, said:

"Teacher, the Jiangnan Talent Competition is just a bunch of low-class root bone youth, right?"

"Yes, but the ones who capture the crown are no simple characters. This person has cultivated both internal and external techniques, practicing Internal Tiger Form Fist and External Training of Arhat Skills, and has developed a Copper Buddha Body!"

Hearing this, everyone showed a look of surprise.

The class president of Class 3, Yin Shishi, was a gentle and delicate girl.

With her delicate brows slightly furrowed and a solemn expression, she said:

"To think that a mere low-class root bone, not even 18 years old, could reach the peak of the Eighth Rank with both internal and external cultivation... this person is more formidable than many top-class root bone individuals I’ve encountered. I wonder if he has stepped into the Ninth Rank. If he has, then among the people from Dragon City, aside from Wang Hongdao, he will be the toughest to deal with. I’ll take him on when the time comes."

"I’ll take on that Grandmaster’s son, Yao Cheng."

"Leave Zhou Xingkong to me."

While everyone was getting excited about the conversation, a teacher walked in and said:

"The people from Dragon City are here, let’s all go greet them first."

Everyone rose from their seats to welcome the newcomers; approaching them was a group with an extraordinary presence, among whom Wang Hongdao was undeniably the most conspicuous.

Yin Shishi gauged the people with her eyes and said with a winsome smile:

"Friends from Su City Dragon Martial, you’ve come a long way. No matter how intense the competition tomorrow, we must enjoy a good meal and chat tonight, and make friends first!"

Old Tian shook hands with them, saying:

"Thank you for the hospitality."

During the dinner, everyone introduced themselves. When it came to Lu Chenzhou, he felt a gaze from the table, precisely that of Li Kongkong holding a folding fan.

He laughed and said:

"I’ve heard Brother Lu has cultivated Hard Qigong. Excuse the boldness of my inquiry, but could you display it and open the eyes of us from Huangshan Martial Arts University?"

Old Tian’s eyes sparkled, taking the conversation in stride, and laughed:

"It wouldn’t be appropriate to disrobe in such a setting, but tomorrow everyone will have the chance to witness it."

A cheerful dinner unwitting set the scene for a hidden clash of energies.

...

The following pre-dawn morning.

Both teams arrived early at a conference room to gather.

An official from the Martial Arts Department was introducing the rules.

"The competition will take place at Huangshan, formerly known as Yishan. Of course, the main venue is not within the core scenic area, but in the vast wilderness of the mountain forests. Our organizing committee will drop you off at random locations, and each of you will be equipped with a competition map. According to the marked routes on the map, find the checkpoints scattered in the mountain woods, defeat the gatekeepers, and acquire the respective tokens. Eventually, before noon tomorrow, gather at the Bright Peak arena in central Huangshan for the team confrontation. After the competition, we will score both schools based on the number of tokens acquired and the arena battle results. Be cautious, some hidden challenges may contain Void Things. Lastly, the primary purpose of this contest is for exchange and cultivation, with friendship and safety coming first, competition second!"

Once the rules had been introduced, everyone was brimming with battle intent.

Old Tian went to collect eight nameplates bearing their names.

"Keep these nameplates on you. If you are outmatched, surrender your nameplate to your opponent, who will then not continue the assault, but you will lose your right to compete."

Lu Chenzhou pocketed his nameplate.

"To think there are even non-player characters ’NPC’ resembling Void Things – this is no different from real combat training. The state must be doing this in preparation for exploring the Void Realm, I suppose."

Finally, the Martial Arts Department staff member said:

"The university that wins this competition will receive a special fund award of five billion from the Martial Arts Department. Five million of that is a prize for you talents, to be distributed by your respective universities based on your individual performances. Our Martial Arts Department will not be involved."

Upon hearing this, everyone came to a realization.

This was actually a competition between the two schools. Just one practical exercise involving the genius class could decide where the five billion would go. No wonder there were so many big and small competitions and exchanges between the Martial Arts Universities; fundamentally, it was all about dividing the money.

Qingtian Cang said:

"Perform your best. Apart from the five million prize, the school will also give Great Merit and potential ranking points as rewards, just like in practical training."

Lu Chenzhou’s eyes shone. If he were to get a special-level evaluation like last time, he’d pocket millions again. The money-making opportunities at the top Martial University are truly abundant.

...

At eight in the morning, two helicopters carrying students from both sides tore through the vast sea of fog, dropping the 16 contestants randomly into sections of the primeval forest.

Before disembarking the helicopter, Qingtian Cang instructed:

"I want to mention one more thing, avoid injuring tourists, do not damage important landscapes and monuments... should such situations occur, participation will be instantly revoked."

"Understood."

The helicopter disappeared over the horizon.

Lu Chenzhou stepped on the dry leaves beneath his feet, breathed in the fresh air, and listened to the birds chirping, the stream trickling, and the rocks rising majestically. He felt a natural sense of affinity.

The Daling acupoint shimmered faintly within, emanating the "Great King Mountain Patrol" Divine Seed.

The efficacy of "Mountain Patrol" could increase the power of Tiger Form Fist.

"Phew... this is truly my home ground."

Lu Chenzhou surveyed his surroundings, casually swinging the Tiger Claw as he executed the Black Tiger Fist, warming-up with a few simple moves, before diving into the dense subtropical forest.

"The closest checkpoint to me is the Nameless Cave."

Three kilometers away, his travel pace meant he would soon arrive near the Nameless Cave. He hid in the underbrush, silently watching the cave entrance with tiger-like eyes.

Within the Daling acupoint, a hint of coldness emerged.

"There’s Void."

Lu Chenzhou waited patiently and shortly after, a figure dropped from the trees. He wore the training clothes of Huangshan Martial Arts University, seemingly called Zheng Shaocong.

Ninth Rank cultivation, skilled in swordsmanship.

This person carefully inspected his surroundings, unaware of Lu Chenzhou’s hidden presence. Sensing the Void Things inside the cave, he gripped a frosty long sword of Void Blade with his palm clad in Void-breaking Gloves, bolstering his courage before delving deeper into the cave.

Outside the cave, in the bushes, Lu Chenzhou held his breath in concentration, calm as a lying tiger.

Soon, the sound of metal clashing echoed from within the cave, the commotion significant. Roughly ten minutes later, Zheng Shaocong emerged holding a Jade Token.

"Not bad, a good start. The first Token is mine. The organizers are willing to go all out, they even placed a mid-danger level Void Thing as the Gatekeeper. Lucky, my Yellow Stone Sword was powerful enough, otherwise, it would’ve been quite a headache to slay it."

He secured the Jade Token and quickly left.

Lu Chenzhou quietly followed, like a hungry tiger stalking his prey for an ambush.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Suddenly, three Flying Stones shot towards him, one flying into Lu Chenzhou’s hiding spot, breaking a bush and exploding into a pile of dirt and gravel.

Lu Chenzhou, clutching the fragments of stone, stood up from the dust and smiled:

"Brother Zheng’s skills with Hidden Weapons are quite impressive."

Zheng Shaocong’s expression was unchanged, standing with his sword behind an ancient tree.

"I had a feeling I was being tailed by a little ghost... turns out it’s Brother Lu. As Jiangnan’s champion, are such sneaky attacks all you dare to use?"

Lu Chenzhou strode forward, bones crackling throughout his body.

He flexed his muscles and bones, saying:

"Words are useless. Hand over the Token to me, and I’ll let you stay longer in this competition. Otherwise... I’ll send you off right now."

His hands extended from the wide sleeves of his Training Clothes.

The pitch-black Fist Blade gleamed with a metallic luster, its engraved Black Tiger pattern merging with Lu Chenzhou’s current aura and environment, as if it came to life.

Zheng Shaocong laughed and said:

"It seems Brother Lu, after his epiphany, has grown confident enough not to take someone with Top Class root bone like me seriously. If that’s the case, then let’s see the real skills in combat... behold the sword!"

He adopted the stance of the phoenix facing the sun, his Sword Formation and Qi Mechanism intimidating.

Lu Chenzhou burst into laughter, then stepped on the rocks and bushes, pouncing ferociously like a true Fierce Tiger, only to see Zheng Shaochong’s figure lunging forward before swiftly swinging his hand.

Bang!

A bag of white powder exploded.

Lu Chenzhou flicked his robe, dispersing the powder.

"Brother Zheng, this throwing of lime is not exactly the high road either."

He passed through the chalk, to see Zheng Shaocong tapping the ground with his feet, embarking on a desperate run.

"Hmph, I’m not interested today. We’ll have our showdown tomorrow, Brother Lu."

Zheng Shaocong sprinted for five miles. Seeing that Lu Chenzhou wasn’t pursuing, he hid behind a clump of withered trees and breathed a sigh of relief, his heart thumping loudly.

"That was close. This guy practices both internal and external techniques. That aura of his must also be at the Ninth Rank. If we had clashed directly, I would’ve undoubtedly lost... I’ll leave it to the class leader and Li Kongkong."

He wasn’t foolish; knowing he couldn’t win, the best strategy was to flee.

All of a sudden.

Zheng Shaocong abruptly rolled to the side, narrowly dodging an attack, but saw a black and gold fist, seemingly emerging from nowhere, strike the tree he was hiding behind like thunder.

Boom!

The thick dead tree snapped under the force.

Lu Chenzhou, like a hunting Fierce Tiger with shining eyes, laughed and said:

"Why does Brother Zheng flee?"

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