Chapter 240: Start of the Martial Contest
When the words fell, the spectators went wild.
After the Cangxing list, everyone was looking forward to some good duels.
However, the list failed for some reason and everyone was disappointed.
Since they couldn’t watch some good title duels, they settled for the martial contest.
Although the contest didn’t involve all the famous cultivators in the Cangxing world, most of those in the origin tempering realm were present.
After hyping the crowd, Lin Qian flew up and pointed at where the cultivators from the Ice Palace sect were sitting.
Yu Nianzhen also turned to look and saw a woman with a veil on half her face.
She reminded him of Wang Xue’er and he instinctively knew who she was.
He looked at her and her eyes also fell on him.
From what Yu Nianzhen heard, his master had never seen Bing Lan since he arrived in the Ice Palace region.
The only reassurance he had was the letter she sent through Wang Xue’er.
However, at this moment, Yu Nianzhen could see the hidden helplessness in the other’s eyes.
Yu Nianzhen didn’t know the woman and couldn’t discern whether her helplessness was due to the martial contest or something else.
At a loss, he looked at his master and saw that Yang Xu looked a little distressed.
[Something is wrong.] He transmitted to Jiang Yue.
[I know.]
Jiang Yue frowned and looked at Yang Xu but the man had already schooled his expression.
[Azhen, focus on the contest. I will figure out what is going on.]
[Okay.]
Yu Nianzhen had absolute trust in Jiang Yue and his mind eased right away.
When he refocused, he realised that Lin Qian had already begun to explain the contest.
"The order of challenge will be decided by lottery." Lin Qian explained.
Without waiting for everyone to react, she waved her hand and a large container flew out of her storage ring.
The container looked like a pot and thousands of wooden bamboo sticks were sticking out from it.
’This is different from what I expected.’ Yu Nianzhen thought and looked at the pot.
If the contest followed this format, the earlier fight over who would go last was meaningless.
However, Yu Nianzhen didn’t care.
All he needed to do was win every challenge and gain some momentum for his master.
"Junior brothers and sisters, I invite you to draw your lots." Lin Qian said and the pot flew to the middle of the arena platform.
Almost simultaneously, thousands of figures flashed onto the platform and rushed to the middle.
Within a few breaths, all the sticks were drawn and the pot was empty.
"Your first opponent will be the cultivator with the same number as you." Lin Qian informed.
Yu Nianzhen looked at the stick he drew and saw a ’sixty-three’ printed at the bottom.
Since he didn’t know his opponent, he didn’t care too much and just put the stick away.
"Please get off the platform."
Without delay, everyone did as was asked and the platform began to transform.
Originally, there was one big platform but after the transformation, it was divided into ten smaller arenas.
"Those with numbers one to ten, please get on the stage." Lin Qian shouted and excitement filled the martial arena.
"Who is that on the number one arena?" A spectator asked the person sitting next to them.
"I don’t know."
"It makes sense that you don’t know." The other side neighbour chipped in.
"Do you know him?"
"He is from a small clan in the Poison Valley region."
"Even the member of a small clan dares to covet the ice orchid fairy. He is dreaming." The person who asked sneered.
"The two on the sixth platform are well known. It should be a good fight."
"You are right. Zhang Yusen is famous for his spear technique and Ya Daqian has perfected his kicking art."
"It would be good if we knew their titles on the Cangxing list."
"What does it matter? They use different techniques and would definitely not compete for a title."
"What about the two on the eighth platform?"
"Qin Yunwen is famous in the border guard faction and the other is unknown. Qin Yunwen should win this one."
"Shut up for me. The game is about to start."
When they heard that, the group that was busily analysing the participants looked ahead.
Soon after, Lin Qian shook the bell in her hand and the competition began.
Of the ten platforms, only the number six platform had two famous cultivators.
As such, most people focused on the sixth platform and ignored the others.
"Ya Daqiang, admit your defeat and I will spare you." Zhang Yusen taunted.
However, Ya Daqiang was not up for small talk.
He moved his hand a large palm appeared above Zhang Yusen.
When he saw this, Zhang Yusen sneered and quickly moved his spear.
The spear pierced upwards and the palm quickly disintegrated.
"I heard your palm technique is good. Is this what they mean by good?" Zhang Yusen disdained and rushed toward Ya Daqiang.
As he rushed, he thrust his spear and a circle of spears appeared in front of Ya Daqiang.
Ya Daqiang retreated while slapping the air in front of him but one of the spears got through and punctured his right shoulder.
Blood sipped out of the wound and his blue robe around the wound darkened.
"First blood." Zhang Yusen shouted and the spectators went wild.
He followed the momentum of first blood and pursued Ya Daqiang around the martial platform.
Because of the wound in his shoulder, Ya Daqiang was a little sluggish but his eyes were still determined.
He observed his opponent and when Zhang Yusen went for the kill, Ya Daqiang sidestepped and delivered another slap.
This palm was different from what he used before and Zhang Yusen immediately noticed.
He felt some danger from the palm and wanted to escape but he couldn’t.
He felt like the palm carried a gravity of its own and he was trapped as long as he stood under it.
At a loss, he thrust his spear and met the palm.
However, the palm didn’t dissipate like the first.
Although it lost some momentum, it still landed on his body and he was sent flying, blood pouring out of his mouth.
"Who said that Ya Daqiang is not a match for Zhang Yusen? Senior Ya was only bidding his time." A spectator said excitedly.
"What are you getting excited about? Ya Daqiang hasn’t won yet."
The excited person couldn’t refute the matter and turned his attention to the fight.
When he did, he was just in time to see Zhang Yuesen standing up.
At this time, Zhang Yusen could no longer be arrogant.
He had injured Ya Daqiang’s shoulder but Ya Daqiang had given him internal injuries.
If the prolonged for much longer, he would be at a disadvantage.
"Ya Daqiang, I will show you my spear art." Zhang Yusen roared.
"Come." Ya Daqiang said and his body’s momentum increased.
His qi began to gather in his right palm but his eyes did not leave Zhang Yusen.
When it came to technique, Zhang Yusen had more variety. However, Ya Daqiang was confident in his practice.
Although he didn’t have variety, he had depth.
If he landed one gravity palm on Zhang Yusen, the match would be his.
Without hesitation, he continued to gather his qi and waited for Zhang Yusen to move.
A moment later, Zhang Yusen changed the way he gripped his spear and flew toward Ya Qaqiang.
At the same time, Ya Daqiang slapped the air and a large palm covered the platform.
The platform had a stronger gravity than the previous and Zhang Yusen became a little sluggish.
However, the momentum of his spear art did not weaken.
After arriving one metre in front of Ya Daqiang, he thrust his spear and Ya Daqian dodged at the last moment.
At the same time, Ya Daqiang’s palm fell on Zhang Yusen and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
However, Ya Daqiang was not in better shape.
He had used a lot of qi for the last palm and his face was extremely pale.
"I have won." He said and looked at Zhang Yusen.
"Is that so?" Zhang Yusen said and gave a bloody grin.
Ya Daqiang couldn’t understand Zhang Yusen’s reaction and was confused until he felt a pain in his stomach.
He looked down and saw that Zhang Yusen’s spear had penetrated his stomach and was sticking out of his back.
"How?" He asked in confusion.
"My spear art is called the ’mirage dragon spear art’. What you dodged was a mirage." Zhang Yusen explained and watched as Ya Daqiang fell backwards.
"It’s my win." He continued as he swallowed a rejuvenation pill.
"The champion of the sixth platform is Zhang Yusen." Lin Qian announced and the spectators cheered.
Zhang Yusen stepped down and his ally came to guard him as he recuperated in the rest area.
An incense stick of time later, all the battles ended and the results were announced.
On the first platform, the unknown cultivator from the poison valley won his round and Qin Yunwen won on the eighth platform.
