Chapter 124 – Poisoned

Chapter 124 – Poisoned

“This man is a martial instructor from the Wang family of Qing County. His name is Qian Li. Just maintain your usual level of performance.” Lin Wu was especially attentive to the students’ matches and personally accompanied Zhan Changfeng to the arena. “He’s very strong physically. It would be best if you can overcome him with speed.”

“Understood.”

A middle-aged man was already waiting on the arena stage. “Qian Li, at your service.”

“Yi Zhan.”

Qian Li wasted no time with pleasantries. He dropped into a half-squat, both hands braced on his knees, and stomped his left foot. His shoulders and back swelled enormously, his upper body expanding three or four times its normal size as knotted muscles burst through his shirt. He panted heavily, eyes wide as copper bells, like an enraged bull.

“Hah!” His right foot slammed down, and the entire arena stage shuddered!

A pale yellow glow spread from his fists across his shoulders and arms, True Qi surging.

“He’s cultivating the Giant Force Fist, isn’t he?”

“I’m afraid he’s already reached the Prenatal realm. Heavens, his cultivation level!”

“Minor Completion of the Prenatal realm — it’s actually Minor Completion! This time he’s going to claim a spot for sure!”

Qian Li clashed his fists together and charged at Zhan Changfeng with a great roar. Arena stage number four began to shake from his charge, and Zhan Changfeng could clearly sense that with each stomp of his feet, peculiar currents of qi spiraled outward from the ground, dragging at her speed.

Qian Li’s eyes grew increasingly red. “Take this — Meteor Storm!”

His savage fists rained down on Zhan Changfeng like a downpour, as though invisible craters were being punched into the air itself. Zhan Changfeng spun and dodged fluidly, seeming to be everywhere at once, giving Qian Li a taste of the frustration that came from facing a speed-type opponent — all that power he was unleashing still couldn’t fully restrain her.

Qian Li’s strikes grew heavier and more forceful, but Zhan Changfeng deflected a thousand pounds with four ounces, never meeting him head-on.

“Damn you!” Qian Li’s fury erupted, and he actually began burning his vital blood!

Burning vital blood was an act that consumed one’s life force. Moreover, those of lower cultivation had inherently weaker life force to begin with — such burning would likely damage his very foundation.

“Qian Li is putting his life on the line!”

“Who would’ve thought she could push him this far!”

Qian Li’s aura surged. Veins bulged across his exposed muscles. “ROAR!”

His True Qi-wreathed fist smashed violently toward the afterimage streaking past. Did he connect?

He did!

In that instant, Qian Li felt the triumph of certain victory — only to meet her calm, unruffled eyes.

A flash of movement, and his fist struck empty air. Qian Li’s sense of danger spiked, but it was already too late. A sword tip pressed against his throat, its slight sting drawing blood that mingled with sweat and spread in a halo.

Qian Li’s pupils contracted. She was standing right where his fist had landed. “Impossible — impossible! I clearly should have hit you!”

Zhan Changfeng looked toward the referee, who announced, “This round — number 157 wins!”

After descending from the stage, Lin Wu praised her. “I didn’t expect your speed to be that fast. You actually dissolved his entire fist technique with speed alone and finished him with a single sword strike.”

“Thank you for the earlier advice, Teacher Lin.” After a brief reply, Zhan Changfeng calmly walked into an empty, open pavilion meant for resting and used Penetrating Vision on herself.

She had killed plenty of Prenatal realm cultivators before. Although Cangyun Ravine’s Prenatal fighters were somewhat more skilled than those of Shenzhou, it made little difference. This victory was well within expectations — yet an unforeseen complication had still arisen.

She found a trace of toxin hidden in a corner of her body. Her eyelids lowered slightly. If not for her Penetrating Vision, she likely would never have detected it. This trace of poison had entered her body during the fight with Qian Li.

It lay dormant like a hibernating insect, quiet and still.

Zhan Changfeng wrapped it in True Qi for the time being, planning to find an antidote later. She cast a deep, measured look toward Qian Li. The man appeared to be furious over losing his chance at a Branch Academy spot — he was behaving erratically, shoving several people around until the referees forcibly escorted him away.

Of those who had been previously eliminated, only forty-one managed to claim spots this round. But before they could celebrate, the afternoon would bring a chaotic melee among all Branch Academy candidates.

When the midday session ended, Zhan Changfeng went looking for Qian Li, but the man had vanished without a trace. Something didn’t feel right.

Suppressing her doubts, Zhan Changfeng returned to the Martial Arena. All students from Qingbai Mountain Community School who had passed the first round of examinations were already gathered — counting her, there were only about a dozen.

“Come over here,” Lin Wu called out, then addressed the students. “Let me emphasize this one more time. Of the six hundred and seventy Branch Academy candidates, five hundred and seventy will be eliminated. The melee will be split across two arena stages, with fifty remaining on each. If you’re assigned to the same stage, look out for each other and endure through the melee. Understood?!”

“Understood.”

“Got it.”

Lin Wu deliberately glanced at Zhan Changfeng. His words were partly directed at her, since she had the highest cultivation among the students.

Zhan Changfeng understood his intent but did not agree outright. “It’s best to keep some distance from me. Of the six hundred and seventy, over a hundred are Prenatal realm cultivators. The final phase of the melee will inevitably be a battle among Prenatal fighters. It won’t necessarily be safe near me.”

“Wait — ” Cheng Zhigao grew anxious. “So by your logic, are we Postnatal realm fighters just doomed to be eliminated?”

“You can band together and adjust your strategy based on how the Prenatal fighters move. There are three key moments to watch for. The first: when the melee has just begun, actively seek out and eliminate weaker opponents. The second: when Prenatal fighters start attacking other Prenatal fighters — at that point, claim a corner of the stage. If possible, ambush wounded Prenatal fighters and take out as many as you can. The third: when nearly all the Postnatal fighters on stage have been eliminated, fortify your position and collectively prepare to withstand attacks from Prenatal fighters.”

The group was skeptical and looked to Lin Wu.

Lin Wu considered it for a moment. “What Yi Zhan says makes sense. When the time comes, Leng Yi’an or Leng Yuzi should take the lead. Try to ensure everyone keeps their spot.”

Leng Yi’an, having been called upon, said, “Then our best move is to seize one of the four corners the moment we get on stage and use it as our base for defense and offense.”

Zhan Changfeng met Leng Yi’an’s gaze and nodded in agreement. “Right. If I have the capacity, I’ll provide support nearby.”

Every student there knew full well that individually, it would be nearly impossible to secure a spot among so many Prenatal fighters. Hearing the plan laid out, they found it sound and voiced their agreement.

The referees called out exam token numbers by stage assignment. Nine of their group ended up on stage one, while three were assigned to stage two.

Leng Yuzi eyed the two unlucky souls assigned with her. “You can’t be serious — just the three of us on one stage?”

“We’re done for.”

Leng Yi’an felt a pang of worry for his sister. “Try to team up with students from other community schools. Keep pace with the flow of the melee.”

“The melee begins — all examinees, onto the stages!”

The moment the referee’s voice fell, six hundred and seventy people surged toward the stages, all clearly intent on seizing the initiative.

The instant they leaped onto the stage, the clash of weapons and the brutal impact of fist against flesh ensnared every survival-seeking examinee like a vast net. The battle had begun!

The students of Qingbai Mountain Community School set their sights on the eastern corner and fought their way toward it. Fists and feet flew in a blur. Down below, Lin Wu watched with his heart in his throat — the east side had at least three or four allied groups, plus two Prenatal fighters!

Lin Wu blinked — this was bad. That black-robed Prenatal fighter had turned on Leng Yi’an and the others!

Leng Yi’an’s eyes trembled. The blood-red axe descending toward his skull was caught and blocked just inches away.

The black-robed Prenatal fighter’s gaze turned cold. With a harsh scrape, the blood axe slid along the sword blade and slashed toward Zhan Changfeng. “Mind your own business!”

(End of Chapter)