The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Chapter 41 Sharp Edge (Please Subscribe!)

The next day.

It was a bright, sunny day.

The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and banners fluttered in the wind.

The highly anticipated martial arts competition has officially begun.

In the center of the venue, ten enormous arenas were erected overnight in preparation for today's arena competition.

On the central high platform, the three important figures of the Guicang Alliance still sat in the center, while the surrounding stands were already filled with wealthy merchants and gentry.

The entire venue was filled with a noisy and bustling atmosphere.

Within the Green Ox Martial Arts Society camp.

Lin Chong was in a good mood. There was still some time before the official start of the fight. Just then, Shi Wanquan, the master of Iron Fist Manor, came over to chat, and the two started talking.

"Old Lin, you're truly enviable! You've taken on a fine disciple! I've long heard that Junior Nephew Lu Qing is exceptionally talented and gifted, and now that I've met him, he certainly lives up to his reputation—a handsome and distinguished young man! A hero indeed!"

"Not at all, not at all," Lin Chong laughed and brushed it off.

Lu Qing lowered his head, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

"It should be a sure thing for Junior Nephew Lu to enter the top ten. I heard that he has been practicing martial arts for less than three months. He will definitely be able to successfully break through to the next level and become a grandmaster. The future of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society is limitless!" Shi Wanquan said with a smile.

It's no wonder he said that. If Qingniu Martial Arts Society produces a top ten disciple, it will be enough to make it famous among all martial arts schools and societies. More young people with dreams will join in the future, and it will be hard for it not to prosper.

Lin Chong's gaze toward Lu Qing grew even more fervent; the hopes of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society rested entirely on this disciple.

The other disciples of the martial arts club also cast envious glances at Lu Qing. They too had dreamed of one day becoming a genius disciple praised by everyone and relied upon by Master Lin.

Lu Qing's gaze swept over the crowd unintentionally until it fell on Li Yuan, who remained calm. His gaze paused for a moment, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, a fleeting hint of hostility flashing in his eyes.

Everyone wants to showcase their abilities to gain more attention and investment.

This guy, however, is the opposite of Tian Gang. Despite being very powerful, he has always kept his abilities hidden and kept a low profile.

Just lie low. When I become famous and successful, you won't even have time to be envious.

Thinking that all the other disciples treated him with great respect, while Li Yuan was indifferent and even refused his invitation to take him into his circle, Lu Qing became furious.

Naturally, a hint of hatred crept into the corner of his eye.

"My dear nephew Shi Dazhuang is truly limitless and has a better chance of reaching the Transformation Realm," Lin Chong said humbly to Shi Wanquan.

Shi Dazhuang is Shi Wanquan's eldest son and one of the top ten contenders in this martial arts exam.

Shi Wanquan sighed, "It's not that easy. He's already failed twice. It'll be even harder from here on out."

There was an unspeakable sense of loss in his words.

"The difficulty of breaking through to the Transformation Realm is beyond imagination." Lin Chong sighed. "You and I have both been through it, and we have witnessed how many geniuses have stopped at the Dark Realm level, which is regrettable. But there is nothing we can do about it. As for the disciples, it depends on their individual talents and destiny."

Shi Wanquan deeply agreed, and in an instant, he seemed to recall many past events, a bitter look appearing on his face.

Just then, a deafening drumbeat rang out, and the official in charge strode onto the high platform.

The noise on the field gradually subsided until it was completely silent.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

The official's gaze swept across the audience below the stage before he announced, "The Linjiang City Martial Arts Examination, the arena competition, officially begins!"

The preliminary rounds used individual strength tests, while the main competition was a real, hard-fought boxing match.

"This martial arts test will be judged solely on the skill of fists and feet. Anyone found to have engaged in favoritism, cheating, or manipulation will be disqualified from the test and permanently banned from ever entering an examination hall again!"

A clear shout silenced the entire room.

With a powerful figure from the Guicang Alliance in charge, those opportunistic individuals who harbored fantasies naturally restrained their thoughts and dared not make any unauthorized attempts.

The official consulted with the chief examiner and, after receiving his permission, brought up a list of names.

"This martial arts exam has a total of ninety-seven candidates, divided into ten groups of nine to ten candidates each. The top two candidates in each group will advance to the finals!"

Li Yuan's heart stirred.

Surprisingly, so few candidates made it to the final competition.

I originally thought I would get at least a hundred or so.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. The strength test in the first preliminary round was meant to set a threshold.

Only those with genuine internal strength and a select few with top-tier external strength have a chance of passing the test.

This is also to minimize the consumption of resources, since even if 97 candidates enter the official competition, less than 20 will be able to reach the finals.

In the end, only ten people will be able to stand out and be listed as martial arts masters.

"Now, the group assignments will be announced. Please listen carefully!"

The officials began calling out names one by one and announcing the corresponding arenas.

Soon, Li Yuan heard his name called on the ninth arena.

On the platform, Xie Wanyi stared intently at the official announcing the order from the high platform until the official read out, "Li Yuan, Ninth Arena."

Then he looked around and finally breathed a sigh of relief when he found Li Yuan's figure in the Green Ox Martial Arts Society's camp.

For some inexplicable reason, she never expected that she would start paying attention to this lowly "peasant".

Perhaps it was because of Li Yuan's past help that she felt grateful; at least that's how she understood it.

"What's wrong?" Xie Yu noticed that her niece's expression was a little off and asked.

"No...it's nothing," Xie Wanyi stammered.

Dong Guan, on the other side, didn't think so. He had also noticed Xie Wanyi's strange behavior a long time ago.

He followed Xie Wanyi's gaze and saw Li Yuan's figure.

His gaze then turned somewhat cold.

"Nephew Dong, which arena did you get assigned to?" Xie Yu asked.

"Uncle, I have been assigned to the ninth arena."

Upon hearing that Dong Guan had also been assigned to the ninth arena, Xie Wanyi inexplicably shuddered.

Dong Guan is the ace of Tiger Might Martial Arts School and one of the most popular candidates to pass the martial arts exam.

If Li Yuan were to encounter him, he would likely be in grave danger.

However, each group can have two winners, and as long as Li Yuan doesn't encounter him beforehand, everything will be fine.

Xie Wanyi felt her mind was in a mess.

Why should I think about these things? What does it have to do with me?

Perhaps it's just simple curiosity about how far this country bumpkin can go... Yes, that must be it.

However, even without meeting Dong Guan, that kid wouldn't have been able to reach the finals.

A sigh escaped my lips.

After the officials on the high platform finished announcing their reports, a junior official posted the group notices on the bulletin board on one side of the venue.

If you didn't hear the group assignments clearly, you can check the bulletin board.

Sun Lu arrived a little late and squeezed to the front of the notice board.

Each group almost always consists of a seeded player who has a good chance of making it into the top ten, plus some relatively ordinary players.

It is relatively fair.

She looked through them one by one and finally saw Li Yuan's name in the area of ​​the ninth arena.

Thank goodness.

Similar to his own group, the fifth group consisted mostly of relatively weak competitors. Only Teng Wenjie from Qingfeng Martial Arts School had any real skill; many of the others hadn't even broken through to the Dark Force level. Li Yuan, that kid, must have gotten incredibly lucky...

and many more!

Sun Lu suddenly froze.

Because she saw a name: Dong Guan.

Others may not know Dong Guan's capabilities, but she knows them all too well.

The two were both students at the Tiger Might Martial Arts School and had sparred with each other many times, but she had never won!

She clenched her fists tightly, secretly worried for Li Yuan.

Indeed, there is no absolute fairness.

Fortunately, each group has two winning spots, so as long as Li Yuan doesn't encounter them early, everything will be fine.

Lin Chong stood in front of the bulletin board to check again, his expression very serious.

Group 10 is considered the group of death.

Not only is there Lu Qing, the most promising member of the Qingniu Martial Arts Club to enter the Qianqian, but there is also Xiao Yichen, the top favorite to win the finals!

I was right!

Tianlong Martial Arts School and Qingniu Martial Arts Society already had a history of grudges and entanglements. Xiao Yichen was a disciple of Tianlong Martial Arts School, and Lu Qing had only recently broken through to the Dark Force realm. If he encountered Xiao Yichen, his chances of survival would be slim.

Lin Chong's head was buzzing, and he swayed, almost falling over.

I just hope the two of them don't run into each other too soon.

He called Lu Qing to his side and said, "Lu Qing, in your group, it won't be difficult for you to win against the other contestants, but in the match against Xiao Yichen, you should immediately concede defeat."

"Why?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled.

"Xiao Yichen is the top favorite to win the championship. You haven't been practicing martial arts for very long, so you can't possibly be his match," Lin Chong said solemnly. "Flowing water doesn't compete for the lead, but for its continuous flow. If you compete with him, you'll damage your foundation, which is not worth it. Take some time to reflect, and in the next martial arts examination, you will surely stand out and be on the list!"

"Yes," Lu Qing replied reluctantly.

But in my heart, I still firmly believe:

Xiao Yichen may be strong, but should I avoid his sharp edge?

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