Gao Wu: I became a saint through daily settlements

Below the stage, in the waiting area for martial artists from Handong Province.

"Just who is this Lin Yue?"

"That's amazing?" a boy with a neat buzz cut exclaimed in shock.

In terms of martial arts alone, Handong Province is second only to Tianjing Province in strength. Chen Xue, as one of the best among the younger generation in Handong Province, was defeated by Lin Yue so quickly, which surprised many people.

"Not only Lin Yue, but Zhou Yuanwu is also from Jiang Province, right? He actually fought his way through to the top eight!"

"When did Jiangxi Province become so strong? In previous years, it was only at a mid-level, not even comparable to Handong or Jiangbei, let alone southern Anhui or Jiangsu!"

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, their faces filled with disbelief.

In the Southeast martial arts circle, Jiang Province has a mediocre martial arts atmosphere, moderate resources, and a severe shortage of top talents, and is consistently overshadowed by Handong and Jiangbei provinces.

It's outrageous that neither Jiangbei Province nor Handong Province can compete with Jiang Province.

This competition, ostensibly a friendly exchange, is in reality a contest among the younger generation of martial arts masters from various martial arts halls, who represent the new generation's martial arts prowess in the province.

Therefore, although the reward was not very generous, the provincial lords valued it highly.

The boy with the buzz cut turned to look at Chen Xue, who stood silently beside him, his tone tinged with a mixture of probing and regret:

"Senior Sister Chen Xue, did you underestimate your opponent before the match, which is why you were defeated by Lin Yue? With your strength, you shouldn't have lost so decisively."

Chen Xue's body stiffened slightly, and the confidence and composure she usually displayed on her delicate face faded, leaving only a hint of solemnity and desolation.

"I did not underestimate my opponent."

She knew in her heart that she had given it her all without holding back, but the difference in strength between the two of them was still clearly visible.

Her opponent's swordsmanship was sharp and domineering, his movements unpredictable, and his offensive and defensive rhythm was flawless. He suppressed her from beginning to end, leaving her no chance to turn the tide.

"But he's clearly only at the mid-stage of the Martial Artist realm!" Another disciple couldn't help but exclaim, his face full of confusion.

"How can someone with mid-stage Martial Artist cultivation level crush someone with late-stage Martial Artist cultivation level?"

"Even Han Lie, who was very popular in previous years and was also a top expert in the late stage of the Martial Realm, was no match for him."

"If he really had such extraordinary strength, he couldn't have been completely unknown in the martial arts world before."

The geniuses and strongmen in the Southeast martial arts circle can generally be traced. Top peers like Han Lie and Zhao Lingyun have already made their mark in various competitions and their reputations have spread throughout many provinces.

Just as everyone was discussing this, a steady and powerful footstep slowly approached.

A tall, upright, and dignified young man with well-defined muscles walked slowly into the crowd.

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

The crew-cut boy quickly stepped aside, his expression respectful.

Zhao Lingyun, the number one martial artist in the Handong headquarters, is the most popular candidate to win the championship in this competition.

Zhao Lingyun glanced indifferently at everyone and casually asked:

"What were you all discussing just now? It was quite a lively discussion."

The boy with the buzz cut quickly replied truthfully:

"Senior Brother Zhao, we were talking about Lin Yue, who just defeated Senior Sister Chen Xue. Nobody expected that such a powerful figure would emerge from Jiang Province."

"Chen Xue's loss was not unjust. Han Lie had fought him before and also lost. This person's strength far exceeded his apparent cultivation level."

"I watched his match," Zhao Lingyun said calmly.

"His swordsmanship has reached the level of double strength, and his agility is also quite good."

"Double force?!"

Upon hearing these four words, all the disciples present instantly narrowed their eyes, gasped in unison, and their faces were filled with extreme shock.

It is common knowledge in the martial arts world that the double-strength technique is the advanced essence of the second-tier sword technique. It requires an ultimate understanding and control of the sword technique's mysteries and the circulation of strength, and even countless martial arts masters at the peak of their cultivation level find it difficult to comprehend.

Lin Yue, who was only at the mid-stage of the Martial Artist realm, had already cultivated a second level of strength. Such talent was extremely rare, even in the Han Dong headquarters, where experts gathered.

A newly recruited disciple, looking puzzled, couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother Zhao, what is double-level strength?"

Zhao Lingyun patiently explained, "Second-tier swordsmanship is divided into three levels of power. The first level of power is the basic exertion of force, which is fierce and straightforward."

"Double force is the accumulation and superposition of power. One blade contains two forces. The first force breaks through the defense, and the second force injures the person."

"The triple force is the perfect state, where the force is layered and the power is doubled. The details of the force may vary slightly between different sword techniques, but the core essence is largely the same."

"Senior Brother Zhao, are you confident if you face him?" the crew-cut boy couldn't help but ask.

Zhao Lingyun did not answer directly, but simply smiled faintly.

"Let's talk about it when he can come up to me."

……

At 10:00 AM, the third round of the knockout stage continued.

Jing Ruoyi makes her appearance, facing off against Su Wanqing from the Jiangsu Provincial Branch Hall.

This is a battle of speed against speed.

Jing Ruoyi used a pair of short daggers, following an extremely fast attack strategy, striking like lightning, each move aimed directly at vital points.

Su Wanqing wielded a willow-leaf knife, her swordsmanship was subtle and unpredictable, and she excelled at close combat.

The two fought so fast that ordinary people in the audience couldn't see their movements at all; they could only see two figures constantly clashing on the stage, with the sounds of metal clashing as dense as rain.

Three minutes later, Jing Ruoyi seized a tiny opening in Su Wanqing's defenses, her short dagger grazing the back of the willow-leaf knife as she aimed straight for her shoulder socket.

Su Wanqing hurriedly dodged, but her sleeve was still pierced, and blood seeped from her shoulder.

"I concede." Su Wanqing decisively sheathed her sword and retreated.

She wasn't seriously injured, but she clearly realized that if she continued fighting, she would undoubtedly lose.

"Seventh Arena, Jing Ruo wins!"

At this point, all three members of the Jiangcheng branch have advanced to the quarterfinals.

In the waiting area, Zhou Yuanwu was as excited as a child.

"Three! All three of us are in the top eight! Jiang Province Martial Arts Hall is really going to become famous this time!"

Jing Ruoyi remained as calm as ever, but the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth betrayed his true feelings.

Lin Yue opened his eyes, stood up, and stretched his shoulders.

"Have the quarterfinal matchups been announced?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the holographic screen above the training ground refreshed.

Quarterfinal matchups:

Upper half:

Zhao Lingyun (Handong Headquarters) VS Zhou Chuchu (Southern Anhui)

Lin Yue (Jiangcheng) VS Wang Hao (Jiangbei)

Lower half:

Zhou Yuanwu (Jiangcheng) VS Jing Ruoyi (Jiangcheng)

Zhang Chen (Handong Headquarters) VS Chen Feng (Southern Anhui)

The waiting area in Jiangxi Province fell silent for a moment upon seeing the match schedule.

"Me... facing Jing Ruoyi?" Zhou Yuanwu's smile froze.

Jing Ruoyi also frowned slightly; the situation of this civil war was indeed not ideal.

"A civil war..." Zhao Hengshan walked over, looked at the battle schedule, and then looked at Zhou Yuanwu and Jing Ruoyi.

"There's nothing we can do; when it comes to drawing lots, it's all about luck." He patted Zhou Yuanwu on the shoulder.

"Since you two have run into each other, just fight it out. It doesn't matter who wins, since you're both from Jiang Province anyway."

Zhou Yuanwu nodded with a wry smile.

That's what I said, but when it comes to actually facing my teammates whom I spend every day with, I still feel a little awkward.

"Alright, let's fight!" Zhou Yuanwu nodded, then turned and slashed at Lin Yue who was standing to the side.

"Are you confident against Wang Hao?"

confidence?

Given Lin Yue's current level, he's at least invincible among those below the Martial Master level, if not one-for-one with those above.

"certainly."

"Good, very energetic!" Zhao Hengshan nodded.

"Young people should have this kind of confidence!"

On the other side, in the temple master's communication area.

"Palace Master Wan," Sun Yi said respectfully.

The middle-aged man before us is Wan Yu, the head of the Starry Sky Martial Hall in Handong Province and the chief person in charge of the Martial Halls in the twelve southeastern provinces.

He held a high position and wielded great power, comparable to a provincial governor, and even more so in terms of real authority. He was the top leader in the entire Southeast martial arts circle and the direct superior of Tang Long, Sun Yi, and other local hall masters.

"It's quite lively," Wan Yu said with a smile.

Sun Yi greeted him with a smile and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Palace Master Wan, why have you come in person?"

"I heard that some promising talents have emerged this year, so I came to take a look." Wan Yu's gaze swept across the martial arts arena and finally landed on the quarterfinal match-up.

"Jiang Province is on a very strong upward trend this year."

A strong momentum? Absolutely, three of the top eight are from Jiangsu Province.

Wan Yu turned to look at Tang Long, the acting hall master of Jiang Province, beside him, and asked in a deep voice:

"Palace Master Tang, I remember that the Jiang Province Division Martial Hall has always been managed entirely by you, right?"

Tang Long nodded upon hearing this.

This person is comparable to a provincial governor, and his power is even greater than that of a provincial governor.

However, he was merely the head of a branch temple at the city level, and in terms of status, he was slightly inferior to the mayor, so he had no choice but to be respectful.

"Well done!" Wan Yu exclaimed.

"There are a total of 12 provinces in the Southeast. What was Jiang Province's ranking in the Southeast last year?" Wan Yu asked.

"6th place."

"Sixth place." Wan Yu murmured for a moment, his eyes filled with even greater approval.

"Such a significant improvement in just one year is truly remarkable."

"That's a huge improvement!"

Upon hearing this, many people understood the implied meaning.

Wan Yu's personal praise means that the annual ranking of Jiang Province Martial Hall will definitely improve significantly this year, and the corresponding martial arts resources, training quotas, and financial support will all see a qualitative leap.

……

At 2 p.m., the training ground was packed.

The quarterfinals are far more competitive than the group stage; none of those who have made it this far are weak.

Lin Yue stood in the waiting area, the blade of his longsword reflecting the lights and gleaming with a cold light.

"Arena No. 3, Lin Yue (Jiangcheng Branch) VS Wang Hao (Jiangbei Branch)! Both contestants, please step onto the stage immediately!"

As the broadcast sounded, Lin Yue took a deep breath, picked up his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), and walked towards the arena.

Wang Hao walked over from the other side, carrying a pair of octagonal bronze hammers. Each hammerhead was the size of a basketball, and the weight was estimated to be no less than 100 kilograms.

In the audience, someone gasped.

"An octagonal bronze hammer? The weight of this thing..."

"Wang Hao is a well-known powerhouse in the Jiangbei branch. It is said that he can lift more than 800 jin with one hand."

"Power type vs. power type? This is going to be interesting."

The two stepped onto the arena at the same time, and energy shields rose up.

The referee scanned both sides, confirmed that the equipment was correct, and then swung his right hand down suddenly:

"The match begins!"

Before he finished speaking, Wang Hao had already moved.

He was burly, but his explosive power was astonishing. The tiles on the arena beneath his feet were cracked like a spider web, and he was like a heavy tank, crushing towards Lin Yue.

The octagonal copper hammers, one in front and one behind, whistled through the air as they smashed towards Lin Yue's head and chest.

This move is completely devoid of any fancy techniques; it's pure, overwhelming power.

Lin Yue did not take the blow head-on. Instead, he used the Wave-Treading Steps to the side, barely avoiding the first blow.

The second blow followed immediately, blocking his path to the side.

"clang--!"

Lin Yue parried with his sword, the blade of the long sword colliding head-on with the copper hammer, sparking dazzling sparks.

A tremendous force came from the blade, and Lin Yue's arm went slightly numb, while the floor tiles beneath his feet shattered once more.

"What incredible strength!" Lin Yue thought to himself in surprise.

Wang Hao's strength is definitely above Han Lie's.

"Haha, that's great!" Wang Hao laughed loudly.

The two hammers struck in quick succession, each blow powerful and heavy, their shadows overlapping like small mountains pressing down.

Lin Yue fought and retreated, constantly parrying with his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) while using his movement techniques to deflect the force.

He needs to find a suitable opportunity to unleash the dual force of the Dark Surge Blade Technique.

Wang Hao's offensive was like a storm, hammer after hammer, giving Lin Yue no chance to breathe.

"This Wang Hao has a lot of combat experience," Zhao Hengshan said, frowning, from the audience.

"He realized that Lin Yue's dual strength needed a short period of charging, so he kept using fast attacks to suppress him."

Zhou Yuanwu clenched his fists nervously: "What about Lin Yue?"

"Wait," Jing Ruoyi said calmly.

"Wait until Wang Hao's strength declines, or until he reveals a weakness on his own."

"This kind of explosive style of play cannot last long."

On the arena, Lin Yue was also waiting.

Wang Hao's offensive was indeed fierce, but each strike required a lot of physical strength, and he couldn't withstand such a high-intensity attack for long.

Three minutes have passed.

Five minutes passed.

Wang Hao's hammering speed finally slowed down, and his breathing became rapid.

A glint flashed in Lin Yue's eyes—now's the time!

Instead of retreating, he charged forward, his broadsword swirling horizontally, the blade drawing an arc in the air.

Wang Hao's pupils contracted sharply, and he crossed his hammers to block in front of him.

"clang--!"

A deafening roar.

The first wave of force broke through the copper hammer's defense.

The second force, passing through the copper hammer, slammed directly into Wang Hao's arms.

Wang Hao felt a jolt in his arms, his tiger's mouth went numb, and the copper hammer almost slipped from his grasp.

"this--"

Before he could react, Lin Yue's second slash had already arrived.

This strike was faster and more ruthless, the blade aimed straight for his chest.

Wang Hao gritted his teeth and used all his strength to raise the bronze hammer to block.

With another loud clang, this strike, though lacking the double force, still possessed astonishing power.

Wang Hao retreated three steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the arena. Finally, he knelt on one knee, his copper hammer planted firmly on the ground, barely managing to steady himself.

He raised his head, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

"Okay! Let's do it again!"

Lin Yue looked at him and did not continue the attack.

"You can still fight?"

"Nonsense!" Wang Hao stood up, shook his numb arms, and gripped the copper hammer again.

"Admit defeat? That's not my style, Wang Hao."

He charged forward again, slower than before, but his momentum remained undiminished.

Lin Yue took a deep breath and swung his Mo Dao again.

"Let's do it again!"

He didn't hold back with this strike, unleashing the full power of his double-force attack.

Lin Yue had initially held back because they were both martial artists from the Starry Sky Martial Hall.

However, since Wang Hao had already said that, Lin Yue had no choice but to comply!

Among martial artists, mercy is the greatest weakness!

"clang--!"

Wang Hao's copper hammer was blasted away, and he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the energy shield.

He slipped to the ground, struggled a couple of times, but couldn't get up.

"Lin Yue wins on Arena Number Three! Advances to the semifinals!"