I was told I'd be a late bloomer, but I was born with the potential to achieve great things!

beat!

Why not fight?

Whether you perform one show or a second show, it's still a performance; the only difference is the level of difficulty.

Once this opportunity to obtain resources openly and legitimately is missed, it may not be so easy in the future.

When it's time to fight, Zhou An will definitely fight for it.

After his sect leader's outburst, his popularity won't be low for a while, and he won't be able to keep a low profile even if he wants to.

only......

"This disciple is willing to go again!"

Under the intense gazes of the crowd, Zhou An spoke after careful consideration.

"However, this disciple has one condition."

"Please feel free to speak."

Li Shanming smiled and nodded.

"In the second match, I will do my best to force out the true nature of that willow-leaf knife, but after this battle, I will need half a year of training."

During these six months, this disciple will not undertake any tasks, but the sect must guarantee the disciple's resources and safety for cultivation, so that the disciple can concentrate on refining the skin membrane.

"Yes, that's perfectly normal."

To Zhou An's surprise, Li Shanming didn't even try to bargain, but simply nodded and agreed.

broken.

I underestimated the importance of this arena competition to the sect.

Zhou An felt a deep sense of regret.

In fact, he didn't even expect the other party to agree to six months.

After all, with the Seven Mysteries Sect and the Black Tiger Gang fighting so fiercely, Zhou An's real wish was only three months.

Because he had already mastered the Tiger Roar Bone Forging Technique, Zhou An was confident that, with sufficient resources, he could forge iron bones within ten days using the foundation of the Golden Skin.

Three months.

Three months was enough for him to forge the golden bones and begin to work on the jade bones that Elder Huang Huayuan had mentioned.

But this is for the best.

With abundant resources, after half a year of arduous cultivation, he could not only condense jade bones, but perhaps even enter the internal organs realm to undergo blood exchange.

"I'm going to have to fight even harder to win this second match."

Thinking of this, Zhou An thought to himself.

Since the sect has become exceptionally tolerant, once he wins the second match, he will surely be able to request another Earth-rank sword technique.

After half a year, he might become invincible among the martial artists in Ningshan City who are at the internal organs level.

"You kid, you've really mastered the sword's edge?"

Guo Tao's eyes widened in surprise when he saw that Zhou An actually dared to make demands.

His presence here was ostensibly at the behest of a sect elder, who was urging Zhou An to step in at a crucial moment, but in reality, it was a reminder to him not to act impulsively.

After all, he was a disciple he had trained, so how could Guo Tao bear to see him crippled?

After a defeat... it's easy to imagine that the Bajiquan martial arts school will show no mercy whatsoever.

"Almost there."

Looking at Guo Tao, whose eyes were wide open, Zhou An felt a little guilty.

He couldn't very well say, "As your disciple, I can easily take you down," that would be too disrespectful to the coach who helped him secure resources and reminded him not to be reckless.

Huang Huayuan might be considered his nominal master, but Guo Tao could definitely be called his disciple.

"Don't worry, I'm not a fool like Feng Hui."

Seeing that Guo Tao's expression was off, Zhou An quickly said something.

"Once on stage, the disciple will inevitably linger on the edge of the arena, and will jump down immediately if the situation is not right."

If we're lucky, we might even win another game.

Zhou An subtly suggested that Guo Tao could bet on himself before the second match began.

"Let's talk about it after you win."

Guo Tao snorted coldly, and it was unclear whether he understood or not, but he began to patiently explain the situation of Lu Yangping, the man with the willow-leaf knife, to Zhou An.

"The second match will begin in about half a cup of tea's time, between Zhou An of the Seven Mysteries Sect and Lu Yangping of the Eight Extremes Martial Arts School with his Willow Leaf Blade."

Soon, both sides finalized the personnel for the armed conflict.

In an instant, the martial arts arena, which had gradually quieted down, became bustling again.

"That kid actually wants to go on stage?"

Almost the instant they heard Zhou An's name, the gamblers at the Extreme Martial Arts Academy's eyes lit up, and they immediately asked their fellow disciples what the current odds were.

"Senior Brother Lin, you're not still planning to bet on Zhou An, are you?"

Seeing that this senior brother had already started to breathe heavily, everyone in the Limitless Martial Arts Academy froze, their eyes turning strange.

"That's Lu Yangping, the Willow Leaf Blade. If it weren't for his pursuit of the Gold Skin, he would have passed the martial arts examination last year."

Someone cautiously reminded him, fearing that this senior brother Lin might get carried away with gambling again.

"You don't understand, the art of gambling is all in."

Senior Brother Lin waved his hand, looking every bit the gambling god, and said in a profound and unfathomable way.

"If it were a fist technique, I would never bet on Zhou An, but this is a weapon... that cannot be won by brute force alone."

Zhou An of the Seven Mysteries Sect doesn't seem like a brainless person.

At this point, Senior Brother Lin's eyes gleamed, and he quickly addressed his fellow disciples.

"If you trust me, lend me all the money."

Seeing that everyone was shaking their heads and remaining silent, Senior Brother Lin had no choice but to go and place his bets himself.

"Why don't we give it a try... It seems like this is the only way for us to break even."

Seeing their senior brother Lin leave so decisively, some of those who had bet on Feng Hui immediately hesitated, while a few bolder ones gritted their teeth and followed him.

Such examples can be seen everywhere in the arena.

Soon, the bell rang.

"Senior Brother Liu, you must be careful."

Seeing Lu Yangping, the scalpel expert about to appear, Feng Hui hesitated for a moment, then, disregarding whether he would lose face, he braced himself and spoke to him.

"Zhou An may not be as good as me in fist fighting, but his swordsmanship is definitely several times more powerful. We must not be careless."

"..."

Lu Yangping glanced at Feng Hui, then turned and left.

"Don't worry, junior brother, I will get it back for you."

"Senior Brother Lu, you absolutely have to win! I've staked everything on you."

Unlike his silence when facing Feng Hui, Lu Yangping raised his knife when facing the gazes of his fellow disciples and acquaintances.

Because he also bet on himself, all in.

It wasn't because he enjoyed gambling, but because as a swordsman, he had absolute confidence in himself.

"The Lancet, Lu Yangping!"

On the arena, Lu Yangping, dressed in a white outfit, held a knife in his left hand behind him, stepped forward with his right foot, and stood with the knife on his back, looking like a ferocious beast ready to pounce at any moment.

"Is this guy crazy, or has he become obsessed with sword practice, actually referring to himself with 'sword' as a prefix?"

Looking at Lu Yangping in front of him, Zhou An took three steps back and responded with his sword in hand.

"clang!"

The next moment, the bells, symbolizing the start of the armed conflict, rang out.

retreat!

Before Lu Yangping could use his concealed knife technique, Zhou An quickly retreated towards the edge of the arena.

"Um?"

Lu Yangping frowned slightly and began to retract the foot he had stepped out with.

"Whoosh!"

A moment later, Zhou An leaned against the edge of the arena and drew his sword.

"This sword is named Qingfeng. It is three feet and three inches long and is forged from fine iron. Since this sword came into my hands, I have never been defeated."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou An pointed his sword tip directly at Lu Yangping, who was several feet away, revealing an arrogant expression.

You dare to come.

I dare to jump.

If you don't dare to come, we'll wait together until the end of time.

After his initial arrogance, Zhou An glanced at the burning incense in the distance, and when his eyes met Lu Yangping's, a sly smile appeared on his face.

......