Chapter 28

"Roxiu actually defeated Zhao Qishuang with just a second-rank martial art?"

"My eyes must be deceiving me. When did second-rank martial arts become so powerful? Zhao Qishuang's Seven Stars Saber Technique is already at a minor level. Even if a second-rank martial art reaches its peak, it shouldn't be this formidable."

"What do you know? I just heard a teacher say that Roxiu's Dragon Tiger Fist and Inch Step have already surpassed the peak and reached the realm of divine mastery!"

Amidst a chorus of exclamations, Roxiu instantly became the focus of attention, a hot contender for the top three.

"Reaching the realm of perfection with a second-rank martial art is indeed rare, but if he encounters the few from the advanced elite class, he will likely suffer a crushing defeat. After all, a second-rank martial art is still just a second-rank martial art."

Elder Li, after the initial excitement, quickly calmed down and analyzed the situation.

"Elder Li is right. Second-rank martial arts have their limitations. A third-rank martial art at its peak can easily suppress a second-rank martial art at the realm of perfection." Another elder agreed.

"It's just a second-rank martial art at the realm of perfection. When I face him, I'll make him realize that there are always higher mountains and better people!"

A young man in brocade clothing sneered, his voice loud enough for many nearby to hear clearly.

Many eyes turned to him, curious to see who would dare to speak so arrogantly.

However, when everyone saw him, their expressions changed.

"It's Feng Xuanzhu, the third-ranked expert in the advanced elite class, who is said to have mastered a third-rank sword technique!"

"So it's him. A third-rank sword technique at the peak level indeed has the right to look down on a second-rank martial art at the realm of perfection."

The competition continued, and soon only a dozen or so people remained, ready for the final showdown.

Roxiu also observed the matches of others and found that many were not weaker than himself.

After all, Qingyun City has a population of hundreds of thousands, and with the surrounding small towns and villages, a large number of new students enter the Martial Hall each year, from ages ten to eighteen, including many with extremely high martial talent.

Compared to those who showed exceptional talent from the beginning and made rapid progress, Roxiu knew that his rise was too short. To catch up with these people in less than half a year was already a significant achievement.

Among them was Feng Xuanzhu, who also practiced the Thunderbolt Sword Technique and had reached the peak level, just like Roxiu.

There was also Xu Qiusheng, ranked first, whose spear technique was divine and had reached the realm of perfection with a third-rank spear technique!

And Han Shan, ranked second, who was born with immense strength, and whose attacks could rival a third-rank martial technique. He also practiced a third-rank defensive martial technique, Hard Qi Gong, which allowed him to cover his body with internal energy, making him immune to ordinary attacks.

After another round of eliminations, the final results were as expected. Xu Qiusheng, Han Shan, and Feng Xuanzhu all won easily, almost predestined to be the top three.

After all, the most important rewards in the entire competition were for the top three.

Compared to these three, Roxiu, though outstanding, was not favored by many. However, reaching this stage at the age of fourteen was already a highlight of this year's competition.

Four people competing for the top three, according to the rules, each person must face each other, and the rankings will be determined by the number of victories.

At this moment, Feng Xuanzhu suddenly walked up to Roxiu and sneered, "Kid, you've been making quite a fuss. When you face me, I'll make you lose miserably!"

Roxiu frowned. He had never offended Feng Xuanzhu, so why was this guy so hostile?

However, Roxiu also knew that some people always think the world revolves around them and get upset when others stand out. Feng Xuanzhu was probably one of those people.

"Is reaching the peak of a sword technique so impressive? Who will lose miserably is yet to be seen!" Roxiu's fighting spirit was high, eager to challenge the top experts of the advanced elite class.

The first match was between Xu Qiusheng and Han Shan, one with a divine spear technique of immense power, the other with innate strength and a combination of offense and defense.

Han Shan's weapon was a mountain cleaving saber, each move broad and sweeping, creating a howling wind and raising dust.

Although his attacks were strong, they couldn't touch Xu Qiusheng. The silver spear moved like a dragon, covering all of Han Shan's vital points.

Han Shan could only activate Hard Qi Gong to resist, but being hit multiple times in the same spot, he finally spat out a mouthful of blood, stepped back, and conceded defeat.

Next, the two left the stage to rest and recover from the battle.

Feng Xuanzhu leaped onto the stage, one hand behind his back, the other pointing at Roxiu, looking down from a height and saying arrogantly, "I will defeat you in three moves!"

Seeing Feng Xuanzhu's provocative attitude towards Roxiu, many in the audience looked at Roxiu with a mix of schadenfreude.

Feng Xuanzhu was a top expert firmly in the top three, far above the level of Roxiu's previous opponents.

"Defeat me in three moves? What a big mouth! Does he think he's a Qi Sea martial artist?" Roxiu leaped onto the stage and sneered, "I'd like to see how you defeat me in three moves."

"Open your eyes and watch carefully!" A cold light flashed in Feng Xuanzhu's eyes.

"Whoosh!"

As he spoke, his figure blurred and instantly appeared in front of Roxiu, moving as fast as a ghost, causing a chorus of exclamations from the audience.

"What incredible speed!"

"Third-rank movement technique, Shift and Transform, is far superior to Roxiu's second-rank Inch Step!"

Clearly, Feng Xuanzhu's speed left many in awe and admiration.

Speed? Is speed alone useful?

A sneer of disdain appeared on Roxiu's lips. In the Eight-Forked Mountains, he had encountered a second-level beast, the Spotted Shadow Cat, whose speed was almost invisible to the naked eye. Compared to that, Feng Xuanzhu's speed was nothing.

It was during that battle with the Spotted Shadow Cat, under the pressure of life and death, that Roxiu mastered the technique of precision and his Inch Step movement technique reached the realm of perfection.

He had also integrated his movement technique with his sword technique, successfully killing the Spotted Shadow Cat.

Feng Xuanzhu was very confident, not drawing his sword but using the scabbard to strike Roxiu's head.

But Roxiu, as he had done with others, simply shifted his feet slightly and easily avoided the attack, unscathed.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!..."

Feng Xuanzhu pushed his movement technique to the limit, attacking continuously, but couldn't even touch a corner of Roxiu's clothes.

"Damn! Is this really a second-rank Inch Step? It feels more powerful than a third-rank movement technique."

The audience was in a state of shock, all eyes fixed on the calm and composed Roxiu, their jaws almost hitting the ground.

In fact, Roxiu's movement technique had long transcended the original second-rank Inch Step. After improving it through the Life Meridian Diagram, it could rival a third-rank martial technique.

This meant that Roxiu's boxing and martial techniques were actually at the realm of perfection of a third-rank martial technique!

This scene moved even the Master of the Martial Hall, who was watching from the upper floor. His smile disappeared, and his eyes narrowed, focusing intently on Roxiu.

He was a powerful figure, half a step into the Martial Master realm, with a perspective and insight far beyond that of other elders.

At first, he couldn't see much, as Roxiu's opponents were relatively weak, but Feng Xuanzhu had mastered a third-rank movement technique to a high level. This contrast finally revealed the truth.

"What a Roxiu, to have mastered a second-rank martial technique to the level of a third-rank martial technique. This isn't just a genius; it's a prodigy!"

He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. As the Master of the Martial Hall, he held a high position in Qingyun City, but in the entire Yunlong County, it wasn't much.

If Qingyun City could produce a top genius to join the Free and Easy Sect, he would have the credit of recommending them, possibly earning a reward from the sect, giving him a chance to break through to the Spirit Refinement realm!

In fact, the situation of the Master of the Martial Hall in each city was similar. Their cultivation had reached half a step to the Spirit Refinement realm, with their potential almost exhausted, making it difficult to advance further.

Thus, the Free and Easy Sect gave them an opportunity, dispatching them to manage the Martial Halls in various cities. If they could recommend a top genius to join the sect, they would receive a Spirit Refinement Pill as a reward, allowing them to advance to the Spirit Refinement realm.

From the innate to the Spirit Refinement realm was a huge threshold. Once broken through, one could live for eight hundred years, with more time to pursue higher realms.

If one couldn't break through to the Spirit Refinement realm, they would only live for a hundred years or so, with their body gradually aging, their qi and blood weakening, and their strength declining, making it even harder to break through.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two sounds rang out as Roxiu and Feng Xuanzhu almost simultaneously drew their swords.

"Peak sword technique?"

The Master of the Martial Hall was surprised again but quickly calmed down. A prodigy who could make a second-rank martial technique as powerful as a third-rank martial technique and master a sword technique in two months seemed reasonable.

In the arena, Feng Xuanzhu's arrogance was gone. Although both were at the peak level of the Thunderbolt Sword Technique, Roxiu's sword technique was stronger and faster, completely overwhelming him.

In terms of movement technique, he was inferior to Roxiu, and in terms of sword technique, he was also inferior to Roxiu!

Thinking back to his earlier boast of defeating Roxiu in three moves, Feng Xuanzhu felt his face burning with shame, knowing this would become a huge laughingstock.

"Hum!"

The sword light arrived instantly, and Feng Xuanzhu's body froze. Roxiu's black war sword was just a hair's breadth from his throat!

"I... I concede!"

Feng Xuanzhu almost bit through his teeth, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.

He knew he had lost, not just in the competition but also in terms of his dignity and mindset.

On the upper floor, the Master of the Martial Hall took a deep breath, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair.

Mastering a top third-rank Pure Yang Technique, breaking through from the second level to the ninth level of Body Refinement in five months, and mastering the Thunderbolt Sword Technique in two months, integrating it with his movement technique, making him unmatched below the Qi Sea realm!

Any of these achievements alone would be worthy of the title of genius, and all of them happening to the same person...

The third match continued, with Xu Qiusheng and Roxiu each winning one, tying for first place. It was now Han Shan's turn to face Feng Xuanzhu. Whoever won would temporarily rank higher.

"Haha, little bamboo, your face looks like a bitter gourd. Did you cry after losing one match?" Han Shan walked onto the stage, his voice deep and laughing.

"Big dummy, I'm not a match for Roxiu, but you can only be my target!" Feng Xuanzhu snorted, drawing his sword.

"Haha, come on, be careful not to get flattened by my mountain cleaving saber!"

The two stood facing each other, both at the peak of the ninth level of Body Refinement, their internal energy glowing on their bodies.