Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 83: Chapter 78: Fighting on Stage, Bantering Offstage

Groups of students have been completed.

A total of nine groups, each group consisting of eight members.

The Martial Arts Arena of the Martial Affairs Office is large enough, with students from the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls occupying the surrounding areas, leaving the center open for competitions.

At this moment.

A mere ten zhang away from the Martial Arts Arena stands the tallest building of the Martial Affairs Office: Wuchang Pavilion.

It is also the tallest building in all of Poyang County.

On the sixth floor of Wuchang Pavilion, Jiang Qing and other eight martial arts hall students are present, yet they do not converse with each other, their gazes fixed on the Martial Arts Arena.

These eight are the strongest students from each martial arts hall this year. Each harbors their own pride and naturally will not take the initiative to strike up conversations.

Two floors up, two men sit, dressed in light green official uniforms embroidered with the pattern of nine auspicious clouds.

Ninth-Grade Official’s Uniform.

In all of Poyang County, only two individuals are qualified to wear them: the Director of the Martial Affairs Office and the County Magistrate of Poyang County.

”Junior Brother Su has put a lot of thought into this competition,” He Ruyun sips on fragrant tea and remarks.

Su Lingchuan smiles slightly, ”In recent years, the Martial Path in Poyang County has waned. As the Director of the Martial Affairs Office, I can only think of every possible way to enhance the fighting spirit of the martial arts hall students.”

”Only Junior Brother Su could have achieved this. If it were anyone else, even with the will, it couldn’t be done.”

The words of Poyang County’s Magistrate He Ruyun came from his heart; rewarding several Acupoint Opening Pills wouldn’t have been possible if Su Lingchuan weren’t the direct disciple of the Director of the Military Affairs Department. The Rao Mansion Military Affairs Department might not have granted them.

It’s not that the Military Affairs Department couldn’t afford these Acupoint Opening Pills, but the pills are just the beginning. With the three-month competition awarding Acupoint Opening Pills, the rewards for the sixth month, the ninth month, and the year-end grand competition can only get higher.

Taken comprehensively, these rewards are quite generous, and the previous two Directors of the Martial Affairs Office would not have had such support from the Military Affairs Department.

”Senior Brother He, it’s not just Poyang County. The same is true for several other counties. The Military Affairs Department doesn’t favor one over the others.”

Su Lingchuan understood what his Senior Brother He was pondering and explained.

”The same for other counties?”

He Ruyun was thoughtful. As the County Magistrate, he was aware of the situations in other counties, but he was more concerned with the government office and livelihood affairs. He didn’t pay much attention to martial arts hall matters, except during county and prefecture examinations.

”Why is that?”

Su Lingchuan shook his head without speaking.

Seeing Su Lingchuan’s silent demeanor, He Ruyun gently rubbed his teacup, entertained a guess in his mind, and after a while, said, ”Junior Brother Su, would it be appropriate for our county government office to add an extra reward after this competition?”

”Senior Brother He’s support for Poyang’s martial path, how could I refuse? It is indeed appropriate, and on behalf of the martial arts hall students, I thank my Senior Brother.”

”Junior Brother is too kind. As the County Magistrate of Poyang, the martial arts hall students are also my Poyang people.”

He Ruyun laughed heartily. There were some things that didn’t need to be said explicitly. His probing had already been answered by his Junior Brother Su, which was sufficient.

Thinking carefully, that person has indeed reached the time to take this step.

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Martial Arts Arena.

The fight for Group A is presently underway.

In-group students step forward to draw lots, facing off two by two, with the losers eliminated and the winners advancing.

Lin Chen watched as Junior Sister Li lost in the second round to a fellow Six Acupoints student from the Seven Stars Martial Arts Hall, showing regret on his face as well.

Junior Sister Li still lacked in actual combat.

In this group, the eventual victor should be Zhang Qing from the Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall. Although he’s opened six acupoints, his mastery of Iron Collapse Fist rivals the Seven Acupoint students. He defeated his opponents in just a few moves in two consecutive matches.

The ferocity of the Iron Collapse Fist speaks for itself.

”Junior Brother Lin, if you were to face this Zhang Qing, would you stand a chance?” Fu Jingya asked curiously.

”Hard to say.”

Lin Chen shook his head, ”This person’s realm is not below mine; I haven’t sparred with any disciples from the Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall.”

”The Iron Collapse Fist is incredibly fierce, but its flaw is that it’s not yet at Small Success, making it prone to losing momentum. When facing disciples from the Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall, it’s best to avoid their sharpness and counterattack once their momentum wanes.”

Standing nearby, Kong Yinglei overheard the conversation between Lin Chen and Fu Jingya and offered a gentle reminder.

The competition for Group A was without suspense; there was not much discussion at the scene. Once the list of Grade A students was released, Zhang Qing’s victory was already anticipated by everyone.

”Zhang Qing wins, Group A competition is over, and Grade B contestants step forward to draw lots.”

As the referee from the Martial Affairs Office announced, the atmosphere became fervent; Group B would definitely be the most exciting group.

Among the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls, there were only twelve Seven Acupoint students. The two Seven Acupoint students from the Mountain Shaking Martial Arts Hall and Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall were both chosen as seeds, exempt from the first round.

The Mantis Martial Arts Hall had no Eight Acupoint students, only two Seven Acupoint students, one of whom also secured a seed position; thus, only nine Seven Acupoint students remained on the scene.

Group B suddenly had three Seven Acupoint students, destined for a fierce struggle.

”Senior Sister Gu, good luck!”

Lin Chen cheered for Gu Qingqing, but upon seeing Gu Qingqing’s puzzled expression, he realized that this world had no word for ”cheer up.”

”My Junior Brother wishes my Senior Sister victory on the first encounter.”

”I’ll take my Junior Brother’s kind words.”

Gu Qingqing smiled slightly; although she did feel some pressure upon seeing the in-group opponent list, she had already adjusted herself.

The results of Group B’s draw were quickly finalized. Seeing the results, Lin Chen and the others from Jingshui Martial Arts Hall were all smiling.

Senior Sister Gu was quite lucky; her first opponent was a Five Acupoints Apprentice from Seven Stars Martial Arts Hall. But this wasn’t the reason Lin Chen and the others were happy for Senior Sister Gu.

The reason for their joy was that the Seven Acupoints Apprentice from Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall and the Seven Acupoints Apprentice from Mantis Martial Arts Hall drew each other in the first round.

Even Kong Yinglei smiled, while on the other hand, Qi He from Clear Wind Martial Arts’ face turned dark. However, Lin Chen noticed that the Vice Hall Master from Mantis Martial Arts Hall had no change in expression.

”Does that apprentice from Mantis Martial Arts Hall have something special?”

In these intra-group battles, losing meant elimination. No apprentice would hold back; it would be an all-out battle. One would be prepared, the other weary from a big fight, and the gap between them would be considerable.

In the first match of Group B, Gu Qingqing easily defeated her opponent without any change in expression. Defeating a Five Acupoints opponent with her Seven Acupoint Realm wasn’t worth getting excited over.

In the second match of Group B, a Five Acupoints Apprentice from Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall faced a Six Acupoints apprentice from Gale Martial Arts Hall.

This battle lasted for a quarter of an hour, and the onlooking apprentices from Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall started to taunt.

”If you’re timid, don’t come to fight.”

”So the Gale Leg from Gale Martial Arts Hall is meant for running away—today, I’ve truly seen it!”

The Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall apprentices taunted, and the apprentices from Gale Martial Arts Hall naturally retaliated.

”What’s the use of boasting about the invincibility of Iron Collapse Fist if you can’t hit anything?”

”It’s laughable. Who said battling means standing still? If that’s the case, we might as well take turns punching until someone falls.”

”The Junior Brother’s right. Maybe they think that way, but if they do, I think Mountain Shaking Martial Arts Hall will win in the end, being the toughest to beat among the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls.”

The reason for the taunting between the two halls was that the Gale Martial Arts Hall apprentice chose to evade in the arena, taking advantage of his agility, and didn’t confront the Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall head-on.

The Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall apprentices cursed the Gale Martial Arts Hall apprentices as cowards, while the latter retaliated, claiming this was smart!

At Wuchang Pavilion.

Fei Hong from Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall sneered and looked at Zhang Qing not far off. ”Is this all the Gale Martial Arts Hall apprentices can do?”

”Whether they’re capable or not, you’ll see when the results are in.”

Zhang Qing replied bluntly. The Iron Blood apprentice below had not yet mastered the Iron Collapse Fist, and his punches hadn’t hit Junior Brother Chen, and he was already running out of stamina.

”I hope your legs can run as fast then.”

Fei Hong had also noticed his Junior Brother was running low on qi blood, and voiced his dissatisfaction, predicting defeat if this continued.

”You don’t need to worry about whether I can run that fast.”

While Fei Hong and Zhang Qing were having a verbal spat, the battle in the arena finally reached a conclusion.

The apprentice from Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall, pale and feeble, saw the Gale Martial Arts Hall apprentice’s attack opportunity brightening his eyes, leaping up, the Gale Leg cutting through the air, swift as wind, sweeping across.

”Fell for it!”

Watching below, Lin Chen softly noted.

Kong Yinglei caught Lin Chen’s comment, while Fu Jingya curiously asked, ”What do you mean, Junior Brother?”

But Lin Chen didn’t need to respond, the answer came from the arena.

As the Gale Martial Arts Hall apprentice’s leg was about to hit the Iron Blood apprentice, the Iron Blood apprentice surged with power, a punch breaking the air aimed at the leg.

Crack!

Everyone heard the sound of the Gale apprentice’s leg bone fracturing; the Iron Blood apprentice struck with full force, showing no mercy.

”Junior Brother Lin, how did you see through it?”

Seeing the Gale apprentice fall in pain on the ground, Fu Jingya was surprised and asked. Even she thought the Iron Blood apprentice was out of stamina earlier.

”If he really was out of stamina, his steps would be lighter, but he was steady on his feet, so I judged he was pretending, deliberately showing weakness to lure the opponent in.”

”Yes, Lin Chen’s observation was thorough. In martial arts competition, there’s no room for carelessness. The more cautious, the better,” Kong Yinglei approved of Lin Chen’s insight, also advising the other apprentices.

After this fight, the Iron Blood apprentices launched another round of ridicule, while the defeated Gale apprentices, despite their anger, had no ground to argue upon defeat.

The third match of Group B was very uneventful, with the Mountain Shaking Martial Arts Hall apprentice winning easily.

The fourth match promised excitement, with Qi He from Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, a Seven Acupoints practitioner, facing Meng Yuan from Mantis Martial Arts Hall.

Both had Seven Acupoints, but the crowd believed Qi He had a higher chance of winning. Mantis Fist was known for its weakness, making Mantis Martial Arts Hall the lowest among the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls.

This new batch of apprentices had only three halls without Eight Acupoints: Iron Blood, Mountain Shaking, and Mantis.

However, Iron Blood and Mountain Shaking’s lack of Eight Acupoint apprentices was expected, as their realm advancements were slower.

”Who do you think will win this one, Junior Brother Lin?”

Fu Jingya asked again, and Lin Chen twitched his mouth. Fu Senior Sister really liked to ask.

”Meng Yuan, I guess.”

After a brief pause, Lin Chen answered.

”But shouldn’t Qi He have a better chance of winning?”

Fu Jingya questioned, but recalling Lin Junior Brother had transferred from Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, she surmised he might hold a bias against them, hoping for Meng Yuan’s victory.

Seeing Fu Senior Sister’s ”I understand” expression, Lin Chen felt a bit helpless. What was Fu Senior Sister imagining now?