Chapter 104: Chapter 104: A Changed Person

Shanliang Martial Arts Hall.

This was one of the larger martial arts halls in Yuanhe Prefecture City, roughly the same size as Huangtong Mansion’s Wuxiang Martial Arts Hall, and backed by one of the Great Da Qi’s ten major sects, the Qing Emperor Sect.

However, the level of martial arts halls in various prefectural cities was essentially similar.

The trainers were mostly Ninth or Eighth Rank Martial Artists, and only some special high-end ones or one-on-one private training trainers were of the Seventh Rank.

The apprentices were all at the yet-to-enter-rank level.

On this day, at dawn.

At the morning training ground of Shanliang Martial Arts Hall, because the morning exercises had not yet started and the morning trainers had not arrived, apprentices gathered in small groups, discussing a popular topic. The martial arts competition soon to be held by the Wang Family.

And at the heart of this topic was the apprentice universally acknowledged as the eldest brother, hailed as the strongest below Ninth Rank in Yuanhe Prefecture City, Li Zhe.

“Brother Li, I heard that your elder only just reached his fifties, and he is already a high-level Seventh Rank master. It’s just a pity he doesn’t have Secret Six Rank martial arts to make a further breakthrough. There will definitely be an opportunity this time, right?”

“Do you even need to ask? That’s for sure not a problem. With decades of Martial Path experience, after stepping into the Seventh Rank, Brother Li’s strength is definitely not comparable to those young ones.”

“By then, if Brother Li’s elder comprehends the wordless stele to obtain Sixth Rank techniques, and also gets the Wang Family’s permission, Brother Li could then soar to the skies!”

“Yeah, if their family has a Secret Six Rank Martial Arts inheritance, they could definitely make a name for themselves in the entire Yuanhe Prefecture.”

“So envious.”

“I heard that Bai Jingtian’s family also took in a master, right? And he gave pointers on his martial arts; Bai Jingtian’s progress has indeed been very significant lately.”

“Significant what? He was still knocked down by Brother Li in three moves, completely unremarkable.”

“That so-called master is probably just a half-baked charlatan.”

A group of apprentices chatted away, most of them singing the praises of Li Zhe’s elder.

Li Zhe was a young man in his early twenties, tall and well-built with handsome features. He had already mastered a Ninth Rank technique to near perfection and was quickly approaching completion.

Listening to the compliments around him, the corners of his mouth curved upwards into a clear smile; he quite enjoyed the flattery from these people.

His views on the upcoming martial arts competition also leaned heavily toward his family’s elder, not out of blind expectation of victory but from concrete analysis.

Li Zhe had carefully analyzed the winners of the previous competitions, noting that most of the top five were always Eighth Rank Martial Artists, and if there was ever a Seventh Rank, it would only be one or two at most.

Furthermore, considering the actual situation in the jianghu, most individuals wandering the martial world are those who break through to Ninth Rank in martial halls but who don’t wish to stay as trainers, yearning instead for a life of freedom.

Most of these individuals are only Ninth Rank, a rare few might obtain opportunities to reach Eighth Rank, and very few can achieve Seventh Rank solely through adventuring in the jianghu.

Therefore, generally speaking, the average expert in the jianghu is around Eighth Rank. In Li Zhe’s view, barring unexpected circumstances, the participants of the martial arts competition would typically be at this level.

His uncle had already reached the Seventh Rank, easily surpassing any Eighth Rank Martial Artists in the jianghu. Even if he was defeated by one or two other Seventh Ranks m the end, he would certainly have the opportunity to comprehend the wordless stele.

As for falling outside of the top five, Li Zhe had never even considered it A Seventh Rank Warrior falling out of the top five? That was simply impossible. Throughout this time, he hadn’t taken the “master” staying at Bai Jingtian’s place seriously at all.

In his eyes, that so-called “master” was probably just a newly arrived impoverished warrior from outside the area, at best Eighth Rank, or possibly only Ninth Rank.

Surely, guiding a novice like Bai Jingtian was more than sufficient, but expecting to win a prize in the martial arts competition? That was just a fool’s dream, utterly impossible.

While Li Zhe was fantasizing about his family’s future possessing Secret Six Rank Martial Arts, Bai Jingtian suddenly came over, carrying his sword.

“Brother Li, I’ve thought it over all night, and I believe we can have another exchange,” Bai Jingtian said bluntly, without beating around the bush, “This time, I think I can win against you.”

After Zhou Heng queried him about the moves he lost to and he had honestly explained—

He never expected Zhou Heng to directly reverse-engineer Li Zhe’s specialty swordsmanship. Zhou Heng explained every move, every form, and even every possible variation of each move to him and deconstructed them one by one. This made Bai Jingtian truly realize Zhou Heng’s strength-it was incredible Compared to Zhou Heng, all the trainers at Shanliang Martial Arts Hall were nothing, the difference was too great!

Similarly, after listening to Zhou Heng’s explanations and demonstrations of breaking down moves, and after being fed a good number of them, Bai Jingtian truly felt his own strength.

A strength far surpassing his past self.

However, seeing Bai Jingtian approach with such confidence, the onlookers couldn’t help but snicker internally and even whisper among themselves.

“Lost so badly before and still not admitting defeat, are you looking for another beating?”

“Look at the purple on his eyelids, it hasn’t even healed. That’s the mark left by Brother Li Zhe, such an embarrassment.”

“He actually has the guts to continue challenging, this is really strange and weird. And where does this inexplicable confidence come from?”

“Could it be that the expert in his family found out and gave him a few pointers sonowhe’sthis confident?”

“Hahaha, what kind of expert can make Bai Jingtian surpass Brother Li Zhe overnight? Impossible.”

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, none of them were very optimistic about Bai Jingtian.

Li Zhe also frowned slightly, looking at Bai Jingtian and said, “I hope this is the last time. I actually don’t like competing with a defeated subordinate, but since you insist, I will oblige you this once, while also making you understand that not everyone can be called an expert.”

With that, he walked over to the weapons rack and picked up two wooden swords, tossing one of them to Bai Jingtian.

“Make your move.” Li Zhe said indifferently.

“Please make the first move, Brother Li,” Bai Jingtian said, keeping in mind the tricks Zhou Heng had mentioned about striking after the enemy.

“Arrogant!” Li Zhe felt this was Bai Jingtian looking down on him.

So he held nothing back, his wooden sword lightly raised as he leaped forward, quickly closing in on Bai Jingtian and fiercely smashing the sword down.

It was as if it were not a sword, but a mountain!

The ‘Seventy-Two Mountain Suppression Sword Techniques’ of the Shanliang Martial Arts Hall, Ninth-Grade.

This move was incredibly fierce.

It was all about overpowering the opponent, he was convinced of Bai Jingtian’s lesser strength and force, so he simply forwent comparing techniques and aimed to overpower Bai Jingtian with brute force.

Moreover, being defeated in such a manner usually results in the most pitiful state, and he wanted to thoroughly deter Bai Jingtian, while also sending a message to the expert behind Bai Jingtian not to harbor any delusions about the martial arts contest.

However, just as Li Zhe’s sword came smashing down, Bai Jingtian gently turned his wrist. The sword edge not only blocked his attack but also shifted inward, and with a light flick of the fingers holding the sword,

Pop!

It hit right on Li Zhe’s wrist that held the sword, causing Li Zhe’s sword to drop to the ground instantly, while the sword’s edge lifted, resting against Li Zhe’s neck.

There was immediate silence all around, a silence of disbelief as everyone stared at Bai Jingtian!

My god, how could he be this powerful??

Bai Jingtian seemed to have changed into a different person overnight.

This was astonishing!

“You, what was that sword technique just now?” Li Zhe had an incredulous look on his face, watching Bai Jingtian in disbelief, “How did you do that!?”

Li Zhe had been keenly aware that every change in his sword technique seemed to have been anticipated by his opponent, making it feel impossible to breach this sensation.

“It was just a few pointers from the expert in my family,” Bai Jingtian said softly with a smile. “Brother Li Zhe, it seems the expert in my family is not as hopeless in the martial arts contest as you thought.”

“Heh!” Li Zhe’s gaze suddenly turned cold, “Don’t get cocky, the strength of my uncle’s martial arts absolutely cannot be compared to your so-called expert!”

The streets of Yuanhe Prefecture City were bustling with markets, with many streets specializing in the sale of goods.

Bai’s apothecary was on one such street.

Sheng Xinrou and others went out for a casual stroll that day and found themselves on this street.

They had arrived here six days earlier, waiting for the upcoming martial arts contest and to join in the excitement.

“Hey, look, that chestnut horse!” Sheng Xinrou was initially selecting goods from a stall when she suddenly spotted the chestnut horse being led out by the apothecary’s servant for some sun.

She remembered that it was the steed of the hero from the Qingxia River!

At the same time, at a snack stall not far away, a young girl tasting snacks also suddenly raised her head, looking at the chestnut horse with surprise and delight in her eyes.

Sitting at the same table with her was a more mature and beautiful woman, who asked in confusion, “What’s wrong, Xiu’er?”