Chapter 269: Great Accomplishment Strength

"During the competition, the use of poison is prohibited! Anyone found using poison powder, poison darts, or weapons coated with poison will be disqualified immediately."

"..."

"The use of crossbows and mechanical devices is prohibited! However, hand-thrown hidden weapons are not included in this prohibition!..."

"..."

Clerk Qin's voice, already beginning to grow hoarse, rang out with cadence and rhythm.

Duan Rong stood before the Zeying Tai, frowning as he listened carefully.

That hand-thrown hidden weapons were not prohibited was a long-standing convention of many years. Regarding this point, Duan Rong had already learned of it beforehand.

This was because some Martial Artists specialized solely in the field of hidden weapons, and some had even become hidden weapon clans, passing down their craft for a hundred years!

Within the Taiyi Sect, there were originally quite a few martial arts involving hidden weapons.

However, although hand-thrown hidden weapons were not prohibited, they were not without restrictions; for instance, needle-type hidden weapons that were too covert and insidious were also prohibited from use.

Hearing this specific rule, Duan Rong felt as if the rule was pointing at him. However, he had no intention of using hidden weapons in the competition at all; he didn't even bring his Willow Leaf Knife, let alone needles.

This thing was still tied to a case; in front of a crowd, how would that be any different from turning oneself in?

Clerk Qin read out the various details of the competition for a full half-stick of incense before finally finishing.

Clerk Qin's complexion was somewhat poor, and his throat had begun to ache. He walked slowly to the viewing stand, bowed, cupped his hands, and said, "County Magistrate, honorable Inspectors! The competition rules and details have been read out! Shall the first round of the three-round chaotic points battle begin now?"

Shen Yanliu, sitting on the viewing stand, turned his head to look at Li Xianjiang beside him. Li Xianjiang did not speak, only nodding slightly at him.

Shen Yanliu understood and, looking at Clerk Qin, said, "Begin!"

Clerk Qin turned and beckoned toward the entrance of the County Office. Several yamen runners there immediately carried a heavy wooden turntable, wobbling as they placed it in front of the Zeying Tai.

This wooden turntable was over a person's height, with a huge surface made of hardwood. No one knew how many years old this object was; it appeared before the crowds every three years, and the watching commoners were already accustomed to it and paid it no mind.

On the surface of the turntable, twenty-four names had already been posted; these were the twenty-four seeded contestants participating in this year's Zeying Gathering.

Clerk Qin walked to the turntable and said in a hoarse voice, "The first round of the three-round chaotic points battle begins now! The two people whose names I spin next will conduct the first match!"

After Clerk Qin finished speaking, he prepared to spin the turntable. Just then, someone on the viewing stand suddenly stood up and shouted, "Wait!"

Clerk Qin's hand had already been placed on the turntable. He suddenly froze there, turning his head to look at the viewing stand. He saw that the person who had called out to stop him was Zhu Qunxiang, who was sitting next to Fan Yuanhai.

Everyone on the field also looked in unison at Zhu Qunxiang.

Zhu Qunxiang had a fair face, and whether there was a reason or not, his face always seemed to hang with a faint, self-satisfied smile.

Shen Yanliu said with a cold face, "Official Zhu, I wonder why you called for a halt?"

Zhu Qunxiang said, "We bear the responsibility of inspection. This turntable is so important that I, Zhu, would like to examine it to see if anyone has tampered with it."

As Zhu Qunxiang spoke, he walked down from the viewing stand and headed toward the wooden turntable in front of the Zeying Tai.

Zhu Qunxiang did not actually want to examine the turntable; he was deliberately trying to make things unpleasant for Shen Yanliu.

Shen Yanliu had slighted them at the banquet, and just now when Clerk Qin was reporting, Shen Yanliu had completely ignored them, showing courtesy only to Li Xianjiang, which made Zhu Qunxiang even more annoyed.

He had come up with this trick as a form of retaliation against Shen Yanliu.

Shen Yanliu naturally understood that Zhu Qunxiang was deliberately looking for trouble, but since he spoke with such righteous indignation, Shen Yanliu really had no reason to stop him.

Zhu Qunxiang did not walk fast, and a faint smile always hung on his face.

When he walked to the turntable, Clerk Qin stepped back a little. Clerk Qin turned his head to look at Shen Yanliu on the viewing stand, only to see that Shen Yanliu's expression was very unpleasant at this moment.

Zhu Qunxiang stood by the turntable and spun it with a pleasant expression.

The heavy, old turntable creaked and groaned as it turned slowly, emitting a harsh, teeth-grating noise.

Zhu Qunxiang laughed, "Ha! This thing is a bit old!"

As Zhu Qunxiang spoke, he gave it another hard spin. This time the turntable spun a bit faster, then slowly came to a stop at a name.

Zhu Qunxiang then spun it a few more times before saying, "Though it's a bit broken, it can still be used!"

Zhu Qunxiang patted the dust off his hands and was just about to return to the viewing stand when Shen Yanliu suddenly said, "Official Zhu, is there any problem with the County Government Office's turntable?"

Zhu Qunxiang laughed, "No problem at all!"

Shen Yanliu said with a cold gaze, "Since Official Zhu wishes to exercise the power of inspection, why not take charge of the turntable yourself? It would also save our County Government Office clerks from being suspected of tampering in secret!"

As soon as Shen Yanliu said this, Zhu Qunxiang's expression immediately stiffened.

Clerk Qin stood there and made a gesture of invitation toward Zhu Qunxiang.

Zhu Qunxiang could not keep his face; he was, after all, a Sect Emissary. Standing there spinning a turntable for others—what kind of situation was that?

Zhu Qunxiang snorted coldly and walked back to the viewing stand without a word, sitting back in his original seat.

Shen Yanliu glanced at him coldly, then looked at Clerk Qin and said, "Begin."

Clerk Qin bowed and cupped his hands toward Shen Yanliu, then stood up and looked at the surface of the turntable, shouting, "The first match, Xia Shuangshuang!"

Clerk Qin did not spin the turntable again, but directly called out the name that had stopped on the turntable after Zhu Qunxiang spun it.

Seeing Clerk Qin do this, Zhu Qunxiang felt even more unable to keep his face.

As soon as Clerk Qin's voice fell, a white shadow flashed before the Zeying Tai!

A young girl wearing a moon-white shirt with her waist bound and legs wrapped stood horizontally with her spear, standing on the Plum Blossom Stakes!

"Good!"

A burst of cheers erupted from the crowd!

Xia Shuangshuang, in her martial attire, performed a beautiful and clean flip and was already standing on the stage!

This move by Xia Shuangshuang was far more beautiful than those of the martial actors in the opera troupes! Coupled with her bright eyes, white teeth, and slender figure, the commoners gathered under the stage to watch the excitement naturally became high-spirited!

Ximen Kankan, standing in front of the Zeying Tai, watched until his eyes almost fell to the ground; he felt that Xia Shuangshuang wearing men's clothing was even more alluring and charming...

Seeing that Xia Shuangshuang had already taken the stage, Clerk Qin spun the turntable again.

This time, with the creaking sound of the turntable, many of the people standing in front of the Zeying Tai began to feel uneasy, fearing that it would land on them.

Xia Shuangshuang's strength was already formidable, and her Green Water Spear Technique gave her the full advantage of her weapon.

On the Plum Blossom Stakes, where one's footing was unstable, dodging and shifting was far inferior to flat ground; at such a time, if a Long Spear were to be brandished, it could be called sweeping and commanding.

As the saying goes, one inch longer is one inch stronger, and this is even more true on these Plum Blossom Stakes. It is harder for short weapons to get close than on flat ground!

At this moment, the wheel had wobbled to a stop on a name!

Once the wheel was steady, Clerk Qin said, "First Round, first match. Xia Shuangshuang, Fan Baolong!"

In the crowd, a burly youth's expression turned somewhat ugly.

However, he still flipped and jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes, looking cautiously at the long spear in Xia Shuangshuang's hand.

Following Clerk Qin's shout to begin, Xia Shuangshuang's figure flashed rapidly, striding like a shooting star, and with a thrust of the long spear, she attacked Fan Baolong.

Fan Baolong held a Broad-edged Horizontal Saber, parried with one strike, and then leaped, wanting to get close to Xia Shuangshuang.

Ximen Kankan, in front of the Zeying Tai, clenched his fists nervously!

Xia Shuangshuang stood firmly on the stakes like a millstone, and the long spear swept across!

Seeing the force of the blow, Fan Baolong could not dodge in time and had no choice but to block with his horizontal saber!

Clang! Sparks flew!

Fan Baolong was knocked sideways and nearly fell off the Plum Blossom Stakes; he barely steadied himself when the shadow of Xia Shuangshuang's spear swept over again!

After a few moves, Fan Baolong was left only with the ability to parry!

Xia Shuangshuang seized the opportunity, knocked away Fan Baolong's weapon, and knocked him off the Plum Blossom Stakes.

A burst of cheers erupted from the crowd once again.

Fan Baolong jumped up from the ground with an ugly expression; his clothes were already covered in dust.

Clerk Qin's voice followed, "First Round, first match, Xia Shuangshuang wins!"

In front of a small table not far from the Zeying Tai, a clerk recorded the points of Xia Shuangshuang and Fan Baolong in the documents.

Xia Shuangshuang then smiled dashingly and jumped down from the stage.

Clerk Qin began to spin the wheel for the second match, and the wheel slowly stopped on a name.

"Second match, Gui Zong!"

In front of the Zeying Tai, a youth with a gaunt face and sunken eye sockets jumped up.

Next, Clerk Qin began to spin for the second name. At this time, the mentality of the people under the stage was different; many hoped it would land on them.

The wheel stopped.

Clerk Qin said, "Second match, Gui Zong, Xue Yu!"

Below the Zeying Tai, Xue Yu looked up at Gui Zong on the Plum Blossom Stakes before jumping up.

Following Clerk Qin's shout to begin, the two did not immediately fight, but instead took their stances, probing each other, slowly closing the distance...

From the crowd below the stage, a series of boos broke out, feeling that these two were dawdling and seemed even worse than the martial actors on a stage!

But the two on the stage still looked focused, watching each other cautiously.

Just after the distance reached a certain point, Xue Yu suddenly thrust his saber! Like a White Rainbow Piercing the Sun!

Gui Zong seemed to have been prepared, his figure retreating violently!

Gui Zong had long known that Xue Yu had a finishing move for close quarters, but it had distance requirements for execution, which was why he dared not rush in.

When Xue Yu's saber was only a few inches from Gui Zong's face, the speed of his saber suddenly slowed!

This White Rainbow Piercing the Sun move of his was a short-range explosive technique; a long-range attack would inevitably fail!

Gui Zong dodged with a lingering fear in his eyes, but after this probing, he finally knew the effective distance of Xue Yu's White Rainbow Piercing the Sun.

Xue Yu's face was as cold as frost!

Although this White Rainbow Piercing the Sun move had immense power within its attack range, it was quite demanding to execute.

One could not let the opponent get close, as the move could not be executed if they were too close, because there was no space for the distance to explode!

But one could not be too far away either; this move had strong explosive power, but it only lasted for an instant, and the follow-through was weak!

Once Gui Zong had tested the distance of Xue Yu's White Rainbow Piercing the Sun, Xue Yu remained in a passive position for the rest of the fight and was eventually knocked off the stakes by Gui Zong!

"First Round, second match, Gui Zong wins!"

Gui Zong wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced at Xue Yu, and jumped down.

Clerk Qin spun the wheel again.

"Third match! Qiu Tong!"

Qiu Tong had a gaunt, pale face and, holding a long saber, jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes!

Qiu Yan, the master of the Black Tiger Martial Hall sitting in the viewing area, saw his only son already standing on the Plum Blossom Stakes. He stared at the wheel that had started spinning again beside Clerk Qin, unable to help but feel a bit nervous.

He was afraid that Qiu Tong would encounter a strong enemy!

Qiu Tong's strength at the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer was not conspicuous among those who had signed up this time; to be selected, one needed a bit of luck.

The wheel wobbled and stopped on a name.

Seeing that name, Qiu Yan's heart immediately relaxed!

Clerk Qin's voice rang out at this moment, "First Round, third match! Qiu Tong! Duan Rong!"

Before the new year, Qiu Yan had already obtained the list of those who had signed up for this year's Zeying Tai!

He had carefully studied every single person!

Duan Rong came from a poor background and had made a name for himself in the Yuanshun Escort Agency due to his extraordinary talent. Later, because he had saved Ruan Fengshan's son, Ruan Jing, Ruan Fengshan had signed him up for this year's Zeying Tai.

He knew that Duan Rong was also at the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer, and had only just achieved it not long ago.

And Qiu Tong had already achieved the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer for nearly two years; who was strong and who was weak was clear at a glance!

"It seems Qiu Tong's luck is still quite good! Although it is a bit of a stretch for him to participate in this year's Zeying Tai, it is not without opportunity. Isn't this first round a good start?"

Duan Rong had already grasped his saber and jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes; he looked at Qiu Tong with a calm expression, his face devoid of any emotion.

Following Clerk Qin's shout to begin, Qiu Tong stepped on the edge of the stakes, leaped, and with his toes tapping rapidly, rushed toward Duan Rong.

Duan Rong stood motionless, and only when Qiu Tong drew near did he suddenly draw his saber.

Duan Rong's Blade Shadow was like lightning; with a single strike, he knocked away Qiu Tong's weapon, and with a slap of the blade's back, he sent Qiu Tong flying away...

Qiu Tong flew horizontally and fell beneath the Zeying Tai! His blade also fell with a clatter not far behind him...

"What?!" Qiu Yan stood up from the viewing stand with a start, his face full of shock.

"Great Accomplishment Realm!" someone in front of the Zeying Tai exclaimed.

These people were all children of noble families, so naturally, they had all investigated their opponents on the same stage beforehand.

The public information on Duan Rong had always been the Small Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer!

However, the strength he had just displayed on the Plum Blossom Stakes was that of the Great Accomplishment Realm!

Because he had knocked away the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer Qiu Tong in a single exchange, only someone who had reached the Great Accomplishment Realm could do such a thing!

Many people looked at Duan Rong with somewhat uncomfortable expressions.

The addition of a Great Accomplishment Realm practitioner meant one fewer spot available, which meant the struggle they faced would be even more brutal!

Standing under the stage, Tao Rong watched the side profile of Duan Rong on the Plum Blossom Stakes, his pupils suddenly shrinking. He had made up his mind to win three matches in a row; he had originally thought there was only Ximen Kankan to deal with, but he had not expected there to be another one now!

Xiao Zongting and Xiao Yu, however, both had normal expressions. Because Duan Rong had long ago decided to display his Great Accomplishment Realm strength the moment he made a move, he had already told Xiao Zongting and Xiao Yu about his achievement of the Great Accomplishment Realm before the Zeying Assembly.

Xiao Zongting was naturally very surprised! Because the achievement of the Great Accomplishment Realm was not as easy as the previous three layers; in the Inner Breath Realm, it counted as a major hurdle.

But thinking about it, more than half a year had already passed since Duan Rong achieved the Small Success Realm.

With Duan Rong's monstrous talent, coupled with his attitude of crazily pushing himself in bitter cultivation, being able to break through this hurdle of the Great Accomplishment Realm was within reason!

Qiu Tong stood up, looking disheveled, a trace of melancholy flashing across his pale face.

The moment he stood up, he saw his father looking at him from the viewing stand.

Qiu Tong noticed the concern in his father's gaze toward him and felt even more ashamed.

Yet in the crowd under the stage, there was a profound silence, strangely quiet.

Because the change was too fast, Duan Rong's Blade Shadow flashed once, and Qiu Tong flew out; unlike the previous two matches, there was no back-and-forth.

These commoners watching simply had not seen clearly what had happened.

Only Zhu Xiaoqi stood there, eyes flickering as he stared at Duan Rong's back, muttering, "Silly boy, are you already this powerful now?"

Just at this moment, the voice of Clerk Qin rang out.

"First Round, Third Match, Duan Rong wins!"

(End of this chapter)