Chapter 396: Kick Away in One Foot

He Pingsheng returned to the Dragon Platform, with Ling Zhiwang accompanying him.

On the Dragon Platform, nearly all ten arrays were in the midst of matches.

He Pingsheng did not watch the matches; instead, he gently extended his spiritual sense toward the nearby Dragon Stele.

The Dragon Stele no longer displayed the top one hundred.

Only the top ten rankings remained.

Rank One: Tian Jiashen!

Rank Two: Kuxing True Person!

Rank Three: …

He Pingsheng frowned.

Previously, the top rank had been Liang Huaqiu's.

Why was her name gone now?

Fortunately, at last he spotted Liang Huaqiu in ninth place.

So the former number one had fallen to ninth?

"The Crown Princess has dropped to ninth? That's a steep fall!" He Pingsheng exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes…" Ling Zhiwang said. "Princess Qinghe faces immense pressure—almost daily someone challenges her, and she's been knocked out of the top ten three times already!"

"The competition is truly fierce."

"Why?" He Pingsheng asked. "Wasn't she number one?"

"No!" Ling Zhiwang said. "Previously, the Dragon Stele rankings mostly listed disciples from the Imperial Capital. Cultivators from distant, remote commanderies rarely came to the capital just to compete for this so-called Dragon Stele!"

This time is different!

Because every cultivator participating in the Nine Kingdoms Grand Competition, regardless of win or loss, gets the chance to hear the Dao at the Sacred Sect 【Ta Wen Ta Nian Shan】. So geniuses from every commandery have come!"

"When geniuses clash, it's naturally extraordinary!"

"So… the Crown Princess…"

He Pingsheng nodded: "I understand."

In other words, the Crown Princess's combat strength remains extremely formidable.

Think about it—Liang State has over seventy large commanderies. For Princess Qinghe to remain in the top ten among all seventy is proof of her strength.

"Comrade He, which Dragon Platform are you planning to challenge?"

Ling Zhiwang gestured forward with his chin.

He Pingsheng looked over.

All ten platforms were in combat.

As he watched, Liang Huaqiu, dressed in a pale moon-white robe, suddenly appeared beside He Pingsheng.

"Your Highness!"

He Pingsheng and Ling Zhiwang quickly bowed.

Liang Huaqiu said: "Why are you being so formal now? Your wounds… healed properly?"

"No lingering damage?"

As she spoke, her gaze subtly lowered.

He Pingsheng's face darkened: "Your Highness, don't joke!" He quickly changed the subject: "Have you fought yet?"

"I've already fought today's match," Princess Qinghe said. "I'm just watching who wins on the Ninth Platform—so I can prepare."

The winner of today's Ninth Platform will face Princess Qinghe first thing tomorrow.

Princess Qinghe is the Stele Keeper.

After she completes her daily match, others may challenge in sequence, and only after one challenger emerges victorious will they face her the next day.

This applies to every Dragon Platform.

"I wish you victory tomorrow!" He Pingsheng smiled.

Liang Huaqiu asked: "Which platform are you aiming for?"

"Why not try Platform One? Tian Jiashen is truly strong—he beat me in just four moves the first time we fought, and I had to surrender!"

"He's a Golden Core cultivator, at the twelfth layer."

He Pingsheng glanced at Platform One but didn't see Tian Jiashen.

He wasn't there either.

"No," He Pingsheng shook his head. "I can't even beat you—how could I beat the number one?"

"I'll try… Platform Ten instead."

His gaze turned to the tenth platform.

Platform Ten was by far the busiest.

Everyone assumed the last platform would be the easiest, right?

"Fine," Princess Qinghe said. "Come, I'll take you there…"

"The rules are the same as when we fought—no external items allowed!"

"Otherwise, even if you win, your result is invalid!"

"Understood," He Pingsheng said. "Thank you."

Before each Dragon Platform stood an official supervisor.

He Pingsheng approached the supervisor.

The man was merely a Foundation Establishment disciple; upon seeing Princess Qinghe, he immediately bowed deeply.

"No need for formalities," Princess Qinghe pointed at He Pingsheng. "Give him a token—he can climb the platform."

"Yes!" The man handed He Pingsheng a token.

With the token, he could ascend the platform at any time.

He Pingsheng did not climb immediately; instead, he observed from the side.

There were truly many people.

A quick glance revealed at least seventy or eighty.

"Boom…"

At that moment, the Tenth Dragon Platform also decided its winner.

A fat male cultivator knocked a Daoist nun off the platform.

"Number Seven wins…" the supervisor raised his hand. "Number Seven—do you rest or continue to the next match?"

He had just fought; his spiritual power must be depleted.

By rule, one could rest after a match.

But some cultivators, confident in their strength, skipped rest and pressed on.

Like this man.

The fat cultivator raised his hand: "Continue!"

"Good," the supervisor nodded, then turned to He Pingsheng: "Sir, you may ascend!"

"Challengeant Number Ninety-Four, step forward!"

His words sparked immediate outrage.

"Why?"

"I'm number twenty-something and haven't had my turn—why does number ninety-four go first?"

"Isn't it first come, first served?"

"How are you managing this?"

Many shouted at the supervisor.

The supervisor turned into a man on a hot pan.

He looked to Princess Qinghe, hoping she'd help him.

But… Princess Qinghe quickly stepped back a few paces.

She wanted to slap him: Just wait—it's idiotic to provoke such open anger.

Then—

Boom!

As everyone shouted, a muffled thud suddenly echoed from the platform.

All turned—He Pingsheng stood on the platform, while the fat cultivator had already fallen to the ground.

This…

Everyone, including Princess Qinghe, stared in shock.

It's over already?

We didn't even see it!

The crowd fell silent.

The supervisor wiped sweat from his brow: "Number Ninety-Four—rest or continue?"

He Pingsheng said: "Continue."

Another cultivator stepped onto the platform.

Everyone now stared intently, eager to see how He Pingsheng had knocked his opponent off.

But…

Quickly!

He Pingsheng's figure flashed, activating the Three Thousand Thundering Law, and in a swift whoosh, he appeared before his opponent, ignoring the opponent's attack, he kicked out directly.

Thud…

Spiritual power erupted from his foot, releasing a tangible wave of energy that blazed with bright golden light.

The opponent's strike was effortlessly shattered by He Pingsheng, who then kicked him down.

With a thud, he landed beneath the arena.

This time, before the official could speak, He Pingsheng said directly: "Continue!"