There would be no byes in the first round.

This meant Bai Yuan was guaranteed to face an opponent. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Ma Dingjun and Cheng Li stood with him, and the three of them looked at the slips of paper in each other’s hands.

Cheng Li had drawn a "5".

Bai Yuan’s expression turned strange as he looked at the slip in Ma Dingjun’s hand.

The number in Ma Dingjun’s hand was also a "7"—meaning Ma Dingjun was Bai Yuan’s opponent.

’What a coincidence...’

Bai Yuan was a little speechless. The competition had barely started, and Huwei Arts Hall was already guaranteed to lose a member. It was hard to know what to make of it.

When Ma Dingjun saw the "7" in Bai Yuan’s hand, he was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Looks like I’m good for something after all."

He smiled freely, without a trace of disappointment.

He and Cheng Li were only Bone Forger Martial Masters. Among the thirty-eight contestants, their strength was considered lower-middle at best. Unless their luck was off the charts, they were destined for a first-round exit.

Ma Dingjun clapped Bai Yuan on the shoulder. "The Martial Arts Hall is counting on you and Junior Sister Cheng."

If Huwei Arts Hall had to choose one of them to advance, it would undoubtedly be Bai Yuan.

Even when Bai Yuan had just reached the Bone Forging stage, he could fight Ma Dingjun to a standstill. Now that he had broken through to the Yijin Pass, Ma Dingjun was no match for him in a duel on the grand ring.

"Senior Brother, my apologies."

Bai Yuan wasn’t overly sentimental about it.

He knew Ma Dingjun had been training day and night for this second trial, but he couldn’t give up his chance at a spot in the Divine Mansion Sect. Otherwise, he’d have a hard time answering to Dong Wanjun.

Ma Dingjun grinned widely. "Our Martial Arts Hall is making out big on this one."

...

The competition began shortly after.

Cheers erupted continuously from below the grand ring.

The people of Qinghe rarely had the chance to see Yijin Martial Masters duel. Every move and stance sent a surge of excitement through the spectators.

Cheng Li’s luck was good. The other person who drew the number "5" was a Bone Forger Martial Master from a neighboring county.

The two of them traded blows back and forth on the stage.

The young Bone Forger Martial Master used a hammer, which happened to be countered by Cheng Li’s long spear.

As the saying goes, an inch longer is an inch stronger. Though the young Bone Forger Martial Master wielded his twin hammers fiercely, he couldn’t even touch the corner of Cheng Li’s clothes. He was thoroughly frustrated by her kiting tactics.

Of course, this was also thanks to Cheng Li’s elegant Body Technique.

After more than a hundred moves, Cheng Li finally found an opening and pierced the young martial artist’s right shoulder with her spear.

"Cheng Li is victorious!"

A high-pitched voice rang out.

Magistrate Zhang had taken the initiative to act as the Battle Commander. He knew he had been in the wrong for avoiding the fight at the County Magistrate’s Office that night, so he hoped to earn some brownie points with the two emissaries from the Divine Mansion Sect.

Cheng Li wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I was fortunate."

The young martial artist clutched his wounded right shoulder and stood up, not losing his composure.

"I am not your equal. I admit defeat."

Elated by her first victory, Cheng Li happily waved toward the crowd from Huwei Arts Hall.

Aside from Bai Yuan and his companions, almost everyone from the Martial Arts Hall—apprentices, Outer Disciples, and Inner Courtyard Disciples—had come to watch. The response was naturally enthusiastic.

"Go, Senior Sister Cheng!"

"Senior Sister Cheng, that was so cool!"

...

Bai Yuan’s mouth twitched.

’They’re terrible at martial arts, but they’ve got a whole arsenal of wisecracks.’

Next up was Ji Hanming.

As the number two seed from Flying Eagle Castle, Ji Hanming’s strength was naturally exceptional. His Flying Eagle Swordsmanship was flawless.

His opponent was a middle-aged Yijin Martial Master from another county, who was exactly thirty-five. He had been allowed to pass the initial screening by You Shengnan because his saber techniques had reached the level of mastery.

The two were also locked in a bitter struggle.

In the end, Ji Hanming won by virtue of his higher-grade Flying Eagle Swordsmanship.

This highlighted the difference between a poor martial artist and a rich young master. If they had been using Cultivation Techniques of the same grade, the middle-aged martial artist might not have lost.

Of course, being born well is a kind of strength in itself.

There was nothing to be done about it; one could only accept fate.

Soon, it was Bai Yuan and Ma Dingjun’s turn to take the stage.

Bai Yuan: "Senior Brother, after you!"

Ma Dingjun: "After you!"

With such a vast difference in their strength and both being from the same school, there was really nothing to see. Yet the people of Qinghe, who rarely got to enjoy such excitement, were as fervent as ever.

But just as everyone thought they were about to clash—

Ma Dingjun walked calmly to the edge of the grand ring and jumped down into the crowd of spectators.

You Shengnan and the others were already mentally prepared for this.

Magistrate Zhang chuckled and announced, "Bai Yuan is victorious!"

Bai Yuan won his first match with such ease, drawing the envy and jealousy of many other contestants.

Soon, the first round of the grand ring duels was complete.

Among the remaining nineteen people, thirteen were Muscle Strengthening Martial Artists. Only the unlucky soul who fought Ji Hanming had been eliminated; all the other Yijin Martial Masters had advanced.

Cheng Li and the other five Bone Forger Martial Masters felt the pressure mount. Their chances of slipping into the final trial by a fluke had been drastically reduced.

You Shengnan: "The second round of drawing lots. Begin!"

It was Magistrate Zhang again, with the same familiar wooden box.

Only this time, the number of slips had been reduced to nineteen.

The person who drew the blank slip would have to fight You Shengnan. Everyone could only pray silently.

Bai Yuan was once again the last to draw.

He took out a slip—a "2".

The ’chosen one’ plotline didn’t seem to apply to him. Although he was confident he could take ten palm strikes from You Shengnan, he didn’t want to expose too much of his true strength.

The one who drew the blank slip was a Bone Forging Pass disciple from the Iron Saber Gang.

Although this Iron Saber Gang disciple was only at the Bone Forging Pass, his innate talent was top-tier and his comprehension was excellent. If not for his youth, he would have been a shoo-in for the Yijin Pass.

His luck this time was truly abysmal.

The young Iron Saber Gang disciple stared at the blank slip in his hand, his face a picture of misery.

To add frost to snow, he was also the first to fight.

When he heard this news from You Shengnan, he nearly spat out three liters of blood.

Still, the young Iron Saber Gang disciple had backbone. He didn’t forfeit despite the overwhelming difference in strength and ultimately walked onto the grand ring.

The Iron Saber Gang’s leader, Tie Tu, watched his youngest apprentice with a look of gratification.

His apprentice was only fifteen; he could afford to wait another seven years. With this kind of perseverance alone, his future on the Martial Dao would not be bleak.

Of course, no miracle occurred...

You Shengnan unceremoniously sent the Iron Saber Gang disciple flying off the grand ring with a single palm strike, nearly shattering the youth’s martial resolve.

Veins bulged on Tie Tu’s forehead as he watched.

’A Strong Internal Martial Master attacking a junior at the Bone Forging stage, and she still had to use her full damn strength?!’

If You Shengnan didn’t have the Divine Mansion Sect backing her, he would have gone up there to reason with her himself.

The Iron Saber Gang disciple was severely injured by You Shengnan, unable to even stand. In the end, members of the Iron Saber Gang had to carry him away. From the looks of his injuries, it would be at least a month before he could walk again.

Seeing this, the others secretly rejoiced. Thank goodness they hadn’t been matched against that madwoman, You Shengnan.

Even an Yijin Martial Master would have had trouble taking that palm strike.

The next to take the grand ring were two martial artists Bai Yuan didn’t recognize. They had probably come from other counties after hearing the news.

In fact, most of the Yijin Martial Masters in this second trial were from other counties.

A small county town like Qinghe couldn’t possibly have so many Yijin Martial Masters under the age of thirty-five.

After more than a hundred moves, a winner was decided between the two.

Finally, it was Bai Yuan’s turn to take the stage.