Chapter 6: The Battle at the Grass Cottage!
Two days left until the grand competition at the academy.
Ye Qiubai stood before the scroll depicting a sword immortal dancing with his sword.
Once again, he felt a surge of comprehension, and strands of sword qi burst out from within him.
His aura rapidly ascended.
Peak of the Golden Core Realm!
Feeling the advancement of his cultivation once again, he couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed, he's my master. Every time I look at this painting, I gain different insights into the way of the sword."
If Ye Qiubai were to find out that this painting was just something Lu Changsheng had casually drawn out of boredom, he would probably be astonished and horrified.
However, during these days of training, Ye Qiubai also felt that he had reached a bottleneck.
During this time, Ye Qiubai also learned about the Cangdao Academy.
In the Cangdao Academy, contribution points were used as the evaluation standard.
Contribution points could be used to select martial arts techniques from the Treasure Pavilion or exchanged for precious treasures.
To obtain contribution points, there were three methods.
The first was to complete academy missions.
The second was to make outstanding contributions to the academy.
And the third was to go to the sparring arena and spar with others in the academy.
By wagering contribution points, one could challenge others on stage. The more victories one achieved, the more contribution points one would earn. However, if one lost, all the contribution points would go to the opponent.
Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai decided to go to the sparring arena for a challenge.
It was a good opportunity to test his skills in real combat and verify his current understanding of the sword.
He could also earn some contribution points along the way.
So, Ye Qiubai picked up a wooden sword and headed down the mountain.
Arriving at the registration office, he saw an old man sitting at the door.
"Name, which hall, cultivation level, wagered contribution points."
Ye Qiubai reported his name, "Grass Cottage, Golden Core Realm, wagering 100 contribution points."
Grass Cottage?
The old man glanced up at Ye Qiubai, handed him a token with the number 11 written on it, and said, "The sparring for the Golden Core Realm has already begun. You can go straight over there."
"Thank you."
Ye Qiubai clasped his fists and entered the sparring arena.
After waiting for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, it was Ye Qiubai's turn.
With a slight step, Ye Qiubai jumped onto the stage. Across from him stood a muscular man exuding explosive power.
"Wu Hall's Li He, against Grass Cottage's Ye Qiubai, same realm, wager multiplier of one."
After an elder announced this, he stepped back from the stage.
Upon hearing this, the spectators were surprised.
"Grass Cottage? Isn't that the hall that hasn't recruited any disciples for decades?"
"Yes, Grass Cottage is recruiting disciples again. Let's see what they're capable of."
Li He heard the murmurs around him and sneered, "A disciple of Grass Cottage? I want to see what Grass Cottage is capable of."
Ye Qiubai didn't reply but took out his wooden sword.
After all, as long as he showed his strength, these people would naturally shut up.
At the same time, in mid-air, several elders arrived at the scene.
Among them was the dean of the academy, Qin Tianan.
"It seems everyone wants to see how well that kid, Changsheng's disciple, performs."
The elder from the Sword Hall snorted coldly, "If the disciple he recruited isn't up to par, then he shouldn't be allowed to use academy resources in the future."
The elder from the Martial Hall nodded in agreement, "The opinions in the academy are becoming more and more divided. I'm afraid even the dean won't be able to suppress them."
Qin Tianan sighed, "Let's see how this disciple performs for now."
The match began.
Li He grinned, stomped fiercely on the ground with both feet, and his explosive muscles bulged as he threw a punch towards Ye Qiubai's chest!
The people from the Martial Hall had extremely robust bodies, and Li He was outstanding even among them.
With one punch, the direction of the wind around him changed, and sonic booms echoed in the air!
Even the spectators were astonished.
"Li He's physical strength has become even stronger. With this punch, even someone at the peak of the Golden Core Realm would find it difficult to resist."
"This Ye Qiubai, he's just standing there without moving. He's probably been intimidated by the power of this punch."
"Grass Cottage... is just like this."
Ye Qiubai looked calmly at the punch. Indeed, the physical strength was impressive.
However, that was all it was.
He raised the wooden sword slightly and then thrust it out!
"A wooden sword? You think you can block my punch with that?"
Li He sneered, and his fist came crashing down heavily on the wooden sword!
However, the scene of the wooden sword shattering did not happen as Li He had expected.
Instead, it seemed like his fist had landed on an extremely sharp sword!
Puff!
In just an instant, his fist was pierced by the wooden sword!
Li He's face changed drastically, and he stepped back!
The elder from the Sword Hall frowned and said, "The restraint of sword qi, this kid's mastery of sword qi is quite impressive."
It should be noted that restraining sword qi is not difficult, but to contain it within a fragile wooden sword is extremely difficult.
The elder from the Martial Hall's face darkened. "Let's see more, but this isn't enough."
After all, Li He was a student of their Martial Hall.
The spectators were also shocked.
Obviously, this scene exceeded their expectations.
Ye Qiubai's expression remained unchanged, his eyes as calm as a still lake, without the slightest ripple.
He took a slight step forward, and like an arrow leaving the string, he shot out!
With the wooden sword in hand, he slashed out, and strands of sword energy formed a sword net, locking Li He in place.
There was no way to escape!
Seeing this scene, Li He realized that he had underestimated his opponent.
The sword net in front of him seemed to be able to cut through space as it attacked him!
The sword energy cut through Li He's robust body, leaving behind trails of blood!
If he allowed it to cut into him, he would probably be chopped into pieces!
Thinking of this, Li He roared, and his arms began to petrify.
A black-golden color flowed from the petrified arms to the fingertips, forming black-golden gauntlets.
"That's a peak treasure! Black-golden gauntlets, and he's even using the Mountain-Toppling Fist. This is Li He's strongest move!"
"Once, Li He used this move to kill a peak Golden Core Realm expert when he was only in the early stage of the Golden Core Realm!"
Seeing this, Ye Qiubai was surprised for a moment. The opponent's aura was also rising rapidly, indicating that the power of that punch was quite significant.
In the past, he might not have been able to withstand such a punch.
But now, with the Tai Chu Sword Technique given by his master, combined with various elixirs for enhancement...
This punch was nothing.
He swung the wooden sword again!
Sword qi gushed out, and the sword net formed by the sword energy seemed even sharper and more solid, as if it could cleave through space!
The clash of fist and sword produced a clang like that of gold and iron colliding.
Giant waves of energy spread out continuously around them!
Unfortunately, this state didn't last long.
Cracks soon appeared on Li He's black-golden gauntlets!
There was no escape!
Li He's face changed, and the black-golden gauntlets shattered in an instant!
The petrified arms also cracked open, and blood gushed out from the cracks!
With a miserable cry, he was sent flying out, landing outside the sparring arena.
"The winner, Grass Cottage's Ye Qiubai!"