There are still two days left before the Academy Grand Tournament.
Ye Qiubai stood in front of that painting, the Sword Immortal Sword Dance.
He felt another insight rising within him, as surges of sword qi erupted from his body.
His aura quickly soared.
Peak Stage Golden Core Pill Realm!
Sensing the further improvement of his cultivation, he couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of Master—every time I look at this painting, I gain a different understanding in the Sword Dao."
If Ye Qiubai ever found out that this painting was just something Chang'sheng doodled when he was bored, who knows how shocked he would be.
However, after these days of cultivation, Ye Qiubai also felt that he had reached a bottleneck.
Over the past few days, Ye Qiubai learned a bit about the Hidden Dao Academy.
In Hidden Dao Academy, contribution points were used as the main measure of value.
With contribution points, you could enter the Treasure Pavilion to choose cultivation methods and martial techniques, or exchange them for natural treasures.
There were three ways to earn contribution points.
The first is to complete Academy missions.
The second is to make outstanding contributions to the Academy.
And the third is to go to the martial arts arena and spar with others in the Academy.
If you stake your contribution points, you can go up and challenge. The more rounds you win, the more your points multiply. But once you lose, all your staked points go to your opponent.
Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai decided to head to the martial arts arena for some sparring.
Just the chance for some real combat, to validate his current insights in the Sword Dao.
And he could earn some contribution points along the way.
So, Ye Qiubai carried a wooden sword and headed down the mountain.
Arriving at the registration area, there was an old man sitting at the door.
"Name, which Hall, cultivation realm, stake contribution points."
Ye Qiubai replied, "Cottage, Golden Core Pill Realm, staking 100 contribution points."
Cottage?
The old man looked up at Ye Qiubai, then handed him a token with the number 11 on it, saying, "The Golden Core Pill Realm matches have already started, go ahead."
"Thank you."
Ye Qiubai cupped his fists in thanks and entered the martial arts arena.
After waiting about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, 11—the number assigned to Ye Qiubai—was called.
Ye Qiubai stepped up lightly, leaping onto the arena. Opposite him stood a burly man, muscles bulging with explosive power.
"Martial Hall's Li He, against Cottage's Ye Qiubai. Same realm, stake at one-times odds."
An elder announced this, then stepped down from the stage.
The crowd watching was instantly surprised by this announcement.
"Cottage? Isn't that the Hall that hasn't taken in disciples for decades?"
"Yeah, now the Cottage is accepting disciples again. Let's see if that Hall has any real ability."
Li He heard the whispers all around and sneered, "A disciple from the Cottage? I really want to see what kind of ability someone from the Cottage has."
Ye Qiubai didn't reply, just drew out his wooden sword.
After all, once he showed his strength, these people would naturally shut up.
Meanwhile, a few elders appeared above the arena in mid-air.
Among them was Academy Head Qin Tiannan.
"Looks like everyone wants to see how good a disciple Chang'sheng took in, huh."
The Sword Hall Elder snorted coldly, "If the disciple he recruited isn't up to par, then in the future, he can't hog Academy resources anymore."
The Martial Hall Elder nodded in agreement, "Opinion in the Academy is growing strong. Headmaster, even you might not be able to hold it back."
Qin Tiannan sighed, "Let's just see what the kid can do for now."
The match began.
Li He grinned savagely, stomping hard on the ground. Muscles exploded with power as he threw a punch straight at Ye Qiubai's chest!
Men from the Martial Hall were known for their powerful bodies; as one of the best among them, Li He was exceptional.
With one punch, even the wind changed direction, and sonic booms rang out in the air!
The nearby audience was shocked.
"Li He's physical body just got even stronger. I bet even someone at the peak of the Golden Core Pill Realm would have a hard time stopping that punch."
"This Ye Qiubai is just standing there, not moving. He's probably already intimidated by the force of that punch."
"The Cottage... so much for their name."
Ye Qiubai looked at the punch calmly. Indeed, his opponent's body was strong.
But that's all there is to it.
He lightly flicked his wooden sword up, then stabbed forward!
"A wooden sword? You think you can block my punch with that?"
Li He sneered and brought his fist down hard onto the wooden sword!
But the scene of the wooden sword shattering, which Li He expected, didn't happen.
Instead, his fist felt like it had smashed against an incredibly sharp treasured sword!
Pft!
In an instant, his fist was pierced clean through by that wooden sword!
Li He's face changed drastically, and he quickly stepped back!
The Sword Hall Elder above watched gravely and said, "His sword qi is completely hidden. This kid's control over sword qi is incredible."
Of course, hiding sword qi isn't hard, but to seal it inside such a fragile wooden sword? That's something else entirely.
The Martial Hall Elder's expression turned dark. "Just keep watching. This alone isn't enough."
After all, Li He was one of their Martial Hall students.
The crowd was utterly stunned.
Obviously, this outcome was beyond their expectations.
Ye Qiubai's face didn't change at all, his eyes as calm as a lake, not a ripple in sight.
He took a small step forward, then shot out like a released arrow!
With his wooden sword he slashed—sword beams spread out like a great net, locking Li He in place.
No escape!
Li He realized immediately he had underestimated his opponent.
The sword beams and net in front of him looked like they could cut through space itself, sweeping toward him!
Each gust of sword wind sliced into Li He's powerful body, leaving bloody marks!
If he just let himself get hit, he'd probably be cut to pieces!
At this thought, Li He threw his head back and roared, both arms beginning to petrify.
Lines of black-gold ran along his stone-like arms, flowing into his fingers and forming Black Gold Gloves.
"That's a peak-level treasure! The Black Gold Gloves, and he's using the Mountain Shaking Fist—that's Li He's most powerful move!"
"Back in the Beginner Stage Golden Core Pill realm, he used this technique to kill a Peak Stage Golden Core Pill Realm expert above his level!"
At this, Ye Qiubai was a little surprised. His opponent's aura was soaring rapidly; that punch was definitely going to have some force.
If it were him from before, he probably couldn't have stopped that punch.
But now, with Master's Primordial Sword Scripture and all kinds of medicinal pills improving his body—
This punch is nothing.
He slashed again with his wooden sword!
Sword qi burst forth. The sword beams weaving the net grew even sharper and more solid, as if they could tear open space!
Fist and sword collided, ringing out with a metallic clang.
Waves of force kept spreading through the arena!
But this deadlock didn't last long.
Soon, cracks started appearing all along Li He's Black Gold Gloves!
No way to hide!
Li He's face changed. The Black Gold Gloves shattered in an instant!
His petrified arm began to split with loud cracks, blood spurting from the wounds!
With a miserable scream, he was sent flying off the stage, slamming to the ground outside the martial arts arena.
"The winner—Cottage's Ye Qiubai!"