Infinite Fighting

The leader of the Xian Mountain Sect pair was a man with short hair. He started taunting them the moment he approached.

"Well, if it isn’t True Disciple Shen from the Five Elements Sect. I heard you didn’t even make it into the top twenty at the last tournament. Is that right? I thought the Five Elements Sect was supposed to prioritize aptitude when selecting its True Disciples. Don’t tell me your skills are just lacking, True Disciple Shen. Or maybe the Five Elements Sect has just... fallen off?"

"Jin Xuan, if you want to fight, get in the ring. Don’t just run your mouth here," Shen Han said coldly.

"Great! I was just waiting for you to say that, True Disciple Shen!" Jin Xuan laughed.

They locked eyes and leaped directly onto the arena.

There were still people fighting on the arena. Jin Xuan casually shoved one of them off, sending him crashing to the ground below. Meanwhile, Shen Han gestured for the other fighter to leave. The man didn’t dare object; upon seeing the Five Elements Sect robes, he simply turned and departed.

The smaller sects were powerless to resist the disciples of major sects like these.

To put it bluntly, the Sect Leader of a minor sect might not even be able to defeat one of their random Inner Sect Disciples.

Besides time, training a professional martial artist costs millions, at the very least, and some of the necessary resources are simply unobtainable.

Declining minor sects lack money and resources. Managing to train even two professional martial artists would be a miracle. How could they possibly compare to the major sects?

When only the two of them remained on the arena, Shen Han raised his hands into the opening stance of the Leopard Form. Across from him, Jin Xuan displayed a sect technique that Zhang Ji had never seen before.

Then, they both moved. In a flash, Shen Han shot forward.

His speed was so incredible that even Zhang Ji couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Among all the martial artists Zhang Ji had ever seen, only the speed Li Long and Pang Yanyang had displayed during their battle on Shanli Island could surpass this explosive power.

CRACK! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The air cracked as their hands and fingers clashed rapidly. Jin Xuan was completely suppressed by Shen Han’s explosive assault, but he wasn’t anxious, merely defending and parrying.

The strength of the Leopard Form Fist lies in its speed and explosiveness, but its weakness is also obvious.

Namely, its stamina is poor, far worse than other techniques of the same level.

As long as one could endure the opponent’s initial flurry of attacks, the opponent’s strength would gradually decline, making the fight easier and easier.

Of course, Shen Han also knew his advantage wouldn’t last, so he was prepared to settle the match with Jin Xuan in one fell swoop.

In the midst of their exchange, Shen Han suddenly clawed at Jin Xuan’s neck. He put every ounce of his strength into the attack—it was utterly savage. Truly like a pouncing leopard, the strike was so ferocious and swift that Jin Xuan had no time to react.

The claw descended on Jin Xuan’s neck, only to be slowed by a pliant barrier of Primordial Qi. Jin Xuan raised a hand to knock the claw aside, but he only managed to partially deflect the blow.

RRRIP!

The clothing on Jin Xuan’s shoulder was torn, and a chunk of flesh was taken with it. At the same time, Shen Han followed up with a kick, sending him flying.

The people from the Xian Mountain Sect hurried forward to help Jin Xuan up.

"Pah!" Shen Han spat from the arena, looking at Jin Xuan with disdain. "Don’t talk big if you can’t back it up. What a complete moron."

After saying that, Shen Han gave him the middle finger, then leaped off the arena. He turned and left with Zhang Ji, leaving behind only the hateful glares of the Xian Mountain Sect members.

....

"Hiss!"

They hadn’t gone far when Shen Han suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.

He held out his palm. It was already bright red, covered with scattered red dots.

"What’s this?" Zhang Ji asked, his expression a mix of shock and uncertainty.

"It’s a Primordial Qi technique from the Xian Mountain Sect! Incredibly insidious. If your Horizontal Training isn’t high enough, or if you lack sufficient Primordial Qi, it’ll burn your bones and devour your flesh once you’re afflicted. It will eventually damage your internal organs, leading you step by step to your death..." Shen Han explained. "I need to find Eldest Brother. You should head back, too. Our plans for the day are ruined. Don’t get into any fights with the Xian Mountain Sect."

After speaking, Shen Han turned and left in a hurry.

A cautious look entered Zhang Ji’s eyes. ’I’ll have to be more careful about these kinds of tricks in future fights,’ he thought.

The last time he fought that woman from the Xian Mountain Sect, he was almost hit by a dirty trick. Luckily, his Horizontal Training Power was strong, and the woman hadn’t mastered her technique. Otherwise, he probably would have ended up just like Shen Han after that fight.

But then again, the techniques of the Primordial Qi Sect were indeed many and varied.

The reason the Primordial Qi Sect was able to become an independent discipline after the Battle of the Saintly Kings was precisely because Primordial Qi itself could transform. Depending on the martial art, the user’s body, and even external factors, it could take on different attributes and produce a variety of effects.

The most direct example was the scene right before him.

That martial art from the Xian Mountain Sect produced a Primordial Qi that could enter a person’s body, then devour the energy within to self-replicate and wreak havoc.

The Primordial Qi of the Dragon Form Fist, on the other hand, was fierce and powerful. Its core attribute was direct, destructive force, with the secondary effect of slowly nourishing one’s Spirit and physique.

There were also other Primordial Qi combat techniques Zhang Ji knew of that could induce Recovery from injuries, freeze enemies, release high-temperature attacks, and so on.

One could say it was virtually all-encompassing.

Zhang Ji even remembered that in a certain Ruins Realm, there was a purple (Epic) grade martial art called the . The Primordial Qi it cultivated could mimic the effects of other types of Primordial Qi, and could even be stronger than the original.

Thinking of this, Zhang Ji couldn’t help but sigh with regret.

’So many amazing things in the world,’ he thought, ’but I can’t get my hands on almost any of them.’

Either he’d have to go abroad, or they were in someone else’s hands, or the version information was different and he couldn’t find the corresponding location.

He had previously found some corresponding information online about a few wilderness treasure locations.

But he didn’t dare go.

The Exotic Beasts guarding those treasures were a ferocious bunch. The weakest among them was D+ rank. If he went, he’d just be feeding them.

If he asked for help from the Five Elements Sect, he had no good way to explain himself right now. He was also worried whether the treasure would even end up in his hands.

Sighing softly to himself, Zhang Ji returned to his room and continued practicing the Dragon Form Fist.

’No point thinking about things I can’t control. I should focus on what’s actually within my grasp. That’s what matters!’

...

...

「October 1st.」

「At the Capital City Martial Arts Association Headquarters.」

After the association’s president gave a speech, the disciples from each sect participating in the grand event appeared one by one.

Drones hovered all around, live-streaming, their cameras snapping away furiously.

The audience stands were also packed with people.

This was Zhang Ji’s first time participating in this kind of competition. The large crowd made him a little uncomfortable.

After making a round, Zhang Ji and the others arrived at the preparation area.

Li Long instructed Zhang Ji, "This tournament is different from the one on Shanli Island. Hold back a little. Maiming them is fine, but don’t kill anyone."

Mainly, Zhang Ji’s combat record was a bit too savage, so Li Long felt he had to give an extra warning.

Killing someone here would be a considerable hassle.

"What about the guys from the Xian Mountain Sect?" Zhang Ji asked.

"Just leave them breathing," Li Long said.

Zhang Ji nodded, indicating he understood.

That being the case, he knew what to do.

After the warm-up performances, each sect sent a representative to participate in the drawing of lots.

The representative from the Five Elements Sect was Li Long.

Li Long wasn’t competing. Having a Grandmaster participate would be a bit like bullying the others.

So, Li Long was seated at the judges’ table, watching the matches alongside a group of older-generation experts.

After the drawing, the competition began.

Zhang Ji was placed in Group B.

There were no Xian Mountain Sect members in this group. The only expert was an Inner Sect Disciple from the Lishan Sect.

A professional Fifth Rank.

Zhang Ji’s turn for the first round of matches came quickly.

The announcer began to introduce Zhang Ji.

"Wearing the robes of the Five Elements Sect is their True Disciple, Zhang Ji! This is his first time participating in the Martial Arts Tournament. Based on his robes, he seems to be one of the Five Elements Sect’s rare practitioners of Dragon Form Fist... His opponent is Qiu Qing, the current chief True Disciple of the Mantis Fist style! Their chosen Fist Skill is also a type of animal form boxing. Contestant Qiu Qing recently passed his professional Fourth Rank qualification match, so his strength is quite remarkable... Let’s look forward to the bout between these two contestants!"

After Zhang Ji and his opponent, Qiu Qing, exchanged salutes, Qiu Qing’s body was suddenly sent flying backward in the very next instant, tumbling off the wide arena.

THUD!

Qiu Qing’s body hit the ground. After sliding for some distance, he struggled to his feet, only to collapse again. In the end, he was carried away on a stretcher.

The arena erupted in an uproar.

"What happened? I don’t think I even saw it clearly! Director, do we have a slow-motion replay?"

The announcer also had a shocked expression. He was a disciple of the Northern Dao Sect and also a professional Sixth Rank martial artist, but he actually hadn’t seen what happened clearly either.

The slow-motion replay quickly aired. It showed the two fighters, who had been ten meters apart, bursting into action at the same time. Zhang Ji’s speed was incredible. After closing the distance, he delivered a seemingly light palm strike that hit Qiu Qing squarely in the chest, blasting him off the enormous arena.

"So strong! He must be professional Seventh Rank or higher!!"

.....

"Contestant Qiu Qing couldn’t even block a single move! Let’s congratulate contestant Zhang Ji on his victory. However, we must also remember that while winning is important, the primary purpose of this tournament is martial arts exchange. Since fists and feet have no eyes, one should practice restraint."

The announcer declared the result, while also subtly implying that Zhang Ji had been too heavy-handed.

Zhang Ji looked disdainful. Without even acknowledging the announcer, he turned and walked off the arena.

This scene drew curses from many in the crowd, but it also made many of the younger people’s blood boil with excitement.

"He has no martial virtue at all! People like him practicing martial arts only bring shame to the martial arts world!"

"Martial virtue? Only the winner has the right to talk about virtue!"

"He probably didn’t expect his opponent to be so weak. I mean, he only used one move..."

.....

On the judges’ panel, Ma Rui said to Li Long, whom he had specially arranged to sit next to him, "Young Friend Li, this disciple of yours must be close to reaching the Grandmaster level, right? May I ask how old he is?"

"I’m not sure. I’d guess he’s almost twenty," Li Long replied.

He knew very well that Zhang Ji’s bone age was only sixteen, but to have such strength at sixteen was truly beyond imagination, so he exaggerated the number a little.

Li Long himself had been around Zhang Ji’s current strength when he was about twenty.

However, that final step to reach the Grandmaster realm had taken him nearly five years.

It was not an easy leap to make.

"Young Friend Li, it’s truly a case of a great teacher producing a brilliant student. It seems the Five Elements Sect is about to have another young Grandmaster," Ma Rui said with emotion, gently stroking his beard.

"Senior, you flatter me. He still has many shortcomings," Li Long replied humbly.

Despite his words, Li Long’s eyes were filled with anticipation for Zhang Ji.

He had personally witnessed Zhang Ji’s meteoric rise ever since he left Shanli Island. He felt that Zhang Ji’s talent was even greater than his own; he might even have a chance of becoming a Grandmaster before the age of twenty.