Chapter 60: I'm a Proper Martial Artist

Azure Light shimmered, a gentle breeze wafted.

Li Qing’s hair fluttered as a cyan sword aura condensed, leaving behind an afterimage in his original spot.

Accompanied by the breeze, Li Qing seemed to transform into a gust of wind. Those watching below could only see a cyan figure.

“Mystical Fire Blade.”

Jiang Changkong turned his blade, crimson Blade Qi swirling around it, with a strand of golden flame hidden within.

He channeled eighty percent of the Star Power within his body, fire springing from his feet as he treaded fire to travel, his speed equally swift, leaving behind a fiery red silhouette.

Clang!

Blade and sword collided, Blade Qi and sword energy clashing in all directions. The arena beneath their feet trembled slightly but remained undamaged.

Li Qing’s expression changed as he retreated several steps, his left palm rippling with Star Power to disperse the residual shockwaves.

Jiang Changkong slid back a few steps, a flicker of understanding flashing in his eyes.

With eighty percent of his Star Power and relying solely on the Mystical Fire Blade Technique, he could only suppress Li Qing by a slight margin, not overwhelm him.

“Impressive skill.”

Li Qing looked astonished. His full-strength sword strike had actually been blocked.

Moreover, judging by Jiang Changkong’s demeanor, he seemed to have more to spare—likely not having exerted his full strength.

How could a Second Tier peak practitioner be this strong, surpassing him?

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but his movements did not cease. He raised his sword once more, a fierce gale suddenly rising, forcing the nearby spectators to retreat.

“Where did this top student Jiang Changkong come from? He actually forced Li Qing to use his ultimate technique?”

“I’ve never heard of a top student named Jiang Changkong at the Martial Arts School before.”

“Could it be that he was trained by Lu Wuhai from the Martial Arts School? Back then, Lu Wuhai achieved nine consecutive wins.”

“Nonsense, Lu Wuhai is far inferior to this Jiang Changkong. This is the ultimate ten consecutive wins.”

The crowd buzzed noisily, arguing among themselves.

Jiang Changkong’s expression shifted slightly as he held his blade horizontally, its high temperature scorching and waves of heat rolling off it.

Golden flames coiled around the blade, condensing into a golden blade aura.

“Mystical Fire Blade Technique, Golden Flame Mystical Blade!”

Many in the crowd recognized this move and exclaimed in surprise.

Even more shocked was the second black-clad figure. Even Chen Sanyan hadn’t mastered the Golden Flame Mystical Blade to this extent.

How had this guy, who had only obtained the Blazing Fire Technique a few days ago, already mastered the Golden Flame Mystical Blade?

“Golden Flame Mystical Blade, what a superb technique. Spirit Wind Sword.”

Li Qing praised, his sword technique finally complete—a sword strike condensed from a fierce gale.

The entire sword transformed into a cyan hue, as if the essence of wind had gathered within it.

The Golden Flame Mystical Blade cleaved through the Void, its scorching high temperature, upon contact with the gale, actually seemed to intensify the wind’s force.

Blade aura and sword aura met mid-air.

Hum—

Suddenly, a seemingly real yet illusory Taiji Diagram manifested, blocking the sword’s might.

Hiss—

Sword energy surged like a tide, with nearly sixty percent of its force diverted to the side.

“Not good…”

Li Qing’s expression changed, not expecting this outcome.

Unfortunately, by the time he thought to retreat, it was already too late. The Golden Flame Mystical Blade had already descended.

Jiang Changkong frowned slightly, weakening his blade’s momentum by a fraction.

Boom!

Golden Flame Blade Qi surged, blood splattered, the gale extinguished, and Li Qing’s body was sent flying, crashing heavily into the crowd.

Li Qing quickly rose after landing, coughing lightly a few times before cupping his hands in respect. “Thank you, young brother, for showing mercy.”

Jiang Changkong nodded slightly. “You’re too kind. This duel was merely an exchange. I only came for the Star Stones and the Martial Arts School.”

“Brother Changkong has completed the ultimate ten consecutive wins. Someone, bring fifty top-tier Second Tier Star Stones for Brother Changkong.”

Li Qing possessed both magnanimity and grace in defeat. With a wave of his hand, two Star Stones flew out. “This is your registration fee and duel funds.”

Regular ten consecutive battles cost twenty Star Stones, ultimate ten consecutive battles cost forty.

Challenge ten times in a row, each time with a reward of one Star Stone, totaling fifty.

“Thank you.” Jiang Changkong caught the two Star Stones, not in a hurry to step down, his gaze sweeping across the crowd: “Can I do twenty consecutive battles?”

Li Qing: “…”

The crowd: “…”

“Ahem, the ultimate ten consecutive battles are already the highest difficulty,” Li Qing cleared his throat and said.

“Then can I come again tomorrow?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“Brother Changkong, come down first, let’s talk over there.”

Li Qing didn’t care about formalities anymore—if you come every day, I might as well hand this arena over to you.

“Wait a moment, I haven’t finished my task yet.”

Jiang Changkong straightened up and announced loudly: “For learning Martial Dao in Jiangcheng, Martial Arts School is your best choice. I was able to easily complete the ultimate ten consecutive battles all thanks to the excellent teaching at Martial Arts School.”

Li Qing: “…”

Are you just here to advertise?

The crowd looked at him speechlessly. Although they knew Martial Arts School was eager to break into the market, was such a blatant advertisement really appropriate?

The second black-clad figure lowered his head, blending into the crowd and disappearing.

Jiang Changkong jumped off the arena, took the Star Stones, and was pulled aside by Li Qing. Still unwilling to give up, he asked, “Can I really not come tomorrow?”

“I understand Martial Arts School is determined to break into the Martial Market, but you can’t ruin my reputation either.”

Li Qing’s expression turned serious as he said, “I’ll give you ten extra Star Stones. Tomorrow—no, from now on—don’t come again.”

“Alright, but what do you mean by ‘break into the Martial Market’?” Jiang Changkong asked, puzzled.

“You don’t know?”

Li Qing was somewhat surprised, then explained: “The Martial Market was established by six veteran Star Sea Martial Artists and has been operating in Jiangcheng for many years.

They are very resistant to other forces and don’t want outsiders coming in to share the pie. Martial Arts School has never given up.”

Jiang Changkong understood now—Martial Arts School wanted to extend its reach here.

That’s why ten top students came for the Ten Consecutive Battles, but they were defeated, and to this day, they haven’t managed to break in.

The Lu Wuhai mentioned earlier was one such super student, who cultivated the Sea-Subduing Art and came here a few years ago.

This Lu Wuhai was quite peculiar—he should have graduated long ago, but he neither took a job assignment nor started his own business, choosing instead to remain at the school as a student.

He was rarely seen around, as if he was just drifting from place to place?

Li Qing raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked, “Do you really want to earn Star Stones?”

“Of course I do. Do you have a way?” Jiang Changkong quickly asked.

Li Qing lowered his voice: “Dare to kill?”

“I’m a proper Martial Artist, with a certificate,” Jiang Changkong glared, pulling out his Professional Martial Artist Certificate. “Don’t tarnish my clean reputation.”

Li Qing: “…”

The way you say it makes it sound like I’m not proper either!

Glancing at him somewhat irritably, he said, “There’s an underground Life-and-death Arena where lives are taken but names aren’t kept. The rewards are twice what I offer.

Here’s a guide stone. The entrance is over there, in the stone hut next to the small tree. Go if you want, or don’t if you don’t.”

As he spoke, he took out a blue stone the size of a thumb.

“Do I have to kill?”

Jiang Changkong frowned. It wasn’t that he was soft-hearted, but there was no reason to take a life just to earn some Star Stones.

Li Qing said calmly, “The winner decides everything. As long as you win, whether you kill or not is up to you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Jiang Changkong pocketed the stone. As a proper Martial Artist, was he even allowed to participate in such a Life-and-death Arena?

Carrying his things, Jiang Changkong walked around the Martial Market with his backpack but found nothing of interest. He then boarded the bus back to the city.

An hour later, Jiang Changkong returned to the Martial Arts School. He first went back to his small room and contacted the school’s customer service.

“The Ultimate Ten Consecutive Challenges are completed. When will I receive the rewards?”

As long as he obtained these rewards, Jiang Changkong would be able to step into the Star Sea.

Customer Service: “…Let me check.”

Jiang Changkong waited patiently. In less than fifteen minutes, a reply came: “Go to your teacher’s office now to collect the Star Stone.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Changkong closed the chat. Not bad—they didn’t give him any trouble.

He returned to the teacher’s office, where Chu Jun’s burly figure was lost in thought.

“Teacher?” Jiang Changkong waved a hand in front of his eyes.

Chu Jun snapped back to reality and forced a smile. “You just went to complete the Ultimate Ten Consecutive Challenges?”

“Yes, it’s done now. Hurry up and give me the Star Stone,” Jiang Changkong urged, eager to return and level up.

Chu Jun pulled out a large box from under his desk and handed it to him. “By the way, did you cross paths with Sanyan before?”

Jiang Changkong’s heart tightened. So he was finally asking about this.