Chapter 158: [Unity of Man and Sword]

After Tang Mubai completed the purchase, the remaining balance in his hands instantly dropped to under one million.

However, he had no regrets. While waiting for the delivery, he browsed the forums to pass the time.

Following the preliminary qualifiers, there was a two-day wait before the finals.

This period was neither too short nor too long. After some thought, Tang Mubai decided against venturing beyond the territorial wall or using the teleportation array to enter the domains of the half-orcs.

Instead, in the dead of the following night, he made another trip to the bottom of the Red Lake to gather fire-qi.

He did not go back to the spot where he had encountered the beautiful youth last time.

Tang Mubai had no idea whether the youth was still there.

After collecting the fire-qi, he returned immediately.

Then, he went online to watch the buzz.

Following the preliminaries, aside from a few Grandmaster-level martial artists who drew widespread attention, the strength of the adult group participants was not particularly eye-catching.

The youth group, however, was entirely different.

Much like Tang Mubai and Han Li, every district had participants who competed in both the youth and adult groups simultaneously. Moreover, every single one of them possessed formidable strength, having advanced into the top 30 of their respective districts' youth and adult categories.

A total of ten such individuals existed, dubbed by enthusiastic spectators as the Top 10 of the Youth Group.

Before the finals had even begun, the Top 10 had already emerged.

Public information regarding each of them had even been published on the forum.

The Northern District had two: Zheng Haoran and Li Yuechen.

Among them, Zheng Haoran was a kendo prodigy, only seventeen years old, with a vital energy realm at Professional Eighth Grade. His sword mastery had reached the Realm of Great Accomplishment. Hailing from the Zheng family, a prominent clan in the Northern District, he practiced the *Falling Moon Sword Manual*. From the very beginning of the tournament, no opponent had been able to last a single sword strike against him.

Li Yuechen also boasted a powerful background, being the son of Li Qiqiu, the deputy leader of the Rose Mercenary Corps, one of Red Leaf City's top ten mercenary groups. Just sixteen years old, his vital energy realm was at Professional Seventh Grade, and the *Heaven-Shattering Palm* he practiced had likewise reached the Realm of Great Accomplishment.

The Southern District had three: Luo Zhi, Huang Jingrong, and Jiang Dai.

Luo Zhi, much like Tang Mubai, was a newly rising genius who had emerged out of nowhere. Eighteen years old, his vital energy realm stood at Professional Ninth Grade. Wielding his *Demonic Cudgel Techniques*, he fought as though possessed by a demon, completely unstoppable.

His most stunning feat occurred during the adult group preliminaries, where he encountered a Professional Eighth Grade opponent. The rival was suppressed step-by-step by the *Demonic Cudgel Techniques*, completely unable to mount an offensive, and was ultimately forced to forfeit the arena.

Huang Jingrong hailed from the prominent Huang family of the Southern District. Seventeen years old, her vital energy realm was at Professional First Grade. The fact that she was a professional-tier martial artist was only uncovered during the adult group preliminaries when she encountered a thorny opponent and was forced to deploy her "protective genuine Qi shield" to defend herself, thereby revealing her true cultivation level.

The remaining Jiang Dai also came from an extraordinary background. Eighteen this year, he was the top freshman at Red Leaf City's local martial arts academy and the son of a board member of the Qianyun Group, which ranked among the top ten corporations in Red Leaf City. Possessing a sturdy physique and boundless strength, he practiced the *Mountain-Moving Eighteen Strengths*, and since the tournament began, no one had been able to breach his defense.

The Western District had two: Di Shuangshuang and Kang Yan.

Di Shuangshuang was the daughter of the rogue cultivator Di Xiaochuan. Sixteen years old this year, her vital energy realm was similarly at the professional level—though the exact grade remained unknown to all. Yet, what drew the most attention was not her strength, but her stunning beauty.

Indeed, Di Shuangshuang was a great beauty. Despite being only sixteen, she possessed a breathtaking and alluring appearance, and a pair of long legs that could be called invincible.

The remaining Kang Yan likewise possessed an immensely profound background, being the son of the master of the Overlord Saber Sect, one of Red Leaf City's three major sects. Fifteen years old this year, his vital energy realm was at Professional First Grade, and the *Overlord Saber* he practiced allowed him to slash out seven consecutive strikes in a single breath.

Had regulations not prohibited taking human lives during the tournament, not a single one of Kang Yan's opponents would have walked off the arena alive.

The representatives from the Eastern District were Tang Mubai and Han Li.

Tang Mubai's identity as the "Divine Archer" was known throughout the city.

As for Han Li, very few people knew he was already dead; once the finals began, they might discover that the Wing Sword Sect itself had ceased to exist.

The final person was named Li Ling. His exact age was unknown, but he was certainly under eighteen, and his vital energy realm was also a mystery because he had never participated in a vital energy assessment prior to this. However, his mastery of the *Draw-Sword Technique* was peerless. Much like Zheng Haoran, from the moment he stepped onto the stage, he resolved every match with a single sword strike.

Whose accomplishments in the way of the sword were superior between the two had become a major point of fascination.

Because live-streamed footage was available, Tang Mubai reviewed their match recordings and found that the moves executed by both individuals were entirely imperceptible on television or computer screens.

It was merely a flash of sword light, and the opponent would already be down.

Similarly, the three arrows Tang Mubai loosed in his final match were invisible in the recording.

This indicated that only by attending in person could one grasp the specific situation.

Trying to decipher any clues through a computer screen was utterly impossible.

Therefore, on the day the finals commenced, Tang Mubai headed to the city center plaza early in the morning and secured several prime spots in the constructed spectator stands.

His little cousin and Fang Shuixian accompanied him, while Xu Dalun chose not to come and watched directly from the cafeteria.

The morning session still belonged to the youth group.

Tang Mubai was not drawn immediately. Instead, Li Ling—one of the "Top 10" and the most mysterious participant—took to the arena in the very first match.

His opponent was a fair maiden whose appearance and figure could easily score an 80.

Upon stepping onto the stage, she pitifully pleaded for mercy from Li Ling.

In response, the expressionless Li Ling slashed apart the two short daggers she held with a single sword strike, sending her flying out of the arena by the sheer force of the blow, which provoked a chorus of boos from the entire audience.

While others cursed Li Ling for showing no pity for jade and crushing flowers mercilessly, Tang Mubai focused on recalling the underlying resonance of his strike.

Indeed, when Li Ling drew his sword, there had been an indescribable resonance!

It was not like the Daoist rhythm perceived when comprehending "Tai Chi," but rather a singular, wondrous cadence.

It seemed that the moment Li Ling made his move, his entire person and the sword in his hand had fused into one.

The person was the sword, and the sword was the person.

Could this be the legendary unity of man and sword?

Tang Mubai pondered silently to himself.

"Brother, it's your turn, it's your turn."

His cousin's voice suddenly rang in his ear.

The little girl nudged Tang Mubai, jolting him out of his deep contemplation.

"Brother, you must win first place, okay?!"

The little girl clenched her small fists, waving them up and down to cheer him on.

"Rest assured."

Tang Mubai patted his cousin's head, stood up, and walked toward the arena.

His opponent was Luo Zhi from the Southern District!

Much like Tang Mubai, this newly risen teenage prodigy possessed a grim expression, dark skin, a lean physique, and looked somewhat malnourished.

The moment he stepped onto the arena, he locked his gaze firmly onto Tang Mubai, his aura gradually condensing.

Gathering momentum!

Just as Tang Mubai knew that Luo Zhi's martial art was the *Demonic Cudgel Techniques*, Luo Zhi likewise knew the terrifying power of Tang Mubai's archery. Therefore, without waiting for the referee's command, he began accumulating momentum, striving to defeat Tang Mubai swiftly.

The instant the referee's voice fell, he violently burst into action.

The black cudgel grasped in his hand unleashed countless streams of vital energy, swirling together and condensing into the shape of a crazed wolf's head, roaring as it charged toward Tang Mubai like lightning.

"Awooh~!"