Before the grand gate of Qingxiao Sect, a man and a woman stood side by side. Both looked young, barely past their twenties.
The man was handsome and spirited, dressed in a tight-fitting blue robe. His long hair was tied high, and a silver spear rested in his hand. His posture radiated the arrogance and valor of a young general.
Beside him, the woman wore a green gown, her beauty soft and gentle like flowing water. She carried a small bundle on her back and gazed at the man beside her with tenderness in her eyes.
The blue-robed man was none other than Li Yang, the imperial Martial Champion, while the woman beside him was his cousin, Zhao Linglong.
"Cousin," Zhao Linglong said softly, her voice delicate and sweet, "isn't it a bit rude to shout like that right after arriving? The big sects might tolerate it since they have their pride, but Qingxiao Sect isn't the same. With Lin Xunfeng gone, the remaining disciples are all so young. They might be frightened by your reputation and not dare to fight."
Li Yang smiled, unconcerned. "Those who practice martial arts must be competitive by nature. If Qingxiao Sect still has one man among them, he won't shrink from battle. Besides, I'm here to spar, not to take lives."
As he spoke, his wrist twisted slightly, and the silver spear in his hand shimmered coldly under the sunlight.
While the two talked, a group appeared around the mountain path's bend.
Seeing the crowd approaching, Li Yang's lips curved upward, excitement flashing across his face.
Yang Jueding walked at the front and stopped before the mountain gate, his gaze sweeping over Li Yang from head to toe.
"You carry the surname Li and hold the title of Martial Champion. Which Li clan are you from?" Yang Jueding asked calmly.
In the Great Li Dynasty, martial prowess was highly esteemed. To become the imperial Martial Champion required more than talent—it demanded vast resources. There had never been a champion from humble origins.
"From the Li clan of Linchuan," Li Yang replied proudly, holding his head high.
Yang Jueding's eyes widened in realization. "Ah, the descendant of the Minister of War, then. Tell me—if we make you cry today, will you go running to your elders for help?"
Li Yang's smile vanished. His eyes turned sharp and cold. "I've fought my way south from Linchuan, challenging eleven sects already. No one has made me cry. If any of you can defeat me, I won't just forgive your insults—I'll even reward you. I'll help repair this broken-down mountain gate of yours."
"Fine! You said it yourself! Man'er, go!"
Yang Jueding immediately agreed, stepping aside to give space.
Wu Man'er stepped forward without hesitation.
The moment he appeared, Zhao Linglong frowned slightly, her brows knitting in concern.
Li Yang, however, brightened with interest. "You there, big fellow—how about joining the army with me? You could earn glory and make your name known to ten thousand men."
Wu Man'er scratched his head and grinned. "I'm not joining the army. I'll always stay with my Senior Brother."
Li Yang laughed. "Then let's fight first!"
Wu Man'er nodded simply and kept walking forward.
Seeing how casually Wu Man'er approached, Li Yang's expression darkened. He had no patience for such insolence. With a swift step forward, he thrust his spear horizontally, the weapon whistling through the air like a silver dragon, aiming straight for Wu Man'er's waist.
Crack!
Wu Man'er raised his arm and caught the spear mid-swing.
Li Yang's face froze. Before he could react, a terrifying force surged through the weapon. The overwhelming power made him lose balance and stumble forward.
When he saw Wu Man'er's other hand rising, Li Yang quickly let go of the spear and leapt backward, moving as lightly as a swallow until he landed beside Zhao Linglong—nearly slipping off the stone steps in the process.
After regaining his footing, Li Yang's heart pounded. He stared at Wu Man'er in disbelief. The man's strength was far beyond anything he'd imagined. He had never faced someone with such raw power.
"What's your name?" Li Yang asked, his tone serious now.
Wu Man'er smiled foolishly. "I'm Wu Man'er."
"Wu…?" Li Yang's eyes flickered. "Don't tell me you're…"
Whatever thought crossed his mind was cut short when Wu Man'er suddenly tossed the silver spear back to him.
Li Yang caught it, but the impact made his tiger's mouth throb painfully.
This monstrous strength—his suspicion only grew stronger.
Then Wu Man'er's stance shifted. His legs spread apart, knees bent slightly, his right palm drawn back to his waist. Visible streams of vital energy coiled around his body. His expression hardened, completely different from the simple grin he wore moments ago.
Sensing the change in aura, Li Yang didn't flinch. He gripped his spear tightly in both hands, ready to face him head-on.
Below the steps, the disciples of Qingxiao Sect had gathered to watch. They stared in awe at the figure of Wu Man'er standing tall above them—it was the first time they'd ever seen him so serious.
With a shout, Li Yang leapt high into the air—several zhang above ground. His back gleamed beneath the blazing sun as his inner energy surged around his body and weapon. The silver spear shone like a streak of cold lightning, plunging downward toward Wu Man'er.
At that very instant, Wu Man'er struck out.
The Nine Heavens Divine Palm!
A thunderous roar exploded in the disciples' ears. It was as if tigers and leopards were roaring together, shaking the mountain itself. The shockwave of energy burst outward, forcing the watching disciples to stagger backward.
Cheng Canghai squinted just in time to witness Li Yang's body being blasted backward by Wu Man'er's palm.
Blood sprayed into the air as Li Yang flew like a broken kite, crashing into a courtyard building with a deafening boom. The roof collapsed, dust rising in clouds as startled disciples jumped in shock.
One strike—and victory was decided.
Even the disciples of Qingxiao Sect were stunned by Wu Man'er's sheer might. Even Yang Jueding felt his heart tighten.
Cold sweat ran down Yang Jueding's back. A wave of relief washed over him as he thought, Thank the heavens Sect Master told us to stop earlier. If this fool had used the Nine Heavens Divine Palm on me, I'd be crushed! Forget injuries—my pride would've been shattered to dust!
"Cousin!"
Zhao Linglong's cry was full of panic as she lifted her skirt and rushed down the steps.
Wu Man'er slowly drew back his palm, withdrawing the force he had unleashed. The surge of vital energy returned to his body, and his robe rippled with power. His broad back gave off the calm, invincible air of a grandmaster—"the kind of man who stands alone beneath heaven."
"So this is what top-tier martial arts look like. Unbelievable."
Standing among the watching disciples, Zhang Yu couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration. A strong urge to learn martial arts welled up in his heart, though he quickly pushed it down.
Wu Man'er looked down at the cloud of dust below, his icy expression melting away. Turning to Yang Jueding, he asked carefully, "Did I… hit too hard?"
Yang Jueding's mind went blank for a second before his stomach dropped. If the Martial Champion dies here, we're in serious trouble!
He immediately sprinted down the mountain path while the other disciples crowded around Wu Man'er, showering him with praise and awe.
At the same time—
Inside the courtyard, Li Dongyue could hear the disciples' chatter outside. Her face showed concern as she said, "Senior Brother, Man'er's too simple-minded. He never knows how much strength to hold back. We can't let him strike casually again."
Li Qingqiu nodded but didn't seem too worried. His ears were sharp enough to catch the faint, uneven breathing coming from below. Li Yang was still alive—barely, but alive.
"Go help him."
Li Qingqiu's calm tone left no room for doubt.
Li Dongyue immediately rose, handed Yuan Li to him, and hurried out of the courtyard.
…
Li Yang dreamed.
He dreamed of the battlefield—charging in and out of enemy lines seven times without meeting a single worthy opponent. Then suddenly, before him stood a towering giant who raised his palm and struck him down with unstoppable might.
Just as the blow was about to crush him, he jolted awake.
He opened his eyes, gasping for breath, and tried to sit up—but a sharp, tearing pain shot through his body. He inhaled sharply and fell back onto the bed, unable to move.
"Cousin! You're awake!"
Zhao Linglong's voice trembled with relief. Li Yang turned his head and saw her sitting beside his bed. The setting sun slanted through the window behind her, dyeing the room in golden light.
It was nearly dusk.
Li Yang gritted his teeth. "Where are we?"
"In Qingxiao Sect," Zhao Linglong replied quickly. "A girl named Li Dongyue used acupuncture to save you." She exhaled in relief, though her tone carried faint reproach.
"Cousin, you can't be so careless next time. It's lucky these Qingxiao people are kindhearted. If this were another sect, they might've just left you to die."
Though her cousin had been beaten half to death, Zhao Linglong felt no resentment toward Qingxiao Sect—only gratitude toward Li Dongyue.
Li Yang gave a strained laugh. "Careless? That guy was terrifying. He's not even human. I've heard the Wu Clan of Lishan spent generations perfecting war-body techniques. They bathed newborns in yang-tempered medicine to harden their bones. Looks like it actually worked."
"The Wu Clan of Lishan?" Zhao Linglong frowned. "But weren't they wiped out thirteen years ago? How do you know Wu Man'er is one of them?"
Li Yang winced from the pain, forcing a smile. "Because of Lin Xunfeng. My father once said Lin Xunfeng had a habit of meddling in everything. He had ties with the Wu Clan. After their massacre, Lin Xunfeng personally went to Lishan. Maybe he found Wu Man'er there."
Zhao Linglong nodded slowly, realization dawning. "Lin Xunfeng really was a strange man. They say when he first entered the jianghu, he befriended the emperor himself, who was secretly visiting the people. The emperor admired him deeply and offered him an official post. If he'd accepted, he could've soared straight into the heavens. But instead, he chose the martial world."
"Indeed, an eccentric man." Li Yang's gaze dimmed slightly. "My Li family has some history with him, too…"
"What kind of history?" Zhao Linglong asked curiously.
Li Yang only shook his head. "It's complicated."
Just then, a young voice piped up outside the window.
"Hey! You're really the Martial Champion? Do Martial Champions need to study?"
Startled, both Li Yang and Zhao Linglong turned to see two girls peeking through the window—Li Sijin and Xu Ning. The one speaking was Li Sijin, her wide eyes full of curiosity.
Li Yang managed a faint smile. "Of course. Martial Champions have to take the literary exam too, though it's easier than the civil one. I studied as well as practiced martial arts since I was little. You two are lucky—you get to play in the mountains instead of memorizing books."
He remembered seeing them earlier that day, when he had asked them for directions.
Li Sijin leaned closer, eyes sparkling. "So, Champion Brother, how strong are you in the jianghu? Like… what level?"
Li Yang chuckled softly. "I've defeated many first-rate experts easily, but the realm of the apex masters is still far from my reach."
"Then doesn't that mean my Fifth Senior Brother is an apex master?" Li Sijin asked, eyes lighting up.
Li Yang paused, then smiled faintly. "Your Fifth Senior Brother—how old is he?"
He recalled Wu Man'er's childish tone and innocent manner.
"He just turned fifteen," Li Sijin said, blinking innocently.
Li Yang's mouth twitched. Zhao Linglong's eyes went wide, her jaw dropping slightly.
Li Sijin smiled sweetly, pretending to be naive—but inside, she was secretly smug.
Xu Ning tilted her head away, pretending she didn't know her.
Lying on the bed, Li Yang closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "I've disgraced the name of Martial Champion."