My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Chen Sansi!"

Chen Sansi, who had his eyes closed to regain his energy, was awakened by someone calling his name. Upon opening his eyes, he saw a bald monk with a large beard, incongruously wearing armor.

He had heard Sun Buqi mention this person before. The man was Sun Dushi's fifth disciple, named Meng Guangxin, who had become a monk at a young age but later discovered that Buddhism could not save people, so he joined the military to practice martial arts.

"I've seen General Meng."

Out of courtesy, Chen Sansi stood up and saluted with his fist: "General, what brings you here to seek me out?"

"Amitabha, Amitabha."

Meng Guangxin recited the Buddha's name twice in succession: "Myself has come to teach you how to defeat that Cao fellow!"

Chen Sansi asked, "General Meng, is this not against the rules?"

"What rules would this be violating? Offstage coaching is very normal. Many people had their elders with them in the previous bouts. You just didn't notice!"

Meng Guangxin held his Crescent Moon Spade in hand: "If you master my thirty-six moves of 'Merciful and Ultimate Transcending Staff Technique,' I guarantee you can defeat that Cao fellow!"

As he spoke, he began to demonstrate pile work and killing moves on the spot.

With each move he executed, the nearly tangible Gang Qi left huge pits on the ground. Soon, the area within a hundred steps was pockmarked and the dust filled the air.

"Thank you for your goodwill, General,"

Chen Sansi tried to stop him in vain: "But how can I apply what is learned so hastily now? It's too late, isn't it?"

"That's true."

Meng Guangxin touched his bald head: "Forget your spear technique and use these three moves I taught…"

"Monk!"

A somewhat soft and gentle voice rang out.

Senior Brother Seven, Ye Fengxiu, arrived in time and scolded in a sinister tone: "Monk, don't mislead the young here! Your methods, without ten or eight years of cultivation, simply cannot produce any effective results."

"Yin Yang Man, what do you suggest we do?"

Meng Guangxin raised his voice: "With Cao Fan's Dragon Heart Tiger Bone and the gap in realms between them, how can he win without taking a less conventional approach?"

"Don't listen to him, he's brainless,"

Ye Fengxiu's tone was unemotional, yet his words carried patience: "Cao Fan practices the 'Golden Crow Heavenly Dragon Saber Technique,' which the Emperor Martial Sect personally created. Its hallmark is its ferocity – extreme ferocity – and coupled with his gifted physique, he has virtually no match in the same realm.

"In fact, even that Lu Shuhua would likely struggle to win against him in the end.

"As for you, if you want to lose less embarrassingly, the best way would be to spar with someone who has also practiced the 'Golden Crow Heavenly Dragon Saber Technique,' but unfortunately, this technique is a secret of the Imperial Family and never taught to outsiders.

"So, we can't really help you,"

"Heh!"

Meng Guangxin swirled his prayer beads: "Yin Yang Man, you are quite talkative today, more than you've said in a whole year put together. It seems you don't want that Cao surname to win either."

Ye Fengxiu snorted coldly, not paying him any attention, and gave Chen Sansi a slight nod as a sign of encouragement before he left.

"Thank you, General,"

Chen Sansi called out to the departing figure in gratitude.

"Mr. Chen."

Yan Changqing also came over, his expression laden with worry: "You should give up your claim. You killed Wen Qiushi, and Cao Fan likely wants not only to defeat you, but also to take your life. If you admit defeat now, you'll still be an Inner Sect Disciple."

"Mr. Yan, there's no need to worry on my behalf,"

Chen Sansi responded calmly: "I have my own plans."

Ever since his time in Po Yang, his goal had been to join Selected Point and secure a good ranking. Having come this far, how could he possibly give up?

Besides, even if he did give up, Cao Fan would not let him off the hook.

And most importantly,

Cao Fan's saber is fierce.

But his spear is no less fierce!

"Well said!"

Meng Guangxin applauded: "My Buddha does not ferry cowards!"

"Sigh."

Yan Changqing heaved a sigh: "One last reminder, I just saw Cao Fan leave. If he leaves at this juncture, it's possible he's gone to seek guidance. He appears arrogant, but he is actually very meticulous and won't give you a chance by underestimating you. Be careful."

As their conversation ended, the rest period concluded.

War drums began to beat from all directions around the Martial Arts Arena.

Chen Sansi and Cao Fan each stepped onto the stage.

The final bout took place on the largest stage at the center of the Martial Arts Arena. With over fifty thousand spectators present for the battle, it was a spectacle of immense proportions.

"My sister Li is also here,"

Rong Yanqiu looked at his female junior clothed in a red martial arts outfit, reaching out to pinch her cheek: "Your skin is getting smoother the more you practice martial arts, almost as if water could be squeezed out. Haven't you been secretly using expensive skincare ingredients?"

Sun Li didn't evade, letting her counterpart do as they pleased while her cool voice carried a hint of concern: "Senior brothers and sisters, can our Junior Brother Sansi win?"

She had just accompanied Sister Lan before rushing over.

The senior brothers and sisters all shook their heads.

"I heard he has a mortal feud with Cao Fan." Enjoy more content from empire

Sun Li looked in the direction of the stage: "That person has had a strong vengeful spirit since childhood. It wouldn't matter if he can't win, but I hope no further accidents happen."

"Yo~"

Hearing this, Rong Yanqiu teased: "No wonder Senior Brother Four said our little junior sister is about to get married. I didn't believe it at first, but it seems to be true."

"Getting married?"

Sun Li was slow to catch the implication, but as she realized the meaning of the words, she hurried to explain: "Senior Sister Nine, what nonsense are you saying? He is our junior brother and the person who saved my life; isn't it natural for me to be worried?"

"The two aren't mutually exclusive."

Rong Yanqiu held her slim waist, whispering into her ear with a breathy voice: "What are you shy about, sister? It's perfectly normal for a girl to get married. Let sister tell you, that sort of thing is quite interesting. Once you learn it, you'll always be wanting…"

"Senior Sister Nine!"

Sun Li, not one to blush easily, ended up with reddened cheeks and quickly dodged aside: "Can you... not be like this?"

"Alright, alright, don't worry,"

Rong Yanqiu no longer teased her: "With your senior sister here, I'll go myself later and ensure that Cao Fan can't hurt a single hair on him."

The sound of the war drums became more urgent.

Upon the city walls, Pei Tiannan and Marquis Hou regarded the scene below with keen interest. Even Sun Xiangzong, who had seemed as if he were merely basking in the sun since the start of Selected Point, sat up straight.

...

The stage.

Chen Sansi leaned on his spear as he stood.

Opposite him was the sturdy-framed Princely Heir Cao Fan, brandishing the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand.

Both of their weapons had been replaced.

As a result, Cao Fan was unable to wield the world-famous weapon in his hand.

The greatest pressure on Chen Sansi came from the Refining Internal Organs Perfection and the Blood Explosion State.

In the Blood Explosion State, one could even forget pain for a short while, entering a completely frenzied state, with combat power soaring.

Chen Sansi still vividly remembered how, back in Po Yang, Han Cheng was the first to launch a sneak attack, stabbing Tang Ming in the heart, yet in the end, Han was beaten into a grave injury.

This was the most direct manifestation of the gap between Refining Internal Organs Perfection and small achievement.

Chen Sansi's biggest reliance, however, was on the Frenzy of the Unity Spear Technique and the Qilin's Heart.

"Chen Sansi!"

Cao Fan squinted his eyes, speaking in a deep voice, "Out of consideration for Grandpa Emperor's appreciation of you, sever your arms and then abolish your cultivation. I'll spare your life."

"..."

Chen Sansi did not have the habit of chatting before taking action.

"You dare to ignore me?"

Cao Fan gripped the hilt of his long blade tightly, "Fine, it seems you're really tired of living. Use your blood to establish my authority in the Eight Camps!"

"Boom——"

As soon as the dulled sound of a gong struck, a blood-red serpent ferociously emerged, swiftly reaching in front of the heart in the blink of an eye.

"Clang!"

As if Cao Fan had been prepared all along, he was not in the least intimidated by the sudden appearance of the serpent. The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade appeared at just the right position, sending the serpent flying far away with a direct slash.

A terrifying power transmitted along the shaft of the spear to his arms, Chen Sansi activated the blood of the Dragon and Elephant, and with the enhancement of the Nine Dragon Living Veins, his body became agile to a bizarre extent. He thrust his spear in an almost twisted posture.

Once again, the opponent easily parried.

After two ineffective moves, Cao Fan began to counterattack. He had no intention of probing for weakness, never planning to give any opportunity, but instead used his full strength, entering the Blood Explosion State!

Within his chest, a Dragon Heart began to beat furiously. With the heart's pumping, the blood began to circulate at an unbelievable speed until it spread throughout the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and all over his body.

Cao Fan's eyes turned blood red, and his body abruptly swelled, enlarging by more than two sizes, ripping his fitting clothes and revealing the beast-like, pridefully built muscles underneath. At this moment, the human body broke through its natural limits, with strength, speed, and reaction time all multiplying manifold!

His Azure Dragon Crescent Blade descended from the sky as if it were not a blade, but a Golden Crow that had smashed the sun down from the heavens!

"Boom!!!"

With a single exchange.

Chen Sansi finally understood why almost everyone thought he would lose. Dragon Heart Tiger Bone, Refining Internal Organs Perfection—each of these was a tremendous advantage!

Unlike any opponent he had faced before.

This sense of oppression was second only to the time he faced Amugu from the Meridian Passage Realm.

The difference was that this time he could not resort to using Immortal Treasures to cheat; he could only rely on his own strength to win.

With every fall of the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade.

The long spear wailed incessantly, swinging back and forth with terrifying amplitude, as if it would snap at any moment, Chen Sansi continuously parried the attacks while constantly seeking opportunities to counterattack using the comprehensive characteristics of the Unity Spear Technique. Oddly enough, the opponent seemed to be very familiar with his spear technique, leaving no opportunity at all.

It was as if someone had demonstrated the Unity Spear Technique to him before the fight started.

If it were any other Martial Artist with only a small achievement in Refining Internal Organs under such onslaught, there would certainly be no chance of lasting even one round.

Even with Chen Sansi's strength, to continue enduring like this, he probably couldn't hope to win by simply outlasting the opponent's Qi-Blood as before.

Because this was the Princely Heir!

He was the future of the Imperial Family!

The resources he used for his physique and cultivation were the best in the world.

If there were no differences from other Martial Artists, that would truly be odd.

The advantage of Qi-Blood still existed; there was no doubt he surpassed the opponent in that regard. Now that the initial few rounds had been endured, dragging the fight out would inevitably lead to counterattacking success.

The problem was, now was different from usual. The opponent didn't need to kill him; the moment he left the arena, he would lose. He had to ensure he stayed within a certain range, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty.

Fortunately for Chen Sansi, he also possessed the Qilin's Heart!

With each strike of the opponent's blade, his arms ached terribly, but his understanding of the Golden Crow Saber Technique became one step clearer. Continuing like this, just right, within about thirty rounds, he would figure out each and every move of the opponent.

This was a feeling that was hard to describe with words.

It was like solving a difficult problem; one needed to simulate various methods of solution in their mind.

It was like composing a piece of music, where every strike of the blade was a note. Once enough notes were collected to form a complete melody, it would be possible to fully understand the opponent through the score and launch a comprehensive counterattack.

"Clang clang clang clang clang——"

Under the setting sun.

Above the arena.

It was as if a ferocious solar dragon was relentlessly pounding on a blood-red serpent.

Dragon against serpent.

The suppression was unquestionable!

Even those non-versed in martial arts could see this clearly.

"Excellent saber technique!"

"Excellent spear technique!"

Up on the city walls, Mr. Hou and Pei Tiannan expressed their admiration.

"To have achieved such mastery at such a young age, both of these men have immeasurable futures ahead!"

"Still, Mr. Chen is bound to lose, mainly due to the suppression by realm. A small achievement in Refining Internal Organs cannot enter the Blood Explosion State. Otherwise, the outcome of this battle would really be hard to predict."

"Now that you mention it, even I feel a bit of pity."

"Ten rounds—I think Mr. Chen won't be able to hold on after the tenth round. Either he will choose to leave the arena, or he will fall heavily injured or even dead at the hands of the Princely Heir."

"Hmm?"

Pei Tiannan placed back the teacup he had just lifted, "Mr. Hou, your judgment is incorrect. Look for yourself; although Mr. Chen has been in a suppressed state all along, that's all there is to it. He hasn't fallen into a greater disadvantage."

"Such immense Qi-Blood?"

Mr. Hou said in astonishment.

When facing High Realm Martial Artists, those at a lower realm often need to mobilize more Qi-Blood to make up for the disparity, thus their consumption is also extremely large.

But Chen Sansi still managed to maintain his stance under such powerful suppression. How fearsome must his Qi-Blood foundation be?

"Good! This Marquis would like to see just how much longer he can last!"