Martial Saint with Passives

"The man next to her is Senior Brother Fang Muye from Liufeng Courtyard," another disciple added.

Jiang Che turned to look.

Fang Muye was tall and well-built, with handsome features. A faint, almost imperceptible, confident smile was perpetually playing on his lips.

He was dressed in the moon-white Flowing Cloud Robe of Liufeng Courtyard and carried himself with a remarkable air.

"Senior Brother Fang is from the Fang Family, one of the three great Noble Families of Cangzhou Prefecture. His Root Bone and Comprehension are both considered top-tier. He’s not yet thirty, and he’s already at the Late Stage of the Refining Organ Realm. When it comes to the power and endurance of his Jin Qi, it’s said he’s even a cut above Gu Qingxuan! However, in actual combat, Gu Qingxuan’s sword is too pure, too sharp. She and her sword are one, and she can often break through the defense of his powerful Strength. Senior Brother Fang lost to her by half a move in the last conference. I wonder how it’ll go this time," the disciple explained.

"Over there is Senior Brother Shi Poyue from Thunder Shock Courtyard!" someone else pointed in another direction.

Shi Poyue was a mountain of a man, with features as resolute as chiseled stone and a gaze as steady as iron. He carried a massive, broad-bladed, thick-spined saber on his back that, at a glance, was clearly no Mortal Grade weapon.

His Talent was considered a notch below the other three of the Four Great Celestial Pride, but he was still leagues above any ordinary disciple.

He had been at the Mid-stage of the Refining Organ Realm for a long time, and his incomparably tyrannical Thunder Shock Saber Technique was legendary.

He was also the oldest of the four, already approaching forty.

"And don’t forget our very own Senior Sister Lin!" The Yunhai Courtyard disciples’ voices swelled with pride as they mentioned Lin Bihe.

Lin Bihe was dressed in black martial attire, her posture as straight and proud as a pine. She exuded a spirited and valiant aura, and her eyes held an undeniable sharpness.

Her power might be a step below the other three, but her Talent was equally astonishing. She was the youngest of the four, however, having only just turned twenty, and had recently broken through to the Mid-stage of the Refining Organ Realm.

Many had high hopes for her, believing that in a few more years, she had every chance to catch up to—or even surpass—Shi Poyue and break into the top three!

While a few other disciples had also broken through to the Refining Organ Realm and garnered some attention, their brilliance paled in comparison to these four.

With that, the tournament officially began.

The disciples of the Bone Forging Realm were the first to take the stage.

For a time, the stage was a storm of crisscrossing Jin Qi and unceasing battle cries, with a dazzling array of intricate Martial Arts techniques on display.

From below the stage, Jiang Che watched with rapt attention, silently analyzing and comparing the fighters.

He was confident that with his current Realm and his many Talents, he stood a good chance of winning against most of the Bone Forging Realm disciples.

However, when a few disciples at the Late-stage, or even the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm, made their move, Jiang Che’s heart skipped a beat. Their tyrannical Qi Force, fluid techniques, and the cunning that came only from battle experience sent a chill through him.

One senior brother in particular, whose aura was the most potent and who was just a single step away from the Refining Organ Realm, stood out. The sheer power radiating from his every move made Jiang Che realize something clearly: even if he used his Black Armor Form, his chances of victory were slim. In fact, his very life would be at risk!

’Looks like I still can’t underestimate the masters of the Bone Forging Realm...,’ Jiang Che thought.

During the matches, Jiang Che spotted several familiar faces.

Among them were his senior brother, Xiao Mingqian, and his neighbors, Mu Jun and Yun Weiwei.

Their skills were by no means weak among the many competitors.

Ultimately, Xiao Mingqian took third place in the Bone Forging disciples’ tournament, while Yun Weiwei placed fifth.

Mu Jun didn’t fare quite as well, but still managed to secure eighth place.

Jiang Che made a mental comparison. He felt that in his transformed state, he was slightly stronger than Yun Weiwei, but still no match for his senior brother, Xiao Mingqian.

’Looks like Senior Brother really has a few tricks up his sleeve...,’ Jiang Che thought, the notion striking him as jarring, considering his senior brother’s usually simple and honest demeanor.

After the Bone Forging disciples’ competition concluded, it was time for the Refining Organ Realm matches.

And this was the main event of the day.

First to take the stage were two disciples at the Early Stage of the Refining Organ Realm, one from Thunder Shock Courtyard and the other from Panyue Courtyard.

The level of power they displayed was on a completely different plane from the previous Bone Forging disciples.

Their Jin Qi was several times denser and purer than that of the Bone Forging disciples.

Their movements were broad and sweeping, their power astonishing. It was the kind of fight where a single touch could injure, and a mere graze could mean death!

Jiang Che watched with silent alarm, his palms growing slick with sweat.

He had no doubt that against such an opponent, even if he played all his trump cards and transformed into his Black Armor, he would be instantly crushed to death by their overwhelming and irresistible power!

The absolute gap between Realms was laid bare in that moment!

He repeatedly warned himself to be more cautious in the future—cautious, and then more cautious still. After all, there was always a higher mountain, always someone stronger!

Before long, it was finally time for the Four Great Celestial Pride to take the stage.

Their opponents were all elites of the Refining Organ Realm in their own right.

However, the battles were completely one-sided.

Gu Qingxuan moved with unhurried grace. Without even drawing her sword, she simply gestured with her Sword Finger. With each light swipe, a stream of Sword Qi so condensed it seemed solid shot through the air, effortlessly dismantling her opponent’s attacks. Within three moves, she had nonchalantly sent them off the stage.

Her effortless mastery, her almost instinctual command of the Sword Dao, left the crowd mesmerized.

Meanwhile, Fang Muye’s Body Technique was even more ghostly and unpredictable.

He had mastered Liufeng Courtyard’s ultimate technique to perfection, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake on the stage.

His opponent’s all-out attacks couldn’t even graze the hem of his robes.

With a jab of his finger, he unleashed a Force so condensed it was like a needle. It easily pierced through the blade of his opponent’s Treasure Saber—a blade fortified with dense Refining Organ Force—shattering the weapon inch by inch! The sheer power of his Finger Technique was breathtaking.

As for Shi Poyue, his Saber Technique was a reflection of the man himself: grand, sweeping, and utterly tyrannical.

When he unleashed his Thunder Shock Saber Technique, the light from his blade flowed like a waterfall amidst the faint rumble of thunder. Ferocious and unparalleled Saber Qi swept across the stage, completely suppressing his opponent and securing victory in under ten moves.

As for Lin Bihe, her Fist and Palm Skills were a perfect blend of hard and soft. She channeled the Force of her Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique, making it churn like a sea of clouds, full of a thousand transformations.

Her attacks were relentless. Coordinating her Body Technique with her fists and palms, she forced her opponent back step by step, ultimately securing a clean and decisive victory.

Her performance drew thunderous applause from the Yunhai Courtyard disciples. Xu Qingshan, seated on the high platform, watched his prized student with a flicker of approval, almost too subtle to notice, in his eyes.

The performance of all four truly lived up to their title of "Celestial Pride."

Next up was the moment everyone had been waiting for: the internal showdowns among the Four Great Celestial Pride!