Martial Saint with Passives

"As for Xie Songnian..." A cold glint flashed in Xu Qingshan’s eyes. "Don’t worry. This conference is being watched by the Three Sects, and the Qilin Army will be there to maintain order. Even if he had all the courage in the world, he wouldn’t dare make a move on you in that kind of setting. Since the Sect Leader chose you, just go with confidence! Use your full strength—go fight for it! Go seize it!"

"Go show everyone in Cangzhou Prefecture that my disciple, Xu Qingshan’s disciple, the Chief of Yunhai Courtyard, is second to none!"

Seeing the trust and anticipation in his master’s eyes, the last bit of reluctance in Jiang Che’s heart was gradually replaced by a surge of heroic spirit.

’That’s right. I’m already in the Late-stage Refining Organ Realm, I have numerous trump cards, and I even have the Sect Leader’s Talisman Seal for protection. Why should I still be so timid?’

’The path of the Martial Dao is like sailing against the current—if you don’t advance, you fall behind!’

’Constant avoidance will only dull my edge!’

"I... understand!" Jiang Che took a deep breath, his gaze becoming resolute as he bowed deeply and solemnly to Xu Qingshan.

......

At the same time Jiang Che walked out of Xu Qingshan’s Cultivation Room, having formally accepted the mission to compete.

News of the final list of participants spread as if it had grown wings, reaching every corner of the Cangyun Sect.

In the courtyard of Liufeng Courtyard’s Chief Disciple.

SMASH!!!

Without any warning, a tremendous crash suddenly resounded!

Inside the main hall.

An Eight Immortals Table, crafted from Yellow Flower Pear Wood worth a fortune, had been shattered by a single palm strike from Fang Muye, instantly exploding into a shower of splinters!

Scalding hot tea mixed with broken porcelain fragments splashed everywhere.

"JIANG—CHE!!!"

A low roar, suppressed with boundless anger and jealousy, erupted from the depths of Fang Muye’s throat like the cry of a wounded beast!

At this moment, the veins on his neck bulged, each one standing out like a twisted earthworm.

His handsome face, which always maintained a gentle, elegant smile, was now completely distorted by extreme rage, his features crushed together, making him look savage and terrifying!

’Why?!’

’Why is it him again?!’

’Last time at the Inquiry Conference, he stole the show and pushed me down on the Hidden Dragon List. I accepted it!’

’At True Master Baiyi’s Cave Mansion, my comprehension was lacking and I lost to him. I accepted that too!’

’But this time, it’s about representing the Sect in battle, competing for the True Essence Pill that opens the path to the True Master Realm.’

’For such an important spot, why is it still Jiang Che?!’

’I’m at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm!’

’Publicly, I’m the disciple with the highest realm in the Sect, aside from Gu Qingxuan!’

’For this battle, I even went so far as to use my family’s resources to obtain a Secret Medicine that can boost my combat power for a short time!’

’Although taking it will cause some damage to my foundation.’

’But it would let my strength skyrocket, even giving me a good chance to defeat Qin Wuya!’

’As long as I got that True Essence Pill.’

’I would have a chance to break through to the True Master Realm.’

’Then, I would be number one among the younger generation!’

’That bit of damage would be of no consequence!’

’But in the end...’

’Now I don’t even have the right to compete?!’

’What kind of joke is this?!’

’And Jiang Che.’

’He’s just some nobody in the Late-stage Refining Organ Realm!’

’A mud-legged peasant who got his inheritance through some dumb luck!’

’WHY?!!’

"I DON’T ACCEPT IT!!!"

The immense humiliation and resentment gnawed at his sanity like venomous snakes.

He could no longer bear the feeling of being trampled underfoot again and again by a "mud-legged peasant"!

A crazed light flickered in his eyes. He abruptly shot up, transforming into a gust of wind and charging straight for the courtyard of Yunhai Courtyard’s chief.

......

Jiang Che had just returned to his courtyard and hadn’t even had a chance to sit down.

when he felt a powerful Qi Force, filled with hostility and tyrannical energy, rushing toward him at an astonishing speed!

"Jiang Che! Get your ass out here!"

Then, a furious roar came from outside the courtyard.

Jiang Che frowned slightly and walked to the courtyard gate.

He saw Fang Muye, eyes bloodshot and clothes disheveled, standing before his gate like a madman.

His arrival instantly drew the attention of all the surrounding Chief Disciples and any other disciples passing by.

Gu Qingxuan, Wang Zhenhai, Shi Poyue, and others all stepped out of their own courtyards to watch from a distance.

"Senior Brother Fang, what can I do for you?" Jiang Che asked, looking at him calmly.

"’What can you do for me?’" Fang Muye laughed in fury. He pointed at his own nose, then at Jiang Che, and questioned him word by word, "I’m asking you! On what grounds?! On what grounds are you the one representing the Sect, and not me?! I, Fang Muye, am at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm! You, Jiang Che, are just some nobody in the Late-stage! How am I inferior to you in any way?!"

His questions echoed around the silent courtyard, voicing the doubts in many people’s hearts.

Jiang Che looked at his face, twisted by jealousy, and sighed softly in his heart.

"I don’t know. It was the Sect Leader’s decision."

"You don’t know?" Fang Muye roared. "Still playing dumb! You must have used some underhanded tricks behind the scenes! Otherwise, why would the elders favor you?! Yes... that must be it! You little brat must have done something in secret!"

Fang Muye’s words immediately sparked a wave of whispers among the spectating disciples.

Hearing Fang Muye’s accusations, Jiang Che’s gaze gradually turned cold.

’My repeated concessions and my refusal to contend were seen by someone as conceited as Fang Muye as weakness, as proof that I could be pushed around!’

’It seems a fight with him is necessary!’

’This battle is unavoidable!’

’Today, if I don’t beat him into submission, beat him until he’s afraid...’

’...he will inevitably keep pestering me in the future, and could even become a more direct threat than Xie Songnian!’

"Since Senior Brother Fang is not convinced," Jiang Che began slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying clearly to everyone’s ears, "then let’s have a match."

"Good!" Fang Muye seemed to have been waiting for those exact words. "You said it! I, Fang Muye, here and now, formally issue a Chief’s Challenge to you! I will take back what should have been mine! If you lose, that spot in the competition belongs to me!"

Jiang Che looked at him calmly. "How do you want to do this?"

"Three days from now, at noon! At the Sect’s Central Martial Arts Arena!" Fang Muye’s voice was filled with undisguised battle intent!

At that moment, Jiang Che’s gaze became as sharp as a blade.

"Fine. I accept your challenge."

......

The news that two Chief Disciples were about to face off in the Central Martial Arts Arena hit the entire Cangyun Sect like a magnitude-12 earthquake, causing an instant explosion of discussion!

This was even more explosive than the announcement of the competition roster!

For a time, everyone in the Sect, from top to bottom, was frantically discussing the impending showdown.

"Oh my god! Chief Fang and Chief Jiang are going to fight!"

"Now this is a good show! We’re about to find out who the real number two of our Cangyun Sect is!"

The debate over which of the two was stronger reached an unprecedented, white-hot intensity.

This time, even those disciples who had previously been optimistic about Jiang Che were no longer absolutely certain.

"Chief Jiang has worked miracles before, but this time... I’m afraid it’s really a long shot!"

"Yeah, I heard Senior Brother Fang reached the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm a long time ago and has even started ’Refining Spirit’ to break through the Twelve Major Acupoints! That’s a completely different concept from a normal Late-stage Refining Organ Realm!"

"That’s right. Chief Jiang is incredible, but he only broke through to the Late-stage a short while ago. The gap in their Realms is just too big!"

"I also think Senior Brother Fang has a better chance of winning. He’s been backed into a corner this time, so he’ll definitely go all out and fight to the death! Jiang Che... is in danger!"

After calmly analyzing the publicly known Cultivation Realms of the two, most people were still not optimistic about Jiang Che’s chances.

Of course, the disciples of Yunhai Courtyard remained Jiang Che’s most loyal supporters.

"What’s there to be afraid of! Our Chief Senior Brother will definitely win!"

"Exactly! Don’t forget, our Chief Senior Brother has the inheritance of True Master Bai Yi! Who knows how much stronger he’s gotten!"

However, no matter how noisy the outside world became, Jiang Che paid it no mind.

For the next three days, he locked himself away in a Level A Cultivation Room and began his final adjustments and preparations.

......