My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

"Now—begin!"

On all ten arenas, the explosive sounds of clashing Qi Force erupted in an instant.

Qin Wentian had drawn "Arena A-3." His opponent was a Swordsman at the Peak of the True Qi Realm.

The opponent’s expression was grim. He went on the offensive with his full strength right from the start, his blade flashing like a waterfall.

Yet Qin Wentian merely stood there quietly, only drawing the longsword at his chest half an inch from its sheath the very moment the blade was upon him.

SHING!

A flash of green light appeared and vanished in the same breath.

The saber-wielding Disciple froze on the spot, him and his blade. A neat slit silently tore open the front of his robes, yet the skin beneath was completely unharmed.

His face was ashen. After a long moment, he dejectedly sheathed his blade and bowed. "Thank you for your mercy, Senior Brother Qin."

Qin Wentian sheathed his sword, gave a faint nod, and walked off the stage.

The entire exchange had taken no more than three breaths of time.

Meanwhile, on "Arena A-5," Xiao Qingxue’s opponent was a sturdy Disciple skilled in Fist Techniques. With a furious roar, he roused his True Essence, his fists cutting through the air with ferocious power as he aimed straight for Xiao Qingxue’s face.

Xiao Qingxue’s figure didn’t move. She simply lifted a slender finger and pointed it through the air.

A wisp of Ice Blue Sword Qi shot out, arriving after he had attacked but striking first, and precisely hit the tip of his fist.

The stout man’s forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. His entire arm was instantly covered in a thin layer of frost. A chill invaded his body, making him shiver violently, and his attack crumbled.

He was a good sport, immediately cupping his fist. "Senior Sister Xiao’s Cultivation is profound. I admit defeat."

Xiao Qingxue gave a slight nod and floated off the stage, as cool and distant as ever.

The dominant performances of these two drew gasps of surprise from the veteran Disciples of the Inner Courtyard.

This year’s newcomers were exceptionally strong.

Many eyes then turned to Liang Cheng, who had yet to fight. He had previously defeated Fu Qingyun, and his fierce reputation preceded him.

"Arena A-7! Liang Cheng versus Yan Kuan!"

Liang Cheng leaped onto the arena.

His opponent was none other than Yan Kuan, the burly man from the entrance trials who wielded twin hammers and was in the Early Stage of the True Essence Realm.

Yan Kuan looked at Liang Cheng, a wry smile on his face as he scratched his head. "Senior Brother Liang, I didn’t expect we’d run into each other again so soon."

Liang Cheng cupped his fist. "Junior Brother Yan, if you please."

Yan Kuan took a deep breath and tightened his grip on his twin hammers. Erupting with both Qi Blood and True Essence, he let out a great shout as his hammers stirred up a violent gale, smashing toward Liang Cheng from the left and right!

The attack was even more formidable than during the trials; he had clearly made progress in the intervening time.

However, facing this ferocious strike, Liang Cheng didn’t even draw his saber this time.

He simply raised his right hand, fingers held together like a sword, and gently jabbed toward the incoming shadow of the hammers.

Profound Yin Sword Technique·Bone Penetration.

A wisp of Gray-Black Sword Qi, condensed to the absolute limit, shot out silently. It was unimaginably fast, starting later but arriving first, piercing through the raging wind of the hammers to strike Yan Kuan’s right wrist with perfect accuracy.

Yan Kuan shuddered violently. He felt a cold, sinister Power instantly penetrate the Meridians in his arm. His entire right arm felt as if it had been pierced by icy needles, both aching and numb. The flow of his True Essence stagnated, and the force of his hammer blow involuntarily dissipated.

He struggled to maintain the attack with his left hammer, but his form was already broken.

Liang Cheng didn’t move his feet. He simply angled his body slightly, his left hand lashing out like lightning to gently press and guide the face of his opponent’s left hammer.

Fierce Bull Force·Relieving Force.

Yan Kuan felt a profound yet supple strength transmitted through his weapon. The head of his hammer was involuntarily diverted to the side, causing him to stumble and leave himself wide open.

Liang Cheng’s right hand, still in a sword-finger, had silently come to a halt three inches from his throat.

The Sword Qi at his fingertip was contained but not released, its chill seeping into the bone.

Sweat instantly beaded on Yan Kuan’s forehead. He decisively released his grip, and the twin hammers fell to the ground with a CLANG. He then crisply cupped his fist.

"Senior Brother Liang, you’re amazing! I surrender!"

The crowd below fell silent for a moment, followed by a stir of discussion.

"Another one-move victory?"

"This Liang Cheng really is something else."

"His finger technique is sharp, and his Body Technique is steady. He’s got some real skill."

Liang Cheng withdrew his hand, nodded at Yan Kuan, and turned to leave the stage.

As the competition progressed, the powerhouses among the newly admitted Disciples gradually began to stand out.

Aside from Liang Cheng, Qin Wentian, and Xiao Qingxue advancing without any trouble, another three or four Disciples also had eye-catching performances, with several of them being at the True Essence Realm.

And as the drawing of lots changed for the next round and the battles grew more intense, the gazes of Liang Cheng, Qin Wentian, and Xiao Qingxue finally, inadvertently, met in mid-air once more.

The desire to win, forcibly suppressed after their inconclusive arena battle during the entrance trials was cut short by the Master’s intervention, quietly began to rekindle.

Sword Intent surged in Qin Wentian’s eyes. When he looked at Liang Cheng and Xiao Qingxue, his previous calm was gone, replaced by a burning desire to challenge them.

Within Xiao Qingxue’s cool, aloof aura, an imperceptible ripple appeared. Her jade-like hand gently closed around the hilt of her sword.

Liang Cheng, in turn, slowly rested his hand on the hilt of the Zhenxian Saber at his waist. His gaze was serene, yet a restrained sharpness faintly emanated from him.

The three formless auras, though not yet clashing directly, had already formed a subtle confrontation. It caused the nearby Disciples to subconsciously look over, their gazes shifting back and forth between the trio with surprise and uncertainty.

Up on the high platform, the several Masters observing the matches also cast their gazes over.

"Oh? These three little ones are finally getting interesting."

An old man with a white beard and hair stroked his whiskers and smiled.

"Their suppressed battle intent has now been stirred. I fear the next round of matches is when things will get truly exciting."

The Black-robed Steward glanced at the matchup Jade Slip in his hand and loudly announced the results for the next round, his voice carrying clearly across the entire venue:

"Next match: Qin Wentian versus Liang Cheng!"

"Xiao Qingxue versus Zheng Xiao!"