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Chapter 1: Potential to Become a Fighting King
The Cloud Mist Sect was one of the top powers in the Jia Ma Empire, located in the southwestern corner of the Northwest Continent on the Fighting Qi Continent.
The sect's gate was situated atop a majestic mountain over ten miles north of the imperial capital; because of the sect's presence, it was known as Cloud Mist Mountain.
Cloud Mist Mountain was extremely steep, with cliffs on three sides and only one path leading to the summit, a classic strategic location that was easy to defend but hard to attack. The buildings on the mountain were divided into four main complexes, all of which were strictly patrolled by Cloud Mist Sect Disciples.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
In the core area of the main building complex near the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain, there was a vast, open square. At this moment, many people stood around, watching a battle between two youths in the center of the square.
After their fists collided, the two youths retreated a dozen steps each, their gazes clashing in the air.
Standing at opposite ends of the square, the two youths formed a sharp contrast.
The youth on the left wore an expensive, tight-fitting white training robe. His aura was fiery, his features were average, and he was somewhat short.
The youth on the right had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an excellent bone structure. Even in a simple, tight-fitting black robe, he couldn't hide his handsome, refined appearance—nearly at the level of a "reader-tier" heartthrob—and he carried a cold temperament.
"Fiery Flame Palm."
The short youth suddenly stomped on the ground and rushed toward the black-robed youth, a fiery heat surging from his hands.
The Fiery Flame Palm was a High-level Yellow Class Dou Technique. If performed by a Dou Master, a thin layer of flames would condense on the palms. Only cultivators at the seventh stage of Dou Qi Practitioner or higher could practice it.
Upon reaching the black-robed youth, the short young man shot him a threatening look.
"Bang!"
The black-robed youth stood his ground in a horse stance, gathering strength to strike out with a palm that radiated a chilling aura.
The Icy Palm was a Mid-level Yellow Class Dou Technique. If performed by a Dou Master, a thin layer of ice would condense on the palms. Only cultivators at the fifth stage of Dou Qi Practitioner or higher could practice it.
The two youths' palms collided, their cold and hot energies clashing and producing a layer of white mist.
"Hm?" The short youth sensed something was wrong, his pupils shrinking.
Before he could react, the black-robed youth shifted his footing and delivered a side-elbow strike.
Bajiquan, Iron Mountain Lean.
"Bang!"
The short youth took a heavy blow to the chest. He felt a sweet taste in his throat as his vision went dark, and he was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground.
By the time his vision cleared, an ordinary longsword was already pressed against his neck, its cold glint reflecting in the sunlight.
"As expected, Senior Brother Gu Han won the competition! I'm rich!"
"Mo Qing is such a waste. I went all-in on him to win!"
"Didn't they say Mo Qing warned Gu Han beforehand to throw the match?"
"Gu Han clearly didn't give him any face. Mo Qing has really lost face now; he couldn't even win with an elemental advantage."
"You can't say that. Senior Brother Gu Han reached the Ninth Stage Dou Qi Practitioner half a year ago, while Mo Qing was only tested at the eighth stage before this competition."
"Then why don't you mention that Gu Han isn't even fifteen yet, while Mo Qing is already sixteen and a member of the Mo Clan?"
"Before breaking through to become a Dou Qi Practitioner, there are no methods to accelerate cultivation, so disciples from great clans don't have much of an advantage. However, once they break through, Mo Qing will quickly surpass Gu Han. A temporary lead means nothing."
"Regardless, neither of them is someone we can compare to."
"All I know is that Gu Han will definitely face retaliation for disrespecting Mo Qing like that. Mo Qing is petty, and he has an older brother who is a Personal Disciple of the Great Elder."
"Who knows..."
The disciples around the square chattered, revealing quite a bit of information.
Mo Qing clutched his chest and swallowed the blood in his throat. His expression grew increasingly unsightly as he said coldly, "Gu Han, you've got guts!"
Gu Han didn't speak, simply looking at Mo Qing with a calm gaze.
But the indifference in his eyes seemed to reply: "Of course I have guts. Am I a waste like you?"
Gu Han then turned to look at Ge Xian, the Outer Sect Deacon in charge of presiding over the competition, while slightly moving the longsword in his hand.
The meaning was simple: if you don't announce the result soon, I'll continue.
"*Cough.*"
Ge Xian was a middle-aged man wearing an elegant green robe with the Cloud Mist Sect's exclusive silver sword and cloud insignia embroidered on the sleeves. After a light cough, he announced the result loudly.
"Mo Qing is unable to continue. Gu Han is the winner."
"In this Preparatory Disciple competition, first place goes to Gu Han, second to Mo Qing, third to Willow Leaf... and tenth to Yun Shang."
"Come forward and receive your rewards!"
Finally hearing the result he wanted, Gu Han immediately sheathed his sword and walked straight to Ge Xian without looking back.
"For first place: one Black Iron Token from the Merit Hall, one hundred gold coins, one storage ring, and one thousand merit points."
Ge Xian handed a storage ring to Gu Han and gestured for him to check it.
Gu Han's eyes lit up. He used his longsword to make a small cut on his finger and squeezed a drop of blood onto the storage ring.
A mysterious sensation arose, and with a thought, his consciousness delved into the storage ring.
Inside was a ten-cubic-meter space containing a hundred gold coins and a Black Iron Token from the Merit Hall.
Gu Han put his sword into the storage ring, then took out his Preparatory Disciple identity token and handed it to Ge Xian to have the one thousand merit points transferred.
"Thank you, Deacon."
Gu Han received the token with both hands, bowed, and stepped aside. He was meticulous throughout the process, his posture as straight as a sharp sword.
A look of approval flashed in Ge Xian's eyes. Although Gu Han wasn't overly friendly, he was extremely well-behaved and polite. Coupled with his decent talent, reaching the Ninth Stage Dou Qi Practitioner before the age of fifteen, he had the potential of a Dou King. Many within the sect thought highly of him.
"Next, the second..."
Ge Xian was about to give Mo Qing his reward, only to find that he had already left silently, supported by another disciple.
Ge Xian's expression soured instantly. Out of respect for the Mo Clan, he had favored Mo Qing to some extent during the competition.
But that didn't mean Mo Qing could be so arrogant. Ge Xian wouldn't ignore everything just to suppress talented disciples in favor of clan members.
After all, the Cloud Mist Sect's surname was Yun, not Mo.
"Third..."
Ge Xian continued distributing the remaining rewards with a cold face.
Once the top ten Preparatory Disciples had received their rewards, he gave them a few words of encouragement and then turned to leave.
"Congratulations, Gu Han!"
Willow Leaf and the other nine came to Gu Han's side, offering congratulations that ranged from sincere to mere formalities.
"You're too kind."
Gu Han responded calmly, exchanging a few pleasantries before preparing to leave.
"Gu Han, Mo Qing won't let this go. Be careful for a while," Willow Leaf reminded him after a slight hesitation.
"I will. Thank you." Gu Han's tone became a bit more serious as he walked away quickly.
"Ye'er, why did you bother warning him?" Yun Shang came to Willow Leaf's side, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "He's just an ice block. It's not worth offending Mo Qing for him."
"We're all fellow disciples; we should help each other," Willow Leaf replied casually, watching Gu Han's retreating figure.
Fifteen minutes later, Gu Han returned to his wooden hut.
He pulled open his clothes and looked down at his chest, where a Eight Trigrams Diagram was faintly visible.
Instinctively, he covered it with his hand, and the blood seeping from his finger was suddenly absorbed.
The next moment, he felt as if his brain were about to explode.
Immediately after, his consciousness arrived at a strange place where he saw an indescribable prehistoric beast.
"Xuanwu!?"
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