Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 195: Chapter 130: Martial Dao Champion

It was all too bizarre.

So much so that even with their vast experience, they couldn’t find an answer.

…

「Above the examination grounds.」

Watching Li Chang’an in the arena, Empress Liyang, Su Ying, found her mouth falling slightly agape. Her phoenix eyes widened in astonishment. After a long moment, she couldn’t help but murmur, “That… just now… did he use pure physical strength to kill the Saint Heir’s guard?”

Behind her, the chief examiner, Shi En, also had a look of utter shock. He replied, “Well, unless I was hallucinating… I believe so…”

Upon hearing Shi En’s reply, a complicated look entered Su Ying’s eyes. She didn’t know whether to be worried or delighted. Taking a deep breath, she said, “It seems we’ve all underestimated him. With that level of strength, he has likely already stepped into the Innate realm!”

’An Innate Martial Artist who’s not even ten years old.’

’Don’t tell me there are actually monsters in this world who’ve achieved Rejuvenation?’

Su Ying’s mind was in turmoil, and she couldn’t help but wonder at the thought.

…

By winning two consecutive matches, Li Chang’an passed the first round of the martial arena assessment.

Fewer than one hundred candidates were participating in the Martial Arts Arena, and after the first round, less than thirty remained.

These thirty people would proceed to the second round, where opponents were decided by drawing lots.

Li Chang’an drew a disciple from the Taoist Sect.

When the Taoist Sect disciple saw that his opponent was Li Chang’an, he was so terrified that he began to tremble. He forfeited on the spot without even trying to fight.

’Are you kidding me? This is the monster who killed Xiong Li with a single punch.’

’Wouldn’t fighting him be suicide?’

And so, Li Chang’an passed the second round with ease.

…

When the drawing for the third round began,

only fifteen candidates were left.

Among them were the Buddhist Sect’s Young Monk and the Demon Sect’s Saint Heir.

And what these fifteen were about to face was the true contest to decide the champion.

The rules for this contest were the same as the first round.

There were still three arenas.

Whoever dared to take a stage, accept all challenges, and last until the end would be the winner.

If no one dared to take a stage, anyone who refused to participate would automatically be declared a loser.

If the fighting came to a standstill with contestants unwilling to challenge one another,

then the final rankings would be decided by the number of opponents each had defeated.

News that Li Chang’an had killed two core Demon Sect disciples in a row had now completely spread. Gazing at the nonchalant Li Chang’an not far away, Lu Sheng’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Originally, the combat strengths of the Demon Sect and the Buddhist Sect were evenly matched.

But now, thanks to Li Chang’an’s sudden interference, the Demon Sect only occupied four of the fifteen spots in the final round.

The Buddhist Sect held six, and of the remaining five, three were from the Taoist Sect.

The only ones truly unaffiliated with a Sect

were Li Chang’an and one other lucky candidate.

In other words, even if the Demon Sect’s Saint Heir took to the arena and all the other Demon Sect Disciples lined up to throw their matches, the most points he could earn was four.

To ultimately claim the top spot, he would have to challenge and defeat either the Young Monk or one of the Taoist Sect’s Daoists.

This was a slight deviation from his original plan.

And the reason for this deviation was Li Chang’an.

Thus, the look Lu Sheng shot Li Chang’an was so full of hatred it seemed he wanted to skin him alive.

…

With the chime of a bell, the final round of the assessment began.

The disciples of the Three Great Sects went through the motions, symbolically losing to the primary representatives of their respective sects.

Just as everyone assumed the title of martial champion would once again be contested among the Three Major Sects,

Li Chang’an walked onto the stage occupied by the Demon Sect’s Saint Heir, Lu Sheng, and said nonchalantly, “You must hate my guts right now, don’t you?”

Seeing Li Chang’an appear on his stage, Lu Sheng’s expression darkened.

Xiong Li had been his most capable subordinate, yet this boy had sent his head flying with a single punch. It was proof that Li Chang’an had been hiding his true strength.

’His strength might actually be no less than my own!’

As he thought of this, Lu Sheng’s expression flickered, and he couldn’t help but feel bewildered.

’Where did such a young Innate Powerhouse even come from?’

’He couldn’t have just appeared out of thin air, could he?’

’Could the Buddhist Sect or the Demon Sect produce someone like him? Unlikely.’

’Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken me until the age of twenty-two to reach the Innate realm.’

Shaking his head to clear the chaotic thoughts, Lu Sheng began, “I admit I was prejudiced against you before, but…”

As he spoke, he suddenly vanished.

Then he violently flung a handful of pungent powder straight at Li Chang’an’s face.

The Demon Sect’s Saint Heir was not only highly skilled but also completely unscrupulous. Rumor had it that even a Martial Arts Grandmaster had once suffered a setback at his hands.

This pungent powder was merely one of his minor tricks.

Seeing the powder hit Li Chang’an’s face, Lu Sheng broke into a vicious grin. With a flick of his wrist, he sent three meticulously prepared darts shooting from his sleeve.

The darts were razor-sharp, each one forged from priceless Cold Iron. A closer look would reveal their edges were coated with a layer of pale purple poison.

A single scratch was all it would take for the poison to be instantly fatal!

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!

The three darts flew accurately toward three vital points on Li Chang’an’s body.

But just as the darts were about to find their mark, Li Chang’an somehow caught all three of them between his fingers.

Li Chang’an waved a hand to clear the lingering cloud of powder and stepped out unhurriedly. He looked at Lu Sheng in the distance, his eyes perfectly clear, and asked, “Do all of you from the Demon Sect enjoy playing such dirty tricks?”

Seeing that Li Chang’an’s eyes were unharmed and that he had caught the darts with his bare fingers, Lu Sheng was completely stunned.

He unconsciously took several steps back, his voice rising in disbelief. “You were hit by my Poisonous Calamity Powder! All five of your senses should have been crippled! How can you still see?”

…