High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: First Battle of the East Courtyard

”Dean Shi, I challenge Zhou Mingxuan.”

”I challenge Shen Wei.”

Shi Jing nodded slightly. ”Very well. To the arena.”

The group entered the Battle Network arena together.

The first match: the challenger versus Zhou Mingxuan.

Zhou Mingxuan used a pair of Short Halberds. His moves were steady and practiced, and his Qi and Blood was solid.

His opponent was skilled with a long staff, which he swung with ferocious momentum.

Their Energy Levels were similar. They exchanged more than ten blows, and the fight reached a stalemate.

But in the end, Zhou Mingxuan exploited a subtle opening, cleverly locking the long staff with his Short Halberds. With a close-quarters strike, he defeated his opponent and claimed victory.

”It was a good fight.” Zhou Mingxuan retracted his halberds and clasped his fist.

The challenger sighed and shook his head, admitting defeat.

The second match was Shen Wei’s turn.

The student challenging him had a Life Energy Level of 20.2, 0.1 higher than Shen Wei’s. He wielded a swift style of Swordsmanship.

”Old Shen, be careful,” Xu Wuyi reminded him.

Shen Wei grinned, patting the Thick-Backed Battle Saber on his back. ”Don’t worry, just watch me!”

As soon as the fight began, the challenger tried to overwhelm Shen Wei with speed, his sword flashing like a rain of stabbing lights.

Shen Wei didn’t dodge or evade. With a low shout, his Qi and Blood erupted as he directly unleashed the C-level Defense Martial Technique he had been keeping hidden—the Iron Wall Technique!

Xu Wuyi was slightly stunned. He hadn’t sparred with Shen Wei in quite a while and didn’t expect him to have also trained in this Horizontal Martial Arts Training.

He was no stranger to the Iron Wall Technique. Back in Red River City, during the tri-school joint examination, a student named Zhao Ding had also practiced this Martial Arts.

However, Zhao Ding had treated the Iron Wall Technique as his primary focus and was already considered a Genius in the city.

But in the hands of a top-tier Genius like Shen Wei, the Iron Wall Technique could only serve as a Supporting Cultivation Technique to help him better utilize his Saber Technique.

A faint gray luster instantly covered his entire body, especially his saber-wielding right arm and his chest.

”CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!”

The tip of the sword struck the gray glow, producing the sound of metal on metal, unable to advance even an inch!

”Haha, my turn!”

Shen Wei let out a great laugh. Seizing the moment his opponent’s Sword Momentum faltered, he swung his Thick-Backed Battle Saber with brutal force!

The wind from the saber howled, its power immense and heavy!

The challenger’s expression changed, and he hurriedly raised his sword to block.

”CLANG!”

With a loud crash, the challenger felt a massive force slam into him. His arm went numb, he almost lost his grip on his sword, and the blow sent him stumbling backward.

Shen Wei pressed his advantage relentlessly. He strode forward, raised his Battle Saber again, and delivered another simple, crude, heavy chop!

He had always followed a fierce and powerful path. Combined with the defense of the Iron Wall Technique, his fighting style could be described as barbaric.

The challenger barely blocked the second strike. His Qi and Blood was in turmoil from the impact, and the skin between his thumb and forefinger split open, seeping blood.

Shen Wei’s third strike was about to fall. The overwhelming momentum had completely suppressed his opponent. In the end, without so much as a grunt, he was cleaved into a flash of white light.

Only then did Shen Wei sheathe his saber, the gray glow on his body slowly receding. He shot Xu Wuyi a triumphant eyebrow raise.

Xu Wuyi nodded slightly.

Shen Wei had always used a brutish fighting style, relying on his exceptional destructive power to win. Now that he was also training in a Defense Martial Arts, it was like a tiger gaining wings, allowing him to better leverage his own strengths.

’However, his Iron Wall Technique was clearly a recent development, which doesn’t really make sense.’

’Horizontal Martial Arts Training is known for being time-consuming and laborious, rarely mastered quickly. Unless... he had help from special, precious resources.’

Both challenges ended in failure.

Shi Jing wasn’t surprised by this outcome. He stood up, his gaze sweeping over Xu Wuyi, Shen Wei, and Zhou Mingxuan.

”Since no challenger was successful, you three will be the ones to represent the East Courtyard in this year’s inter-courtyard tournament.”

”In three days, at nine in the morning, gather at the Star Martial Battle Network’s Main Arena Area 1. The four courtyards will clash then. I hope you will bring honor to the East Courtyard.”

”Yes, Dean Shi!” the three replied in unison.

...

The list of the East Courtyard’s representatives was soon officially announced.

Xu Wuyi’s selection was a given. Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan were confirmed through the challenge matches, so no one questioned their inclusion either.

At the same time, the representative lists for the other courtyards were also released one after another.

The West Courtyard’s roster was the most dazzling, one could even call it star-studded: Qin Rui (Level 20.7), Xu Zhi (Level 20.5), and a female Martial Artist from a great West Desert Clan, Tana (Level 20.6).

The Life Energy Levels of these three were all shockingly above 20.3. Qin Rui’s and Li Hao’s progress was especially astonishing.

The North Courtyard’s representatives were: Zhao Qingwei (Level 20.6), Luo Liang (Level 20.4), and a Martial Artist with a Life Energy Level of 20.2.

The South Courtyard’s overall strength was slightly weaker. Two of their representatives had only just broken through Level 20, but Li Hao was Level 20.7, on par with Qin Rui!

As soon as the lists were released, they immediately sparked heated discussions across campus.

”This lineup is insane! Xu Wuyi, Qin Rui, and Li Hao—each one is more monstrous than the last!”

”The North Courtyard isn’t weak either. I hear Zhao Qingwei’s Swordsmanship is incredible.”

”East Courtyard... Xu Wuyi is definitely their ace, but I feel like Shen Wei and Zhou Mingxuan are a bit iffy compared to the number two and three from the West and North Courtyards.”

”The other two from the South Courtyard are probably just here to fill the roster. It all comes down to Li Hao!”

”Looks like the West Courtyard still has the best chance of winning the elite tournament this time.”

All sorts of analysis and prediction threads popped up endlessly on the internal network forums.

...

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」

January 5th, 8:50 AM.

Star Martial Battle Network, Main Arena Area 1.

The massive stadium, capable of holding hundreds of thousands of virtual spectators, was already buzzing with noise, every seat filled.

It wasn’t just new students; many upperclassmen, and even some teachers and instructors, had appeared in the spectator stands.

The banners of the four courtyards fluttered high above the stadium. A holographic projection illuminated the central alloy arena, revealing every minute detail.

The atmosphere was electric.

Inside the East Courtyard’s rest area.

Xu Wuyi, Shen Wei, and Zhou Mingxuan had all arrived.

Vice Dean Shi Jing was also present to give some final instructions. ”Decide the match order amongst yourselves. Remember, this isn’t just a contest of individual strength, but also a battle of team strategy and willpower. Fight without holding back. The honor of the East Courtyard rests on you!”

”Yes, sir!” the three replied in solemn voices.

On the enormous virtual arena, an invisible Energy barrier separated the inside from the out.

The Four-Courtyard Elite Tournament officially began.

First round: East Courtyard versus South Courtyard.

The matchup list was displayed on a light screen. For the East Courtyard, the first to fight was Zhou Mingxuan.

”Old Zhou, it’s all you!” Shen Wei slapped Zhou Mingxuan’s shoulder forcefully.

Zhou Mingxuan nodded heavily without a word, his figure teleporting to the arena in a flash of light.

His opponent was a new student from the South Courtyard who had only recently broken through to the Martial Artist realm. He had a Life Energy Level of 20.1 and wielded a longsword.

The battle began. Zhou Mingxuan fought steadily and surely, his pair of Short Halberds forming an impenetrable defense, his Qi and Blood calm and heavy.

His fighting style wasn’t flashy, but it was extremely solid, each step cautious and deliberate.

The new student from the South Courtyard was clearly nervous. Facing Zhou Mingxuan’s mountain-like composure, he failed in several offensive pushes and ended up revealing an opening of his own.

Zhou Mingxuan seized the opportunity. With a twist and a swing of his Short Halberds, he skillfully deflected the opponent’s longsword. He followed up with a swift forward rush, slamming his shoulder and elbow heavily into his opponent’s chest.

”BANG!”

The South Courtyard student grunted and staggered backward. Zhou Mingxuan’s Short Halberd was already on him like a shadow, piercing his throat and instantly turning him into a flash of white light.

”East Courtyard, Zhou Mingxuan is victorious!”

The Battle Network referee’s electronic voice rang out.

With the first battle won, the East Courtyard’s spectator section erupted in fervent cheers.

Zhou Mingxuan wasn’t even injured, having only expended a good deal of stamina.