When she saw him coming towards her, May pushed herself off the ground with all the strength she could muster, resulting in her leaping backward. With every muscle in her body tensed, she immediately lowered herself into a half-crouched stance the instant her feet touched the ground again. With her feet positioned far apart at a sharp angle, her body was tilted, and her left arm was extended a little bit forward.

  It was her new martial art, the [Three River Fist Technique], which she had received from Elder Ze Yun. She had only been practicing it for a short time, and this was the first opportunity to test it in a real fight. A faint smile crossed her lips; she had been waiting for this moment for quite a while.

  The crowd erupted in cheers and shouts. Some were rooting for the boy, while others called out May’s name in support. However, she couldn’t dwell on that thought at the moment, as Yifan’s fist was hurtling towards her with astonishing velocity.

  Unlike [Water Art Knight], which she was trying hard to forget, this martial art was concrete. It did not rely on emotions but on precise movements and clear responses to specific situations.

  When faced with an incoming punch, there was a defined sequence of actions to follow. Although rigid patterns were not always ideal, after all, an opponent could learn and adapt at her current level, she first had to master the basics before she could learn how to break them.

  She directed her Qi through her entire arm, reinforcing her muscles to withstand the impact. The Three River Fist Technique was an offensive art, one designed to overwhelm an opponent as swiftly and as powerfully as possible.

  Normally, she should have caught his punch and, using the flow of Qi, unleashed a rapid series of counterattacks. Unfortunately, May failed to even execute the first part of her move correctly.

  The boy’s fist however never fell into her trap. Instead, he twisted it away with remarkable agility, changing its trajectory within the blink of an eye.

  Luckily, May’s reflexes were faster. She managed to dodge to the side just in time, the fist passing only a few centimeters from her head. She could feel the rush of air brushing through her hair from the force of his strike.

  I’ve only been training with this technique for a short time. Failure at the beginning is normal, she reminded herself. But there was no time for reflection now. This was a real battle, and every moment spent thinking could mean defeat.

  “You're all talk and no action," he hissed, mocking her clumsy attempt to block his attack.

  May didn’t react. She was fully aware of her mistake, and his words slid right off her. This time, she intended to give it her all.

  She stepped back quickly, sprinting toward the edge of the arena. Along the wall hung an assortment of weapons, from simple swords to halberds, and even scythes. May reached out and grabbed a spear.

  "Huh, so we’re using weapons now?" the boy asked with a mocking tone.

  Everyone had their preferred fighting style. Some relied on weapons, others on bare fists. For that reason, all kinds of arms were made available to the combatants.

  May took her stance. Unlike martial arts, she felt confident with a spear in her hands.

  The tension was gone, and she smiled gently. She was going to give it her best shot.

  This time, it was her turn to counterattack. With a quick movement, she closed the distance enough to reach him with her spear. She assumed the stance she had learned.

  The boy tried to leap away. He thought he would be able to dodge and gain distance, thus avoiding the attack. However, he did not know about May's special ability. Suddenly, her spear tripled its speed and headed straight for him!

  The boy froze for a moment, but his years of training paid off and he did not freeze in fear, but reacted quickly.

  Somehow, he managed to dodge the spear, but he was still injured. His chest was scratched by the tip of the spear. Fortunately, it was nothing serious, but he started to bleed slightly. For a cultivator at his stage, however, it was not such a big problem.

  The boy was shocked to see the speed of her spear. He barely had time to react. He quickly retreated several steps backward, fearing her speed. Next time, he might not be so lucky.

  May, on the other hand, smiled when she saw how effective the skill she had bought from the system so long ago was.

  “That was... Weird...” The boy said quietly, to himself. “ This kind of swiftness is no laughing matter. You are capable of something, after all.”

  May chuckled at his words. He was clearly shaken, yet he still tried to feign nonchalance. He must have already realized that fighting her at close range was not an option.

  She doubted he could match her speed. Of course, using this technique had its drawbacks. It wasn't active all the time because it consumed too much Qi. And the activation itself and the creation of the ‘invisible’ circle took a few seconds. So she had to know in advance when to use it.

  However, he doesn't know that. He surely knows that it has some limitations, but he can't take any risks.

  May was lucky to have a lot of Qi. Much more than the average person at her level. This was due to many factors, but mainly to rare resources from the system.

  Unexpectedly, the boy suddenly spoke. “Then let me also take this seriously. I'll show you how big the difference between us is!”

  May reacted quickly and, feeling slightly unnerved by his words, she assumed a defensive stance. Such declarations could not be taken lightly! If he was going to use one of his secret techniques, she had to be careful.

  However, the boy stood still after his exclamation. Was it a bluff? May remained in a defensive position for a few more moments, but the attack still did not come. She blinked a few times, not knowing what was going on.

  She decided to use [Qi Sensing] to confirm whether the boy was bluffing. If so, the Qi energy in his body should be static.

  May was very fortunate that she did it at that moment.

  She had not used this technique before, wanting to avoid wasting Qi.

  She saw a dense sword made of pure Qi energy coming toward her at high speed. She froze and quickly jumped back. The sword pierced the spot where she had been standing. If she hadn't moved, she would have been pierced through!

  Turning quickly, she saw that the invisible sword made of Qi had changed its angle and was heading towards her again! She made another dodge, rolling across the ground.

  She quickly glanced at Yifan Wu, who stood motionless and smiled mockingly as he saw that May was having difficulty dodging his invisible sword.

  However...

  He's standing still. That requires a lot of concentration, so he can't move. Ha! I'll just attack him.

  The invisible sword tried to pierce her again. She dodged it again with a quick movement, and it stuck into the ground.

  May was impressed by this technique. Even she wasn't sure if she would be able to use this technique. Controlling Qi at such a distance from the body was difficult.

  It must be very physically demanding for him.

  When the invisible sword stuck into the soil, she saw her opportunity. She quickly leaped off the ground and raised her spear, aiming to pierce him. In a few moments, she was already next to him. The boy was not moving. In the meantime, she activated [Itry Spear Technique] to enhance her speed even more!

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  She was ready to attack. The invisible sword was still far away from her. It had no chance of reaching her in time.

  However, just as she was about to pierce him with her spear, whose speed had tripled, she became aware of her blunder.

  A split second before the attack, she noticed Yifan Wu smiling. She knew it was a bad sign.

  Before the spear could reach him, he shifted his center of mass and, for a moment, assumed a Slavic squat stance and kicked her straight in the stomach!

  May was in shock. She quickly understood that he was only clearly faking that he was unable to move while using this technique, just to trigger her to attempt an attack that he was prepared for.

  She couldn't believe she had fallen for it. Subconsciously, she didn't consider him a worthy opponent, seeing him only as a child incapable of such strategies. She swallowed hard.

  His kick to her stomach was painful. Her spear flew a few meters away from her. To make matters worse, the invisible Qi sword was waiting motionless in the air, right where she landed after being thrown back!

  She had no time to think, the sword flew straight down at great speed. She rolled over while lying on the ground. She barely made it. Her side was pierced. Still, it was better than a pierced abdomen.

  May got up and quickly scrambled to her feet. She had to get her spear back! Unfortunately, everything was happening too fast. She didn't even notice that Yifan Wu was already standing next to her. On one side was the boy, and on the other was the Qi sword.

  She didn't like it, but she had to acknowledge his strength. He was doing two things at once, both complicated. His concentration and focus were on another level.

  She was slapped in the face by the boy's fist. He was blocking her way. He didn't want her to pick up the spear.

  May knew that it would be difficult for her without it.

  However... This invisible sword technique must be putting a strain on him. I have to play for time. He can't use it forever!

  “I'm impressed!” the boy shouted with a fake smile. “Even Peng Chen lost to me at this point!”

  May was surprised by his words. Peng lost to him? He was one Minor Stage higher, but apparently Yifan's abilities were greater. At least in terms of combat.

  Seeing her expression, he laughed. “Do you understand now? They may have a higher stage, but I'm at the top! Real results matter, not theoretical performance! Peng Chen lost to me, Zu Chen refuses to fight because she knows she's weak, and now I'm going to crush you, the third ‘genius’!” He laughed “No one will doubt my strength now and everyone will see who is really the best in this sect's generation!"

  May rolled her eyes. It was just as she had suspected. Jealousy was eating him up inside. She didn't mind his monologue, as it gave her a moment to catch her breath from the fight.

  She slowly got up. Yifan watched her closely, but the sword vanished into thin air. Just as May had thought, he couldn't hold it for too long.

  However, thanks to her [Qi Sensing], she knew that he still had a considerable amount of Qi left. He could use this technique a few more times for at least a few minutes. He was still a threat.

  Right now, though, I have to focus on getting my spear back first.

  She looked at her spear, which was lying a dozen meters behind the boy. There was no way to get past him without a confrontation. She sighed and looked at him closely. His arms were covered in scars and bruises.

  Cultivators rarely looked like this; their regeneration rate was faster than that of ordinary people, so bruises usually disappeared after a few hours. May realized that this probably meant that he was constantly training and pushing his limits.

  Even May, who considered herself a hard worker, was not covered in bruises and scars like that. She swallowed, realizing that once again she had ignored her opponent too much.

  “Do you think you'll achieve anything by doing this?” May asked. “Even if you want to prove your superiority, there are other ways. And not by making enemies.”

  Yifan Wu began to gather Qi energy around his hand. He was preparing another technique. May took up her stance. Unfortunately, without a weapon, she felt slightly intimidated.

  “I don't need other ways. All that matters is who is the best. Other factors are irrelevant.” He replied harshly, and the Qi in his hand took the form of a dagger.

  “Another form of the same technique...?” May wondered aloud, seeing the similarity between the dagger in his hand and the flying sword.

  “Yes. The first stage of the Wu Clan Technique, called the Primordial Phantom Weapons.” He began to speak proudly. “The first stage: sword, dagger, spear, and arrow. I mastered all four the fastest in the entire clan in a hundred years.”

  May swallowed hard. The dagger was smaller and needed less Qi. Not to mention, it was definitely faster. She wasn't sure she could dodge it.

  “Is it okay to just reveal your clan's techniques like that?” she asked, trying to buy time and to think about her strategy.

  “Yes. It's common knowledge, although I guess people like you are uneducated about our sect,” he replied.

  Shui Gai's teachings did not include this information. However, May did not hold it against her. It was impossible to cram all the possible information about the sect into the teachings, as there was simply too much of it.

  “Enough talk,” he said, raising his hand and preparing to throw the dagger. “I'm getting bored with this fight.”

  He threw the dagger, which shot through the air at tremendous speed. Her heart began to beat faster.

  How is his Qi control so good at such a distance?!

  The dagger was at least twice as fast as a sword.

  She tried to dodge it, but to no avail; she was too slow. It pierced her arm. Fortunately, it didn't penetrate too deeply. She hissed in pain. After a moment, the dagger disappeared.

  May was shocked for a moment, but then she remembered that it was made of Qi. He could get rid of it at any moment. And now she was bleeding profusely because of it. Normally, she wouldn't have pulled it out to avoid that.

  “This is no time to rest!” he shouted, and another dagger flew towards her. This time, it was aimed at her chest!

  However, she was now in a state of peak adrenaline and somehow instinctively fell to the ground. This allowed her to avoid further injury. She was bleeding profusely from her arm.

  Yifan did not stop and began to create another Qi dagger in his hand.

  She couldn't let that happen. Lying on the ground, she gathered as much dirt as she could with her bare hands and used her Qi control to strengthen her muscles to increase the distance of her throw. The dust from the ground hit him in the face. The dirt got into his eyes, causing him to interrupt his technique.

  “That's cheating!” he shouted, rubbing his eyes!

  May was not interested in his words and kicked him in the stomach with all her strength. He flew back slightly. She quickly regained her spear, taking advantage of the opportunity.

  He groaned with pain. Her strength stat was 17 for a reason. That must have hurt.

  Wanting to seize the opportunity quickly, she tried to attack him with her spear. Unfortunately, he recovered too quickly.

  Just as she was about to pierce him, the Phantom Sword appeared in his hand, which he used to block her spear. Apparently, it could also be used like a normal sword.

  “You're using such unfair fighting methods!” he hissed angrily. “Ha! And who is the pitiful one here?”

  They fought for a while longer, but unfortunately, May had no advantage. He kept too close a distance. To fully exploit the potential of her spear, she needed to gain some distance. However, he wouldn't let her.

  “In the end, only the best one counts,” she replied. “Your own words.”

  “Haha!” He laughed, countering her every attack. “Then I'll show you that even with your dirty tricks, you don't stand a chance!”

  An arrow appeared above his head! Was he able to fight and create two Phantom Weapons at the same time? It was absurd.

  May was trapped.

  She didn't have time to activate the [Itry Spear Technique]. It required at least a minimal amount of concentration, and she was too busy fighting at the moment.

  She had an idea that had been on her mind for a long time. It seemed silly to her, but at that moment she decided to do it.

  Holding the spear in one hand, she quickly raised her other hand.

  She remembered La Xia's lesson. Fighting with one hand and manipulating Qi with the other. It was too difficult. Even for someone at the Foundation Establishment stage, it would be a challenge.

  A stream of water hit him in the face. She had trained too long for it not to have results!

  The arrow disappeared, and the boy became furious. “You didn't think a little water would defeat me!”

  “No.”

  But at least it distracted him a little. And thanks to that, she didn't get hit by the Phantom Arrow.

  However, that was the best she could do. Creating a little water using [Qi Manipulation]. She was unable to create fire or anything else. She focused only on water.

  Once again, she shot water at his face. He was clearly annoyed by this.

  “Stop it! It's not doing ANY HARM!” he shouted.

  He was wrong. Although a little water couldn't hurt him, at least it threw him off balance. And that was something.

  She did it again. A small stream of water straight at his face. This time he really got angry. His attacks became more fierce and faster. May, on the other hand, kept a steady pace.

  Suddenly, her spear took a powerful blow that pushed her backward. It was broken in half! The boy smiled and laughed.

  “It's over!” he shouted, knowing that without her spear, she had no chance against him.

  Suddenly, he began to gather a huge amount of Qi just above his head. Thanks to [Qi Sensing], May saw five arrows waiting to shoot her.

  May threw away the other end of the spear. She had no need for it.

  “That's your mistake!”

  Does a broken spear mean the end of the fight? This time, he was the one who underestimated her!

  The Itry Spear Technique allowed the spear's speed to be tripled with a radius equal to the length of the spear. Was a broken spear no longer a spear?

  At what length does a spear become a spear? May didn't know the answer, but it didn't matter for this technique. Half a spear was still considered a spear.

  The boy was too busy creating five arrows. At that moment, when they shot at May at tremendous speed, she activated her technique.

  Triple speed of spear versus five phantom arrows made of Qi.

  Unfortunately for him, May was faster. She pierced him with her broken spear. The arrows disappeared just a few inches from her body. The boy fell to the ground.

  After a moment, the audience, which was delighted with the fight, burst into applause. Medics ran into the arena a moment later, and May was declared the winner in the meantime.