Chapter Six: Facing a Body Cultivator Right from the Start?

The following day, the outer sect competition of the Tianyan Sword Sect officially began.

On the enormous training ground, ten obsidian-built square platforms rose from the ground, their runes shimmering and forming a sturdy protective barrier.

The crowd below the stage was bustling and the noise was deafening. The excitement of the newly recruited disciples was mixed with their trepidation, almost enough to dispel the clouds and mist swirling in the mountains.

Fang Li waited quietly below stage number C. Today, she had changed into a neat light blue outfit, her long hair was tied up high, her black hair and red lips were beautiful, and her skin was fair and her eyes were bright.

Memories of my previous life flashed through my mind like fragments.

In an attempt to impress Shen Yunzhou, she had used all sorts of flashy but impractical tricks on occasions, only to make herself a laughingstock.

Now, she slowly ran her fingers over the edge of a low-grade spirit stone, feeling its meager energy, with only one thought in her mind: to win and then exchange it for more spirit stones.

"Station C, Scene 1! Fang Li, yes, Shi Meng!"

The elder referee's voice boomed, silencing the commotion.

Fang Li leaped onto the stage with a graceful movement.

Her opponent leaped up almost simultaneously, with a muffled thud and a slight tremor on the table.

A robust young man, as strong as an iron ox, with dark skin and bulging muscles, wore a sleeveless short jacket and had a shy smile on his honest face.

"Senior Sister Fang," Shi Meng scratched the back of his head, his voice booming, "My name is Shi Meng! I'm strong and thick-skinned, so... you should be careful!"

A few bursts of laughter erupted from the audience.

Shi Meng seems to be well-liked among the outer disciples, and is known for his honesty and his exceptional martial arts skills.

Fang Li nodded slightly, without saying anything more: "Please."

The elder referee waved his hand, unleashing a protective aura: "Begin!"

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Meng let out a low roar, stomped his right foot, and charged forward like an arrow, throwing a punch straight at Fang Li's face.

This is the most commonly used opening move for body cultivators.

A tiger splits a mountain with tremendous force, without any fancy moves.

Fang Li did not take the hit head-on. Instead, she lightly touched the ground with her toes and glided backward about ten feet as lightly as the wind.

Shi Meng's attack missed, but he didn't stop. He unleashed a barrage of punches, the wind from which howled, and the punches even produced a faint sonic boom.

He cultivates the "Solid Foundation Strengthening Technique," a well-known technique within the sect. Once his offensive begins, it is unstoppable.

Ordinary disciples often become intimidated before the battle even begins, or are overwhelmed by the fierce and relentless attacks.

Fang Li's figure weaved through the gaps in the fist shadows, sometimes turning to the side, sometimes leaning back, her steps agile and subtle, each time cleverly avoiding the sharp edge.

She did not rush to retaliate, and there was initial discussion in the audience.

"Senior Brother Shi Meng's attack is too fierce!"

"Why is Senior Sister Fang only dodging and not attacking?"

"Sigh, she's a female cultivator after all. How can her strength compare to that of a body cultivator? It's already good enough that she can dodge it..."

"I think it's risky; if we hold out for too long, we'll surely lose."

On the high platform, several inner disciples who had been paying attention to this place also shook their heads slightly.

One person commented, "Junior Brother Shi Meng's 'Solid Foundation Technique' has already achieved some success. Although his attacks are straightforward, his strength lies in overwhelming force. This junior sister's movement technique is acceptable, but..."

The meaning was clear even though the words were not fully spoken.

If you keep dodging, defeat is only a matter of time.

However, as time went on, some people with a keen eye gradually noticed something was amiss.

Fang Li's dodges were all precisely timed to the point where Shi Meng's old strength had just been exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated.

As if it had been rehearsed a thousand times, it appeared thrilling, but in reality, it was calm and composed.

The figure in pale blue robes swayed erratically amidst the fierce wind of the punches, creating a strange sense of rhythm.

Shi Meng's attacks failed to break through, his breathing became increasingly labored, and a hint of impatience began to appear on his honest face.

He took a sudden step forward, his right fist gathering power, the muscles in his arm bulging.

He unleashed the killing move "Mountain Collapse" from the "Rock Solid Foundation Technique," intending to crush his opponent with absolute power!

Just as he was channeling his power to its peak and his right fist was about to strike, Fang Li moved!

She pressed close, swimming upstream like a fish, narrowly catching his fist as she cut in.

At the same time, he joined his fingers together like a sword, channeling the faint spiritual energy within his body to his fingertips.

The punch landed squarely on Shi Meng's right armpit, which was slightly raised due to the force of his punch!

"puff!"

A very faint thud, as if a bulging air sac had been punctured.

Shi Meng's momentum abruptly halted, as if the force he had been building up had been abruptly cut off. He was struck as if by lightning, let out a muffled groan, and his face instantly turned from red to pale.

His right arm hung limply, and he staggered back several steps before barely managing to stand.

His forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and his gaze toward Fang Li was filled with disbelief and astonishment.

The audience fell silent for a moment.

What just happened?

Most people only saw Shi Meng's powerful punch about to hit.

Fang, who had been dodging, suddenly got close for some reason, and then... Shi Meng retreated like a deflated sack.

"Just now... that one move?" A disciple looked around blankly.

"It looks like you hit the armpit? But what's a vital spot there?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the elder referee. He glanced at Fang Li again before announcing loudly, "Station C, the winner is Fang Li!"

After the announcement, the audience erupted in uproar.

"You won? How did you win?"

"I didn't see it clearly! Who understood it?"

"You tried to take a shortcut, didn't you? Senior Brother Shi Meng was too careless!"

"You can't say that, the timing was just too perfect..."

A buzz of surprised, puzzled, confused, and even slightly indignant discussions arose, all in support of Shi Meng.

Fang Li ignored the commotion below the stage.

She slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, her fingertips feeling slightly numb.

That attack just now almost drained half of the spiritual power in her dantian.

However, the ability to seize opportunities and discern weaknesses stems from the knowledge accumulated from countless battles observed or experienced in previous lives.

When this Stone Fierce Technique is activated, there will be a momentary stagnation in the airway under the armpits, which would be extremely difficult to detect if it weren't for the eyesight she gained from her rebirth.

She looked at Shi Meng, who was still somewhat dazed, and said softly, "You flatter me. Your technique is unparalleled in its power, but you pursue the ultimate in exertion, which easily exposes your weaknesses. If you can incorporate three parts of the finishing move when exerting power in 'Crushing Mountain Strike,' not only will the weaknesses disappear, but you will also add a bit more variation and staying power to your power."

Shi Meng listened blankly, carefully recalling the feeling he had just experienced. His dark face was initially filled with confusion, but then a look of sudden enlightenment slowly appeared on his face.

He clasped his hands in a fist and exclaimed, "Thank you so much for your guidance, Senior Sister! I... I've got it!" His gratitude was so sincere that the disappointment of losing the competition was completely dispelled by this invaluable guidance.

Fang Li nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk down the stone platform.

The crowd instinctively parted to make way for her, their gazes following her with a complex mix of emotions.

In a certain part of the stands, Ji Qianqiu, who had been leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, looking somewhat listless, had somehow straightened up a bit.

His gaze burned through the crowd, landing on the pale blue figure calmly walking towards the rest area. His brows furrowed slightly, and he let out a very low sound:

"Huh?"

His follower looked in the direction of his gaze and asked in confusion, "Senior Brother Ji, what's wrong? That woman won, but it was just a lucky trick..."

“Fool.” Ji Qianqiu interrupted him, a slight smile playing on his lips. “That wasn’t a trick. Shi Meng’s ‘Solid Foundation Strengthening Technique’ was clumsy and had obvious flaws. There are very few in the outer sect who could see through it at a glance and pinpoint the flaws precisely in that situation. That kind of move requires keen eyesight, courage, and, more importantly, an absolute grasp of timing…”

He rubbed his chin, his eyes growing increasingly bright: "Interesting. This woman isn't as simple as she seems! It looks like this little competition won't be too boring."