There weren't many people participating in the martial arts tournament; each family had ten slots, for a total of sixty people.

Qin Sheng, having used connections to snatch the last spot from the Gu family, naturally became number sixty.

The rules of the competition are very simple: a one-on-one elimination tournament.

Sixty to thirty, thirty to fifteen, fifteen to eight... until the top three are decided.

Of course, the rankings after third place will continue to be determined through competition, but the level of attention will inevitably be greatly reduced.

Well, Qin Sheng was aiming for second place, so she wouldn't pay any attention to that.

Standing up from his seat, Qin Sheng slowly entered the competition arena.

Her opponent was already waiting up there.

Lu Yong is a member of the Lu family, which ranks fourth among the six major families. His strength is at the fourth level of ancient martial arts, which is considered to be close to the middle level among the contestants in the martial arts competition.

It was only at this moment that he realized his first opponent was actually Qin Sheng, and he was stunned for a while.

Especially now that we're closer, I can see the girl's face clearly.

While Lu Yong was amazed, he couldn't help but feel a little condescending.

But then she thought again, she was still Ye Fu's last disciple.

To be accepted as a disciple by Ye Fu, the First Guardian, and even as his last disciple, she must possess extraordinary abilities.

We should still be cautious.

Compared to Lu Yong's complicated thoughts, Qin Sheng's ideas were much simpler.

Oh, she had no idea at all.

We're just waiting for the referee to call "start".

As soon as the word "Start" fell, Lu Yong's eyes sharpened, and he immediately leaped up, swooping down towards Qin Sheng, his two huge fists slamming out fiercely!

The ancient martial arts spiritual power, combined with the strength of the body, rapidly compressed the air, creating a series of sonic booms in the air, but was interrupted in an instant by a faint sound of wind breaking.

Qin Sheng also moved at the same time.

Both involved leaping into the air, but the difference was that Qin Sheng used his foot instead.

With a loud "thud," Qin Sheng's foot landed on Lu Yong's abdomen before his fists could strike. Lu Yong, who was advancing rapidly, suddenly stopped and was sent flying backward.

There was another "bang".

This time it was Lu Yong's landing sound.

And the location where he landed...

The crowd's gazes turned subtle as they looked at the boundary line that Lu Yong had pinned under his buttocks.

The rules of the martial arts competition stipulate that the waist is the dividing line. If the body is above the waist and touching the line, it is considered to be within the boundary; if the body is below the waist, it is considered to be outside the boundary.

Lu Yong pressed the line down perfectly.

Oh, I should say Qin Sheng used just the right amount of force.

I don't know if it was a coincidence or intentional.

Whether it was a coincidence or Qin Sheng's plan, the outcome was already clear.

As soon as the referee announced "Qin Sheng wins," Qin Sheng turned and left the competition area.

I casually tore off the plastic wrapper and popped a lollipop into my mouth.

Yes, a reward for myself.

I was supposed to have milk tea, but I couldn't find any here, so I had to use a lollipop instead.

This is the shortest match since the start of the tournament, taking less than three minutes including the time it took for the referee to call "start" and for the winner to win.

Qin Sheng's kick was fast, accurate, and ruthless.

It crushes all the disdain, doubt, ridicule, and jealousy in people's hearts.

I will never underestimate this "Gu family granddaughter" who suddenly appeared again.

Not to mention outsiders, even Gu Dongyuan, who had just managed to get up and specially came to watch his granddaughter's martial arts competition, was stunned.

He blurted out instinctively, "Sheng Sheng, she..."

Gu Yueming's bunny ears had long since flown to the sky, and her little chin was held high: "My daughter is so amazing, so amazing, so amazing!"

Not satisfied with that, he added, "The most powerful in the world!"

Gu Dongyuan couldn't help but laugh, but accidentally coughed from overdoing it.

Gu Yueming's smile vanished instantly.

While taking the water from Qin Zheng and bringing it to Gu Dongyuan's mouth, she patted his back and persuaded him again, "Dad, please promise me that once things are over here, you can come and live with us outside."

Gu Dongyuan suppressed the itch in his throat, smiled and waved his hand: "I'm used to living here, so I won't go."

Gu Yueming frowned: "But Sheng Sheng said that although your illness has been cured, after so many years, your foundation is very weak and you need careful recuperation to slowly recover."

"The environment and medical facilities here in the ancient martial arts world are too poor, you..."

Gu Dongyuan's expression softened slightly. He turned to look at Gu Yueming and Qin Sheng, who had just sat down on her other side, and interrupted, "Little Ming, do you know why I voluntarily stepped down as clan leader, and why your brother gave up the position to Gu Xiyuan?"

Gu Yueming was stunned: "Wasn't it because Gu Xiyuan colluded with the Yuchi family to frame you?"

"Why would the Yuchi family frame me instead of Chief Cui, Chief Lu, or Chief Li?"

Gu Yueming bit her lip: "Because I refused the marriage, the Yuchi family felt they lost face, so..."

“You’re wrong.” Gu Dongyuan interrupted him, his eyes gradually darkening. “The marriage arrangement was a scheme orchestrated by the Yuchi family from the beginning. If anyone is at fault, it’s their fault. What does it have to do with you?”

Gu Yueming was already confused: "But..."

But if it wasn't her fault, why would the clan elders punish her? The Lu family and the Li family all sided with the Yuchi family to pressure her father and her.

She was forced to abandon her cultivation in order to leave with Qin Zheng.

Looking into his daughter's eyes, which remained as clear and pure as ever even after more than twenty years, Gu Dongyuan felt a mixture of relief, heartache, and above all, guilt.

"The engagement is just a pretext they've come up with; they were after me and your brother from the very beginning."

“From the very beginning, they wanted to force us to give up the position of Gu family head.”

As for why...

Gu Dongyuan clenched his fists, his voice deep and resonant: "Many years ago, the ancient martial arts world was already divided into two camps: the worldly faction and the reclusive faction."

"Among them, the Yuchi family, the Lu family, and the Li family all advocated engaging in worldly affairs, while Chief Sheng and I advocated continuing to live in seclusion, and Chief Cui maintained neutrality."

Gu Yueming was still stunned: "What about the elders... do they also want to enter the secular world?"

Gu Dongyuan nodded, and couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Even you said that the environment and facilities in the ancient martial arts world are too backward. Don't other people who have crossed the border and experienced the prosperity of the outside world feel the same way?"

“But Xiaoming,” Gu Dongyuan looked at her, and also at Qin Sheng, “how many years of Chinese civilization have been passed down, how many precious things have disappeared in the long river of history, how much of the ancient Chinese civilization is still intact today?”

Not even one in a hundred survived.

Very, very few.