After being exiled for eighteen years, the prince returned to the capital as a veritable immortal.

"it is good!"

"Ambitious!"

The audience erupted in applause and cheers.

"Roar--"

Wu Meng took a horse stance, shouted loudly, and assumed a starting position.

The fifth-grade Golden Core cultivator's aura soared to the heavens, clearly distinguishing him from the fourth-grade Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Everyone was deeply shocked.

Iron Fist Wu Meng has actually advanced to the fifth-grade Golden Core realm.

Two years ago, he couldn't even make it onto the list of martial arts candidates.

Barring any major surprises, he is the undisputed champion in martial arts this year.

For a Golden Core cultivator, defeating His Highness as the top martial arts champion would be no difficult task, let alone achieving the mere title of top martial arts champion in the provincial examination.

All eyes were fixed intently on His Highness Prince Yi, who sat before the commander's table.

Zhou Yi's guidance to Wu Meng was evident to all the martial artists of Liangzhou.

His Highness Prince Yi's guidance truly has the power to turn stone into gold!

Those who were watching the spectacle secretly resolved to register for the martial arts examination next year and strive to receive guidance from His Highness.

Ji Yu's fingers, which were embroidering, slowed down noticeably.

His phoenix eyes gleamed with a sharp light, shifting back and forth between Wu Meng and Zhou Yi.

Rumors circulate that His Highness Prince Yi possesses the ability to become a general.

The rumors among the court officials and princes had already spread like wildfire.

In retrospect, this was by no means unfounded.

"A tree that stands out in the forest is truly remarkable!" Ji Yu gently shook her head.

Since Zhou Yi was enfeoffed as a king, the military candidates from Liangzhou who went to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations have been the most outstanding in the world.

Of the ten martial arts champions of the last decade, eight came from Liangzhou.

The Emperor, the court, and all the princes dared not imagine what astonishing power was hidden within the Liangzhou fiefdom.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent to Liangzhou.

Among the crowd, the unfamiliar martial artists who controlled the four people from Medicine King Valley exchanged glances, their eyes no longer showing the arrogance and contempt they had displayed before.

Zhou Yi's gaze swept across the group of people, seemingly intentionally but actually unintentionally.

The unfamiliar martial artist felt a jolt in his heart, as if the tricks he had been hiding under his battle robes had been seen through.

Upon closer inspection, Prince Yi and his maid were chatting and laughing, seemingly oblivious to the scene before them.

Wu Menggang took the stage.

Suddenly, a swordsman leaped onto the stage.

"Li Yuanzhou of the Divine Sword Sect, please enlighten me!"

The challenger, dressed in pristine white, was none other than the rising star of the Divine Sword Sect, renowned throughout the martial world.

Legend has it that Li Yuanzhou has practiced swordsmanship for thirty years and has never been defeated.

"The Golden Core Swordsman, Li Yuanzhou!"

"Huh? The Divine Sword Sect isn't a sect from Liangzhou, so why did they send disciples to participate in the martial arts examination?"

"Moreover, he is the most outstanding disciple in the sect!"

……

A commotion immediately broke out in the crowd.

The Divine Sword Sect is a mid-level sect that has always looked down on the idea of ​​entering officialdom through the martial arts examination.

Li Yuanzhou's appearance was somewhat eerie and puzzling.

Wow, the first match is between two Golden Core cultivators!

"A grand showdown, a once-in-a-decade event!"

……

Those who were not involved did not care why the Divine Sword Sect was participating in the martial arts examination.

All I ask for is a spectacular performance that's enjoyable to watch.

They exchanged a polite "thank you for the honor" and the duel began.

Wu Meng took the initiative, unleashing his ultimate move with a single strike, "Tiger's Roar and Dragon's Cry."

The tiger's paw-shaped fist, the size of a millstone, imbued with the power of a dragon and elephant, slammed into the opponent.

"it is good!"

Li Yuanzhou's sword unsheathed itself, transforming into a sword beam over ten feet long, slashing towards the Dragon Tiger Iron Fist.

"boom!"

The attack landed squarely, and a tremendous force exploded outwards, instantly increasing the pressure on the training ground.

The remaining force surged forth, stirring up boundless dust.

The spectators near the ring involuntarily stepped back.

The martial arts arena primarily features battles between Foundation Establishment cultivators. Who would have thought that the very first match would be a clash between Golden Core cultivators?

"Come again!"

The two Golden Core cultivators, unwilling to yield to each other, shouted simultaneously and engaged in another fierce battle.

In martial arts tournaments, the principle is to stop when the opponent has made a move.

It's not a big deal to stop here... just enough.

After a few moves, both sides became increasingly heated, their attacks becoming more and more forceful, with one deadly move after another being unleashed.

The audience watched with bated breath, and the spectator circle kept retreating.

Is this the provincial examination in the prefecture?

Even the imperial examination for the title of martial arts champion might not be as exciting as this.

Iron Fist Wu Meng's "Divine Tiger Dragon Fist" moves like a tiger and a dragon, with an astonishing momentum.

The sonic booms continued to explode, locking the opponent in a hail of punches.

"Great!" Si Xuan clapped and cheered.

Wu Meng's skills improved under Zhou Yi's guidance, and he was grateful to His Highness, so he could be considered half one of his own.

We should support our own people, of course.

Looking back at Si Xuan, Zhou Yi said softly:

"General Si, your eyesight needs improvement."

In official settings, Zhou Yi would certainly not address people as brothers.

Si Xuan retorted, "Could it be that Iron Fist Wu Meng would lose?"

"Heh, Wu Meng seems to have the upper hand, but in reality... he will be defeated in three moves."

Hu Die put down the teapot, covered her mouth, and chuckled softly.

A maidservant with such keen eyesight.

Ji Yu raised her eyebrows slightly and glanced over involuntarily.

Is this Prince Yi hiding his true abilities?

really.

As soon as Hu Die finished speaking, Li Yuanzhou suddenly unleashed his divine power.

A stunning sword strike shattered the fist's aura, sending Wu Meng flying more than ten meters away.

"Concession!"

Iron Fist Wu Meng clasped his hands in surrender.

……

The audience was completely captivated by the battle between the Golden Core cultivators, cheering with excitement.

The martial artists, in twos and threes, discussed the amazing moves they had just witnessed.

So much so that when the second group of opponents came on stage, nobody cared at all.

The martial arts tournament is mostly a battle between fourth-grade Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Watching a low-level match is naturally not as good as learning from the experience gained from matches between Golden Core cultivators.

Only after the two opponents stood in the ring and took their stances did a gasp ripple through the crowd.

"Drunken Swordsman Wu Yi faces off against Liu San Niang of the Snow Mountain Sect!"

"Another battle between Golden Core cultivators!"

"Disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect have actually come to Liangzhou to participate in the martial arts examination!"

The Snow Mountain Sect is a mid-level sect in the Great Qian Dynasty, located in the far north.

A sense of understanding began to emerge in everyone's hearts.

Iron Fist Wu Meng and Drunken Sword Tian Yi are both local masters from Liangzhou.

As soon as the two stepped onto the stage, experts from other sects appeared to suppress them.

This is clearly an attempt to suppress the martial artists of Liangzhou.

hiss--

Upon careful consideration, everyone gasped in shock.

Something is likely to happen today.

really.

The ensuing match confirmed what everyone had in mind.

Liu San Niang's cultivation level has advanced to the intermediate stage of the Golden Core realm, easily overwhelming Wu Yi, who is at the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

With his twin swords flashing, he easily felled the Drunken Swordsman Wu Yi in less than three rounds.

"Thank you for the compliment... *pfft*"

Wu Yi clutched the foot-long knife wound on his chest, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and fainted.

Life or death is uncertain.

The audience was deathly silent, staring at Liu San Niang, angry but unable to speak out.

In martial arts competitions, the principle is to stop when the point is reached.

Occasional injuries or disabilities are normal.

Someone like Liu San Niang, whose strength absolutely crushes her opponent, deliberately tries to kill them.

Perhaps this is a test of Zhou Yi's bottom line as the host of the martial arts examination.

I'll wreak havoc on your turf, what will you do then?

Countless eyes were focused on the head coach's table in the arena.

Zhou Yi waved his hand calmly:

"next."

In a battle, you're not playing a game. When you're fighting an enemy, can you expect them to stop when they've made a move?

The opening two matches between Golden Core cultivators were of a much higher level than in previous years, which he found very interesting.

While admiring the performance, he occasionally glanced at the audience.

Feng Qing has been kidnapped by the Mahayana sect, and he is waiting for them to make a move.

No matter what tricks the other party played, he accepted them calmly.

His greatest source of confidence comes from his twenty years of cultivation and mastery of divine skills.