C20 Evermore Qi Yue

The Sword Pavilion Assembly was in full swing, with victories and defeats stirring a mix of joy and sorrow among the competitors. Next up was Qi Yue from Evermore facing off against Zhou Xing from Blackshroud. Evermore, true to its name, boasted the longest lifespans in all of Atrela. It was also known as the City of Three Excellences: excellence in poisons, in medicine, and in self-preservation. Its ultimate aspiration was the pursuit of immortality, with unwavering loyalty to the emperor and no inclination to take sides in disputes.

Qi Yue was an outlier in Evermore, robust as an ox, with dark skin and a voice that boomed like a great bell. He had reached the fourth level of the Innate Realm. His mastery of both poisons and medicine was supernatural, and his fist techniques were equally formidable. However, his temperament was... well, let's just say it was unique.

The Blackshroud Sect was known for its ascetic monks who traveled far and wide, practicing the arts of body tempering and will fortification. Renowned for their ironclad bodies and indomitable wills, Blackshroud's staff techniques were considered second to none in the Atrela Dynasty.

Zhou Xing, the 37th generation disciple of Blackshroud's Sect Master Zhou Cang, had reached the fifth level of the Innate Realm. From a young age, he had traveled with his sect, undergoing rigorous training that rendered his physique as unyielding as a mountain, impervious to blades and spears. As the Sect Master's prized pupil, he was the anticipated future leader of Blackshroud.

As the match commenced, the two competitors approached and bowed respectfully to each other. Standing before Zhou Xing, Qi Yue seemed to dwarf him, resembling the stark contrast between a bull and a dog. Catching sight of Zhou Xing's bare torso, Qi Yue couldn't contain his amazement. "Wow! This physique, these contours, the definition of these muscles. May I touch them?" he asked, reaching out towards Zhou Xing's chest. Zhou Xing, looking embarrassed, raised his hand to intercept Qi Yue's, stepping back as he did so. "Benefactor Qi, as a monk, I must ask you to maintain decorum," he implored.

Qi Yue was relentless in his pursuit. His ultimate dream was to possess a body as ironclad and muscular as that of Zhou Xing. Approaching Zhou Xing, he confidently asserted, "Master Zhou Xing, there's no need for fear. I'm not interested in men; I simply admire your physique. Allow me to feel your muscles—your chest and abs. Wow! They even flex! I'm incredibly jealous!"

Zhou Xing, confronted with the man whose eyes gleamed with fervor and drool dripped from his mouth, couldn't help but grimace. What was this guy up to?!

"Benefactor Qi, we are in the midst of a competition. If you persist, I will show no mercy! Take this!" With that declaration, Zhou Xing's fist rocketed towards Qi Yue's abdomen. Qi Yue made no attempt to evade. The sound of the iron-hard fist colliding with Qi Yue's sturdy midsection echoed as he staggered backward, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"Hahaha, what a punch! The body tempering techniques of the Blackshroud Sect are truly exceptional. Now it's my turn!" Qi Yue bellowed with laughter, reveling in the thrill of the fight. He sprang forward, launching a Mountain-Shattering Fist directly at Zhou Xing's face. Zhou Xing, undaunted, transformed his fists into overlapping palms, effortlessly dissipating Qi Yue's powerful blow. Following up with an Infinite Palm strike, he pushed Qi Yue back repeatedly. Qi Yue's dark complexion was tinged with a flush of red, indicating either some internal damage or sheer excitement. Brushing the blood from his lips, he took on a look of earnest determination.

Reaching into his waist pocket, Qi Yue retrieved one of the many pills he had concocted. Tossing a red pill into his mouth, he exclaimed with a thrill, "Master Zhou, let's make this a battle to remember!" Qi Yue's body began to undergo a transformation; his muscles expanded, and his veins protruded starkly against his skin. He visibly increased in size, thanks to the Mega-Pill he had specially crafted for himself. The pill's effects would last an hour, causing his muscles to bulge and harden, enhancing his physical strength, and rendering him impervious to blades and spears.

Upon witnessing Qi Yue's transformation, Zhou Xing realized he was up against a formidable rival. With no hesitation, he launched a vicious roundhouse kick at Qi Yue's neck. However, Qi Yue remained unmoved, effortlessly raising his right arm to deflect the attack.

Zhou Xing's kick felt like it had struck solid iron, sending a jolt of pain through his leg. Undeterred, he unleashed the Damo Fist! The sound of their blows clashing echoed through the gymnasium, with neither Zhou Xing nor Qi Yue gaining a clear advantage.

The audience erupted in applause, their excitement palpable as the bare-knuckle brawl ignited their fervor. The gymnasium buzzed with energy, the outcome of the match still uncertain.

As time ticked away, the physical toll on both fighters grew. Zhou Xing knew that dragging out the fight was futile. Qi Yue had enhanced his physical abilities with a secret skill, and if the battle continued, Zhou Xing would be drained. A swift resolution was imperative! Qi Yue felt the pressure too; if the fight dragged on, his Mega-Pill's effect would wear off, and he was determined to emerge victorious. Seizing the moment, Zhou Xing drew the Iron Broom Staff from behind his back. Gripping the staff with both hands, he unleashed a ferocious Iron Broom Staff technique aimed directly at Qi Yue's face, the staff sweeping through the air with unpredictable movements.

"Ah, Master, you've finally decided to bring out a weapon. Well, I won't hold back either!" Qi Yue said with a cunning grin. Reaching into his treasure bag, he produced a lotus-shaped iron device. With a push of its base, a barrage of poison needles sprayed from the petals. "Divine Flower Scattering!" Though Zhou Xing was impervious to blades, poison was another matter entirely.

Confronted with the deadly needles coming from all directions, Zhou Xing was on high alert. Twirling his staff, he deflected the incoming poison needles, narrowly avoiding the onslaught.

Divine Flower Scattering, being a hidden weapon, had a finite number of poison needles. Zhou Xing exploited this gap, ready to deploy his ultimate move, the Ascetic Staff, capable of striking heaven and earth, vanquishing all evil. But just as he was about to take off, he halted abruptly. "I admit defeat!"

The drill ground fell eerily silent. Everyone was at a loss, unsure of what had just transpired. How had Zhou Xing, who seemed to be on equal footing with his opponent, suddenly admitted defeat?

The culprit, it turned out, was the poison needles. The poison they contained was far from ordinary; it could evaporate into the air. Even if it didn't directly hit its target, anyone nearby could be poisoned simply by breathing it in. This insidious poison was both colorless and odorless, making it nearly impossible for even the most skilled fighters to detect. Attempting to use internal energy while affected could lead to a swift and fatal end.

"A wise man adapts to circumstances. You were smart not to force your internal energy against me, or you would have dissolved into a pool of black sludge by now. You see, my poison..." Qi Yue trailed off as he handed the antidote to Zhou Xing, not wanting such a fine specimen to perish by his hand, especially since he hadn't even had the chance to touch him!

"I bid you farewell." Zhou Xing was already keeping his distance from Qi Yue as he spoke. "Hey, hey, hey, wait! Aren't you curious about how potent my poison is? Hey... just let me touch you!" Qi Yue was quite the chatterbox.

"Qi Yue of Evermore claims victory!" Jing Wuheng, watching from the stands, was visibly excited, his cheeks aglow with enthusiasm. The intense and perilous bout had captivated him. Both competitors were exceptional talents; it was regrettable they couldn't both advance.

In no time at all, the competition was nearing its conclusion. The next match was highly anticipated, with staggering odds of 1:10,000. It was the fourteenth prince, Qin Xuan, up against the Grayhands' disciple, Yu Lin!