The announcement over the loudspeaker left the martial artists gathered for the Martial Arts Tournament bewildered and at a loss.
In previous years, the tournament's broadcast ratings had been abysmal.
Eventually, the organizers had introduced a pre-match trash-talk segment, giving fighters three minutes in the ring to trade insults.
That segment had proven to be the most popular part of the broadcast, drawing the highest viewership. Highlights of the best verbal brawls had even been edited and uploaded online. The contrast between someone cursing viciously and then getting beaten to a pulp made for intense drama and top-tier entertainment.
Now, under the slogan "Promote civility, foster new conduct," trash talk was strictly forbidden.
Had they given up on ratings altogether?
Which official had caught their head in a door to come up with such a whim?
"Huh? The world's just been getting more and more surreal lately," Xing Yu couldn't help but grumble.
Lately, all sorts of bizarre things had been happening across the Qinyuan Kingdom. Rumors of a spiritual qi revival, a sword immortal obliterating a military base with a single stroke, and now that nationwide referendum—things were growing more chaotic by the day. In comparison, "Promote civility, foster new conduct" didn't seem quite so outlandish.
"Since those are the rules, we have no choice but to follow them. Who told us we lack the strength to break the rules?" Wang Shiqiao, who had remained quiet all this time, finally spoke, shooting a furtive glance at Qi Yuan nearby.
Qi Yuan chimed in, "Personally, I think the officials' requirement is quite humane. If everyone behaved civilly, think of how much conflict would disappear from this world, and how love and peace would prevail."
Qi Yuan meant every word.
If everyone were civil, why would he ever need to wipe out whole clans just to promote world peace?
"We can't guess what the higher-ups are thinking. We just need to follow the rules. In any case... we only came to broaden our horizons, didn't we?" Xu Tiehua spoke in all earnestness this time.
In city-level competitions, he could achieve respectable results. But on the national stage, there was no question about it: everyone putting up formidable records stood at the martial arts limit. His own strength was still a fair distance away from reaching that threshold.
"Right. Follow all the rules. I'm a law-abiding citizen myself," Qi Yuan agreed readily.
Hearing this, Wang Shiqiao fell silent.
Chopping off heads and sending them as gifts counted as law-abiding? What decent person went around chopping off heads?
"Still, I'm a bit more ambitious. I came here to take the championship!" Qi Yuan said enthusiastically.
Now that he had reached the Jade-Blood Realm, competing in this Martial Arts Tournament was like a grandfather thrashing his grandson.
"Mr. Qi will surely claim the title!" Just then, North Crane Han Xianyun walked over, his expression full of respect.
Not long ago, upheaval had rocked the Imperial Capital, leading to the destruction of the Mu family, one of the Seven Martial Stars families. Han Xianyun's elder brother had been reassigned to the provincial cabinet, and he himself had received an honorary earl title. He was riding high on success.
He knew full well that everything he had gained was a gift bestowed by Qi Yuan. Toward Mr. Qi and that Ning Tao, his heart held nothing but veneration and awe.
"Didn't you think before that I wouldn't be able to win?" Qi Yuan asked, mildly surprised.
"Before was before; now is now," Han Xianyun said solemnly.
"You've got an eye for talent. If there's an opportunity in the future, I'll definitely introduce you to an incredible wife," Qi Yuan said softly.
Unfortunately, Han Xianyun couldn't enter the death qi world—or rather, the Yellow Springs World. Otherwise, Eldest Master Huang from last time, or even the Sea God, could have been introduced to him.
Han Xianyun felt a surge of complicated emotions upon hearing that.
Before he could speak, a sneering voice drifted over.
"Han Xianyun, the championship of the Martial Arts Tournament isn't something any random stray can win." The speaker was a burly man with a tattoo across his face, radiating the aura of someone not to be crossed. "If anyone's going to win, it has to be a powerhouse like South Lion Zhang Yang!"
At the mention of Zhang Yang, reverence filled the tattooed man's eyes.
Seeing this, Han Xianyun couldn't help chuckling. "If you said you were going to win, I might think a little better of you. But pinning your hopes on someone who beat you? You're quite something."
Before entering the tournament, the tattooed man had fought South Lion Zhang Yang and lost within three moves. Ever since, his fighting spirit had waned.
"Hmph. Ignorant fools who don't know the breadth of heaven and earth. You have no idea that even among those at the martial arts limit... there are differences. Given enough time, Zhang Yang would definitely break through the martial arts limit. What a pity..."
The tattooed man's expression dimmed with a hint of sorrow. He had heard that after Zhang Yang won this Martial Arts Tournament, he would retire from the martial arts world. This tournament was Zhang Yang's curtain call. It was a shame he would never witness someone break through the martial arts limit.
With that, the tattooed man flicked his sleeve and walked away.
At this, Xu Tiehua's eyes widened. "You're North Crane Han Xianyun? A martial arts limit master?"
As a martial artist, he had naturally heard of South Lion and North Crane. This young man addressing Qi Yuan as Mr. Qi was actually North Crane Han Xianyun? Then Qi Yuan was...
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. The way he looked at Qi Yuan changed once again.
The dojo members behind Xu Tiehua looked at Qi Yuan with completely different eyes as well. Qi Yuan had only been at Mingwu Dojo for a few months in total. From Han Xianyun's deference, Qi Yuan had to be at least at the martial arts limit. Could he really be a supreme genius?
Han Xianyun smiled. "That is indeed me."
At that moment, Qi Yuan swept his gaze over all the competing martial artists and couldn't help remarking, "Too weak. How lonely it is at the pinnacle of invincibility."
Xing Yu rolled her eyes at him. "Qi Yuan, even if you are a peerless genius, you shouldn't look down on the rest of the world."
Deep down, she also realized Qi Yuan had to be a genius who had surpassed the martial arts limit. With all the strange things happening nowadays, this wasn't all that shocking.
"I'm not looking down on them. I wish they'd step it up too. Unfortunately... they're just too weak. If not for the championship, I wouldn't even have bothered entering," Qi Yuan replied.
Canary clung to Qi Yuan's arm, her voice light and lively. "Want me to beat them all up and make them forfeit? That way... you can just win the title right away."
"Wouldn't that... be a little bad?" Qi Yuan pondered for a moment and shook his head.
Meanwhile, inside a skyscraper.
An anxious expression surfaced on a woman's face. "Sir, just moments ago, a competitor named Wang Fusheng openly provoked the Target."
"What?" The man in military uniform went pale at her words. "How dare he!"
The Target was someone even they had to treat with utter delicacy. Yet someone dared to taunt him? Did that fool have a death wish?
"Wang Fusheng, was it? Find men and arrest him immediately! To go around provoking and threatening an opponent before the tournament... Revoke his eligibility, and charge him with... endangering national security! Arrest him at once!"
The uniformed officer was genuinely furious. Whenever dealing with Qi Yuan, they trod on thin ice for fear of angering him. And now, some blind fool had gone and crossed him? Courting death, was he? If Qi Yuan took offense and blasted another few Eyes of the Sky out of the sky, who would take the fall? Who could bear that responsibility?
"Quick, have the staff conduct pre-match training for every competitor. Forbid them from using profanity or provoking their opponents in any way, shape, or form! Understood?" the officer ordered sternly.
This matter had to be handled flawlessly. Otherwise, forget promotions and raises—they might not even keep their lives.
...
The following day, the Martial Arts Tournament officially began.
There were ten rings operating simultaneously for this tournament. After several rounds of elimination, the top twenty-odd fighters would advance to subsequent matches.
The competition typically spanned two days. The first day was essentially an open melee with few highlights. Spectators were few and far between in the stands.
"Sigh, why isn't there any pre-match trash talk? It's so boring."
"If they don't cuss at each other until they're red in the face, the fights are even less exciting than street brawls."
"So dull. If I'd known, I wouldn't have come."
The spectators watched the bouts with complete indifference.
Qi Yuan wasn't very interested either. Watching the fights on the stage, he mused, "Human Dao Martial Master... can be achieved in a hundred years. As for Spirit Dao Martial Master, I still don't have a single clue."
Canary, on the other hand, found it quite entertaining. "Watching little people fight is pretty fun, like watching cartoons."
"Hey, you're the little one here," Qi Yuan said, glancing at her.
Canary was petite and dainty, draped in a black dress that enveloped her small frame. She could hang from Qi Yuan's body with virtually no weight at all.
"What's small about me? I'm not small at all!" Canary puffed out her chest proudly.
Granted, she had secretly bought a push-up bra, but she was originally between an A and a B cup—leaning toward B. Even so, it wasn't exaggerated, resting like inverted jade bowls.
"Indeed, not small. If you wanted to get bigger, a single spell could make you... as large as a mountain."
"Get lost!" Canary cursed, a rare outburst for her.
"Hey, no swearing. Profanity is banned here."
"Tch." Canary turned her head away and refused to look at him. If Blood Pearl didn't apologize, she wouldn't initiate a single conversation with him today.
"See that man? South Lion Zhang Yang. He's my biggest rival in this tournament. Unfortunately... he's only slightly stronger than an ant."
Down in the ring, Zhang Yang threw a formidable punch that whipped up fierce gales and sent his blood qi churning. The sight drew cheers and applause from many spectators, because... it was another one-hit knockout.
Canary had still been sulking and planning to ignore Qi Yuan, but then she realized: Qi Yuan had spoken to her first. Replying wouldn't count as initiating conversation.
She cast a glance at Zhang Yang, a thoughtful look entering her eyes.
"Blood Pearl, haven't you noticed that the people in this world... look a bit familiar?"
"Familiar?" Qi Yuan blinked. To be honest, he hadn't noticed anything familiar about them.
"Their bloodlines... seem to share a common origin with the demons of the Myriad Demons Realm to some degree," Canary said seriously.
She was in the Yin God Realm, so she could naturally perceive much more than Qi Yuan at this point. Canary was intimately familiar with the Myriad Demons Realm. Back in the Liufeng Realm, one of their greatest enemies had been the demons of the Myriad Demons Realm. Led by Shang Yanran within the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, Sovereigns from the Myriad Demons Realm had invaded the Liufeng Realm. As a Grand Sovereign, Ning Tao had dealt with Sovereigns of the Myriad Demons Realm extensively and was well acquainted with their scent.
Qi Yuan was different; once he entered the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, he had simply bulldozed his way through everything, rarely interacting with demon Sovereigns directly.
Hearing mention of the Liufeng Realm, Qi Yuan took Canary's cool, small hand into his own. "Related to the Myriad Demons Realm? Doesn't that mean we might have a chance to... return to Mount Jiupan in the future? If possible, we could hold a proper wedding back at your family's place."
"I don't have a family home! If I did... it would be on your Golden Core," Canary said haughtily, though a buoyant note lingered in her voice.
In truth, she had no relatives in her life. The Blood Pearl who had barged into her world was virtually everything to her. The greater part of her life had been spent in agonizingly long waiting. Only now had the sweetness finally come after all the bitterness.
"If I pick on you in the future, wouldn't that mean there's nobody to back you up?" Qi Yuan mused thoughtfully.
"Don't you dare!" Canary glared at him. "If you do, I'll turn into Ning Tao and stomp on you! Aah, I regret it now—back when you were trapped in Heavenly Heart Palace, I should have stomped on you viciously a few times!"
Back then, Qi Yuan had been unable to enter the game. Ning Tao used the Soul Locking Jade to summon him over, making him her prisoner. Back then, Ning Tao had even plotted to keep Qi Yuan entirely within the palm of her hand, locked away in the dungeon of Heavenly Heart Palace so he could never leave her sight, making her his whole world.
"Wait, I can stomp on you right now! Hehe, Blood Pearl, you're no match for me at the moment." Canary beamed with smug triumph.
In the private viewing box, Canary lifted a slender leg. Perhaps unwilling to step on him with her shoe, it had slipped off at some point, revealing a small foot wrapped in black silk stockings, delicate as fresh white lotus root. Her five jade-like toes curled together, akin to the world's most flawless work of art, easily fitting within the span of a single hand.
Seeing this, Qi Yuan's thoughts suddenly wandered. "Which stockings have better quality: those from the Liufeng Realm, or Arch Star's? If we can go to the Liufeng Realm, couldn't we do cross-realm trade and sell stockings?"
"Get lost!" Canary showed no mercy this time, planting her foot right on him.
Yet perhaps she doted on him too much; there was no force behind the kick, and it was so slow that Qi Yuan caught her foot in his hand immediately.
"Sigh, I was just saying. I'm just too strapped for cash." Qi Yuan really wanted to buy Arch Star, but alas, he was too poor.
"Hmph." A flush of crimson crept up Canary's ears. Looking at Qi Yuan, she asked discontentedly, "Is money more important than me?"
Back on Mount Jiupan, she had once asked: *Blood Pearl, is the Gate of Myriad Manifestations prettier than me?*
Hearing her question, a smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes. "To many people, money is very important. But as for me... I'm lawful good. An idealist. You are... important."
"What if you weren't lawful good or an idealist?"
"Still you," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.
"Hmph!" Canary huffed once more, though this time her tone was laden with joy.
"I just thought of a very serious problem," Qi Yuan said suddenly, his face turning solemn.
"What problem?" Canary's slender leg stiffened slightly, but she didn't pull her jade foot back. She seemed to relish this intimacy with Qi Yuan.
Or perhaps, after all those interminable years of waiting, a deep-seated insecurity lingered in her heart, a fear of being abandoned at any moment. Only by pressing close to Qi Yuan could she find a shred of safety. Thus, ever since arriving in this world, she had clung to Qi Yuan almost constantly. Her gaze and peripheral vision had never once wandered from him. If she could stay close to him, she would never pull away.
"We haven't discussed how much bride price I should pay," Qi Yuan said seriously.
"I don't want a bride price," Canary blurted out.
"You're far too love-struck," Qi Yuan chuckled. "If someone posted our conversation online, tons of people would definitely curse you."
"If they curse me, Blood Pearl, you'd curse them right back for me, wouldn't you?" Canary smiled charmingly.
"Hmm... I wouldn't bother cursing back. Better to just kill them," Qi Yuan replied solemnly.
He couldn't bear to let Canary suffer even the slightest grievance anymore. He had already put her through far, far too much.
Chapter 330