Chapter 49: Kun Skin Drum

"The victor, Zhao Tiehe of Sanshan City!"

The referee's pronouncement finally echoed, and almost in the same instant, Zhao Tiehe’s figure, which had delivered that final, furious punch, crumpled to the ground.

His injuries were, in fact, far more severe than Lin Zhengli's; his stamina had long since been depleted. The final strike was thrown purely on willpower. Now, he lay prone, flat on his back upon the ravaged earth.

Beside him lay Lin Zhengli, who had been on the receiving end of that last, devastating blow, his body nearly hammered into the pit, and who had already fallen unconscious.

The arena was a tableau of destruction: shattered stone, rent vines, gaping craters, scattered water, splattered blood…

And only now did the applause erupt from the spectators.

Initially, it was hesitant, sparse, as neither combatant hailed from their own town. But swiftly, it swelled into a thunderous roar.

This battle had been too captivating, too visceral, and it had forced everyone to confront the sheer tenacity of the cultivators from Sanshan City. They admired Zhao Tiehe, and in doing so, their perception of the city from which he came shifted. Perhaps this was what they sought to prove with their very lives. They were born in a harsh land, amidst mountains teeming with savage beasts, yet they were no mere barbarians. They possessed their own passions and animosities, their own aspirations, their own… honor.

"Not easy," Ling He murmured, his hands red from clapping. He was likely the sole person among them who had never once uttered the derogatory term "mountain barbarian" when speaking of the cultivators of Sanshan City. For he understood the sting of being looked down upon, and thus, he never deigned to look down upon others.

Zhao Rucheng, however, was preoccupied with a different matter. "With these two having fought so fiercely, Third Brother will win without a struggle!"

Beside him, Huang Azhan had already begun his calculations. "Ten points of Dao Merit for winning a match. Two matches won by forfeit. The champion of the annual students in the Three Cities Discussion gets double Dao Merit… fifty points of Dao Merit in total! Half a Marrow Opening Pill! We must celebrate!" If Jiang An’an hadn’t been present, the name of the Fragrant Three-Flavor Tower would have likely already passed his lips.

"What's Dao Merit? Is it valuable?" Jiang An’an inquired with innocent curiosity.

"Yes," Zhao Rucheng, already aware of Jiang An’an’s tale of "repaying debts," teased her. "One point of Dao Merit is worth more than all the treasures you earned from that box!"

Jiang An’an counted on her fingers, very seriously, then spread her hands wide, describing a vast circle. "So much! Wow!"

…

Following the conclusion of the first round of battles, there was only a brief recovery period. This was undeniably unfair to Zhao Tiehe, who had just endured a grueling fight, but such were the rules.

After the referee’s repeated inquiries, Zhao Tiehe remained steadfast, though his steps faltered. He still wished to fight.

Jiang Wang stood opposite him, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his gaze solemn.

"Come down," Sun Xiaoman commanded. She appeared as a small girl, her voice equally childlike, yet Zhao Tiehe found himself unable to disregard her words.

He turned, his gaze meeting Sun Xiaoman's, and declared, "I still have another life I can fight with." His tone was not one of defiance, but of quiet conviction, as though stating a simple truth. Jiang Wang was formidable; he had defeated Yang Xingyong in a head-on clash and was currently in peak condition. At this moment, Zhao Tiehe possessed nothing else with which to contend save his very life.

"Your life is very important, and Sanshan City needs you greatly," Sun Xiaoman stated with earnestness. "I allowed you to fight before because you still had a chance. Now, I forbid it, for the chance is gone. You have accumulated considerable resources, and your life cannot be squandered in vain."

Whether it was her words or something else that convinced him, Zhao Tiehe turned and staggered from the arena. Whether it was an illusion or not, in the moment he turned away, Jiang Wang thought he saw a fleeting glint of tears in his eyes.

A man like that… could he actually weep? Jiang Wang could not comprehend the near-obsessive fervor with which these cultivators from Sanshan City regarded victory and defeat. He had already given his utmost; why would he be saddened by his inability to fight to the death?

With such questions lingering, Jiang Wang entered the third round of battle. By this time, Lin Zhengli had yet to regain consciousness, and Lin Zhenren once again conceded on his behalf. Thus, Jiang Wang became the champion of the annual students in this Three Cities Discussion. Due to his opponents’ two losses and injuries, it didn't feel particularly convincing, but…

"Who cares!" Zhao Rucheng exclaimed. "Getting the Dao Merit is what matters!"

At this moment, Jiang Wang had retreated from the arena and joined Ling He and the others as a spectator. The elders of Fenglin City were remarkably accommodating to the cultivators who had brought them glory, and they made space for Jiang Wang to rest off the field. Jiang An’an and that arrogant little girl were seated directly in front, while Jiang Wang and the others sat behind, chatting casually.

The only thing that surprised Jiang Wang was that the cloud blanket beneath their seats hadn't come from Zhao Rucheng's hands. It had been provided by the old man protecting the little girl Qingzhi. This cloud blanket was incredibly light and soft, a treasure beyond the reach of ordinary folk. Yet, Qingzhi’s family had produced such a large piece to be placed upon the ground. Jiang Wang could only sigh; the world of the affluent was indeed a mountain higher than another. He considered his own background, with land and shops, and no worries about food or drink. Yet, ever since he had known Zhao Rucheng, he often felt like a beggar.

The hunchbacked old man observed Jiang Wang for a few moments before suddenly speaking. "I didn't expect you to return the treasure, Little Friend Jiang. You teach your sister very well." The old man’s voice was kind, but it didn't quite align with his wizened face. However, Jiang Wang, being someone who did not judge by appearance, replied without neglecting proper etiquette. "It was only right. It was merely a childish game between children; how could it be taken seriously?"

"The Master said: It is not righteous to be rich and noble, and to me it is like floating clouds. Little Friend Jiang's words possess a certain Confucian elegance." In the Zhuang country, discussing Confucian style with a Daoist disciple—this hunchbacked old man was likely a bit muddled from his quoting of classics. Jiang Wang simply chuckled and remarked, "The match has begun."

…

The Three Cities Discussion featured annual students, three-year students, and five-year students, but the rules of the competition were generally the same. Li Jianqiu and Wang Changxiang appeared simultaneously, and the three matches commenced concurrently. Jiang Wang focused his attention, observing the entirety of the proceedings.

Li Jianqiu’s opponent was from Sanshan City. This duel was still very exciting, with both combatants displaying exceptionally refined Dao techniques. They exchanged blows for a considerable time, and finally, Li Jianqiu emerged victorious with his fire-element Dao techniques.

Wang Changxiang’s battle against the cultivator from Wangjiang City was relatively straightforward. After the match began, he first employed Dao techniques to summon a mist, obscuring his opponent’s vision. Then, he calmly performed the incantation, and with a Breath of the Dragon's Tornado, he blasted his opponent into the air. Techniques such as the Breath of the Dragon's Tornado, a first-class Dao technique, were nearly insurmountable in battles at this level. Jiang Wang recalled that in Xiaolin Town, a Breath of the Dragon's Tornado had nearly drained Wang Changxiang dry, and he wondered if he had abandoned the later battles. But after the match, Wang Changxiang immediately retrieved a Dao Yuan Stone and began to absorb its energy… It was evident that the Wang family had gone all out this time, determined to secure the champion position for the three-year students.

But what captivated the attention of the people of Fenglin City the most was the match involving the mysterious black-robed man from Sanshan City. When the black robe was removed, revealing a small, exceedingly amusing fat man, the onlookers from Fenglin City sighed with regret. In their imaginations, the black robe should have concealed a fearsome devil with a face scarred by countless battles, or at the very least, someone who appeared somewhat menacing. It should not have been a soft, pudgy man who looked so easily bullied.

But what did not entirely disappoint them was that this little fat man was incredibly strong! When the duel commenced, perhaps spurred by the earlier defeats of his teammates, the three-year student from Wangjiang City went all out. Five water cones led the charge, and he cunningly concealed wind blades amidst them. Then came the earth spikes, and finally, the incantation prepared was the Raging Waves. Wind, water, and earth—three-element Dao techniques were employed in a dazzling combination of sequential attacks.

And the little fat man from Sanshan City did but one thing from beginning to end: charge. He charged forward relentlessly, almost battling against the overwhelming tide of Dao techniques. He charged directly into his opponent's face. Then, he raised his fist and brought it down with crushing force. The battle was over.

The little fat man’s clothes were tattered, but the exposed, fleshy skin remained white with a healthy flush of red. His opponent had already fallen. A collective gasp of shock rippled through the crowd.

"His body defense is too strong!" Ling He exclaimed.

"Is he a pure martial artist?"

"No, that last punch was the Fist of the Covering Stone. He used a Dao technique."

"There was no display of Stone Skin Technique or anything similar, so why is his defense so robust?"

These young cultivators, after all, possessed limited knowledge, and they discussed it for a long time without arriving at a conclusion.

"It's Kun Pi Drum, a permanently solidified Dao technique," the hunchbacked old man, who had been listening intently, said softly. However, he was unwilling to divulge any further specific information about this particular Dao technique.