“This is terrible! Facing Murong Fei and his group in the first round—could our luck be any worse?”

At dusk, the Eastern Xia martial students crowded into the small wooden building’s hall with furrowed brows, sitting in a circle as they listened to Mo Daoyun and Shujuan explain Western Xia’s several “great generals” one by one. The more they heard, the more dispirited they became. Even Zhou Qin asked in a daze: “That flashily-dressed Young Master Murong is truly that formidable? How does he compare to First Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother?”

Hearing this, Mo Chuan laughed. “If I could be mentioned in the same breath as him, I would have established my own sect long ago. Why would I still be your Second Senior Brother?”

Seeing Old Man Shu glare over, Mo Chuan quickly added: “Just joking. Teacher, please continue.”

Old Man Shu said: “It’s not just Murong Fei—Murong Sheng also cannot be underestimated. In this Western Xia camp, besides Murong Fei, Qu Buyang is also an exceptional master. It’s said his blade techniques surpass even his master He Jiu’s. He and Murong Fei are both close friends and martial rivals. In earlier years when they crossed hands, Qu Buyang was repeatedly defeated, but in the last year or two, he’s shown signs of catching up.”

Zhou Qin asked: “Which one is Qu Buyang?”

Fu Yanyang smiled. “The one who said Sister Ting should compete for Central Plains’ number one beauty—you traded barbs with him quite vigorously.”

“That pale-faced guy with peach blossom eyes?”

Fang Zhuyi raised an eyebrow. “So in Western Xia, besides the Murong family members, the most difficult to handle is Qu Buyang?”

“There’s also Wei Shaoxuan. As Wei Xingyun’s eldest son, on the battlefield he can single-handedly hold off a hundred. However, regarding exactly how skilled his martial arts are, without seeing it firsthand, we can’t easily draw conclusions.” Mo Daoyun walked in from outside and raised his hand to indicate everyone needn’t stand on ceremony. “The greatest difficulty in facing Western Xia’s imperial court faction is that we know little about them. Who they’ll send up, and who we should send to counter—this requires discussion…”

Seeing Mo Daoyun’s gaze sweep to him, Wang Xun raised his sleeve and said: “Whenever the scholars need, regardless of who the opponent is, I will certainly give my all.”

Seeing Changling sitting silently to the side without saying a word, Fang Zhuyi said: “Jing Changting, since you’re the leader, won’t you express any opinions?”

Changling was pondering whether to directly cripple that Murong Fei so he couldn’t participate in two matches, when she suddenly heard someone call her name. She paused. “Opinions?”

Seeing her mind had wandered, Fang Zhuyi became even more annoyed. Before she could explode, Fu Yanyang quickly smiled and said: “Our Sister Ting’s opponent is naturally Murong Fei. The current question is how to arrange the other matches to our advantage… I’ve heard Marquis He often deals with Western Xia people. Do you have any insights?”

Ye Qi sat near the main door, his eyes originally watching the horses tethered by the trees outside the courtyard. Hearing this, he turned his head and said: “I wonder if you’ve heard a story about horse racing?”

The next morning.

The “Heroes’ Martial Gathering Under Heaven” banners fluttered fiercely in the wind. After the various camps on the lakeside had taken their positions, Mo Daoyun announced the gathering’s commencement.

The red platform where Eastern Xia and Western Xia were located was in the center. Besides their own competition platform, they could also see the situations at the two adjacent platforms—though at this moment, both imperial court factions had no spare attention for others. As the gongs sounded, several platforms began their matches. In an instant, fists and palms clashed, weapons clanged in unison—truly an unprecedented spectacle.

On the red platform’s side, the match was between Danxia Gate and Diancang Sect versus Kunlun Gate—these were indeed two teams quite worth watching in the preliminary round.

The first person each faction sent up had been written on paper slips beforehand and announced by the Martial Alliance disciples serving as judges—the winning side of the next round could then decide their martial candidate based on which opponent took the stage.

“So predicting the opponent’s order has also become a kind of strategy?” Fu Yanyang clicked his tongue twice. “Isn’t this martial gathering about testing skill? When did it become so brain-burning?”

As they chatted, they saw that both sides’ first contestants were actually the leaders. Zhou Qin exclaimed: “Just starting and already using ultimate moves?”

Ye Qi smiled faintly. “After all, the opening victory or defeat directly affects subsequent morale. Moreover, leaders have two chances. If they know in the first match they’re no match, naturally they’ll choose to avoid it next time.”

The people on stage had already exchanged dozens of moves in an evenly matched contest. Everyone watched intently. After a hundred moves, Changling said: “This round, Kunlun Gate will win.”

Her voice was very quiet—only Ye Qi heard. He couldn’t quite see it and asked curiously: “Why? This Danxia Gate’s Chen Feng clearly has energy to spare.”

Changling explained: “This person’s qinggong is supernaturally skilled, but his internal power is slightly inferior to Kunlun Gate’s head disciple. If the arena were large enough, he might be able to wear him down, but in that confined space, what he can display will always be limited. After three hundred moves, his attack speed will decrease, making it extremely easy for him to reveal weakness.”

Not long after her words fell, Chen Feng’s sword techniques indeed showed a flaw. Kunlun Gate’s head disciple’s momentum grew stronger, quickly forcing him into a desperate position. As Ye Qi felt amazed in his heart and looked at Changling with immense admiration, he saw her gaze had already moved locations and was observing the adjacent Taixu Gate platform.

Ye Qi’s mouth twitched. He leaned over and said: “Don’t tell me you’re already mentally rehearsing matches with them?”

Changling said in a low voice: “Taixu Gate, Qingxuan Gate, Canghai Sect… the team Yangxuzi assembled is indeed formidable. Before our first match even finished, they’d already won three consecutive matches. The remaining two who haven’t fought yet—Zhenwu Gate and Tianlong Sect—are both experienced veterans. No matter how we arrange the order, our chances of winning are very low.”

At this moment, cheering from Kunlun Gate disciples came from ahead. The outcome was indeed as Changling predicted. Ye Qi turned back to glance at the stage and said softly: “Actually, even in the next round, we won’t necessarily face them.”

Changling said thoughtfully: “But given their strength, advancing to the final four is almost certain. Even if we don’t meet them next round, we’ll eventually meet them. It would be best if someone could eliminate them for us before that.”

Ye Qi nodded knowingly. “I understand. Besides Xu Laifeng and Mingyue… and Yunyan Escort Agency, which other fighters have you set your sights on? Might as well say it directly.”

Changling’s gaze drifted faintly toward the right, looking at Murong Fei’s back. “Western Xia.”

Ye Qi was startled. “You haven’t even seen them fight. How do you know their strength?”

“When Danxia Gate and Kunlun Gate were competing just now, I was observing their reactions.” The second match on the red platform had already begun, with the crowd below in an uproar. Changling said: “Halfway through the match, Murong Fei began observing Taixu Gate’s competition, while Qu Buyang paid attention to Yunyan Escort Agency. This alone is sufficient proof of their vision and strength. I can’t say they’ll definitely defeat Taixu Gate, but at least the possibility isn’t small.”

By this point, Ye Qi understood. “So… you mean…”

“I want to tie with them. This way, the sects entering the second day’s competition will change from even to odd numbers. The extra faction can only advance directly through drawing lots.” Changling said: “As long as we get that special lot, we won’t need to participate in tomorrow’s competition.”

Ye Qi reached up to rub his forehead. “A tie is already unprecedented… and you still want to get the special lot?”

Changling: “Just tell me—is there a way?”

Seeing her looking at him without a trace of doubt, Ye Qi actually laughed. He reached out to pinch her cheek and said: “Let’s give it a try, but you must promise me—if you’re not completely certain, or if things don’t look right, still prioritize winning. You said yourself that group has vision and strength. You can’t underestimate them.”

Changling returned his gesture with a finger flick to his forehead and smiled. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

After Kunlun Gate won the opening match, they fought more courageously and won against Danxia Gate without suspense.

Ye Qi personally wrote the lineup for the first round and submitted it simultaneously with Western Xia’s faction. The Martial Alliance’s adjudicating official unfolded both slips in succession and announced: “Western Xia, Qu Buyang; Eastern Xia, Zhou Qin.”

As soon as Zhou Qin’s name was announced, Murong Fei and the others froze first, their eyes eagerly looking over, as if wanting to see exactly what kind of extraordinary person this was. Though the Eastern Xia side knew early on that Marquis He had this move planned, they hadn’t expected the first match to send their weakest martial student as vanguard. Now even Zhou Qin was dumbfounded, pointing at her own nose. “There’s no mistake, right? It’s really me?”

Ye Qi nodded. “It’s you. We decided yesterday but didn’t tell you because we were afraid if you knew in advance, you wouldn’t sleep well.”

At this moment, Qu Buyang leaped forward, gliding across the lake surface to land on the competition platform. Sweat seeped from Zhou Qin’s palm gripping the staff. “No, but he… he’s very strong, isn’t he? How, how should I fight?”

“Fight however you should fight.” Changling patted her shoulder. “Just treat him as someone feeding you moves. Lasting one more move counts as one more.”

Seeing her standing there frozen, Old Man Shu exclaimed: “No one expects you to win, so what’s there to be afraid of? Get up there!”

Zhou Qin’s qinggong hadn’t reached the level of gliding across water, so she could only honestly step across the water stakes. Seeing a little girl of fifteen or sixteen approaching, Qu Buyang’s brow furrowed into a川character. “You… you’re here… to compete with me?”

“Uh, yes, I am.” Zhou Qin nervously slipped, and her long staff clattered to the ground. She hurriedly bent to pick it up and cupped her fists again. “This humble one is Zhou Qin. Please give me your guidance, Warrior Qu.”

Murong Sheng’s eyes widened. “Brother, what do they mean by this?”

Murong Fei’s eyes flickered slightly, immediately comprehending. “Tian Ji’s horse racing strategy?”

Fu Yanyang was so nervous his own sweat was about to pour out. He found it utterly puzzling and asked Ye Qi: “Young Marquis, even if you want our inferior horse to face their superior horse, we didn’t need to send Little Qin up, did we?”

Seeing his spittle about to spray onto his face, Ye Qi quickly opened his folding fan to block it. “Don’t misunderstand—sending Zhou Qin up wasn’t my idea.”

Seeing Fu Yanyang glare over, Changling looked away without responding.

“It was my idea.” Old Man Shu pressed Fu Yanyang back into his seat. “Stop babbling. Sit quietly and watch—you’ll understand.”

Qu Buyang looked at the petite girl with thin arms and legs standing five paces before him, and for a moment didn’t even have the nerve to draw his blade. Seeing Zhou Qin standing still in place, he couldn’t help but say: “What are you standing there for? Attack.”

Zhou Qin gasped. “I was waiting for Warrior Qu to attack first…”

“Ridiculous! This old man is nearly a whole cycle older than you, how could I possibly strike f—”

Before the words “first” could be spoken, the iron-forged staff head suddenly swept across—this move was utterly unexpected. Qu Buyang’s reaction was already extremely swift. He raised his arm horizontally and blocked with his blade, but with a bang, the staff body struck against the scabbard. The next moment, Qu Buyang felt his wrist go numb, and the long blade was swept from his grip by an unbelievable force.

All the spectators present cried out in shock. Murong Fei and Murong Sheng instantly stood up, looking at the competition platform in disbelief, completely unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Qu Buyang flew up, trying to catch his blade, but was ultimately a step too slow and watched helplessly as his weapon plunged into the lake bottom.

He turned around in a daze, staring blankly at Zhou Qin. “You…”

Zhou Qin hadn’t expected to succeed with one strike and was also somewhat shocked—before going up, Changling had only told her one thing: Use all your strength in the first move, don’t hold back.

Fu Yanyang was both surprised and delighted. “My God, how did she do that?”

Old Man Shu stroked his beard with a smile. “Girl Qin’s strength is several times greater than ordinary people, but outsiders absolutely cannot tell. Qu Buyang saw her petite frame and easily jumped to the conclusion that she belonged to the agile category. Naturally, he wouldn’t use full force when blocking with his blade. How could he anticipate she was using brute force? However, her first move’s technique was quite exquisite. I wonder if it has any special name?”

When Old Man Shu asked this question, his head naturally turned toward Changling. A hint of amusement appeared in Changling’s eyes. “This move is called Crashing into North Mountain.”

Shujuan’s originally smiling expression suddenly became solemn. “What did you say?”

Won’t turn back without crashing into South Mountain, after crashing South Mountain, crash into North Mountain.

That was Yue Changling’s signature move in the Battle of Cangqiong—using mountain-toppling force to blast apart the enemy army’s main general’s skull with one spear strike.

She looked at Qu Buyang on stage, now empty-handed and only able to dodge Zhou Qin’s iron staff, and said calmly: “Also, Zhou Qin isn’t an inferior horse. At least in this match, she’s a medium-grade horse. In the future, she’ll become a superior horse.”

Because she was Yue Changling’s disciple.