After speaking, he jumped off the stage.

...

[You defeated a Level 70 opponent and gained 30,000 experience points.]

Chen Ming saw this notification and calculated in his mind.

If each one is thirty thousand, he’ll need to defeat more than three hundred third grades to accumulate ten million.

The further he progresses, the harder it is to level up, which is quite normal.

He glanced at the panel.

[Level: 70]

[Current Points: 99,896]

[Cultivation Technique: ’Iron Horse Stance’ (Fifth Level Perfection), ’Five Elements True Skill (Missing)’ (Seventh Level 187,544/10,000,000)]

[Martial Skill: ’Three Talents Fist’ (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Mastery), ’Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship’ (Mastery), ’Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens’ (Fourth Level 3,277/400,000), ’Lone Goose in Heaven’ (First Level 700,000/1,000,000)]

[Secret Technique: ’Disguise Technique’ (Mastery)]

This Swallow Returning Sword Technique is truly formidable. It’s easy to defeat a newly advanced third-grade opponent even before reaching the second level.

All those present were under thirty years old and had not been at the third grade for long, so their proficiency in techniques was lacking. How could they be his match?

While Chen Ming quickly recovered his exhausted Gang Yuan, he shouted loudly, "Who else?"

"I’ll go!"

Soon, someone responded and jumped onto the stage, looking at the sword in his hand and said, "Your sword is impressive."

The implication was that he only defeated Peng Tianxu by relying on this Divine Weapon.

Chen Ming thought, I haven’t even drawn my ’Mingfeng Sword’ yet.

Currently, he was using Gu Xianyu’s sword, a Divine Weapon.

The difference between a Divine Weapon and an Unparalleled Divine Weapon lies in whether or not it possesses a Primordial Spirit.

Of course, a Divine Weapon can also cut through iron like mud and allows a third-grade expert’s Gang Yuan to exert maximum power, just lacking a bit of spirituality.

Unparalleled Divine Weapons are rare indeed, but Divine Weapons are also quite rare, and not every third-grade can have one.

This second opponent was about equal in strength to Peng Tianxu.

Chen Ming only managed to break his weapon on the eightieth move.

The opponent was still unconvinced and threw the half-broken sword at him, but was then blasted off the stage by an invisible force.

The one who intervened was a second-grade expert responsible for maintaining order on the stage from the Money Gang.

He said in a deep voice, "This is a martial arts tournament, please be mindful and stop at the right time. Young Master Gu, you can step down for a rest."

"No need."

Chen Ming turned his head and asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to come up?"

This statement angered quite a few people present.

His implication seemed to suggest he wanted to single-handedly defeat all the young third grades in Xiazhou?

All the young people present couldn’t tolerate an outsider being so arrogant in Xiazhou, especially in front of a beautiful woman.

Therefore, a third person went up.

...

[You defeated a Level 71 opponent and gained 33,000 experience points.]

[You defeated a Level 70 opponent and gained 30,000 experience points.]

[You defeated a Level 72 opponent and gained 36,000 experience points.]

[...]

After defeating five enemies in a row, Xia Shaowen finally stepped forward and stopped the sixth person from going up, saying, "Let’s call it a day. Young Master Gu fought five rounds in succession and consumed too much energy. Continuing would be unfair. We’ll resume tomorrow."

Chen Ming naturally had no objections to this.

The young third grades from Xiazhou didn’t want to take undue advantage of him either, so they agreed.

Thus, this highly anticipated martial arts tournament was paused halfway through.

The name of Gu Xianyu spread across Ten Thousand Thunder City.

Just as Chen Ming was about to leave, Xia Shaowen called to him and warmly invited him to visit the Money Gang.

He couldn’t refuse.

...

Soon, at the Governor’s Mansion, Liang Zongcheng received the news and was shocked, "That kid is actually third grade?"

"Yes, father."

Reporting was his son, Liang Zhengye, who said with some concern, "The previous plans are probably useless. This kid’s swordsmanship is quite remarkable, and with Xia Shaowen around, it’s going to be difficult to kill him on the stage."

Liang Zongcheng’s expression became serious, "Why would the Gu Family send him to Xiazhou? They must know I’m here... Could it be that the Gu Family also wants that slot?"

Liang Zhengye was startled, "How did the Gu Family know about this?"

Liang Zongcheng said in a deep voice, "There are no walls that the wind does not penetrate. Hmph, Gu Haoran must have gone mad, sending such a talented son to Xiazhou. Does he really think I dare not kill him?"

"Father..."

"This is a struggle to attain the Dao, anyone in my way must die!"

...

Nightfall.

After dinner, Chen Ming, at Xia Shaowen’s persuasion, comfortably stayed at the Money Gang.

Today he caused quite a commotion; who knows what Liang Zongcheng might think. If he deemed Chen Ming a threat and was determined to kill him, it would be like walking into a trap.

Therefore, staying at the Governor’s Mansion was out of the question.

Originally planning to find his cousin Gu Yuyin, staying at the Money Gang wasn’t a bad option either.

The Money Gang occupies a sprawling area, built with splendor and luxury, living up to its name.

In reality, from what he discovered in the past few days, the Money Gang doesn’t actually control a commercial empire, unlike the Seven Great Sea Merchants. The reason this gang is the wealthiest in Xiazhou is because the Xia Family owns a gold mine.

Truly, they have literal ’gold’ mines!

Chen Ming was led by a servant to a rather secluded courtyard.

"Young master, please wait a moment, I’ll be right back."

The servant who led him there left him alone and ran off.

What’s going on?

Chen Ming felt something was off, could it be that Xia Shaowen and the Gu family also have grievances, intending to deal with him here—

"Young Master Gu."

Suddenly, an incredibly melodious voice came from the other side of the courtyard. This was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard; just by the sound, one could imagine its owner must be an extremely beautiful woman.

"I apologize for inviting you in such a manner."

"Could it be Lady Xia?"

Chen Ming already guessed the woman’s identity on the other side of the courtyard wall.

"Yes."

"A pleasure to meet you. May I know why Lady Xia seeks me out?"

"To be honest, I have a request that might make things difficult."

"Please go ahead."

Lady Xia gently said, "In truth, I am already promised to someone, therefore, I hope you can go easy on me in tomorrow’s tournament and feign defeat, and I will repay you."

So it turns out she wants me to throw the match.

Chen Ming resolutely said, "I cannot comply. This concerns the Gu Family’s reputation; I cannot lose in a contest on the stage."

Not a chance! Winning one match means thousands of experience points, losing would mean losing sixty to seventy thousand points. He certainly couldn’t agree.

Lady Xia said, "You can win a few rounds and then stop appearing."

"Impossible. Doing so would only make others think I’ve chickened out." Chen Ming said, "I could never throw a match. But don’t worry, even if I win, I won’t marry you. I also have someone I care for. Moreover, since you have someone in your heart, you should just tell your father directly."

A sigh was heard, "If it were that easy, why would I need to come to you?"

This statement made his imagination run wild, conjuring up a Romeo and Juliet-style love story.

Chen Ming said, "My apologies, but I can’t assist you, my personal gains and losses are minor, but the family’s reputation is paramount."

He found another benefit of being from a prestigious family; it provides many excuses.

Lady Xia was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Did you come for that slot?"

A slot?

What could that be?

Chen Ming thought, could there be more to this tournament?

Liang Zongcheng’s seriousness over this matter indeed had a reason!

His silence led Lady Xia to assume he tacitly agreed, so she said, "Would someone of your stature willingly wade into such murky waters?"

Even if I said no, would you believe me?

PS: Just over three hundred more votes to two thousand, please vote.