Standing on the stage, Zhao Xuanqi heard Director Pete’s words. He slowly lifted his foot from Kaiser’s back and stood up straight.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he couldn’t do anything too extreme to Kaiser, or it would likely cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Besides...

Zhao Xuanqi glanced at Kaiser. Even though he had lifted his foot, Kaiser remained kneeling with his arms twisted behind his back. He didn’t get up, his entire being seemingly stupefied, his eyes vacant and dazed. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’This man has been utterly defeated, both in body and in mind. Even if he recovers, I’ll probably be a shadow looming over him for the rest of his life.’

’Kaiser is no longer qualified to stand before me. Whether he lives or dies is irrelevant now.’

Zhao Xuanqi stood up straight, cupped his fists, and bowed slightly to the crowd below before leaping off the ring.

"Well done!!"

"Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall! Zhao Qi!"

"That was brilliant!!"

"..."

Thunderous applause and cheers once again erupted from below the stage, the sound waves rolling one after another. The enormous commotion even traveled beyond the dance hall, causing passersby outside to stop in their tracks with surprise.

"What’s going on in the Haiyue Dance Hall? How can a high-class place like this, where all the socialites gather, be as rowdy as a public market?"

"I heard the three major martial arts halls booked the Haiyue Dance Hall for their joint tournament today. But even so, it shouldn’t be this loud, should it?"

"How strange. Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall... Zhao Qi? Who’s that...?"

The passersby couldn’t help but discuss among themselves, their faces etched with confusion.

The Haiyue Dance Hall was the most upscale dance hall in Celestial Sea Prefecture, and its patrons were all socialites. These people were normally the most concerned with image and etiquette, so why was every single one of them acting as if they had gone mad today?

Unfortunately, the great doors of the Haiyue Dance Hall were shut tight, and the pedestrians couldn’t see what was happening inside.

As Zhao Xuanqi left the stage, one of the Caucasian subordinates who had accompanied Director Pete immediately leaped into the ring to check on Kaiser.

Director Pete, however, fixed his gaze on Zhao Xuanqi as he came down from the stage, as if to burn the man’s face into his memory.

He never would have imagined that in a small place like Celestial Sea Prefecture, there would be someone who could defeat Kaiser in the discipline of Cross-Training!

’A Divine Land Martial Artist like this must be put on the Jili Empire’s special watch list. As soon as I get the chance...’

A dangerous glint flickered deep in his eyes.

’This time, my plan to suppress the three major martial arts halls has failed completely. Now I’ll have to find another way in, which will cost a great deal of resources and effort.’

Meanwhile, after leaping from the ring, Zhao Xuanqi walked over to Weng Xiaolin. He cupped his fists, bowed, and said, "Master, I have not failed you."

"Excellent, excellent! You did very well!"

Listening to the cheers and shouts of the guests, Weng Xiaolin’s face was absolutely beaming, as if he himself had been the one to just return victorious from the ring.

At this moment, he couldn’t be more pleased with Zhao Xuanqi. ’His physical constitution is a bit on the weak side, but with his level of skill, as long as I can help him reach the pinnacle of Cross-Training, there’s a high probability he’ll be able to break through to the Inner Cultivation realm.’

He had already made up his mind. The fourth True Inheritance disciple of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall can be none other than Zhao Xuanqi. For a time, the Hall would funnel as many resources as possible toward him to nurture his talent.

Liu Changfeng and Luo Moyou looked at Zhao Xuanqi with a newfound respect and admiration. Even they had felt their blood boil when they witnessed him finally subdue his opponent, wishing they could have been the one standing on that stage.

What martial artist doesn’t have that fire in their bones—the desire to stand above all others and defeat a powerful foe?

Standing beside Weng Xiaolin, Yansong Mountain and Dong Wenhui looked at Zhao Xuanqi with envy. Why couldn’t such a fine disciple have joined one of their Halls?

’This Zhao Qi actually won? It’s a miracle,’ Chu Jiaxuan thought. ’Still, that last scene was so satisfying. We should do everything we can to win him over.’

Chu Jiaxuan watched Zhao Xuanqi’s retreating form, the final moments of the fight replaying in her mind. She couldn’t help but clench her fists, a strange light glinting in her eyes.

’Zhao Qi... he seems more and more familiar.’

Ma Maocheng muttered to himself. The sight of Zhao Xuanqi standing under the lights—calm, yet radiating endless passion and fighting spirit—was becoming increasingly similar to the figure and bearing of someone else in his memory.

That person had once stood in the great hall of Su Hai University, passionately debating the state of the world and shaping its future. His impassioned words had spread new ideals and new ways of thinking, inspiring countless people to charge forward regardless of the consequences.

’I have to investigate this Zhao Qi’s identity thoroughly.’

Ma Maocheng made this investigation his number one priority.

"Gentlemen, the Martial Dao of the Divine Land is truly wondrous, allowing the weak to defeat the strong. It has been a real eye-opener for us today. We thank you for the demonstration. Rest assured, we will repay you in the future. My nephew is injured and needs a doctor, so we will take our leave."

Just then, Director Pete’s expression returned to its usual calm smile as he addressed the three Hall Masters.

"Oh, Director Pete, you’re being far too kind! It was our disciple who lacked judgment and didn’t know when to hold back. I wonder how Kaiser’s injuries are? Our Martial Arts Hall has professional physicians who are experts in these kinds of wounds. Should I call one over for you?"

Yansong Mountain said this to Director Pete with a beaming face, an expression of utmost concern plastered on it.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but that won’t be necessary. Farewell."

A muscle in Director Pete’s cheek twitched. He turned to leave.

"Leaving in such a hurry, Director Pete? We’ll see you out. Allow us."

The three Hall Masters immediately followed, insisting on escorting Director Pete and his party all the way to the main doors. The entire way, their solicitous inquiries about his well-being were so incessant and meticulous that Director Pete’s face turned green with disgust.

A quarter of an hour later, it was all over. The three Hall Masters returned to their seats looking thoroughly pleased with themselves.

"Gentlemen, shall the tournament continue?" Weng Xiaolin asked the other two Hall Masters with a wide grin. "The Golden Blade Martial Arts Hall still has one disciple who hasn’t fought. Why don’t we have that boy, Zhao Qi, fight him? We might as well decide this year’s champion."

Yansong Mountain glanced at his remaining disciple, then over at Zhao Xuanqi, who was standing nearby. He sighed and said, "I don’t think that will be necessary. If your Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall isn’t the champion this year, I doubt any of the guests behind us would accept it."

Dong Wenhui had no objections either. Besides, given Zhao Xuanqi’s current condition and the abilities he had just demonstrated, Shen Shuqiang stood almost no chance of winning.

And so, the title of champion for this year’s Three-Hall Tournament was settled that simply.

That night, news of the battle spread like wildfire through the Martial Arts Realm of Celestial Sea Prefecture.

The next day, the *Celestial Sea Daily* dedicated its front-page headline to the match. Journalists invited by the three major martial arts halls had been present, so the moment Zhao Xuanqi pinned Kaiser underfoot had been captured in a black-and-white photograph. Its publication in the paper caused a major stir throughout Celestial Sea Prefecture.

Thus, Zhao Qi of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall became famous throughout Celestial Sea Prefecture!

And this was only the beginning.