Refining the Mountains and Rivers

…

Everyone who originally thought that the prize didn't matter and that they just needed to beat up Qin Yu suddenly changed their minds. Qin Yu had to be beaten up - but they also had to take the prize!

The most direct consequence of this was that the agreements which had been made in secret started to be broken. Before, they were planning on intentionally losing, but no one ever expected that the Dragon Saint would break his habit of character and take out a dragon pearl as a prize.

Breaking a promise would harm their character, but these promises had never been made public. And since this involved something as valuable as the dragon pearl, then breaking them was fine.

Xu Shi was flustered. The three people who had agreed with him before had suddenly changed their minds and were no longer willing to honor their promise.

In other words, he only had one chance!

The dragon pearl was good, but the Half-Saint in the Xu Family excelled in body cultivation to begin with. It was said that after becoming a Saint, this person created their own cultivation method, tempering their body to the point where it became invulnerable to fire and water.

So to Xu Shi, while the dragon pearl was precious, the attraction wasn't that great. What he wanted to do was viciously beat up Qin Yu and let loose the rage in his heart!

"Lord Dragon Saint, I am willing to humbly step forward and be the first one on stage. I ask that you give me your permission."

Since this involved the dragon pearl, everyone was cautious. No one wanted to be first, so Xu Shi easily obtained the spot.

The reason was simple. Disregarding the Space Laws, if the Spring Master settled on Qin Yu, that meant Qin Yu had certain skills. Although everyone was confident in themselves, confidence was never completely reliable. Seeing with their own eyes was the best possible option.

They would take a look at how things went first. If Qin Yu was really a weak chicken, then he would be blown away in one strike and that would be his luck. Since this involved a dragon pearl, no one was willing to screw up this opportunity just to vent their anger. If he wasn't weak, then they could see his depths and prepare themselves ahead of time to avoid being beaten up themselves.

The Dragon Saint waved a claw, "You may!"

Xu Shi respectfully bowed. He turned around, his eyes sparkling with a sharp light as he locked onto Qin Yu, "Junior-apprentice brother Qin Yu, please!"

Qin Yu raised a hand, "Hold on!"

Xu Shi frowned. "Could it be that junior-apprentice brother Qin is looking down on me and doesn't wish to spar?"

Qin Yu shook his head, "How would I dare do that. I certainly understand senior-apprentice brother Xu's good intentions to give me guidance, but the problem of my upset stomach remains. I fear that I cannot exert my full strength and that senior-apprentice brother Xu will be left dissatisfied."

No one in the hall was stupid. They widened their eyes and stared at Qin Yu's sincere expression, thinking that his facial skin really was thick.

This…wasn't he obviously asking for something?

Xu Shi sneered and tossed out the jade bottle he took out not too long ago. "These mere pills are nothing to speak of. Since junior-apprentice brother Qin needs them, then take them!"

Pa -

Qin Yu smiled and grabbed it. "Thank you, senior-apprentice brother Xu. Then, please go ahead." He turned a hand and put the jade bottle away, watching from the edge of his vision as Xu Shi's eye fiercely twitched.

He was being completely open about his actions, with no cover at all. He really was a villain!

Within the crystal wall, the Lord Dragon Saint's eyes flashed with praise. He thought that this boy Qin Yu's temperament matched him more and more.

Rumble rumble -

With a loud bang, the space in the hall rapidly expanded. The ground rose and the walls spread out. In an instant, a square arena appeared.

This was an incomparably miraculous scene, but to a True Saint, it was nothing but a minor trick.

Shua -

Xu Shi leapt onto the arena. He first bowed at the Dragon Saint and then flicked his sleeves, turning as he coldly said, "Junior-apprentice brother Qin Yu, please step onto the arena."

Qin Yu nodded and smiled. Glancing at Peachy, he flew onto the arena and respectfully bowed towards the Dragon Saint.

Hu -

All eyes in the hall were now gathered on the two of them.

Xu Shi said, "Since I am older and you have called me senior-apprentice brother, I will allow you to make the first move." His eyes flashed with a cold sneer.

You villain Qin Yu, I will let you make the first move today and allow myself to suffer a minor injury. Then, I will ruthlessly beat you up. Even if news of this spreads, it will have nothing to do with me.

Hum hum, at that time, even if the Spring Master favors you, he will have no means to punish me.

Qin Yu had an awkward expression. "Is that fine? If I attack first…"

Xu Shi waved a hand, interrupting him. "Junior-apprentice brother, there is no need to feel embarrassed. The Dragon Saint is watching us, so let us not delay further."

Qin Yu smiled and nodded. "Very well. Since senior-apprentice brother is willing to yield the first move, then I accept." He took a step forward. A loud ringing sound echoed out and everyone felt as if the entire hall was shaking. Their complexions immediately changed.

He lifted a hand, forming a fist. A wild roar resounded and the phantom of an Abyssal Titan appeared above Qin Yu's head. This was a primal apex hunter that came from the abyss world, and now its aura swept out like a hurricane.

Kacha -

Kacha -

With the place where Qin Yu stepped as the center, loud cracks appeared and spread outwards.

The sneering Dragini who was waiting for Qin Yu to be pitifully beaten up suddenly stiffened. She subconsciously looked up at the Abyssal Titan phantom above Qin Yu's head and her pupils shrank, fear swelling uncontrollably in her heart.

Within the crystal wall, the Dragon Saint's eyes brightened. This aura…

Bang!

A heaven-shaking explosion erupted from the arena. A figure shot out like an arrow, sent flying away. Still in midair, blood constantly gushed out from this person's nose and mouth, even as his exposed skin cracked like a broken mirror and countless wounds opened up all over him.

It was Xu Shi!

There was another explosion as the barrier formed by compressed space blocked Xu Shi. He was caught in the barrier, blood running down his face as he stared at Qin Yu with disbelief.

A punch, it was just a punch, but he had been defeated. He didn't even have the strength to resist it.

The entire hall fell silent.

Everyone already knew in advance that if the Spring Master chose Qin Yu as his disciple and even allowed him to get close to Peachy, he had to be extraordinary in some way.

But now, this was just far too frightening!

Xu Shi's cultivation wasn't considered too high amongst his peers, but he was well above average. The reason he was able to pursue Peachy was that he was directly related to a Half-Saint. Relatively speaking, the two of them had equal statuses.

Saying this wasn't nonsense, but to clarify that before the Xu Family's Saint became enlightened, he focused on cultivating his mortal body. It was said that when he strode into the Sea of Bitterness, the crashing waves weren't able to harm him in the least.

Xu Shi was his son and received the favor of the Xu Family. His mortal body cultivation was considered tyrannical, yet Qin Yu was able to beat him up like this with just a single punch.

Moreover, everyone knew that if it weren't for the Dragon Saint's spatial barrier counterbalancing most of the shaking force, Xu Shi's injuries would have been much worse.

This villain Qin Yu, he was definitely a tiger playing the role of a pig!

As Qin Yu withdrew his fist, the titan phantom vanished along with it. He restrained his smile and said with indifference, "Senior-apprentice brother Xu, you interrupted me just now, but what I was going to say was that if I made a move first, you wouldn't have a chance to afterwards."

Puff -

Another mouthful of blood spurted out as Xu Shi's eyes darkened and he passed out. The so-called passing out from shame and anger was the best interpretation of his current state of mind.

Before, he had actually been thinking about making a trade with three others so he could beat Qin Yu up four times and dispel the hatred in his heart…

Xu Shi's heart couldn't help but shake. Let alone four times, he couldn't even handle one time. He had lost all face!

As for why he fainted, Xu Shi was still thinking about it. It was certainly all an act. How stupid, if he didn't pretend to pass out in such an embarrassing and humiliating scene, was he supposed to just tough it out? He still had to maintain some semblance of face!

The Dragon Saint's lips curved up. He didn't poke through Xu Shi's little act. He waved a claw and let him down. "Old Xu is short-tempered so when you go back, explain to him that you took the initiative to fight in the arena and you were beaten up by someone because of your own lack of eyesight. Don't even think about playing tricks afterwards. Do you understand me?"

The Xu Family cultivators repeatedly nodded. They picked up the unconscious Xu Shi and quickly left the hall.

Qin Yu bowed, "Thank you, Lord Dragon Saint."

The Dragon Saint knocked a claw against the crystal wall. "Qin Yu, not bad, really not bad." His giant eyes swept across the hall. "Does anyone else dare step onto the stage? If not, then the dragon pearl will be given to this boy."

These words were simply open ridicule. If no one accepted the challenge, everyone here would lose face. In the future, no matter where they went, they would be mocked for being cowards. Do you remember back in the day at the East Sea Dragon Palace, where they had been frightened speechless by a single punch from Qin Yu?

This absolutely could not be endured!

Below the hall, a large fellow in black armor stepped out. He bowed and said, "Lord Dragon Saint, this subordinate is willing to fight with Qin Yu."

The Dragon Saint looked over and nodded, "Mm."