This time it was Zhao Changhe's turn to widen his eyes.

"What are you doing, little girl? Cui family's little princess is lowering her status to participate in the Wang family's martial arts competition? Didn't your father tell you to only bring your eyes and ears?"

"No, even if you have been inspired by the martial arts, who can you fight against?"

Cui Yuanyang seemed to know what he was thinking and muttered with a stiff neck, "If I can expand my meridians, why can't my Cui family compete? If I can't win, I can just ask for this as a dowry during my brother's wedding!"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Xia Chichi twitched the corner of her mouth, realizing that it was also for this reason.

She rolled up her sleeves and approached with a sword, "Let me fight you, please enlighten me!"

Cui Yuanyang: "?"

Before Xia Chichi could take two steps, she was pulled back by Zhao Changhe, who said, "Stop messing around... I know you're not uninjured, your internal energy is surging. Don't think I don't know. Stay by the side and adjust your breath properly, in case something happens later..."

Xia Chichi pursed her lips and stopped talking. Although she felt that there shouldn't be any changes in this matter.

Zhao Changhe also said, "Although I think this matter may indeed have no other changes, it's just a martial arts competition and a political test for the Wang family... but it's good... I get to see the elegance of the Qianlong of Shenzhou, especially the elegance of my Chichi."

Xia Chichi looked at him sideways, and Zhao Changhe's eyes sparkled.

Suddenly, both of them inexplicably felt like they were married before falling in love... Since they last parted, both sides have changed so much that they feel like they are meeting each other for the first time.

There was Zhao Changhe, with a majestic aura and a dignified demeanor;

There was Xia Chichi, with a broken sword and white clothes like snow.

Are they still the same people as before?

This feeling is really strange, even though they knew each other first.

"I don't have any elegance." Xia Chichi said leisurely, "Speaking of which, I also felt itchy hands. I'm quite happy with today's battle... Actually, it's not just me, even Wang Zhaoling is not as bad as I imagined."

Zhao Changhe nodded. Wang Zhaoling indeed seemed to have been awakened by the martial arts, and his current performance might have deviated from the original plan of the family...

Xia Chichi turned her head to look at Cui Yuanyang in the field and smiled slightly, "And her too."

Cui Yuanyang was fighting for the treasure for Brother Zhao, but it also aroused her martial arts enthusiasm, right?

After months of seclusion, comprehending the Qinghe Purple Qi and receiving the town's ancestral divine sword, was it all for show?

Of course, it was to prove herself in front of the heroes of the world!

So, the Wang family organizing this grand event has really scratched the hearts of many people.

At the right moment, a grinding sound came from the field, "Is there any hero who wants to teach me? My feet are numb!"

Everyone looked at each other, feeling embarrassed.

Who the hell would "challenge" a cute little girl who is only fifteen years old? Regardless of winning or losing, wouldn't it be embarrassing?

Cui Yuanyang's round face finally showed anger, "Do you all not consider me a martial artist? Then I'll take the initiative to challenge."

She paused and looked at Wang Zhaoling, who was bandaging his palm, "Wang Big Brother, how about a battle between you, me, and Brother Zhao, limited to the fifth level, to verify our achievements?"

Wang Zhaoling's expression twitched, "I admit defeat."

Cui Yuanyang didn't say anything and suddenly slapped him on the shoulder.

Situ, who was drinking and watching from the corner, suddenly showed a look of surprise in his smiling eyes.

Wang Zhaoling's expression also instantly became serious, and he pushed his left hand, which was uninjured, forward.

With a loud bang, the palms collided.

Due to the limitation to the fifth level, this Tianzhenhai Palm did not give the same sense of stormy roar as when it hit Xia Chichi just now, but it was still fierce and violent. It always felt like this delicate little girl was going to be slapped into minced meat.

But the purple energy on that delicate jade hand was steaming, and the vast and long-lasting aura surged wave after wave, without being pushed back even half a step.

Like the Qinghe River, deep and bottomless, flowing endlessly.

Like the mighty aura, rising from the heart, pervading the mountains and rivers.

That fierce and violent palm was annihilated in the vast river, gradually disappearing.

"Crack!" The palms separated, and it was Cui Yuanyang who pushed Wang Zhaoling away, making him retreat half a step.

The whole scene was in an uproar.

Although Wang Zhaoling was limited to the fifth level, although he was using his unfamiliar left hand.

He was actually at a disadvantage!

Even Wang Zhaoling himself couldn't believe it, "This..."

Cui Yuanyang said seriously, "Cui Yuanyang's ranking in the Chaos Chronicles is ninety-nine, but I feel that I don't deserve it. They say I'm young, but I have been practicing martial arts since I was sensible. It took me ten years to reach the fifth level. How can I be ranked among the top hundred? But I will work hard to match myself."

Her gaze swept over the onlookers, especially those who were at the same level as her in cultivation, and said word by word, "Cui Yuanyang steps into the world from today."

Unfortunately, no matter how strong her performance was or how formal her words were, the crowd remained silent, and no one dared to challenge her.

Only Xia Chichi was itching to fight, but she was firmly held back by Zhao Changhe.

Cui Yuanyang looked around, and disappointment finally appeared in her big eyes. She shook her head and said, "If no one accepts the challenge, can I be considered the winner?"

Wang Zhaoling sighed deeply, "Are you also here for the treasure of the meridians?"

Cui Yuanyang's eyes flickered, and her formally serious expression suddenly became playful, "Can't I?"

Wang Zhaoling said, "It's not like a pill or something that requires you to enter a certain place. So..."He paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, "After all this fuss, this isn't a Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition at all. It's clearly a family rushing in, trying to snatch treasures from the Hidden Dragon heroes."

Cui Yuanyang looked up at the sky, pretending not to understand.

"It's also because my family has too many goals, which should be messed up." Wang Zhaoling laughed, "We'll discuss that matter later. For now, Sister Yuanyang, please sit down and let's restore the true atmosphere of the martial arts competition, shall we?"

Cui Yuanyang stared at him for a while, then broke into a bright smile, "Alright."

She knew that Wang Zhaoling had fully understood the significance of this place. When the Cui family wanted that "treasure", there was no need for any martial arts competition. It was meaningless, the situation was already settled.

It's a pity, though, that she wanted to have a hearty battle with Brother Zhao and Sister Xia, but it turned out to be a luxury.

What Wang Zhaoling said before was indeed correct, it was difficult for people like them to hone their skills properly.

But it didn't matter, after Yuanyang's palm strike, Brother Zhao's expression had changed.

Would he stop treating me like a child?

Cui Yuanyang returned to her seat, sneaking glances at Zhao Changhe's expression. Zhao Changhe was expressionless, as if in deep thought. Cui Yuanyang pouted and poked at the pastries on the table, only to see Xuan Chong jump into the arena, laughing, "This time watching the battle, I can't suppress the excitement in my heart, so I'll make a fool of myself. Please teach me, everyone."

At about the same time he jumped out, another person also jumped out, but Xuan Chong spoke first.

The two looked at each other, laughed together, and bowed in unison, "Please, brother!"

Wang Zhaoling showed a smile, the martial arts competition had finally taken its proper form.

Although the political statement that the Wang family wanted seemed to have been achieved, Wang Zhaoling suddenly felt a bit regretful. If from the beginning, the martial arts competition was just a competition, wouldn't it be better?

The charm of the Hidden Dragon was fully displayed, and the Langya Sword Discussion was enjoyable. How nice that would be.

At least there wouldn't be so many jokes about smashing doors and stealing plaques, and the limelight wouldn't be stolen by Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe. From beginning to end, he, Wang Zhaoling, was just a foil, even if he won, it was tasteless.

He turned his head to look at Zhao Changhe, and suddenly sent a message, "Brother Zhao, after watching the competition, let's go out for a walk. We have something to discuss."

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".

———

PS: I was sick a few days ago, and I haven't recovered well these days, so I took a few days off. I'm feeling much better now, and I'll try to be more normal tomorrow. I'm getting old, and now I'm really disabled, sigh.

(End of the chapter)