I Grind to Martial Saint

Of course, as a True Qi Martial Artist, Situ Cang should have plenty of energy to last until the evening, even at a hundred years old.

But there were more esoteric beliefs surrounding birthday banquets.

Noon was when yang energy was at its peak, representing vibrant life.

This led to the belief that holding a birthday banquet at noon would extend one's life.

Situ Cang, however, did the exact opposite this time, scheduling the official banquet for the evening.

Of course, once noon arrived, a feast was still provided so that everyone could eat and drink their fill.

This left the guests with no complaints whatsoever.

After all, most of them were only here for the free food and drink.

Naturally, everyone was happy to get two free meals.

But Han Yuan didn't touch his chopsticks, nor did he drink any of the wine.

When away from home, he never ate food from an outside source.

Before long, it was afternoon. Following the banquet's schedule, a martial arts stage was quickly set up in the center of the plaza.

A white-haired old man with sharp eyes, clad in a red robe, walked onto the stage.

"Thank you all for giving this old man face by attending my birthday banquet."

"With so many guests today, our hospitality might have been lacking. I hope you will all be understanding."

The red-robed old man's voice was full of vigor and boomed across every corner of the manor's plaza.

"Situ Manor Master, you are too kind!"

"It is our honor to attend your centennial banquet!"

"That's right!"

More voices of flattery rose from the crowd.

"Haha, thank you all for your kind words."

"As we announced earlier, we will be holding a martial arts tournament before the banquet officially begins."

"This competition is purely for the sake of sparring. I ask that everyone please refrain from letting tempers flare."

"The rules are simple: one-on-one matches."

"Keep fighting until no one else dares to come up. Once everyone submits to you, you'll be the champion and will win one hundred taels of gold!"

Situ Cang finished explaining the rules of the martial arts tournament.

After speaking, he leaped off the stage, leaving it open.

"Then let me be the first!"

Before the words had even faded, a figure leaped into the air, performed a graceful mid-air flip, and landed stylishly on the stage.

"Swallow Saber, Cheng Xiang..."

"He's an Inner Qi expert! His Blade Technique is exquisite, and I hear he's taken many lives!"

Seeing him take the stage, the members of the Martial World seated at the feast began to murmur amongst themselves.

"Hahaha!!!"

"Cheng Xiang, let me be the one to test you!"

Amidst a loud laugh, a large man carrying a Giant Axe in one hand also leaped onto the stage.

"That's Mountain-Splitting Axe, Fang Chong!"

"Well, damn... is it starting off this intense?"

"I never thought we'd get to see such a spectacular fight on top of the free food and drink!"

"We really made the right choice coming here!"

The people at Han Yuan's table, though a motley crew, were well-informed.

In the blink of an eye, they had already identified the large man.

Next, the two on the stage began to spar.

After a dozen or so moves, Cheng Xiang found an opening and pressed his saber to Fang Chong's throat.

Fang Chong had no choice but to admit defeat.

Next, many others came forward to challenge Cheng Xiang, but all ended in failure.

"It looks like Brother Situ's hundred taels of gold are going to be taken by Cheng Xiang," a wiry man laughed heartily.

Situ Cang was seated at that very table. Hearing this, he stroked his beard and smiled. "Cheng Xiang's skill is impressive. He certainly deserves it."

In truth, everyone seated at this table was an old friend of Situ Cang, and most of them were True Qi Martial Artists.

If any of them were to step up, Cheng Xiang would naturally stand no chance.

However, given their status, they would never personally enter the fray for a mere hundred taels of gold.

It would seem too much like bullying.

Just as Situ Cang, seeing that no one else was coming up, was about to declare Cheng Xiang the winner...

a figure quietly appeared on the stage.

This person was tall and young, with a Heavy Saber strapped to his back.

"Who is this person?"

"I've never seen him in Qing'an City."

"Me neither... Perhaps he's some rising star."

The True Qi experts sitting with Situ Cang were surprised and suspicious when they saw this unfamiliar young man.

Of course, they were merely curious; they didn't actually believe this young man could defeat Cheng Xiang.

It wasn't just them; everyone else at the banquet felt the same way.

After all, Cheng Xiang's recent performance was plain for all to see.

"I don't believe I know your name, brother?" Cheng Xiang asked softly, looking at the young man before him.

"Han Yuan."

The young man replied with two words.

"So it's Brother Han."

"Then let the lesson begin!"

As soon as Cheng Xiang said this, he attacked.

His figure shot forward like a flying swallow, the short saber in his hand stabbing straight for Han Yuan's throat.

It had to be said, the explosive power of his move was immense.

It was no accident that he had defeated so many challengers.

The young man threw a very casual punch.

THUD~~~

Before Cheng Xiang even knew what was happening, an intense pain erupted in his chest. His world spun as he was sent flying backward.

He landed heavily and lost consciousness completely.

For a moment, everyone in the plaza was stunned silent.

No one had expected Cheng Xiang, who had just defeated one strong opponent after another, to lose so miserably.

He was taken out by the young man in a single punch.

Even the True Qi Martial Artists at Situ Cang's table were astonished.

"It seems I misjudged."

"This young man is no simple character!"

"With that kind of explosive power... I'm afraid he's reached the True Qi Realm."

Han Yuan stood on the stage, his expression serene, betraying neither joy nor sorrow.

After a display like that, no one else dared to go up on stage.

Situ Cang stood up, cleared his throat, and announced in a deep voice, "Then I declare the winner of this martial arts tournament to be this young Brother Han Yuan!"

With the feat of defeating Cheng Xiang in a single punch to his name, no one objected.

The other True Qi experts were also unwilling to offend the mysterious Han Yuan over a hundred taels of gold.

After his announcement, Situ Cang naturally sent someone to invite Han Yuan to come and sit with them.

But a moment later, the manor's Steward returned and reported, "Manor Master, Han Yuan says he's used to sitting in a corner where it's quieter and doesn't wish to come over."

Situ Cang wasn't angered by this. He simply chuckled, "If that's the case, we won't disturb him. But have the hundred taels of gold sent over to him at once."

"Yes, sir!" The Steward cupped his fist and departed.

After the sparring in the tournament, the time reached 3 p.m.

It was currently winter, so the sun set early, and the sky darkened quickly.

Situ Cang then formally announced the start of the birthday banquet.

During the banquet, an endless stream of acrobatics, dances, and musical performances was presented, a true feast for the eyes.

Moreover, most of the guests were from the Martial World, and their capacity for alcohol was quite impressive.

Before anyone knew it, the time had reached 7 p.m., and the sky had grown completely dark.

But Situ Cang had made proper arrangements. The manor was large enough, and guest rooms had long been prepared for the members of the Martial World to rest for the night.

Han Yuan hadn't left either, choosing to stay the night.

He hadn't drunk anything at the feast, so he wasn't the least bit tipsy.

'I had originally planned to leave right after making an appearance, but I sense that something is off about this Mountain Moon Manor. I might as well stay the night and see what's going on.'

In the dead of night, he left his room and walked through Mountain Moon Manor.

The name "Mountain Moon Manor" was certainly fitting.

The moon hung above the mountain peak, so bright it was almost piercing.

And Mountain Moon Manor, so boisterous during the day, was now shrouded in silence.

It even gave off an eerie and unsettling feeling.

Just then, a black shadow flitted past behind him.

Han Yuan seemed to sense something and turned, but he saw only emptiness behind him. There was nothing there.

He smiled and continued walking forward.

Soon, he arrived at the manor's plaza.

And there, he saw an incredibly bizarre scene.

The densely packed tables had not been cleared away; they still filled the plaza.

But that wasn't all.

The tables were surrounded by people!

These people sat by the tables with blank expressions, though what they were doing was unclear.

The bright, ghastly moonlight spilled down, making the scene all the more bizarre and terrifying.

It was as if a silent, ghostly banquet was being held.

"Hero Han, since you've arrived, why not take a seat?" a strange voice called out.

Han Yuan turned his head.

He found that the Steward of Mountain Moon Manor was standing behind him, though he hadn't noticed his approach.

"You didn't even send anyone to inform me..."

"Are you looking down on me?"

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes and retorted.

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