My Arts Evolve When Perfected

Two large character stand-up displays stood out distinctly at the entrance to the arena. The one on the left depicted a genius Martial Artist from Sang Island. A short ponytail jutted skyward from the back of his head, his eyes were long and narrow, and his serpentine pupils were unsettling. His name was Sakai Yoshiei.

The description identified him as a Sang Island genius of the Sword Dao. He had come to North Border City with a Golden Token to wait for the Great Secret Realm to open. Eager to test his blade, he had entered a deathmatch for sport.

The display on the right showed the image of his opponent: a resident Xia Country Martial Artist at the arena, codenamed the One-Eyed Demon Monarch. He was famous for once achieving a ten-win streak.

This man’s Realm was only the First Realm of the Bright Soul, but relying on a unique self-healing ability and sheer ruthlessness, he had killed the previous resident champion—a powerhouse at the Bright Soul Ninth Realm—and made a name for himself under the codename One-Eyed Demon Monarch.

His left eye had no pupil; it was just a pitch-black void. On the poster, his mountain-like body was stained with blood, emanating pure ferocity...

The stylized image seemed to overlap with a figure in Jiang Qiu’s mind. His brow furrowed tightly. ’That looks like Teacher Wu Shan?’

Six months ago, his teacher had resigned from Eighth Middle School, saying he was going to the Northern Wilderness to earn money for an injury. ’How did he end up in an arena?!’

"Ice Lotus, head back to the Xia Country Hotel first. I have something to take care of at the arena."

Jiang Qiu patted Ice Lotus’s shoulder and strode toward the arena. Wisps of a warm current surged from his chest, and his cheeks grew hot.

The North Border City arena was notorious for its cruelty and bloodshed. It generated enormous profits through deathmatches, making it the economic pillar of the Belli Family.

Entering a deathmatch usually ended with the death of one of the combatants.

’How could Teacher Wu Shan be facing a Dharma Realm genius from Sang Island?!’

「...」

After buying an outer-ring ticket for one hundred thousand Xia Coins, Jiang Qiu hurried down the inner corridor toward the center of the arena, his heart pounding.

"RAWR! RAWR! RAWR! Is that the genius Martial Artist from Sang Island? What a sharp Saber Technique!"

"Cut him! Cut him! Cut him! He can heal even if you chop off his arm!"

Cathartic roars flooded the hallway from the inner-ring windows. A single glance revealed a large, Roman Colosseum-style combat area covered by an invisible barrier. Two ant-sized figures clashed within, while a packed audience waved their arms and shouted, spit flying everywhere.

Jiang Qiu skidded to a halt and lunged at a window, his eyes wide as he stared at the man in the center of the arena being bled by flashes of a blade. "It really is Teacher Wu Shan!"

His heart skipped a beat. He sprinted toward the entrance to the outer spectator stands, fists clenched, thoughts thundering in his mind like lightning.

’Teacher Wu Shan’s strength is no match for that so-called Sang Island genius. He’s just passively taking hits, relying on his Spirit Charm and special ability to heal.’

’This is just the Sang Island genius toying with him one-sidedly. He’s just here to have fun!’

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

He ran into the outermost section of the stands and leaned over the railing, his gaze leaping over tens of thousands of people to the giant projection screen above the arena floor.

Wu Shan was half-kneeling on the ground, his arms, with bone peeking through, gripping a long spear. He snarled and glared at Sakai Yoshiei, who stood a short distance away casually holding his blade. Wu Shan’s voice was amplified, echoing throughout the arena. "It’s just a scratch!"

"Still acting tough? Xia Country Martial Artists are so stubborn and weak."

Sakai Yoshiei lifted his chin and slashed out casually. Wu Shan’s right eye widened as he parried with his spear. With a sharp CLANG, he was sent sliding back five meters, his arms trembling and his wounds bleeding anew.

"With your trash-tier aptitude, if it weren’t for some lucky opportunity that gave you strong healing abilities, I wouldn’t have even bothered. You would never have been qualified to fight me in your entire life." Sakai Yoshiei shook his head, raising his Samurai Sword high. "Take one more strike from me. If you don’t die, you can crawl off and collect your combat reward."

HUMMM.

The blade hummed, its killing intent seeming to split the heavens.

In that instant, the reflection of a vertical blade slash filled Wu Shan’s right eye. His scorching back felt as if it had been invaded by a cold wave; the certainty of death pierced his heart.

He lifted the spear shaft with all his might, a furious rage surging in his heart.

’My whole life has been ordinary. I got into Northwest Martial University with an aptitude just slightly better than my peers. I joined the Martial Arts Team and eventually became its captain. I finally got a mission to enter a Secret Realm, but because of a sneak attack by Sang Island martial artists, my entire team was wiped out, leaving only me, cursed and alone.’

’I never had a chance to live a proud and glorious life. I was supposed to spend the rest of it just scraping by to pay for the enormous cost of healing my injuries.’

’But Jiang Qiu’s appearance gave my pathetic life meaning again.’

’Since I came to North Border City, I can’t dishonor my fallen comrades by being useless. I’ll kill as many Sang Island martial artists as I can in this arena. I’ve already earned ten lives’ worth. It’s not a loss!’

Wu Shan’s right eye flew open. He raised his battered spear shaft and stared directly into Sakai Yoshiei’s cold, merciless eyes.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, the blade descended with unstoppable force. CRACK! It snapped the spear shaft and continued, unabated, toward Wu Shan’s ferocious face.

BANG—

Suddenly, a crisp sound like shattering glass rang out from above. An inexplicable killing intent shot down from the spectator stands. Sakai Yoshiei had just begun to frown.

BOOM!

The shadow of a Flaming Cyan Dragon, wrapping a man and a spear, descended from the sky and landed directly in front of Wu Shan. The hard floor buckled under the impact, and the resulting force knocked Sakai Yoshiei back.

For a moment, the entire crowd’s gasps caught in their throats, only to be followed by an even greater uproar. "Holy shit, this is awesome! The ticket was worth it! There’s an outsider crashing the party!"

"Looks like someone from Xia Country, and he’s pretty young. Could it be that number one Dharma Realm genius from Xia Country who’s supposed to be coming for the Golden Token?"

"Look closer! He’s using a spear, not a sword!"

Amidst the roaring crowd, the arena manager shot to his feet, slapping his thigh, sweat pouring down his back. "There was no unscheduled interruption on the program today!"

While ordering his subordinates to maintain basic order, he hurriedly made a call to his superiors to confirm the situation, reporting breathlessly as sweat drenched him.

Meanwhile, an old man with a handlebar mustache, seated in a place of honor in the innermost ring, folded his arms. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. ’Where did this brat come from, trying to save someone from Sakai Yoshiei?’

Everyone’s gazes were fixed on the arena as the shattered barrier sealed itself once more.

The sight of Jiang Qiu’s back, spear in hand, filled Wu Shan’s vision. His pupils dilated, his mouth agape in astonishment. "Jiang... Jiang Qiu?"

’Weren’t all the students from the rookie tournament intercepted and killed by the Ancestral Great Demon Feng Li? Even two Dharma Realm instructors died in battle!’

’Jiang Qiu is actually alive?’

’And he was able to shatter the barrier to get in... He must be in the Dharma Realm!’

The profound shock hit Wu Shan like a sledgehammer to the chest. He gulped, his scarred left hand trembling as he pushed himself up from the ground, using his spear for support. "You..."

A thousand thoughts tangled in his mind, and he couldn’t form a single coherent sentence.

"You want to save him?" Sakai Yoshiei casually pulled out a black cloth to wipe the blood from his blade, his small eyes red on his pale face. "I hear that if you forcibly intervene in a fight at the North Border City arena, you have to take their place in the deathmatch.

So, you’re prepared to fight me?"

"And why not?"

Jiang Qiu’s gaze was sharp, his posture erect, the tip of his spear glinting with a cold light.

’If it weren’t for Teacher Wu Shan’s suggestion back then to concoct the Advanced Su Fragrance, I would never have obtained the Demon King’s Origin. I also wouldn’t have forged my Ninth Rank Jade Sinews in the Celestial Xin Hall during the college entrance exams, and I wouldn’t have survived.’

’This favor is as good as saving my life.’

’So what if I have to fight a deathmatch in his place!’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

’Besides, the martial artists of Sang Island can no longer be considered part of the Human Race. Sang Island has already fallen. For them to be able to survive in the Demon Race’s territory, who knows how many heinous acts they’ve committed!’

’The Two Eastern Provinces have to defend against Sang Island year after year. The number of people who have died in battle is immeasurable!’