Volume One, Chapter 16: The Ultimate Martial Path

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and on this day, the Tenth Academy was bustling with activity. There were sixty classes, each with six students, totaling 360 participants.

Principal Chen Huai’an, the head of academic affairs, the homeroom teachers of each class, other instructors, and nearly all the students gathered on the main playground.

Chen Huai’an looked very pleased, his face creased with a broad smile. These 360 students were the top prospects for the Tenth Academy’s Immortal Path and Martial Path entrance exams!

“Students, seeing all of you today fills me with emotion. Youth is incomparable—it’s full of vitality and energy. Cherish this time and give your very best,” he said.

“In addition to the official prizes, I will personally reward the first-place winner with two third-grade Qi Refinement Pills, and the second and third places will each receive one third-grade Qi Refinement Pill.”

After the principal’s speech, Zhao Kuang, the Immortal Path teacher of Class One and the host of this competition, announced the rules.

“The competition rules are as follows: 360 students will be paired by random draw. Thirty matches can be held simultaneously. Immortal Path teachers from Classes Two to Thirty-One will each oversee one match. Winners will draw again for the next round, and so on.”

“Remember, no deliberate heavy-handed attacks that cause injury. Anyone caught will face consequences, including one demerit point.”

In this world, demerit points truly impact future admissions and are taken very seriously.

Among cultivators, strength is supreme. What begins as friendly sparring often turns real. Without strict rules, it’s hard to restrain some cultivators’ behavior—order is essential.

Among the sixty classes, Classes One, Two, and Three were the strongest, with most students having reached the peak of physical refinement before entering the Bronze Gate stage.

Once through the Bronze Gate, around 60% would likely advance to the Qi Refinement stage.

Qing Hua, the goddess of Class One, attracted many spectators. Many first and second-year male students skipped class just to watch her compete, and some even held up signs bearing her name.

No standout male figure emerged this year. According to Tang Xi, when he first entered the Tenth Academy as a freshman, a similar competition was held, and a senior who had since entered Immortal Path University was immensely popular—rivaling Qing Hua’s fame now.

Tang Xi glanced at Qing Hua, who was also looking his way. Their eyes met for a few seconds before he shyly looked away.

“Brother Xi, Qing Hua’s popularity is truly high. I don’t understand how you, being so thick-skinned, managed to win the goddess’s favor,” someone teased.

“Enough talk, hurry and draw your match,” Tang Xi replied.

Tang Xi drew number 50, while Mu Fan drew number 72.

Zhao Haoyu was number 10, Wang Ya 190, Zhao Xiaomin 251, and Chen Huang 359.

The match between Zhao Haoyu and Chen Huang began swiftly. Both were at the second level of Qi Refinement, approaching the third, with roughly equal strength.

However, Zhao Haoyu was unlucky; he faced a Class One student who had already reached the third level of Qi Refinement, resulting in his defeat. Chen Huang advanced to the next round.

Tang Xi’s opponent was a girl from Class 58.

“Class 58, Ye Qing, please show your skill.”

“Class 10, Tang Xi,” she replied.

Ye Qing wielded a spear, which was rare for girls, and her strength was at the second level of Qi Refinement.

Tang Xi did not use his B-grade Immortal Artifact—the Dragon Fetus Sword—but instead fought with an iron sword.

Ye Qing’s style was bold and expansive. Tang Xi feigned an evenly matched fight, only revealing his true strength after a few moves. With a single sword strike, he disarmed Ye Qing’s spear and advanced to the next round.

The leaders watching on the platform paid special attention to Tang Xi. They realized he was holding back; Ye Qing’s strength was moderate, so they could not accurately gauge Tang Xi’s true abilities.

Mu Fan and Qing Hua competed in the same batch.

Mu Fan’s opponent was a male student from Class Two, at the third level of Qi Refinement, stronger than most students present.

Qing Hua’s opponent was a girl from Class 23, only at the second level.

Tang Xi watched both battles closely, especially Mu Fan’s. Qing Hua’s victory was unquestionable.

“Big guy, so you don’t practice the Immortal Path. I’ve long wanted to spar with a Martial Path cultivator. Let’s see how long you last,” the opponent taunted.

Mu Fan smiled.

“The paths of cultivation all arise from the same source. How could Martial Path be inferior to the Immortal Path? Fight me!”

Mu Fan’s right arm bulged with veins as he charged like a beast. The opponent’s sword strike was easily dodged, and Mu Fan’s punch slammed directly into the opponent’s chest, faint bloodlight shimmering on his fist. The opponent raised his sword to block.

The collision of fist and iron sword rang out sharply as the sword shattered.

The opponent retreated several steps, his iron sword destroyed.

To defeat a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator with a single punch was a brutal display, drawing attention to Mu Fan.

Chen Huai’an laughed heartily. “Interesting, interesting! We have found a promising Martial Path prodigy.”

Wu Wu’s smile was so wide his face seemed to split. Tang Xi was the Immortal Path’s hopeful, Mu Fan the Martial Path’s—what luck to have both appear!

Tang Xi gave Mu Fan a thumbs-up. “Awesome~”

“Heh heh,” Mu Fan laughed foolishly. “If that guy wasn’t so arrogant, I wouldn’t have disrespected him so much!”

“Brother Xi, I feel like no one here, besides you and the beautiful Qing Hua, can match me.”

Tang Xi was a little surprised. It was common knowledge that the Martial Path was inferior to the Immortal Path; otherwise, Immortal Path cultivation wouldn’t be so heavily promoted.

Seeing Tang Xi’s doubt, Mu Fan leaned close and whispered.

“Brother Xi, don’t be surprised. Martial Path isn’t actually weaker. But the Martial Path on Blue Star has flaws—not everyone’s like me. I follow the Extreme Martial Path, while the Immortal Path suits Blue Star better.”

“Haha! Da Fan, then the two of us will dominate—I'll lead the Immortal Path, you lead the Martial Path.”

Tang Xi was genuinely happy for Mu Fan. Maybe one day they’d explore grander realms together and fight side by side.

“So, does that mean I can cultivate both paths and become a true Immortal-Martial hybrid?”

“Ding! Friendly reminder: all methods share the same origin. Martial and Immortal Paths are essentially the same, both aiming to surpass human limits. Your Immortal Path cultivation is the perfect path; Immortal and Martial cultivation have already fused.”

Tang Xi suddenly understood why each breakthrough required so much energy.

“System, can Mu Fan also cultivate the Immortal Path and become a hybrid?”

“Ding! No, cultivating the Immortal Path would only become a shackle for him. The Immortal and Martial Paths cannot truly merge. Even if cultivated, his strength won’t increase but will instead drain his energy, yielding no benefit.”

“Oh, I see now.”

“The correct way to practice the Martial Path is the Extreme Martial Path, while I am a true Immortal-Martial cultivator.”

……

Qing Hua smiled as she watched Tang Xi and Mu Fan, silently reflecting.

“Mu Fan truly is a prodigy. I must find a way to change his tragic fate from the last life. After the Martial Path exam, he didn’t choose Immortal Path University but joined the military. A few years later, he became Blue Star’s youngest general. Without him, defeating the Xu family’s downfall would have been much harder.”

“He genuinely cares for Brother Xi. I must help him later. But in the last life, Brother Xi’s talent was lacking; his limit was the Great Golden Core, and the gap between him and Mu Fan only grew.”

“Hopefully, things will be different this time.”

……