Chapter 151: The Four Berserk Arts, The Martial Tournament Begins

Book One: Undefeated Mad Art
Book Two: Beast God Battling Heaven Art

These two titles sounded extraordinary, immensely powerful, and deeply imposing.

"Kid, just take these two; they suit you well. We can check out the others another time. By the way, do you have a way to get up to the third floor? I sense there are some incredible hard body techniques hidden up there," Ji Mie’s deep voice resonated as he asked.

"Yes, winning a top-five spot in this year's sect grand tournament grants access to the third floor to select cultivation techniques," Gu Fan replied with a slight nod.

"Then you better figure out a way to fight your way into the top five, kid. Learn them early, use them early," Ji Mie instructed. After a brief pause, he added, "If there are no Earthly Saints around, with your addition of four body-rupturing hard arts, you still have a very high chance of charging into first place."

"We'll see, I'll do my best," Gu Fan sighed helplessly. Ji Mie had awakened far too abruptly and not a few days earlier; if he had only broken through to the Dou Zong realm a few days sooner, things would have been much easier.

"Rest assured, just use them without worry. Your Extinction physique will definitely not rupture your body; at most, you'll experience a brief weakness that will recover quickly. With me around, you can completely relax," Ji Mie’s soul spirit lay lazily atop the *Ji Mie Imperial Emperor Art*, speaking nonchalantly.

"Alright, I get it," Gu Fan nodded, taking the two hard arts in his hand to copy them out.

"Doing it this way is such a hassle. If I have to copy techniques like this in the future, it won't be any fun at all," Gu Fan complained with some annoyance.

He copied as he spoke.

"Kid, once you fight your way into the top five and reach the third floor, what other rewards are there?" Ji Mie asked.

"Another chance to cultivate on Spirit Heaven Mountain and a high-grade medicinal pill," Gu Fan answered.

Ji Mie asked with a hint of doubt, "Spirit Heaven Mountain? Is there anything special hidden in that place?"

"According to some senior martial brothers, Spirit Heaven Mountain boasts extremely dense spiritual energy, as well as the infusion and guidance of powerhouse experts," Gu Fan replied.

"Dense spiritual energy... That is a good thing for you. Strive to master the reversal cultivation of the First Extinction in that place so that you can control it at any moment," Ji Mie's eyes widened slightly as he spoke.

"Alright, this time the top five will definitely include me!" The hand that Gu Fan wasn't using to copy clenched tightly into a fist, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes. This murderous intent was not directed at the people of the Spirit Heaven Sect, but at those who had slaughtered his family and annihilated his clan!

"It seems you harbor an extraordinary grudge, kid. I just looked through your memories and didn't expect your clan to be wiped out. The enemy dispatched five five-star Dou Saints. Channel this hatred into motivation, cultivate diligently, and raise your cultivation level. When your cultivation reaches the Dou Saint realm, those five-star Dou Saints will be nothing more than trash in your eyes—a single slash will crush them," Ji Mie said with a bitter smile.

"Those bastards, I will definitely annihilate their entire clan!" Gu Fan gritted his teeth, his eyes brimming with a bone-chilling, faintly blood-red murderous intent.

Ji Mie shook his head slightly and said, "Everything is fate; mourn and move on."

Striving with all his might, Gu Fan quickly finished copying the two hard arts.

He stood up, put the sheepskin scrolls back, and placed the bamboo slips into his storage ring.

By now, he possessed four hard arts:
*Undefeated Mad Art*
*Beast God Battling Heaven Art*
*Tyrant Slaughter*
*War Body Rampage*

Every single one was a powerful body-rupturing technique. Others wouldn't even dare to cultivate two hard arts simultaneously, let alone four.

This was sheer madness.

Every single one was an Earth-tier technique, and some might even exceed that...

Organizing his things, Gu Fan headed downstairs, descended the staircase, and walked toward the elderly man at the front desk.

The Spirit Heaven Sect’s Technique Pavilion had a regulation: every copied technique or battle skill had to be inspected by the person in charge.

"Oh? Young fellow, so fast? What techniques did you copy?" Hearing footsteps, the elderly man at the front desk raised his head slightly and asked with mild curiosity.

Gu Fan smiled faintly, took out the four copied technique bamboo slips from his storage ring, handed them to the elder, and said, "For now, just these four." His expression remained utterly calm.

Looking at the bamboo slips in Gu Fan's hands, the elder was astonished. Could this kid have copied four of them in just thirty minutes? Surely they couldn't all be low-grade techniques with very few characters?

The elder took them, opened the first one, and raised a cup of water to his lips.

As the first scroll was opened, his pupils shrank, and the water in his mouth sprayed directly outward.

*Cough, cough—*

The elder coughed uncontrollably.

What had he just seen?

*Undefeated Mad Art*

Good heavens!

Wasn't this a hard body technique?

He hurriedly opened the other three scrolls.

*Beast God Battling Heaven Art*...
*Tyrant Slaughter*...
*War Body Rampage*...

"Listen here, you brat, you're out of your mind! You're cultivating four hard body techniques all at once? Do you not realize all four of these are hard arts? It'll kill you! Body rupture!!" The elder flew into a rage.

"Have you lost your mind from cultivating?!"

"Senior, I know these are hard arts, but what I pursue is the peak. I was born for battle throughout my life, and I shall die for battle."

"This is my Dao, and this is my choice."

"I beg Senior not to obstruct me, but to let me walk my inner path."

Gu Fan bowed slightly, speaking with an expression of absolute determination. He had known long ago that this exact scenario would happen, because up to now, no one had ever cultivated four hard arts without suffering bodily explosion. Yet, warmth blossomed in his chest; after all, someone cared about him.

"You!... You..."

*Born for battle, die for battle...*

The elder looked once more at the unyielding determination in Gu Fan's eyes, and his heart softened, making it hard to obstruct him.

"Senior, you can come and watch the grand tournament later. My choice will not be wrong. I am merely pursuing my true intent. I can guarantee to Senior that I will not explode and die; I will master these four hard arts. If I successfully master all four, I ask that Senior not obstruct me in the future when I come to the Technique Pavilion to collect more hard arts."

Gu Fan's resolute gaze locked with the elder's.

"Then what if you fail?" the elder asked, his gaze grave.

"I will not fail," Gu Fan shook his head.

"Oh? How can you guarantee that?" the elder asked, wondering what gave this young man such confidence.

"Half an hour from now, the grand tournament begins. That is my guarantee," Gu Fan stated.

"Could it be that you intend to finish cultivating four hard arts in half an hour? Do you take this old man for a fool?" The elder grew somewhat angry, his tone turning stern.

"This disciple would not dare deceive Senior. I beg Senior to witness it after half a hour," Gu Fan bowed with cupped hands.

For some reason, the elder had a lingering feeling that this boy might not fail. Should he give him a chance? The elder clutched the bamboo slips, torn in a complex struggle.

"Sigh, this old man is so annoying," Ji Mie sighed in Gu Fan's mind.

"You can't entirely blame him. No one in the sect has ever taken on four cultivation techniques like this, let alone all of them being hard arts," Gu Fan smiled bitterly and shook his head internally.

The elder probed Gu Fan's cultivation and discovered he was a five-star Dou Zong. Mildly startled, he asked, "Kid, how old are you this year?"

"This junior is seventeen, turning eighteen soon," Gu Fan cupped his hands and replied.

"What? Seventeen? You're a five-star Dou Zong at seventeen? It's a tragedy for someone so young to die," the elder shook his head in shock.

Gu Fan offered a faint, bitter smile. It seemed others invariably put his impending death first.

"I beg Senior to grant this!"

"You!..."

"I beg Senior to grant this!"

"You, you..."

"I beg Senior to grant this!"

Gu Fan's gaze remained unwavering, without a hint of a joke.

Every time the elder tried to speak, Gu Fan cut him off.

The elder drew a deep breath. "Have you decided? No regrets?!"

***

"Yes, I've decided, no regrets!" Gu Fan stared straight into the elder's eyes, refusing to flinch even slightly.

"Very well, very well!! You have backbone, you have courage!"

"If you don't die this time, I'll help you find more hard arts in the future!"

The elder laughed out loud, making a solemn promise.

Hearing this, Gu Fan instantly smiled. "Then many thanks, Senior."

"Hmph, don't get full of yourself too early, brat. If you end up exploding, there won't be a future." The elder snorted coldly, feeling that while this fellow had courage and backbone, he was far too arrogant.

"Take them and leave!" With that, the elder tossed the four hard arts back to Gu Fan.

Gu Fan hurriedly caught them and smiled. "Many thanks for Senior's fulfillment. This junior takes his leave!"

"Go, go, go!" The elder waved his hand to chase him away.

Gu Fan tucked the four hard arts back into his storage ring and immediately strode outward.

"I hope that stinky brat doesn't die," the elder murmured, watching Gu Fan's departing back.

Just what made this kid so confident? The elder shook his head; that was someone else's secret, and he didn't care to gossip.

As long as he didn't die—if he survived, this kid was destined to become a powerhouse of a generation.

And the Spirit Heaven Sect would gain an extra safeguard.

**********

Having run far from the Technique Pavilion, Gu Fan breathed a slight sigh of relief. He had finally managed to get them out.

"Yoh, I didn't expect that old man to be quite reasonable; otherwise, I would have had to erase his memories," Ji Mie chuckled.

Gu Fan felt helpless, wondering if he really had been a bit too arrogant. Finding an uninhabited spot, he took out the four scrolls of hard arts and asked, "Ji Mie, what now? The grand tournament is about to start."

"Alright, sit cross-legged now," Ji Mie caused the four bamboo slips to float in mid-air as he instructed Gu Fan.

"Oh." Gu Fan immediately crossed his legs, his heart pounding with excitement.

He slowly closed his eyes.

Ji Mie flicked a finger, and the four bamboo scrolls suddenly transformed from solid objects into streams of spiritual energy that flowed like running water directly into Gu Fan's brow.

Suddenly, a series of scenes unfolded within Gu Fan's mind.

First came the *Undefeated Mad Art*, followed by the *Beast God Battling Heaven Art*, then *Tyrant Slaughter*, and finally the *War Body Rampage*.

A continuous stream of visions flashed through Gu Fan's mind—wars upon wars, battles upon battles, enemies falling one after another.

Gu Fan's heart thumped wildly, beating at a furious pace.

The blood within his body surged endlessly. His entire body turned crimson, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

Puffs of energy swarmed inside him, continuously burning and sublimating his meridians and blood vessels.

"Hah-ah!—" Gu Fan let out a roar. In an instant, the energy erupted from his whole body, blowing down several small surrounding structures one by one as a violent gale swept past.

"Battle—!"

A hoarse cry tore from Gu Fan's throat, and his pupils turned blood-red!

Six-star... Seven-star... Eight-star... Nine-star...

A thick crimson light radiated from Gu Fan's exterior, and boundless battle intent erupted from his entire body!

His cultivation realm surged continuously until it reached the nine-star Dou Zong realm, at which point it finally halted.

At that very moment, Ji Mie set up a barrier around Gu Fan. If anyone discovered this, it would spell trouble.

This aura persisted for a full twenty-five minutes before gradually subsiding, returning to normal.

"What... what just happened?" Gu Fan panted as he asked. Just now, he had seemed to lose all awareness; it felt as though he were locked in endless battle while his whole body burned with pain, teetering constantly on the verge of body rupture.

"Nothing, nothing at all. Kid, this is a normal reaction. The Extinction physique is simply like this—it's par for the course. How does your body feel now?" Ji Mie waved a hand to reassure him before asking.

Gu Fan clenched his fist. His entire physique had become incomparably strong and resilient, overflowing with battle intent.

"Good, exceptionally good."

"Is... is this my cultivation? Nine... Nine-star... Dou Zong?!" He then sensed the profound changes within his body. His cultivation had actually reached the nine-star realm!

He had broken through eight stars in a single day! Good heavens!!!

"Kid, don't stand there dumbfounded. The competition is about to start; hurry up and go. You must secure a top-five spot," Ji Mie urged in his mind.

"Competition? Right, right, I almost forgot. Previously I only had a chance of making the top five, but this time my chances of taking first place are massive!" Gu Fan radiated battle intent as he spoke.

He rose into the air and flew toward the martial arena.

**********

Amid the crowd, Qing Mu looked around anxiously, searching everywhere: "What's wrong with Fan-zi? The tournament is about to start and he's still not here! Does he want to get disqualified?!"

Muttering to himself, he stepped out of the crowd to search the surroundings.

Everyone participating in this tournament had to be above the Dou Zong realm and below the Dou Saint realm.

This was the sect's rule.

Consequently, a vast number of people were participating.

There were numerous arenas set up on the grounds. Because the initial batches were far too numerous, these early rounds served as preliminary elimination matches to select the top ten, followed by a final elimination phase to decide the ultimate first place.

At this moment, a large group of senior elders sat upon the elevated viewing platforms, though the Sect Master and others had not appeared. Today's matches were merely preliminary eliminations; the higher-ups typically only emerged for the final elimination rounds.

The preliminary rounds would likely take two days to complete.

Given the plentiful arenas—with two people per arena—they could be filtered down in just two rounds.

One round per day; considering energy consumption, those who finished competing today could rest directly and resume tomorrow.

"There are quite a lot of people this year," an elder on the platform stroked his beard and remarked.

Generally speaking, they only paid attention to the top few contenders. The later ones were too distant, so they simply waited for the results.

"Imperial Brother, who do you think will take first place this year?" another elder nearby asked, and the rest nodded in agreement.

"Doesn't everyone already have a rough idea in their hearts? Those above the Dou Saint realm are barred from participating this year, and the Sect Master has also sent Ling Mu and the others out for experiential training. This is clearly giving these people an opportunity. If I'm not mistaken, first place should undoubtedly go to the young ladies of the Mo family—Mo Yuqing and Mo Sizwan—or perhaps Ling Tianjian and a few others."

The elder stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and spoke. The others nodded, finding his reasoning sound.

"I don't necessarily agree. Perhaps it will be someone else entirely." At that moment, another elder spoke up. Had Gu Fan been present, he would have instantly recognized him as the old man from the Technique Pavilion!

"Oh? Could it be, Old Du, that there's a dark horse this year?" Another elder widened his eyes and asked, and the others shared his curiosity.

Ling Du shrugged and remarked, "Who knows? Just watch when the time comes; there will be endless surprises later on."

*Kid, you better not die, or this old face of mine will be completely disgraced...*

"Since Old Du put it that way, you've piqued my interest. I must see who it is!" The others nodded in realization.

**********

Not far away, Gu Fan hurried to the colossal martial arena. This was his first time coming here in all his years—no exaggeration, because from the very moment he entered the sect, he had devoted himself entirely to cultivation, ignoring all extraneous matters outside.

"Fan-zi, you're finally here! If you were any later, you'd have missed it. You made me search for ages," a familiar voice suddenly called out. It was Qing Mu.

"Senior Brother Mu, I'm sorry. I suddenly remembered something and came a bit late," Gu Fan rubbed his nose and said.

"It's fine, it's fine, as long as you didn't miss it." Qing Mu waved his hand dismissively, then carefully looked Gu Fan up and down. Startled, he exclaimed, "Are you really Fan-zi? How did you get so strong?!"

"Shh, low profile, low profile," Gu Fan put on an embarrassed expression.

Qing Mu rolled his eyes at him. "What low profile? You brat... tsk tsk."

"Right, Senior Brother Mu, how does the ranking tournament work?" Gu Fan asked.

"Oh, this? Honestly, you've been in the sect for so many years without ever coming out to look around. I really admire you," Qing Mu gestured at him, shaking his head in helplessness at this cultivation maniac.

"Hehe, isn't it all to raise my cultivation?" Gu Fan scratched his nose awkwardly.

"Forget it, I'll tell you. There are thirty arenas in total here, with four disciples competing in each arena, decided by drawing lots. This is the preliminary elimination. The winners will continue the eliminations tomorrow until only ten people are left, at which point the arenas will slowly merge. That's when it gets exciting—everyone's eyes will be focused on a single ring. Now *that* is majestic." The more Qing Mu spoke, the broader his smile grew.

"Then Senior Brother Mu, how many people are participating this time?" Hearing there were thirty arenas, Gu Fan's heart skipped a beat. The Spirit Heaven Sect truly was magnanimous, and the arenas could even merge? Goodness gracious, was it really that impressive? He swallowed hard and asked.

"There are more people this year than in previous years. Based on the intelligence I've gathered, there should be around a hundred and twenty-ort-odd people," Qing Mu said.

"And these are all relatively young people, under thirty," Qing Mu added.

Good grief, over a hundred and twenty people, all above the Dou Zong and Dou Huang realms. A major sect truly was different.

"And you know what? This hundred and twenty-odd people isn't even the full count. Some disciples didn't come to participate because they're apparently in closed-door cultivation," Qing Mu stated.

"This still isn't all of them? This lineup is a bit terrifying," Gu Fan muttered in astonishment.

"Indeed. Otherwise, why would they be called a major sect? There's a reason for it," Qing Mu nodded.

"Then how do we know which arena we're assigned to?" Gu Fan asked.

"It will appear on your disciple token. When the competition starts in a moment, the tokens of the participants will display the number. Just wait and see," Qing Mu said, pulling out his own disciple token.

"I see. Understood."

Gu Fan nodded.

"Ahem, everyone quiet down. The grand tournament of the Spirit Heaven Sect is about to begin. As the saying goes: friendship first, competition second. Do not ruin everyone's camaraderie, and remember strictly not to inflict fatal injuries, or you will be directly disqualified and subjected to sect punishment!"

A solemn voice rang out.

"Yes! Elder!"
"... Elder!"
"Yes..."

The voices of the crowd echoed in unison.

"In that case, this year's tournament officially begins!" Following the elder's voice, the tolling of a bell sounded.

*Dong—Dong—Dong—*

"Great, great, it's finally starting!"
"I can't wait anymore!"
"My eyes are already getting excited!"
"Everyone's strength is formidable; it's bound to be spectacular!"

**********

Voices erupted one after another from below, brimming with enthusiasm, eagerness, and excitement!

The moment the voices faded, numbers corresponding to their arenas flashed onto everyone's tokens.

"Fan-zi, I'm on arena number ten. What about you?" Qing Mu asked excitedly. These were all drawn randomly, ensuring zero possibility of cheating.

Gu Fan was momentarily stunned. He took out his token and looked at it, where two brightly colored digits shimmered: "Thirty."

"Thirty," Gu Fan replied flatly.

"What? It's thirty, the very last one. Fan-zi, then I wish you good luck. Even if you lose, don't be discouraged; there are plenty of opportunities." Qing Mu patted Gu Fan's shoulder and said.

"I know, Senior Brother Mu. Am I supposed to go find my arena now?" Gu Fan asked.

Seeing Gu Fan's complete cluelessness, Qing Mu truly worried for him. He pointed far into the distance and said, "Every martial arena is in an independent location. Your number thirty is the very last one, located at the top of that small peak at the back. Mine is nearby, but quite far from you. Remember, don't fight to the death; if you can't beat them, you can't beat them. The referee elders over there will intervene."

"Senior Brother Mu, do you really think I'm going to lose? Ah, my heart has been wounded..." Gu Fan clutched his chest with a pained expression.

"Ahem, well, Fan-zi, you must do your best. I believe you can definitely do it!" Qing Mu coughed awkwardly, uttering words against his own conscience.

Gu Fan: "........" That expression changed a bit too fast.

"Senior Brother Mu, you strive to win your opening match as well." Gu Fan smiled.

"Alright, no problem!" Qing Mu patted his chest.

With that, the two parted ways, walking toward their respective arenas.

Regulations dictated that aside from the competing martial artists and the referees, no one else was permitted to fly above the arenas.

Therefore, Gu Fan had no choice but to walk.

Fortunately, the sect had a conscience: although individual flight wasn't allowed, spirit beasts were provided for transport. Gu Fan boarded a spirit beast and flew directly toward arena number thirty.

**********

Arriving at arena number thirty from high above, Gu Fan looked down and thought, *So many people?*

Indeed, a crowd of male and female disciples had gathered around arena number thirty, watching and awaiting the start of the match.

Gu Fan dismounted the spirit beast at a designated spot and slowly walked up.

Before long, his figure blended into the crowd.

Facing so many people for the first time, it was hard not to feel a tiny bit nervous.

Meanwhile, three young men stood atop the elevated platform. These three would be his opponents for this round, to be decided by drawing lots.

"Why hasn't the fourth person on our side arrived yet?" one of the young men asked.

"Who knows? Probably caught up in something. Let's wait a bit longer," replied a swordsman with a blade strapped to his back, shaking his head.

"Sigh, let's not dwell on that. Who do you guys think will take the opening win in our group thirty?" another participating disciple asked with a grin.

"Without everyone here, how could we know?" said the youth standing in the center.

"Look over there, the list of participants for group thirty is out!"

A watching disciple pointed at the surging battle-energy screen above and shouted.

Four names flickered on the screen:
Ye Zhanxin
Liu Qingsui
Liu Tiandu
Gu Fan

"Gu Fan? That name sounds unfamiliar," said Ye Zhanxin in the center.

"Could he be a new disciple? If so, this round will be easy for us," Liu Tiandu chuckled.

"Not necessarily. Who knows, maybe his strength is formidable?" Liu Qingsui shook his head.

"We are all disciples of the Spirit Heaven Sect. Let's not harm our harmony over a match. Win or lose, it doesn't matter; I prefer making friends through martial arts. If you lose, you can only blame your skills for being inferior and go back to cultivate diligently," Ye Zhanxin said, shaking his head.

"The name Ye Zhanxin really suits you," the other two laughed.

Meanwhile, the surrounding onlookers whispered among themselves, discussing who this Gu Fan might be—such an unfamiliar name.

Because Gu Fan had spent year after year hooping himself up in his room cultivating, rarely venturing anywhere besides the Technique Pavilion and the dining hall, practically nobody knew of his existence.

Nor did anyone know when such a person had quietly appeared in the Spirit Heaven Sect.

Gu Fan, standing within the crowd, felt utterly helpless. *Is this my fault?*

With a wry smile, he stepped out from the crowd and made his way toward the arena. At that moment, he felt rather awkward.

For all eyes—every single gaze—had turned to lock onto him. For a recluse who rarely saw the outside world, this was an awkward and embarrassing process...