21: Chapter 21 Li Hanyi Challenges Jinyang Martial Arts School!

White, broad stone steps, an open and bright corridor, and a glittering golden plaque bearing four large characters:

Jinyang Martial Arts Hall.

Even the pillars before the entrance were intricately carved from rosewood, exuding luxury at first glance.

"You go."

Su Rui sized up the place before speaking calmly.

"Yes!"

Li Hanyi acknowledged with a bow, her sword held close, and stepped forward toward the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall.

Su Rui led Sikong Qianluo and the other three to a restaurant opposite the Martial Arts Hall, ascended directly to the second floor, and chose a seat by the window.

Li Hanyi, with a long sword strapped to her back, drew many gazes from those gathered before the Martial Arts Hall as she walked down the street.

Though she appeared quite young,

her bearing and demeanor were already astonishing.

The two men standing at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, seeing Li Hanyi approaching with her sword, immediately gleamed in their eyes.

Such an outstanding prospect must be recruited for the Martial Arts Hall at all costs.

If her talent proved exceptional, she might even become the Hall's signature figure.

If she could ascend the Beauty Ranking, the resulting prestige and benefits would be immeasurable.

These two had long been stationed here with the specific task of identifying promising newcomers.

Seeing Li Hanyi step closer, their previously haughty expressions instantly vanished, replaced by smiling faces.

They waited for Li Hanyi to speak, expecting her to express a desire to join.

"Li Hanyi challenges the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall!"

Li Hanyi stepped onto the stone steps, looked up at the plaque of the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall, channeled her Internal Energy, and called out in a clear, bright voice.

"Good, I'll take you right in... Huh?"

Only then did the two men react, staring blankly at the young woman of extraordinary bearing before them, momentarily at a loss.

The other hopeful aspirants waiting to be selected were also stunned.

What?

This young girl is here to challenge the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall?

Upstairs in the restaurant, Su Rui watched the scene, a sense of déjà vu surfacing in his heart, and couldn't help but let out a light chuckle.

Beside him, Sikong Qianluo had already clenched her small fists, her face full of excitement.

Clearly, Li Hanyi's current action was exactly what she herself had always dreamed of doing.

At that moment, the crowd outside the Martial Arts Hall finally reacted.

What's going on?

Has this girl come here looking for a beating?

Just then, the Head Instructor responsible for testing the bone structures of new arrivals emerged from within the Martial Arts Hall.

"What's all this noise?"

He had heard a loud shout from outside and came out to investigate.

"Head Instructor, this young lady, she..." The two men at the entrance hurried forward to bow, preparing to explain.

But the moment the Head Instructor saw Li Hanyi, his eyes lit up.

He had seen countless people and many Geniuses, but a youth whose exceptional talent was evident at a single glance, like Li Hanyi, was truly a first.

And undoubtedly, a prodigy in the sword Dao.

Although the Hall Master excelled in saber techniques, his own specialty was swordsmanship.

If he could nurture a young sword Dao Genius, his own reputation would naturally rise accordingly.

Thinking this, the Head Instructor's expression grew even more amiable.

...

"Young lady, do you wish to join our Jinyang Martial Arts Hall?"

This question directly stupefied the two men at the door.

She's here to challenge the Hall!

Just as the two were about to speak, the Head Instructor gently pushed them aside.

Li Hanyi looked with confusion at the middle-aged man before her, who was trying hard to maintain a kind smile.

Had she not shouted clearly enough just now? Or had this Instructor simply not heard?

"Instructor, she's here to test her sword, not to join the Hall!"

One of them couldn't help but blurt out a loud reminder, disregarding propriety.

The Head Instructor was taken aback, then looked again at Li Hanyi's expression and couldn't help but laugh.

"You're here to challenge the Hall?"

Seeing Li Hanyi nod with a cold face, the Head Instructor immediately burst into laughter.

Back when the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall was first established, he too had roamed with the Hall Master, fighting matches to build its reputation.

In recent years, the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall had leapt to become the number one Martial Arts Hall in Snow Moon City, and naturally, challengers had become few.

He never expected that today, a young girl would come to their door.

Judging by her appearance, she was at most fifteen or sixteen. No matter how talented, how powerful could she be?

However, seeing the crowd that had already gathered outside, the Head Instructor's thoughts shifted.

This young woman before him possessed supreme talent, but was clearly inexperienced in the world and brimming with pride.

This was a perfect opportunity to display some strength and make her submit wholeheartedly.

It would make future instruction go more smoothly.

Furthermore, with so many onlookers present, it was a good chance for the Martial Arts Hall to show its prowess.

Thinking this, the Head Instructor laughed heartily and said:

"Very well. Since you wish to challenge the Hall, I shall spar with you.

But let me say this upfront: if you lose, you will join my Jinyang Martial Arts Hall!"

Li Hanyi was slightly taken aback. Why did these words sound so familiar?

She then remembered that on the day she first met her Master, he had said the same thing.

For a moment, her expression dimmed slightly.

What kind of person was her Master?

And what kind of person stood before her now?

"Defeat me first before you speak!"

Li Hanyi's words were like frost.

This Instructor of the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall, however, paid it no mind.

The onlookers outside the Hall, witnessing this scene, grew increasingly interested.

Challenging the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall was attention-grabbing enough, but the challenger being a young woman was even more jaw-dropping, and the fact that the Hall's Instructor had accepted the challenge added to the astonishment.

People eagerly awaited to see how the situation would unfold.

At that moment, in the restaurant opposite, Sikong Qianluo was brimming with excitement.

"Sir, how many moves do you think Senior Sister Hanyi will need to defeat this person?"

"How many moves?"

Su Rui chuckled lightly, his gaze sweeping over the Martial Arts Hall Instructor.

A cultivation at the Vajra Mortal Realm, seemed to be a Sword Cultivator, yet he held no sword in hand, clearly not taking Li Hanyi seriously.

So careless?

"One sword!"

Su Rui stated indifferently.

"One move?"

Sikong Qianluo murmured to herself.

"One *sword*!" He emphasized again.

Sikong Qianluo listened, somewhat confused.

But Mu Liangyue and the other two beside them already understood.

The Sir meant this person wouldn't even last a single exchange?

Meanwhile, in front of the Martial Arts Hall, the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall Instructor looked at the stern-faced Li Hanyi, trying hard to adopt the posture of a Senior offering guidance to a junior.

"You may make your move."

A cold glint flashed in Li Hanyi's eyes. Naturally, she would show no mercy.

The Cheng Ying Sword in her hand remained sheathed as she simply thrust it forward in a straight line, as if cleaving through the Void Realm.

In the blink of an eye, the sword's shadow was already before her opponent.

At this moment, as the sword arrived, the Martial Arts Hall Instructor had no time to react, his eyes flashing with shock, fear, and regret.

His chest was struck hard by the scabbard of the Cheng Ying Sword.

The entire man, trailing a mist of blood, was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the plaque above the Martial Arts Hall entrance.

The massive plaque shattered with a crash, breaking into several pieces.

Both man and plaque crashed to the ground with a thud.

The surrounding crowd was dumbstruck.

The Disciples guarding the door were so frightened they froze on the spot.

Their Instructor was defeated in a single move?

The Instructor struggled to rise from the ground, his face pale, blood still at the corner of his mouth.

Clutching his chest, he could clearly feel several of his ribs were broken.

"What ruthless methods!"

He glared at Li Hanyi, his voice hoarse with anger.

"I said I came to test my sword against the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall. Did you think I was joking?"

Li Hanyi stated coldly.

Looking at the plaque shattered all over the ground, the two Disciples guarding the door almost burst into tears.

The destruction of this plaque was equivalent to a resounding slap across the face of the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall.

The two of them would definitely be punished.

Thinking of the Martial Arts Hall's severe disciplinary measures for erring Disciples, they couldn't help but show expressions of fear.

The onlookers around them erupted in an uproar.

What was going on?

A respected Martial Arts Hall Instructor was defeated by a young woman in a single move.

And they call themselves the number one Martial Arts Hall in Snow Moon City? What a joke!

Many who had originally intended to seek refuge with the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall quietly abandoned the thought.

Of course, some with sharper eyes detected Li Hanyi's level of cultivation.

To have entered the Upper Grade Realm at such a young age was a prodigy rarely seen in decades.

But why had she come to challenge the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall?

...

Upstairs in the restaurant, Sikong Qianluo, seeing Li Hanyi severely injure her opponent with one sword, excitedly clapped her hands, drawing sidelong glances from many.

People originally dining or conducting business in the restaurant were also drawn by the commotion outside, gathering by the windows to see what was happening.

Many among them recognized Sikong Qianluo's identity and grew curious about the identity of the young Sir beside her.

"Senior Sister fought splendidly! She should teach them a proper lesson so they dare not use such despicable methods again!"

Sikong Qianluo was thrilled.

Those who recognized her, hearing the words "Senior Sister," were all taken aback.

Could it be that the young woman challenging the Hall outside was a Disciple of one of Snow Moon City's Elders?

Simultaneously, outside the Martial Arts Hall, many who witnessed Li Hanyi severely injure the Instructor with one sword quietly retreated from the crowd and quickly left.

Each moved with practiced agility, clearly skilled martial artists.

By now, the commotion outside had finally alerted those inside the Hall.

A group of Martial Arts Hall Disciples swarmed out.

Seeing the Instructor with blood still at his mouth and the shattered plaque, anger was written on every face.

"Who dares to cause trouble at the entrance of the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall?!"

After hearing the account from the gate-keeping Disciples, everyone's gaze fell squarely on Li Hanyi.

To dare come alone to smash the Hall? Such audacity!

The crowd outside the Hall couldn't help but feel some concern for Li Hanyi.

Although Li Hanyi had come to challenge,

the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall now had numbers and a fierce Aura on their side, while Li Hanyi stood alone.

Coupled with her stunningly beautiful appearance, the onlookers found themselves instinctively siding with her.

Upstairs in the restaurant, Sikong Qianluo, seeing this scene, couldn't resist the urge to rush out and support her Senior Sister. Her foot was already on the windowsill when Su Rui pulled her back.

"Sit down. This is your Senior Sister's sword Dao path. She can handle it. You must believe in her!"

Pressing Sikong Qianluo back into her seat, Su Rui said in a low voice.

"Oh..."

Hearing her teacher's words, Sikong Qianluo shrank her head back, not daring to act rashly again.

Outside the Martial Arts Hall.

Upon learning it was Li Hanyi who had injured the Instructor, all the Disciples showed expressions of astonishment.

This young woman wasn't old. How could she possess such capability?

The Instructor had been with the Martial Arts Hall for many years, had long established his authority, and had been in the Vajra Mortal Realm for some time—his strength was not to be underestimated.