Chapter 20: Fighting One by One Is Exhausting—Let Them All Come at Once

At last, everyone completed the trial of the Twelve-Step Stairway.

Most of them only managed to reach the fifth level.

"So what if your skin is thick and you're a bit physically strong? What does that matter?" Seeing this, Jiang Churan gritted her teeth, frustration in her voice. "I want to see how you manage to endure the final martial duel!"

A moment later, the Grand Elder announced, "The final round of the competition, the martial contest, begins!"

"The first match: Li Jiansan versus Liu Yan’er."

Hearing this, Li Jiansan slowly stepped out from the crowd and ascended the arena.

"This is my first time sparring with the Young Sect Master..." His opponent, Liu Yan’er, had already leaped onto the platform. Upon seeing Li Jiansan, her heart raced, her beautiful eyes shining with excitement.

"Young Sect Master, don't worry, I'll go easy on you." Liu Yan’er touched her burning cheeks, sneaking a glance at Li Jiansan.

Oh no, could this girl have fallen for me?

How could this be?

I see you as a little sister, and you like me?

Li Jiansan glanced at Liu Yan’er, grinning. "Don't worry, give it your all. I won't hurt you."

He's looking at me—he's actually looking at me! Young Sect Master is looking at me!!

Liu Yan’er noticed Li Jiansan's gaze and immediately panicked. She kept twirling the hem of her robe, her heart pounding like a frightened fawn.

What should I do? If I attack with full force and hurt him, what then? He's so weak in cultivation...

You said I should give it my all and you won't get hurt?

Li Jiansan looked at Liu Yan’er, inwardly pleading not to be forced into action...

Something about this scene feels off.

Doesn’t everyone know your identity? You're the Young Sect Master, Li Jiansan—the infamous idler, the notorious wastrel, the one who never cultivated a day in his life!

As soon as Li Jiansan spoke, murmurs rose from the audience.

"Junior Sister, hurry up and make your move!"

Liu Yan’er was stunned for a moment while Li Jiansan observed her carefully.

"This girl is quite pretty," he thought, noticing her flawless, delicate features and perfectly proportioned figure.

Because of her beauty, Liu Yan’er had many admirers in the Shengjing Sect.

What should I do? The Young Sect Master looks a bit impatient now. I can't just stand here doing nothing. Fine, I'll try not to hurt him.

"Then I won't be polite," Liu Yan’er declared, initiating her attack.

In an instant, her figure blurred—a mere afterimage—striking toward Li Jiansan.

"Who would have thought our junior sister had such skills?"

"The Young Sect Master is going to regret underestimating her."

"He probably won't last a single move..."

As Liu Yan’er attacked, amazed exclamations erupted below the stage.

Li Jiansan smiled faintly. His footwork shifted, and like a spirit serpent darting from its lair, he appeared behind Liu Yan’er in a flash.

"The Wandering Dragon Step isn’t just about speed; it’s about adaptability and flow. You’re focusing solely on speed and neglecting the movement’s versatility—you’re missing the point," he remarked.

Liu Yan’er suddenly understood, and her movement became unpredictable, flowing like water.

"So this is the secret of the Wandering Dragon Step?" Liu Yan’er’s expression changed.

The crowd was first dumbfounded, then broke into an uproar.

What just happened?

That good-for-nothing is instructing Junior Sister in her technique?

And she’s even improving!

Everyone was utterly astonished.

Is this really the notorious troublemaker Li Jiansan?

Now he’s capable of teaching others martial arts...

Wasn’t he supposed to be a ruthless, depraved scoundrel with no interest in cultivation?

All those rumors were lies...

Suddenly, Li Jiansan launched a palm strike, smiling: "Losing focus during a match is a grave mistake."

"Not good!"

By the time Liu Yan’er snapped out of her thoughts, it was too late to dodge.

Bang!

She took a direct hit, and the contest ended instantly.

"I lost," Liu Yan’er murmured, gazing at Li Jiansan in a daze.

She knew clearly she was no match for him.

The moment he began guiding her, she knew she was destined to lose, but she hadn’t expected defeat to come so quickly.

"I won’t hurt you?"

So that wasn’t just empty words.

At this moment, Liu Yan’er was deeply shaken. That seemingly simple strike was far superior to any technique she knew.

And she could tell Li Jiansan had held back; otherwise, she would have been gravely injured.

"The Young Sect Master spared me... Could it be that he likes me?" Liu Yan’er’s cheeks flushed as she looked at him. "He’s not at all as people say—he’s a hidden master..."

"Not only is he handsome and talented, but also modest—a truly exceptional man!"

She felt herself falling for him completely...

"Am I dreaming? How did he win so quickly?"

"How did his strength improve so much? Was he pretending all along?"

"His martial arts seem extraordinary..."

The entire arena fell into stunned silence. The onlookers stared in disbelief, as if struck dumb.

"Look, Junior Sister’s cheeks are all red!"

One person pointed at Liu Yan’er curiously.

"Do you think she threw the match on purpose?"

"How could she do that?"

"So young, so naïve..."

"On the continent of Jiuzhou, strength is everything. For her to throw away her prospects for the Young Sect Master—such a pity..."

Seeing Liu Yan’er’s bashful expression, everyone assumed she had been seduced by Li Jiansan’s looks and let him win.

On the other side, Elder Zhao Hua was so shocked by the scene that he began to tremble.

"This boy... he’s brought his martial arts to perfection!"

Zhao Hua was incredulous.

"Could he have not only memorized the first layer’s techniques, but mastered them all?"

Others might not see it, but as the guardian of the Scripture Hall, he knew exactly what martial skills Li Jiansan had used.

From the very start, Li Jiansan had controlled the match.

He could have ended it sooner; he’d deliberately guided Liu Yan’er, helping her reach a breakthrough...

Is he really the same dissipated Young Sect Master?

Zhao Hua’s gaze grew unfocused. He realized he no longer recognized Li Jiansan at all...

"Ding, system shop has been activated."

Just then, a voice echoed in Li Jiansan’s mind.

Li Jiansan asked, "System shop? Open it."

"Flame-Splitting Ruler!"

"Emperor’s Seal Art!"

"Buddha’s Wrath Fire Lotus!"

"Buddha’s Wrath Samsara!"

"Heavenly Fire Triple Transformation!"

"Ninth-Grade Golden Pill!"

"Primordial Flame Eternal Ruler!"

Staring at the dazzling array of martial arts, techniques, pills, and weapons in the shop, Li Jiansan’s blood boiled with excitement.

Just from the imposing names, he could tell these were all extraordinary treasures!

But then his expression froze—damn it, everything cost thousands of Villain Points.

And what exactly were Villain Points?

The system answered, "Master, whenever others experience intense negative emotions toward you, you gain Villain Points. These can be spent in the system shop."

After listening, Li Jiansan glanced at the bottom of the shop interface and noticed a lottery button.

"Can I try the lottery now? Is there a catch?" Having been tricked by the system before, Li Jiansan decided to ask first.

"Master, since this is your first time in the system shop, you have three free lottery attempts."

"And after I use the free ones, how do I get more?" Li Jiansan asked.

"After the three free tries, you may use one hundred Villain Points for each additional draw."

Li Jiansan’s lips twitched. A hundred Villain Points for a single draw—how long would it take to save up enough?

"Let’s see what I can get first."

He tapped the lottery button, which brought him to the lottery center—a large spinning wheel crowded with prizes.

Li Jiansan happily clicked start. Whirrr—the wheel spun rapidly.

"Thank you for your participation!"

The pointer gradually slowed and stopped.

"Damn it, what a scam..."

"Wasted one try just like that. Two chances left—go again!"

He couldn’t give up now, not when two tries remained.

As he spoke, the pointer spun again...

"Thank you for your participation!"

Li Jiansan was about to explode. So many slots just said 'Thank you for your participation'—was this rigged? What a useless system!

"I’m not giving up!" he growled. "Again!"

Without hesitation, he used the last chance.

He stared intently at the pointer—come on, just cheat me all at once.

But when it stopped, it wasn’t a consolation prize.

"Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: Invincible Physique for half an hour."

"Invincible Physique? Does that mean I’m invincible now?" Li Jiansan asked.

The system replied, "Invincible Physique means that for a limited time, your body is impervious to harm. However, this applies only to physical attacks. If an enemy uses spiritual or special attacks, you cannot defend against them. Also, if someone appears whose cultivation and physique both surpass yours by a large margin, you will still be in danger. But under the current circumstances, among these people, none pose such a threat. So, Master, you are invincible now!"

Satisfied, Li Jiansan smiled.

Since I’m invincible, it’s time to put on a good show—let Xi’er witness my strength and submit to me as soon as possible...

Glancing at the referee, Li Jiansan drawled lazily:

"Fighting one at a time is too tiring. Let everyone in this round come at me together. I have to hurry back to sleep."