You Have Science, I Have Martial Arts

Chapter 690 303: What's There to Be Proud Of?!

To protect the Zhuang Family and to pursue wealth and glory, he tread carefully as if on thin ice, meticulously maintaining a fragile balance, struggling with exhaustion nearly every day.

Under such circumstances, what talk is there of health and wellness?

Day and night took their toll, and Zhuang Ban City had already sensed the approach of death. His body and physiological functions had almost reached their limits, and ordinary treatments were nearly entirely ineffective.

Now, the only thing that could save him was the extraordinary power from the Martial Arts World.

"If I perform the Life Refining Ceremony, will it really let me stay forever young?"

"Naturally, since my master has already promised, he will not renege on his word."

Arthur still looked leisurely at Zhuang Ban City, not impatient in the least. After all, it wasn't him who was about to age and die — the one in need of urgency was Zhuang Ban City.

Even if one is worth billions and nicknamed 'Ban City', so what?

Wealth can buy ninety-nine percent of things in this world, yet life belongs to the one percent that cannot be bought.

The wealthier one is, the more they fear death.

Even Zhuang Ban City, who was exceptionally clever for most of his life, felt the same way.

Sublime clothing and sumptuous food, surrounded by beauties daily, such a wonderful life — how could he simply give it up?

"Fine, I'll do it."

Zhuang Ban City's firm tone revealed his current resolution, determined to pay any price to extend his lifespan.

Arthur glanced at Zhuang Zeqian, who had not left yet, and then at Zhuang Ban City: "Is it alright to involve your son?"

"He won't go talking about it everywhere."

Zhuang Ban City then explained further: "Besides, there are many things I'm already powerless to deal with, so he needs to handle them now."

Subsequently, Arthur and Zhuang Ban City discussed the cooperation details, and the listening Zhuang Zeqian was shocked to learn of the entire plan, and what the 'Life Refining Ceremony' truly meant.

To extend his life, Zhuang Ban City agreed to help Arthur set up a large sacrificial array in Xiangjiang, wanting to stain the whole city with blood to allow the Plague Knight to descend from the Spiritual Realm!

Over the years, Zhuang Zeqian had already learned how to become a proficient money-making machine, how to cold-bloodedly exploit employees and users to seize excessive profits.

But making money and killing people are noticeably different in terms of degree.

After Arthur left, Zhuang Ban City instructed Zhuang Zeqian: "In this Celestial Sword Cup Tournament, our Zhuang Family is the biggest sponsor; you need to utilize this matter well. If a batch of high-quality Master Level and Grandmaster Level martial artists' flesh and blood can be sacrificed, the divine blessings will be richer, benefiting our whole Zhuang Family."

"Yes..."

In Zhuang Zeqian's heart, there was only a slight reluctance, but soon he cast aside that moment of hesitation.

After all, the temptation of immortality and agelessness was irresistible for him too.

......

Xiangjiang International Airport.

"Sis!"

"Little Bingbing."

The sisters Xu Yunxi and Xu Yuebing embraced each other: one gentle and serene, beautiful and elegant; the other outwardly strong yet inwardly soft, cold and unparalleled. The two sisters, standing side by side, were truly breathtaking, drawing amazed glances from passersby around them.

"Ye Qingzhou, thank you for taking care of our Bingbing during this time."

"No trouble at all."

Ye Qingzhou stood nearby, a handsome face also smiling.

Xu Yuebing, however, pouted in annoyance, clinging to Xu Yunxi's arm and acting coy: "Sis, can't it be me taking care of Ye Qingzhou? I am no longer a child!"

After some playful banter, the trio left the airport together.

On the way to the hotel, Ye Qingzhou glanced twice at Xu Yunxi, praised: "You've broken through to the Master Realm? Congratulations!"

"I'm still far from you."

Xu Yunxi knew that Ye Qingzhou had recently entered the Grandmaster Realm. If the truth wasn't laid out before her, she would find such an incredible matter hard to believe.

An eighteen-year-old Grandmaster!

Across the entire Blue Star, there had never been such a precedent!

The three continued chatting about the Celestial Sword Cup Tournament. Xu Yunxi was clearly one of the participants, but Ye Qingzhou aimed for the championship, while Xu Yunxi was there to participate. Being newly entered into the Master Realm, with Heaven-Ascending First Layer cultivation, let alone the championship, even entering the top sixteen was an ambitious thought.

"I heard this Celestial Sword Cup, Vermilion Bird Divine General and Celestial Sword Sikong Jingming will be present at the scene, co-hosting the opening ceremony."

Xu Yunxi's words quickly piqued Ye Qingzhou's interest.

He couldn't help asking: "Rumor has it that both Vermilion Bird Divine General and Sikong Jingming are top-quality swordsmanship experts, but who between them is stronger?"

"In pure swordsmanship, Sikong Jingming is definitely stronger."

Xu Yunxi answered this without a second thought, but soon changed the subject: "But in a life and death fight, the one dead would be Sikong Jingming."

Ye Qingzhou understood Xu Yunxi's implication. After all, he had genuinely witnessed Cyan Dragon Divine General and Gu Minghui, the Celestial Secret Divine Calculation, in action.

These 'official Martial Saints' of the Dongji Kingdom, one by one, had a 'Seed Burst' mode, capable of calling for Dubhe System and Celestial Secret System support, gaining immense Power of Thought Ability augmentation, and possessing Martial God level combat strength at any minute.

By comparison, the 'wild Martial Saints' like Sikong Jingming were a tier below.

If it were in the past, Ye Qingzhou would certainly have scorned Cyan Dragon Divine General and Gu Minghui for relying on external aid rather than genuine skill.

How could a Martial Artist be opportunistic?

The power must be firmly grasped step by step in one's own hands to truly be one's own.

Of course, primarily it was because Ye Qingzhou previously didn't have an option to borrow external aid even if he wanted.

Now things were different; after integrating the entire Cangyuan Realm into the Xuanyuan Sword, Ye Qingzhou acquired his own 'external aid', with vast Thought Ability resources.

Although he didn't create systems like Celestial Secret or Dubhe, Xiangshu Thinking's Thought Ability algorithm enhancement had similarly limitless potential.

Such power, always at his disposal, surely couldn't count as an external aid?

Certainly not.

It was with such confidence that Ye Qingzhou dared to point his sword toward the championship.

Behind him stood billions of intelligent beings from the Cangyuan Realm, near-limitless Thought Ability supply — how could anyone tell him how to lose with this Flying Dragon striking?

In front of the hotel, the three got out of the car, and soon encountered two old acquaintances.

"Ye Qingzhou."

Liu Yiming waved in greeting.

In white attire, his stance was tall and upright, his stern face strikingly handsome, with a jeweled sword hanging at his waist, radiating a supreme mountain-like presence and sky-reaching Sword Intent.

Beside Liu Yiming stood Nan Gongyi, radiance brighter than ever, his eyes shimmering like stars. His family's "Flying Star Sword Technique" had recently advanced, with sword intent as agile as stars across the night sky, deserving of the name 'Picking Stars and Ruling the Universe'.

Evidently, both were here for the Celestial Sword Cup Tournament. Their strengths exceeded Xu Yunxi's by a bit, with Heaven-Ascending Second Layer cultivation and realm; entering the main competition shouldn't be a problem, and with luck, they might push into the top sixteen.

"Liu Yiming, Nan Gongyi?"

Ye Qingzhou nodded in acknowledgment, then went with Xu Yunxi and Xu Yuebing to check into the hotel.

Watching his departing back, Nan Gongyi couldn't help but reflect on time's passage: "These young ones are truly ferocious now; remember when he was a participant in the Sword Fighting Competition, and I sat in the invited guest seats. Now that the Celestial Sword Cup is about to start, we're actually deciding the winner on the field."

Liu Yiming glanced sideways at his friend, teasing: "You're giving yourself too much credit, he's now a Martial Arts Grandmaster; if he goes all out, you'd at most handle three of his strikes."

"Three strikes?"

Nan Gongyi smiled wryly, self-deprecating: "You're overestimating me; if movement techniques don't work on him, I'm afraid I couldn't even withstand a single strike."

"Then I'm slightly better; at least I have confidence to handle two of his strikes."

"How can there be any pride in that?!"

Nan Gongyi gave Liu Yiming a disdainful side-eye.