Yellow-Grade Intermediate Martial Arts

Faced with the intense murderous intent emanating from Elowen Astor, Magnus Astor, who would have been terrified and submissive in the past, stood his ground firmly.

Inspired by the principles of the heroes from Martial novels, which he adhered to, Magnus refused to be intimidated or bullied.

Despite Elowen's status and martial prowess far surpassing his own, he retaliated boldly against her continual insults and mockery.

"If you want to kill me, go ahead. I can't match you, but if I even flinch, I'm not a man!" Magnus challenged Elowen, pointing first to her sword and then to his own neck, mimicking a slashing motion.

Elowen was taken aback by this unexpected show of defiance from Magnus, who she had perceived as cowardly and weak.

She was torn between her desire to cut him down and the realization that she couldn't, given his status as the son of the Peerless King.

This hesitation and internal conflict left Elowen momentarily at a loss for words.

Magnus, noticing Elowen's indecision, sneered and taunted her further. "Why aren't you acting? Is it because I am the son of the Peerless King that you dare not make your move? You, who look down upon me, who think I am but an ant, what are you afraid of? Are you, a high and mighty princess, afraid of something?"

Elowen, trembling with rage and frustration, could barely contain her anger. Her intense glare at Magnus resembled that of a tiger ready to pounce, and her hand gripping the sword turned pale from the pressure.

Unfazed by her fury, Magnus turned away nonchalantly to watch the events unfolding on the stage, leaving Elowen to grapple with her own tumultuous emotions. As he turned, he masked the sweat and nervous trembling that briefly overtook him, a reaction hidden from Elowen's view.

Magnus Astor, having just boldly confronted his cousin Elowen Astor, felt a wave of relief mixed with lingering fear. He knew his audacity was a huge gamble, banking on the fact that Elowen wouldn't dare attack him in public. Still, reflecting on his reckless actions, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

"Woah... that was close. If she really went berserk, that sword of hers could have easily done me in. I would have really been digging my own grave!"

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Magnus discreetly glanced at Elowen, finding her already composed and calmly watching the stage, her earlier fury nowhere in sight. Impressed, he thought, "She's truly royal. Such composure and self-control. I have to hand it to her."

Catching Magnus's gaze, Elowen seemed to sense his attention. Before she could turn towards him, Magnus quickly shifted his focus back to the stage.

Meanwhile, on the stage, Sinlon Astor, having stood unchallenged for a while, appeared increasingly confident and somewhat contemptuous of the others. Just as he called out for challengers, a tall, muscular young man with thick eyebrows and tanned skin stepped forward, his presence dominating as he landed heavily on the stage, making it tremble.

"I'll fight you!"

His voice boomed across the venue. The crowd instantly recognized him as Yukon Astor, the eldest son of the East Ping King and a notable figure among the younger generation of the royal family. At only twenty-one, he was already a mighty warrior of the Seven Cloud Realm.

Recognizing Yukon Astor, Sinlon Astor greeted him with a slight smile, acknowledging his reputation. "Ah, Brother Yukon Astor, it's been a while. It seems your martial skills have improved significantly. Impressive!"

Yuan Kui, known for his straightforwardness, dismissed the pleasantries. "Cut the flattery, Sinlon Astor. You and I are both at the Seven Cloud Realm. Let's see who's stronger. Today, we let our fists do the talking."

This blunt approach was typical of Yukon Astor, who preferred action over words. The two young warriors, both at the peak of their prowess, prepared for a showdown that promised to be a highlight of the evening.

"Ha ha... Yukon, you're quite eager. Well then, let me accompany you to the end!" Sinlon Astor declared heartily, his voice echoing around the stage. As he spoke, a wave of energy surged around him like a tidal wave, causing his purple robe to flutter dramatically.

"Humph, all show!" Yukon Astor grunted in disdain. He stamped his foot forcefully on the stage.

"Boom...!" The sound of the impact reverberated. In the next moment, Yukon's sturdy figure, lacking any flamboyant display of energy, shot forward like a cannonball, heading straight for Sinlon.

In the blink of an eye, Yukon was already in front of Sinlon, who now faced a straightforward and powerful punch aimed at his chest.

Sinlon's eyes flashed with sharpness, but instead of engaging directly, his figure suddenly shifted. Like a ghostly apparition, he appeared a good distance away to the right side of the stage.

"Hmm...?" Yukon's eyes followed the movement, slightly puzzled. He hadn't expected Sinlon to be so swift. Without hesitation, he adjusted his stance and charged again.

This time, Yukon's speed was noticeably faster, his rapid movement creating a whooshing sound as he cut through the air.

Like lightning, he reached Sinlon again, launching a cross-shaped attack with his fists, trying to corner Sinlon and force a direct confrontation.

However, to the audience's surprise, Yukon's powerful punches hit nothing but air once again. Sinlon, with an easy, floating grace, had already moved even further away, watching Yukon with a serene smile.

Seeing Sinlon Astor's smile, Yukon Astor felt a mix of frustration and anger. He bellowed, "Sinlon Astor, a duel on the stage is not child's play. Avoiding confrontation only makes you a laughingstock!"

Sinlon responded with a sneer, "Yukon, how can you talk about winning when you can't even touch my robe? This isn't about who's braver, it's about who's more skilled."

"You...!" Words were never Yukon's strong suit, and Sinlon's mockery left him fuming. His eyes reddened with fury as he growled, "Sinlon, I'll show you what true strength is!"

Yukon suddenly raised his hands towards the sky, lifting his arms high. He bent his knees slightly, grounding himself firmly like an old tree rooted to the earth. His aura began to intensify, stirring the air around him. His hair, short and sharp like steel needles, whipped about in the turbulent air.

A yellow halo appeared on Yukon's palms, circulating continuously, resembling two swimming fishes. The sight prompted an onlooker to exclaim, "A mid-grade Yellow-tier martial technique!"

Witnessing this, Sinlon Astor, curious but cautious, turned to his attendant, Seraphina, and asked, "Seraphina, what's a Yellow-tier martial technique? It seems powerful."

Seraphina explained:

"My lord, besides cultivating their martial arts, warriors can also master martial techniques, which greatly enhance their combat abilities. "

"There are four levels of martial techniques: Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, and Yellow, with Heavenly being the rarest and Yellow the most common. "

"Even the lowest Yellow-tier technique is valuable and difficult for ordinary people to learn. They're usually accessible only to those from affluent or influential families. "

"Yukon's mastery of a mid-grade Yellow-tier technique is quite impressive."

Intrigued, Sinlon said, "Martial techniques sound like the martial arts secrets in Jin Yong's novels. There are low-level and high-level skills, like the Dragon Subduing Palms or Nine Yang Divine Skill, right?"

As Sinlon and Seraphina conversed, Yukon Astor was ready to strike. He yelled "Splitting Cloud Palm!" and charged at Sinlon with incredible speed, his body radiating with the energy of his martial technique.