Chapter 107: Am I Going Blind?

As the competition progressed, more and more people were eliminated, and the public's enthusiasm surged.

Nearly the entire city was abuzz with discussions about the event.

By the fifth day, fewer than thirty contestants remained.

By tomorrow, the final victor would be decided.

"It’s just a bunch of lowly, third-rate martial artists fighting each other. What’s so entertaining about that?"

Zhou Weihao was baffled.

A few years ago in Jiangzhou, he had witnessed a battle between two Third Grade Experts, and even that hadn’t stirred up such a sensation.

The moment one stepped outside, everyone was talking about it.

Chen Ming chuckled, "To ordinary commoners, battles between Sixth Grade Martial Artists and above are too fast to even see. Instead, they find the lower-grade fights more engaging."

In truth, it was just like a talent show. How often did people in this era witness such a spectacle?

Naturally, an unprecedented passion erupted, infecting everyone else, turning it into something like a festival.

Aristocratic youths like Zhou Weihao, of course, couldn’t understand. In the end, he chalked it up to the ignorance of the lower classes.

The two of them were seated in a private room of the Drunken Immortal Tower, drinking and chatting idly.

Chen Ming suddenly asked, "Do you know about the Demon Heir of the Blood Demon Sect?"

"Now you’re asking the right person." Zhou Weihao downed a cup of wine and said proudly, "When I went home this time, I specifically asked the elders about the Blood Demon Sect."

Chen Ming poured him more wine. "Tell me in detail."

"For thousands of years, the Cult of Eternal Life has been wiped out numerous times, yet it always manages to rise again. The secret lies in its inherited cultivation techniques. No one knows how the Cult of Eternal Life passes down its legacy. Even if all its disciples are slain, within decades—or at most, a few centuries—new inheritors always emerge.

"Moreover, whenever the inheritors of the Cult of Eternal Life reappear, it’s usually not just one of them. Those who possess the cult’s demonic arts are known as Demon Heirs.

"To gain power and divert attention, these Demon Heirs often spread their cultivation techniques, naturally forming their own factions.

"Eventually, these Demon Heirs usually slaughter one another, leaving only one survivor. Once that person breaks through beyond First Grade, they become the Demon Lord of their era."

Chen Ming gained new insight. "So that’s how it is."

As they were speaking, a loud boom suddenly resounded, the ground trembled, and even the wine on the table spilled.

Startled, he asked, "What happened? An earthquake?"

Zhou Weihao exclaimed, "Not an earthquake—a Third Grade Expert made a move! It’s close by!"

Third Grade?

Chen Ming’s expression changed.

Was the destructive power of a Third Grade Expert really that terrifying?

That sound just now was like a bomb exploding nearby.

"Quick, let’s get out of here."

Zhou Weihao smashed through the window and leapt in the opposite direction of the noise.

When a Third Grade Expert struck, the farther one fled, the better.

Chen Ming reacted swiftly and followed suit.

The two dashed across rooftops.

Chen Ming glanced back toward the source of the sound and vaguely saw a figure clad in green.

In the next moment, a dazzling sword light exploded.

"Don’t look——"

Zhou Weihao’s warning came too late.

Chen Ming felt as if his eyes were pierced by that sword light.

A stabbing pain followed, and he couldn’t see anything.

"You dare stare directly at the sword intent of a Third Grade Expert? Are you trying to die?"

Why didn’t you say so earlier?

Chen Ming tightly shut his eyes, no longer daring to open them. "Am I going blind?"

"Fortunately, we were far enough away. Let’s leave this place first."

Zhou Weihao dragged him along and fled.

……

It wasn’t until half an hour later that the pain in Chen Ming’s eyes began to subside. Still, he didn’t dare to open them.

Whenever he tried, a stabbing pain shot through, and tears streamed down.

The good news was that his eyes were intact—he wasn’t blind.

Zhou Weihao examined him and said, "Rest well for the next few days, and you should be fine. Remember this next time: when Third Grade Experts fight, run as far as you can—don’t even think of watching. If they’ve cultivated sword intent, a single glance could cost you your life."

Chen Ming spoke with lingering fear, "Are Third Grade Experts really this terrifying?"

At the time, they were at least dozens of meters away, and just one glance nearly blinded him.

Zhou Weihao patiently explained, "Not every Third Grade is like Lord Zhao, who has cultivated sword intent. People with such talent—maybe one in ten, if that."

"How do you know it was Lord Zhao?"

"In Qingfeng City, aside from Lord Zhao, what other Third Grade is there? I wonder what kind of person made him take action personally."

Chen Ming’s heart stirred—he had a guess.

The only one who could make Zhao Shouchang act personally was that Demon Heir from the Blood Demon Sect.

That Demon Heir was truly well-hidden.

The Blood Demon Sect disciple had been captured seven or eight days ago, and only now had this one been found.

Since this person had been hiding within Qingfeng City, their strength likely hadn’t exceeded Third Grade.

With Zhao Shouchang acting personally, there was no chance they would escape.

From now on, he should be safe.

No longer would he have to worry about being attacked by members of the Blood Demon Sect.

……

Zhou Weihao personally escorted Chen Ming home, explained to his family how his eyes had been injured, and left without staying long.

Chen Rui soon got the news and rushed home.

After personally inspecting his younger brother’s eyes, he still wasn’t reassured and went out to fetch a physician himself.

By the time he returned with the physician, it was nearly evening.

Chen Ming sat on a chair, with Chunxiang and Xiaxiang attending to him closely.

Though his eyes couldn’t see for now, his other senses were sharp.

After a brief adjustment, he didn’t feel much inconvenience.

However, Chunxiang and Xiaxiang refused to leave him alone no matter what.

Chen Ming simply let them be.

Until he heard the sound of two people approaching—one was his elder brother Chen Rui, the other had firm, steady steps and was likely a martial artist.

Then, he heard Chen Rui’s voice. "Doctor Wang, please check my younger brother’s eyes."

"Mm."

The other man responded, stepped forward, and carefully lifted Chen Ming’s eyelid to examine him.

Chen Ming could only make out a vague silhouette.

Judging by the roughness of the man’s fingers, he was likely no longer young.

Chen Rui asked anxiously, "Doctor, how is it?"

An aged voice responded, "It’s nothing serious. Send someone with me to fetch the medicine. Wrap it in a cloth strip, soak it in hot water, and apply it as a hot compress over his eyes twice daily. He will recover in just three days."

"Many thanks, Doctor Wang."

"No need to be so polite, Manager Chen. This old man will take his leave."

"Uncle Tian, escort Doctor Wang back and bring the medicine."

"Yes."

……

When Chen Rui returned, Chen Ming casually asked, "Is this Doctor Wang highly skilled in medicine?"

Chen Rui said, "Doctor Wang has been a long-time customer at our Medicine Shop. Most of his herbs come from us. Though he is highly skilled, his temper is eccentric. He charges only a small consultation fee when treating the poor, but demands a high price from the rich. Moreover, he never makes house calls."

Chen Ming chuckled, "Yet you still managed to get him here. Must be your face holds weight."

"A few months ago, a young master somehow heard of his medical skills and went to him for treatment. Later, when it came time to pay, he felt the consultation fee was too steep. In a fit of rage, he smashed Doctor Wang’s shop. I happened to be passing by, and stepped in to help."

"So that’s how it was. Big Brother, you know plenty of doctors. Why choose him?"

"Actually, many doctors have excellent skills, but in terms of medical ethics... I still trust him more."

Chen Rui had been in the Medicine Shop business for many years. His main clients were doctors. He naturally knew which ones used quality herbs, and which had good medical ethics.

Chen Ming nodded. "Big Brother, you’ve really thought this through."

Then it struck him—he had no shortage of enemies.

The Chen Family had risen too quickly, surely stepping on what once belonged to others.

There were likely many who disliked him.

What if some doctor had ill intentions and ruined his eyes? Killing the person afterward would be useless.

Better safe than sorry.

He figured he ought to learn some medical skills himself.

……

In a blink, two days passed.

Chen Ming’s eyes had mostly recovered.

That Doctor Wang truly was highly skilled; the medicine was very effective.

The Disciple Recruitment Conference had also concluded, and the final victors were decided.

That afternoon, Zhang Mingyu came to visit. He sighed emotionally, "Two Ninth Grade, four Eighth Grade, and four Seventh Grade. Before the eyes of countless onlookers, they became disciples under Third Grade Experts, soaring like phoenixes onto high branches."

His tone carried a touch of envy.

Chen Ming had just removed the cloth strip. His vision had recovered by ninety percent, though there was still an occasional sting that made him want to rub his eyes.

He said, "Actually, with your strength, you had a shot at making the top four."

Truth be told, he was surprised Zhang Mingyu hadn’t signed up.

Zhang Mingyu said firmly, "Once a teacher, always a father. I will never acknowledge another master in this life."

Chen Ming genuinely admired this sense of loyalty.

Zhang Mingyu added, "Junior Brother Li is different. He’s only a Registered Disciple. Now that he has become a disciple under Senior Gold Saber, I’m truly happy for him."

The Junior Brother Li he spoke of was none other than Li Qingchang, who was close with Wang Mingkai and Gu Junrong.

Almost everyone from the Huo Residence had signed up. In the end, only Li Qingchang made it to the final round and successfully became a disciple of a Third Grade Expert.

These ten individuals had now practically become national idols.

Their fame had already surpassed Chen Ming, the youngest Sixth Grade Martial Artist.

They were truly top-tier celebrities.

Zhang Mingyu looked at Chen Ming and said, "Junior Brother, with your talent, if you were willing, I doubt either of those two Third Grade Experts would reject you."

He was the second person to ask this question.

Chen Ming smiled and said, "It’s not that I don’t want to—it’s that I can’t."

"I see……"

Zhang Mingyu seemed to understand something.

Chen Ming didn’t know what exactly he had understood, but in any case, he had no intention of answering that question directly.

As they chatted, a sudden rush of footsteps came from outside.

A group of people stormed in, brimming with murderous intent.

They were from the Six Doors Authority, led by a man in green—a Green-Clad Patrol Envoy—his face full of killing intent.

He asked grimly, "Are you Chen Ming?"

Chen Ming saw immediately that they came with ill intent, but remained calm. "I am."

The Green-Clad Patrol Envoy barked, "Seize him!"

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