Besides the surrounding martial artists being drawn in, the commotion from Luo Feng and Qian Shaofeng’s duel had also disturbed the people in the Business Alliance Hall. The beautiful maid who had guided the trio earlier took a glance at them, pursed her red lips, and hurriedly walked towards the rear of the hall.
Soon after, a voice imbued with Yuan Qi ca from the direction of the rear hall, causing visible ripples in the air.
"Everyone, fighting is prohibited in the Business Alliance Hall. If you insist on acting here, don’t bla for being heartless."
Zhouyan knew he couldn’t make a move here, and with their miserable defeat in the evaluation conference, where Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance had lost four consecutive tis, Li Chuanchang was still lying on the jade platform. Staying here would only be embarrassing. He glanced coldly at Luo Feng and Yang Wanyi:
"I’ll let you remain arrogant for one more night; we’ll et on the stage tomorrow."
After speaking, Zhouyan turned and left, followed closely by the elder in black robes.
Qian Shaofeng took a few steps, suddenly stopped, looked at Luo Feng, and squinted:
"Be careful with your words in the future. Being arrogant requires true strength. Otherwise, losing face is trivial, but losing life is significant."
"Haha, when did the Azure Cloud Swordsman start caring for others? You should worry about yourself. I heard last ti at Falling Goose Valley, you clashed with so disciples from the Purple Extre Palace and were severely reprimanded by Xue Ziyi. I wonder if that’s true."
Yang Wanyi supported Luo Feng, her beautiful eyes looking at Qian Shaofeng; a slight smile appeared on her stunning face, but her words were ice-cold.
Qian Shaofeng’s eyes twitched fiercely, his gaze turned colder, and he snorted with contempt.
"Hmph, you all better take care of yourselves."
Seeing Qian Shaofeng leave, Luo Feng noticed the crowd gathering around and said to Yang Wanyi and Elder Qian:
"Let’s go too."
As they left, the crowd gradually dispersed, chatting enthusiastically about the earlier encounter between Luo Feng and Qian Shaofeng.
On the expansive streets of Big Market City, Luo Feng and his companions walked amidst the bustling crowd.
"Luo Feng, did you deliberately lose to Qian Shaofeng just now?" Walking alongside Luo Feng, Yang Wanyi suddenly asked.
Luo Feng touched his nose and smiled: "Did you figure it out?"
Yang Wanyi pursed her red lips, with a mischievous glint in her bright eyes:
"Don’t forget, I won the evaluation conference. You can’t escape my gaze. Although Qian Shaofeng comprehended Sword Intent and has Spiritual Rotation Realm seventh-level cultivation, his strength is indeed outstanding and ambitious. But compared with Lin Hongyi, he still falls short. In your previous duel with Lin Hongyi, your cultivation was evenly matched regardless of skill. Now, with your enhanced cultivation and strength, if you still couldn’t withstand Qian Shaofeng’s move, you’d be underestimating Lin Hongyi."
"That’s right, I lost on purpose."
Luo Feng smiled gently: "It seems Zhouyan and the others have believed it. So, my chances to represent you in tomorrow’s martial arts tournant are greater."
"I see. I was fooled just now..."
Elder Qian suddenly realized, nodding with a bitter smile.
He didn’t witness Luo Feng’s actions firsthand and thus wasn’t aware of his true prowess, previously thinking Luo Feng was really injured by Qian Shaofeng.
Luo Feng said: "Just unsure how much they’ve bought it."
Yang Wanyi smiled radiantly, "I will also be fully prepared. If you cannot represent in the tournant, I’ll have to go myself. Rest assured, I’ve broken through to the seventh level of the Daluo Golden Fla Skill, defeating Zhouyan might not be easy."
"Yes, that’s our only option."
Luo Feng nodded. Although Zhouyan didn’t make a move earlier, he roughly judged his opponent’s strength. From the Yuan Qi fluctuations, Zhouyan had recently advanced to the Spiritual Rotation Realm: mid-seventh level—if he and Yang Wanyi fought, they would each have a fifty-percent win rate. The other fifty-percent would depend on their seizing opportunities and on-the-spot performance.
Of course, the best scenario is if he could represent Yang Wanyi, ensuring an assured victory.
However, this matter isn’t under his control, they can now only do their best and leave the rest to fate.
On another street.
Zhouyan said to the elder in black robes: "Elder Qi, Luo Feng’s strength is so lacking, how did he manage to stop you?"
The elder slightly frowned, after contemplating, replied: "The person who blocked two of my moves yesterday was definitely him. I suspect he’s suffered severe internal injuries, significantly losing strength."
"Is that so?"
Suspicion flashed in Zhouyan’s eyes: he didn’t believe Luo Feng had any special attributes, suspecting the elder rely ca up with excuses after failing his task.
At that mont, Qian Shaofeng, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
"Zhouyan, the evaluation conference has ended poorly, leaving only tomorrow’s final martial arts tournant. Now it seems, among the four comrce alliances, only Dayang Comrce Alliance has the strength to vie for top alliance status. What are your plans?"
Zhouyan was slightly stunned, his eyes squinted as a cold gleam flashed:
"Don’t worry, Brother Qian. In tomorrow’s tournant, the competitor from the Dayang Comrce Alliance will surely be Yang Wanyi. She’s only at the initial seventh-level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, definitely not a match for ."
Qian Shaofeng sneered, although their acquaintance wasn’t long, he already recognized Zhouyan was a proud man, hence naturally doubtful of his claim, outright saying:
"How confident are you in your chances of victory?"
Zhouyan noticed Qian Shaofeng’s suspicion, his expression stiffened slightly, a kind of restlessness rising within, yet he dared not act out.
Qian Shaofeng was about the sa age as him, but already was at the pinnacle of the Spiritual Rotation Realm with a mastery of Sword Intent. His true strength was unfathomable, and even ten of him would not be a match.
The strength was secondary; the crucial point was that Qian Shaofeng was a scion of a noble family in the Imperial City with a close relationship to the Crown Prince. Otherwise, he wouldn’t represent the Crown Prince to assist him in seizing the position of the first comrce alliance.
Whether considering strength or family background, this person must not be offended.
Taking a deep breath, Zhouyan appeared thoughtful for a mont before speaking: "In my duel with Yang Wanyi, I have a seventy percent chance of winning."
Zhouyan dared not underestimate Yang Wanyi. After all, she was one of the Shuang Jiaoyang of Linglong Hall, and her cultivation of the Daluo Golden Fla Skill was renowned for its overwhelming power. Rumor had it that martial artists cultivating this technique often possessed the strength to challenge higher levels.
Hearing this, Qian Shaofeng’s brows arched gently.
Seventy percent chance, deducting the exaggerated part, the real odds probably wouldn’t reach sixty percent.
With this thought, Qian Shaofeng’s gaze fell on Zhouyan and said, "I will take your place in tomorrow’s martial competition."
"You’ll take my place?"
Zhouyan was taken aback, then imdiately shook his head, "No, that’s not possible. You are not from our Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance. Besides, there’s an unwritten rule for the third round of the martial competition in the comrce alliance that mbers under twenty should participate first."
"Rules are dead, but people are alive. Right now, Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance is still the first comrce alliance. If you say I’m with the Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance, who would dare oppose?" Qian Shaofeng replied indifferently.
"This..."
Zhouyan frowned slightly. He didn’t want Qian Shaofeng to represent him in the competition, there was actually another reason.
He had desired Yang Wanyi for quite so ti, since childhood, the won he had set his eyes on had never eluded him, except Yang Wanyi.
Originally, this wasn’t much of an issue. After all, those rejected by Yang Wanyi number not in the thousands, then at least in the hundreds, and so had better talent and family background than him. Since no one succeeded, it was understood and harmless.
However, last night’s intimate interaction between Yang Wanyi and Luo Feng had severely struck Zhouyan’s self-esteem. He didn’t believe there was anything he couldn’t compare with Luo Feng.
The martial competition was an opportunity, a chance for him to regain his dignity.
He wanted to defeat Yang Wanyi publicly, then severely humiliate her, causing her to lose face; to pull her down from that high pedestal and trample her.
Thinking of this, Zhouyan couldn’t help but feel a burst of satisfaction in his heart, "Yang Wanyi, you can’t bla , Zhouyan, for being ruthless; bla yourself for poor judgnt..."
Seeing Zhouyan remaining silent, Qian Shaofeng frowned slightly and said:
"Zhouyan, you must think carefully. For this comrce alliance eting, the Crown Prince has given you three priceless treasures and used many connections. If you lose tomorrow’s martial competition, and the Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance fails to beco the first comrce alliance, allowing the Dayang Comrce Alliance to win, you will bear the consequences."
Zhouyan snapped out of his fantasy, startled by Qian Shaofeng’s words, feeling a chill rise on his back. Those who offended the Crown Prince either ended up dead or crippled, and with the current financial strength of the Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance, there was no ability to make ands.
"Well... alright. You’ll fight tomorrow, but matters like this have never had a precedent. Whether it will work or not, I am unsure." Zhouyan licked his lips and said.
"You just do what you need to do, and I’m sure no one will dare say anything." Qian Shaofeng said indifferently.
Hearing this, Zhouyan breathed a sigh of relief. Although having Qian Shaofeng compete for him was sowhat unsatisfactory, it wasn’t without benefits.
With Qian Shaofeng’s strength, the position of the first comrce alliance was easy to secure.
As for Yang Wanyi, when the Heavenly Position Comrce Alliance becos the first comrce alliance, they would unite with the Crown Prince’s power to consu the Dayang Comrce Alliance. Yang Dingtian had offended the Crown Prince and certainly wouldn’t et a good end. By then, Yang Wanyi would be nothing more than a plaything at his rcy.
Realizing this, Zhouyan eased his mind and said to Qian Shaofeng:
"I’ll leave everything to you, Qian."
Qian Shaofeng nodded slightly, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He patted the cloud-patterned sword at his side and muttered to himself:
"It’s a pity Luo Feng isn’t representing Dayang Comrce Alliance. That person dared to disrespect Senior Brother Lu Xiao Yun. If he were competing, it would be a legitimate opportunity to teach him a lesson."
...
Luo Feng and his companions arrived at the Dayang Comrce Alliance’s base. Elder Qian had business affairs to attend to and took his leave.
The setting sun reflected on the lake, shattering into countless golden fragnts with the ripples, like countless playful little golden fish.
Luo Feng and Yang Wanyi walked side by side on the deserted stone path by the lake, their silhouettes elongated by the sunset, creating a beautiful scene.
Ordinarily lively and active, Yang Wanyi fell into an unusual silence, a warmth analogous to the sunset enveloped the space between them.
Yang Wanyi gently bit her red lips with her white teeth, glancing sidelong at Luo Feng’s figure. Perhaps due to the setting sun, her clear and vivid eyes like autumn water were veiled by an inexplicable light, her pretty face tinged with a faint blush.
She was contemplating the martial competition.
If Luo Feng represented her tomorrow, wouldn’t it an admitting in front of thousands that she was his fiancée?
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