While Chen Heng, his daughter, and Wei Qingnian were hurrying to Jiangzhou, the Martial Arts Tournant began on the completely sealed-off Yanjing Ridge. However, in the two days leading up to the main event, neither Qin Fan, Lai Zhuge, nor Ye Jizu had appeared at the venue. After all, these initial rounds were not high-level enough to attract their attention.
Day turned to night. Fists and feet were rciless, and Dark Energy knew no pity. So died, others were injured—all proceeded as expected on Yanjing Ridge.
「The third day.」
It was the final day of the Martial Arts Tournant. Unlike the clear, sunny weather of the days prior, the sky above Yanjing Ridge was now blanketed in dark clouds. An oppressive tension, like a storm about to break, saturated the air.
THUD, THUD, THUD—!
Three heavy drumbeats echoed across the ridge. Eight large banners, each emblazoned with the words "Martial Arts Tournant," were planted in eight directions, fluttering in the wind. A gaudy red carpet was laid out in a circle around the arena, with tables and chairs arranged neatly upon it. As the drums sounded, nearly a hundred people began to file in. Among them were not only the competitors—Masters at the Great Success Stage of Dark Energy—and various lords of the Underworld, but also countless lower-level Martial Artists who had co to spectate.
"Master Zhou of the Xingyi Sect! Hasn't he skipped the last two tournants? I thought for sure he had advanced to Half-Step Grandmaster by now, but it looks like he's still at the Great Success Stage of Dark Energy!"
"The seventh-ranked Master on the last Heavenly List, Master Ou of Wing Chun, is here again?"
"Liu Chengguang, number three on the Heavenly List! A year ago, wasn't it rumored that he broke through to Half-Step Grandmaster in the snows of Siberia? What's going on?"
"Damn, why is this year's contest for the Heavenly List full of old veterans from the last tournant? What chance do the Masters who only recently reached the Great Success Stage have to make a na for themselves?"
"Masters who have ranked in the top ten of the Heavenly List usually don't participate again just for the prestige. This year is too strange! Could there be turmoil in the Underworld, forcing the various overlords to call upon their strongest Masters?"
Shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd of Martial Artists from the early and Middle Stages of Dark Energy. The Martial Arts Tournant had always operated on an unspoken understanding: Masters who had secured a top-ten title on the Heavenly List would withdraw from future competitions. Firstly, it allowed them to focus on breaking through to Half-Step Grandmaster. Secondly, it let them maintain an air of mystery. And thirdly, once they had won such an honor, the allure of the Heavenly List diminished significantly for them. But now, it was almost entirely a gathering of old faces from the last Heavenly List.
What in the world is going on?
Countless people were completely baffled.
Unlike the Martial Artists, the various dignitaries invited by them focused their attention on the powerful leaders of the Underworld factions.
"As expected, Zhou Yitian from the Demon City is here!"
"Look, isn't that the Ninth Master from Jinling? Aren't there rumors of severe internal strife within his faction? How does he have the ti to attend the Martial Arts Tournant?"
"There's Shen Sanyun from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. He lost his territory in the Demon City to the upstart Zhou Yitian last ti. Let's see what happens this tournant!"
"Old Man Qiao from the Three Eastern Provinces didn't attend the last one, but he's here now. It seems even he couldn't stand the quiet!"
"Wu Jingui from the Southwest, Lin Qingzhou from the Northwest… damn, they're all here! It looks like this Martial Arts Tournant is going to completely reshuffle the hierarchy of the Underworld!"
"Huh, where's Grandfather Ye from Lingnan?"
"His seat is still empty. All the other big shots are here, so what's his deal?"
"He couldn't have overslept, could he? I heard he only brought Lai Zhuge and so brat with him this ti. Is he planning on giving up?"
The chatter shifted from the various overlords to Ye Jizu. After all, even though Grandfather Ye only held court in Lingnan and had dissolved his other affiliations because of the tournant rules, no one in the Underworld dared to underestimate him, all due to Old Master Ye's reputation. Even the territory of Lingnan itself remained untouched, as no one was bold enough to covet it. But now, his prolonged absence was causing a wave of surprise and speculation.
「Midday arrived.」
Drums thundered from all eight directions! After a volley of three thunderous beats, a tournant organizer walked onto the stage and announced in a deep voice, "The contest for the Heavenly List begins now! Since eight of the top ten Masters from the previous list are present, this year's contest will be a challenge-based format! Last year's tenth-ranked Master was Master Xiong of Dragon and Tiger Mountain. We invite Master Xiong to the stage to accept challenges!"
As the organizer's voice fell, a stout, middle-aged man shot forward from his seat on the red carpet. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the dozens of ters, leaping onto the stage in a gust of wind and dust.
"Dragon Tiger Sect, Xiong Tianlin!" he shouted coldly, clasping his fists in a salute to the audience below.
"I'll be your opponent!" The mont Xiong Tianlin finished, a tough, dark-skinned man sprang from his chair. In a few powerful strides, he was on the stage. "I am a naless nobody. I will announce my na only when I am victorious! Master Xiong, I await your instruction!"
"My pleasure," Xiong Tianlin replied with a polite clasp of his fists. The next mont, he stomped his foot, causing the entire stage to shake violently as he charged toward the dark-skinned man. The force of his punch was so ferocious that even the Underworld bosses below could feel its savage power. The top ten of the Heavenly List certainly lived up to their reputation.
However, just as Master Xiong's fierce attack was about to land, the dark-skinned man let out a cold smirk. With ethereal, ghost-like footwork, he seed to glide forward. Then, just as Master Xiong closed in, he WHOOSHED behind him, his body suddenly launching into the air. In a posture like a great roc spreading its wings, his seemingly small fist smashed toward Xiong Tianlin's back!
BOOM—!
A muffled impact exploded through the air. Xiong Tianlin's body lurched half a step forward. Then, in a move that seed to defy human anatomy, he swung a backfist at the dark-skinned man.
WHOOSH—!
Facing the powerful incoming fist, the dark-skinned man didn't dare be arrogant. He twisted in mid-air, narrowly dodging the blow. He bood, "The tenth Master on the Heavenly List from Dragon and Tiger Mountain is truly formidable! Haha, Master Xiong, again!"
"Again!" Having missed his punch, Xiong Tianlin spun around, shook his body, and let out a roar as he charged head-on at his opponent once more.
Down below, a high-ranking Master from the Heavenly List sighed and shook his head. "It seems Master Xiong is going to lose. But where did this fellow co from? Does anyone in the Martial Arts World know who he is?" An expert could tell another's skill with a single move. In that brief exchange, he could see that the dark-skinned man was holding back. His reaction speed, the power of his strikes—he saw it all. Xiong Tianlin was no match for him. Defeat was only a matter of ti.
And as expected, after about thirty exchanges filled with thunderous clashes, the dark-skinned man's fist slamd into Xiong Tianlin's chest. Blood sprayed from Xiong Tianlin's mouth as he lost his balance, clutching his chest as he collapsed onto one knee.
"You let win, Master Xiong," the dark-skinned man said coolly, offering a perfunctory salute. He then turned his back on the defeated Master to face the crowd and declared arrogantly, "A naless nobody, representing the Li Family of Guangxi!"
THUD—!
As his words fell, a drum was struck. The tournant organizer announced, "Master Xiong is defeated! The tenth spot on the Heavenly List has a new owner! The challenge continues!"
"Who's next?!" the dark-skinned man sneered, a corner of his mouth curling up in a cocky grin.
It was at this mont that Grandfather Ye, the subject of so much speculation, finally arrived, fashionably late, with Qin Fan and Lai Zhuge in tow. His face, which usually carried a sowhat frivolous air, was filled with a proud, knowing smile.
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