In the center of the training ground, the five battle platforms were situated. On each platform, eight figures stepped up, with the Nalan family, the main house of the city lord, standing on the highest central platform, looking down on the others with pride. The other four platforms were located in the east, south, west, and north, respectively occupied by the Gu family, the Lin family, the Wen family, and the independent cultivators led by Qiulan.
At this moment, beside City Lord Nalan Xiong, an elder stood up and his gaze fell upon the battle platforms.
"The martial arts competition today is to test the strength of the outstanding young talents of Yangzhou City. Therefore, there is no need to hold back. Those who are defeated can admit defeat, and the battle will end. If they refuse to admit defeat, the battle will continue until one side is completely defeated, regardless of life or death."
The elder's words immediately caused a significant stir among the crowd. Refusing to admit defeat meant that life and death were not considered, which was quite ruthless.
Some proud martial artists placed great importance on their reputation, especially regarding admitting defeat, which they found extremely shameful. Therefore, few would deliberately admit defeat, and even if they were at a disadvantage, they would continue to fight to defend their honor, even if they lost, they would still be honored.
However, the elder's words made those people reconsider. This was equivalent to unrestricted combat. If both sides were evenly matched and neither would admit defeat, it would be a fight to the death, leading to deep enmity.
"Brilliant," many people secretly praised. The elder clearly represented Nalan Xiong's intentions, and by doing so, it would only benefit the Nalan family. After all, this time, the city lord's residence was the host. Those who dared to kill the city lord in the city lord's residence would be few, but the other groups might engage in a life-or-death battle, thus causing enmity between the families.
Nalan Xiong wanted to use this martial arts competition to provoke conflicts among the other major families. Although the other three family heads were aware of Nalan Xiong's intentions, they had no choice but to go along with it. They all wanted their families to be superior and be looked up to by others, so they naturally instructed their young talents to strive for victory.
Moreover, the elder had said that if they were at a disadvantage, they could admit defeat and end the battle. Therefore, this rule seemed fair, and they could not object. Who would admit that their family's disciples were inferior to others?
"For this martial arts competition, I have already obtained the list of all the participants. The battle arrangements will be determined by me. I wonder if the heads of the families have any objections." The elder's gaze fell upon the three family heads.
"Hehe, since it is arranged by the city lord's residence, I naturally agree," said the head of the Gu family, Gu Qing, speaking loudly as if he did not care at all.
"The previous martial arts competitions were also hosted by City Lord Nalan. This time, it should be the same," said the head of the Wen family, Wen Renyue.
"I have no objections," said Lin Badao, who naturally would not oppose.
"Then I, on behalf of City Lord Nalan, thank the heads of the families." The elder smiled slightly at the three and announced, "The martial arts competition will start with the first battle, which is an elimination round. The defeated will retreat, and the victors will advance."
"Now I will announce the opponents. Those whose names are called will remain on the battle platforms, and the others will wait below. On the main platform, Nalan Feng from the Nalan family will face Wen Xin from the Wen family; on the eastern platform, Gu Yun from the Gu family will face Lin Wu from the Lin family; on the southern platform, Lin Yu from the Lin family will face Wen Feng from the Wen family; on the western platform, Nalan Zhu from the Nalan family will face Feng Qian; on the northern platform, Duoming will face Gu Qing from the Gu family."
The five battle platforms can accommodate ten people at a time, forty people in total, and only four rounds of battles are needed to eliminate half, leaving twenty people.
Those whose names were not called walked down from the platforms, while the ten people whose names were called walked up to their respective platforms.
"Hehe, Wen Xin from the Wen family is really unlucky, meeting Nalan Feng in the first battle. Although she is not weak, she can only be eliminated with regret."
"I heard that Lin Wu from the Lin family is quite strong, already reaching the ninth level of the Qi Wu realm. It seems that the victor on the eastern platform will definitely be him."
"The southern platform should be won by Wen Feng, and the western platform by Feng Qian. As for the final northern platform, although Duoming is very mysterious and wears a mask, he is facing Gu Qing, so he is doomed to fail, with no chance of winning."
Before the battle even began, the crowd had already determined the winners and losers. After all, they were familiar with the young talents of Yangzhou City and knew the gap in their strength.
Duoming on the northern platform also caught the attention of the crowd. The martial artist wearing a silver mask was unknown to them, and he seemed to have a noble demeanor. Unfortunately, he faced Gu Qing, and the defeat was already a foregone conclusion. Gu Qing's strength was at the peak of the Qi Wu realm, and few could match him below the Ling Wu realm. A person with no reputation in Yangzhou City naturally could not defeat Gu Qing.
The crowd's predictions were quite accurate. Wen Xin, facing Nalan Feng, admitted defeat before the battle even began. Although reputation was very important, admitting defeat under Nalan Feng was not shameful. If she fought, it would be considered reckless.
The battles on the eastern and western platforms gradually came to a conclusion, with the victors as expected: Lin Wu, Wen Feng, and Feng Qian, who completely dominated their opponents, ending the battles quickly. Only the final northern platform remained, where the battle had not yet started, leaving everyone speechless.
Especially Gu Qing, who did not even acknowledge Duoming, treating him as if he were air, and his gaze remained on the other battle platforms, observing the battles. After all, he would soon enter the next round and needed to familiarize himself with the others' strengths.
"Nalan Feng is not an easy opponent, I hope I don't meet him. Lin Wu and Wen Feng are easy to defeat. As for Feng Qian, he seems to have become much stronger recently, but I can still handle him. Meeting any of them in the next round won't be a problem."
Gu Qing muttered to himself, completely ignoring Duoming, who wore a silver mask, and was already considering the next round of battles.
Finally, Feng Qian's palm struck his opponent, Nalan Zhu, who had no strength to continue and admitted defeat. All eyes turned to the northern platform.
"It's over, so fast," the crowd thought, believing the first round was about to end.
"Gu Qing, don't waste any more time," the head of the Gu family, Gu Qing, said coldly, his tone arrogant, as if to emphasize the strength of his disciple, who could easily defeat the opponent at any time.
"Yes, Lord," Gu Qing responded, then looked at Lin Feng and said coldly, "Get down yourself, I'm too lazy to move."
Lin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a silver mask, only his eyes and half his face visible, making it impossible to read his expression.
Like Gu Qing, he had been observing the battles. Since the other party was not in a hurry to act, why should he be? As for Gu Qing's arrogance, Lin Feng was already accustomed to the attitude of those self-proclaimed geniuses.
"Didn't you hear me? I told you to get down. If I move, you might not even have the chance to get down. I'll take your life directly."
Gu Qing, seeing Lin Feng's lack of response, frowned and said, "We from the major families look down on those so-called independent geniuses. How can they become great without the support of a family? Someone like Lin Feng, who has no reputation, is even more despised. Therefore, Gu Qing looked down on Lin Feng with disdain.
"Take advantage of the fact that I haven't changed my mind and get down," Lin Feng said, making everyone pause, and some even laughed, thinking he must be crazy.
Only the few people who came with Qiulan did not laugh. Lin Feng was mysterious to them, with great strength, even Wu Xiao was no match for him.
"Gu Qing, you're out of luck," Feng Qian, who had just won, thought, seeing the situation, believing that Gu Qing was courting death.
However, Gu Qing's face was grim, not expecting someone with no reputation to speak to him like that. He was the second person in the Gu family, one of the strongest below the Ling Wu realm, and highly regarded by the family.
"Grant him his wish," Gu Qing shouted, his voice cold, making everyone tense, thinking that Lin Feng was finished. Clearly, Gu Qing's intention was to have Gu Qing kill Lin Feng.
"Alright," Gu Qing, hearing the anger in his lord's voice, moved swiftly, so fast that he did not even give Lin Feng a chance to admit defeat.
"Wild Fierce Fist," Gu Qing shouted, his fist wind roaring, terrifying, as if the air was torn apart by his fist.
However, Lin Feng remained unmoving, and just as the Wild Fierce Fist was about to reach him, a brilliant light shone, and a sword beam descended from the sky.