Win and make money, lose and flip the table

Wang Hao stood up, walked out of the tent, and looked towards Jieyin City in the distance.

There, the auras of the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were like torches in the dark night, bright and dangerous.

A hint of a smile curled up the corners of his mouth.

"Three Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, and a high-level ghost tamer."

"The Central State has finally started to get serious."

"Fine. If I don't make you hurt a little, you won't know—"

"Just how hard the fists of the Eastern Wasteland are."

Wei Zhongxian asked in a low voice, "Master, what if we lose tomorrow?"

Wang Hao thought seriously for a moment.

"I have eight words."

"What?"

"If we win, we make money; if we lose, we flip the table."

Wei Zhongxian's respect grew.

Night.

In the Great Zhou military camp.

Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, and Lu Chenzhou were called into Wang Hao's tent alone.

Only Wang Hao and Wei Zhongxian were in the tent.

"You three are the strongest under my command," Wang Hao said straight to the point. "Xiao Chen, although your realm is the highest, there is a chasm between the Sky Soaring Realm and the Astral Qi Realm. If you meet force with force, you will most likely suffer. Tomorrow your opponent might be Mu Changliu. He also has a strange fire, but his mutation direction is different from yours. Your advantage lies in deeper mastery and stronger defense-breaking ability. His advantage lies in realm suppression. To win, you must drag the battle into close combat within three moves. His sword needs distance to exert its power; once you get close, his advantage will disappear."

Wang Hao then looked at Ye Guyun.

"Your sword, I have never asked about it. But I know your sword Dao cultivation has already touched the threshold of sword intent. If you face Chi Lian or Xuanming tomorrow, don't fight head-on. A swordsman can retreat a thousand miles if one strike fails. Look for flaws, and settle the victory with one sword strike."

"Lu Chenzhou, you are steady and have balanced combat power. If you face a high-level ghost tamer, your task is to stall. I will give you a protective jade talisman that can block one soul attack at a critical moment. As long as you withstand the first wave of weird erosion, you can win."

Lu Chenzhou cupped his fists. "I understand."

Wang Hao looked at the three of them and slowly said, "Tomorrow on the arena, I only have one requirement."

"Show the momentum of the Eastern Wasteland."

"Make the people of the Central State remember your names."

"Go."

The three bowed and withdrew.

Wei Zhongxian looked at their backs and whispered, "Master, if you cultivate them so much, in the future..."

Wang Hao smiled.

"Old Wei, I have never been afraid of my subordinates becoming strong."

"What I fear is that there will be no one to carry my empire for me."

Wei Zhongxian was silent and bowed deeply.

The next day.

Outside Kunlun Jieyin City, the Black Stone Arena.

The third round of the arena competition officially began.

The spectator stands were already packed.

Not only cultivators from Jieyin City, but also many great forces from afar had sent people.

Everyone knew that today's arena was the real show.

The Holy Sons and Holy Maidens of the Central State versus the geniuses of the Eastern Wasteland.

The result of this battle would determine the confidence and momentum of both sides before the Kunlun Conference.

On the arena, Wang Hao sat on the dragon chair, with the top ten geniuses behind him.

On the opposite spectator stand, the three Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, Mu Changliu, Chi Lian, and Xuanming, appeared at the same time.

The high-level ghost tamer sat in the corner, his face hidden by a bamboo hat, his expression unreadable.

Chen Tianlan stood in the center of the arena as the representative of the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall. His face was even uglier today than yesterday.

He looked at Wang Hao and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, today's arena, six matches. Each side will send out six people."

"According to the rules, if one side is defeated or admits defeat, the other side wins."

"Taking lives is not allowed."

"Using Martial God-level methods is not allowed."

"If there are any violations, the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall will intervene."

Wang Hao smiled. "Don't worry, I have always followed the rules."

Chen Tianlan's mouth twitched.

You follow the rules?

Your biggest rule is not following the rules.

But he didn't say it out loud. He just took a deep breath and announced loudly.

"The second round of the arena, officially begins."

As soon as he finished speaking, a fiery red figure descended from the sky and smashed into the center of the arena.

The Holy Maiden of the Chixiao Holy Land, Chi Lian.

She held a flaming spear, her red armor dazzling in the sunlight. Flames surged around her, the high temperature making the edges of the black stone arena start to turn red.

She shook her spear and pointed it towards the Great Zhou.

"People of the Eastern Wasteland, come out and take a beating!"

Her domineering aura leaked out, drawing cheers from the Central State direction.

Wang Hao turned to his side. "Who will go?"

The six people looked at each other.

Lu Chenzhou was about to stand up, but someone beat him to it.

Rong Xiaotian.

The man of few words stood up and cracked his knuckles.

"Your Majesty, I'll go."

Wang Hao glanced at him. "She is at the first layer of the Sky Soaring Realm."

Rong Xiaotian nodded. "I know."

"You will lose."

"Maybe."

"Then you still want to go?"

Rong Xiaotian grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Your Majesty, I never fight fights that I will definitely win. I fight fights that must be fought."

He stepped onto the stage and stood ten zhang in front of Chi Lian.

Chi Lian sized him up and sneered. "Are you Wanyan Gu? That madman who chases people with a knife?"

Rong Xiaotian shook his head. "I am not Wanyan Gu. My name is Rong Xiaotian."

Chi Lian raised an eyebrow. "Never heard of you."

"It doesn't matter." Rong Xiaotian rolled his neck, his fists slowly clenching. "You'll remember after we fight."

Chi Lian sneered. With a shake of her spear, the flames turned into a hundred-zhang fire dragon, pouncing straight at Rong Xiaotian's face.

Rong Xiaotian didn't retreat but advanced, his fists wrapped in golden astral qi, meeting the fire dragon head-on.

Boom!

The flames exploded, Rong Xiaotian's astral qi was scattered, and he stumbled back three steps.

But the fighting intent in his eyes grew even stronger.

"The astral qi of the Sky Soaring Realm is indeed different. It's more than twice as thick as the Astral Qi Realm."

Chi Lian's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're somewhat interesting. To take a strike with thirty percent of my power at the eighth layer of the Astral Qi Realm without injury, your fist foundation is very solid."

Rong Xiaotian didn't answer and rushed out again.

This time, his fists were faster.

The first punch shattered Chi Lian's flame shield.

The second punch smashed onto Chi Lian's spear shaft, making the webbing between her thumb and forefinger numb.

The third punch went straight for Chi Lian's face.

Chi Lian finally got serious. She swept her spear horizontally, the flames turning into a storm, sweeping Rong Xiaotian in.

Rumble!

Flames shot into the sky on the arena. Rong Xiaotian continuously threw punches in the sea of fire, his golden astral qi clashing madly with the crimson flames.

Fifty moves.

A hundred moves.

A hundred and fifty moves.

Chi Lian grew more and more alarmed as she fought.

She was clearly in the Sky Soaring Realm, suppressing her opponent by an entire major realm.

But this Rong Xiaotian was like a stubborn stone that couldn't be melted. Every punch was heavier, every punch was fiercer.

He had over a dozen burns on his body, but his gaze remained firm.

"What kind of monster are you?" Chi Lian couldn't help asking.

Rong Xiaotian panted heavily and grinned.

"A monster from the Eastern Wasteland."

The two hundredth move.

Rong Xiaotian suddenly unleashed a punch far exceeding the previous ones.

This punch gathered all the astral qi in his body, the golden astral qi turning into a roaring golden tiger.

Chi Lian's expression changed, and she pushed her flaming spear with all her might.

"Chixiao Burning Heaven!"

Boom!

The golden tiger and the flaming spear collided head-on.

The entire arena shook violently.

The spectating cultivators retreated one after another.

When the flames and golden light dissipated at the same time, Rong Xiaotian was kneeling on one knee, his right fist charred black, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Chi Lian was no better. The webbing between her thumb and forefinger was split, and her spear almost slipped from her grasp.

She stared fixedly at Rong Xiaotian.

"You lost."

Rong Xiaotian staggered to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and shook his head.

"I didn't lose."

He raised his left hand.

Chi Lian's pupils suddenly shrank.

This guy's right hand is crippled, and he can still fight with his left?

You—

Rong Xiaotian interrupted her, I haven't fallen yet.

Chi Lian was enraged, You're courting death!

She thrust her long spear out violently, the roaring flames transforming into a sharp cone that pierced straight toward Rong Xiaotian's chest.

In the nick of time, Rong Xiaotian formed a seal with his left hand, and a bolt of white lightning exploded from his body.

That was the protective white lightning Wang Hao had lent him.

The lightning was blinding, forcing Chi Lian to retract her spear and retreat.

Rong Xiaotian took the opportunity to close the distance, his left fist smashing ruthlessly into Chi Lian's shoulder.

Bang!

Chi Lian let out a muffled groan and staggered back seven or eight steps. Her shoulder armor shattered, revealing the fair skin beneath.

She looked at Rong Xiaotian in disbelief.

She was injured?

Injured by someone at the eighth level of the Astral Qi Realm?

Rong Xiaotian wanted to press the attack, but was pulled back by a streak of white lightning.

Wang Hao's voice sounded in his ear, That's enough.

Rong Xiaotian was startled. This subject hasn't—

You forced a Skysoar Realm expert to use her full strength and even wounded her. In this battle, you have already won.

Rong Xiaotian fell silent for a moment before slowly retracting his fist.

Chi Lian's face alternated between pale and livid.

Although she hadn't lost, this battle felt even worse than a defeat.

For a Skysoar Realm expert to be pushed to such an extent by an eighth-level Astral Qi Realm cultivator, even if she eventually won, it would be a humiliation once word got out.

Gritting her teeth, she stared at Rong Xiaotian. What is your name?

Rong Xiaotian.

Chi Lian turned and leaped off the arena without another word.

But everyone knew that from this day forward, the name Rong Xiaotian would spread throughout the Central State.

As Rong Xiaotian walked off the arena, Wanyan Gu went up to meet him and gave him a hard slap on the back.

Good job! You really showed them the spirit of our Eastern Wasteland!

Rong Xiaotian grimaced from the slap. Easy, my right arm is broken.

Wang Hao walked over and handed him a pill.

Take this and rest.

Rong Xiaotian bowed. This subject can still fight.

We'll talk about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.

Rong Xiaotian nodded and stepped aside.

For the second match, Wanyan Gu couldn't wait to go up, but Wang Hao held him back.

Su Lie, you go.

Su Lie stood up and silently walked onto the arena.

His opponent was a core disciple of the White Deer Academy, at the peak of the Astral Qi Realm.

Although not a Holy Son, he was still ranked in the top five of the White Deer Academy.

Su Lie wielded a saber and a ruler; his saber was like a storm, and his ruler like a city wall.

After exchanging twenty moves, Su Lie's saber technique suddenly changed. His previously wide and sweeping attacks abruptly retracted, transforming into an endless, dense net of blades that trapped his opponent within.

The cultivator from the Central State grew increasingly frustrated as he fought. After fifty moves, Su Lie struck him in the chest with the flat of his blade, sending him flying off the arena while coughing up blood.

Second match, the Great Zhou wins.

For the third match, Wanyan Gu finally took the stage.

He was up against a true disciple of the Pure Void Holy Land, who used soul-type martial arts.

Wanyan Gu's fighting style was as barbaric as ever. You aren't afraid of pain? Neither am I.

Your soul attacks give me a headache?

I'll endure the headache and hack at you all the same.

After taking over thirty slashes, the true disciple of the Pure Void Holy Land couldn't hold on any longer and took the initiative to concede.

Third match, the Great Zhou wins.

For the fourth match, Lu Chenzhou stepped onto the stage.

His opponent caused the entire venue to fall silent.

A high-level Ghost Tamer.

The gray-robed man slowly stood up, a deep voice coming from under his bamboo hat. That Lin Tiechuan from your Eastern Wasteland, why isn't he fighting today?

Lu Chenzhou said indifferently, Lin Tiechuan exhausted himself too much yesterday. Today, I am taking his place.

The gray-robed man was silent for a moment. It's all the same.

He stepped onto the arena with a single stride, his body devoid of any Astral Qi fluctuations.

Yet all the hairs on Lu Chenzhou's body stood on end.

It was the feeling of being targeted by some indescribable entity.

The gray-robed man raised his hand, and a large cloud of gray mist surged from his cuff.

Within the gray mist, countless twisted human faces could faintly be seen, letting out silent screams.

This is my anomaly—the Thousand-Faced Resentment.

Every face is a soul that I have devoured.

How many can you block?

Lu Chenzhou took a deep breath and slowly assumed a fighting stance.

His fist technique had no name; it was simply honed day after day in the military camp.

The simplest, most basic fist technique.

I can't block many.

But I can do one thing.

The gray-robed man asked with interest, What?

Lu Chenzhou looked up, his gaze as calm as water.

Knock you out of the arena.

As his voice fell, he threw a punch.

The result of the fourth match exceeded everyone's expectations.

Lu Chenzhou didn't use any flashy martial arts.

He merely punched.

Every punch struck the weakest point of the gray mist.

The gray-robed man's Thousand-Faced Resentment was indeed bizarre, and those resentful soul faces continuously eroded Lu Chenzhou's divine soul.

But Lu Chenzhou's divine soul was tougher than anyone else's.

He came from a military background and had experienced countless life-and-death battles.

To him, the erosion of the resentful souls was nothing more than another kind of battlefield.

By the seventieth punch, Lu Chenzhou shattered the core of the gray mist with a single blow, sending the gray-robed man flying ten zhang away.

When the gray-robed man landed, his bamboo hat shattered, revealing a pale face covered in runes.

He stared at Lu Chenzhou, a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

Your divine soul... has no flaws.

Lu Chenzhou said indifferently, You don't have the qualifications to touch my flaws yet.

The gray-robed man took a deep look at him, turned, and left.

Fourth match, the Great Zhou wins.

For the fifth match, Xiao Chen took the stage.

His opponent was the Holy Son of the White Deer Academy, Mu Changliu.

Mu Changliu smiled. It's finally our turn.

An exotic flame danced in Xiao Chen's palm. Please.

Mu Changliu drew his sword, and a pale blue flame surged from the blade.

That was an exotic flame mutated from exotic water, so cold that it formed frost over a hundred zhang around them.

The two exchanged a glance and attacked simultaneously.

Exotic flame against exotic flame.

Dark red against ice blue.

The entire arena transformed into a fiery purgatory.

The duration of their battle was shorter than all the previous matches.

Only thirty breaths.

Thirty breaths later, Xiao Chen's clothes were burned with over a dozen holes by the ice fire, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Mu Changliu's jade sword was covered in cracks, and blood seeped from the webbing of his hand.

You are very strong, Mu Changliu said seriously.

So are you, Xiao Chen nodded.

We will fight again next time. Mu Changliu sheathed his sword. In today's battle, I cannot defeat you, and you cannot defeat me.

Xiao Chen tacitly agreed.

Fifth match, a draw.