Chapter Eighteen: The Kick-Off Begins

  Thanks for your sharp insight!

  Famous throughout Longxiang City, a once-in-a-century young genius, only seventeen years old, has already opened up his meridians and become a warrior! Everyone knows that as long as he doesn't die prematurely, his future prospects are limitless, and it's even possible for him to become a general of the empire!

  As he entered, all eyes on the entire square focused on him, and even another handsome young man standing behind him and a beautiful woman were ignored.

  On the vast martial stage, there was a row of VIP seats, on which sat a middle-aged man in purple brocade, with a knife-carved face, full of calmness and dignity, who was none other than the lord of Longxiang City!

  On either side of the city master sat four people, who were the judges of the kick hall competition. Each person's background was not small, and surprisingly, there was even the leader of the Red Carp Society - Hong Xue!

  She wore a soft, crimson cheongsam, her snow-white skin as smooth as cream, her long legs stretched out at an angle on the chair, elegant and noble, exuding an aura that brooked no disrespect.

  Looking at the white-clothed young man walking over, Hong Xue's beautiful eyes sparkled with a strange light. She had been extremely intelligent since childhood, and whether it was music, chess, books or painting, she was almost proficient in everything. If she hadn't put most of her energy into practicing martial arts, she would have definitely become a famous talented woman.

  Even though she was distracted by playing the piano and reading books, she still entered the advanced martial arts at the age of 16. Now that four or five years have passed, although she has not yet grasped the essence, she is only one step away from becoming a martial artist. She is confident that she can become a martial artist before the age of 30!

  But the young man in white in front of her, unexpectedly became a warrior before the age of 18, such an astonishing talent, even she couldn't help but sigh, in her mind, perhaps only one person could be compared to this young man in white.

  "That town's demon subduer's disciple, seemingly only twelve or thirteen years old, is already a high-level martial artist. If he can comprehend the acupoints and become a warrior before the age of eighteen, his innate talent might be able to rival this person." Red Snow thought to herself.

  "It's really a hero emerging in his youth." The city lord, sitting beside her, looked at Xie Jianfeng's cold and stern demeanor, and was overjoyed. He smiled and said: "Since that 'Zhuo Xiao' a hundred years ago, there hasn't been such an outstanding talent. Wearing the same white clothes, this Xie Jianfeng has a few hints of 'Zhuo Xiao's' shadow."

  "The city master is being too generous, Zhuo Xiao was already a warrior at the age of 16, his natural talent can't be compared to Jian Feng's." A middle-aged man in black clothes said humbly, although his words were very polite, but his eyes were full of self-satisfaction.

  "Don't be modest, Zhang brother. Your martial arts school is truly impressive. To have produced someone with such exceptional talent, it seems that after this tournament, you should prepare for a carpenter." The city lord said with a smile.

  Carpenter?

  "Yes, when the time comes and the threshold is broken, what can be done without a carpenter?" The city master burst out laughing.

  The middle-aged man in black also came to his senses and followed with a smile.

  At this time, with the arrival of the three participants from the Tianlong Martial Arts Hall, the second martial arts hall followed closely behind, which was the Hansiang Martial Arts Hall that came in second place in the previous martial arts competition. Then came the Tingyu Pavilion and finally the Zhujian Martial Arts Hall. After these several martial arts halls, the remaining martial arts halls arrived one after another, entering the arena in order of their ranking from last time.

  "Hmm?" The lord's gaze swept across, suddenly seeing a flag that had just entered with a pattern of a proud sun, "This crest... is the Pure Yang Martial Hall?"

  The black-clad middle-aged man beside him looked over and saw Tang Tian walking towards them with Tang Long and two others. The two were a young man and a middle-aged man, the latter of whom had a robust physique, his entire body rippling with muscles, exuding immense strength at first glance.

  "Thirty years ago, the first Wu Guan, now it has actually fallen to this point." The city master couldn't help but shake his head in regret. The rise and fall of glory is like the ebb and flow of the tide, always leaving people with a sense of sighs and regrets.

  The middle-aged man in black looked at Tang Tian, a cold smile spreading from the corner of his mouth.

  At this time, about twenty or thirty martial art schools entered the square. The entire vast martial art school fell silent. The city master stood up and walked to the center of the martial stage, looking around the audience, and said loudly: "The kick-off ceremony of the martial arts competition, which is held once every six years, has finally begun! This is a day worth expecting. I won't say more about the beautiful opening speech. As for the rules of the competition, I believe everyone is also clear. The last eight people who enter the finals will receive a reward of 300 taels of white silver. Among them, the top three will receive a 'Fei Ye Ge' forged weapon. As for the first place, they will receive the imperial court's special award - the first martial art school plaque, symbolizing the highest honor!"

  Wow!

  The square was filled with a deafening roar like thunder and waves crashing against the shore.

  Three hundred taels of white silver is enough for a common family of four to live on for a lifetime. As for the "Fei Ye Ge" forged weapons, they are absolutely exquisite, and even warriors would be delighted to obtain the armor forged within.

  And as for the first-place winner, the benefits brought by the supreme honor are even more numerous. With this plaque, one can also receive a stipend from the imperial court, which will only be cut off after six years when the next session begins.

  Dozens of martial artists below the stage, their eyes shining with excitement, while those standing in front, including the Tingyu Pavilion, Hanshang Martial Arts Hall and Zhujian Martial Arts Hall, showed no expression, occasionally glancing at the white-clothed youth at the forefront of the crowd, a hint of battle intent flickering in their eyes.

  "Today is the elimination match." The city master looked down at the entire venue and said loudly: "All the masters of the martial arts halls, please come up to draw lots. According to the rules, the top three martial arts halls from last time will directly participate in tomorrow's formal exchange and compete for the top eight."

  As soon as the words fell, figures emerged from the crowd and walked onto the martial stage, where a beautiful woman held a giant lottery box to draw lots.

  Tang Tian felt a 16th bamboo slip, returned to the stage, and Tang Long, who was participating for the first time, looked over curiously and said: "According to the rules, our opponent's martial arts school should be the 15th bamboo slip, right?"

  "Not bad, this rule is extremely simple. The two slips next to each other exchange with each other, such as the 17th bamboo slip exchanges with the 18th, and the 19th exchanges with the 20th, and so on." Tang Tian nodded his head.

  "No matter who it is." Tang Long clenched his fists, with a glint in his eyes. "As long as it's not that Xie Jianfeng, I won't lose to anyone else!"

  "Do your best." Tang Tian smiled slightly and then lightly sighed, "If your younger brother were here, our martial arts school taking second place would be a sure thing."

  Tang Long nodded slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, "I hope nothing happens to him."

  ……

  After everything was done, the intense martial arts tournament officially began amidst the drumbeats. The remaining martial art schools were all praying that their opponents would not be the Bamboo Sword School. Although they only came in fourth last time, there wasn't a huge gap between them and third place Listening Rain Pavilion. Nobody wanted to meet them.

  Time flies.

  At noon, the sun was like fire.

  "Fifteen and sixteen, please send out your personnel." A middle-aged referee shouted loudly on the martial arts stage.

  "Dad, I'll go. I'll take care of the three of them by myself." Tang Long said with a hint of arrogance and unruliness in his eyebrows.

  Tang Tian shook his head and said, "Your strength can't be exposed so early, it's too eye-catching and not good. You'll go last." He then turned to the middle-aged man beside him and said, "A'Dong, you go."

  "Yes, sir." The middle-aged man stood up, he would be thirty in two more years and wouldn't be able to participate, this was his first time, also his last time participating in such a grand martial arts competition, his emotions were surging, with determination and firmness in his eyes.

  Adong's opponent was a young man with a cold and arrogant expression. When he saw Adong's martial attire, his eyes showed disdain, and he sneered: "The former number one martial arts hall, now actually sends someone of your age, it's really embarrassing, is the hall out of people?"

  Adong's face fell, and he said, "Didn't your master teach you any manners or refinement?"

  "He only taught me how to fight!" The young man sneered, and under the judge's announcement, his body suddenly rushed towards Adong. Since it was an elimination match, no weapons could be used, so he directly clenched his fists and pressed down on Adong with his elbow.

  Adong snorted coldly, clenched his fists and launched the "Kanglong Jin" boxing technique to meet the enemy head-on.

  ……

  The city master looked at Ah Dong's movements and sighed deeply, "At such a big age, he is only an average martial artist. It seems that after the loss of Wò Lóng Chí, the Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall has indeed become decadent."

  The middle-aged man in black beside him just smiled, with a hint of sarcasm in his humble smile.

  On the other side, Hong Xue looked puzzled and glanced at the waiting area of Chunyang Wuguan, but didn't see Tang Lin's figure. Her eyebrows furrowed, seemingly thinking about something.

  ……

  More than ten minutes later, Ah Dong in the martial arts hall was covered in injuries and defeated by the young man. Tang Long couldn't bear to watch and loudly persuaded him to give up from below the stage, but Ah Dong stubbornly used his last bit of strength before reluctantly falling down.

  Next is that handsome young man.

  The young man on stage had exhausted a lot of energy and soon fell under the fierce attack of this handsome young man.

  In the second round, this handsome young man was defeated again in front of another youth sent by the opposing side. Then it was Tang Long's turn. He had been enduring bitterly under the stage, remembering Tang Tian's teachings that he couldn't expose his true strength. But as soon as he went on stage, he was filled with anger and beat that youth until he spat blood. Next, the martial arts hall sent out a delicate young woman, only a mid-level martial artist.

  Tang Long had a bit of arrogance, never willing to bully women. In the face of this elegant woman's attack, he was somewhat hasty, but relying on his strong strength, he finally won in the end.

  The competition between the two martial arts schools was like a drop of water, and didn't make too many ripples. Most of the audience couldn't even stay awake until halfway through.

  The day after tomorrow.

  Pure Yang Wu Guan made it into the top 16 and will compete with the Wu Guans that advanced from the elimination round for the final eight spots.

  In the final random draw, I drew the Listening Rain Pavilion Martial Arts Hall.

  ……

  Updated on time, seeking Zhang's recommendation votes~~