Despicable

As the flames were continuously sucked in, the thin, cloth-like wall of fire finally dissipated.

"As the fire wall disappeared, a hurricane blade mixed with flames slashed straight down, but just three centimeters from Huo Rulie's hair, the flames sucked into the wind blade ran wild like runaway horses whipped!"

"Boom!" The flames exploded directly, and the intense heat waves surged towards the audience, but Qi Yunlong intervened to isolate the raging heat.

The intense heat made Huo Rulie's robes flutter, but his figure remained majestic and upright, showing extraordinary prowess.

"Uh... how... is this possible..." Mo Changlong was now ten zhang away from Huo Rulie, charred all over, with only a pair of eyes that were white and filled with bloodshot, full of disbelief.

Not to mention Mo Changlong, even the people in the audience were deeply surprised. "An unknown kid... actually... actually defeated Mo Changlong, and a crushing defeat at that, without even making a move, he burned Mo Changlong beyond recognition."

Huo Rulie looked at Mo Changlong and said, "Admit defeat, you have no chance of winning."

"Me, lose? What a joke, how could I possibly lose!" At this time, he was lying on the ground, but his voice was still firm, and wisps of white smoke were still coming out of his mouth as he spoke...

"How could I possibly lose to you!" He was a recognized genius in Flowing Wind City, and he came to participate in this competition to prove himself and make a name for himself. How could he accept losing to a guy who came out of nowhere?

"A soft sigh, sorry, I am determined to win this competition." Huo Rulie waved his sleeve, using Mystic Force to gently brush him off the stage.

Watching Mo Changlong leave the stage, Qi Yunlong shouted, "Huo Rulie versus Mo Changlong, Huo Rulie wins!"

Hearing the announced result, Qi Panjian gaped and looked at Xiao Feng in surprise, "How did you know?"

"The fire he uses is not ordinary fire. I think the fire-based Mystic Skill he cultivates should be extremely powerful. If it were ordinary fire, Mo Changlong's fighting style might not be without a chance of winning, but he was too arrogant and directly absorbed it, and he couldn't control it, so Huo Rulie didn't even have to make a move before he self-immolated and lost," Xiao Feng explained.

"This fire should be called 'Bonechill Netherflame'," Qi Qingyun added from the side. "I once saw this flame in an ancient book, but according to the book, the inheritance of this fire has long since disappeared. He must have obtained a lucky encounter and refined this Bonechill Netherflame..."

Xiao Feng had not read ancient books, but the reason why he could judge so clearly was also because of the Vermillion Bird Requiem he cultivated, his understanding of fire-based Mystic Force was already extremely high.

"..."

With the official announcement of the competition results, the atmosphere at the scene also rose.

"Who is this person, so powerful?"

"He defeated Mo Changlong without even making a move, this kid is really scary."

"Yeah... this person's control of fire is so skilled, Flowing Wind City has added another rising star..."

"Hahaha... well done!" Qi Yunlong was also generous with his praise, and even extended an olive branch: "I wonder if this young friend would be willing to join the Qi Family? I happen to be short of a disciple, and I will use great resources to cultivate you!"

"Hiss—" As Qi Yunlong's words spread, the audience below also felt a strong sense of envy. To be accepted into the Qi Family, how great would that be?

"Yeah, and to be Qi Yunlong's personal disciple, the treatment and status are simply a step to the sky."

Huo Rulie respectfully bowed: "Thank you for the Qi Family Head's kindness, but when I came, I had already made an agreement with the Si Family. The Si Family brought me to participate in this competition. If I can achieve outstanding results in the competition, I will join the Si Family, so I cannot accept your kindness, please forgive me."

"Hahaha, what crime do you have? I am now envious of the Si Family for being able to recruit a genius like you." He finished speaking and looked at the Si Family: "You Si Family are really lucky to have recruited such a genius."

Situ Hao stood up and smiled: "Thank you for the Qi Family Head's words, but your Qi Family has produced a Qingyun, saying this, why does it sound so awkward?"

"Hahaha..." Qi Yunlong laughed heartily: "I won't waste everyone's time, the competition continues. Now Huo Rulie is the ring leader, and anyone who wants to challenge him can come on stage and compete."

Time passed, and just as the time for defending the ring was about to end, no one actually stepped onto the stage. After all, Huo Rulie had defeated Mo Changlong, and now, except for someone from the four major families, who would go up to court trouble?

"I'll come and learn a thing or two! Just as the time for defending the ring was about to end, a figure flew out from the Wang Family's seat. This person had a leopard's head and ringed eyes, and his face was full of majesty and fierceness."

Stepping onto the stage, this person looked arrogant: "Du Kongpo is here to ask for your guidance!"

"It's Du Kongpo, why did he come up?"

"How is this guy even qualified to participate?"

"..."

As soon as this person appeared, he seemed to have provoked public anger, making many people indignant.

"What's going on with him?" Xiao Feng asked Qi Panjian next to him.

"Hmph! Just a dog." Qi Panjian sneered: "This person is 20 years old, God Tribulation Realm level 10, and he is extremely fierce and violent. He relies on his talent to do all kinds of evil in the city."

"But he bullies the weak and fears the strong, and never provokes people he shouldn't, and can even be driven like a dog. It was only recently that the Wang Family recruited him after becoming the city lord, and he has been much more well-behaved since then."

"I don't know what the Wang Family was thinking when they recruited this person."

"I see..." Xiao Feng nodded to show his understanding.

"Please enlighten me." Huo Rulie did not care about the surrounding discussions, and concentrated all his attention on the person in front of him. This person was at God Tribulation Realm level 10, two levels higher than himself, so he had to be cautious.

After confirming that both sides were ready, Qi Yunlong said loudly: "The competition begins!"

As soon as the sound of the start fell, Huo Rulie rushed up, his hands burning with fire, and the explosive flames slammed down on Du Kongpo.

"Pfft..."

"Hehe..." Du Kongpo sneered, raised his right hand and caught Huo Rulie's fire fist with one hand: "Is that all?" But in just an instant, his smile disappeared.

"Ugh, ah, ah, ah!"

He retreated again and again... He had just mocked Huo Rulie for less than two breaths, and in an instant, the Bonechill Netherflame that wrapped around Huo Rulie instantly entangled him like maggots attached to bones, and the burning pain made him unable to help but scream.

But realizing that he was on the martial arts stage at this time, he forcibly suppressed the scream, but the twitching muscles on his face showed his pain.

"Hahaha…"

"Serves him right…"

The man had only just embarrassed himself when he was mocked by many in the audience, which showed just how disliked he was.

Huo Rulie didn't give him any chance to catch his breath, instantly condensing flames in his palm and sending a fire fist straight down.

He staggered, raising his right hand to block, a look of sinister resentment in his eyes, his left hand reaching into his belt… As the fire fist slammed down, he was sent flying.

Huo Rulie pressed his advantage, his palm covering Du Kongpo's body, ready to blast him off the stage… but in an instant, Du Kongpo's hidden left hand shot out, slapping hard towards Huo Rulie's face… Huo Rulie instinctively raised his other hand to block, but what followed wasn't Mystic Force, but a cloud of purple "powder"!

"Ah…" As the powder entered his eyes, Huo Rulie instinctively screamed, the Mystic Force he had just gathered instantly dissipating.

At this moment, Du Kongpo took advantage of Huo Rulie's vulnerability, slamming a palm into him.

"Slap!" The crisp sound of the slap pierced the eardrums, and Huo Rulie was sent flying.

"Bang!" The sound of him hitting the ground echoed across the arena, and he rolled several times before stopping to cushion the impact, followed by a large foot stomping hard on Huo Rulie's chest.

"Hahaha!! Weren't you very powerful? Ah! Keep going!" Du Kongpo looked deranged, not only stomping on Huo Rulie's chest but also twisting his foot.

"Despicable!"

"Shameless and despicable!"

"How can this person be so shameless!"

"Using such underhanded tactics and still acting so arrogant!"

"Humph! The rules don't say you can't use other means to win," Du Kongpo retorted arrogantly.

"..."

"Netherflame Burnweed!!!" Xiao Feng frowned and muttered, "This grass is a dark purple color. Once contaminated, the whole body will feel like it's being burned by fierce flames. Most importantly, in a world filled with Abyssal Dust, this grass can turn dark purple, and its toxicity should not be underestimated. If not treated in time, once the poison penetrates deeply, the eyes will go blind!"

"I surren…" Huo Rulie knew that he had no chance of winning in his current state and was about to surrender, but who knew that Du Kongpo would directly stomp on Huo Rulie's palm!

Crack!

"Aaaaaah!!!"

The sound of bones breaking echoed in everyone's ears. As the saying goes, the ten fingers are connected to the heart. Du Kongpo's foot probably shattered all the bones in Huo Rulie's palm.

"Hahaha… Weren't you having fun hitting me just now? Keep going!" As he spoke, he was about to stomp on the other palm…

Just then, Qi Yunlong waved his sleeve, gently brushing Du Kongpo away from Huo Rulie, and then brought him to the Si Family's seat. Du Kongpo seemed to have anticipated this and watched coldly from the side.

"Brother… Brother…" A sorrowful child's voice called out from the side. It was Huo Rulie's younger sister. Her cheeks were stained with tears as she looked at the dying Huo Rulie with a look of grief.

Situ Hao looked at the dying Huo Rulie with a livid face and questioned, "Using despicable and shameless means is one thing, but why did you have to be so vicious?"

"Haha… May I ask the Si Family Head, when did the rules say that special 'means' couldn't be used? And I didn't hear him say he surrendered, so naturally, I had to continue until he lost his ability to resist."

"You…" Situ Hao's face was flushed red. He was straightforward by nature, and now he was rendered speechless by this.

Moreover… Du Kongpo said slowly, "He didn't surrender, nor did he lose his ability to resist, so why did you take him off the stage directly? Qi Family Head, I'm afraid that's not in accordance with the rules either…"

"..."

[The next chapter will be about the protagonist…]