The First Battle Is Mine

Outside the martial arts school, a group of people had been waiting on the open ground for a long time.

The number of people who came to challenge was not large, only seven or eight, less than ten.

The old man leading them was a Martial Master, with arms and legs thicker than ordinary people, his gaze sharp as a knife's edge.

The few people behind him, some middle-aged and some young, were all Martial Artists with a foundation in martial arts.

"These guys are all dusty and ragged, and they dare to come here to challenge us?"

The apprentices peeked over the wall to see the faces of the challengers.

They looked like refugees from Sucheng City, not even having enough to eat, let alone taking care of their appearance and clothes, appearing rather disheveled.

Judging by their presence, Jianxiong Martial Arts School already had the upper hand.

"The Head of the School is here."

After the news of the challenge arrived, the inner courtyard gate was opened wide.

Wang Jianxiong led his trusted disciples out of the martial arts school and confronted the uninvited guests.

Following behind them were the formal apprentices, all at the Internal Force level, with Zhou You and Li Hao among them.

With a rustle, dozens of people stood in front of the martial arts school, strong and imposing, with an overwhelming aura.

In comparison, the group of challengers was pitifully small.

"Wang Laohu, I challenge you."

Although the old man was thin, his voice was full of vigor, making everyone's ears buzz.

As a strong practitioner at the Martial Master level, he was a well-known figure in the martial arts circle of Sucheng City.

Wang Jianxiong narrowed his eyes, a habit of his when sizing up people, like a fierce tiger assessing its prey.

"Zhuang Daqiang, you're from the Sucheng martial arts circle, and coming to my Gongliang City to steal business is too much against the rules."

Gongliang City and Sucheng City had their own territories and did not interfere with each other. Crossing the line to fight for territory and business was a major taboo.

The old man was named Zhuang Daqiang, the head of a martial arts school in Sucheng City, famous for his 'Great Village Fist'.

"Sucheng is gone, and my disciples and apprentices can't even get enough to eat. What rules are we supposed to follow?"

Zhuang Daqiang flicked his hand sharply, and with a crack, the air exploded like a whip.

"Wang Laohu, I know you are fierce and your fists are deadly. I have already risked my life to come and challenge you."

"If I am fortunate enough to win by a move or two, I hope you will spare some space for me to open a martial arts school and make a living. If I lose, my life is yours."

These words were spoken with tragic intensity, and a bloody aura washed over them.

Considering the current situation of the refugees from Sucheng City, these martial artists had reached a desperate state of no return.

Wang Jianxiong grinned after listening. "Agreed!"

He then said, "I won't bully you because you are few. We'll decide the winner in three matches."

"The first match will be for Internal Force apprentices, the second for Qi and Blood disciples, and the third..."

Wang Jianxiong stared at Zhuang Daqiang. "You and I will personally enter the arena to decide the victor, life or death, how about it?"

"Good."

Zhuang Daqiang had set out from Sucheng, experiencing hardships along the way, and more than half of his disciples and apprentices had already fled.

Now, those who followed him were all loyal and were individuals he had high hopes for.

He was counting on these few disciples and apprentices to form the foundation for reopening a martial arts school and making a comeback.

"Zhuang Tie, you'll go in the second match."

"Disciple accepts Master's command."

Zhuang Tie was a middle-aged martial artist and also his trusted disciple, holding a status equivalent to Lu Qiang beside Wang Jianxiong.

Zhuang Daqiang's Qi and Blood disciples had all gone their separate ways to make a living, leaving only him to remain loyal by his side.

As for the Internal Force apprentice in the first match...

Both sides had an understanding; it was a best-of-three, with the key matches being the latter two.

However, Zhuang Daqiang's group had fled, their food and lodging were poor, and they were fighting on enemy territory. They couldn't afford to lose any match.

"Zhang Shiyu, you'll go in the first match."

When Zhuang Daqiang uttered this name, his eyes showed reluctance.

Among the Internal Force apprentices, he had the highest hopes for this disciple. He had meticulously trained him, believing he would surely become a Martial Master and be the pillar of the school in the future.

During their escape, both he and Zhuang Tie went hungry to ensure Zhang Shiyu ate first, fearing he would be weakened by hunger.

If he had a choice, the old man would never have let him step onto the stage.

Martial arts competitions could lead to injury, or even death, and a slight mistake could ruin one's foundation.

"Yes, Master."

Upon hearing Zhang Shiyu's address to Zhuang Daqiang, the people at Jianxiong Martial Arts School immediately knew his identity was unusual.

Even a trainee who had cultivated Internal Force could call him Master, which showed how much Zhuang Daqiang valued him and that he wasn't an ordinary trainee.

"Master, this young man is definitely not ordinary," Lu Qiang said softly to Wang Jianxiong.

He wasn't worried about his second match against Zhuang Tie at all. Jianxiong Martial Arts School had stood unchallenged for ten years, not because of an empty reputation, but because of the formidable prestige established by the School Head, Old Master Wang.

Zhuang Daqiang, who was in Sucheng City, addressed him directly as 'Wang Laohu'.

The advantage of fighting on home turf was a universally acknowledged fact by both sides. The disciples of Jianxiong Martial Arts School enjoyed three meals a day, had no worries about food and clothing, and lacked nothing in terms of accommodation. They also received regular secret medicine supplements. In contrast, Zhuang Daqiang and his group had abandoned their foundation in Sucheng City to come to Gongliang City. Unfamiliar with the area, they endured the hardships of traveling and eating on the go daily. Even if they possessed strength, they couldn't unleash it. Therefore, they had to win the first match to gain the upper hand.

"A declining family, no matter how many geniuses they have, can't resist the general trend."

"I guarantee that even the weakest disciple in my martial arts school can overpower him, do you believe me?"

Wang Jianxiong opened his eyes, a sharp glint radiating from them as he looked towards the formal trainees in the second row. Who among this batch of trainees who had cultivated Internal Force had the shallowest qualifications?

Zhou You and his sparring partner Li Hao were gathered around Xu Ying with other trainees from the city. Clearly separated from them were the trainees from the Zhuang family's estate outside the city, who belonged to Zhong Shaoying.

"Senior Brother Xu, who will the School Head choose for the first match?" a formal trainee asked full of curiosity. This was an opportunity to gain recognition.

Xu Ying put on a stern face. "Don't even think about it. The first match is thankless work." If they lost the first match on home turf, causing the School Head to lose face and tarnishing the martial arts school's reputation, the only outcome would likely be death as atonement.

The younger disciples of Zhong Shaoying nearby heard this and laughed, "Xu Ying, are you scared?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? If the School Head calls my name, I'll definitely fight and crush that kid." Xu Ying thumped his chest vigorously. With so many disciples present, he was an old-timer in the martial arts school's outer court and absolutely couldn't back down.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Wang Jianxiong said, "Trainee Zhou You, you will fight the first match." Not only others, but Zhou You himself was stunned. What, it's me? He couldn't understand for the life of him why the School Head would send him to represent the school. There were so many formal trainees, including those with ten or even twenty years of profound cultivation, so why him?

"Ahem, that's right," Wang Jianxiong said to Zhuang Daqiang. "See? This child joined the latest and has the shallowest cultivation." "Don't say I'm taking advantage of you; the first match is a guaranteed win for you." Lu Qiang, standing nearby, had a stern expression, thinking that his Master was as devious as ever. Outsiders didn't know, but those within the martial arts school understood that although Zhou You joined the latest, he could face the Phantom alone without retreating and fight without dying. This peculiar trait alone made him incomparable to ordinary trainees.

"Alright, you keep your word, Wang Laohu. I thank you." Zhuang Daqiang winked at Zhang Shiyu, telling him to fight with all his might and win the first match.