The Battle Begins

The next day, dawn had already broken. Brilliant sunlight spilled across the land, painting everything in Wutan City a golden hue that looked exceptionally beautiful and enchanting.

Not long after the morning sun rose, only a few people walked along the streets outside, making them seem especially deserted.

But the Xiao Family was different.

Early in the morning, a burst of commotion immediately brought the entire Xiao Family to life.

Before the Xiao Family's martial arena, many Xiao Family disciples had gathered, talking animatedly among themselves, their indignation evident.

"Hey, have you heard? Someone is dissatisfied with the Xiao Family's current genius rankings and wants to challenge them, thereby reshuffling the list."

"Oh? So that's what this is about."

But a third person beside them disagreed.

"That's not it. According to the firsthand information I got..."

At his pause, the others grew dissatisfied and urged, "If you know, then hurry up and say it!"

Seeing everyone's attention focused on him, the man continued with a hint of pride:

"Alright, alright. According to the information I got, this supposedly started a few years ago. Two Xiao Family disciples fell for the same beautiful girl. One was a genius, while the other was a poor kid."

After pausing and seeing how interested everyone was, he continued:

"And so, they kept fighting. During one clash, the poor kid was no match for that genius and was forced to leave. He hid away and trained bitterly. After several years of hard cultivation, he finally made a tremendous breakthrough recently. This time, he came back to avenge himself. That's why this is happening..."

Upon hearing this, everyone collectively said, "Pfft~"

With such a melodramatic romance plot, no one believed him. It was obviously just a story—anyone who believed it was an idiot.

The group shook their heads with looks of disdain, no longer paying attention to the person who had spoken so earnestly, and moved off to one side.

Of course, there were plenty of such stories, with all sorts of different versions.

In short, the rumors only became more and more fantastical!

The reason was that this morning, they had each received a sheet of paper outside their doors, bearing the words:

Before the family martial arena, we settle this once and for all! Dare to come?

Just a few words, yet they had drawn almost every Xiao Family disciple here. Only those in closed-door cultivation or on the verge of a breakthrough had not come.

Before the martial arena, a group of Xiao Family disciples stood around and looked in every direction, trying to find the protagonists of this incident.

Even on the nearby pavilion, several family elders could be seen calmly drinking tea, openly wearing expressions of people watching a show.

After waiting for quite a while without seeing the protagonists appear, the crowd began discussing it again.

Some suspected that it was someone's prank. Others even shouted that they should find that person and beat him up badly to avenge this humiliation.

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind this incident watched the various expressions on their faces from the side, a faint sneer curling his lips.

Just wait. You'll have something to see soon enough.

Xiao Bai checked the time. The sun was already high in the sky, and he muttered, "Time's up!"

With a leap, he flew onto the stage.

Then everyone saw this scene: a young man jumping onto the martial arena.

He wore a pristine white fitted martial outfit, its edges traced with strands of golden thread. It was dazzling without seeming luxurious or gaudy.

The young man's long black hair was casually tied behind his head, yet it did not look out of place. Together with his clothes, it gave him an air of nobility and purity while also making him seem approachable.

With his handsome appearance, fine attire, and charming smile, he actually drew a burst of squeals from the girls below the stage, making the surrounding young men burn with jealousy.

Facing the girls' cheers below and the angry, hostile gazes of the young men, Xiao Bai displayed no excessive reaction. He merely looked calmly at the people beneath the stage.

After a while, when the crowd had quieted down, Xiao Bai adjusted his clothes and said a single sentence to those below, immediately stirring up a commotion.

That sentence was:

"Every generation produces its own talents, each leading the way for centuries. Geniuses of the Xiao Family, I think it would be better for our generation to let me lead everyone. After all, while you have some strength, you are still somewhat weak in my eyes. Therefore, I will reluctantly accept the position of number one."

The moment he said this, the crowd immediately erupted. Words such as arrogant, conceited, and utterly lacking in self-awareness sprang up from all around.

Xiao Bai looked at their reactions without any change in expression, because he had expected this from the start.

After that statement, he threw out another bombshell.

"Everyone, we are all Xiao Family disciples, so I won't beat around the bush. Those who refuse to accept this—do you dare fight me?"

As soon as he spoke, many people could no longer restrain themselves. They wanted to teach this fool who did not know his own limits a lesson, and quite a few of them were skilled.

Looking at the group, Xiao Bai did not dare to be careless. One person was not frightening; a whole group was.

"Don't rush. One at a time. Everyone will get a chance."

As though recalling something, he added, "Those who want to challenge me, go register over there. Otherwise, I might not remember your names later. After all, the weak are not qualified to be remembered..."

Following the direction Xiao Bai pointed, those wishing to challenge him discovered a spot where a chubby figure sat. That person was none other than Xiao Yuan, who had been beaten up previously.

Xiao Yuan waved at the crowd, signaling for them to come over, his expression one of looking down on the weak.

After everyone came over, his expression did not change at all. Calmly, he pointed at a box in front of him, on which was written:

To challenge the Guide, each person had to pay a registration fee of 20 Gold Coins. After all, the weak were not qualified to challenge him.

Why charge money? Because money could work miracles.

Money could buy the Magic Crystals Xiao Bai needed as an energy source.

Looking at that rule, the crowd was filled with fury, their eyes seeming ready to spit fire. Yet they also understood it somewhat—after all, it was impossible to deal with just anyone who came up to challenge him.

Before long, several people had signed up.

Among them were those angered by Xiao Bai, as well as some who came with the thought that the Guide had to be them...

After all, they were only twelve or thirteen, at the most impulsive age of adolescence. They had their own understanding of life, and once provoked, they immediately wanted to display their pride and make the provocateur see them in a new light.

After paying the registration fee, a sturdy, tiger-like boy leaped up and roared at Xiao Bai:

"You damned guy, you'll pay for your words. Remember this—the one who defeats you is called Xiao Hu."

Thus, the challenge officially began...