One Punch Shatters Sword!

Before Cheng Yuan could answer, a stout man beside him interrupted, "Little brother, is this your first time here? This martial arts tournament has ten matches in total. The first nine are ordinary bouts where victory is enough. The final, main event match is a blood fight, where one must die! Only one person can survive!"

Tang Jie's heart tightened. Participating in the martial arts tournament wasn't without danger. The first nine matches only required a win or loss, but the final, main event was a blood fight to the death!

Undoubtedly, everyone looked forward to the final blood fight the most. After all, the first nine matches could be rigged, but the final blood fight, where both sides risked their lives, was the most thrilling, the most real, and the most valuable!

Cheng Yuan also said to Tang Jie, "This blood fight is the most brutal, and ordinary martial artists don't dare to participate. However, the rewards for participating are extremely high!"

Tang Jie nodded slightly. The final blood fight was voluntary because it involved risking one's life, and the rewards for winning were the highest!

"The first match begins! Tiger Head Saber versus Iron Hand! Let's welcome our two brave fighters with applause!"

At this moment, the host's impassioned voice echoed through the arena, and waves of applause erupted.

From two passages below the fighting arena, two figures emerged.

One of them held a large saber and wore a tiger head mask, while the other was a middle-aged man with bulging temples.

It was clear that these were the two martial artists for the first match of the day, Tiger Head Saber and Iron Hand. These were their titles in the fighting arena!

"Begin!"

The host issued the command to start the match.

"Swoosh!"

Without any preamble, the two men in the arena moved. The man wearing the tiger head mask stomped his foot and swung his saber horizontally, unleashing powerful force that cut through the air with a chilling glint!

"So fast!"

Tang Jie's eyes lit up. The man with the tiger head mask had excellent saber techniques; he must have trained for at least twenty to thirty years!

As for the lean man named Iron Hand opposite him, he didn't use a sword or saber. Instead, he wore iron gloves on his hands.

"Clang!"

The lean man, Iron Hand, struck out with his palm, slamming it onto the blade of the saber. Instantly, the sound of metal striking metal rang out in the air, and sparks flew!

To clash with a blade barehanded, even with techniques like the Iron Sand Palm, was practically impossible. However, it was a different story when wearing metal gloves.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

Tiger Head Saber and Iron Hand engaged in fierce exchanges. The air filled with a series of metallic clangs and splashing sparks. The speed of their combat was so high that ordinary people could hardly see clearly!

In less than half a minute, they had exchanged thirty to forty blows.

"Tiger Head Saber is going to lose."

Tang Jie murmured.

As expected, the situation in the arena shifted. After dozens of exchanges, Iron Hand gradually discerned the flaws in Tiger Head Saber's techniques. He then launched a fierce offensive, pressing in with close-quarters combat!

Tiger Head Saber's large saber was rendered ineffective as his opponent closed the distance. He was forced to retreat repeatedly to create space but couldn't shake off his opponent's entanglement.

"Bang!"

Finally, Tiger Head Saber couldn't block in time. Iron Hand struck his left shoulder with a palm strike. A dull thud was accompanied by the sound of cracking bones. Tang Jie was sent staggering back by the powerful force of the palm strike, his left shoulder bone shattered!

"I surrender!"

Tiger Head Saber quickly shouted, knowing that with one arm broken, he had lost. Continuing to fight would only be self-humiliation.

"You flatter me," Iron Hand said, not pursuing further.

"This match, Iron Hand wins!" the host announced loudly.

"Damn it... Tiger Head Saber lost? I bet thirty taels of silver on him!"

Beside Tang Jie, the wailing of the stout man who had spoken earlier suddenly erupted.

Witnessing the scene, Tang Jie's blood also boiled, and his heart itched with eagerness. He looked at Cheng Yuan and asked, "I want to participate in the martial arts tournament, how do I do it?"

Seeing Tang Jie's desire to participate, Cheng Yuan's eyes lit up. He immediately said, "Come with me, I'll take you to see Manager Mu of this arena. Register now, and you should be able to compete in the next martial arts tournament."

Cheng Yuan then led Tang Jie towards a room outside the arena.

Meanwhile, in a large hall, a middle-aged man with a square face frowned as he looked at his subordinate. "Scarface didn't come today?"

The subordinate respectfully replied, "Manager Mu, Scarface seems to have been too heavily injured in the last match and hasn't recovered yet, so he didn't come."

Manager Mu shook his head helplessly upon hearing this. "Then we'll have to use a substitute."

It was common for martial artists participating in the arena to be unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, the arena had experience dealing with such situations and would find a substitute if necessary.

"Manager Mu!"

At this moment, Cheng Yuan and Tang Jie walked in from outside the hall. Cheng Yuan greeted Manager Mu.

Seeing Cheng Yuan, Manager Mu's face lit up with joy. "Cheng Yuan, you've come at the perfect time. Scarface for the fifth match can't make it. Why don't you substitute for this match? I'll give you a hundred taels for appearing!"

Cheng Yuan had participated in many matches in the arena before and was well acquainted with Manager Mu.

Cheng Yuan was tempted, but he quickly waved his hands. "I'll pass. I'm getting old now and don't want to fight anymore."

In the past, Cheng Yuan had participated in many martial arts bouts, winning more than losing. However, he had also sustained serious injuries in battles, leaving behind hidden ailments that had not yet healed. Now that Cheng Yuan was older, he wanted to live a few more years, so he was unwilling to participate in the martial arts tournaments.

Seeing Manager Mu's disappointed expression, Cheng Yuan immediately added, "However, I can recommend someone to you. His name is Tang Jie, and his strength is formidable, even surpassing mine!"

Cheng Yuan recommended Tang Jie to Manager Mu.

Manager Mu looked at Tang Jie, who stood beside Cheng Yuan. Tang Jie's face was calm, and despite his tall stature, a hint of youthful immaturity still lingered on his features.

This made Manager Mu doubt whether Tang Jie was skilled enough to participate in the martial arts tournament. As for Cheng Yuan's claim that Tang Jie's strength surpassed his own, Manager Mu felt Cheng Yuan was merely being modest.

Cheng Yuan was a master who had cultivated inner strength. Those stronger than him were first-rate martial artists. How could Tang Jie, a youth not yet twenty years old, possibly be a first-rate martial artist?

Manager Mu glanced at his subordinate standing nearby, dressed in black attire, and gave him a meaningful look.

The man in black immediately understood Manager Mu's intention: he wanted him to test Tang Jie's strength.

Clang!

Without any hesitation, the man in black instantly drew his sword and, without warning, slashed at Tang Jie's throat. The strike was swift and vicious; this man in black was undoubtedly a skilled swordsman.

However, to Tang Jie, a third-rate martial artist who hadn't even cultivated inner strength, this posed no threat whatsoever!

Tang Jie didn't even draw his saber. He clenched his right fist, unleashing his Boyhood Art's inner strength. A brilliant light erupted from his fist as he threw a punch!

The Meteor Art, when cultivated to this stage, filled one with true qi. The inner strength could form a natural, star-like silver glow. Its power was like a meteor, swift as lightning, immensely forceful, and sharp as a blade. It could already be ranked among the top first-rate experts!

Clang!

Tang Jie's punch struck the body of the sword from the side, avoiding the sharp blade. Amidst a cracking sound, the sword in the man in black's hand shattered from the impact of the punch. The broken sword fragment, swept by the force of the punch, flew backward and grazed past the man in black's neck!