City God Temple had stood for a thousand years, weathering the passage of time.
Once a place of abundant incense, it had fallen silent amid the clamor of the interstellar age. Yet today, this ancient temple had been given a new lease on life.
A grand martial arts tournament was about to begin.
The eastern sky gradually paled, and the rising sun, like a referee making an unhurried entrance, shone down on the newly built arena in the temple's front courtyard.
The arena was a platform built of sturdy timber, more than two meters high, with stands all around and barriers set up around it.
By then, a vast crowd had gathered outside the stands.
Many had arrived in the middle of the night, all for this rare public tournament.
The media had also rushed to get ahead of the pack. Television stations, online livestreamers, and print media arrived one after another, setting up all sorts of recording equipment. It was clear that this tournament's influence had already reached far beyond a small exchange between martial arts schools.
Clang, clang, clang!
As the melodious bells of City God Temple rang out, the roads around the temple began to bustle.
Teams from martial arts schools across the region streamed in like brocade, each carrying its school's flag and emblem to showcase its distinctive style.
First came Qingyang Martial Arts School. They appeared in matching blue training uniforms, dozens of students marching in perfect formation with an imposing air.
Close behind was North Leg Martial Arts School. Its members wore white training uniforms and threw punches as they entered. Their synchronized movements and dazzling whirlwind kicks drew wave after wave of cheers.
Then the other martial arts schools arrived in succession. It seemed that every school in Yunyang had come.
They all showed off their finest skills. Some teams excelled in nimble, fluid movements, while others impressed with sheer power. They were going all out to show off, hardly looking as though they had come to cheer anyone on. It was more like a performance—and an advertisement for their schools.
Of course, some had genuinely come to support Tiger Might Martial Arts School.
But there probably weren't many. Martial arts schools were competitors far more often than they were friends.
"Look over there! Yunhe Martial Arts School is here too!"
Exclamations rang through the crowd, and many people pointed toward the entrance.
Yunhe Martial Arts School had only a dozen or so people. They also wore matching blue uniforms. Two disciples at the front held a banner as the group passed through the entrance and headed toward the venue.
Their numbers were pitifully small, nothing compared to the teams that easily numbered a hundred or more. They put on no performance, either; they simply walked in.
"I heard Yunhe Martial Arts School's master, Lin Xiangdong, is an Inner Sect disciple of the Yunhe Sect. He once killed a peak Dark Strength martial artist with a single punch!"
"Bullshit. That was then. He just got beaten by Xiongying Martial Arts School not long ago. I can't believe he's got the nerve to show his face today!"
"He lost and still came? Uh... just go home!"
"..."
The crowd's chatter was full of mockery.
Lin Xiangdong's body trembled slightly with anger, but he didn't respond at once. He simply drew a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to suppress the emotions threatening to burst out.
His gaze swept over each disciple, catching the hurt and anguish in their eyes.
Some disciples lowered their heads to avoid the barbed words.
A flicker of pain crossed Lin Xiangdong's eyes. He slowly raised a hand and gently patted the shoulder of a disciple beside him. It was a silent word of comfort—and a passing of strength.
The disciple looked up and met Lin Xiangdong's encouraging gaze, full of trust and resolve.
Like a warm beam of light, it instantly dispelled the gloom in their hearts.
Lin Xiangdong lifted his head, and his disciples did the same. Then he led them into the venue.
"Look! Hongtong Martial Arts School is here too!" The crowd erupted once more.
Hongtong Martial Arts School's master, Hong Jiantong, was known alongside Xiong Jiang of Qingyun Martial Arts School and Guan Lie of Tiger Might Martial Arts School as one of Yunyang's three great martial arts masters. Their arrival naturally drew everyone's attention.
The large procession marched in, every member spirited and imposing. They threw punches and shouted in rhythm as they entered.
Though Hong Jiantong was nearing sixty, he stood ramrod straight and strode with the vigor of a dragon and tiger. The pressure of a Hua Jin martial artist made people around him instinctively give way.
As he entered the venue, many martial arts school masters rose and clasped their fists in greeting. He merely smiled and returned their salutes.
A staff member led him to a seat beside Lin Xiangdong.
"Old Hong!" Lin Xiangdong hurried to his feet and clasped his fists respectfully.
"You're here too, Xiangdong. No need to stand on ceremony. Sit."
Hong Jiantong replied with a smile and a nod.
Lin Xiangdong saw that Hong Jiantong hadn't even stood up. He gritted his teeth and sat down again, his face calm, though his fists clenched tightly.
As time passed, more martial arts schools arrived.
Hong Jiantong sat at ease, his eyes half-closed as if his mind had wandered far away. He answered the greetings around him only by clasping his fists.
"Qingyun Martial Arts School has arrived!"
At the shout, Hong Jiantong opened his eyes and couldn't help looking over.
A large group came into view, all wearing red training uniforms and carrying a banner that read: "Qingyun Martial Arts School wishes Tiger Might Martial Arts School a great victory!" Such an unabashed show of support caused a stir.
Xiong Jiang was burly, with a bald head. He strode at the front of the crowd with the vigor of a dragon and tiger, his presence imposing. He didn't care in the slightest what others thought.
Leading dozens of disciples, he strode into the venue, laughing heartily and warmly greeting everyone.
"Brother Hong, you got here early!"
When Xiong Jiang spotted Hong Jiantong, he strode over and clasped his fists with a grin.
Hong Jiantong rose to return the salute and asked with a smile, "Brother Xiong, I heard you were away. What brought you back?"
Xiong Jiang laughed loudly. "How could I miss something this important? I want to see for myself how certain people meet their end. The martial arts schools of Yunyang aren't here to be trampled on!"
His voice rang out loudly, without the slightest attempt to hide his meaning.
Hong Jiantong chuckled and gestured to the seat beside him.
"Brother Xiong, sit here. Let's have a chat."
"Sure! I'd like to chat with you too, Brother Hong!"
Xiong Jiang readily agreed. He waved for his disciples to go to their school's assigned area, then dragged over a chair and sat beside Hong Jiantong.
"Brother Hong, who do you think will win?" Xiong Jiang asked in a low voice as soon as he sat down.
Hong Jiantong pondered. "Hard to say. One side is a dragon crossing the river; the other is a fierce tiger guarding its mountain. But Guan Lie has kept a low profile in recent years. His disciples may not be a match for Xiongying Martial Arts School."
Xiong Jiang nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "You've hit the nail on the head, Brother Hong. That's what worries me too. If Guan Lie loses, we may be their next target."
Hong Jiantong smiled. "These old bones of mine probably can't fight anymore. We'll have to rely on you then, Brother Xiong."
Xiong Jiang responded with a hearty laugh. "You're too modest, Brother Hong. Everyone knows how strong you are. You've probably already reached Hua Jin. I'm not so sure of myself; I'll have to count on you!"
"Haha, you're too modest, Brother Xiong. Your Cloud Holding Hand has grown more refined in recent years," Hong Jiantong replied with a smile.
As the two laughed and traded polite refusals, neither truly had the confidence to face Xiongying Martial Arts School. If they lost, the reputation they had built up over many years would be ruined.
"The five great families are here!"
Just then, the crowd erupted.
"The five great families are here?"
Hong Jiantong's expression shifted. He turned toward the entrance and saw several groups heading toward the courtyard.
"What are they doing here too?"
Xiong Jiang's expression changed in an instant as well, and he cried out in surprise. Then he narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "So this fight really is connected to them!" He looked at Hong Jiantong and asked quietly, "Brother Hong, I heard the Qin Family and the Ningjiang He Family of the Eagle Claw Sect joined forces this time, hoping to take Yunyang for themselves. Is that true?"
Hong Jiantong stroked his beard, his face showing that he understood the situation.
"That's right. The Qin Family and the Zhou, Chen, and Shen Families are already at daggers drawn. This tournament is a contest between them. Otherwise, why do you think so many people have come?"
Xiong Jiang's face darkened.
"Then we're nothing but cannon fodder. What do their families' disputes have to do with us?"
Hong Jiantong's expression turned distant.
"The Ningjiang He Family has its reasons. If Xiongying Martial Arts School unifies the martial arts schools of Yunyang, a far more powerful force will emerge—one strong enough to crush the great families."
"I see!"
Understanding dawned on Xiong Jiang's face. "The Ningjiang He Family has quite a scheme: use the power of Yunyang to fight the power of Yunyang!"
Hong Jiantong sighed, regret in his voice.
"All these years, I've been trying to get the martial arts schools to form an alliance and become a powerful force. No one was willing. Now we're easy prey for anyone who comes along!"
"Times change, Brother Hong!"
A trace of embarrassment crossed Xiong Jiang's face. Then his expression grew serious.
"Brother Hong, once this is over, we need to talk this through. We can't stay scattered like loose sand and let others push us around!"
A faint gleam appeared in Hong Jiantong's eyes, then they lowered.
"Sure. We need to talk it through."