The Fear of Losing?

Guan Lie and Wei Zhendong stepped onto the stage under everyone's gaze.

They stood facing each other, their eyes locked. A powerful aura surged between them, forcing Bai Hongsheng to retreat two steps, shock flickering in his eyes.

Peak Hua Jin martial artists were terrifying indeed. He was a Dark Strength martial artist himself, yet he could hardly withstand the auras radiating from the two men.

"Please!"

Wei Zhendong gestured.

"Please!"

Guan Lie gestured in return.

The two walked over to the table on the stage, picked up the brushes, and swiftly signed their names on the agreement.

They clasped their hands in a salute once more, then turned and left the stage in opposite directions without exchanging another word.

Only then did Bai Hongsheng step forward. He directed two staff members to unfold the agreement and show it to everyone below.

"The competition agreement has been signed and takes effect immediately!"

"The competition will have three bouts, one each for the Strength Training Realm, Bright Force, and Dark Strength. Anyone who takes the stage must be a current student of their martial arts school. If anyone is found to have cheated, they will forfeit the bout!"

Bai Hongsheng wiped away another bead of sweat and called out:

"Now for the first bout. Competitors from both sides in the Strength Training Realm, please take the stage!"

The staff carried the table away, and he jumped down from the stage as well. He wanted nothing to do with the spotlight. In the past, he'd been full of enthusiasm when hosting competitions, but today, he only wanted to keep a low profile.

Seated in a grand armchair, Wei Zhendong didn't even turn his head. He waved a hand.

Someone stepped out from the group, came before him, and bowed with clasped fists. Then he turned and headed toward the stage. A dozen or so meters away, he suddenly picked up speed, dashed forward a few steps, and sprang into the air with his arms spread like a great eagle. With an eagle's cry, he landed on the two-meter-high stage.

Once onstage, he performed several more Eagle Claw Skill stances. His claws whistled through the air, and his sweeping leg kicked up a gust of wind. Every move was astonishingly powerful.

"Fine claw work!"

"That's so cool!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd below. The uninitiated watched the spectacle; the experts saw the skill.

The heads of the various martial arts schools nodded slightly. Though they disliked Xiongying Martial Arts School, they had to admit that this student had a solid foundation. He was clearly on the verge of breaking through to Bright Force.

"As expected of a first-rate martial art, Eagle Claw Skill is truly ferocious!"

Xiong Jiang's expression grew solemn as well. He surveyed his students, but none of those in the Strength Training Realm seemed likely to beat this man.

Hong Jiantong said calmly:

"Wei Zhendong knows how to choose his students. This young man's natural build is exceptionally suited to training in Eagle Claw Skill. I doubt any of Guan Lie's students can match him."

"This bout looks dangerous."

Xiong Jiang's expression darkened.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the third floor of a teahouse outside the plaza,

Shen Kaijiang, Zhou Yundong, and Chen Yingzhong sat inside, drinking tea.

"Guan Lie is too stubborn. He refused to accept our help. He's bound to lose this first bout!"

Chen Yingzhong said evenly.

A cool, mocking smile touched Zhou Yundong's face.

"Guan Lie is arrogant. If he hadn't been injured back then, he might have already broken through to Dan Jin. How could he possibly accept our terms? I told you from the start there was no point talking to him!"

Shen Kaijiang nodded as well.

"I fought Guan Lie back then. His skill was indeed profound, and he was the best candidate. What a pity. If he loses, Wei Zhendong's influence will grow even stronger. The other martial arts schools may give up resisting. Once he unites all the martial arts schools in Yunyang, he'll have enough strength to stand against us!"

His brow furrowed slightly. Looking at Chen Yingzhong, he asked:

"How are the talks on the other side going? Have they agreed?"

Chen Yingzhong smiled faintly.

"That old fox is as slippery as they come. He knows full well that if Wei Zhendong's influence keeps growing, his own position will be in danger. How could he possibly refuse?"

"Good!"

Some of the tension eased from Shen Kaijiang's face. He smiled faintly.

"Let them fight it out for now. Let Wei Zhendong strut around for a couple of days. Then we'll crush him outright and see how long the Qin Family can keep acting so high and mighty without his support!"

Zhou Yundong suddenly asked:

"Have the people the He Family planted in the Qin Family been identified? Who are they exactly? Could one of them be a Dan Jin martial artist?"

Shen Kaijiang and Chen Yingzhong both grew serious at his words.

"I've already sent people to look into it over in Ningjiang. We should hear something soon."

Shen Kaijiang said evenly:

"You don't need to worry too much. The Ningjiang He Family couldn't possibly give the Qin Family their full support. Sending Wei Zhendong over is already a huge show of backing. Dan Jin grandmasters aren't a dime a dozen. They wouldn't go to such lengths just because the Qin Family married off a daughter!"

"True, but we should still find out who it is. Then we'll know what we're dealing with."

Zhou Yundong said gravely.

"Could it be Luo Jiangyan?"

Chen Yingzhong suddenly said, his expression grave. "Luo Jiangyan has been in Yunyang for so long and still hasn't left. If it's her, we'll be in trouble!"

"Impossible!"

Shen Kaijiang waved a hand, his expression grave.

"The Ningjiang He Family may be powerful, but it can't order around a genius grandmaster like Luo Jiangyan. I heard she came to Yunyang looking for someone!"

"Looking for someone? Who?"

Chen Yingzhong asked, puzzled.

"I don't know yet."

Shen Kaijiang shook his head too, a puzzled look in his eyes.

"What's Tiger Might Martial Arts School doing? Why did they send a student like that onto the stage?"

Just then, Zhou Yundong spoke up.

The three stopped talking and looked toward the competition ground.

After performing a few moves, the student from Xiongying Martial Arts School came to a halt. Standing onstage, he looked fiercely toward Tiger Might Martial Arts School and saluted with clasped fists.

"Han Zhou of Xiongying Martial Arts School challenges a student from Tiger Might Martial Arts School to come up and advise me!"

Han Zhou was only seventeen or eighteen, but he had the broad back and narrow waist of a tiger, arms like an ape, and lean muscles. His tendons bulged like coiling dragons, and it was obvious at a glance that he possessed extraordinary strength. His long fingers were like eagle talons, his temples bulged, his eyes were bright, and his voice rang like a bell. His presence was formidable.

Seeing Han Zhou's strength, many of the Strength Training Realm students from Tiger Might Martial Arts School looked uneasy. They knew they were no match for him.

Chu Silin had been somewhat unhappy about choosing Chen Song, but after seeing Han Zhou's skill, she was secretly relieved. Thank goodness it wasn't her. She had no confidence at all against Han Zhou. He was clearly on the verge of breaking through to Bright Force, and his Eagle Claw strikes already carried the sound of explosive force.

Guan Lie looked at Chen Song. After three days of intensive training, Chen Song had made great strides. But when he met Guan Lie's gaze, his eyes darted away, and he had already lost a good deal of ground in sheer presence.

Chen Song had everything going for him except one thing: he was too soft-hearted, lacking the defiant will of a martial artist ready to battle heaven and earth.

Guan Lie sighed inwardly. The martial arts school hadn't found any promising students in years. Chen Song already counted as a fine prospect, yet he still fell far short. It seemed he'd been choosing the wrong students these past few years.

"Father!"

Just then, Guan Lu stepped forward and called out urgently.

Guan Lie looked at her and raised a hand to stop her from speaking. Guan Lu stamped her foot in frustration. She could see that Chen Song had no chance of beating Han Zhou, but her father wouldn't listen. There was nothing she could do, no matter how anxious she felt.

"Why hasn't anyone from Tiger Might Martial Arts School come up yet? Are you scared? Then just admit defeat!"

Han Zhou laughed loudly from the stage.

The students from Xiongying Martial Arts School burst into laughter. Even the onlookers joined in, their laughter ringing harshly in everyone's ears.

Guan Lie's expression changed abruptly. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Chen Song. "Chen Song, are you confident?"

"I... I'm not!"

Chen Song trembled at the question. Gritting his teeth, he shook his head. He truly wasn't confident.

Anger surged in Guan Lie's heart. He hadn't expected all his careful training to have changed nothing. His gaze swept across the students and suddenly landed on Fang Mo.

"Fang Mo, you're up!"