Retreat Without a Fight!

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the resting area on the right was stunned.

Some had eyes full of excitement, some had faces full of fighting spirit, and a small portion showed timid expressions.

Immediately after, the official on the training ground continued to announce, "The second round of the competition will be a platform battle. There will be twenty platforms set up in total, with a time limit of one hour. Those who can remain on the platform until the end will be recorded as Martial Scholars for the county city's Martial Arts Examination!"

After hearing the rules of the competition, everyone showed an eager look.

This kind of defending-the-platform match, to put it bluntly, was to find the strongest twenty people among these over two hundred participants.

However, it also involved a considerable amount of luck.

Even if your strength was relatively high, if you were challenged by multiple experts in succession, you definitely wouldn't be able to hold your ground.

Therefore, the timing of stepping onto the platform was very important.

"Alright, the second round of the competition begins!"

As the official's announcement concluded, the training ground was immediately divided into twenty platforms.

The remaining over two hundred participants in the Martial Arts Examination did not immediately ascend the platforms. They were all looking around, observing the situations of others.

Just then, a strong man in black tight-fitting clothing leaped onto Platform One with a whoosh.

His action immediately drew everyone's attention. The strong man turned to look at the crowd below the platform and sneered.

"Heh heh, you bunch of cowards. You have a chance but don't know how to seize it. You're all just trash!"

The strong man's words instantly angered the crowd below. The next moment, a white-robed man holding a sword shouted.

"Kid, you're too arrogant! Then let me fight you! Let's see how capable you are!"

With that, the swordsman leaped onto Platform One.

But before the two on Platform One could start fighting, people began jumping onto the other nineteen platforms.

The strong man's earlier words had angered these people. For most of them, since they had to fight on the platform anyway, it didn't matter whether it was sooner or later.

In the blink of an eye, battles had begun on all twenty platforms.

Lu Feng simply stood below, watching the intense battles on the platforms.

After his observation, he found that most of the people who went up to fight were Ninth-Rank Martial Artists, with only a mere two or three experts in the Martial Master Realm.

But even these two or three Martial Masters could easily defeat those Ninth-Rank Martial Artists.

Lu Feng shook his head helplessly and thought to himself, "Sigh, this county city's Martial Arts Examination is apparently just like this."

Looking at the battles on the platforms with his current Grandmaster Realm strength was like watching children play.

As the battle continued for a quarter of an hour, a familiar figure suddenly appeared on Platform Three.

This person was dressed in luxurious clothing, holding a folding fan, with the demeanor of a dashing young master.

That's right! This person was none other than Zhou Taian of the Zhou Family in Baiyue County City.

Seeing this person ascend the platform, a cold glint flashed in Lu Feng's eyes.

He first cupped his hands in a salute, then directly engaged the person already on the platform in battle.

Unfortunately, the defending challenger didn't even last ten rounds before being punched off the platform by Zhou Taian.

Based on Zhou Taian's previous fight, he should have the strength of a Second-Rank Martial Master.

However, that punch from Zhou Taian was not light. It not only knocked his opponent off the platform but also severely injured the opponent's internal organs.

Such an injury would likely affect the person's future martial arts foundation. Such ruthless methods directly intimidated many people below the stage.

Seeing his opponent lying on the ground, spitting blood, Zhou Taian sneered disdainfully in his heart, but outwardly, he cupped his hands and apologized.

"Brother, I'm truly sorry. You know fists and feet have no eyes. I didn't expect you to be unable to withstand that punch just now. My apologies!"

Although he said this, everyone knew Zhou Taian had done it intentionally, especially since his opponent was only a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist.

After hearing Zhou Taian's apology, the defeated Martial Artist not only did not feel any better about his loss but instead spat out a mouthful of blood and then directly fainted.

This scene made everyone understand Zhou Taian's strength and character. For a moment, no one dared to challenge Platform Three.

Seeing this, Zhou Taian showed a smug expression, and the folding fan in his hand was fully opened.

But just then, a graceful white figure leaped onto Platform Three with a whoosh.

When the crowd looked, they saw a beautiful woman in a white long gown, holding a long sword, standing on Platform Three.

Seeing someone dare to challenge Zhou Taian, everyone showed surprise.

After all, Zhou Taian was a Second-Rank Martial Master, and his methods were extremely ruthless and insidious.

Anyone who dared to challenge him must have considerable strength themselves.

"Eh?! This woman seems to be from the Lu Family in the county city. She looks like... she looks like the Lu Family's legitimate daughter, Lu Wei!"

At this moment, a young man suddenly revealed the identity of the white-clad woman. Everyone present was slightly stunned.

"So this woman is Lu Wei. If that's the case, then this battle will be interesting!"

"Yes, yes! I had heard before that Lu Wei, the legitimate daughter of the Lu Family, had already entered the Martial Master Realm. I wonder who will win between these two?"

Suddenly, the crowd below began to discuss animatedly, and Lu Feng also turned his gaze to the two on Platform Three.

He knew both of them, and Lu Wei had even received praise from Miss Shangguan in the capital.

According to the intelligence he had previously obtained, Lu Wei should have had a high chance of winning, as she had already reached the realm of a Third-rank Martial Master.

As Lu Wei leaped onto Arena Number Three, Zhou Taian's expression on the stage changed slightly, and he immediately felt a pang of dread.

As a member of the Zhou Family, Zhou Taian was naturally aware of Lu Wei's strength. Her power was comparable to that of the Zhou Family's direct descendant, Zhou Yonghua.

There was no way he, Zhou Taian, could handle her!

However, since they were now facing each other, Zhou Taian couldn't back down. He cupped his hands and said, "Miss Lu, as the direct daughter of the Lu Family, challenging my arena, aren't you looking down on me a bit?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Wei replied calmly, "Challenging whoever I please is my right. If you dare not fight me, then concede!"

Zhou Taian's face darkened, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "In that case, I shall learn a lesson from Miss Lu's superior skills!"

With that, Zhou Taian lunged forward. But before he could get close to Lu Wei, he saw her long sword already thrusting towards him.

The speed of her sword strike startled Zhou Taian, and he immediately raised his folding fan to block.

"Clang!~"

After a crisp sound, Zhou Taian's charge was instantly halted, and he was forced to retreat several steps.

After regaining his footing, Zhou Taian narrowed his eyes and exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Lu truly has remarkable skill. I didn't expect you to have broken through to become a Fourth-Rank Martial Master!"

Lu Wei remained calm, "If you want to fight, then fight. Why all this nonsense?!"

But Zhou Taian let out a cold laugh, "Heh heh, Miss Lu's strength is extraordinary. I concede!"

With that, Zhou Taian leaped off Arena Number Three.

Seeing this, Lu Wei's brow furrowed slightly. Since he conceded, that was that!