The Second Test: Real Combat

"You little rascal, it really was you!"

Sun Wangxian nearly leaped at him as he stepped down from the platform.

He looked at He An as if he liked everything about him.

He An smiled faintly. "Brother Sun, how was that? I didn't disappoint you, did I?"

"Hahaha!"

Sun Wangxian burst out laughing. "Disappoint me? You absolutely stunned me!"

"Four times! A whole four times!"

"There were so many Martial Arts Geniuses, and you were the one who lifted it the most times. It's like a dream!"

Wang Zheng asked worriedly, "He An, even with your outstanding Martial Talent, you shouldn't be that strong. Be honest with me—did you overtax your body?"

"Brother Wang, do you think I'm that foolish?" He An retorted. "Would I overtax my body for a little empty fame?"

"That's true!"

After the first test ended,

everyone began making hurried preparations.

That was because the next test was the one everyone most liked to watch.

Real combat!

The two contestants would fight, and the winner would advance.

The one who won fight after fight and stood until the very end could claim First Incense.

As they spoke,

He An looked up. Meng Cao and the others had already come over to him.

"Clerk Meng, Master Li, what can I do for you two?" He An asked, wearing a cheeky look.

"Kid He, you're quite good. At the very least, better than I expected."

Meng Cao's voice was gentle, and his face was wreathed in smiles. "I've been thinking. There's really no need for things between us to get so ugly."

"Is that all you wanted to say, Lord Meng? If so, please leave."

He An's smile faded as he lowered his voice. "After all, I don't think there's even the slightest need to mend things between us."

"You really want us both to go down together!"

Meng Cao's expression stiffened. His voice turned icy. "There's nothing to gain for you by going down with me."

"Besides, don't think you can fool me. When you lifted the Stone Lock just now, you suffered severe internal injuries. Your body is all show and no substance now."

"I value your Martial Talent, which is why I wanted to turn our enmity into friendship."

"But if you insist on refusing to change, then on the Combat Platform, you'll still meet the same end: your own destruction. I hope you'll think it over."

"Lord Meng, you're dreaming pretty big, but how come I don't think you're nearly as handsome as you imagine?"

He An laughed mockingly, making Meng Cao furious.

"You..."

He gave a sinister smile. "You little rascal, your tongue's still as sharp as ever."

"I'd like to see just what kind of strength lets you talk so big."

"Don't trouble yourself!"

Meng Cao flicked his sleeve.

"Let's go."

Master Li leaned closer and asked, "Brother Meng, why try to recruit him now? It's obvious he's not one of us. Aren't you just letting him climb all over us?"

Meng Cao sighed.

"I don't want to either. It's just that the Meng Family Head secretly sent someone to find me and asked me to recruit him. Otherwise, I wouldn't have humiliated myself like this."

"This works out nicely. It'll put an end to the Meng Family Head's hopes of recruiting him."

"So that's why. I was wondering why the Meng Family Head came to you at a time like this." Master Li breathed a sigh of relief. He'd thought Meng Cao really wanted to recruit He An.

What would he do if that were the case?

He'd thoroughly offended He An!

If they were on the same boat, and He An became powerful, there was no way he wouldn't kill him.

Just then, Meng Cao said, "The Meng Family Head also said that if we can't recruit him, we should make him disappear completely. Whatever happens, we can't let another family recruit him."

"Go tell Xiao Si and Ning Yuan. No matter what, they have to kill that brat."

"Also, the disciples Brother Liu and Brother Xu brought are pretty capable. Remember to warn them not to hold back if they run into that brat. Make the arrangements."

"Even if you have to wear him down, wear him to death!"

"Understood!"

Master Li left.

Sitting back down, Meng Cao's eyes glinted viciously. "He An, let's see how you manage to survive this time!"

After he left, several more people approached He An.

Without exception,

they had all come to recruit him.

He An turned them all down.

Unexpectedly, one of them was an old acquaintance.

Wei Yangyun.

"Lord Wei, who are you here on behalf of?" He An teased.

"You brat."

Wei Yangyun sighed. "I truly didn't expect you to be this capable. You even kept it hidden from me. I'm ashamed."

As he spoke, Wei Yangyun suddenly lowered his voice. "Kid He, since you want to know whose man I am, I'll be frank."

"I'm with the Xu Family. I came to find you in private because I want to recruit you."

"What do you say? Will you consider it?"

"If you agree, I can keep you safe no matter who makes a move next. Your Eldest Brother's family won't have to worry about anyone threatening them, either."

"Medicinal Pills, Spirit Medicines... Whatever you need for your cultivation, the Xu Family will do everything it can to help."

"Lord Wei, I understand what you mean."

He An replied with a smile, "You've helped me, and I'll repay you in the future."

"But I'm already with the Town Martial Division, and you're my superior. What is there to consider?"

Hearing what He An meant, Wei Yangyun sighed.

"If that's the case, then let's leave it at that."

"I won't force you, and I don't want kindness to turn into resentment."

"If you ever need anything, just come to me. If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime, too. In this matter, I'm speaking for the Xu Family."

"Understood."

After seeing Wei Yangyun off, He An wasn't surprised at all.

He'd long suspected that Wei Yangyun wasn't one of the people the Wu and Meng Families had placed in the Town Martial Division, but a member of the Xu Family.

Now it turned out he'd been right.

"You're quite the catch!" Seeing Wei Yangyun leave, Sun Wangxian and the others came back over, unable to keep a note of awe from creeping into their voices.

It was the first time they'd ever seen a scene like that.

Nearly every powerful faction in Fangcheng had shown up.

The rich were sought out even in remote mountains, while the poor went unnoticed in the middle of the city. That saying really was true!

Time flew by.

The Combat Platforms were soon all set up.

They were called Combat Platforms, but really, the Sacrificial Altar had simply been divided into several sections so that the contestants could fight at the same time.

Without that, the whole event probably wouldn't have finished in a day.

Just then,

a rapid roll of drums sounded.

When the drumming stopped, County Governor Shen rose to his feet.

"Next, the second test officially begins."

"Contestants, take the platform and draw lots to determine your first-round opponents. The winners will advance to the next round, and the process will repeat until the end. The victor will claim this year's River Sacrifice Festival First Incense."

"Additionally, the Inner Growth Pill will belong to the victor."

He cautioned them, "Everyone who takes the platform is among the finest of Fangcheng's younger generation of Martial Artists. Though life and death are allowed on the platform, I won't stand by if anyone deliberately harms another."

"A reminder to everyone: be sure to show mercy!"