The Competition Begins

In the blink of an eye, the day of the competition arrived. Aside from Zhang Yunhao and Zhang Yuntang, only six others were participating this time, making eight in total. If the Great Elder hadn't worried that too few contestants would be embarrassing, there might have been even fewer.

The ring was ready. The Clan Leader and the Great Elder waited at the entrance for the Heavenly Fist Sect's steward to arrive, while every seat around the ring was filled.

Everyone knew what the result would be, but they had still come to watch as ordered. After all, appearances had to be maintained.

Unlike the adults, who knew how to hide their feelings, most of the Zhang Clan's younger generation looked gloomy. The competition was supposed to be fair, giving everyone a chance, but now the Great Elder's son had monopolized it. Naturally, they were in a bad mood!

Most of the younger generation sat in silence, though a few had gathered together to mock the contestant who still hadn't shown up!

The one leading them was Zhang Yunyi. He sneered and said, "That kid Zhang Yunhao still thinks he can compete for a spot? He's probably already buried out there."

The skinny fellow who had mocked Zhang Yunhao before was there too. He nodded and said, "That's right, he's definitely dead. He had it coming. Did he even know what kind of trash he was?"

"He had it coming. Not only is he a cripple, he's got rocks in his head too. Even we wouldn't dare enter this competition. What did he think he was, trying to compete with the Fifth Young Master?"

Zhang Yunyi said disdainfully, "If he isn't dead, I'll chop off my head and let him use it as a stool!"

Everyone burst into laughter, but just then, a gleeful voice came from beside them. "Zhang Yunyi, looks like your head's about to become a stool."

"What did you say? You think that cripple can come back alive?"

Zhang Yunyi turned around angrily. Seeing that it was Zhang Yunchuan, who was usually at odds with him, he sneered, "Did a donkey kick your head too?"

The others nearby snickered. Zhang Yunchuan gave a cold laugh and pointed ahead. "Why don't you hurry up and offer him your head to sit on?"

Everyone followed the boy's finger and froze. Zhang Yunyi's eyes widened, and he leaped to his feet in disbelief!

They were so shocked because Zhang Yunhao—the one they'd thought was sure to die—had returned alive and was striding toward the contestants' seats.

"How is this possible? Zhang Yunhao isn't dead?"

Zhang Yunyi gaped at him. Zhang Yunchuan sneered, "If he were dead, how could he use your head as a stool?"

"You..."

Zhang Yunyi was mortified and furious. Seeing him get put in his place, many of the people nearby snickered and jeered at him, making him grit his teeth in rage.

Zhang Yunhao knew nothing about it and had no interest in finding out. He strolled over and sat down among the contestants. The other seven were all astonished to see him. Had the guy really come back alive?

The others were merely surprised, but Zhang Yuntang looked somewhat displeased. The mocking looks from the others especially irritated him. Still, he had enough sense not to stupidly bring up Zhang Yunhao's attempted assassination now. He didn't even speak to Zhang Yunhao, because he thought that would be humiliating.

In secret, Zhang Yuntang angrily sent Zhang Zhiyan a True Qi transmission. "What happened? Why isn't that kid dead?"

Zhang Zhiyan was just as puzzled. Hearing Zhang Yuntang's accusation, he hurriedly explained, "Fifth Young Master, the Demon Sect matter might have caused a change of plans. But don't worry. That kid isn't strong enough to make much difference, even if he's back."

Zhang Yuntang snorted. "Of course I'm not worried. I'm just annoyed. Once the competition is over, I'll crush him myself."

Seeing that Zhang Yuntang wasn't angry, Zhang Zhiyan let out a sigh of relief. He glanced at Zhang Yunhao, only to find Zhang Yunhao looking back at him. A doubt immediately rose in his mind: Could that kid really have noticed something?

Zhang Yunhao was indeed looking at Zhang Zhiyan, as well as the two middle-aged men beside him. All three made him feel disgusted. They must have cultivated demonic arts!

What are these Demon Sect people up to? First Poisonous Snake Young Master, and now so many of them have come to the Zhang Clan?

Zhang Yunhao frowned. Maybe he should talk to Nangong Ru after the competition. He didn't want to cause trouble for the Zhang Clan.

A little while later, everyone stood up. The Clan Leader and the Great Elder had entered with several important guests. But when everyone took a closer look, they were astonished to see two members of the Demon Extermination Alliance among them.

Both wore the Alliance's signature dark-red brocade robes. One was a middle-aged man with a dignified air, walking with the swagger of a tiger and the stride of a dragon. A silver-colored saber emblem was embroidered on his cuff.

The Demon Extermination Alliance used sabers of different colors to indicate rank and cultivation. A Silver Long Saber represented the Innate Realm. At present, Qianshan City had only one Silver Saber Constable: Thunderous Wrath Constable, who had come to investigate the Demon Sect affair. His nickname was Startling Thunder Saber!

The other was a cool-looking woman, with two Bronze Long Sabers on her cuff, marking her as a Two-Saber Bronze Demon Exterminator Constable. She was an old acquaintance of Zhang Yunhao's—Nangong Ru!

"Why are Nangong Ru and the Demon Extermination Alliance's Silver Saber Constable here?"

Like everyone else, Zhang Yunhao was puzzled. This was an internal Zhang Clan matter, so why had the Demon Extermination Alliance come? And why had they sent a Silver Saber Constable? That was far too much of an honor for the Zhang Clan!

Zhang Yunhao had a feeling it was somehow connected to him. When he met Nangong Ru's meaningful gaze, he became even more certain, though even more puzzled.

In fact, the Zhang Clan's leaders were equally baffled as to why a distinguished Silver Saber Constable had personally come to watch a small competition. It made no sense at all. But since the man had come, the Zhang Clan naturally wouldn't dare neglect him. They respectfully invited him inside.

The Demon Extermination Alliance's sudden arrival overshadowed the original star of the show: Liang Dong, the Heavenly Fist Sect's steward, known as Frost Fist. This left him quite displeased, but he didn't dare show it. In public, he chatted amiably with the Great Elder.

The Great Elder and this steward seem to have...

Watching them, Zhang Yunhao's heart sank. Still, surely a sect that powerful wouldn't be as dark as the Zhang Clan, would it?

Once the Clan Leader and the others had taken their seats, the usual formalities began. The Clan Leader gave a few words of encouragement and the like. Although the outcome had already been decided, everyone still put on a show of enthusiasm. It wouldn't be wise to make the Clan Leader angry.

Martial artists had few cumbersome formalities, so it was soon time to draw lots. Zhang Yunhao drew the number one token and would be the first to compete.

Another contestant drew number one: a boy dressed in blue. Seeing that Zhang Yunhao was his opponent, he burst out laughing. "Looks like I'm lucky. I get to do the Fifth Young Master a favor."

"I'd say you're unlucky."

Zhang Yunhao answered honestly, earning a scoff from the boy in blue. "It's good to have ambition, but take a look at yourself first. You're a cripple who only just broke through. You really think you can win?"

Zhang Yunhao raised an eyebrow. "If I didn't want to win, why would I come up here?"

The boy in blue said disdainfully, "It's good to have spirit, but look at what you are first. Three moves will be enough to deal with you."

Zhang Yunhao couldn't be bothered to say more. Once the lots had all been drawn, he went straight up onto the ring. The boy in blue followed with a smile on his face.