Duel

The gathering hall on Taicang Mountain!

"Raging Fire Mad Saber? Perfect. I can use you to test just how strong the top experts in this world are."

Zhang Yunhao clenched his fist. His knuckles cracked, and confidence swelled in his heart. He hadn't spent the past month in vain.

The greatest feature of the Good and Evil Divine Art was that it could rapidly increase one's power through good and evil deeds. Over the past month, Zhang Yunhao had killed countless bandits who'd committed evil, rescued many women imprisoned by bandits, and ordered the bandits to stop their misdeeds for the time being. All of that had earned him merit.

At the same time, as the leader of a band of bandits, Zhang Yunhao had naturally committed no shortage of evil deeds. With both sides working together, his power had skyrocketed.

Zhang Yunhao had now reached the middle stage of the True Qi Realm, and possessed the strength of five oxen. If word of that speed got out, everyone would think it was a joke!

However, such a rapid increase in power wasn't entirely a good thing!

"I'm having a little trouble controlling this sudden surge in strength. My punches don't come and go as freely as they used to. Still, it shouldn't be much of a problem in this world."

A glint flashed in Zhang Yunhao's eyes. He had to finish this mission as soon as possible and obtain the Mind Space. Otherwise, he wouldn't just struggle to control his strength; his foundations might even be affected.

"Gang Leader, the arena has been set up as you instructed."

Scholar Lu came in to report. He hesitated, then said in a low voice, "Gang Leader, since the duel is taking place on our turf, we could rig things a little and wipe them all out. There's no need to take any risks."

Zhang Yunhao glanced at Scholar Lu with a faintly amused look. "Do you think I'll lose?"

"The Gang Leader is mighty. How could you possibly lose? It's just that you're too precious to risk your life fighting an old man."

Scholar Lu jumped in fright and hurriedly explained. He'd originally been very confident in Zhang Yunhao, but after hearing how powerful Raging Fire Mad Saber was, he'd grown uneasy. After all, the man's reputation was immense.

"In the Jianghu, you can't become a overlord through underhanded tricks. Since they've come right to our doorstep this time, we might as well settle things with a battle. Only by showing enough strength can I win people's trust."

Zhang Yunhao shook his head. "Go make the preparations. Don't let us be discourteous. The day of the duel will also be the day I become an overlord. By then, all the bandits in Nanyang will submit to me!"

Scholar Lu was still worried, but could only obey and leave. After he was gone, Zhang Yunhao sent for Zhang Dazhuang.

Zhang Yunhao issued his order coldly. "Once I've defeated Raging Fire Mad Saber, you'll lead the Eighteen Heroes and kill every bandit chief. Leave none alive. Anyone who dares oppose me is asking for death!"

"Yes, Gang Leader."

Unlike Scholar Lu, Zhang Dazhuang worshipped Zhang Yunhao to the point that he didn't believe his leader could lose. He agreed without hesitation, his heart brimming with excitement. Soon, the Gang Leader would be the overlord of this whole region!

The day of the duel!

Early that morning, countless people from the Jianghu arrived excitedly at Taicang Mountain. Guided by the bandits, they made their way to a nearby peak set aside for spectators, about a hundred meters from the arena.

Many were unhappy that they couldn't watch from right beside the arena, but no one dared complain. There were nearly ten thousand bandits gathered on Taicang Mountain. Who would dare cause trouble at a time like this?

Huang Lei, Tian Ming's junior sister, was also on the peak. Though she could surely have gone right up to the arena if she revealed her identity, the situation was unclear, so they didn't dare approach. If Tian Ming were killed, they feared they might get into trouble.

"The man sitting in the tiger-skin chair must be Divine Fist Blood Hand, right? What a presence! Sitting there, he looks like a fierce tiger. Even from this far away, I feel a little terrified."

"That's him. The people behind him are the Good Men Gang's Eighteen Heroes. They're absolutely loyal to him."

"Several of them broke through thanks to Divine Fist Blood Hand teaching them martial arts. Of course they're loyal!"

"Divine Fist Blood Hand is so generous, even willing to teach them martial arts. No wonder he rose so quickly."

"Hmph. So what if he's imposing and generous? He's still doomed to die today, isn't he?"

As Huang Lei listened to the surrounding chatter, she kept her eyes on Zhang Yunhao and frowned inwardly. Senior Brother has changed so much. He used to always wear that gloomy expression, like the whole world owed him millions. Now he really does look imposing.

Just then, someone shouted, "Raging Fire Mad Saber is here!"

"Where? Where?"

"He's here! He came with more than ten bandit chiefs. The old man in the middle is him."

"Isn't that just a little old farmer from the countryside?"

"Is that really Raging Fire Mad Saber? How can he look so ordinary?"

"That's called returning to simplicity. That's the bearing of a true master. Didn't you see the saber at his waist?"

"That saber's all beat up. It must be rusted inside, too."

Unlike the noisy crowd over there, Zhang Yunhao's pupils contracted as soon as he saw Raging Fire Mad Saber. This time, it wouldn't be easy.

In the Jianghu, people might choose the wrong name, but they never got someone's nickname wrong. Raging Fire Mad Saber should, by rights, have been a berserk man who flew into a rage at the slightest thing. Yet this man looked so utterly ordinary. Clearly, his cultivation had reached an even higher level!

"What a master's bearing!"

Zhang Yunhao smiled faintly and stood up, leading his people to greet Raging Fire Mad Saber. Of course, he was only welcoming Raging Fire Mad Saber. He didn't care about the other bandit chiefs at all.

But those bandit chiefs were clearly full of themselves. A hulking man with a full beard said arrogantly, "Tian Ming, disband the Good Men Gang right now and get off the mountain. Go back to being a lone wanderer, and we might let you live. Otherwise, today will be your last!"

Zhang Yunhao ignored the man completely. He gestured invitingly to Raging Fire Mad Saber and said, "Please, senior."

With that, Zhang Yunhao used his lightness skill and bounded up onto the arena in two steps, like a tiger. His movements weren't particularly graceful, but they were full of power.

"What a fierce tiger indeed!"

Raging Fire Mad Saber Lei Jue nodded in approval. He touched the tip of his foot to the ground and floated up onto the arena as lightly as a sheet of paper. Clearly, he was also highly skilled in lightness techniques. Otherwise, the authorities would have killed him long ago.

The ignored Bearded Strong Man was furious and was about to say something when the towering Zhang Dazhuang stepped in front of him and said coldly, "This way, please."

"You... Let's see how long you can keep acting so high and mighty!"

The Bearded Strong Man had wanted to fly into a rage, but when he saw the Eighteen Heroes glaring at him, he lost his nerve. He could only leave a threat before sitting down with the other bandit chiefs.

Zhang Dazhuang and the others sat down as well, subtly surrounding the bandit chiefs. But the chiefs noticed nothing amiss; their attention was fixed on the arena. They had great confidence in Raging Fire Mad Saber and believed Divine Fist Blood Hand was doomed, so they had nothing to worry about.

As for the other bandits, they surrounded the arena on all sides, each holding a weapon as they tensely watched the two men above. This battle was of enormous importance. It would directly shape the future of Nanyang Prefecture.