Martial Combat Stage!

Two days later, at dawn.

Today was the day Lei Li and Luo Heng would face off publicly on the Martial Combat Stage!

Today, all of Qingyang Town was in an uproar!

From early morning, streams of people had been pouring toward the Martial Combat Stage in the center of town.

The Martial Combat Stage was where Qingyang Town settled private grudges. It was jointly managed by the town's four major powers to ensure relative fairness.

Though people used the Martial Combat Stage from time to time, a spectacle that had caused such a stir throughout the entire town had not appeared in years.

"Quick, quick! If we get there too late, there won't be any seats left!"

"This is a huge event! Lei Li, the Young Master of the Lei Clan and a Body Tempering Eighth Level Peak cultivator, against Luo Heng of the Luo Family, who's only at the Body Tempering Fifth Level!"

"The gap in strength is way too big. Why would Luo Heng agree to a duel like this?"

"I heard the stakes are enormous! If Lei Li loses, Ironwood Estate goes to the Luo Family. But if Luo Heng loses, he'll not only hand over all his martial arts, he'll also cripple his own cultivation and leave Qingyang Town!"

"My god! That's ruthless!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, countless voices intertwining until it was impossible to tell what they were saying without listening carefully.

The area around the Martial Combat Stage was already packed solid, with more than a thousand people gathered there.

The higher-ups of forces such as the Lei Clan, Xie Family, Lin Family, and Raging Blade Martial Hall had also arrived, claiming the best viewing spots.

On the Luo Family's side, Luo Yun and Su Yi sat on the eastern side with the rest of their clan, their faces filled with tension.

"Why hasn't Heng'er come yet?" Su Yi tightly gripped her husband's hand, her palm drenched in sweat, yet she desperately hoped her son would not appear here at all.

Although Luo Yun was equally uneasy, he forced himself to remain calm. "Don't worry. Heng'er said he was confident."

Luo Yun himself had no confidence at all. That was Lei Li, a Body Tempering Eighth Level Peak cultivator! The publicly acknowledged number one among Qingyang Town's younger generation!

And his own son was only at the Body Tempering Fifth Level... Should he just tie him up and take him away instead...?

"He's here! Lei Li is here!"

A startled cry suddenly rose from the crowd.

Lei Li, surrounded by members of the Lei Clan, strode toward the Martial Combat Stage.

He wore a fitted black outfit today, with a silver belt around his waist. He looked vigorous and imposing.

His Body Tempering Eighth Level Peak cultivation erupted without restraint, forming a faint aura that made the people around him unconsciously retreat several steps.

Lei Li leaped onto the Martial Combat Stage and stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept across the crowd before finally landing on the Luo Family's seating area, a cold sneer curling across his lips.

"Where is Luo Heng? Don't tell me he got scared and doesn't dare show up?"

His voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear clearly, carrying obvious mockery.

As if they had expected this all along, the Lei Clan immediately broke into laughter.

"Hahaha! He must be scared!"

"I said it from the start! Luo Heng is all talk. When it comes to the real thing, he's bound to chicken out!"

"A Body Tempering Fifth Level cultivator challenging a Body Tempering Eighth Level cultivator? He doesn't know his own limits!"

The Luo Family members looked grim, while Luo Yun clenched his fists tightly.

Just then, a calm voice came from the rear of the crowd.

"What's the rush? There's still a quarter of an hour until the agreed time."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw the crowd automatically parting to form a path.

Luo Heng, dressed in a simple green robe, walked over at an unhurried pace.

His expression was composed, and a faint smile rested on his lips, as if he were not about to face a life-or-death battle but merely going out for a stroll.

"Brother Luo Heng!"

Lin Dong and Qing Tan waved at him from the Luo Family's seating area, their faces full of worry.

Luo Heng smiled slightly at them, signaling for them not to worry.

"Heh, you finally came."

Lei Li looked at Luo Heng as he stepped onto the Martial Combat Stage, disdain flashing in his eyes. "I thought you were going to be a coward hiding in your shell."

Luo Heng smiled calmly. "Why wouldn't I come? Your Lei Clan is giving Ironwood Estate to my Luo Family for free. I'd hate to miss out on something so good."

He spoke with extreme confidence, as though Ironwood Estate were already in his pocket.

Lei Li's expression darkened as he said coldly, "Sharp tongue. Let's see whether you can still smile later!"

Luo Heng ignored him and turned toward the raised platform on the eastern side of the Martial Combat Stage.

Four judges sat there, respectively from the Lei Clan, Xie Family, Lin Family, and Raging Blade Martial Hall. They were the witnesses of this wagered duel.

The Lin Family's judge was Lin Zhentian. Luo Heng's grandfather, Luo Shan, sat beside the Lin Family's delegation. The Luo Family had not originally been qualified to sit there, but because he was Luo Heng's grandfather, an exception had been made for him to sit beside the judges.

"May we begin?" Luo Heng asked with cupped hands.

Lin Zhentian glanced at Luo Heng, concern flickering in his eyes, but he still nodded and announced in a loud voice:

"Today, Lei Li of the Lei Clan and Luo Heng of the Luo Family shall hold a public duel on the Martial Combat Stage!"

"The wager is as follows: if Lei Li loses, Ironwood Estate of the Lei Clan shall belong to the Luo Family. If Luo Heng loses, he must hand over all his martial arts manuals, cripple his own cultivation, and leave Qingyang Town!"

"Do either of you have any objections?"

"No!" Lei Li shouted. The moment had finally come. The martial arts Luo Heng used would soon be his!

"No," Luo Heng replied calmly.

"Good!"

Lin Zhentian continued with the rules. "On the Martial Combat Stage, life and death are left to fate. However, if one side admits defeat, the other side may not continue trying to kill them. The four judges will ensure the duel is fair."

"Now, the duel begins!"

As Lin Zhentian's words fell, the entire venue instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze focused on the two figures atop the Martial Combat Stage.

Lei Li let out a savage grin as his Body Tempering Eighth Level Peak Primal Energy burst forth in full!

Purple lightning-colored Primal Energy wrapped around his body, forming a faint halo. His aura was astonishingly powerful.

"Luo Heng, I'll let you understand just how vast the gap between the Body Tempering Eighth Level and the Body Tempering Fifth Level truly is!"

Before his words had even faded, Lei Li kicked off the ground and shot forward like a leopard!

"So fast!"

Someone below the stage cried out in alarm. Lei Li seemed even stronger than before!

The Lei Clan side grew even more excited. Their Young Master truly had become stronger.

"The Young Master's strength has improved again!"

"Luo Heng definitely won't be able to block this strike!"

Faced with Lei Li's thunderous attack, Luo Heng remained standing in place without moving.

To outsiders, he looked as if he had been scared senseless and could not even react in time.

"Heng'er!" Su Yi cried out in panic.

Luo Yun even rose to his feet, ready to rush onto the stage.

But at that moment—

Just as Lei Li's fist was about to strike Luo Heng in the face, Luo Heng moved!

Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps—Flowing Cloud Style!

His body drifted like a floating cloud, lightly evading that fatal blow.

"What?!"

Lei Li's punch missed, startling him inwardly. Yet he did not pause. He immediately changed moves, sweeping his left leg toward Luo Heng's lower body.

Lei Clan Second Grade Martial Art—Stone-Splitting Leg!

The wind from his leg howled, its power terrifying enough to shatter bluestone!

But Luo Heng evaded again with that bizarre footwork. At the same time, his right hand darted out like a spirit serpent leaving its den, aimed directly at Lei Li's throat!

Mountain-Shaking Palm!

Though it was only a First-Grade Martial Skill, in Luo Heng's hands, it carried an air of turning the ordinary into the miraculous.

The angle was extraordinarily tricky, forcing Lei Li to retreat.

In just two breaths, the two had already exchanged several moves.

Lei Li's attacks were fierce, his moves like a raging storm, yet Luo Heng always managed to evade by the narrowest margin.

"Hm?"

Lin Zhentian let out a soft sound of surprise on the platform, astonishment flashing in his eyes.

"Old Luo, your grandson is no simple matter. That movement technique is at least a Third-Grade Martial Skill, and he's already mastered it to a considerable degree."

Luo Shan was equally shocked. He had no idea when his grandson had learned such an exquisite movement technique.

Still, seeing that Luo Heng was safe for the moment, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

But he was also puzzled. When had Heng'er become this strong?