Are You a Wu Family Member?

"...My opponent is him... Dugu Qiubai!"

In the arena, as that opponent's words—brimming with provocation and arrogance—left his mouth, the crowd below erupted.

"Holy crap, who's this guy, daring to challenge Dugu Qiubai in public?"

"Wind Thunder Martial Hall... I've been there often, but I don't remember seeing this person."

"Is he trying to ride on Dugu Qiubai's fame and pick a fight?"

Right now, the name 'Dugu Qiubai' was synonymous with dark horse and strength.

If someone said he was invincible under heaven, no one would believe it.

But if they said 'invincible below the Transformation Yuan Realm,' nine out of ten people in the city wouldn't disagree.

On the stage, Tan Tong wasn't angered or irritated by his opponent's words. He simply looked at the man honestly and replied, "If you beat me, it'll naturally be my junior brother's turn to step up."

The opponent curled his lips and said, "Good, then let's begin."

The moment the gong sounded, that guy from Wind Thunder Martial Hall struck first.

His speed was blinding—in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Tan Tong, then lifted his leg and kicked.

The leg wind cracked like a whip, the air exploding.

That kick carried immense force, its momentum terrifying.

"So fast!"

Below the stage, Tang Shan and the others were startled by the opponent's speed and power.

Meng Gang also spoke up: "This is no ordinary martial hall disciple."

Dongfang Pangpang said, "What's the background of this Wind Thunder Martial Hall? They suddenly produce two disciples with such outstanding strength. Shen Zhou, did you have any dealings with this guy before? Otherwise, why does it seem like he's targeting you?"

Shen Zhou frowned and replied, "Don't know him. No memory of him."

In the time it took them to exchange a few words, Tan Tong had already taken over a dozen kicks from his opponent.

The opponent was simply too fast; Tan Tong couldn't even find an opening to strike back, forced to rely entirely on his physical strength for passive defense.

Moreover, each kick from the opponent carried heavy force. When they landed on Tan Tong, it sounded like bamboo joints snapping—crackling and popping, the rapid-fire noise making one's scalp tingle.

Just from the look of it, the fight felt like an adult beating a child.

A complete one-sided stomp!

"This match is lost. Junior Brother Tan Tong doesn't have a single chance of winning."

Tang Shan made the call after watching for a while.

The gap in strength was clear as day, impossible to turn around.

The others fell silent.

It wasn't that Tan Tong was too weak—it was that the opponent was too strong!

Everyone then turned to look at Shen Zhou.

Given the situation, only the latter could step up and suppress the other side.

San Mazi even spoke up: "Boss Zhou, when you get up there, teach him a good lesson. This guy's way too cocky!"

Shen Zhou said nothing. He just stared at the opponent's movement technique on the stage, frowning as he thought, "This movement feels familiar somehow... Where have I seen it before?"

Another kick.

After holding on for a few more breaths, Tan Tong finally reached his limit. The moment his qi and blood collapsed and his 'Stone Skin' faded, the opponent kicked him clean off the stage.

From start to finish, the entire process took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The audience was stunned—this man's strength gave off an aura of being undefeatable from the start.

After kicking Tan Tong off the stage, the guy from Wind Thunder Martial Hall stood tall, looking down at Shen Zhou, and said, "Now it's your turn, Dugu Qiubai!!!"

His hostility was undisguised.

Murderous intent lurked in his gaze.

The surrounding spectators, hearing this, suddenly got fired up and began chanting—

"Dugu Qiubai!"

"Dugu Qiubai!"

"Dugu Qiubai!"

Watching this scene, the city lord Lin Nantian, observing from the stands, couldn't help but smile faintly and said calmly, "This martial artist called Dugu Qiubai seems to have not only a unique name but also quite the popularity!"

Beside him, Manager Mo from Flying Bird Academy chuckled and said, "Popularity is one thing, but whether his strength matches it is another matter entirely."

Lin Nantian was in his fifties. He wasn't just the city lord; he was also the head of the Lin Family, and currently the youngest 'Celestial Firmament Realm' expert among the Five Great Families in Flying Bird City.

If not for those two additional identities, even as a Lin Family member, he wouldn't have been able to hold onto the city lord position.

After hearing Manager Mo's words, Lin Nantian shifted his posture and said, "But I've heard that this young man is called 'invincible below the Transformation Yuan Realm,' and even our Lin Family's martial hall fell to him on the very first day. With strength like that, Manager Mo still thinks he doesn't live up to the name?"

Manager Mo was still holding a grudge over Shen Zhou's earlier attitude, and his position as the Flying Bird Academy's manager made him somewhat proud and aloof. He spoke up, "'Invincible below the Transformation Yuan Realm' isn't a title just anyone can claim. For him to deserve it, he'd at least need to cross hands with one of our Flying Bird Academy's disciples first before we'd know."

Behind him, more than twenty young disciples of Flying Bird Academy were also watching the match from the stands.

These students ranged in age from fourteen or fifteen to twenty-three or twenty-four, their strength varying as well.

But one thing they all shared was an air of superiority that set them above others.

After hearing Manager Mo's words, a burly young martial artist in the crowd immediately stood up and said, "That's right, whether he's 'invincible under the Transformation Yuan Realm' or not, he has to get past me, Huo Xiaotian, first!"

Those around him chimed in, "Forget about us, it's hard to say if he can even beat this Wind Thunder Martial Hall disciple on stage."

"Exactly, I think he'll last about as long as the last one..."

Seeing that the Flying Bird Academy disciples were just as arrogant as their manager, Lin Nantian smiled and said nothing more.

But when he looked at 'Dugu Qiubai' down below, his gaze grew much more focused and serious.

In fact, he was even a little hopeful that 'Dugu Qiubai' would put on a great show, defeat the Wind Thunder Martial Hall disciple on stage, and take the Flying Bird Academy down a peg.

Back down below.

Since his opponent had openly issued a challenge, Shen Zhou naturally had no reason to back down.

Before stepping onto the stage, he turned to Tang Shan and the others and said, "Senior brothers, you're all watching this. It's not me stirring up trouble—trouble came looking for me. Once I get up there, I can't guarantee what'll happen. You... don't have any objections, do you?"

Tang Shan and the others felt their hearts tighten at these words.

He was already giving them a warning—what was he planning to do?

Pei Dahai quickly said, "Junior brother, hold back a little. Just teach him a lesson, don't go overboard."

Shen Zhou replied noncommittally, "I'll see how it goes."

With that, Shen Zhou leaped up and landed on the stage.

On the platform, the two faced each other.

Shen Zhou sized up his opponent—no recollection of him at all. So why did this guy hold such hostility toward him?

His opponent also looked at Shen Zhou, a cold smirk on his lips, his demeanor radiating an unmatched confidence. He spoke first, "Dugu Qiubai, right? Next... I'm going to make you see yourself clearly. Also, do you know Shen Zhou?"

Hearing this, Shen Zhou's expression sharpened. "You have a grudge against him?"

His opponent said, "More than a grudge—it's a life-and-death feud. Since you know him, don't blame me if I cripple you later. Blame... blame yourself for knowing Shen Zhou!"

Shen Zhou: "???"

Who is this guy? How do I have a life-and-death feud with him?

I don't even know him!

And... with how arrogantly he's talking, does he really think he's guaranteed to win?

The gong sounded.

His opponent repeated his tactic, launching the attack first.

A flash of movement, and he was right in front of Shen Zhou, then raised his leg for a flurry of kicks.

Crack, crack, crack...

The familiar explosive sounds rang out again, like a string of firecrackers, their power seeming even fiercer than before.

But this time, the one standing on stage was Shen Zhou, not Tan Tong.

Facing his opponent's storm of attacks, Shen Zhou thrust his sword into the platform, resting one hand on it while casually blocking with the other, his movements relaxed and graceful, like swatting flies.

Yet every time he waved his hand, he perfectly deflected his opponent's strikes.

Compared to Tan Tong's situation, it was a world of difference!

"This is impossible!"

His opponent's pupils contracted in shock, and he sped up by another notch, but still couldn't do anything to Shen Zhou—couldn't even make him budge an inch.

"My god, is this Dugu Qiubai? He's too strong!"

"That Tan Tong guy couldn't even fight back against Wind Thunder Martial Hall's attacks, but Dugu Qiubai blocks them so easily. Is this the strength of someone 'invincible under the Transformation Yuan Realm'?"

"Strong, so strong. I was right to back Dugu Qiubai, and I don't regret betting a thousand taels on him winning!"

"..."

Even City Lord Lin Nantian was taken aback by the sight.

The speed of that Wind Thunder Martial Hall martial artist was so fast it surprised even Lin Nantian.

In fact, he thought that even if he were on that stage, at the same cultivation level facing that speed, he might not come out ahead.

But this Dugu Qiubai blocked it so effortlessly—and not by relying on physical defense like a body-tempering martial artist, but by countering each move as it came.

That was a bit terrifying!

Thinking this, Lin Nantian turned to Manager Mo and said with a faint smile, "Manager Mo, do you still think this young man can't live up to the title 'invincible under the Transformation Yuan Realm'?"

Manager Mo's face darkened, and he said nothing, but inside, a storm was raging. "This guy seems to predict his opponent's attacks before they happen. Every time he raises his hand, it's perfectly timed and natural. Such sharp insight—even I might not manage it at this cultivation level."

Behind him, the Flying Bird Academy disciples also wore grim expressions as they watched the battle.

They were proud, but they weren't blind.

Even the two people currently on the stage—whether the Wind Thunder Martial Hall disciple or Dugu Qiubai—made everyone present feel an invisible pressure from the combat power they had displayed.

Only Huo Xiaotian still stubbornly insisted, "Hmph, what's so great about that? If I were on that stage, I could do the same."

Bang bang bang...

On the arena, the attacks continued for several more breaths.

Shen Zhou remained as calm as a drifting cloud, his expression unchanged, blocking with effortless ease.

The Wind Thunder Martial Hall martial artist then retreated, steadied himself, and stared coldly at his opponent. A nameless fury and disbelief rose in his eyes. "Damn it, if this guy has such strength, why have I never heard his name before the Grand Tournament?"

It was also at this moment that Shen Zhou suddenly spoke to his opponent, and the first words out of his mouth made the man's body jolt. "Thunder Flash? I thought it looked familiar. If I'm not mistaken, that should be the Wu Clan's clan-guarding technique. So... you're from the Wu Clan, aren't you?"