Brutal!

North of the city, the martial arts arena.

This venue, usually empty and desolate, was a sea of people today.

A makeshift high platform stood imposingly, its front draped in scarlet carpets, with banners fluttering on both sides, snapping in the autumn wind.

Below the platform, the crowd was packed tight.

There were disciples from various martial arts halls in uniform, wealthy squires in fine attire, commoners who had brought their families to watch the spectacle, and those foreign martial artists who had just fled from Lushan County, their faces sallow and gaunt but their eyes sharp.

Directly in front of the high platform sat a row of grand chairs covered in brocade.

The county magistrate sat in the center, a smile on his face, occasionally chatting with those on either side, fully displaying the dignity and composure of a local official.

Beside him, several top figures of the Anxi County martial arts world were seated in order.

Yan Sheng, master of the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, had a burly physique and a stern expression; his fist techniques were said to have reached the peak of Bright Strength.

Jin Huang, master of the Surging Wave Martial Arts Hall, had a sharp face and piercing eyes, his aura surging like the tide.

Xu Feng, master of the Shattering Wind Martial Arts Hall, was thin, yet his brows were knit with a blade-like sharpness.

The three sat closest to one another, occasionally whispering, clearly the three giants of the Anxi County martial arts world.

Further to the side were the seats for masters like Liu Qingshi and Zhou Yue.

Though they were all masters of their respective halls, their seating order was a tier lower, creating a clear divide.

Liu Qingshi's expression was calm, his gaze occasionally sweeping over those three figures not far away, his eyes devoid of ripples, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

In the open seating area behind them were the representatives of the local powerhouses.

Su Chen, head of the Su Family, wore a smile as he exchanged pleasantries with his neighbors, playing the part of a slick merchant.

Zhang He, head of the Zhang Family, was also among them, whispering to the person beside him with a peaceful expression, as if he were merely an ordinary wealthy gentleman here to observe the ceremony, showing no trace of the hostility and deep-seated grudges from that night with Liu Qingshi and Su Chen just a few steps away.

In the viewing area to the side of the platform, several servants carefully carried a soft couch, placing a figure wrapped tightly in blankets, whose face was as pale as paper, into the shadows of a corner.

The figure was swaddled in heavy blankets, revealing only a sunken face, but a pair of turbid eyes stared fixedly at the direction of the Bluestone Martial Academy disciples, occasionally leaking a trace of venomous light as they shifted.

This person was none other than Zhang Xu.

"Why did that wretched beast come here too?"

In the formation of Bluestone Martial Academy disciples, Su Yan was looking down, adjusting the ties on her cuffs with gentle, meticulous movements.

But the moment Zhang Xu's venomous gaze fell upon her, her hands paused slightly, and she lifted her eyes, meeting that gaze squarely.

The instant their eyes met, the smile on Su Yan's gentle face did not diminish in the slightest; it even deepened a fraction.

Yet, deep within those eyes lay a cold, icy stillness, like a winter lake reflecting the withered branches and fallen leaves on its banks.

Liu Yiyi never turned her head.

She merely tilted her face slightly, her peripheral vision sweeping over the soft couch in the corner, a cold glint three parts colder than Su Yan's sliding through her eyes.

Then, she shifted her gaze away, as if that were nothing more than a pile of insignificant filth.

Two gazes, one warm and one cold, both conveyed the same meaning—a cripple, and he dares to look at us with those eyes?

When Zhang Xu met those two gazes, his heart trembled uncontrollably.

It was a sense of humiliation, of being held in contempt and completely ignored.

His fingers, gripping the blanket, turned white at the knuckles, his chest heaved violently, and a string of indistinct, beast-like growls rolled in his throat.

"Damn sluts... just you wait..."

At the edge of the crowd, a tall, thin, and cold figure, like an ordinary old man passing by by chance, squeezed into the crowd of onlookers at a leisurely pace.

He was dressed plainly, his face was unfamiliar, and his aura was ordinary, no different from the excited faces around him, as if he were just an old man here to join the fun.

Yet, his eyes, hidden in the shadows of the crowd, locked onto the tightly wrapped figure in the corner of the viewing area with the precision of a hawk.

"Found you."

Jiang Ye's aged lips twitched slightly, curling into an arc that carried a chilling, sinister intent.

His gaze lingered for a moment on that pale, sunken face before sweeping over the few servants standing with bowed heads.

"Judging by that brat's weak aura, he can last at most an hour before he has to be carried back to rest."

"On the way back, with the servants carrying the couch, they will move slowly, and it is impossible for any experts to be escorting him—that will be the perfect time to strike."

In an instant, a clear and cold assassination plan flashed through Jiang Ye's mind.

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted on the high platform of the martial arts meet.

A vigorous figure leaped onto the platform, landing steadily in the center.

It was a youth in gray martial attire, his skin dark, with a faint old scar across his brow bone that added a touch of ferocity to his young face.

He cupped his fists in a salute to all sides, but his gaze went straight to the location of the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, his voice loud and full of vigor:

"This Humble One is He Jie of the Mountain Opening Martial Arts Hall! I have long heard that Anxi County is full of hidden talents, and I have even heard that your hall has recently taken in a 'high disciple' named Hu Tian—reaching the Bright Strength realm in half a month, truly a young hero! Today, I have the honor of taking the stage; I wonder if this Brother Hu Tian dares to come up and fight me?!"

As the words fell, the crowd below exploded instantly.

"Mountain Opening Martial Arts Hall? Aren't those the refugees who fled from Lushan County!"

"Good heavens, these outsider martial artists finally couldn't sit still; they're picking the most prominent target to challenge right out of the gate!"

"Hu Tian? Is that the one who defected from Bluestone Martial Academy to join Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall?"

"Yes, that's him! The academy has been buzzing with this for days, saying the kid is a traitor who turned his back on his master!"

"This is getting interesting! A challenger from Lushan County against an academy defector—hehe, no matter who wins or loses, it's going to be a good show!"

"That He Shan looks to be at the early stage of Bright Strength, just like Hu Tian. They're perfectly matched!"

"It all depends on whether Hu Tian dares to accept! If he chickens out, he'll be branded a 'coward' on top of being a 'traitor'!"

The crowd was deafening, surging like a rising tide.

Countless gazes were cast toward the area where Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall was seated, filled with anticipation, mockery, and undisguised schadenfreude.

On the grand chair directly in front of the high platform, Yan Sheng, the master of Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, sat motionless, his expression as calm as ever, as if the whispers of "traitor" had nothing to do with him.

Yet, if one were to look closely, they would see a dark, murky glint flash deep within his eyes, like a venomous snake gliding beneath a deep pool.

He subconsciously wanted to look back and signal Hu Tian to stay steady and not rush into the fight.

The kid had only been at Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall for three days; he hadn't even found his footing, and his status was far too sensitive. If he went up now, it would be fine if he won, but if he lost... it wouldn't just be his own face he lost, but the face of Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall as well.

However, his reaction was ultimately a beat too slow.

"Why wouldn't I dare!"

A clear, excited adolescent voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

Hu Tian sprang up from his seat, his face flushed red and his eyes gleaming, looking for all the world like a young tiger that had finally seen its prey.

What young man didn't want to make a name for himself in the ring?

Ever since he left Bluestone Martial Academy and joined Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall a few days ago, he had been living in repression and stifling frustration.

After joining, Master Yan Sheng hadn't immediately taken him in as a closed-door disciple as Zhang Xu had promised; instead, he claimed he needed to test his character, granting him only slightly better treatment than the average student.

The looks from his fellow disciples were always filled with a subtle, scrutinizing disdain, and their private whispers made him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

He desperately needed a resounding victory to shut everyone up, to prove that his choice was the right one, and to make those who looked down on him sit up and take notice.

And right now, this ring, this opponent, and this stage under the spotlight were a perfect opportunity gifted to him by the heavens!

Seeing that Hu Tian had accepted the challenge without even looking at him, a flicker of imperceptible displeasure crossed Yan Sheng's brow, though he shook his head slightly, Forget it, the kid isn't a disciple I raised myself, after all.

"So what if you're a martial artist from Lushan County? Let me, Hu Tian, be the one to meet you!"

He was in high spirits, striding toward the high platform with long, confident steps. His robes snapped in the wind, and every step he took landed with solid force.

Vaguely, he could already imagine the thunderous cheers from the crowd after he knocked that dark-skinned boy down, the approving look on Master Yan Sheng's face as he patted his shoulder, and the envious expressions of the fellow disciples who had once looked down on him.

When that time came, who would dare call him an academy traitor again?!

On the high platform, He Jie looked at the approaching youth, a grin spreading across his dark face—a smile filled with wild provocation and restless excitement.

"Brother Hu Tian, please!"

"Please!"

Below the stage, the noise grew even more deafening.

"Die!!!"

With a roar, Hu Tian struck first, fingers curled into a fist, slamming it toward He Shan's face.

The punch was heavy and fast, carrying a sharp whistling sound as it tore through the air.

Gasps rose from the crowd; in just a few short days, he had already grasped the essence of Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall's signature technique, the Extreme-Breaking Fist. Such talent truly earned him the title of "genius."

"Well struck!"

Facing the heavy blow, He Jie didn't dodge or evade; he threw a punch of his own, choosing to meet it head-on.

Bang!

A dull thud echoed out.

Both men retreated two steps, appearing evenly matched.

However, the situation quickly changed.

He Jie's fist technique carried a reckless, scorched-earth ferocity, repeatedly attempting to trade injury for injury with Hu Tian.

Is this guy a lunatic? This is just a sparring match, and he's acting like it's a life-or-death struggle...

Hu Tian grew increasingly flustered as the fight dragged on.

He had always practiced by exchanging moves with fellow disciples at the academy, stopping at the point of contact, and had never experienced a life-or-death real-world battle.

Facing He Jie's suicidal fighting style for the first time, the confidence in his eyes vanished, replaced by a growing sense of panic.

No... if this keeps up, I might actually die...

After a few more exchanges, a desire to retreat sprouted in Hu Tian's heart, and his fist technique began to falter.

In a battle between equals, whoever shows weakness first leaves a fatal opening.

He Jie keenly sensed the panic in Hu Tian's fist momentum and deliberately exposed a flaw, taking a punch to his left shoulder head-on.

Amidst a dull thud, his expression remained unchanged. Instead, he used the force of that punch to twist his body violently, slipping in like a loach and circling behind Hu Tian in an instant.

"Oh no..."

Alarm bells rang in Hu Tian's heart as he realized something was wrong.

However, it was too late.

Having slipped behind him, He Jie gathered all his strength into his right fist and slammed it down like a heavy hammer onto Hu Tian's spine.

Crack.

A crisp, teeth-grinding sound of bone fracturing echoed out.

Hu Tian's entire body seemed to have had its bones removed; his forward momentum froze abruptly, and then he collapsed onto the stage like a pile of soft mud.

He didn't even have time to let out a complete scream, only a few whimpers rolling from his throat like a beast on the verge of death.

"Ah!!!"

After a moment of dead silence, a shrill, heart-wrenching scream finally tore through his throat, making everyone's scalp tingle.

Seeing this scene, everyone off-stage changed color, and some of the more timid ones couldn't bear to watch and closed their eyes.

To everyone present, the spine was the most vital of vital points.

A heavy blow here was absolutely devastating.

The turn of events had happened so quickly that the crowd below only now regained their senses.

"No way... that's too ruthless..."

"Is that martial artist from Lushan County a madman? To use such a suicidal fighting style!"

"That punch was heavy enough; it's possible Hu Tian's spine has been shattered..."

"Hiss... if his spine is shattered, doesn't that mean this genius Hu Tian is finished!"

Exclamations, gasps, and sounds of disbelief surged like a rising tide.

The masters of the martial arts halls standing in front of the high platform watched the scene with varying expressions.

At this moment, the most complex expressions belonged to Yan Sheng, master of the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, and Liu Qingshi of the Bluestone Martial Academy.

"You idiot!"

Yan Sheng's eye twitched violently before he leaped onto the high platform.

He pressed one hand onto the incessantly screaming Hu Tian, placing his palm against his back and channeling a sliver of internal force to examine the injury.

A moment later, Yan Sheng looked at He Jie with a face as dark as water, his voice low and heavy: "You were far too ruthless. This is a sparring match, yet you broke his spine."

He Jie, who had taken Hu Tian's punch on his shoulder, was also deathly pale. Facing Yan Sheng's interrogation, he lowered his head slightly, avoiding the man's predatory gaze, and replied in a weak voice, though without much panic: "This junior could not hold back his strength in time..."

"Hmph! Could not hold back? I think you..."

A cold glint flashed in Yan Sheng's eyes.

"Brother Yan!"

A deep, resonant voice interrupted him.

A middle-aged man with a square face and a sturdy build, dressed in a grey martial arts uniform, strode onto the stage. He stood beside He Shan and spoke loudly:

"In a martial arts tournament, fists and feet have no eyes; that is an eternal truth. I have heard that in past tournaments, many disciples were injured because they couldn't hold back their strength. As the master of the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, Brother Yan should know this better than I do. You cannot be biased and break the rules just because it is your own disciple who was injured, can you?"

This man was none other than Shi Kaishan, master of the Mountain Opening Martial Arts Hall, and a powerful internal-force martial artist in his own right.

He wore a smile, but his tone was sharp and unyielding.

The atmosphere on the stage suddenly became tense.

"Enough!"

A voice that commanded authority without anger came from below the stage.

The County Magistrate sat upright in his grand chair, his expression calm, yet his gaze swept over those on the stage with unquestionable majesty.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly: "Yan Sheng, have your disciple treated first. We will discuss the rest later."

Yan Sheng took a deep breath, suppressing his surging anger, and waved his hand.

Several disciples from the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall stepped onto the stage and carefully carried the limp, screaming Hu Tian away.

Two doctors waiting off-stage immediately stepped forward. After a brief examination, one of them walked to Yan Sheng with a grave expression and whispered: "Master Yan, your disciple's spine has suffered severe trauma. His life is now in danger; we need a Great Restoration Pill to stabilize his condition."

Yan Sheng's brows shot up, and his gaze toward Hu Tian turned even colder.

This idiot didn't listen to his orders and insisted on fighting, and now that he was severely injured, he still needed him to clean up the mess.

One had to know that a Great Restoration Pill was incredibly expensive, costing three thousand taels of silver for a single pill.

He pointed toward Zhang Xu in the corner not far away and said to the doctor: "He was the one who introduced this person; go find him to get the Great Restoration Pill."

The two doctors exchanged a look and sighed helplessly. They carried the still-screaming Hu Tian to Zhang Xu's couch, but before they could even open their mouths—

"Go, go, go, hurry back, I need to rest."

Zhang Xu cast a look of disgust at Hu Tian, who was slumped like mud and wailing incessantly, as if he were looking at trash, and signaled for his servants to quickly carry him back to the Zhang Manor.

To him, a martial artist with a broken spine was worth less than a stray dog on the side of the road.

"Ahhh... Big Brother... save me..."

Hu Tian lay limp on the stretcher, his consciousness already blurring, yet the instinct to survive still compelled him to reach out toward the rapidly receding sedan chair, letting out a shrill, mournful plea.

"What kind of stray cat or dog thinks they can call me brother!"

Zhang Xu's curse drifted faintly into the ears of the dying Hu Tian.

"How... how could it be like this..."

Hu Tian's voice grew increasingly shrill and desperate.

At the same time.

Following Zhang Xu's departure, an inconspicuous old man in the crowd also vanished.