Shi Jingang, Arrogant to the Extreme!

Beside the ring, an old veteran of the local martial arts circle bellowed at the top of his lungs:

"First match, first bout! Zhao Gang of the out-of-town Bone-Crushing Martial Hall challenges Liu Zhen of the local Long Wind Martial Hall. Begin!"

On the ring, Liu Zhen danced through his Long Wind Palm Technique with flashy, intricate movements, his offensive fierce.

Zhao Gang, however, remained as steady as a mountain, guarding his gates with nothing but a simple, unadorned Iron Arm Fist. After twenty-some exchanges, Liu Zhen's breathing grew ragged, and he left an opening.

A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Gang's eyes. Ignoring the incoming palm, he struck out with his right fist like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, landing an Iron Mountain Lean squarely against Liu Zhen's exposed chest.

"Bang!"

Liu Zhen spat blood and flew backward, crashing off the edge of the ring and falling unconscious.

The veteran at the side of the ring glanced over indifferently and raised his voice to announce:

"First match, first bout: Zhao Gang of the out-of-town Bone-Crushing Martial Hall wins!"

Before the words had even faded, the cheers and whistles of the surrounding townsfolk erupted like a pot boiling over.

"Good!"

"Well fought!"

"Bone-Crushing Martial Hall, impressive!"

Within the crowd, a meddlesome man gestured wildly, mimicking the strike from moments ago while spitting everywhere: "Did you see that? That's what you call real skill! What's the use of those flowery, showy palm techniques? One shoulder-check and it's all over!"

The person next to him nodded repeatedly: "Ain't that the truth! These folks from out of town are just tougher than our locals."

Others squinted at Liu Zhen, who was being carried away by the Long Wind Martial Hall disciples in a chaotic scramble, and curled their lips:

"The Long Wind Martial Hall has been going downhill for years. They only teach flashy, useless moves that look good but lack substance. Well, look at this—they've dragged their reputation through the mud."

Beside the ring, the presiding veteran ignored the surrounding clamor entirely. Once the stage was cleared, he raised his voice again, his tone commanding the entire arena:

"Quiet down, everyone! Prepare for the second bout! Zhou Heng of the Bone-Crushing Martial Hall challenges Chen Hai of the Long Wind Martial Hall!"

Chen Hai gritted his teeth and stepped onto the ring, but within seven or eight moves, Zhou Heng struck his wrist pulse with a cunning hand-blade. His long sword clattered to the ground, and he suffered a crushing defeat.

"Second bout, Bone-Crushing Martial Hall wins!"

"Third bout—Wu Yan of the Bone-Crushing Martial Hall against Wang Shuo of the Long Wind Martial Hall!"

Wang Shuo wielded a golden saber, while Wu Yan fought empty-handed.

As the blade descended, Wu Yan caught it firmly between his palms, then slammed his shoulder into Wang Shuo's chest, sending him flying back as he coughed up blood.

"Third bout, Bone-Crushing Martial Hall wins!"

Three consecutive losses, all within ten moves.

Beside the ring, the veteran announced loudly: "Best of five, the Bone-Crushing Martial Hall has won three consecutive bouts. According to the rules, they are permitted to open a hall and accept disciples in Wen'an! The Long Wind Martial Hall has lost three consecutive matches; effective immediately, they are expelled from the Wen'an martial arts circle and may no longer accept disciples!"

On the west side, cheers erupted from the camp of the out-of-town martial halls.

On the east side, the master of the Long Wind Martial Hall turned ashen, pointing at the ring with a rattling sound in his throat before suddenly fainting backward, only to be caught by his panicked disciples.

On the high platform, Du Liefeng snorted coldly. His wife sighed softly.

The members of the Wen'an martial arts circle wore grim expressions; seeing the Long Wind master collapse, they all felt a sense of shared vulnerability.

Lu Chen watched it all in silence.

This was only the first hall; four more were still lurking in the shadows, waiting for their turn.

Beside the ring, the veteran paused briefly. Once the Long Wind Martial Hall members had carried away their unconscious master and the injured, and the stage had been cleared, he raised his voice once more:

"Second match! The out-of-town Green Wolf Martial Hall challenges the local Ghost Staff Martial Hall! The rules remain the same: best of five!"

On the west side, the disciples of the Green Wolf Martial Hall filed out, each one possessing a sinister gaze and a lean, hardened physique, carrying an aura of wolf-like ferocity.

On the east side, the master of the Ghost Staff Martial Hall was a thin, wiry man with a dark complexion. His face was currently leaden, and most of the disciples behind him wore expressions of fear.

"First bout, Sun Lie of the Green Wolf Martial Hall against Zhang Biao of the Ghost Staff Martial Hall!"

"Second bout, Qian Sen of the Green Wolf Martial Hall against Li Kui of the Ghost Staff Martial Hall!"

"Third bout, Wu Lang of the Green Wolf Martial Hall against Wang Meng of the Ghost Staff Martial Hall!"

The three bouts were almost a carbon copy of the previous one's total domination.

All three bouts ended within ten moves; the Ghost Staff Martial Hall had lost all three!

"Best of five, the Green Wolf Martial Hall has won three consecutive bouts. According to the rules, they are permitted to open a hall in Wen'an!"

The members of the Ghost Staff Martial Hall looked deathly pale, and their master swayed, barely able to stand.

Yet, in the camp of the victorious Green Wolf Martial Hall, the master—a man with a sinister gaze and high cheekbones—moved, leaping onto the ring.

"My Green Wolf Martial Hall shall establish itself in Wen'an today! To celebrate this joy, and to benefit the local community by welcoming talented individuals—starting today, anyone who joins the Green Wolf sect within this month will be exempt from the entrance fee! The monthly tuition will be only one tael of silver! We shall pass on true, practical skills, with absolutely nothing held back!"

As these words fell, the entire arena went silent.

A roar of commotion, even more fervent than before, erupted instantly!

"No entrance fee? And only one tael of silver a month?!"

"Everyone saw the skills of the Green Wolf Martial Hall; they can really fight!"

"This price... it's way cheaper than the local martial halls!"

"Learning real skills for this cheap? Only a fool wouldn't sign up!"

Around the ring, many men who had originally just been watching the spectacle, or those from modest backgrounds with a desire to learn martial arts, saw their eyes turn red and their breathing grow heavy.

In ordinary martial halls, the entrance fee was a barrier, and the monthly tuition was a significant expense.

The terms offered by the Green Wolf Martial Hall were practically a pie falling from the sky!

"I'm signing up!"

"Count me in!"

"Master, where do we register?!"

Immediately, dozens of sturdy men scrambled to push their way out of the crowd, surging toward the makeshift registration desk set up by the disciples of the Green Wolf Martial Hall, shoving and shouting in a deafening clamor.

The disciples of the Green Wolf Martial Hall began to maintain order and record names with practiced efficiency, their eyes hiding a deep sense of smugness.

On the side of the defeated Ghost Staff Martial Hall, the scene was desolate and cold, with no one paying them any mind.

The dark, thin master watched this scene, a sweetness rising in his throat as he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, only held upright by his disciples.

At the edge of the ring, the old senior raised his voice:

"Third match! Iron Fist Martial Hall from the outer county, challenging the local..."

Before the words could fade, the bear-like Shi Jingang had already stepped onto the stage in silence. Standing there, he exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Niu Mang of the local Kaishan Martial Hall braced himself to meet the challenge, wielding a pair of short halberds and roaring as he slashed them in a cross toward Shi Jingang's neck!

Shi Jingang did not dodge or parry; he merely tilted his head slightly, taking the blow of the twin halberds with his shoulder and neck while driving his right fist straight into Niu Mang's chest without any flourish!

"Clang! Thud!"

The halberds struck his shoulder and neck as if hitting iron and stone, leaving only white marks.

Shi Jingang's fist, however, arrived first despite starting later, slamming into the crossed shafts of the halberds. The refined iron shafts bent instantly, and Niu Mang spat a spray of blood, flying backward several yards with a collapsed chest, his life or death unknown.

One punch! Tanking a heavy blow and nearly killing his opponent with a single strike!

The entire venue fell into dead silence.

Understanding dawned in the eyes of Lu Chen.

As expected, this man poured all his internal energy into offense, relying on his innate constitution to endure damage—he followed the most extreme path of brute force.

At the edge of the ring, the old senior announced: "First round, Shi Jingang of the Iron Fist Martial Hall wins!"

Shi Jingang did not leave the stage. Instead, he scratched his head and shouted toward the east side:

"My master said that everyone in the Kaishan Martial Hall is a coward and can't take a hit. My master also said that if I can win the remaining three rounds by myself, he'll... he'll find me a woman to marry!"

As these words were spoken, the whole crowd erupted in an uproar.

This was no longer just a martial arts competition; it was a naked, blatant humiliation.