Beat Someone to Death

"What's going on?"

"Over at the Bright Force ring, a disciple from the White Crane Martial Hall was beaten to death."

"Tsk tsk, I've seen the one who did it. That's Fan Hao, a subordinate of Deng Yang, the Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall of the Mountain Gang."

"..."

Someone was dead!

In martial arts duels, injuries were unavoidable.

But this was the first time a death had occurred since the tournament began.

The various hall masters on the high platform wore grave expressions.

They had long guessed that the other side came with ill intent, but they hadn't expected such ruthlessness, with the opponent actually killing someone right on the ring.

Bai Yu's face showed a hint of anger:

"Gang Master Shi, can you give me an explanation?"

"An explanation?"

Shi Tao acted as if he had heard a hilarious joke, raising his eyebrows with an expression of exaggerated surprise:

"Hall Master Bai, that's an interesting question. In martial arts duels, life and death are left to fate; where is there absolute safety? My subordinate simply lost control of his strength for a moment, leading to an accident. It's a common occurrence in sparring."

Having said this, he turned to look at Bai Yu, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking arc as he retorted:

"Could it be that Hall Master Bai thinks a duel is child's play? That you can't even bear a little risk? What kind of explanation do you want for that?"

Bai Yu's chest heaved, veins bulging on his forehead, but he suddenly threw his head back and laughed:

"Good, a very good 'common occurrence in sparring,' and a very good 'no explanation needed'! I hope Gang Master Shi remembers these words and doesn't go back on them when the time comes!"

He then summoned a disciple from the White Crane Martial Hall and whispered into his ear.

Seeing this, Fu Huaixing and Hou Wei followed suit.

The other hall masters from the Outer City were initially hesitant, but as they exchanged glances and saw the tacit understanding between Fu, Bai, and Hou, they instantly caught on.

Shi Tao had already torn off the mask and was resorting to lethal force; if they continued to endure, it would only make the people from the Inner City even more unscrupulous.

Right now, they were entirely dependent on the three men before them and the yet-to-appear leader of the Wild Wolf Gang—the four experts at the Transformation Force level—to hold the line. If they didn't band together tightly, they wouldn't be able to survive in Crow Mountain City for much longer.

Without further hesitation, the various hall masters beckoned their trusted disciples over and whispered instructions.

Li Yun, having just finished a bout of fist-fighting, also received a message from a senior brother from the Inner Courtyard:

"If you encounter disciples from the Inner City factions, there is no need to hold back."

The once boisterous arena was now filled with surging undercurrents.

The cheers of the wealthy onlookers turned into hushed whispers.

Martial hall disciples suffered one after another.

One disciple was struck in the chest by a punch, spraying a mouthful of blood as his body was flung to the edge of the ring like a kite with a broken string; his chest had caved in, and he curled up in agony, unable to rise.

Another disciple failed to dodge in time, his right leg kicked into a grotesque, twisted angle as he rolled off the ring, screaming.

Their opponents were using nothing but lethal moves.

As Li Yun fought more often, more and more people began to watch him.

This was because there were two leaderboards on the high platform, updating the top six rankings for the Body Tempering Realm and Bright Force in real-time.

This drew increasing attention to Li Yun, who was currently ranked fifth.

On the high platform.

Shi Tao rubbed the scar on his face with his left hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd to the ring.

"Yo, Hall Master Fu, your Subduing Tiger Martial Hall has good momentum this year. That Zhu Daqi on the Bright Force ring—his punches break the air, and his force is unified. I suppose he's already reached the nine-echoes of Bright Force? He'll soon be ready to knock on the gate again, attempting to transition from external to internal and cultivate Dark Force, right?"

Shi Tao looked at Zhu Daqi; although it was a question, his tone was certain.

He then turned toward the Body Tempering Realm ring and looked at Li Yun:

"And that Li Yun, his blood-qi is thick, his fist techniques are well-rounded...

Tsk tsk, is Subduing Tiger Martial Hall planning to sweep the board this year?"

Facing Shi Tao's teasing, Fu Huaixing remained indifferent.

Since the Inner City had already begun to make its move, they would simply receive it.

At the end of the day, it remained to be seen whose fist was harder.

He had great confidence in Zhu Daqi and Li Yun.

Zhu Daqi had actually reached the nine-echo level this morning, which had taken him by surprise.

Furthermore, the two of them had not betrayed his trust, advancing triumphantly all the way.

They had not lost a single match since the competition began, both advancing to the top six.

"Ding Liuwu, versus, Yi Sisi."

Li Yun, having just finished a match, happened to hear the referee's voice from a nearby ring.

He took advantage of the rules to stop and rest.

Because he wanted to watch this bout of fists.

Ding Liuwu was Zhuo Yong, and Yi Sisi was that guy who had mocked him yesterday.

"Senior Brother, be careful, that guy's blood-qi is full and his leg techniques are sharp."

"Don't worry, Junior Brother. After these few real combat matches, I feel my fist technique is about to reach minor completion.

Perhaps this match will be the one that lets me break through.

Besides, I even bet on myself to make the top six; I will definitely win this."

Facing Li Yun's well-intentioned reminder, Zhuo Yong did not take it to heart.

He had been very lucky, not encountering any seeded players, and had also won all the way to this point.

His confidence was overflowing.

Both sides stepped onto the stage and cupped their hands:

"Tiger Subduing Fist, Zhuo Yong."

"Fish Leaping Leg, Tang Feng."

Seeing that both sides were ready, the referee announced:

"Begin."

Before the words had even faded, Zhuo Yong pushed off the ground and lunged out, twisting his waist and dropping his shoulder, his right fist wrapped in a gust of wind as he struck directly at Tang Feng's face.

Tang Feng tapped his toes lightly, his figure sliding sideways like willow catkins, the edge of the fist grazing past his shoulder.

Zhuo Yong could not retract his fist in time, leaving his lower back exposed.

Tang Feng spun and snapped his leg, the top of his foot whipping toward Zhuo Yong's side like a lash.

Bang.

A muffled thud rang out.

Zhuo Yong let out a muffled groan, his figure staggering back a few steps.

Just as Zhuo Yong steadied his center of gravity, Tang Feng pressed forward, his left leg feinting to distract him before his right leg suddenly kicked out, slamming directly into Zhuo Yong's abdomen.

Zhuo Yong hurriedly raised his arms to block; as his arm collided with the opponent's instep, he felt his joints go numb and his muscles instantly tense like stone.

His entire body was knocked back three steps, a metallic tang of blood rising in his throat.

Tang Feng's leg techniques became increasingly fierce, snapping, sweeping, kicking, and spinning without pause.

Zhuo Yong flailed his fists to barely parry, but was repeatedly evaded by his opponent's agility.

His shoulders and ribs were struck by kicks one after another.

Thud, thud~

The muffled sounds were incessant.

Suddenly, Tang Feng crouched and swept his leg, causing Zhuo Yong to lose his balance; just as he was about to rise, Tang Feng had already stepped forward, his knee slamming viciously into his chest.

Crack~

A piercing sound of bone fracturing rang out, and Zhuo Yong flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

Zhuo Yong struggled to get up, the sharp pain in his ribs making his whole body tremble, every breath feeling like a knife cut:

"I surren..."

Tang Feng did not give Zhuo Yong the chance to concede, closing in rapidly before suddenly raising his leg, his toe kicking precisely into the center of Zhuo Yong's chest.

Bang~

His body flew off the stage, his eyes rolling back as he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

"Senior Brother!"

Li Yun ran over quickly to check on Zhuo Yong's condition.

Zhuo Yong's chest had completely collapsed; it was clear he would not survive.

Li Yun turned his head to look at Tang Feng.

He saw Tang Feng leisurely brushing the dust off his pant legs, a playful smirk hanging at the corner of his mouth.

When his gaze swept over the dying Zhuo Yong on the ground, there was not a ripple of emotion.

He then fixed his sight on Li Yun, slowly raised his right hand, and drew it gently across his own throat.

The gesture was simple and direct.

Li Yun was now certain that this Tang Feng must be inextricably linked to the forces of the Inner City.

Gurgle~

A mouthful of blood flowed from Zhuo Yong's mouth.

Accompanied by occasional spasms, Zhuo Yong's expression was one of extreme agony:

"Re...venge..."

His head lolled to the side, and Zhuo Yong completely ceased to breathe.