Xiang Pang

In the stands, Yu Feng and Xiang Pang exchanged a glance.

Xiang Pang in particular had never imagined that Nie Xiaoyue had actually become a Yellow Martial Realm Martial Artist too—and at the second level, no less! From the look of things, it would be somewhat difficult for him to take the championship today. He only had a cultivation of the first level of the Yellow Martial Realm; with his force and brute strength combined, he could unleash two thousand jin of power. However, he did not think he had no chance at all of defeating Nie Xiaoyue. If he used his moves properly, he still had an opportunity.

As for Yu Feng, he felt a touch of pleasant surprise. He had already guessed that Nie Xiaoyue had become a Martial Artist before this; he simply had not expected her to have directly reached the height of the second level.

"A fourteen-year-old second-level Yellow Martial Realm Martial Artist. Brother Nie, even if she can't win the championship, I can still make a special application for a Meridian Opening Pill for her," the Dragon Tower Master said, looking extremely excited. There was one more sentence in his heart that he did not say aloud: "Perhaps she really can enter Huilong Academy." Earlier, when he said he would help Nie Xiaoyue enter Huilong Academy, it had only been empty talk. Now, from the looks of it, Nie Xiaoyue truly did have a chance.

Jiang Feng smiled faintly. Naturally, Nie Xiaoyue's strength could not be hidden from him. He had long since examined her with his divine sense. The Qi Sea within Nie Xiaoyue's Dantian was extremely conspicuous, and one meridian had already been opened. That was why he had said Zhang Kui would lose miserably.

Nie Xiaoyue had a flamboyant personality and clearly would not hide her strength. Especially after Jiang Feng had just displayed heaven-defying aptitude, she was even more eager to show off. So the moment she stepped onto the stage, she struck with her full power, causing Zhang Kui to suffer a crushing defeat.

The youths below the stage carried away the unconscious Zhang Kui, and on the stage, Nie Xiaoyue's victory was announced. Nie Xiaoyue turned her head to look at Jiang Feng, her face full of provocation.

In the second match, it was still Nie Xiaoyue against the other person in her group. That person had only managed with great difficulty to stand out from the first round today, and his strength was merely at the eighth level of Body Strengthening. After seeing Zhang Kui's miserable defeat, he simply admitted defeat to Nie Xiaoyue on the spot, preserving his energy to deal with the injured Zhang Kui, where perhaps he might still be able to fight for one round.

However, he was still thinking too much. In the third match, Zhang Kui, who had been awakened, displayed his strength and easily took him down.

Jiang Feng had originally wanted to carefully observe Nie Xiaoyue's moves, but in the end, Nie Xiaoyue advanced almost without making a move, charging straight into the top five.

Nie Xiaoyue returned to her seat, and quite a few people congratulated her. She turned her head and looked smugly at Jiang Feng. Three days ago, which was the very day Jiang Feng had agreed to fight her, she had obtained that Flesh Pellet.

A Flesh Pellet could directly increase the strength of the physical body and was also an extremely precious pill. A single one cost a full five hundred gold coins; an ordinary person could never afford one in their lifetime. Even Nie Hu had practically had a huge chunk of flesh carved off his body in order to buy this Flesh Pellet. But to make Nie Xiaoyue's chances of attacking the gate of Martial Artist before sixteen even greater, he simply went all in.

Nie Xiaoyue had originally already been at the eighth level of Body Strengthening, close to the ninth. After swallowing one Flesh Pellet, she directly reached the ninth level of Body Strengthening. What surprised everyone was that on the very next day, she actually succeeded in opening up her Dantian Qi Sea and directly became a Martial Artist.

Moreover, she had been born with one meridian naturally unobstructed, so after becoming a Martial Artist, she directly achieved the second level of the Yellow Martial Realm.

That was why Nie Xiaoyue had such glory today. Looking at Jiang Feng, Nie Xiaoyue said, "Jiang Feng, you never expected this, did you? Even if you stole all the limelight today, in the end you will still kneel before me and let me deal with you as I please!"

Jiang Feng smiled faintly, focused on the arena, and paid her no attention.

The matches for the second group began. Yu Feng was already standing on the stage.

The matches in the second group were also relatively quick. With his cultivation at the first level of the Yellow Martial Realm, Yu Feng soon took two consecutive victories. Of the other two, one was at the ninth level of Body Strengthening, the other at the eighth. That youth at the eighth level of Body Strengthening stubbornly relied on his moves to hold on for a long time, but in the end, he was still defeated and nearly beaten to death.

The third group—Xiang Pang, Zhuang Yan, Jiang Feng!

"Heh heh, Jiang Feng ran into Xiang Pang. Let's see how Xiang Pang teaches him a lesson." Below the arena, the youths were in high spirits.

These people, for who knew what kind of mentality, held such hatred toward Jiang Feng. Perhaps, in their eyes, Jiang Feng should have been lying on the ground like a dog, allowing them to trample him at will. Yet Jiang Feng had actually risen up in a counterattack, which naturally made them unhappy. But they themselves had no way to teach Jiang Feng a lesson, so they could only pin their hopes on Xiang Pang doing it for them.

Human thoughts were truly that disgusting!

"Xiang Pang is the same as Yu Feng, first level of the Yellow Martial Realm. He's a true Martial Artist. No matter how heaven-defying this Jiang Feng's abilities are, he can't possibly defeat a Martial Artist across levels, right? Let's just calm down and watch how he suffers a crushing defeat."

"Exactly. Let him act so proud just now."

"With Xiang Pang taking action to teach him a lesson, I'm at ease!"

In the first match of the third group, Xiang Pang faced Zhuang Yan. The moment they made their moves, everyone could tell that Zhuang Yan indeed possessed the strength of the ninth level of Body Strengthening. It was precisely because of this that he wanted to give it a try. Even knowing full well he would not be Xiang Pang's match, he still wanted to exchange moves with Xiang Pang and broaden his horizons.

Xiang Pang was quite amiable as well. He was not in a hurry to defeat Zhuang Yan, and seriously competed with him in terms of moves, without using force to bully Zhuang Yan. It could be seen that his character was quite good.

After a round of sparring, Zhuang Yan had gained quite a bit, so he no longer pestered him endlessly and decisively admitted defeat.

In the second match, Xiang Pang faced Jiang Feng.

"Jiang Feng, hello," Xiang Pang greeted him first. "Your performance today was excellent. It really surprised everyone."

Jiang Feng smiled faintly. "You too. To reach the Yellow Martial Realm before eighteen, and without the cultivation of any powerful force, is already quite good. I believe that if someone were to nurture you, your achievements would rise to another level."

Jiang Feng was speaking the truth. Xiang Pang's family circumstances were ordinary; he belonged to the common folk and simply could not provide him with good resources. Under such conditions, for him to still become a Martial Artist before eighteen was enough to show that his aptitude was extraordinary. If he had enough resources, he definitely would have become a Martial Artist before sixteen and enjoyed the empire's stipend. Unfortunately, in this small place, he had been buried and overlooked.

"Thank you for your recognition." Xiang Pang also smiled politely. "Let's compete first."

Jiang Feng nodded and made the first move. The reason he attacked first was, in a sense, out of respect for Xiang Pang. Xiang Pang gave people a very good feeling, very gentle and kind. If there was a chance, Jiang Feng would offer him a certain amount of help.

"What speed!" Xiang Pang was greatly shocked. In almost the blink of an eye, Jiang Feng had already arrived in front of him.

"Brother Xiang, careful. Don't be careless," Jiang Feng reminded him. He could tell that Xiang Pang did not intend to use force, but was preparing to fight Jiang Feng using only physical strength, just as he had against Zhuang Yan.

Xiang Pang immediately used force to defend himself, but even so, Jiang Feng's punch still forced him back five steps in a row.

In truth, Jiang Feng had already held back greatly with this punch, and had not even used all of his physical strength. But even so, it was not something Xiang Pang could withstand.

In the stands, Wei Changqing's expression changed drastically. "This boy knocked Xiang Pang back with one punch. Could he have become a Martial Artist too?"

Wei Changqing's mood at this moment was indescribable. If one were to say who among everyone present least wished to see Jiang Feng become a Martial Artist, it was probably him, Wei Changqing.

"Brat, good, very good!" Wei Changqing seethed inwardly with hatred.

"Interesting, truly interesting." The Dragon Tower Master nodded repeatedly. "Town Mayor Nie, I never expected that your small town would actually produce two youths who can enjoy the empire's stipend this year. Truly worthy of celebration!"

Nie Hu let out a dry laugh. Just now, he had still been enjoying the honor his daughter had brought him, but in the blink of an eye, he discovered that Jiang Feng was actually not inferior to his daughter in the slightest. Although he had not participated in framing Jiang Feng's father, Jiang Yunhai, he could not be said to have any favorable feelings toward Jiang Feng either. On the contrary, he was even afraid Jiang Feng would steal Nie Xiaoyue's limelight.

At this moment, Nie Xiaoyue's expression also changed drastically, and her heart filled with fear. "He... he... he actually became a Martial Artist too!!"

Below the arena, the youths' faces turned ashen! Just now, they had still been shouting for Xiang Pang to teach Jiang Feng a lesson, but in the blink of an eye, Jiang Feng had actually knocked Xiang Pang back with one punch!

"Jiang Feng, impressive skill!" Xiang Pang laughed loudly. "I can feel that you didn't use your full strength at all."

Xiang Pang's words instantly set the crowd alight.

"What? He actually still hasn't used his full strength!!?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Nie Xiaoyue could no longer sit still.

At this moment, Xiang Pang sincerely admired Jiang Feng. "Jiang Feng, I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

With that, Xiang Pang turned and walked back to his own spot, conceding the match.

Xiang Pang knew that Jiang Feng had already given him plenty of face. If he still refused to admit defeat, he might only end up even more embarrassed.

Jiang Feng was also grateful for Xiang Pang's understanding. With his strength, the slightest lapse in control could injure Xiang Pang; after all, his grasp over his power was still not perfectly precise. He rather admired Xiang Pang, and did not want to hurt him.

The moment Xiang Pang conceded, everyone found it unbelievable!

"How is that possible? Someone as strong as Xiang Pang actually conceded to Jiang Feng!?"

"Just what level of strength does this Jiang Feng possess?"

"No wonder Lin Xian and Wang Song were defeated by him one after another earlier. Those two didn't lose unjustly!"

"Poor Wang Song. He actually kicked a nail like this."

There were also people clamoring that Xiang Pang and Jiang Feng had thrown the match, but they were quickly refuted. After all, this was Xiang Pang's final year participating in the youth division of the Zhushan Arena Tournament. If he lost this chance, he would never again have the opportunity to obtain a Meridian Opening Pill.

With Xiang Pang's background, while he was at the Yellow Martial Realm stage, it would be forever impossible for him to have the money to buy a Meridian Opening Pill. So there was no way he could have colluded with Jiang Feng to throw the match.

Yu Feng's brows were tightly furrowed. He asked himself whether he could defeat Xiang Pang—even whether he could fight above his level and defeat Nie Xiaoyue, who was at the second level of the Yellow Martial Realm. But now, he felt that his odds of winning against Jiang Feng did not seem high at all!

No. I must obtain the Meridian Opening Pill. If I face Jiang Feng later, I have to go all out, even if it means risking the use of that move. It would be best to kill him, so he won't pose any threat to Xiaoyue!

Yu Feng had already made up his mind. He knew about the wager between Jiang Feng and Nie Xiaoyue, so he absolutely would not allow Jiang Feng any chance to defeat Nie Xiaoyue.