I Accept This Challenge

The next day.

A startling piece of news swiftly spread throughout the city.

Xiao Longcheng had overwhelmingly defeated the eighty-fourth-ranked expert on the Hidden Dragon Ranking in the arena, officially entering the ranking.

The news swept in every direction like a hurricane.

Countless martial artists declared that he would undoubtedly take first place in this centurion selection battle.

No recruit could contend with him.

Such strength was enough to make people despair.

One had to know that those on the Hidden Dragon Ranking were generally established experts, most of whom had reached the Bone Tempering realm.

In the past few decades, Xiao Longcheng was the only one who had entered the Hidden Dragon Ranking during his time as a recruit.

One could well imagine the weight of such an achievement.

When Lu Yun learned of this from Ye Quan, he was quite surprised as well.

Yet he remained full of confidence in himself, battle intent rising within him.

Once he broke through to Bone Tempering, he would properly cross blades with the other man.

So what if he was an unparalleled genius? He still would not be able to block Lu Yun's advancing footsteps.

The northeastern corner of the military camp.

Inside a small official residence.

Two middle-aged men clad in red armor sat in their chairs, drinking spirit wine.

The burly middle-aged man on the left was Qin Jue, the thousand-man commander in charge of Lu Yun, Ye Quan, and their group of recruits.

The rough-looking giant on the right was Qin Jue's friend, Mu Zijun.

"Haha... the quality of the recruits under you isn't much to speak of. Don't tell me you're going to come up empty again?"

Mu Zijun glanced at Qin Jue teasingly.

Ever since several consecutive batches of recruits led by Qin Jue had failed to produce anyone who could enter the top ten, Mu Zijun had often mocked him for it.

Though the two had a good relationship, that still could not stop Mu Zijun from needling him.

What was more, Xiao Longcheng—the one peerless standout—had been assigned to Mu Zijun's men this time, making him even more smug.

He had already claimed the title of top centurion among the recruits for himself.

"Hmph... you just stepped in dog shit."

Qin Jue snorted coldly and took a swig of spirit wine before barely suppressing the displeasure in his heart.

Not one of the recruits under him was a talent capable of standing alone, and that left him with no face either.

He had not heard of any promising seedlings among this batch of recruits, so he had not paid them much attention.

"Sigh... the Red Flame Army's casualty rate is getting higher and higher now. Those scum from the Demon God Society have been restless all along..."

Mu Zijun let out a soft sigh.

"Who knows how many of these recruits will survive."

Qin Jue's gaze was distant. "When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

"These past years, the experts of the Demon God Society have been probing in secret, never ceasing their petty moves. If you ask me, only by killing them all can we finally have peace."

"Kill them all? At the end of the day, they're human too. They were merely unable to withstand the temptation of demons and monsters and were transformed. Unless the demons and monsters are completely wiped out, these vermin can never be killed clean."

That afternoon.

While Lu Yun was resting in the dormitory, Ye Quan suddenly burst in.

"Brother Lu, Yang Shengrong, ranked ninety-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, has publicly challenged you."

"And he wants to wager five hundred Origin Stones. He said that if you lose, you'll return the five hundred Origin Stones you won last time."

"You absolutely mustn't agree."

Worry filled Ye Quan's eyes.

Which expert capable of entering the Hidden Dragon Ranking was not renowned?

Other than that freak Xiao Longcheng, he had never heard of any recruit defeating a genius martial artist on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Playing dead would only mean losing a little face.

But losing five hundred Origin Stones would be a real loss.

He did not think Lu Yun could defeat Yang Shengrong.

Perhaps in a few years.

"Interesting. Isn't this the gatekeeper of the Hidden Dragon Ranking? Has he broken through to Bone Forging yet?"

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow.

"No, he hasn't. But even among those at Inner Strength Perfection, there are differences."

Ye Quan told him truthfully.

Though the lower-ranked members of the Hidden Dragon Ranking were only at Inner Strength Perfection, most of them had cultivated a supreme technique to perfection, granting them astonishing combat strength.

Even against an ordinary early Bone Forging martial artist, they could hold their own and match them.

They were entirely different from ordinary Inner Strength Perfection martial artists.

"Go tell him that I accept this challenge letter. We'll meet on the arena tomorrow morning."

Lu Yun smiled faintly.

What perfect timing—just as he lacked the resources to charge toward Bone Forging, this man had delivered them right to his door.

Five hundred Origin Stones was no small sum.

Besides, as long as his opponent was at Inner Strength, he would not lose.

At this realm, he had never feared any martial artist. That was the confidence of a hexagonal warrior.

He was only the gatekeeper of the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Lu Yun could suppress him with ease.

"Battles involving Hidden Dragon Ranking experts usually have betting pools, don't they?"

At that moment, Lu Yun seemed to recall something, a smile curling at his lips.

If he could earn another batch of Origin Stones, wouldn't that be a win-win? He would be winning so hard it was ridiculous.

"The family behind Baishitong will open a betting pool, but everyone has a wagering limit, usually one hundred Origin Stones."

"And the returns differ depending on the odds."

Ye Quan replied with a smile.

"I estimate your odds will be one to three. That means wagering one hundred earns three hundred."

"Most people still favor Yang Shengrong."

"Can you lend me one hundred Origin Stones?"

Lu Yun suddenly turned and smiled.

The five hundred Origin Stones he had won last time had already been completely used up. Now his pockets were empty.

Ye Quan gritted his teeth. "I'll do my best to find a way."

As a martial artist from the county town, he still had some connections. At worst, he could borrow a little from his family.

As long as he handled this matter, he would become Lu Yun's most steadfast confidant.

Once Lu Yun soared to great heights in the future, he certainly would not be left without benefits.

This investment was guaranteed to bring profit without loss. He had to make it look good.

That afternoon.

The news that Lu Yun had accepted Yang Shengrong's challenge quickly spread throughout Clear Distance City.

A great number of Qi Nourishment and Inner Strength martial artists were thrilled, and many eagerly awaited tomorrow's exciting showdown.

After all, battles on the Hidden Dragon Ranking were still rare.

Other than Xiao Longcheng, this was only the second one this month.

When the martial artists who had lost Origin Stones last time heard the news, they all clapped and cheered.

"Finally, an expert has come to suppress him."

"Tomorrow, I'll definitely be there to watch his miserable end."

"That's right. Lu Yun is absolutely no match for Yang Shengrong."

A large crowd of martial artists began discussing it as well.

"The betting pool is open, the betting pool is open..."

"Lu Yun's odds are one to three."

"Those who want to turn a small stake into a big fortune, come on! A sudden fortune awaits tomorrow..."

For a time, all of Clear Distance City became lively.

In the east of the city, inside a private room on the second floor of a restaurant.

Yang Shengrong sat in a chair, drinking wine with a relaxed expression.

"I didn't expect Lu Yun to actually dare accept the challenge. It seems I underestimated his courage."

"Unfortunately, courage cannot stand in for strength."

Anyone who entered the Hidden Dragon Ranking had fought their way in, one punch at a time.

A mere martial artist from some tiny mountain village—was he worthy of Yang Shengrong's attention?

If someone had not paid him to make a move, he never would have issued such a childish challenge.

"Fine. Tomorrow, it'll be settled with a single slash anyway. It won't waste much time."

Such was the confidence of a Hidden Dragon Ranking genius.

In his eyes, Lu Yun would not be able to withstand even one slash from him.

The next day, the morning sun rose.

Around the arena at the center of the plaza, all manner of martial artists had already packed together in dense crowds, numbering several thousand.

Yang Shengrong held a long saber in hand. Dressed in white, pure as snow, with long hair draped over his shoulders and fluttering in the wind, he looked like a noble young lord.

At this moment, seeing that Lu Yun had yet to appear, the crowd began muttering among themselves.

"Could it be that Lu Yun is scared?"

"Maybe he thinks his chances of winning are slim and has chosen to forfeit."

"I bet twenty origin stones on Lu Yun. Don't you dare let me down."

A gaunt young man muttered to himself.

Everyone around him looked at the gaunt youth as though he were an idiot.

"Heh... another fool trying to win big with a small stake."

"You really think a Hidden Dragon Ranking genius is that easy to defeat?"

Just as the crowd buzzed with discussion, a figure straight as a javelin slowly approached from afar.

The one who had come was Lu Yun.