No One Worth Fighting

"Third match, Yang Family versus Wang Family!"

The attendant's voice echoed over the Martial Arts Arena.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the Yang Family camp.

The Yang Family had already lost one match. If they lost to the Wang Family again, they would be completely on the back foot.

Yang Zhenshan remained seated, with no intention of getting up.

Yang Yuanshan walked to his side and asked quietly, "Second Brother, who are we sending?"

Yang Zhenshan glanced at him. "What do you think?"

Yang Yuanshan froze for a moment, then seemed to understand something. He beckoned to an attendant behind him. "A Fu, you go."

A Fu was a thug Yang Yuanshan had recruited from Blackstone City. He was in the middle stage of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, roughly as strong as A Gui.

He had witnessed Li Feng's prowess in the previous match, but he had no choice after taking the money.

A Fu's face was pale at that moment, yet he still gritted his teeth and walked into the arena.

On the Wang Family's side, Li Feng stepped out once more.

His hands were still tucked into his sleeves as he looked indifferently at A Fu, as though he were looking at a lamb awaiting slaughter.

"Kid, I have no grudge against you, and I don't want to hurt anyone. You should admit defeat and leave the stage while you still can," Li Feng said blandly.

A Fu's already pale face became even more hesitant.

"Hahaha! Is this all your Yang Family has got? The match hasn't even started, and you're already about to piss your pants from fear!" someone shouted from the stands, triggering a burst of laughter.

It was Wang Hao.

"N-No, sorry. I took their money, so I have to fight!" A Fu replied, forcing himself to remain calm.

"Fine. No more words, then. We'll see the truth beneath our hands!"

"Begin!"

Li Feng moved.

It was still Ghost Shadow Step, still Blood Baleful Palm.

Before A Fu could even react, a palm struck his chest. He flew sideways and crashed outside the arena, vomiting blood in great mouthfuls.

The entire venue fell silent.

Then uproar erupted.

"Another one move!"

"Is the Yang Family just sending people up to die?"

"It's over, it's over. The Yang Family is going to lose this time."

Wang Tiannan burst into laughter and cupped his hands toward Yang Zhenshan. "Brother Yang, does your Yang Family have no one left? Why do you keep sending out such trash?"

Zhao Dezhu chimed in, "Exactly, Brother Yang. If you lose the Black Iron Mine, your Yang Family will suffer a devastating blow. Why not admit defeat now? If you concede, you only lose half—perhaps you can still preserve some of your foundation?"

Yang Zhenshan lifted his teacup and slowly took a sip without saying a word.

Yang Mingyuan's face was livid at the side. He clenched his fists tightly but did not dare make a sound.

Fourth match, Zhao Family versus Li Family.

The Zhao Family sent out a saber wielder at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, while the Li Family sent out their remaining Sixth Layer expert.

The two exchanged more than thirty moves. In the end, the Zhao Family saber wielder was slightly more skilled and narrowly won.

Thus, two rounds had concluded.

The Wang Family had two wins, the Zhao Family had two wins, the Li Family had two losses, and the Yang Family had two losses.

Wang Tiannan was grinning so broadly that his mouth could barely close.

Zhao Dezhu was equally smug. He knew that his own people would certainly be no match for Li Feng of the Wang Family.

But the Wang Family had been in the same boat as him from beginning to end.

If the Wang Family won, he would naturally gain his share of the benefits.

Yang Zhenshan finally set down his teacup, rose to his feet, and walked over to Zhou Qi. He looked down at him.

Zhou Qi raised his head and met Yang Zhenshan's gaze.

"How is it?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

Zhou Qi shook his head. "Don't worry."

Yang Zhenshan had arranged for him to go last so that he could clearly observe his opponents' martial techniques and strength, knowing both himself and his enemy on the battlefield.

Yang Zhenshan nodded and gave a soft laugh. "Then let them enjoy themselves a little longer."

But immediately afterward, he paused, hesitated, and continued asking, "Are you confident?"

Zhou Qi stood up, his gaze sweeping over the Wang Family and Zhao Family camps.

Li Feng stood there with his hands still tucked into his sleeves, his eyes sinister.

Those Sixth Layer experts from the Zhao Family were pointing in this direction, their faces full of disdain.

When Wang Hao noticed Zhou Qi looking at him, his expression instantly froze. He put on a fierce look and drew a finger across his throat.

This competition had originally been something Wang Hao prepared for Zhou Qi, but he had never expected it to grow bigger and bigger, eventually turning into an uncontrollable mess.

Yet Wang Hao was thrilled at that moment. No matter who looked at it, the Wang Family seemed to have the best chance of winning.

Zhou Qi ignored that idiot, withdrew his gaze, and said calmly, "Not one of them is worth fighting."

Yang Mingyuan was dumbfounded when he heard that.

Yang Jinshan even let out a mocking laugh. "You? You're only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, and you say none of them are worth fighting?"

Zhou Qi ignored him.

Yet Yang Zhenshan gave Zhou Qi a deep look, then laughed several times and nodded. "Good, good, good!"

He turned and returned to his seat, signaling to the attendant.

The attendant understood and shouted, "Fifth match, Yang Family versus Zhao Family!"

The moment Zhao Dezhu heard that, he burst into laughter. "Brother Yang, are you planning to give away a third defeat?"

Yang Zhenshan sat in his seat and cast Zhao Dezhu a glance. His expression remained calm and unruffled, but his heart was tense beyond measure.

The Yang Family had already smashed their cooking pots and sunk their boats.

Wang Tiannan joined in with a laugh. "Brother Zhao, go easy on them. Don't beat the Yang Family too badly."

Zhao Dezhu waved a hand. "Don't worry. I know my limits."

He beckoned to a burly man behind him. "Iron Pagoda, you go."

Iron Pagoda was the bald, burly man who had defeated A Gui in the first match.

He grinned and strode into the arena, crooking a finger at the Yang Family camp. "Come on, let Grandpa see what other experts your Yang Family has!"

Zhou Qi stood and walked toward the arena one step at a time.

Everyone's attention fell on him.

"Who's that?"

"I haven't seen him before. He looks like a Yang Family attendant."

"Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement? He doesn't look like anything special."

"Has the Yang Family decided to smash a broken jar because it's already broken?"

Amid the murmurs, Zhou Qi stopped three steps away from Iron Pagoda.

Iron Pagoda sized him up and grinned. "Kid, you're even skinnier than that useless trash from before. If you know what's good for you, lie down on your own. Save Grandpa the trouble of lifting a hand."

Zhou Qi said nothing.

He merely looked at Iron Pagoda, his gaze calm.

Iron Pagoda grew uncomfortable under that gaze and frowned. "Kid, are you mute?"

Zhou Qi finally spoke. "That punch you used on A Gui earlier relied on brute force, not technique."

Iron Pagoda froze.

Zhou Qi continued, "Your right shoulder has an old injury. Whenever you throw a punch, you unconsciously hold back your strength. Your lower stance is unstable, and your leg techniques are almost nonexistent."

He paused. "With that level of skill, you dare call yourself Iron Pagoda?"

Iron Pagoda's expression changed.

"You're courting death!"

He roared and threw a punch.

The fist wind howled, carrying tremendous force.

Zhou Qi moved.

Cloud-Wandering Step.

His body drifted beneath Iron Pagoda's fist like a wisp of smoke, while his Mountain-Splitting Fist smashed into Iron Pagoda's right shoulder.

With a crisp crack.

Iron Pagoda screamed as his right arm dangled limply at his side.

Before he could react, Zhou Qi's second punch had already arrived.

Cleave Mount Hua.

The fist slammed into Iron Pagoda's chest.

Bang!

Iron Pagoda flew backward and crashed outside the arena, knocking over a whole swath of spectators.

One fresh move, and he could feast on it everywhere.

When he had fought Iron Ox from the Wang Family before, he had used these same two moves. His opponent had been just as utterly vulnerable.

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Zhao Dezhu's smile froze on his face.

Wang Tiannan's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

Yang Mingyuan's mouth fell open, and he could not close it for a long while.

Yang Jinshan sprang to his feet, his face filled with disbelief.

Yang Zhenshan remained expressionless, but a flicker of light flashed deep in his eyes.

The attendant was stunned for a long moment before recovering and shouting, "Yang Family... wins!"

Whoosh...

The entire venue erupted.

"He won with two punches?"

"What movement technique was that? So fast!"

"Mountain-Splitting Fist? Isn't that the Basic Fist Technique? How could it be so powerful?"

"What do you know? That was Mountain-Splitting Fist at perfection!"

Zhou Qi stood where he was, looking at Iron Pagoda sprawled on the ground as he patted away dust that did not exist from his hands.

Zhao Dezhu's face turned livid as he abruptly stood. "You!"

Zhou Qi looked at him calmly. "Who's next?"