Who Else?

"Who else?"

Zhou Qi's voice was not loud, yet it exploded over the martial arts arena like a clap of thunder.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment before erupting into even greater uproar.

"This kid is way too arrogant!"

"Does he think beating one iron tower makes him invincible?"

"The Zhao Family still has experts. Just wait for the show!"

Zhao Dezhu's face turned livid. He shot to his feet and roared at a middle-aged man behind him, "Laosan, you go!"

Zhao Laosan was a collateral descendant of the Zhao Family, at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement. He cultivated the Zhao Family's inherited Stele-Splitting Hand and had already brought it to the major mastery realm.

He was one of the Zhao Family's hidden trump cards. They had originally planned to rely on him to spring a surprise on Li Feng of the Wang Family at the end.

But now, they had no choice but to reveal their hand early.

Zhao Laosan rose and strode into the arena, staring fixedly at Zhou Qi.

"Kid, don't get too cocky."

Zhou Qi said nothing. He merely assumed the opening stance of the Mountain-Splitting Fist.

Zhao Laosan's gaze turned cold. He suddenly charged forward and struck out with his palm.

The Stele-Splitting Hand emphasized fierce, domineering force. One palm strike was enough to split steles and shatter stone.

Zhou Qi sidestepped the blow and threw a backhanded punch.

Zhao Laosan had been prepared. He withdrew his palm and raised it to block.

Fist and palm collided.

Bang!

Zhao Laosan staggered back three steps, his face turning pale.

Zhou Qi, meanwhile, did not budge an inch.

A flicker of shock passed through Zhao Laosan's eyes. They were both at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, so why was the other man's strength so much greater than his?

Before he could think further, Zhou Qi had already closed in.

Cloud-Wandering Step paired with Mountain-Splitting Fist, flowing in one unbroken breath.

The first punch: straight through the front gate.

The second punch: Cleave Mount Hua.

The third punch: mountains collapsing and earth splitting.

Three punches in succession.

Zhao Laosan barely blocked the first two, but the third landed squarely on his chest.

"Puh..."

He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, crashing near the edge of the arena. He struggled several times but could not get back up.

The entire venue fell deathly silent again.

Two matches.

Two punches, then three punches—two opponents defeated in a row.

Wang Tiannan's smile vanished completely, replaced by a grave expression.

Zhao Dezhu's face looked as ugly as if he had swallowed a fly.

Yang Mingyuan trembled with excitement from head to toe. Clenching his fists, he shouted softly, "Good! Well fought!"

Yang Jinshan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

Yang Zhenshan remained expressionless, yet the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

The attendant announced loudly, "The Yang Family wins!"

Zhou Qi remained where he was, with no intention of leaving the arena.

He looked toward the Wang Family's camp, his gaze settling on Li Feng.

"That last match only asked the Zhao Family," Zhou Qi said blandly. "Does anyone from your Wang Family object?"

Wang Tiannan's expression changed.

Li Feng lifted his head, his pair of sinister eyes locked tightly onto Zhou Qi.

"Kid, what do you mean?" Wang Tiannan asked in a low voice.

Zhou Qi ignored him and merely looked at Li Feng. "I heard you're a contract-taker? Among the contestants who came today, I'd say you're the only one who can exchange a few moves with me."

Li Feng stood and slowly walked into the arena.

His hands remained tucked within his sleeves, but danger radiated from his entire body.

"At the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, defeating two opponents in a row—you do have some skill." Li Feng spoke in a hoarse voice, like sandpaper scraping together. "But when cultivation realms are equal, what matters is martial techniques and experience gained through slaughter."

"Do you have the capital to be arrogant?" As Li Feng finished speaking, he was already in the arena.

Zhou Qi smiled. "Whether I'm arrogant or not, we'll know after we fight."

Killing intent flashed through Li Feng's eyes.

He slowly drew his hands from his sleeves. They were pale, and his palms faintly glimmered with blood-red color.

"Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish."

Yao Shiyuan sat upon the raised platform, watching the two men facing off in the arena. A trace of interest flashed through his eyes.

He had no intention of stopping them. The rules allowed unlimited substitutions; if Zhou Qi did not leave the arena, others could continue challenging him.

Besides, City Lord's Manor had long wished for the four great families to batter one another until all four were wounded.

"Begin!"

Li Feng moved the instant he heard the command.

He unleashed Ghost Shadow Step at full force, his body turning into a streak of blood-colored shadow. In the blink of an eye, he flashed before Zhou Qi and struck with his palm.

Blood Baleful Palm.

A blood-colored palm imprint enveloped Zhou Qi's chest.

Disdain flashed through Zhou Qi's eyes.

Too slow.

To the senses of someone at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, Li Feng's palm strike looked like a slow-motion replay.

But he could not expose himself.

He used Cloud-Wandering Step, narrowly evading the palm strike before countering with a punch at Li Feng's ribs.

Li Feng sneered, twisting aside to evade it before striking out with another palm.

The two exchanged blows in the arena, moving so quickly that the spectators' eyes could barely follow.

Ten moves.

Twenty moves.

Thirty moves.

Li Feng's attacks grew fiercer and fiercer. Blood Baleful Palm followed Blood Baleful Palm, each strike carrying a thick stench of blood.

Yet Zhou Qi was like a loach, always narrowly slipping away, occasionally counterattacking with a punch.

On the surface, Zhou Qi was being pressed into a corner and looked as though he could lose at any moment.

But in reality,

Zhou Qi was adapting.

Adapting to Li Feng's rhythm, his moves, and his weaknesses.

After thirty moves, Zhou Qi had thoroughly figured out Li Feng's entire routine.

Blood Baleful Palm was immensely powerful, but it also consumed a great deal of energy.

After thirty moves, Li Feng's speed had visibly slowed, and his breathing had become hurried.

Zhou Qi knew the moment had come.

Li Feng struck with another palm.

This time, Zhou Qi did not dodge.

He received it head-on.

Mountain-Splitting Fist, mountains collapsing and earth splitting.

Fist and palm collided.

Bang!

With a deafening blast, Li Feng's expression changed drastically. He staggered back seven or eight steps and sprayed out a mouthful of blood.

He lowered his head to look at his right hand. It had already twisted out of shape, with three bones broken.

"You..."

Li Feng raised his head, his face full of disbelief.

Zhou Qi stood where he was, his breathing steady, as if nothing had happened.

The entire venue fell silent.

Then came thunderous cries of shock.

"He won? He beat Li Feng?"

"That's a contract-taker who's spent years fighting and killing outside!"

"That's impossible!"

Wang Tiannan shot to his feet, his face deathly pale.

Zhao Dezhu stood with his mouth agape, unable to speak for a long while.

Yang Mingyuan leaped up excitedly. "He won! He won!"

Yang Jinshan stood frozen in place, looking at Zhou Qi as though he were a monster.

Yang Zhenshan finally smiled, a smile laden with meaning.

Zhou Qi looked at Li Feng and said blandly, "Who else?"

Li Feng gritted his teeth, wanting to fight again, but his right hand was already crippled and his combat strength had fallen drastically.

He glared viciously at Zhou Qi before turning and retreating.

Wang Tiannan drew a deep breath and waved at the other two attendants behind him. "You two, go together!"

These two had merely been brought to make up the numbers. The stronger of them was only at the middle stage of the sixth layer.

The two exchanged a glance and walked into the arena despite themselves.

Zhou Qi did not even look at them. He merely said blandly, "Come."

The two attacked simultaneously from the left and right.

Three moves.

Only three moves.

The two men flew out one after the other, crashing onto the ground and unable to get up for a long time.

The entire venue was silent as death.

Zhou Qi stood where he was, his gaze sweeping across the Wang Family and Zhao Family camps.

"Who else?"

No one answered.

The remaining person from the Wang Family lowered his head, not daring to look at him.

The Zhao Family's several experts all avoided his gaze.

Zhou Qi then looked toward the Li Family.

Li Yuanba gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

Zhou Qi withdrew his gaze and turned toward the Yang Family's camp.

Behind him was deathly silence.

Then came cheers like mountains roaring and seas surging.

"Zhou Qi! Zhou Qi! Zhou Qi!"

No one knew who shouted first, but before long, the entire venue was shouting that name.

Zhou Qi did not turn back.

He walked before Yang Zhenshan and cupped his fists. "I did not fail your expectations."

Yang Zhenshan rose and patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with appreciation.

"Good," he said. "Very good!"

Yang Mingyuan rushed over, so excited that his words tumbled over one another. "Zhou Qi, you're incredible! Do you know who you just defeated? Li Feng! A contract-taker with a great reputation in the martial world!"

Zhou Qi smiled but said nothing.

His gaze passed over Yang Mingyuan and settled on Wang Tiannan and Zhao Dezhu.

Those two wore expressions as ugly as if their fathers had died.

Yao Shiyuan stood and announced in a clear voice, "The victor of this grand competition is—the Yang Family!"

"By agreement, the Wang Family, Zhao Family, and Li Family will each surrender twenty percent of their Black Iron Mine shares to the Yang Family."

Wang Tiannan clenched his teeth but could not say a single word.

Zhao Dezhu lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone.

Li Yuanba sighed and shook his head.

Yang Zhenshan stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze swept across the camps of the three families, and delight appeared on his face. "Thank you, the three of you, for making this possible."

Though his tone was calm, it carried an indescribable smugness.

Zhou Qi stood to one side, silently watching it all.

Winning these matches brought joy to others. All he wanted was the antidote.