Seventh on the Strength Rankings-Ruan Tian!

Li Yao sighed as he stood in the Seventh Arena, watching the cowards below. He was getting anxious.

Seriously, why are they such cowards? I've only fought two matches, and they're already afraid to come up?

He glanced at the other arenas. Ye Xiao stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves in the First Arena, and no one dared challenge him.

It was the same with Yu Xuerou in the Second Arena. There wasn't a soul anywhere near her.

The Third Arena, the Fourth Arena, and the Fifth Arena were no different. Not one person had stepped up to challenge them.

Of the ten arenas in the entire Martial Arts Arena, his Seventh Arena was the only one where anyone had fought.

"This damn well won't do," Li Yao muttered to himself. "If no one challenges me, how am I supposed to rack up Background Value?"

His mind raced. Then a thought flashed through it. Got it.

Li Yao took a deep breath and shouted down at the crowd again. "Can't you people show a little backbone? You're afraid of me, a Sixth-Rank Martial Master?"

Someone below shouted, "Who are you trying to fool? A Sixth-Rank Martial Master beat someone at the Eighth Rank?"

"Exactly! You must be hiding your strength!"

"Quit putting on an act!"

Li Yao grinned and called back, "I really am Sixth Rank. Why would I lie to you? If I'm hiding my strength, may lightning strike me down."

The people below looked at one another, but still no one moved.

When Li Yao saw that hadn't worked, he came up with another approach.

He deliberately let his expression shift, showing a fleeting trace of unease. He looked a little nervous, perhaps even a little guilty.

The look came and went in an instant, but the spectators below caught it.

"Hey, did you see that? His expression just changed!"

"I saw it! Is he feeling guilty?"

"I knew he was putting on an act! He's just bluffing!"

"Right! He only beat Gong Zhan because he got lucky!"

"Maybe he's already a crossbow at the end of its flight and is just forcing himself to stand!"

The crowd below erupted. Li Yao chuckled inwardly, but kept his face calm. "I really am Sixth Rank. Believe it or don't. Why don't you come up and find out?"

"Fine, I will!"

A voice rang out from the crowd.

Li Yao looked over. A young man in a white shirt and black trousers stepped out of the crowd and leaped straight into the arena.

He was handsome, with well-proportioned features and a balanced build. But every movement he made carried the sound of air splitting. One glance was enough to tell he was no pushover.

"It's Ruan Tian!"

"Holy shit! Ruan Tian's making a move!"

"Ruan Tian is seventh on the Strength Rankings! He's gone up!"

"Li Yao's finished now!" The crowd below exploded with excitement.

Li Yao looked at the man before him and raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

"Ruan Tian, seventh on Imperial Capital University's Strength Rankings." Ruan Tian cupped his fist. "I heard you could fight, so I came to see for myself."

"Seventh on the Strength Rankings?" Li Yao smiled. "Looks like I've taken your place."

"The Seventh Arena was my home ground to begin with." Ruan Tian smiled. "But since you're standing in it, I'll knock you down and take my seat again."

"Oh, you're pretty cocky." Li Yao grinned. "All right, come on."

"Wait." Ruan Tian raised a hand. "You said you're a Sixth-Rank Martial Master, and I'm Eighth Rank. I don't want to take advantage of you. I'll give you three moves."

"You'll give me three moves?" Li Yao blinked. "You sure?"

"I'm sure," Ruan Tian said. "I won't strike back for the first three moves. After that, I'll make my move."

The crowd below started shouting again.

"Ruan Tian, you're the best!"

"Ruan Tian, crush him!"

"Show him what real strength looks like!"

Li Yao looked at Ruan Tian and smiled. "All right. Since you insist, I won't hold back."

With that, he threw a punch straight at Ruan Tian's face.

He put half his strength into it, wanting to test Ruan Tian first.

Ruan Tian turned sideways and dodged with ease.

"First move."

Li Yao raised an eyebrow. This guy's reactions were quick.

He followed with another punch, this time using seventy percent of his strength as he drove it toward Ruan Tian's chest.

Ruan Tian pushed off the ground and drifted three meters backward, dodging again.

"Second move."

"Not bad." Li Yao smiled. "You'd better be ready for the third."

He took a deep breath, and the Spiritual Power within him began to circulate.

The Nine-Turn Profound Art spun furiously within him, sending Spiritual Power surging through his meridians.

Li Yao's gaze sharpened, and he drove his fist forward.

This time, he used all his strength.

The wind howled around his fist as it bore down on Ruan Tian's face with fierce momentum.

Ruan Tian's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected Li Yao's punch to be so powerful. He hurriedly raised his arms to block.

Bang!

Their fists collided with a dull thud.

Ruan Tian took two steps back. Li Yao took one.

"That's three moves." Li Yao shook out his hand. "Your turn."

Ruan Tian stared at him, surprise flashing in his eyes. "You really are a Sixth-Rank Martial Master?"

"Why would I lie?" Li Yao smiled. "If I were Eighth Rank, that punch would've sent you flying."

"Interesting." Ruan Tian smiled. "You really do have some skill. Then I won't hold back."

His Spiritual Power surged, and he threw a punch. Li Yao didn't dodge. He charged straight in to meet it.

The two fought across the arena.

Every punch landed with a meaty thud.

The crowd below stared in disbelief.

"Holy shit! Li Yao's holding his own against Ruan Tian?"

"Is he really a Sixth-Rank Martial Master?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"This is way too fierce!"

Ruan Tian was secretly stunned too. He had thought Li Yao was just bluffing, but the guy genuinely had strength.

He was an Eighth-Rank Martial Master, yet he was locked in an even fight with a Sixth-Rank Martial Master. If word got out, how would he ever show his face again?

"Li Yao, you really are strong," Ruan Tian said. "But it's time to end this."

He let out a roar, and Spiritual Power burst from his body.

"Eight Extremes Fist! Mountain-Crushing Stance!"

His fist came hurtling in with a howl of wind. The air itself seemed to tear apart.

Li Yao's pupils contracted. That punch had reached the level of a Ninth-Rank Martial Master!

He didn't dare take it lightly. He met it with a punch of his own, putting everything he had behind it.

Boom!

Their fists collided with a deafening crash.

Both men staggered back several steps.

"Not bad." Li Yao shook out his hand. "Strength like that from an Eighth-Rank Martial Master is rare."

"You're no slouch yourself," Ruan Tian said, breathing hard. "You're the first Sixth-Rank Martial Master to take that punch of mine."

They clashed again.

The more the spectators watched, the more excited they grew.

"Go, Ruan Tian!"

"Crush him!"

"Teach him not to be so cocky!"

Li Yao heard their shouts and smiled.

Looks like I'd better get serious.

Spiritual Power surged within him once more.

Nine-Turn Profound Art, third turn—activate!

A vast force poured out of him, and his aura soared.

Ruan Tian's expression changed. "You..."

"What?" Li Yao smiled. "Thought that was all I had?"

He lunged forward in a single stride and drove a punch at Ruan Tian's chest.

Ruan Tian raised his arms to block, but the punch carried too much force. He flew backward and crashed into the arena floor.

"Pfft!"

Ruan Tian spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to his feet.

"You... what rank are you really?"

"Sixth Rank." Li Yao smiled. "Why would I lie to you?"

"Impossible!" Ruan Tian's eyes widened. "How could a Sixth-Rank Martial Master have that much strength?"

"Maybe I'm just talented." Li Yao shrugged. "Want to keep fighting?"

Ruan Tian stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "I concede."

The crowd below erupted.

"Holy shit! Ruan Tian conceded?"

"Li Yao won?"

"Am I dreaming?"

"This is just ridiculous!"

Li Yao stood in the arena, looked down at Ruan Tian, and smiled. "You're strong, brother. Just unlucky."

Ruan Tian got up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're strong. I admit it."

With that, he jumped down from the arena and disappeared into the crowd.

Li Yao turned to the people below and asked again, "Anyone else?"

The people below looked at one another. None of them said a word.

A system notification sounded in his mind: "Ding! Congratulations, host, on defeating Ruan Tian. Background Value +1,000. Current Background Value: 20,000."

Looks like this Background Value is getting easier and easier to earn.