Wenlong turned and spoke quietly with his father, suggesting that he step forward to fight. As the future sect master, his father needed to establish his authority first.
"Dad, don't worry. I'll help you from the shadows. Make them sign a life-and-death agreement so they can't cause trouble later," Wenlong told his father in a low voice.
Wen Tiancheng knew just how formidable his son was, of course, and trusted that he would never harm him. If he wanted to establish his authority, there was no avoiding a fight today.
He had also faced life-and-death trials in numerous clan battles, so he was certainly not afraid to fight.
He immediately burst into hearty laughter. "So you want to challenge our authority. Very well, then. Let's sign a life-and-death agreement. Whether we live or die will depend on our own abilities, with no grudges afterward."
Wen Tiancheng turned and ordered someone to bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Anyone who wanted to challenge him would have to sign a life-and-death agreement.
The other side froze for a moment. They had only come to throw their weight around, not to stake their lives. Now, right from the outset, they were being asked to sign life-and-death agreements.
They all felt as though they had climbed onto a tiger's back and could no longer get off. If they dared not sign, they would lose all face and never be able to hold their heads high again.
Just then, a hulking man stepped forward. He looked even taller and more imposing than Wen Tiancheng. "I'm willing to sign," he said in a gruff voice.
Without another word, he walked over to the prepared life-and-death agreement, signed his name, and pressed his fingerprint onto it.
Wen Tiancheng did not hesitate either. He signed his name and added his fingerprint. Elder Wen Tian'gang, who stood behind him, picked up the signed agreements.
He read aloud before everyone, "Both parties enter this fight willingly, without enmity. Whether they live or die, each shall accept his fate. The challenged party: Wen Tiancheng."
After reading both men's life-and-death agreements, their clan uncle Wen Tian'gang exchanged the documents. The contract was now complete, with each man holding the other's copy. Should anything happen, they would not have to fear trouble from the other man's relatives.
They agreed to fight barehanded. The hulking man launched a fierce assault right away, hoping to use his physical advantage to keep Wen Tiancheng under pressure. His fists whipped up a tiger-like wind as he pressed forward step by step.
Wen Tiancheng was a veteran of countless battles and had ample experience. He dodged several times, evading the big man's furious assault.
When he saw the man's strength begin to ebb, he turned and struck straight at his vital points. The hulking man had no choice but to pull back and defend, and the two traded blows.
The fight settled into an even contest. The hulking man had the advantage in size and strength, while Wen Tiancheng had the experience of a hundred battles and martial techniques to bolster him.
For a time, neither could gain the upper hand. When experts exchanged blows, a single mistake could cost a life.
Standing behind them, Wenlong dared not let his father keep fighting. When he saw Wen Tiancheng's fist about to land on the man's head, he knew his chance had come. How could he let the man dodge?
The Shadowless Needle was already waiting inside his sleeve. With a light flick using Shadow Hand, he sent it straight at the hulking man's head. The man froze, and Wen Tiancheng's fist arrived.
With a muffled thud, Wen Tiancheng's fist struck precisely where the Shadowless Needle had pierced through.
The hulking man collapsed instantly, and his companions rushed forward to check on him. Finding him dead, they glared furiously at Wen Tiancheng.
Wen Tiancheng's expression did not change. "If any of you object, sign a life-and-death agreement and settle it in the arena." Knowing his son was helping him, he felt all the more confident.
A big man dressed in black, perhaps a relative or friend of the dead man, said through gritted teeth, "I'll sign." He then walked to the table where the life-and-death agreements were signed, wrote his name, and pressed down his handprint.
Wen Tiancheng likewise completed the agreement without hesitation. He understood the principle of throwing one punch to keep a hundred more from coming.
After they exchanged agreements, the man in black turned and fetched a broadsword. Seeing this, Wenlong laughed inwardly. This man was doomed too. Even without his help, the man in black would be hard-pressed to survive.
Wen Tiancheng loved the broadsword. Even if his blade technique had not reached the furnace-blue perfection of complete mastery, it was not far off. And with the black blade Wenlong had given him, there might not be another broadsword on this continent so ferociously sharp.
The man in black entered the arena without wasting words. After they exchanged greetings, he immediately seized the initiative, unleashing his signature skill, the Chain Blade Technique.
Every slash went straight for Wen Tiancheng's vital points, but Wen Tiancheng did not block. He used his movement technique to dodge again and again with effortless ease.
When the man in black finished his sequence and tried to launch a second round of attacks, Wen Tiancheng gave him no chance. He unleashed Cleave Mount Hua, sending his blade straight toward the man's neck.
Sensing danger, the man in black immediately raised his broadsword in both hands to block. But the black broadsword swept through like a blade splitting bamboo, severing his weapon without losing any momentum.
The black broadsword swept across him. Both the man's blade and his neck were cut in two. His head rolled to the ground, and blood splashed everywhere.
Both sides stood stunned. Wen Tiancheng gazed calmly at his opponents. For a long while, none of them spoke. They gathered up the two bodies and slunk away.
And so the two life-and-death battles ended. Everyone from the Huaxia Sect burst into loud cheers.
Wen Tiancheng's prestige grew with each passing day. People often brought up those duels, recounting them with relish.
After a period of preparation, skilled craftsmen were brought in. Work on carving the dragon pillars and the plaque also entered its final stage.
Wenlong inspected the dragon pillars and the plaque as well. They were exquisitely made. Very pleased with the craftsmen's skill, he paid them extra.
Once the craftsmen had installed the dragon pillars and the sect's plaque, the end of the year was drawing near. The pillars and plaque were covered with red cloth, and an auspicious date was chosen for the sect's founding ceremony after the New Year.
This year's Spring Festival was even livelier. In Huaxia Village, there were rent-free fields, free houses, and wages from the workshops, allowing everyone to enjoy a wonderful New Year.
The villagers all felt that they were living in paradise. After the New Year, they would be sure to take generous gifts to honor their ancestors and thank their wives' families.
The Huaxia Sect's disciples were also living comfortably. The sect offered many tasks through which they could earn Contribution Points and exchange them for money and whatever supplies they needed.
These included hunting, gathering medicinal herbs, and joining the security patrols. Helping out at the workshops could also earn them Contribution Points.
The Wen Family Village clansmen had even less reason to worry about food and drink. They could not use up everything in the warehouses and kept moving goods to the shops, afraid they would spoil if left too long.
Wenlong stayed home as well, keeping his mother company as she neared childbirth. He made delicious food every day, feeding her until she was plump and rosy.
Even Wen Tie and Wen Hua had noticeably put on weight. Long'er's mother could not help sighing over how wonderful it would be if they could live like this forever.
But the great debt of vengeance for their loved ones remained unpaid. Even after taking revenge, they would still have no peace. In this slave-owning feudal society, without great strength, even staying alive in peace was difficult.
Without strength, living was like being an ant. Anyone could step on you whenever they pleased. Before the powerful, your life was worth even less than an ant's.
To face reality, one had to strive to stay alive. Fighting Heaven brought endless joy; fighting the earth brought endless joy; fighting other people brought endless joy.
Wenlong felt as though he had heard those words somewhere before. He had his space as a cheat, and his ancestors' favor as another. Having come from the modern world, he was himself a cheat.
Could someone loaded from head to toe with cheats like me still fear this man-eating society? Impossible. I even intend to defy Heaven itself.
Before you continue