Want to challenge me? You're not qualified yet!

"Master Qin!"

"Master Jiang!"

Fire Ox and the other three Tiger Generals hurriedly bowed again to the unsmiling middle-aged man in black robes and the young man in white.

Only after the two reached the seats of honor and stood on either side of Black Tiger did they straighten up.

"To think even Master Qin from the Loyalty and Filial Piety Hall came this time, along with personal disciple Jiang from the White Crane Martial Arts Hall..."

Che Zhenzhong suddenly felt that this trip had been worth it. He had actually gotten to see so many important figures at once.

And he was not the only one.

Even Fire Ox and the other Tiger Generals were surprised.

Master Qin's arrival did not surprise them.

As the master of the Loyalty and Filial Piety Hall, Master Qin enforced the gang's rules, investigated traitors, and provided relief for their brothers. Meanwhile, Weiyuan Hall was the only one of the four halls that frequently fought outsiders. Fighting meant casualties, and casualties required relief payments.

Through these dealings, the two had grown close.

But the White Crane Martial Arts Hall was another matter.

As one of the Four Great Martial Arts Schools in the Inner City, the White Crane Martial Arts Hall had always remained neutral, never becoming embroiled in disputes between gangs or lineages.

Personal disciple Jiang, in particular, was one of the school's leading representatives aside from its master. This was the first time he had come so openly to the Fish-Dragon Gang to watch the proceedings.

Still, they did not dwell on it, merely encouraging their subordinates to do their best.

Even if they failed the selection, leaving an impression on these hall masters and big shots would mean they had not come for nothing.

For a moment,

Brocade-Furred Rat and Ximen Bao rubbed their fists and flexed their palms, itching to try.

Huang Man'er remained wooden, while Wei Sheng was expressionless.

"Everyone's here!"

Black Tiger swept his gaze around and said flatly, "Enough pointless talk. Let's get straight to business!"

After making his announcement, Black Tiger sat down. Master Qin and personal disciple Jiang took their seats as well.

Immediately afterward,

a burly, heavily bearded man stepped out from the group that had arrived with Black Tiger.

"I am Li Fenghua, deputy hall master of Weiyuan Hall. I will now announce the rules for this Five Tiger Generals Selection!"

"There is only one rule in these bouts: no killing!"

"The last man standing will become one of Weiyuan Hall's new Five Tiger Generals and receive one hundred taels of silver, a jar of Golden Body Paste, and a Flesh Refinement Method!"

At these words,

the crowd erupted.

"Damn! Those rewards are way too generous!"

"Forget the rest. I just want those hundred taels!"

"You shortsighted fool. A hundred taels is a lot, but it's not even in the same league as the other two!"

"Golden Body Paste is made from hundred-year-old tiger bones ground into powder, supplemented with ginseng and dozens of other body-strengthening medicinal ingredients. One jar sells for three hundred taels, and you can't even find it for sale. A single jar is worth dozens of ordinary medicinal pastes..."

"But the Flesh Refinement Method is the most valuable of all. It's a complete method that can take you all the way through the Six Refinements. Many small lineages couldn't buy one even if they emptied their coffers. It's something that can truly rewrite your fate!"

"Damn it! Such generous rewards! Why am I not at the third refinement?"

"..."

Hearing everyone's discussions,

Wei Sheng grew excited as well.

Originally, he had wanted to participate in the Five Tiger Generals selection only to repay Fire Ox's favor.

Now, it seemed

he had no choice but to participate.

The silver did not really matter.

What he wanted were the other two items.

Golden Body Paste was no less effective than Treasure Fish for flesh refinement, and its effects lasted longer.

Once he secured it, the time he needed to break through to the fourth refinement would be greatly reduced.

And then there was the Flesh Refinement Method...

Judging by his previous experience refining his skin, he would probably need several Flesh Refinement Methods to reach perfection in flesh refinement.

Moreover,

Flesh Refinement Methods were not as common as Skin Refinement Methods. Collecting them would not be so easy.

Now that he had a chance to get a Flesh Refinement Method for free, he naturally had to seize it.

Li Fenghua was very satisfied with everyone's reaction.

After explaining the rules, he continued, "Now, those participating in the Five Tiger Generals selection, step forward!"

Brocade-Furred Rat, Ximen Bao, and Huang Man'er all stepped forward.

"Hmm? Fire Ox, you haven't nominated anyone?" Li Fenghua glanced at Fire Ox in surprise.

"Hahaha! Deputy Hall Master Li, you haven't heard? Fire Ox doesn't even have a Third Refinement fighter under him. He's not qualified to compete at all!"

Violent Bear could not help bursting into laughter.

Everyone present immediately turned toward Fire Ox. His expression grew uglier as he stared coldly at Violent Bear, looking ready to strike at any moment.

But before he could erupt, a faint voice reached his ears.

Fire Ox whipped his head around and stared at Wei Sheng in disbelief. "Are you sure?!"

"Yes." Wei Sheng nodded.

"Good!"

A sudden light flared in Fire Ox's eyes-the light of someone who had reached a dead end and caught sight of hope.

He pushed Wei Sheng straight to the front, placing him alongside Huang Man'er and the other two.

Seeing this, Violent Bear mocked him even louder. "Has water gotten into your fucking brain, Fire Ox? You're actually sending a Second Refinement fighter to compete for a place among the Five Tiger Generals? Is he even qualified?!"

Fire Ox ignored him and simply told Li Fenghua, "Deputy Hall Master, Wei Sheng is my nominee!"

Li Fenghua nodded, then addressed Wei Sheng and the other three. "I declare the fighting begun!"

The instant his words fell,

Huang Man'er, who had been standing there in a wooden daze a moment earlier, became a different person in an instant, as though he had switched accounts. Danger radiated from him, and his piercing gaze passed over Ximen Bao and Brocade-Furred Rat before locking onto Wei Sheng.

"You're strong. Worthy of me making a move!"

"??"

Everyone was stunned.

Violent Bear, who had just been mocking Fire Ox, even wondered whether he had misheard.

But he knew even better that Huang Man'er had an almost instinctive sense for danger, one that had never been wrong.

Didn't that mean this kid named Wei Sheng really was at the third refinement?!

"If you want to challenge me, we'll have to see whether you're qualified!" Wei Sheng said calmly.

The crowd erupted.

They wondered where this kid got the confidence to dare say that to Huang Man'er.

But contrary to everyone's expectations,

Huang Man'er actually nodded in agreement.

Then he looked at the bewildered Ximen Bao and Brocade-Furred Rat. "Which of you two is first? I'm in a hurry."

Hearing this,

both men's expressions turned ugly.

You want to challenge Wei Sheng, so you're using us as stepping stones? Don't we have our dignity?

"Hmph! Huang Man'er, you're far too arrogant. Let me, Brocade-Furred Rat, see what you've got!"

Brocade-Furred Rat stepped out first.

However, angry as he was, he also knew how terrifying Huang Man'er was.

The moment he attacked, he drove his blood and qi to their utmost. The skin covering his body swelled, thick and tough, as though he had donned a thin layer of armor.

"Is that... the Shanjia Skin Refinement Method?"

"I hear that skin refined with this method is as tough as armor. Even martial artists of the same level have a hard time breaking through its defenses..."

Before those words were finished,

Bang!

A fat figure flew backward.

He crashed heavily onto the ground in front of Shanjia, coughing blood from the corner of his mouth!

It was Brocade-Furred Rat.

"Jin!"

Shanjia's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly checked Brocade-Furred Rat's injuries and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that his internal organs had not been hurt.

But everyone was still stunned by the sight.

Brocade-Furred Rat, a Third Refinement expert who specialized in defense, had actually been knocked out of the contest by a single punch from Huang Man'er.

Just how powerful was that punch?!!

"Interesting. That punch carried at least three thousand five hundred jin of force. Among fighters at the third refinement, he's nearly invincible..."

Tiger Lord raised his brows slightly.

"Now it's your turn!" Huang Man'er stared at Ximen Bao.

Ximen Bao wasted no words either. His figure moved like a sprinting leopard, suddenly appearing on Huang Man'er's left as he clawed at his left shoulder.

His claw cut fiercely through the air. Combined with his extremely fast footwork, it left even Huang Man'er unable to react, forcing him to take the palm strike head-on.

Ximen Bao had thought that even if this palm strike did not severely injure Huang Man'er, it would at least briefly rob him of his ability to fight.

Yet when his palm landed, it felt as though he had struck metal. Huang Man'er barely reacted, while the impact instead left Ximen Bao's own arm numb.

What shocked him even more was the color that flashed across Huang Man'er's skin.

"What? Copper skin?!"

Ximen Bao's heart jolted.

Huang Man'er instantly seized the opening created by his hesitation.

He grabbed Ximen Bao's arm, preventing him from moving quickly again, then slammed a heavy punch into his chest.

Although Ximen Bao resisted with all his might, he only withstood three punches before he was sent flying backward, vomiting blood.

At that point,

only Huang Man'er, his skin gleaming with a bronze sheen, and Wei Sheng, who stood opposite watching the show, remained on the field.

Huang Man'er looked at Wei Sheng, battle lust blazing in his eyes. "Now, am I qualified?!"