The Second Round of Matches in the Afternoon
When Yan arrived at the designated arena for the second round of the competition in the afternoon, he found that the venue had changed significantly.
With the number of participants halved, the number of arenas was also reduced from 160 to 80, making the space around each arena appear more spacious. The spot where he was standing had clearly been redrawn with clear outlines.
The contestants had arrived, and the twenty of them gathered in small groups in the waiting area outside the competition zone, chatting quietly or stretching silently. Yan glanced over them and nodded to himself—after a round of selection, the remaining contestants were clearly different in spirit and energy. Even the weakest among them had regained the physique and vigor that a normal adult warrior should have. The hungry or weak contestants from the morning had basically disappeared.
He had barely arrived when a commotion arose from the periphery of the crowd. The core members of the Youth Team — Gubang, Daya, Zhuangchai, and others—led a large group of Youth Team, surging over like a stream and instantly surrounding the arena. Upon seeing Yan, the youths shouted excitedly, their eyes filled with pure admiration.
"Boss! Over here! We're here to cheer you on!" Gubang waved his arms, his voice booming.
"Brother Yan, fight well!" Zhuangchai squeezed to the front, his little face flushed with excitement.
Daya and the other boys also shouted words of encouragement. Yan was their Youth Team coach, the one who led their training and taught them skills, and their invincible idol. Seeing Yan personally participate in the clan competition, the boys' enthusiasm was even higher than that of the participants themselves.
Yan smiled and waved to them, signaling everyone to be quiet. Then he found a spot in the designated waiting area and waited calmly. The match hadn't started yet, but the atmosphere around the ring was already heating up because of these energetic teenagers. Soon, the two referees arrived—the second round had begun, and each ring was now staffed with two referees to ensure more accurate rulings and better control over any unexpected situations.
Yan was scheduled for the second match. Among the two who entered the arena in the first match was an "old acquaintance" of his— Shinian, the leader of the remnants of the Green Grain Tribe. This man, who was originally the number one warrior of the Green Grain Tribe, had experienced the pain of his home being destroyed after joining the Fire Tribe. However, with ample supplies and a stable environment, his physique seemed even more robust and powerful than before, standing there like a stone tower. His opponent was a young warrior from the former White Pig Tribe. Yan looked somewhat familiar with him. He should be one of the young men who performed well after the White Pig Tribe merged into the Fire Tribe. After several months in the Fire Tribe, his body had also become much stronger.
"First match, begin!" the referee waved.
Shinian a low shout, not rushing into a fierce attack, but instead pressing forward with Chenwen, mountain-like steps, his training spear as steady as a rock. The young man from the White Pig Tribe was clearly a little nervous, gripping his wooden spear tightly with both hands, watching Shinian's movements intently.
The probing lasted only a few breaths Shinian in Shi Nian's eyes. He suddenly exerted force with his feet, unleashing a speed disproportionate to his size, and delivered a Dali sweeping attack! The young man hurriedly raised his spear to block.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, the young man's wooden spear trembled violently, his hand went numb, and he was pushed back two steps by the immense force before he could barely regain his footing. His face was filled with horror, and the difference in strength between the two was obvious.
The young man clearly realized this immediately and stopped trying to fight head-on. Instead, he began to use his relatively agile footwork to move around the arena, trying to find an opening in Shinian's defenses. Shinian, however, remained unmoved, continuing to take the lead and proceed cautiously, blocking his opponent's escape routes. His spear was used for thrusting and sweeping attacks. Although his moves were not flashy, each strike was solid and powerful, forcing his opponent to retreat repeatedly.
By the fourth round, the young man had been forced to the edge of the ring. Shinian the opportunity and delivered a swift sweeping blow. The young man tried his best to defend, but the force of the blow caused him to lose his footing and fall off the ring.
"The first match, Shinian wins!" the referee announced loudly.
Shinian his spear, nodded to his opponent who was slumped on the ground, showing no arrogance on his face. He then Chenwen walked to the victor's rest area, sat down not far from Yan, took a slight breath, and gave Yan a smile.
"Prepare for the second match!" the referee's voice rang out again. "Yan, versus Xiaoshitou."
Yan stood up and stepped into the arena. His opponent had already entered the arena; he was a young warrior with a resolute gaze and dark skin. Upon seeing him, Yan immediately recalled his background— Xiaoshitou, a survivor from the original "Little Mountain Tribe," the young man who led the remaining members of his tribe to seek refuge with the Fire Tribe after the Wolf Tribe's rampage. Several months had passed, and the young man who had once looked pale and filled with grief and confusion was now much taller and his eyes had become more Chenwen and sharp.
"Leader Yan." Xiaoshitou bowed respectfully upon seeing Yan.
Yan smiled and replied, "Xiaoshitou, I remember you. It seems you've had good food since joining the Fire Tribe; you're much stronger now."
Xiaoshitou scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and grinned sheepishly, "The food in the Fire Tribe is so much better than what we used to eat in our Little Mountain Tribe. We can eat our fill, and there's even meat." As he said this, a trace of pain flashed in his eyes, clearly as he thought of his home destroyed by the Wolf Tribe and his dead relatives.
Yan nodded, his tone gentle yet encouraging. "Come on, let me see if you've been slacking off these past few months since joining the tribe. The Wolf Tribe hasn't been completely wiped out yet; revenge requires real skill."
The mere mention of the "Wolf Tribe" instantly replaced the innocent look in Xiaoshitou's eyes with a burning hatred. He gripped his wooden spear tightly and nodded emphatically. "Yes! Chief Yan, I will definitely avenge them!"
"Alright, then attack and let me see how much you've improved." Yan held his spear, adopted a standard defensive stance, and gestured for Xiaoshitou to attack first.
Xiaoshitou knew that facing Yan, who had personally assassinated Tujiu, the leader of the Wolf Tribe, and was highly respected for his martial prowess within the tribe, this was not only a competition but also a rare opportunity to learn and be tested. He took a deep breath, cleared his mind, focused his gaze, gave a low shout, and Xunjie charged forward, his wooden spear thrusting decisively into Yan's center. His movements were crisp and clean, already showing signs of his usual training form.
A hint of approval flashed in Yan's eyes. He deftly dodged the spear tip by sidestepping, and at the same time, he casually flicked his wooden spear. Xiaoshitou felt a Dali coming from his wooden spear, which guided and deflected his forward momentum. He and his spear were pulled to the side and forward, staggering two or three steps before he regained his balance.
"Your speed and strength are good, exceeding the level of an average ten-man captain," Yan's voice rang out calmly, "But your power generation isn't refined enough, and the coordination between your footwork and spear thrust is a bit stiff. Let's try again!"
Xiaoshitou was startled, amazed by how easily Yan had defused his attack, and grateful for Yan's accurate critique. He adjusted his breathing and attacked again. This time, he paid more attention to controlling his strength and coordinating his steps.
Yan, like a patient mentor, did not rush to end the battle, but instead continuously guided, parried, and instructed. He used exquisite defense to deflect Xiaoshitou and time again, and whispered reminders in the gaps, "Watch your waist!" "Keep your footwork close!" "Don't just stare at the tip of my spear!"
In just five rounds, it felt like a condensed training session for Xiaoshitou. He was covered in sweat, but his eyes shone brightly, and he felt he had gained a great deal. Finally, after another Thrust was parried by Yan, Yan drew a delicate arc with his wooden spear and gently deflected it.
"Smack!"
Xiaoshitou felt a Dali come from the wooden spear in his hand, and the spear flew out of his hand. He stood up in surprise, and Yan's spear tip was already firmly planted an inch in front of his throat, not moving an inch.
The battle was over. Yan slowly sheathed his wooden spear. Xiaoshitou looked at his weapon on the ground, then at Yan. His face showed no disappointment, but rather gratitude and excitement. He bowed deeply to Yan: "Thank you for your guidance, Leader Yan!"
Yan patted him on the shoulder. "You have a solid foundation and great potential. Remember how you felt just now, and practice more when you get back, especially the combination of footwork and power. To get revenge, you need to become stronger."
"Yes!" Xiaoshitou replied emphatically, picked up his wooden spear, and left the arena with a satisfied heart.
"Second match, Yan wins!" the referee announced loudly, his gaze towards Yan filled with admiration—not only did he win, but he also taught martial arts, which is the demeanor of a true strongman.
Yan returned to the rest area and sat down next to Shinian. The members of the Youth Team immediately burst into enthusiastic cheers, crowding around him and praising him all at once. Yan just smiled and told them to be quiet, but his eyes were already on the other arenas.
The afternoon battles were noticeably more intense and closely contested than those in the morning, with more evenly matched opponents, often requiring more rounds to determine a winner. Shouts, the clanging of wooden spears, the referee's voice, and the cheers of the audience mingled together, keeping the atmosphere high-spirited. The afterglow of the setting sun elongated the shadows of the arena and the warriors, and sweat glittered golden on their bronze skin.
As the sun began to set and the sky began to glow red, the afternoon's 800 matches finally came to an end. Of the 1,600 participants, only 800 remained.
Shinian, Yan, and the other eight victors from their arena followed the two referees through the gradually dispersing crowd to the registration area beneath the north-facing platform.
With fewer people, the process was faster. The huge wooden crate now contained only eight hundred small wooden planks, representing four hundred battle numbers. Yan reached in, pulled out one, and saw it read "One Hundred and Eighty".
After registering, Yan received the wooden token that signified his advancement to the third round. Surrounded by the core members of the Youth Team, Yan returned to the residential area as dusk fell. Along the way, the youths excitedly discussed the matter.
"Boss was amazing today! He wasn't even using his full strength!"
"Of course, our leader has killed the Wolf Tribe chief!"
"I think our leader will definitely make it into the top ten and get that Warrior's Bone Knife!"
"Top ten? I think they could even be in the top five!"
"Top 100 is definitely not a problem, need I say more?"
Listening to the boys' hopeful and trusting expressions, Yan simply smiled faintly. His intention in participating in the competition was not merely to compete for rankings, but more to personally participate in this grand event for the entire clan, observe the warriors' skills, and set an example for these boys.
As night falls, campfires flicker in the Fire Tribe Valley, where people discuss the exciting battles of the day. For the eight hundred warriors who have advanced, after a night's rest, an even more brutal and intense third round of elimination awaits them tomorrow morning. The real clash of titans may have only just begun.