The First Warrior and the Top Hundred Feast

The martial arts arena was not silent at night; instead, it was enveloped in an even more intense and fierce battle atmosphere. Huge bonfires blazed around the arena, illuminating the ring and surrounding area as bright as day. Torches lined the streets, reflecting on every tense and excited face. The seven top fighters in the losers' bracket— Mangu, Tunyong, Qingti, Changjiao Horn, Juti, Liaoya, and Jushi —engaged in a brutal round-robin tournament to compete for the last four precious spots in the top ten.

Every battle was a life-or-death struggle, fought without holding back. Sweat glistened in the firelight, and heavy breathing mingled with the clanging of wooden spears, weaving a nighttime battle hymn. Finally, after several rounds of bloody fighting, the scores were settled:

Seventh place: Mangu (Bison Tribe)

8th Place: Tunyong (formerly White Pig Tribe)

Ninth place: Qingti (formerly Deer Tribe)

10th Place: Changjiao (formerly Green Sheep Tribe)

Juti, Liaoya, and Jushi Stone left the stage dejectedly, filled with endless regret and resentment. The final four spots in the top ten were won by these four warriors who had fought hard and whose will was as strong as steel.

Meanwhile, the six players who had already secured their spots in the top six— Dabang, Dali, Flame, Shinian, Jianya, and Dazhuang —did not take a complete rest. In order to more accurately determine the top six rankings, they also held brief but intense one-on-one sparring matches (an informal elimination tournament designed to assess their strength and provide a reference for the finals the following day).

Dabang faced off against Jianya, the two veteran fighters battling for forty-one rounds, with Dabang narrowly winning thanks to his superior overall strength.

In the ultimate showdown of strength and endurance, Dali faced off against Shinian. After forty-five rounds, Dali emerged victorious by a narrow margin.

The outcome of the duel between Yan and Dazhuang surprised all the onlookers (including the parties involved) – in just thirty-two rounds, Yan convincingly defeated Dazhuang, who was known for his fierce and Dazhuang nature, forcing him to admit defeat!

This result was like a Jushi thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a storm in the hearts of everyone who knew the truth. Dazhuang's strength was recognized as top-tier in the Fire Tribe! To defeat him so "easily"—Yan's displayed strength had completely overturned many people's perceptions. Yingmu, Shibang, and other close companions of Yan were shocked, but even more so, they were overjoyed and incredulous. They knew Yan was strong, but they never imagined he would be this strong!

As night deepened and the clamor subsided, everyone's hearts remained on edge, anticipating the dawn as the final battle was about to begin.

The next day, in the morning.

The atmosphere in the martial arts arena was incredibly intense, as the battle for the top three was about to unfold between Yan, Dabang, and Dali. The first match was between Yan and Dali.

Dali stood opposite Yan, his expression more serious than ever before. The scene of Yan defeating Dazhuang last night was still vivid in his mind. He dared not be careless in the slightest. This nephew, whom he had watched grow up, had grown to a height that required his full effort and even that he had to look up to.

At the start of the battle, Dali unleashed his full power, launching an attack like a tsunami, attempting to overwhelm Yan with sheer strength. However, Yan's performance astonished everyone. His power surpassed even Dali's divine Dali! Every head-on collision produced a dull thud, and Dali felt his hands go numb with each exchange! Even more terrifying was Yan's superior agility, speed, reaction time, and awareness of opportunities. His moves were concise and Dali, often launching precise counterattacks when Dali's Dali was exhausted and fresh energy was yet to be generated, forcing Dali to frequently retreat and defend.

After thirty-eight rounds, Dali was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Although his attacks were fierce, he was already showing signs of fatigue. Yan, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, with steady breathing. After successfully blocking Dali's heavy chop, Yan seized the moment when his opponent leaned forward slightly due to exertion, and with a ghostly slide, he closed in, delivering a shoulder strike followed by a skillful sweeping kick.

He lost Dali balance and staggered off the stage.

"Yan wins!" The referee intervened promptly.

Dali steadied himself, looking at Yan who had sheathed his spear and stood there, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shock, relief, and admiration—which finally turned into a hearty laugh as he forcefully patted Yan's shoulder, "Good lad! I never imagined you were this good! Your second uncle is impressed!"

The stadium erupted in cheers! Yan defeated Dali and advanced to the final!

In the afternoon, Dali faced off against Dabang for third place in a truly epic battle of strength and skill. Knowing each other well, the two fought without holding back, battling until the fifty-first round when Dabang, with his greater experience, capitalized on a small mistake by Dali to secure third place. Although Dali lost, the terrifying power he displayed earned him everyone's respect.

Thus, the final championship battle will unfold between Flame and Dabang!

As night fell, the final competition took place, and the arena was ignited with unprecedented enthusiasm. Dozens of huge bonfires and countless torches illuminated the night sky, drawing a sea of people, almost the entire tribe of men, women, and children, to witness the birth of the Fire Tribe's first warrior.

Organized by Gubang, Yingmu, Shibang, and others, more than two thousand Youth Team of the Youth Team surrounded Yan, cheering him on with all their might. The sound was deafening. Shibang was so excited that he clenched his fists, as if it was himself, not Yan, standing on the stage.

Yan's consecutive victories, especially his defeats of Dazhuang and Dali, have completely changed the perception of him among all the tribesmen. This fourteen-year-old boy, with his indisputable strength, has overcome all obstacles and stood on the stage of the final battle. His opponent is the recognized Dabang of the tribe's martial power, second only to the chief Jianshi!

Standing opposite Yan, Dabang, this usually bold and confident top expert, now had a face full of solemnity and unprecedented seriousness. He had witnessed firsthand how Yan had defeated Dazhuang and Dali, and knew all too well the astonishing power and unfathomable skills contained within this seemingly not-so-strong young man. He dared not, and could not, be careless in the slightest.

Yan's state was unusually calm. Years of breathing exercises, continuous hard training, and the baptism of battle had made his physical development far surpass that of his peers. Although he was not as muscular as Dabang or Dali, every tendon was as Jianren as steel wire, containing explosive power. He had not an ounce of excess fat on his body, like a peerless blade that had been forged a thousand times and was about to be unsheathed.

"Start!"

The final battle has begun!

Instead of launching an immediate attack, the two moved cautiously, probing each other. The spear of the Dabang Chenwen as a mountain, carrying a heavy sense of oppression; the spear of the flame was as agile as the wind, yet it contained the force of a thunderbolt.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The first few tentative exchanges, the crisp sound of impacts startled Dabang! The slight tingling sensation in his hand made his pupils contract—Yan's strength was indeed slightly greater than his own!

This discovery made Dabang more cautious and raised his fighting spirit to the extreme. He no longer relied solely on strength, but integrated all the fighting skills, experience, and wisdom he had learned throughout his life into every attack and defense.

Yan also went all out. Facing an opponent like Dabang, holding back would be disrespectful to himself. He brought out his strength, speed, reaction, and his fighting philosophy that was ahead of its time to the fullest.

After ten rounds, the two were evenly matched, their spears flashing and swirling, dazzling the audience and eliciting continuous cheers.

After twenty rounds, sharp-eyed viewers began to notice that Dabang seemed to be suppressed! Flame's attacks became more proactive and the transitions were smoother. He could often predict Dabang's moves and block or counterattack in advance. Dabang's defense remained solid, but the number of counterattacks was significantly reduced.

After thirty rounds, Dabang's disadvantage began to become obvious. His breathing became heavy, his forehead was covered with sweat, and his footwork was not as agile as it had been at the beginning. As for Flame, although he had also expended a lot of energy, his eyes remained clear and sharp, and the accuracy and speed of his movements did not decrease significantly.

For forty rounds, Dabang was almost entirely on the defensive, relying on his amazing perseverance and rich experience to struggle against Yan's fierce attacks. Like a reef in a stormy sea, it was teetering on the brink of collapse but never broke. Every block was extremely difficult and fraught with danger.

After fifty rounds, the audience's hearts were in their throats. Dabang's movements had become sluggish, and his openings were increasing. Every time he barely managed to block Yan's attack, it drew gasps of surprise, but the fighting spirit in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest, and he continued to grit his teeth and persevere.

After sixty rounds, Dabang was at his limit, his steps faltering, his blocking movements distorted, relying entirely on an indomitable will to sustain him. Flame's attacks also slowed slightly, but remained precise and deadly, constantly consuming Dabang's last bit of strength.

After seventy rounds, a fatal gap finally appeared in the Dabang's defense! After barely managing to parry Yan's sweeping attack, his return spear was a beat too slow. How could Yan miss this long-awaited opportunity? He moved like lightning, instantly advancing, his wooden spear deflecting and guiding the Dabang's center of gravity, followed by another sweeping kick.

After being struck by the club, the Dabang could no longer maintain its balance, and its massive body fell to the side. In the instant it fell, the tip of the fiery spear lightly touched an inch of its tip on the neck.

Everything came to an abrupt halt, and the training ground fell into a brief, suffocating silence.

Immediately, the referee's voice boomed like Startling Thunder: "Yan-- wins!!!"

"Boom--!!!"

A deafening roar of cheers, shouts, and applause erupted instantly, soaring into the sky! The area where the Youth Team was located went completely wild. Yingmu, Shibang, and others hugged each other excitedly and shouted at the top of their lungs.

Dabang got up from the ground, dusted himself off, and looked at Yan, who was still breathing heavily, standing in front of him. A complex yet exhilarating smile appeared on his face. He stepped forward and gave Yan a tight hug with all his might, his voice hoarse with excitement. "Good! Good! Good! Yan! You are now the undisputed number one warrior of our Fire Tribe! I admit defeat wholeheartedly!"

Yan hugged Dabang back Dabang and said solemnly, "Uncle Dabang, you flatter me. Without your guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today."

The dust has settled, and the champion of the first Fire Tribe Martial Arts Tournament has been crowned—Yan!

The final top ten rankings have also been released:

1. Inflammation

2. Dabang

3. Dali

4. Dazhuang

5. Jianya

6. Shinian

7. Mangu

8. Tunyong

9. Qingti

10. Changjiao

Jianshi strode onto the stage, his face beaming with pride and excitement. He first patted his son Yan's shoulder forcefully, his eyes filled with pride, then turned to the cheering crowd below the stage and pressed his hands down.

The cheers gradually subsided, and everyone held their breath in anticipation.

"Fellow tribesmen!" Jianshi's voice echoed through the night sky, "After several days of fierce competition, our Fire Tribe's first martial arts tournament has come to a successful conclusion! One hundred of the bravest warriors have been chosen!"

His gaze swept over the hundred excited faces below the stage. "Now, please welcome our top ten warriors to the stage!"

Yan, Dabang, Dali, Dazhuang, Jianya, Shinian, Mangu, Tunyong, Qingti, Changjiao, ten people, ascended the platform in turn, stood behind Jianshi, and received the gaze and cheers of the entire tribe.

Jianshi Shi personally presented ten exquisitely crafted "Warrior Bone Knives" to the ten warriors. These bone knives were made from the finest animal bones, meticulously crafted by artisans, with smooth blades and sharp edges. The handles were wrapped with leather cords and engraved with unique patterns representing their rankings and the warriors' simple personal markings. They were not only symbols of honor but also excellent weapons.

Next, Jianshi loudly announced the names of the remaining ninety warriors who were among the top 100. They were also invited to the front of the stage, and each of them received a specially made domino engraved with the tribal flame totem and the words "Top 100 Warriors". The dominoes were strung together with a rope and could be worn on their chest or waist. This was a piece of evidence that they could be proud of for the rest of their lives.

Looking at those faces filled with pride and determination, Jianshi Shi announced with boundless pride, "To celebrate the emergence of so many warriors in our Fire Tribe, and to inspire all our people to fight bravely and forge ahead! Starting tomorrow, the tribe will hold a 'Top 100 Feast,' a three-day celebration! All tribesmen will also enjoy an extra feast and share in the glory!"

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

"Fire Tribe! Fire Tribe! Fire Tribe!"

The deafening cheers echoed through the valley once more, lasting for a long time.