"That waste Long Ao actually dares to challenge me? He must have a death wish."
"Trash is trash. If he can beat me, I'll eat shit."
Hearing the mockery from the crowd, Yang Chen sneered. His face was a mask of utter disdain as he said coldly, "If you can last ten moves against me, I'll count it as my loss."
"Ten moves?"
Shaking his head gently, much to everyone's confusion, Long Ao suddenly declared, "Within nine moves, I'll have you kissing the ground."
PFFT! Upon hearing this, someone in the crowd couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Long Ao, I'd like to see just how you're going to defeat me in nine moves!" Being looked down on like this was absolutely intolerable.
In a single lunge, Yang Chen shot forward. As an Inner Strength Tenth Heaven Martial Artist, he blasted powerful Inner Strength from his palms. The terrifying force of the attack arrived before he did.
Long Ao didn't dare to be the least bit careless. He knew full well how vast the gap was between the Inner Strength Ninth Heaven and the Inner Strength Tenth Heaven. He had to go all out, aiming for a swift and decisive battle.
For that very reason, Long Ao immediately unleashed Ghostly Wail and Wolf Howl and his Celestial Profound Finger. A powerful Finger Force shot out viciously. In the blink of an eye, the two clashed. A fist met a finger, sending Inner Strength blasting in every direction. The impact was like two boulders colliding, sending sparks flying.
"Inner Strength Ninth Heaven."
Watching his grandson fight, a golden light flared in Long Haoshi's eyes. He never expected that in just one short month, his grandson's Cultivation would break through again, reaching the level of an Inner Strength Ninth Heaven Martial Artist.
"Father, we can't let Yang Chen hurt Ao'er."
Waving his hand, Long Haoshi said, "I have it under control."
After the collision, both were forced back three steps. Seeing the staggering youth, Yang Chen seemed somewhat surprised. Showing no mercy, he lunged forward again.
In the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged three blows with no clear winner. The surrounding crowd, which had been chattering moments before, fell deathly silent. All eyes were wide, staring intently, as if unwilling to miss a single moment.
The gap in their Realms was not easily overcome. However, after a month of ceaseless battle against Spirit Beasts, Long Ao's combat prowess had clearly risen to another level. Combined with his Celestial Profound Finger, he could actually challenge an expert of a higher Realm and fight an Inner Strength Tenth Heaven Martial Artist to a standstill.
This feat alone was enough to put him head and shoulders above everyone else present.
"That was the fifth move. Someone just said they could definitely defeat Seventh Brother within ten moves. I wonder if that wish will come true."
"That wish is looking pretty remote. And if Yang Chen happens to lose, didn't someone just say they'd eat shit?"
Listening to the Long Family's shameless taunts, the Yang Family disciples were utterly dismayed. No one could have imagined that their proud champion couldn't even deal with a so-called piece of trash. If they weren't seeing it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.
Watching Long Ao's attacks grow fiercer with each exchange, Long Haoshi and Long Li were ecstatic. They knew that if their grandson—and nephew—continued his Cultivation, he might actually be able to defeat Long Yulang in a year. If that happened, the Long Family could finally hold its head high with pride.
Five moves had passed.
As the battle escalated, Yang Chen's expression grew increasingly grim. He had never imagined his opponent could be this strong, able to fight him on equal footing without losing any ground.
'I can't lose. I absolutely cannot lose.'
Yang Chen knew very well that not only could he not lose, he had to defeat his opponent within ten moves. Otherwise, what would become of his reputation? What will become of the Yang Family's reputation? How will the Yang Family maintain its standing in Red Fire Town after this?
"Hmph. You're courting death."
Yang Chen was being forced back step by step. 'If this keeps up,' he thought, 'there's no way I can beat him in ten moves.'
For his own sake, and for his family's, Yang Chen suddenly drew a flexible sword from his waist. He slashed out instantly as Long Ao dodged to the side. If Long Ao hadn't been so quick, that single strike would have been enough to take his life.
"Yang Chen, you despicable bastard!"
"Long Haoshi, we agreed this was a one-on-one duel. If you make a move, you'll be breaking the rules."
Glaring at Yang Guantian, who was blocking his path, Long Haoshi was absolutely livid. He practically roared, "Your shameless son resorted to a dirty trick, using a weapon! Yang Guantian, have you no shame at all?"
With a cold snort, Yang Guantian replied nonchalantly, "There was no rule that said weapons couldn't be used."
"Go to hell!" Seeing his precious grandson get ambushed, Long Haoshi was on the verge of losing control. In the end, however, he restrained himself. Just as Yang Guantian said, there was no rule that forbade the use of weapons in a fight.
"Hmph. The Yang Family is truly shameless. Not only did they have a senior bullying a junior, but he even resorted to a sneak attack with a weapon. I say Yang Chen shouldn't be called Yang Chen anymore."
"Fifth Brother, what should he be called then?"
"Let's just call him Yang the Shameless. Or maybe Yang the Despicable."
It wasn't just the Long Family disciples. Even members of the other two great families, the Nangong Clan and the Wang Family, joined in the jeering and laughter. No matter how one spun it, Yang Chen's surprise attack was truly despicable and indefensible. Furthermore, he was already a senior picking on a junior. Regardless of who won or lost this battle, Yang Chen's reputation was utterly ruined.
His left arm was grazed by the flexible sword, and a thin line of blood seeped out. Long Ao stared coldly at his opponent. "You'd resort to a sneak attack?"
"Hmph. All's fair in war, you waste. Let me tell you the only rule that matters: the victor is the king, and the loser is the villain. As long as I defeat you within ten moves, I win. Then even your grandfather will have nothing to say. What? You got a problem with that?"
It had to be said that Yang Chen was despicable to the core. He was clearly in the wrong, yet he spoke as if he were completely justified.
Killing Intent flared. That was just how Long Ao was: he wouldn't bother anyone who didn't bother him. But if someone came after him, and did so shamelessly, he would pay them back twofold. He didn't care who they were. Even if it was the Celestial King himself, Long Ao wouldn't give a damn.
"Hahaha! Trash will always be trash. Apart from getting angry, it seems all you can do is accept reality. Long Ao, today, I'm going to cripple your Dantian, too!"
"You deserve to die."
The words had barely left his mouth when a great, blood-red saber appeared in Long Ao's hand, looking as if it had been steeped in gore. Though he hadn't cultivated any saber-related Martial Arts, the bloody Killing Intent radiating from the Blood-Drinking Mad Saber itself was enough to stun Yang Chen. Before everyone's shocked eyes, Long Ao raised the Blood-Drinking Mad Saber and unleashed an unbelievable slash. A blood-red Sword Aura instantly tore through the air.