Chapter 702: I

"Theoretically, it could last until nightfall, but it ultimately depends on the arrangements of the Sky Commerce Alliance."

After a pause, Yang Hongxia asked cautiously, "Night Lord, are you tired? Why not return to the carriage to rest? I'll notify you as soon as there's word from the Sky Commerce Alliance."

The competition has continuity.

In past years, the Martial Decisions mostly ran events consecutively, then directly crowned the winner.

This year is likely no exception.

"I'm not tired, but there's something I want you to look into."

Fang Yue voiced his suspicion; Yang Hongxia paused, puzzled by why Fang Yue would care about any trouble in Chunuan City right now, during the Martial Decision.

When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up.

The Sky Commerce Alliance has already intervened—they'll surely find a way to handle it. Why should you trouble yourself?

Yet since Fang Yue requested it, Yang Hongxia, though confused, sent someone to investigate.

The Qing Office didn't seem to have tightly sealed the news on this matter; anyone with intent could still uncover traces.

By the time the servant returned with the information, the Sky Commerce Alliance had already announced the rules for the second round of the Martial Decision.

It was simple: group matchups. Four groups total, two fighters per group take the stage to duel; winners advance to the next round, and so on, until four champions remain for the final contest.

Thanks to the bye system, there was no fear of insufficient participants.

Fang Yue was placed in Group Four; since the numbers were completely randomized, he wasn't scheduled to fight yet.

He glanced at Tai Yuema of the Eagle Merchant Group—unfortunately, he'd been placed in Group One.

Fang Yue wished to face him sooner; this man was one of the Twelve Seats of the Phoenix Organization—Rabbit Seat.

For a man like this, Fang Yue had no qualms about going all out.

"All fighters who have been assigned to groups, take your positions on your respective stages. When your name is called, step onto the stage to duel."

The Sky Commerce Alliance's efficiency was astonishing—they immediately launched the second round of the Martial Decision.

As the sun gradually sank westward, the competition raged on fiercely.

The second round of the Martial Decision featured competitors who all began at least at the Xiantian Realm, so the quality was exceptionally high.

Every fight was captivating, drawing cheers from the surrounding crowd.

Ordinary people, who rarely even got to see a Xiantian Realm master in person, now had the chance to watch them thoroughly—and to witness them unleash their full arsenal.

This was far more entertaining than any ordinary festival like lantern lighting.

Most striking of all was the prodigious teenage boy named Shadow, who, despite being only at the Postnatal Realm, defeated several Xiantian Third-rate Realm warriors in succession, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Then he was slapped down by a Xiantian First-rate Realm warrior, ending in crushing defeat—so much so that when the burly man struck him, Shadow was completely stunned.

He knew the gap between himself and a Human-Level powerhouse, but he hadn't expected the chasm between himself and a Xiantian First-rate Realm warrior to be so vast.

Yet the teenage prodigy didn't realize that even among Postnatal Realm cultivators, there were enormous differences in strength.

A Xiantian Realm warrior trained with a crude Heart Method differed vastly in power from one cultivated by a sect or faction—so much so that the latter could challenge opponents one level higher.

And the teenage prodigy had been incredibly lucky—until now, all his opponents had been lone wanderers, even among Xiantian Third-rate Realm cultivators, the weakest of the weak.

He'd foolishly taken pride in having defeated those riffraff.

Watching the lonely back of the teenage prodigy depart, Fang Yue knew this little genius still had a long road ahead.

If he couldn't endure this setback, he might one day be devoured by some anomaly.

"Guest of the Dayang Merchant Group, Yese Liming!"

"Present!"

Finally, it was his turn.

With a push of his foot, Fang Yue leapt onto the stage.

As he landed, thin frost instantly spread across the stage, and the temperature plummeted.

Above his head, the black ring continued to rain down 【Night Rain】.

Fang Yue's signature was so striking and unmistakable that as soon as he appeared, cheers erupted from the crowd below.

"It's that big brother with the ring on his head!"

"Look! It's always raining above him!"

"Cheer him on! The wet-haired big brother!"

Surprisingly, he had decent popularity among the crowd—strong support.

Perhaps because his features were distinct and memorable, or perhaps because his strength seemed formidable—either way, people cheered for him.

Fang Yue didn't care, but his opponent, the middle-aged burly man, clearly showed displeasure.

"Meiku Mountain, Shan Fist Sect Senior Brother, Shanwanquan!"

Didn't the referee just introduce him? Do it again?

Fang Yue sighed and raised his head: "... Guest of Dayang Fu."

"Arrogant! What kind of attitude is that?! Don't think just because you're Human-Level, you're certain to beat me! Though I'm only Xiantian First-rate Realm, I'm far stronger than other cultivators of the same level! That's the strength of a sect—I am the strongest disciple the sect has cultivated! No ordinary Human-Level cultivator dares claim they can defeat me with certainty!"

With a thunderous shout, Shanwanquan charged at Fang Yue with overwhelming momentum, then leapt high into the air, descending like a mountain crashing down.

Fang Yue blinked, then swiftly feinted with his right hand wrapped in a cloth.

Boom!!

The next instant, Shanwanquan's chest caved inward, while an explosive gust of air burst from his back.

His entire body flew backward, half of it frozen solid in midair; he crashed out of the large stage, rolled several times on the ground, then dazedly knelt half-upright.

His expression was blank and bewildered—he still didn't understand how he'd lost.

"Guest of the Meiku Merchant Group, Shanwanquan, defeated!"

The referee, Blue Guard Lan Shan, blinked in shock and announced the result.

It was no wonder he was stunned.

The battle truly began and ended far too quickly—Shanwanquan had just leapt into his attack when he was slapped flying, and the fight was over.

That Blue Guard glanced at Fang Yue with some wariness, then announced the result of Fang Yue's victory.

Only now did the surrounding crowd react.

"Th-this… that's it? He won?"

"I've long heard Big Brother Yuanhuan is a Human-Rank expert—I didn't expect it was true!"

"That strength is way too brutal! One move and he beat a sect disciple at the Innate First-rate Realm!"

"Place your bets, place your bets! I'm betting on the Great Sun Merchant Caravan Guest to win the fourth group—fifty taels of silver!"

The surrounding chatter and the pointing fingers directed at Shanwanquan gradually brought him back to his senses, his face flushing bright red.

The louder he had shouted earlier, the more mortified he was now.

Who could have imagined that fellow's strength would be so overwhelming!

Shanwanquan had assumed that, with his own ability, he could exchange several hundred moves with a Human-Rank expert before losing—and yet… just one move!

"Could it be… that my cultivation is lacking? Is it my fault??"

Shanwanquan couldn't fathom how much strength the young Fang Yue could possibly have.

Even if he'd advanced to Human-Rank, it was most likely only early-stage Human-Rank strength—not much to speak of.

Therefore, the problem could only lie with himself!

"I've let down my sect!!"

Resting now; I'll explode with more updates tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)