Chapter 48

*Shh, shh, shh!*

On the main street to the east of the square, a group of people came in a grand procession. It was a group of young men and women, and the young master at the front was the most eye-catching. Even before he approached the square, many people greeted him from a distance.

"Master Shui, hello!"

"Master Henshui, hello!"

Jiang Henshui nodded and smiled at everyone, but soon his smile froze, and the steps of the Jiang family members behind him also paused. Many people looked at the weak-looking black-clothed youth on the stage with confusion. Someone exclaimed, "Quick, look, it's Jiang Yi! He... How did he get up on the stage?"

Jiang Henshui, Jiang Gushui, and Jiang Rulang, along with some other Jiang family members, quickly reacted. A complex look flashed in Jiang Henshui's eyes, and he sighed, "Because Jiang Yi is... Canglang!"

"What?"

Many of the Jiang family members' eyes widened in shock. They looked at Jiang Yi, feeling so unfamiliar. Was this still the Jiang family's waste, whose dantian was sealed? In just half a year, he had risen so high, and his rapid progress made everyone disbelieve. Yesterday, he had defeated Liu He!

"Yi Jian? Jian Yi? Jiang Yi! Haha!"

On the other side, Ji Tingyu also led the Ji family members and slowly walked over. Her gaze swept over Jiang Yi's face, and she was also deeply moved. Her standards had always been high, and there were very few men in the vast Tianyu City who could catch her eye. Jiang Yi now barely counted as one.

"This Canglang is quite handsome, though not as handsome as Jiang Henshui, Ma Heqi, and Liu He, but the more you look, the more he grows on you..."

Yi Lingxue stood in the crowd, looking at Jiang Yi standing high on the stage. Her heart felt like a bottle of mixed flavors, with all kinds of emotions. A few months ago, she was the first to notice Jiang Yi's uniqueness, but she had some reservations about him due to her status. Now, it was probably Jiang Yi who wouldn't look at her, right?

"The city lord has arrived, the show is about to begin!"

Amidst a clamor, Ji Tian and the three mentors of the Spirit Beast Mountain, along with the officers of the Western Garrison, strode over, accompanied by the heads and elders of the five major families. When Jiang Yunshan and others subconsciously glanced at the stage, their expressions immediately changed. Jiang Yi's grand appearance was a silent slap in their faces...

"The tournament begins!"

The voice of the old man in the splendid robe quickly rang out, and the tens of thousands of people in the square became excited. Today's tournament was definitely going to be a spectacle. Many families had surely held secret discussions last night, and these five people would not easily achieve ten consecutive victories today.

*Whoosh!*

As soon as the old man spoke, someone immediately leaped onto the stage. Everyone glanced over, and all wore expressions of "I knew it."

The person who stepped onto the stage was a Sixth Rank Cauldron Casting Realm martial artist, who was somewhat famous in Tianyu City because he was a collateral descendant of the Ma family. The stage he stepped onto was Jiang Yi's. Clearly... the Ma family was preparing to intercept Jiang Yi.

"Haha!"

Jiang Yi smiled calmly. He had long predicted that if the Jiang family didn't act today, the Ma family would. The longer he stood on the stage, the more painful it would be for the heads of the Ma and Jiang families.

"Hey!"

The Ma family descendant stepped onto the stage without any extra words, charging straight at Jiang Yi with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Black Essence Energy!"

Jiang Yi immediately gathered a thread of black essence energy to his eyes. A Sixth Rank Cauldron Casting Realm opponent posed no pressure to him, but he was still extremely cautious. Careful navigation ensures a long journey, and Liu He had been too careless yesterday.

"I'll play with you, Master He!"

On the other side, a young master from the Liu family also made a move, targeting the blue-robed youth, He Dao. Liu He's defeat yesterday had disgraced the Liu family, and today they were clearly preparing to take down He Dao to boost morale.

"Miss Leng, please guide me!"

Yi Lingxue flew onto the stage, taking the initiative to challenge Leng Qianqian. The strongest of the Yi family's generation was Yi Longyu, and it was difficult for him to secure one of the five spots. However, the dozen or so small families within Tianyu City had already united last night. As long as they worked together to knock these few off the stage, they would lose their qualifications to enter the Spirit Beast Mountain Academy, giving other family members a chance.

Two other family members challenged Jiang Henshui and Ji Tingyu. Although these two were almost certain to secure two spots, no one knew the final outcome until they tried. What if they made a mistake and lost?

The tournament started with intense excitement, making the big shots in the stands and the crowd below very excited. It was clear that something significant would happen today. Of course, most people's attention was on Jiang Yi and He Dao, as the resistance against these two would definitely be the greatest.

"Down!"

Jiang Yi easily dodged the Ma family descendant's attack and struck a palm at the opponent's chest. His vision and reaction speed were terrifying, and with a Sixth Rank Cauldron Casting Realm opponent, he could easily defeat him without the black essence energy.

"Huh?"

What surprised him was that his palm strike was very tricky. The opponent either had to retreat and fall off the stage or endure the blow. Any other person would choose to retreat, as his combat strength yesterday was so formidable that a single palm could likely cause severe injuries or even death.

But this Ma family martial artist did not retreat. Instead, a dagger suddenly appeared from his sleeve, stabbing fiercely at Jiang Yi's left shoulder...

At such a critical moment, Jiang Yi couldn't change his move and could only force himself to dodge to the side, striking a heavy palm at the opponent.

*Bang!*

The Ma family descendant was sent flying, and Jiang Yi's left shoulder was cut open, blood gushing out. He quickly took a healing pill and circulated it to stop the bleeding. His eyes shone with light as he saw another Sixth Rank Cauldron Casting Realm Ma family martial artist flying toward him. He instantly understood.

A war of attrition!

It seemed the Ma family had long planned their strategy: to continuously send family members to fight Jiang Yi to the death. The tournament rules prohibited killing, so no matter how severely Jiang Yi injured his opponents, they would suffer minimal losses, at most using some healing pills. By continuously forcing Jiang Yi to expend essence energy and get injured, they would wait until he was battered and then have Ma Heqi deliver the final blow!

This plan was simple but very practical, a straightforward and fair strategy that couldn't be criticized. After all, participating in the tournament meant being prepared for a series of battles, which was the most challenging aspect of the tournament.

"Playing rough? Fine... let's see who is tougher!"

Seeing the opponent charge like a ferocious beast, Jiang Yi's face also showed a fierce expression. He stood still, waiting for the opponent's fist to strike. He quietly gathered black essence energy and suddenly struck a powerful punch, choosing to meet force with force!

*Boom!*

The sound of essence energy colliding rang out. Jiang Yi was pushed back three steps, while the opponent retreated over ten steps, his right fist's robe completely shattered, with blood seeping through. Clearly, his arm was injured.

*Whoosh!*

Take advantage of the opponent's weakness!

Jiang Yi quickly shot forward, his fist transforming into six as he enveloped the opponent's entire body. As expected, the opponent did not dodge or flee. A dagger appeared in his hand, stabbing fiercely at Jiang Yi. Clearly, he was willing to get injured to drag Jiang Yi down!

*Clang!*

The sound of metal clashing rang out. The dagger of the Ma family descendant was cut in half by a green light, and Jiang Yi's fist struck his head. At the same time, he kicked out with a leg, hitting the opponent's calf and sending him flying.

"Ah!"

The Ma family descendant screamed, his body flying and landing heavily in the crowd below. Jiang Yi's punch and kick were powerful, leaving the Ma family descendant with a bloody head and an injured calf.

"This Green Mist Sword is truly a treasure, cutting through metal like butter!"

Jiang Yi glanced coldly at the crowd below, lightly stroking the green short sword in his hand, making the Ma family members below spit blood in frustration.

"Ma Yi, you go!"

Ma Heqi arranged for someone to take the injured Ma family descendant back for healing, his face dark as he ordered another Ma family descendant. Today, the Ma family was determined to take down Jiang Yi, even if it meant severely injuring all their young generation's strong members.

*Whoosh!*

Another Ma family descendant stepped onto the stage. Even a fool could see that the Ma family was deliberately targeting Jiang Yi, but it was normal for Ma Heqi to choose Jiang Yi to secure a spot.

The subsequent battles became even more obvious. Ma family descendants continuously stepped onto the stage. Although Jiang Yi won several times, he added four more wounds to his body. The Ma family descendants were not afraid of injuries, willing to be severely injured to leave a mark on Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi was enraged, and every Ma family descendant who stepped onto the stage was severely injured. He was extremely angry but dared not kill, as he would be disqualified if he did. The Ma family was taking advantage of this, acting recklessly.

Seventh match!

Still a Sixth Rank Cauldron Casting Realm opponent. It seemed the Ma family was preparing to send all their elite members to take down Jiang Yi. Jiang Yi only had four threads of black essence energy left, with five injuries on his body, and both his essence energy and physical strength were greatly depleted. Looking at Ma Heqi, who was smirking below, Jiang Yi's heart sank.

"It's you who forced me!"

Jiang Yi roared, leaping toward the Ma family martial artist on the stage. He held the Green Mist Sword, not using any martial techniques, and thrust it straight at the opponent.

This was only the seventh match. If this continued, he would eventually lose. If he lost, he would not be valued by the Martial Hall, and his fate would be assassination by the Jiang and Ma families. Since this was the case, what did he have to fear? He didn't care about winning or losing anymore; he just wanted to have a good fight.

"Good!"

The new Ma family martial artist, seeing Jiang Yi's actions, did not panic. Instead, he charged straight at Jiang Yi, completely ignoring the short sword about to pierce his left chest. A dagger appeared from his left sleeve, slashing fiercely at Jiang Yi's right arm.

"Want to cripple my arm? I'll cripple you!"

Jiang Yi was completely enraged. He forcefully twisted his right shoulder, allowing the opponent's dagger to slash into his right shoulder. His short sword slid down and stabbed into the opponent's abdomen in a flash!

*Crack!*

Jiang Yi's right shoulder was shattered by the opponent's dagger, temporarily crippled. But the Ma family descendant's dantian was like a punctured balloon, his abdomen caving in, and his dantian was permanently crippled by Jiang Yi...

The battle became even more intense!