Chapter 73

"Ha ha ha, money can push the devil around! As long as you admit defeat, I can give you silver as compensation afterwards!"

Amidst the loud laughter, the young man, who was plump and exuded a coppery smell, looked at the opposite side with his eyes squinted almost shut.

Boom!

The crowd was in an uproar. This was public bribery! What kind of nerve did this person have, especially with the military officer sent by the court standing nearby.

For a moment, the crowd was indignant, and some even shouted at the black-faced man on the stage, demanding that he revoke the qualification of the candidate numbered 3289.

The black-faced man, clad in heavy armor, remained silent, his thick brows furrowed.

This unexpected situation was beyond his expectations. After all, there was no such rule in the court's regulations. Although public bribery was inappropriate, if the opponent admitted defeat voluntarily, no one could interfere.

The black-faced man's silence further enraged the crowd.

"I know who this guy is! His name is Shen Tong, the son of the wealthy merchant Shen Wan! ——"

From below the stage, an angry voice shouted.

"Damn! His father spent a fortune hiring a large number of martial arts masters for him, and now he's bribing opponents in the martial arts examination. Don't this stinking father and son fear legal punishment!"

"Revoke his qualification!"

"Damn, get out!"

...

The crowd cursed. Knowing this guy's identity, they cursed even more fiercely.

Yang Ji, standing below the stage, listened to the crowd's curses and pondered. "Shen Wan" was a name he had heard before, a well-known wealthy merchant in Pingchuan City. His business was not limited to Pingchuan County; it was said that he had connections with many places outside, accumulating a vast fortune. Compared to him, ordinary merchants were like mud and clouds.

Yang Ji, being in Jin'an City, did not know much about him. The only thing that left a deep impression was that Shen Wan had a dedicated bodyguard team composed of martial arts masters to escort his goods.

"Like father, like son," although everyone was spitting and despising this "son of a wealthy merchant," Yang Ji was different. His gaze was fixed on the "Shen Tong" on the stage, and he had a different feeling in his heart.

"This guy... is not so simple!"

Yang Ji narrowed his eyes and thought to himself.

Those who could come to the "martial arts examination" were absolutely not "uneducated." If their strength was too weak, they would only bring shame upon themselves in such a martial arts setting.

Although the court had no explicit regulations against bribery in the martial arts examination, Yang Ji did not believe that this "Shen Tong" was naive enough to think he could use money to pave his way to the top of the martial arts examination.

"They probably underestimate him. If my intuition is correct... he has likely reached the Martial Arts Realm!"

Yang Ji thought to himself.

Appearance can be deceiving, but a martial artist's intuition does not lie. What he could not yet determine was the exact level of this seemingly harmless "son of a wealthy merchant."

Yang Ji glanced at the increasingly angry Fan Zhao on the stage and then at the smiling Shen Tong, who looked like a Maitreya Buddha. He began to understand his intentions.

On the stage, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Shen Tong's use of money to mock Fan Zhao made Fan Zhao's face turn red with anger, his fury boiling. With his domineering personality, he would have fought with his clan's children over a few words in the countryside, let alone such public humiliation.

"Fatso! You're asking for death!"

Fan Zhao roared, his robe fluttering. In a flash, he seemed to become a blurry figure, moving at an incredible speed. Before the crowd below could react, Fan Zhao's blood qi surged, forming a giant leopard around him, enveloped in fierce wind, and pounced at Shen Tong!

"Actions speak louder than words," Fan Zhao's counterattack was swift, fierce, and precise, displaying the full strength of his First Level Martial Arts.

"Boom!"

The moment Fan Zhao made his move, a sudden change occurred. A sharp, intimidating light flashed in Shen Tong's narrowed eyes. His sleeve fluttered, and as Fan Zhao rushed over, a white, plump arm extended, fingers clenching, and the atmosphere changed. It seemed to transform into a massive hammer, powerful, domineering, and invincible, like the most ferocious beast, smashing into Fan Zhao with great force.

"Boom!"

The ground shook, and Fan Zhao's body was struck as if by lightning. This blow scattered his blood qi, disrupted his meridians, and shattered his bones. The immense force sent him flying several yards away, collapsing to the ground.

"Get down!"

Shen Tong, like a giant spirit, took large steps to follow. The steel stage trembled under his feet, as if unable to bear his strength. At this moment, Shen Tong no longer looked like the scoundrel, weak, and relying on underhanded methods.

With a loud thud, Shen Tong's fist struck Fan Zhao's raised arm, sending him flying off the stage as if he were weightless...

"!!!"

Shock! Astonishment!

The vast competition venue fell silent, and everyone stared at the god-like Shen Tong on the stage, almost losing their ability to think.

Too powerful, incredibly powerful!

With just two strikes, Fan Zhao, who was also at the First Level Martial Arts and not weak, was sent flying off the stage.

"Peak First Level Martial Arts!"

Yang Ji's pupils contracted, finally judging Shen Tong's strength from his two strikes. Only peak First Level strength could suppress a high-level expert like Fan Zhao.

This seemingly harmless "Shen Tong" actually possessed strength not inferior to his own. This was the influence of background in the competition. The "martial arts examination" was not just about personal talent and effort.

"Fan Zhao shouldn't have lost so quickly. That hammer technique... a very powerful Martial Arts Realm skill! It's probably on par with my 'Cloud Hands.'"

Thoughts raced through Yang Ji's mind.

The "hammer technique" used by "Shen Tong" and his own "Cloud Hands" were clearly not normal Martial Arts Realm skills but derivative techniques.

These advanced techniques are difficult to master but are extremely powerful.

Yang Ji's "Cloud Hands" were characterized by unpredictability and speed, while Shen Tong's "hammer technique" was completely different, focusing on power, dominance, and destruction!

Shen Tong's peak First Level strength, combined with this powerful hammer technique, was what allowed him to suppress the not-weak Fan Zhao and end the battle with just two strikes.

"Shen Tong is definitely a formidable enemy!"

A flash of insight crossed Yang Ji's mind.

"Boom!"

Just as everyone was stunned by Shen Tong's decisive action, a mountainous roar erupted from the adjacent competition venue, as if thousands of people were simultaneously shocked.

The roar was so loud that Yang Ji could feel a strong gust of wind from two sections away.

"Lion Ape! Lion Ape! ——"

A faint, low murmur came from the distance. Yang Ji's heart stirred, glanced at the stage, and then at the direction of the sound, quickly pushing through the crowd and rushing towards the venue.

When Yang Ji arrived at the third venue, the match had already ended. He only saw a giant ape, taller than two men, with golden fur like a lion, half of its body exposed in the crowd, following a figure out.

The Lion Ape was a powerful giant ape, with immense strength, like a diamond. Everyone who saw it had no doubt that it possessed the terrifying power to tear a person apart easily.

Seeing the slowly departing giant ape, Yang Ji immediately understood the source of the roar.

"It's a martial pet!"

Yang Ji looked at the disappearing "Lion Ape," his expression heavy.

According to the rules of the Great Han Dynasty, a "martial pet" was part of the "candidate's" strength and was allowed in the competition (though limited to one).

First, a "son of a wealthy merchant" with advanced skills, and then a terrifying Lion Ape that even a "martial artist" would find hard to match. The martial arts examination had only just begun, and so many formidable opponents had already emerged.

This made Yang Ji feel immense pressure.

"The martial arts examination, though fewer in number than the literary examination, is far more difficult. To stand out among so many experts is no easy task. I must become even stronger."

Yang Ji clenched his fists tightly.

None of these people were easy to deal with. While feeling immense pressure, Yang Ji's strong fighting spirit was also ignited.

"The martial arts examination only selects the final seven. To win, I must surpass all the others and stand out. No matter who the opponent is, I will trample them underfoot!"

Yang Ji closed his eyes, a determined look crossing his face, and then quickly left the venue.