Chapter 55

The thin, short old man said in a deep voice: "Begin!"

They were here to oversee the battle, bearing two responsibilities: fairness and preventing casualties. Minor injuries were acceptable, but no deaths or disabilities were allowed, which required extremely keen judgment and formidable martial arts skills.

At critical moments, they had to intervene to save lives and stop the match.

Chu Li slowly drew his sword: "Zhuo Feiyang, the top young martial artist, I must challenge you!"

Zhuo Feiyang's face was full of sarcasm as he said disdainfully: "Xiao Chu, you're just a coward, finally daring to face me!"

Chu Li smiled: "I wanted to save you some face, but you insist on cutting yourself off from others. Truly, you bring it upon yourself!"

As he spoke, he shook his head.

Zhuo Feiyang sneered: "Save me face? What a joke!"

"Draw your sword, let's see what you're made of!" Chu Li shook his sword, which glinted with a cold light.

"Here I come!" Unable to bear it any longer, Zhuo Feiyang thrust his sword forward, swift as lightning. The tip of the sword instantly reached Chu Li's chest, ready to eliminate him in one move and establish his authority in front of everyone.

Though everyone seemed to admire him, they actually resented his title as the top young martial artist. They were all eager to make a name for themselves by stepping on him.

Chu Li sidestepped and thrust his sword.

The surrounding spiritual energy had already surged in, like a river flowing backward, circulating through the Boundless Sea Art for three cycles. In the brief time it took to exchange a few words, three waves had formed, making his meridians subtly swell.

"Clang..." The two swords met, and Zhuo Feiyang's sword flew out of his hand. Chu Li's sword pointed at his throat.

"Stop!" The tall, fat old man and the thin, short old man acted simultaneously, one pulling Zhuo Feiyang and the other striking Chu Li's sword.

Chu Li's sword tip rose, aiming at the thin, short old man's palm.

The thin, short old man's face changed, and he quickly pulled back his hand, saying in a deep voice: "Stop!"

Chu Li stopped his sword and said apologetically: "Elder Chu, I apologize!"

The thin, short old man's face grew even colder, and he said: "What a sharp sword technique, is it the Light Chasing Shadow Sword Technique?"

"Elder Chu, you have keen eyes!" Chu Li clasped his hands in a salute.

"Use this sword carefully!" The thin, short old man glanced at him and said: "The Light Chasing Shadow Sword Technique is easy to unleash but hard to control. Fortunately, Elder He and I didn't relax, or you would have caused trouble!"

Chu Li accepted his advice humbly and glanced at Zhuo Feiyang.

Zhuo Feiyang's face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury.

He never expected Chu Li's sword to be so fast, feeling extremely frustrated. His ultimate move, the Blood Burning Body Technique, hadn't even had a chance to be used. This Xiao Chu was too cunning and deceitful!

The tall, fat old man patted Zhuo Feiyang's shoulder and chuckled: "Little Zhuo, losing to the Light Chasing Shadow Sword Technique isn't shameful. Not many can master this technique. Go back and practice harder!"

"Elder He, I think we can continue the match," Zhuo Feiyang forced a smile.

The tall, fat old man looked at the thin, short old man and then at Chu Li.

Chu Li smiled and said: "I'll leave it to the two elders to decide!"

The thin, short Elder Chu said in a deep voice: "The winner and loser are already clear!"

"Elder Chu..." Zhuo Feiyang was suddenly very anxious.

The tall, fat old man patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't worry, don't worry. You feel that you lost unfairly, right?"

"...Yes," Zhuo Feiyang nodded.

The tall, fat old man laughed: "Actually, you didn't lose unfairly. This is a profound lesson that will save your life in the future. Even a lion hunting a rabbit uses its full strength. You were careless, and that's why you lost. This is a match; if it weren't for us two, you would already be dead!"

"But..." Zhuo Feiyang was still不服气, unwilling to accept it. His painstakingly practiced Blood Burning Body Technique hadn't even had a chance to be used, which could have multiplied his power several times!

Chu Li coughed lightly and smiled: "How about this, if you want to continue the match, consider it your second challenge. Bring another 200,000 taels, and I'll agree immediately!"

"200,000 taels, why don't you just rob me?!" Zhuo Feiyang roared, his handsome face twisted.

Chu Li faced his rage without changing his expression, smiling: "I won't take your 200,000 taels for nothing. If I lose, I'll give you 100,000 taels. If you lose, the 200,000 taels are mine. Fair, right?"

"Fair my ass!" Zhuo Feiyang roared.

Chu Li shrugged: "Then there's nothing I can do, it's over."

"You... you... despicable and shameless!" Zhuo Feiy cursed.

Chu Li sighed and shook his head.

Zhuo Feiy was extremely selfish and self-centered, completely disregarding others' feelings, even in public, without any concern for his demeanor.

Chu Li sheathed his sword and clasped his hands in a salute: "Elders Chu and He, thank you for your hard work!"

The two elders shook their heads. The tall, fat old man looked at Zhuo Feiy with regret and handed the silver ticket to Chu Li: "Xiao Chu, a windfall!"

Chu Li smiled: "Thanks to the two elders!"

"You brat!" The tall, fat old man laughed and shook his head.

He secretly regretted that compared to Chu Li's maturity and stability, Zhuo Feiy was still a child, acting on a whim and looking down on others. If he had won, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but since he lost, it made his defeat even more severe, losing both his martial skills and his character.

Chu Li put the silver ticket in his chest, clasped his hands in a salute, and turned to leave.

"Hold it!" Zhuo Feiy shouted.

Chu Li turned to look at him: "If you lost, accept it. Go back and practice more!"

"I'll challenge you again!" Zhuo Feiy shouted: "Zhi Jie, go get the silver ticket!"

"...Yes, Master!" Bai Zhi Jie called out and ran off.

Zhuo Feiy glared at Chu Li and said coldly: "200,000 taels, you 100,000 taels!"

Chu Li smiled: "I'm not like you. What I say is what I do, absolutely reliable. Don't worry!"

He turned and clasped his hands in a salute: "Elders Chu and He, thank you again. Here are 100,000 taels!"

The tall, fat old man took the silver ticket and chuckled: "Xiao Chu, it's still warm!"

"Don't worry, what's mine will eventually be mine," Chu Li smiled.

Elder Chu looked at the two coldly and said nothing.

Bai Zhi Jie was very fast. Before Chu Li could say much, Bai Zhi Jie had already returned.

Zhuo Feiy handed the silver ticket to the tall, fat Elder He, who carefully counted it and shook it: "Dragon tickets from the Taihe Silver Bank, 200,000 taels, all in order. You can start!"

After saying this, he and Elder Chu stood ready.

Zhuo Feiy placed his hand on the sword scabbard, glaring at Chu Li. Blood vessels slowly appeared on his face, spreading to his eyes, forehead, and the entire handsome face turned red, as if he had drunk too much.

Chu Li smiled.

The Blood Burning Body Technique was not a good technique, very domineering. He had seen it in the Martial Hall and decided not to practice it. It only had three strikes, not as effective as the Body Sacrifice Death Blade.

The Body Sacrifice Death Blade concentrated all one's power into one strike, placing a heavier burden on the body but with greater power.

The vast spiritual energy surged in, first circulating through the Boundless Sea Art, then the Body Sacrifice Death Blade, the power stacking, beyond imagination.

Elder He and Elder Chu exchanged glances, seeing that Zhuo Feiy was using the Blood Burning Body Technique. They looked at Chu Li, who showed no signs of exerting his power, standing calmly, making it impossible to gauge his depth.

"Here I come!" Zhuo Feiy's voice thundered, and everyone's ears rang.

The sword light flashed and disappeared, the tip of the sword breaking through spatial limitations, appearing instantly at Chu Li's chest.

"Clang..." The two swords met again, and Zhuo Feiy's sword flew out, landing far away in the crowd.

Chu Li's sword followed the momentum, aiming at Zhuo Feiyang's shoulder.

"Stop!" Two voices rang out, and the two elders acted simultaneously, one pulling Zhuo Feiyang and the other striking the sword.

"Clang..." A clear sound rang out, and Chu Li's sword trembled but did not change direction.

However, being struck by Elder Chu, the momentum of the sword slowed, allowing Zhuo Feiyang to avoid it.

Chu Li retracted his sword and clasped his hands in a salute: "Thank you, Elder Chu."

"Hmm, you didn't aim for a vital point," Elder Chu nodded: "You have a compassionate heart, very good!"

His palm tingled, spreading to half his body. He secretly marveled at Chu Li's deep internal strength, truly hidden and profound!

Zhuo Feiyang's face was red, glaring at Chu Li.

Chu Li smiled: "Do you want to continue the challenge?"

"Xiao Chu..." Zhuo Feiyang gritted his teeth, wanting to tear him apart.

Chu Li shook his head and said to the tall, fat Elder He: "Is it over?"

"Of course!" Elder He nodded with a smile: "You won again, Xiao Chu, impressive!"

Chu Li smiled and shook his head: "Just lucky. Zhuo Feiyang is too easy to provoke, making him easy to deal with."

"Heh heh..." Elder He laughed, but this wasn't true. An enraged Zhuo Feiyang using the Blood Burning Body Technique, with his power multiplied several times, was much harder to handle.

He handed a stack of silver tickets to Chu Li and said to Zhuo Feiyang: "Little Zhuo, don't be discouraged. A temporary loss doesn't mean much. Work hard and earn the money back!"

Zhuo Feiyang didn't hear, only glaring at Chu Li.

Chu Li put the silver ticket in his chest, clasped his hands in a salute: "Elders, I'll take my leave!"

"Go ahead," Elder He waved his hand, and Elder Chu nodded slightly.

Chu Li turned and clasped his hands in a salute to the surrounding crowd, then left the training ground in large strides, jumping onto a small boat and disappearing from everyone's sight.

The crowd didn't disperse, gathering to discuss.

Elders Chu and He also left gracefully.

"Ahh..." Zhuo Feiyang roared to the sky.

"What's so impressive, top young martial artist, heh heh!" A thin young man sneered, gloating.

"Shh!" Someone nearby quickly stopped him.

This was just adding fuel to the fire, very unwise.

"What are you shushing for, I'm just speaking the truth, everyone has overrated him!" The thin young man snorted.

"Brother Guo, say less, say less!" A chubby young man nearby waved his hands anxiously.

The thin young man sneered: "What's wrong with saying a few words!"

"What did you say?" Zhuo Feiyang suddenly appeared in front of him, his bloodshot eyes glaring: "What did you say!"

The thin young man's heart skipped a beat, and he involuntarily stepped back. Seeing everyone looking at him, his face burned with humiliation. He stepped forward and said coldly: "What did I say? You're just a fraud, not worthy of being the top young martial artist!"

"Do you want to try?" Zhuo Feiyang sneered.

The thin young man gritted his teeth: "Why not!"

"Brother Guo!" The chubby young man pulled him.

The thin young man waved off his hand and sneered at Zhuo Feiyang: "What's so impressive in front of everyone? Have the guts to show off in front of Chu Li!"

The mention of Chu Li's name made Zhuo Feiyang want to go mad.

He gritted his teeth and suddenly struck a palm.

"Bang!" The thin young man flew out, spewing a stream of blood in the air.

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