Chapter 73

"Who else wants to come up and practice?" Zhao Tiezhu was in high spirits. "Dongzi, come up and play with your big brother?"

Seeing that no one was stepping up, Zhao Tiezhu started calling out names.

"Big Brother Zhao is just joking. How could a little brother like me stand a chance against Big Brother Zhao? When Big Brother Zhao threw that punch just now, the joints even made a sound. Isn't that the realm of 'Thunder Clouds Roaring, Startled Arrows Falling Geese'?"

Flattery never fails. This young soldier named Dongzi was only in his early twenties, and he knew that in the Warrior Reserve Camp, one had to find a powerful person to cling to, so that even when it came to dividing meat, one would get a bigger share.

"Ha ha ha ha! It's 'Thunder Clouds Roaring, Startled Arrows Falling Geese'!" Zhao Tiezhu had spent a long time memorizing this tongue-twisting phrase.

He was still far from reaching that realm, but from the look on Zhao Tiezhu's face, it seemed as if he had already achieved it.

Seeing that no one was stepping up to challenge him, Zhao Tiezhu felt that he had shown off enough and said casually, "If no one comes up, then I won't be shy about taking this spot!"

Originally, Zhao Tiezhu had set this rule: if someone could stand on the platform until no one dared to challenge them, they would take one of the spots. This way, the order from first to ninth could be determined.

No one objected. Zhao Tiezhu's strength was evident, and it was enough to command respect.

"Is there anyone who opposes this?" Zhao Tiezhu deliberately slowed down the process of picking up the wooden plaque, as if encouraging everyone to stand up and oppose him, much like an auctioneer teasing bidders to raise their bids.

For Zhao Tiezhu, this was just a way to show off, but... no one expected that when he asked this question, a voice actually rang out from the crowd, "You're really despicable. Why don't you just take the wooden plaque? You have to act like you're asking for a beating, begging someone to stand up and oppose you. Since you want it so badly, I'll fulfill your wish and oppose you."

"Who? Who said that?"

Just as Zhao Tiezhu was about to complete his perfect show of arrogance, someone actually dared to challenge him!

And they had the nerve to call him despicable!

Indeed, everyone could see that Zhao Tiezhu's last words were just for show, a way to announce to the entire Lian Clan that he was the strongest in the Warrior Reserve Camp. But who would dare say it out loud?

"Who said that? Step forward! I want to see who's tired of living!"

The Lian Clan was already considered Zhao Tiezhu's territory. If Lian Chengyu was a tiger, he was the wolf under Lian Chengyu's command. How could he tolerate someone slapping him in the face in front of his master?

However... on second thought, this was a good opportunity to set an example and establish his authority!

He had already decided that he would kill this troublemaker in public today!

In the Great Wasteland, where there were almost no legal constraints, a strong person killing a weak one was nothing out of the ordinary, especially on the platform, where it was even less of an issue.

Thinking of this, a bloodthirsty glint appeared in Zhao Tiezhu's eyes, and his gaze swept through the crowd like two sharp knives.

Zhao Tiezhu wanted to find the person who spoke, but that person seemed to be buried in the sea of people, unable to be seen.

It wasn't until after several breaths that the crowd near the platform seemed to be pushed aside.

People moved aside, and only then did they see a young boy walk out of the crowd, slowly climbing onto the platform.

This young boy was only as tall as Zhao Tiezhu's chest, wearing a rough linen outfit. The clothes were clean, but they were tattered and patched in several places.

Looking at his build and demeanor, everyone's minds were filled with question marks. Was this the boy who had spoken those words?

People had originally thought that anyone who dared to say such a thing would at least be a confident warrior, likely a member of the Warrior Reserve Camp. They never expected it to be a child! Did he want to die?

No wonder they hadn't seen him before; he was so short that he was completely hidden in the crowd!

"You... how... how..." Zhao Tiezhu was taken aback when he saw the child, "Yi Yun!? You're not dead?"

Originally, Yi Yun had been facing away from the crowd, and many people hadn't noticed him. Now, they could clearly see that the child on the platform was none other than Yi Yun.

"Brother Yi Yun! It really is Brother Yi Yun!"

Yi Yun's neighbor, Aunt Wang, and her daughter Zhou Xiaoke, who had come to watch the competition, were both surprised and delighted to see Yi Yun alive. But looking at the current situation, Zhou Xiaoke was also worried for Yi Yun.

At this moment, Zhou Xiaoke tightly held Aunt Wang's rough hand, her heart pounding.

"Yi Yun is still alive... but, Yi Yun, why are you stepping up to provoke that demon now?"

Aunt Wang was also anxious, not knowing what Yi Yun was up to.

At this moment, Yi Yun, standing on the platform, suddenly felt a sense of awareness. He slowly turned around and looked toward the courtyard of the Lian Clan, where Lian Chengyu, who looked sickly, was still sitting on his fur chair.

Lian Chengyu's gaze felt like a bullet piercing through him!

Lian Chengyu remained seated, but the four young maidservants standing around him couldn't help but shiver. They felt that Lian Chengyu had suddenly turned into a wild beast!

How many times has this happened? Hmm... this is the third time!

Lian Chengyu gently put down his teacup, his eyes still fixed on Yi Yun.

The first time, Yi Yun came back to life after gathering herbs.

The second time, Yi Yun escaped danger after he secretly tried to harm him.

The third time, the Cold Poison of the Wasteland Bones and the Blood Transformation Pill caused Yi Yun to bleed from all seven orifices while refining the Wasteland Bones. Then he jumped into the canyon, but he still didn't die!

Lian Chengyu's eyelids twitched, and his gaze on Yi Yun was like that of a venomous snake eyeing its prey, filled with a hint of cruelty and greed.

"He has... a secret!"

Lian Chengyu believed that Yi Yun possessed a life-saving treasure. He didn't know what it was, but that didn't matter because it would soon be his.

Kill Yi Yun, take his treasure, and study it slowly. He would naturally understand its function.

Thinking of this, Lian Chengyu slowly calmed down.

On the surface, he appeared calm, but inside, his blood was boiling with excitement and agitation. He lightly licked his lips, and a bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes.

Good! Very good! Finally, the heavens have shown me some fairness!

The heavens didn't give me an excellent background, didn't give me the resources to practice martial arts, and even cut off my path to breakthrough when I was about to reach the Purple Blood Realm!

But today, the heavens have given me an opportunity, delivering such a life-saving treasure right to my doorstep.

As the ancient saying goes: If the heavens offer something and you do not take it, you will suffer the consequences!

If the heavens give me something and I do not take it, I will invite disaster in the future. I, Lian Chengyu, am not such a foolish person.

I never thought that this boy, Yi Yun, a mere slave who scrapes a living from the earth, would have such good fortune. No, this should be my good fortune. I can kill him and take the treasure, and whoever ends up with the treasure will have the good fortune!

In an instant, various thoughts flashed through Lian Chengyu's mind, and at this moment, without needing his command, Zhao Tiezhu was already grinning as he walked toward Yi Yun.