Chapter 56: Entering the Finals Battle

The young man gave a bitter smile. “Didn’t I just say it? Someone placed a wager that you would take the final victory. That person bet a rare gemstone worth five million gold coins. Your championship odds are one to sixteen. In other words, if he hits it, we have to pay out eighty million gold coins. Even though we in Xi Lun City are wealthy, eighty million is still an almost astronomical number. He claimed he was from your academy, but why didn’t I see him show up?”

Zi Xue, who had not spoken until now, said in surprise, “Someone bet five million gold coins on us winning? Does he have too much money? Everyone from our academy is already here.”

Teacher Zhuang smiled slightly. “Maybe he has his own reasons. None of that has anything to do with us. Everyone just needs to prepare well for tomorrow’s match. Feng Tong has already won, and we should go back.” After saying that, she and the Vice Principal greeted the young man and led the students out through the competitors’ passage, without answering his question about me.

Compared with the evenly matched fight between Xi Lun and Tianshou, the second match—Feng Tong versus Songzhi—held no suspense at all. Feng Tong only sent out three students and defeated all of Songzhi’s competitors. Although Songzhi’s students were not strong enough, Feng Tong’s displayed strength was indeed astonishing. I thought that if I weren’t here, Tianshou would probably lose tomorrow.

Back at the inn, Zi Yan and Zi Xue’s figures kept lingering in my mind. I did not dare imagine what would happen if they did not forgive me. Seeing Zi Xue’s frailty, I truly did not want to hurt them again, but the mistake was already made. I had to tell them the truth. Perhaps the day after tomorrow, I would face the most painful judgment of my life.

I sat cross-legged on the bed, focusing as I cultivated Berserk Battle Energy. Ever since that day when the Aura of Death flared up, I had stopped cultivating the Heavenly Demon Art and put all my effort into the Berserk Art, because when the death aura erupted, only Berserk Battle Energy could resist it. To keep myself alive, I could only keep increasing my training.

Before dawn on the third day (they rested one day before the final), I arrived at Xi Lun Academy’s gate with a nervous yet excited heart. Just like two days ago, even though I came earlier, it was still a sea of people. I used the same method to squeeze my way in. This time, my position was very close to Tianshou’s resting seats.

Because it was still early, I stood there to steady my emotions, closed my eyes, and adjusted the energy in my body. Today I had to act. The death aura absolutely could not appear. So I carefully mobilized Berserk Battle Energy and checked my body’s condition.

I did not know how long passed before I felt the crowd around me stir and grow noisy. I slowly ended my cultivation and opened my eyes. The sky was already bright, but today’s weather was not good. It was gloomy and overcast, making my chest feel somewhat oppressed.

The students from both Tianshou and Feng Tong had already entered. Since I was on this side, I could not clearly see Feng Tong’s situation. I did not dare focus too much on Zi Yan and the others because I was too close. With Zi Yan’s cultivation, she could easily discover my presence.

By chance, my gaze fell on the rostrum diagonally across. Since the position was different today, I could clearly see the scene there. What caught my attention most were two people seated at the center. One was a middle-aged man—imposing and dignified—wearing formal robes and seated in the central position, highlighting his noble status. The other was the young man from yesterday who had pestered Zi Yan and accepted my wager. From his performance yesterday, I knew his cultivation was high. His identity was clearly not ordinary either. No wonder the bookmaker relaxed the moment he agreed to accept my bet.

Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs stood on the platform and announced loudly, “Today is the third day of the Four Great Academies exchange match, and also the final day. The two sides facing off today are Tianshou Academy, which defeated Xi Lun Academy yesterday, and Feng Tong Academy, which defeated Songzhi Academy yesterday. Competitors, prepare yourselves. First match competitors, enter. The match will begin immediately.”

Tianshou did not send Feng Wen first like they did yesterday. Instead, they sent out a third-year student who had not performed very well yesterday. For this exchange match, Tianshou brought six main competitors. Other than Zi Yan, who was in fourth year, and Feng Wen, who was in second year, the other four were all third-year students. If judged by strength, Zi Yan—who had once taken first place in her year—was the strongest. The others did not show particularly outstanding performances. Feng Wen could only be considered to have good potential. Compared with Feng Tong, there was still a certain gap.

Sure enough, strength proved everything. Feng Tong’s first competitor relied on outstanding battle energy to win three consecutive matches. Only in the fourth did he lose because his stamina ran out. In the first four matches, Tianshou still did not send out Feng Wen. I did not know what the Vice Principal was thinking, placing Feng Wen so far back. Feng Tong’s second competitor easily defeated his opponent. Most spectators thought today’s result would be the same as yesterday—that Feng Tong only needed three people to finish the entire match.

On the rostrum, the young man looked relaxed. Feng Tong’s successive victories made him believe the chicken-blood stone was already in his pocket.

In the fifth match, Feng Wen finally stepped onto the field. Because of his outstanding performance yesterday, the moment he appeared, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause. Clearly, no one wanted to watch a match with no suspense. Feng Wen’s attire was the same as yesterday. He clasped his sword with both hands, bowed to his opponent, and took his stance.

His opponent was also primarily a martial fighter, wielding a long saber. Earlier, he had defeated his previous opponent with only a few powerful consecutive cross slashes and did not spend much stamina. From a strength comparison, Feng Wen was slightly inferior. I did not know whether he had some special move that could secure the final victory.

Like the previous match, the Feng Tong student gripped the saber with both hands and slashed—one horizontal, one vertical—two cold flashes crossing in midair. Another large cross slash.

Feng Wen steadied his breath. His figure darted, and dazzling green light flared around him as he broke through the gap in the cross slash and lunged straight at his opponent. The opponent remained calm. He wove a dense net of saber light in front of him. Clanging rang out incessantly as their weapons collided repeatedly in the air.

Because the opponent’s battle energy was slightly stronger than Feng Wen’s, even though Feng Wen had the advantage of pressing in, he did not gain much. His swift sword momentum had no way through the opponent’s dense defense and was repelled again and again.

Just as Feng Wen’s momentum began to falter, the opponent roared, “Misaligned Shadow Slash.” His body shook sharply, and three figures suddenly appeared on the field. The figures crisscrossed, impossible to tell true from false. Three clones struck from different directions, sealing all of Feng Wen’s escape routes.

Feng Wen refused to lose like this. With astonishing speed, he moved rapidly within a narrow space, leaving faint afterimages behind him. The green light on his sword flared as he blocked most of the attacks, but his shoulder was still cut by the long saber, leaving a wound.

The Feng Tong competitor praised him. “Good swordsmanship. Take another move.” The three figures abruptly merged into one. He gripped the saber hilt with both hands and drew it back sharply. The surrounding air seemed to be sucked empty by that retraction. Feng Wen’s body involuntarily pitched forward. That was exactly what the Feng Tong competitor wanted. The retracted saber thrust forward in a sudden stab. Saber and body merged as one, charging straight at Feng Wen’s chest.

Taking advantage of the forward tilt, Feng Wen spun rapidly. The longsword in his hand flew free, shooting straight at his opponent with the rotational force. The sharp edge collided with the opponent’s saber with a ding, only slightly slowing the opponent’s advance before being knocked aside.

Feng Wen did not dodge to either side because he knew that if he tried to retreat, he would certainly be unable to withstand the opponent’s pursuit. Still spinning at high speed, he rushed forward.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of the Feng Tong competitor’s mouth. He did not change his momentum at all and continued charging straight in.

Ding. Pfft.

The two in the arena froze abruptly.

The Feng Tong competitor’s saber had sunk deep into Feng Wen’s shoulder, all the way to the hilt. Yet in Feng Wen’s hand there was a short sword, pressed against the opponent’s throat. Only a few experts in the crowd could see what had happened. I was one of them.

In the instant Feng Wen spun, he pulled a short sword from his chest. At the moment the saber reached him, he used the short sword to deflect it slightly, producing the ding. The saber’s force was enormous. Even after being deflected, it only shifted a little before stabbing into Feng Wen’s shoulder with a pfft. Feng Wen then used the rebound from the short sword to successfully place the blade at his opponent’s throat.

Admiration showed on the Feng Tong competitor’s face. He released the saber and nodded. “You win.”

The short sword in Feng Wen’s hand clattered to the ground, and he crouched in the center of the arena. Teacher Zhuang and Zi Xue hurried onto the platform. Blue light flashed from Zi Xue’s small hand, and a soft glow covered Feng Wen. I saw on her wrist the bracelet Teacher Zhuang once gave me, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠which I later passed on to her. Under the effect of the magic, Feng Wen’s bleeding was stopped.

Teacher Zhuang gritted her teeth and pulled the saber from Feng Wen’s shoulder. Feng Wen let out a muffled groan and passed out. He won this match in a brutal way and earned the respect of the entire crowd. Applause echoed through Xi Lun Academy for a long time. I silently praised him—Feng Wen, well done.

Zi Xue and Teacher Zhuang used several healing spells in succession to stabilize Feng Wen’s injuries.

Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs stepped onto the platform and gave Teacher Zhuang a questioning look. Teacher Zhuang shook her head gloomily.

The Director of Foreign Affairs announced loudly, “This match: Tianshou Academy wins. The competitor will not continue into the next match. Tianshou Academy and Feng Tong Academy, please send out the sixth match competitors.”

Zi Yan stood up from the resting seats. With her strength, she might still be able to defeat one opponent, but she could not handle the second—unless every remaining male competitor fell for her peerless beauty. Feng Tong still had four competitors who had not yet appeared. I knew it was time for me to act.

I pushed off with both feet and floated directly onto the arena.

Although I wore a bamboo hat, Zi Yan recognized my figure at once and let out a soft sound. Zi Xue also lifted her head. When she saw me on the field, her body swayed, and she almost collapsed to the ground. Her gaze could no longer move away from me.

Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs frowned at me. “Who are you, daring to cause trouble at the Four Great Academies exchange match?”

I removed my bamboo hat, revealing my handsome, resolute face. I nodded slightly to him. “I am not here to cause trouble. I am here to compete.”

The moment I stepped out, the young man on the rostrum sprang to his feet, his face filled with disbelief. He hurriedly lowered his head and spoke to the middle-aged man beside him.

“Compete? This is the Four Great Academies exchange match. Not just anyone can compete. Only competitors from the Four Great Academies—”

I cut him off. “I am one of the Four Great Academies competitors. Tianshou Academy, second-year Magic Warrior Class, Lei Xiang—representing Tianshou in the final battle.”

The entire Tianshou resting section froze, staring blankly at my sudden appearance.

I spoke smoothly. “For this match, our academy made full preparations. I am the academy’s secret weapon appearing in the final bout. Is that not allowed?”

Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs immediately turned his gaze to Tianshou’s side. The Vice Principal reacted first. He drifted onto the platform, glared at me once, then said to the Director of Foreign Affairs, “Sorry. Our student speaks rather bluntly, but he is indeed one of our competitors—an elite of our academy.”

The Vice Principal was truly slippery. Without making a fuss, he confirmed my identity.

The Director of Foreign Affairs nodded. “In that case, he may compete.”

The Vice Principal transmitted to me, “When did you come back, brat? Are you confident you can win four straight matches?”

I replied, “Zi Yan has no such confidence either. In that case, why not let me gamble and try?”

The Vice Principal said, “We’ll settle accounts after this.” With that, he turned and stepped down from the platform.

I sent my heated gaze toward Zi Xue and Zi Yan below and gave them an apologetic smile. Zi Yan’s eyes held both reproach and delight. Zi Xue was filled with joy and longing, tears streaming down her cheeks. I saw her body trembling faintly.

“Are you here to compete, or to stare at beauties?”

An indignant voice broke the exchange of gazes between us. I turned my head. My opponent had already come onto the platform and was staring at me. I fixed him with a cold look. “Since you want to get off the platform sooner, then please.”

My impolite words immediately infuriated him. He shouted, “Feng Tong Si Nian requests instruction!”

The longsword in his hand flared with red light as he thrust at me. From the speed and force of his attack, this competitor was about the same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠level as the one Feng Wen had traded himself down to defeat. I sneered. My body did not move at all as I extended my right hand and grabbed straight for his blade.

My opponent barked, “Courting death!”

The red light on his sword flared as he accelerated the thrust. I seized the blade in one grip. Heat surged from the blade—his battle energy contained fire-element magic. But it could not affect me. His sword was locked in my hand like it had been cast in place and could not advance even an inch.

Shock flashed in his eyes. I knew he was thinking: such strength.

Since I still had three more opponents after him, I would not waste time. I pulled back with my right hand, surged forward, and slammed my left shoulder into his chest. Si Nian truly was a top fighter representing Feng Tong. In the crisis, he decisively released his sword and withdrew rapidly, dodging my shoulder strike. Both hands blurred into a sky of palm shadows as he rushed at me.

I roared, “Berserk War Under Heaven!”

My left fist swung out to meet the center of his force. A pure yellow pillar of battle energy burst from my fist. I heard someone in the crowd cry out, “Such strong battle energy!”

Even without transforming, I now had Dragon Knight-level strength. Si Nian was not on the same level as me at all.

Si Nian tried to dodge, but he discovered the surrounding air seemed to be sucked empty. No matter how hard he tried to evade, he could not avoid my attack. He could only grit his teeth and concentrate all his power into both palms to meet it head-on.

There was no suspense. Si Nian’s body was blasted backward and slammed heavily into the defensive barrier. If I had not held back at the last moment, he would not have been able to stand up again.

Holding the sword tip in my right hand, I walked to him and handed the hilt back. Blood ran from the corner of Si Nian’s mouth. He looked at me, slumped into a bitter smile, and reached for the hilt. With a flick of my wrist, I hauled him up from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ground.

My swift victory caused an uproar across the entire arena and the rostrum. No one expected that after Li Wa, Tianshou had produced another genius student.

I said to Si Nian, “Your skill is indeed good, but it’s a pity you met me. Work hard. Maybe in a few years you’ll have the same strength as me. Remember: technique matters, but its foundation is battle energy.”

Si Nian steadied his breath and nodded. “Thank you for the reminder.” Then he turned and stepped down from the platform.

Because of my sudden appearance, Feng Tong’s side fell into chaos. I was happy to have some idle time. I walked to the front edge of the arena on Tianshou’s side and waited for the next opponent.

The Vice Principal transmitted, “Good brat. Your battle energy improved this much.”

I smiled faintly and replied, “Thanks to your excellent teaching.”

Teacher Zhuang looked at me, emotion flickering in her eyes. She seemed to want to speak but stopped. Toward her, I was full of gratitude, and I transmitted gently, “Elder Sister, I made you worry during this period.”

She glared at me reproachfully and transmitted, “Focus on the match first. We’ll talk after it’s over.”

I nodded.

Zi Yan and Zi Xue held each other’s hands. Four beautiful eyes glared at me with the look of “We’ll deal with you later.” I gave a bitter smile. In a moment, I would let you deal with me properly.

After a short wait, Feng Tong’s next competitor stepped onto the platform. This competitor had not appeared in yesterday’s match against Songzhi. She was a female mage. She could not be called beautiful, but she carried a stern, unapproachable aura. In her hand was a white mage staff with a round blue gemstone embedded at the top. She spoke calmly to me. “Feng Tong Yun Miao requests instruction.”

I nodded and waited for her to attack. Yun Miao looked at me and did not begin. She said flatly, “You won’t draw your sword?”

I shook my head. “Using a sword against a mage? I want to spar with you in magic.”

My abandoning strong battle energy made Yun Miao feel surprised, but she did not say anything further. She raised her mage staff and began chanting quickly in a low voice.

I did not dare be careless. I released a wind shield before me. A faint blue light rose from Yun Miao’s staff. The blue glow gradually moved down and covered her entire body. Yun Miao’s eyes slowly turned into a clear blue as well, and soft energy continuously radiated from her.

I suddenly heard the Vice Principal’s voice in my ear. “Be careful. Your opponent is a natural-born water-element user.”

Hearing that, I was shocked. I had once read about elemental users in the library. A so-called natural-born elemental user was someone who had a special affinity with a certain element from birth and could only use that single element throughout their life. Though singular, it was far easier for them to cultivate that element’s magic than ordinary people, and their casting was far more powerful. It seemed her magic power was even above Zi Yan’s.

As my vigilance surged, Yun Miao began her attack. Her blue hair behind her floated up. Soft, drifting snowflakes poured toward me like they covered the sky.

I froze. This was only a Snow Dance spell that lowered temperature. In water-element magic, it was merely second-tier, with no direct harmful effect. What was she doing?

As this spell appeared, the arena’s temperature dropped abruptly. I found that the spell’s power in her hands was far greater than a normal water mage’s. Even with my defense, I felt a trace of cold. Yun Miao continued chanting. I did not know what other move she had.

All the snowflakes drifted toward me. Since I had said I would compete with magic, I could no longer use martial techniques. She was water—then I would bring her fire.

I chanted a fifth-tier fire spell, Flaming Fire Heavenly Soldiers. “Great fire spirits, I beg you to heed my summons. Gather before me, transform into immortal soldiers of raging flame—erupt!”

Faint fire shadows appeared around me and slowly rotated. A total of eight fire shadows gathered. Under my command, they surged toward Yun Miao with dark red heat.

Yun Miao did not show panic. When the fire shadows rushed at her, she suddenly raised her voice and chanted rapidly, “Water elements drifting between heaven and earth, turn into water spirits. In this cold, great snow, dance to your heart’s content—Snow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dance Spirits!”

Many pale blue points of light began appearing before her. When my fire shadows met those blue points, they vanished one by one. I was shocked. She had dissolved my fifth-tier fire spell so easily.

Snow Dance Spirits? I had never heard of this water-element spell.

The blue points in the air began moving toward me. I released several elemental attack spells in succession, but I still could not destroy them. Finally, the blue points reached me. The temperature around my body grew colder and colder. From my feet upward, the snowflakes that had fallen earlier wrapped around me and slowly froze me in place.

I struggled twice and found I could not break free. At that moment, I began gathering dark magic power. At this critical time, I could no longer worry about anything else.

Seeing my body being gradually sealed in ice, Yun Miao’s face showed a trace of smugness. At last, I became an ice sculpture standing in the center of the arena. Yun Miao announced loudly, “My opponent has lost the ability to fight. It should be judged as my victory now, right? If he remains sealed too long, I’m afraid he may be in danger.”

Below the platform, Zi Xue was already crying in urgency. If Zi Yan had not held her back, she would have rushed onto the arena. Zi Yan said softly to her, “Don’t worry. Lei Xiang should still have a trump card.”

Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs had already stepped onto the arena. Just as he was about to announce Yun Miao’s victory, the ice encasing my body began to crack. When the cracks covered me, it suddenly exploded, sending ice shards like rain.

I shuddered violently. Before people could pay too much attention, I drew all the black light from my body back inside. I pointed a finger, and a green magic ring snapped onto Yun Miao.

Because she was unprepared, Yun Miao had no time to chant. She was caught on the spot and could not move. Because I mixed a bit of dark magic power into this wind binding spell, Yun Miao had no chance to escape.

After controlling her, I finally let out a breath. Yun Miao’s water magic was truly strong. Compared to the Xi Lun competitor who once tried to freeze Feng Wen, she was on an entirely different level. I had used all my dark magic power to break her sealing spell just now. Even now, I still felt lingering fear. If my guess was correct, among Feng Tong’s competitors, she should be the strongest.

I brushed the ice chips off my body and said to Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs, “You may announce it now.”

The Director of Foreign Affairs looked at me, then at Yun Miao who was sealed, filled with confusion and shock. His expression wavered with hesitation. I casually released a soft stream of battle energy and sent Yun Miao’s body outward. Since the defensive barrier had been withdrawn when the Director of Foreign Affairs came up, I safely delivered Yun Miao off the platform.

Seeing my consecutive victories, the young man on the rostrum could no longer sit still. He stood, walked down, and went straight to Feng Tong’s resting seats, speaking closely with their leading instructor.

When she saw I had won, Zi Xue finally stopped crying. Zi Yan also clearly relaxed and gave me a satisfied smile. I told myself silently that I had to perform better and make Zi Yan happy. That way, as long as I could win forgiveness from even one of them, it would be easier to handle.

Feng Tong’s next competitor was a huge man wielding a gigantic warhammer. The moment his name was announced, he swung the hammer down at me.

His strength was truly astonishing. A hammer that looked at least two hundred jin was whistling in his hands. Even with my defense, I did not dare let it hit me. He swung the hammer so tightly it left no openings. Powerful battle energy howled with the hammer’s momentum, surging at me like a whirlwind. His all-out assault surprised me. If he kept this up, he would not last long before he exhausted himself.

I tested a few exchanges against his hammer wind. It was indeed fierce. With bare hands, I would have to strike with full force to resist it. I dodged while neutralizing his power and felt some strain. This bout lasted as long as it took to eat a meal. His hammer gradually slowed. I knew he could not hold on. I gathered battle energy and was about to attack when he suddenly stopped, bowed to me, and said, “I concede.”

Seeing his blank look, I did not know whether to be angry or laugh. What kind of style was this—fight desperately for half a day and then concede?

The corner of my eye swept over the young man in robes at Feng Tong’s resting seats. From his gaze, I caught a trace of satisfaction.

No—this was wrong. I had been played.

This big man stepped up only to drain my stamina. They were placing their hope on the final competitor.

I sneered inwardly. So what if another one came out? Would they be more threatening than Yun Miao?

Xi Lun Academy’s Director of Foreign Affairs stepped onto the platform and announced loudly, “Feng Tong Academy has decided to send the substitute competitor, Tian Zhong, for the final bout.”

Substitute competitor?

Could Feng Tong have been hiding an even stronger student?

I looked toward Feng Tong’s resting seats and saw the robed young man remove his outer garment, revealing a fitted outfit beneath. He took a spear from an attendant and walked onto the platform.

I frowned at him. “What? You’re a Feng Tong student?”

The robed young man—no, Tian Zhong now—smiled. “What, you’re allowed to switch people in Tianshou, but we in Feng Tong aren’t allowed to switch too? That’s right. I’m a fifth-year Feng Tong student, graduating this year. Originally I didn’t want to come up. I wanted the younger juniors to get more practice. But there’s no choice. You placed such a huge wager. Eighty million gold coins is a big number even for Xi Lun City. I don’t want to lose it like this, so I have to act myself.”

He shook the spear in his hand. A deep blue layer of battle energy radiated from his body as he called out in a deep voice, “Feng Tong Tian Zhong requests instruction.”

I understood—I had met a strong enemy.

The aura he gave off was not weaker than Li Wa’s back then, perhaps even stronger. Under normal conditions, I was confident I could beat him. But after the earlier battles, I had consumed a lot of stamina and magic power. Without fully using dark magic power, defeating such a powerful opponent would indeed not be easy.

I fixed my gaze on him and slowly drew Mo Ming from my back. I could no longer afford to be careless.

“You’re from Xi Lun. Why did you go to Feng Tong to study?” I asked the question in my heart.

Tian Zhong said, “The reason is simple. Xi Lun doesn’t suit me. Our family has many officials in court, and the City Lord of Tianfeng City, where Feng Tong is located, is an uncle from my clan. He wanted me to go there to train, so I went.”

I asked in confusion, “But judging by you, your relationship with Xi Lun’s leadership should also be close.”

Tian Zhong gave a helpless smile. “Yes. My eldest brother is the City Lord here. Otherwise, how could I have agreed to such a huge wager? From childhood to now, my only hobby has been gambling. People say gambling is treacherous, gambling is deceitful, but gambling does not default. If I lose, even if it bankrupts me, I will still pay you. But since turning eighteen, I have never lost. That’s why I can only take the field myself.”

After hearing him, I felt a bit of goodwill toward him. At the very least, he would not use power to renege on the wager. He relied on his own strength. It was not exactly honorable, but it was still a legitimate method. I swung Mo Ming, drawing an arc in the air, showing respect.

Surprise appeared on Tian Zhong’s face. He instinctively shook his spear and formed three bowl-sized spear blossoms in the air as a return salute.

I said in a deep voice, “Begin. I will not lose.”