Chapter 103 Short Two Minutes, a Lifetime to Heal

"Each contestant has drawn a number between one and twenty. Each number is held by two people, and those with the same number will be opponents in this duel.

"The matches will proceed according to the order of the numbers drawn.

"Now, may the young talents holding number one step onto the arena!" Fang Wentian announced in a loud voice.

Liu Zhi braced himself and walked onto the arena with his token in hand.

Tang Yan swept his gaze across the seats and saw Yao Yuan rise from Yu City's side with a smiling face.

When the watching crowd saw the two who had stepped onto the stage, they first froze, then burst into laughter.

"That one is Yun City's number one, and across from him is Yao Yuan of Yu City."

"Don't look down on Young Master Liu. A few days ago, he struck Yao Yuan's palm more than ten times with his face!"

"Yun City is not only weak, even its luck is rotten. In the very first match, they're about to lose all face!"

"..."

Seeing his opponent, Liu Zhi's heart gave a jolt. Yao Yuan had left quite a shadow in his heart.

"If one side admits defeat, the other side is forbidden from continuing the attack. Begin!" Fang Wentian ordered loudly.

"Young Master Liu, we meet again." Yao Yuan chuckled, mockery flashing through his eyes.

"Hmph!" Liu Zhi snorted coldly, though his confidence was clearly lacking.

"Are you going to admit defeat right away, or be slapped down by me like last time?" Yao Yuan continued to ridicule him.

"Admit defeat to your mother!" Thinking of the humiliation he had suffered last time, Liu Zhi roared in anger and swung his fist as he charged forward.

Although Liu Zhi was not strong, that did not mean he was foolish. If he did not want to lose from the very beginning, he had to use his full strength at once.

"Thunderclap Palm!"

With a low shout, a fierce aura burst from Liu Zhi's body. Several palm shadows appeared before him.

He sprang forward, both palms carrying a strong gale as they slammed toward Yao Yuan.

"Oh, Black Rank First Grade. How strong!" Sensing Liu Zhi's strength, Yao Yuan laughed mockingly. The aura around him suddenly surged, and the power of Black Rank Second Grade erupted without reserve.

"Thousand-Li Collapse!"

With a muffled shout, Yao Yuan rapidly circulated his True Qi. The clothes before his chest rustled in the wind, and a mass of compressed air, as if ready to burst, gathered before him.

The moment the two made their moves, anyone with sharp eyes could already see the outcome.

Liu Zhi was Black Rank First Grade, and the martial skill he used was Yellow Rank Middle Grade.

Yao Yuan was Black Rank Second Grade, and the martial skill he used was Yellow Rank High Grade.

There was a great gap in both cultivation and martial skill. The difference between them was clear at a glance.

"Bang!"

After their moves collided, Liu Zhi stumbled back three large steps in succession. A streak of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Yao Yuan's fighting ability was indeed strong. Once his strike landed, he did not give Liu Zhi even a breath to recover. He rushed before him, raised his hand, and delivered six slaps.

"Pa pa pa pa pa pa!"

Although Tang Yan and Lin Dongxue both disliked Liu Zhi, in this Eastern Region Grand Competition, Liu Zhi represented Yun City's face.

In the very first match, he was slapped before tens of thousands of people from the Eastern Region. Those crisp sounds did not simply fall on Liu Zhi's face.

Those slaps struck Yun City's face.

On the judges' platform, Lin Xiao's expression gradually darkened. A towering anger burned in his chest as he gritted his teeth and said, "Yu City truly has grand bearing!"

Hearing Lin Xiao's words, Yu City's City Lord, Yao Qian, revealed a faint smile. "Brother Lin, don't damage your liver with anger. These are matters between the younger generation. We need only watch."

"Hmph!" Lin Xiao snorted coldly and no longer paid him any heed.

The other City Lords watched Lin Xiao and Yao Qian clash with great interest. They had all heard something of the old grudges between the two cities. In this grand competition, as long as disciples of Yun City and Yu City met in a duel, it would surely be extremely fierce.

"I admit defeat!" Liu Zhi shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Pa!"

But before Liu Zhi could finish those words, Yao Yuan's seventh slap just happened to land on his face.

"Aren't you Yun City's number one? Why are you so spineless? Admitting defeat as soon as the match begins? I haven't even had enough yet." Yao Yuan smiled, loosened the hand gripping Liu Zhi by the neck, and walked down from the stage with ease.

"Yun City is far too weak, isn't it?" Disdain appeared on many faces.

"As expected of the city that stays at the bottom year after year. Rotten mud that can't be propped against a wall."

"They were slapped in the face in the very first match. Yun City has truly lost all face..."

Liu Zhi's face and ears were flushed red as he walked down from the stage and returned to Yun City's seats.

Lin Dongxue looked at Liu Zhi as he came back and sighed softly. "Rest well."

Liu Zhi only nodded faintly, sat down on his chair, and closed his eyes. Those short two minutes would likely take him a lifetime to heal.

"Yu City's Yao Yuan, victory! Next, young talents holding number two, step onto the arena!"

At this moment, a red-robed old man had already replaced Fang Wentian in making the announcements.

"Ah, Cheng Gong!"

The moment the crowd saw the one stepping onto the stage, a commotion immediately rose.

Hearing so many exclamations, Tang Yan looked toward the arena with curiosity. He had heard no small amount about this genius, one of the Four Young Masters of the East Domain, yesterday.

Cheng Gong wore a black robe, and his lips looked as if they had been carved by a blade. He seemed rather taciturn. His eyes were sharp and full of spirit, making ordinary people afraid to meet his gaze.

The one sent out by Song City was named Li Yang. He was not famous in the Eastern Region, and only a few people from Song City cheered for him. Those faint voices were quickly drowned beneath the crowd's cries for Cheng Gong.

Li Yang had naturally heard Cheng Gong's renowned name. The moment he stepped onto the stage, his face turned mournful, as though he were attending a funeral.

Once the red-robed old man declared the duel begun, the two immediately moved toward each other.

In battle, courage mattered greatly.

Li Yang's strength was already far below Cheng Gong's. Now that even his courage to fight had been lost, his strength fell by another measure.

After only a few exchanges, Li Yang was defeated.

However, Li Yang's surrender was not as humiliating as Liu Zhi's loss. Against an opponent like Cheng Gong, defeat was only natural. No one would blame him; they would merely sigh that his luck was poor.

After the second match ended, the red-robed old man announced loudly, "Fang City's Cheng Gong, victory! Young talents holding number three, please step onto the arena!"

As those stirring words, "step onto the arena," fell, everyone looked on with great anticipation, wondering who would appear in the third round.

"Pfft, no way. Yun City and Yu City again?"

When the crowd saw who stood up, another wave of noise swept through them.

Tang Yan also turned his head. When he saw that the one fighting this time was actually Yu City's Su Wei, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Today, he would use this man to wash away Yun City's humiliation.

When the City Lords on the judges' platform saw the people taking the stage this time, each showed a different expression.

Lin Xiao's face showed neither sorrow nor joy, making it impossible to tell his mood. Yao Qian wore a faint smile, as if victory were already within his grasp. As for the other three City Lords, their faces were filled with the look of those waiting to enjoy a spectacle.

The old man from Azure Dragon Academy, however, was watching Tang Yan on the stage with great interest.

"In all these years, no one has ever obtained ten points on the sixth floor of Absolute Kill Tower. Don't disappoint me," Mo Bin thought to himself.

When Su Wei saw Tang Yan, he could not help thinking that the heavens were truly aiding him. A few days ago, he had lost to this brat while challenging the trial, and he had been wondering how to wash away that shame. He had not expected the chance to come so soon.