Chapter 87 Betting the Face of an Entire City

When the surrounding crowd heard Yao Yuan's words, ambiguous looks appeared on their faces.

Lin Dongxue had not expected Liu Zhi to be so unable to withstand a single blow. Just as she was about to refuse, a deep male voice rang out.

"What are you doing!"

An invisible Pressure swept over them.

The crowd immediately parted, opening a path. Tall and powerfully built, Lin Xiao strode over.

Joy lit Lin Dongxue's face. She turned and threw herself into Lin Xiao's arms, pointing at Yao Yuan and the others.

"Father, that man bullied me, and he even injured Young Master Liu!"

Lin Xiao frowned in displeasure. After briefly checking Liu Zhi's injuries, his expression darkened, and he looked coldly at Yao Yuan's group.

"May I ask what you gentlemen mean by this?"

Yao Yuan looked at Lin Xiao with deep wariness, a trace of fear flashing through his heart.

At this moment, a tall green-robed youth beside Yao Yuan, who had remained silent all along, stepped forward with his hands behind his back. He cupped his fists and said, "This brother of mine happened to hit it off with the three talents of your noble city, so they exchanged a few words. In a moment of high spirits, they sparred a little before the competition."

Judging from his manner, this man should be the leader of the five.

"Nonsense! Father, that Yao Yuan wanted to force me to drink with him. I refused, and that was how the quarrel started!" Lin Dongxue immediately complained.

Lin Xiao's cold gaze fell on Yao Yuan.

Yao Yuan, who had looked frivolous just moments ago, suddenly felt uncomfortable all over, as though he had been seen through.

"This young lady exaggerates-"

"Pa!"

Before he could finish, Tang Yan's eyelids twitched. He sensed a figure flash before his eyes, and then a crisp slap rang out, cutting Yao Yuan's words off by force.

"Pa, pa, pa, pa!"

Four more crisp slaps followed.

The five youths from Yu City had no chance to resist at all. Each of them received a slap across the face.

"Dongxue is the precious daughter of my City Lord's Manor. To offend her is to offend Yun City. Considering this is your first offense, I will give you only a light Penalty. If there is a next time, I will not be so forgiving!"

Lin Xiao's cold voice rang out. Though he had not released much of his strength, he still shocked everyone present.

At this moment, the bearing of a city lord was revealed in full.

"A dispute among the younger generation, yet an elder must interfere. This Su has little experience, but though we are all under the Eastern Region, I truly did not know Yun City had such rules."

The leading green-robed youth spoke mockingly despite his inferior strength.

Tang Yan knew that if Lin Xiao answered again, it would truly be beneath his status. He immediately stepped forward, every bit the wastrel young master.

"This brother here not only has a problem with his character, he also seems somewhat lacking in wit.

"You clearly knew Miss Lin was the daughter of the City Lord's Manor, yet you still dared to offend her. You have no upbringing at all, and no sense of propriety!

"The City Lord was kind enough to teach you how to conduct yourself. Not only were you ungrateful, you even dared speak rudely in return. How are you any different from beasts?"

Hearing Tang Yan's scoundrel-like words, Lin Xiao glanced at the silent Liu Zhi and sighed inwardly once more.

Working together with Tang Yan was indeed pleasant.

If he had not brought Tang Yan this time, but someone from the Qin Family or Wu Family instead, then in such a situation, they would probably have been as indifferent as Liu Zhi.

Sure enough, after Tang Yan's barrage, the five men were choked into silence.

However, Young Master Su reacted quickly enough. He sneered and said, "No wonder Yun City comes last in every Grand Competition. So what you cultivate all day is your mouth."

"I heard that in the competition before last, your Yu City ranked third from the bottom, and last time, second from the bottom. With this momentum, if you don't end up dead last this time, it would go against the cycle of the Heavenly Dao!" Tang Yan shot back sharply.

"Oh?" Young Master Su raised his brows. "Since this young master is so confident, do you dare compete with me right here?"

"Compete!"

There was never a shortage of people who enjoyed watching chaos grow.

"Compete, compete..."

Once one person took the lead, others immediately joined in the clamor.

Tang Yan sensed Young Master Su's strength. Judging from the faint fluctuations of his aura, he was at least at Black Rank Third Grade.

Tang Yan kept a low profile, but that did not mean he feared trouble.

Meeting the green-robed youth's gaze, Tang Yan smiled faintly.

"Since you came here, you must also be planning to temper yourself in the Absolute Kill Tower. Why don't we compete and see who can come out from the higher floor?"

A public duel would let him give Qin Fang a sound beating, but it would also easily expose his hidden cards. Entering the Absolute Kill Tower suited Su Wei perfectly.

A gleam flashed through Su Wei's eyes, and he said in a clear voice, "Good. A contest should naturally have stakes. How about this? If you lose, you shout three times here that Yun City is inferior to Yu City. If I lose, I shout three times that Yu City is inferior to Yun City. What do you say?"

At Su Wei's suggestion, the surrounding crowd grew even more interested.

The Eastern Region Grand Competition had not even begun, yet such a fierce clash had already arisen between two cities. It seemed this year's Eastern Region Grand Competition would be lively as ever.

"Everyone, today my Yu City and Yun City have had some dispute. We will cut ahead for the moment and borrow the Absolute Kill Tower. This Su thanks you all."

Su Wei cupped his fists to the crowd.

"No matter, no matter. Go ahead and take the trial first."

Everyone was extremely curious about the contest between the two cities. At a time like this, naturally no one would be so tactless as to deliberately delay their match. One by one, they very "generously" allowed them to cut ahead.

Su Wei looked at Tang Yan disdainfully and asked, "Which of us shall go first?"

"You go first." Tang Yan shrugged.

By rights, the one who challenged first held a certain advantage. If he achieved a good result, it would place great pressure on his opponent and affect his performance.

Tang Yan's suggestion suited Su Wei perfectly.

Su Wei did not stand on ceremony. He took out a Token he had prepared long ago from his robes, passed the inspection, and entered the first floor of the Absolute Kill Tower.

"Tang Yan, are you confident in this contest?" Lin Xiao asked softly.

"I will do everything I can," Tang Yan said firmly.

"I just probed that boy's strength. He is indeed not bad. He has already reached the peak of Black Rank Third Grade. Reaching the fourth floor will not be difficult for him, and he may even have some chance of reaching the fifth. But you need not burden yourself. Victory and defeat are common. Yun City does not care about hollow honor or shame," Lin Xiao comforted him.

"Mm, I understand. What exactly is inside the Absolute Kill Tower?" Tang Yan hurriedly asked while they still had time.

"The Absolute Kill Tower has six floors. The first three floors test comparatively basic matters. The first floor has fivefold gravity. You must walk from the starting point to the end within half an incense stick of time.

"The second floor has tenfold gravity. Its layout is the same as the first floor, but there will be attacks blocking your way. You must reach the end within an Incense stick of time.

"The third floor is where the difficulty begins. Inside is fifteenfold gravity. Under such heavy pressure, even low-grade and Middle Grade Black Rank martial artists are greatly hindered. The attacks around you will also become far more dangerous. You have three incense sticks of time. If you cannot pass, you lose. Most Black Rank martial artists fall on this floor.

"The fourth floor tests combat ability. There are some Mechanism Beasts inside.

"The fifth floor tests physical strength, spiritual power, will, endurance, and every other aspect.

"As for the sixth floor..."