101: Chapter 101 The Night Banquet

In the following rounds, a comical and eerie scene occurred: every examinee who drew a match against Gao Feng, Big Fool, or Wulu surrendered on the spot without exception!

The three of them swept through the competition without a fight, advancing directly into the final four!

The other person to make it into the final four was the blood hand butcher General Zhao Wuji.

This madman tore his opponents apart alive in the most cruel and bloody manner in every match, striking fear into the hearts of everyone.

The semi-final matchups were quickly drawn: Gao Feng versus the Raging Thunder Sword, Qin Yu!

Big Fool versus the blood hand butcher General Zhao Wuji!

The true clash of titans had finally arrived!

"Qin Yu! Senior Brother Qin will surely win!"

"Defeat that monster! Let us see the strength of the number one sword of Hanyang City!"

Amidst the mountain-shaking cheers, Qin Yu took a deep breath and slowly walked onto the arena, his expression graver than ever before.

He knew this was the strongest and most critical battle since he started his career!

"Qingcheng Sword School, Qin Yu, please enlighten me!" Qin Yu cupped his hands at Gao Feng from a distance and slowly drew the Jingzhe precious sword from his waist.

"Hum—" The sword left its scabbard with a clear dragon's roar, and a brilliant sword light carrying electric arcs instantly illuminated the entire arena!

"What powerful Sword Intent!" Countless Martial Artists off the stage felt that sharp, peerless thunderous Sword Intent and exclaimed in unison.

Gao Feng's Face showed a look of interest as he merely extended two fingers!

"You are not bad," he said calmly. "If you can last three moves under my hand, you win."

Arrogant! Too arrogant!

To think of using two fingers to catch the Raging Thunder Sword of the number one sword of Hanyang City?!

Qin Yu's Face instantly flushed red; this was the greatest insult to him!

"Your Excellency, you underestimate my Qingcheng Sword School too much!" He roared and hesitated no longer!

"First style of Raging Thunder, Thunder Light Sudden Flash!"

His figure instantly turned into a blurred electric light, and the Jingzhe precious sword in his hand was too fast to track; one could only see streaks of destructive electric arcs covering all of Gao Feng's vital points like a rainstorm!

Too fast! Everyone believed that this strike was enough to instantly kill any expert below the Peak of the fourth stage!

However, facing this world-destroying strike, Gao Feng moved.

His steps merely shifted half an inch to the left, but this simple half-inch seemed to span the distance of space and time, and the sky full of sword light missed, brushing past his clothes!

"What?!" Qin Yu's pupils shrank! How is this possible?!

"First move." Gao Feng's voice, like a demon god's whisper, rang clearly in his ears.

Qin Yu was terrified; without thinking, he twisted his wrist, and his sword technique changed again!

"Ninth style of Raging Thunder, Nine Heavens Thunder!"

The Jingzhe precious sword in his hand instantly transformed into nine identical thunderous sword shadows, piercing toward Gao Feng from nine tricky angles simultaneously!

This move, interweaving reality and illusion, was one of his ultimate trump cards!

However, Gao Feng still only extended those two fair, slender fingers. The movement looked slow, but it arrived after the strike started and caught up, and in the eyes of everyone filled with horror, he accurately pinched the only real sword among the nine sword shadows!

"Ding—" A crisp sound of metal clashing! Qin Yu's thunderous sword strike, capable of splitting monuments and cracking stones, was steadily pinched at the tip by two seemingly fragile fingers and could not advance an inch further!

"Second move." Gao Feng's voice remained calm.

Qin Yu's Face was drained of blood. He looked at his precious sword, which was tightly pinched and emitting "humming" wails, and his heart was filled with nothing but endless fear and despair.

The speed he took pride in was like child's play before the opponent, and the sword technique he was proud of was vulnerable. This was simply not a battle on the same level!

"I... I surrender..." He squeezed these three words from his throat with all his remaining strength.

Hearing this, Gao Feng gently loosened his fingers and flicked them. "Clang!" Qin Yu's hand shook violently, and he could no longer hold the precious sword. The precious sword fell to the ground, shattering all the pride he had as the number one sword of Hanyang City.

The entire arena fell into dead silence once again.

On the other side, the battle between Big Fool and General Zhao Wuji had also entered a white-hot stage.

"Die! Die for me!" General Zhao Wuji looked like a madman, his hands transformed into blood-red sharp claws, covered in disgusting, viscous blood light, and every attack carried a sharp whistle that tore through the air!

However, his opponent was Big Fool, a humanoid monster who could even throw a thousand-catty giant cauldron like a toy!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Big Fool didn't dodge or evade at all, standing there and letting General Zhao Wuji's sharp claws, capable of tearing through steel, strike his body, emitting dull, booming sounds like beating a cowhide drum, yet they couldn't even break a sliver of his skin!

"How... how is this possible?!" General Zhao Wuji was completely stunned. His invincible Blood Fiend Claws couldn't even break through the opponent's defense?!

"Are you done?" Big Fool scratched his chest, which had been struck over a hundred times but remained unscathed, and asked impatiently. "It's, my turn now!"

As the words fell, his fan-sized hand shot out with terrifying speed that completely contradicted his bulky figure, grabbing General Zhao Wuji's head and lifting his entire body up like catching a small chicken.

"No—!" General Zhao Wuji let out a shrill howl, the Blood Fiend Qi in his body surging wildly as he tried to break free from that terrifying iron-clamp-like hand, but it was in vain.

"Bang!" Big Fool swung his arm, and General Zhao Wuji's body was smashed fiercely onto the hard arena like a torn sack! The entire arena shook violently, and gravel splashed everywhere!

General Zhao Wuji spat out blood, his bones broken in countless places, and he instantly passed out. A complete victory! Another crushing defeat without any suspense!

The finalists were self-evident. Gao Feng looked at General Zhao Wuji, who was being carried off by the referees like a dead dog, and then looked at Big Fool, who was smiling foolishly opposite him, and shook his head helplessly.

He spoke loudly directly to the chief examiner: "I surrender this match."

"What?!" Everyone was stunned. The chief examiner Commander Lin Zhennan was also wearing a look of disbelief: "Are... are you sure?"

"Sure." Gao Feng nodded. "Both of them are my guards. We are Family, so there is no need to fight anymore."

Commander Lin Zhennan was silent for a moment, then looked deeply at Gao Feng, his eyes filled with awe and admiration.

He announced loudly: "For this Martial Examination Prefecture Trial, first place, Top Scholar of the Martial Examination, Gao Pan! Second place, Gao Yong! Third place, Wulu!"

The top three were actually swept by this mysterious trio from the same place! This was a terrifying record with no predecessor and likely no successor!

When Gao Feng received the gold-bordered document representing the glory of the Top Scholar of the Martial Examination from Commander Lin Zhennan, as well as a heavy money box filled with one thousand taels of gold, the entire Hanyang City went completely crazy for this mysterious expert who had suddenly emerged!

"Gao Pan! Gao Pan!" The mountain-shaking cheers echoed through the clouds!

As a reward, an extraordinary steed, the "Snow-Treading Black Steed," was led to Gao Feng.

This horse was pitch black like ink, except for its four hooves which were as white as auspicious snow; it made very little noise when running, as if treading on level ground, and was a one-in-a-million fine steed.

Gao Feng vaulted onto the horse, looked down at the arena that was going crazy for him, and his Face showed no pride or complacency, remaining calm as ever.

On the reviewing stand, Commander Lin Zhennan of Hanyang City saw his eyes flash with brilliance, and his heart was already churning with huge waves!

The heads of the four major families and the leaders of the major Sects beside him now looked at Gao Feng with no trace of contempt, only deep shock and apprehension!

In the Raging Waves Gang's camp, Jiang Bietao's Face was livid, his fists clenched tight until his knuckles turned white, and flames of jealousy and resentment burned in his eyes!

Zhou Tong beside him was so scared that he collapsed to the ground; the mere thought that he had dared to provoke this god of slaughter made him feel a chill in his crotch!

And the dejected Qin Yu stared blankly at the figure on horseback, muttering to himself, the pride in his heart named "Number One Sword" having already shattered completely.

Just then, the chief examiner Commander Lin Zhennan stood up and laughed loudly, breaking the eerie atmosphere!

"Good! What a good Gao Pan! What a good Top Scholar of the Martial Examination!"

He walked down from the reviewing stand and came personally before Gao Feng's horse, extending an invitation with burning eyes: "Tonight, I will host a celebration banquet at the Commander's Mansion to celebrate the newly promoted top three of our Hanyang City. I hope the Top Scholar will grace us with his presence!"

Facing the personal invitation from the city commander, Gao Feng just nodded calmly, his voice without waves or ripples. "Thank you, Commander Lin."

His attitude of being neither humble nor arrogant made Lin Zhennan think even more highly of him, and he became increasingly convinced that this person was definitely not someone who would stay in a small pond!

"Giddyap!" Gao Feng gave a light shout and ignored the others, and the Snow-Treading Black Steed beneath him moved like a bolt of black lightning, carrying him toward the exit of the arena!

Big Fool and Wulu followed closely behind; wherever the three passed, the originally fanatical and crowded throng of people involuntarily parted to the sides, clearing a wide path!

Everyone watched these three figures with a gaze of reverence for a deity as they disappeared at the end of the long street.

After today, the name of Gao Pan was destined to spread throughout the entire Hanyang City, becoming a legend known to all!

However, for Gao Feng himself, this so-called first place in the prefecture trial and this so-called Top Scholar of the Martial Examination were merely an inconspicuous stepping stone on his long journey.

...

That night, when the lights were first lit, the Hanyang City Commander's Mansion was brightly lit, shining like daylight.

A celebration banquet held specifically for the newly promoted top three of the martial examination was being grandly held here.

Those who could be invited to attend this banquet were all big shots with status in Hanyang City.

The heads of the four great families, the leaders of the major Sects, and the wealthiest merchants in the city gathered together.

In the past, the protagonists of such banquets were usually the proud sons of heaven from famous families.

But tonight, everyone's gaze was vaguely focused on three figures who had just recently risen to fame.

Gao Feng, Big Fool, Wulu.

The three of them had changed into brand-new brocade robes sent by the Commander's Mansion; although they still could not hide the fierce Aura that emanated from their bones, compared to their simple attire during the day, they finally blended into the luxurious atmosphere of clinking glasses and exchanged toasts.

Gao Feng sat at the head table with a calm expression, ignoring the gazes filled with inquiry, curiosity, awe, and even jealousy cast from all around.

He just tasted the fine wine in his cup on his own, as if he were an onlooker standing outside the situation.

Big Fool was the same as always; in his eyes, there were no powerful people, no beauties, only a table full of delicacies and mountain treasures emitting an alluring fragrance.

He was burying his head in a struggle with a suckling pig roasted to a golden, glistening finish, eating with great relish.

Wulu sat there in silence, eating meat while simultaneously using his vigilant eyes, like those of a lone wolf, to constantly scan everyone around him, keeping all potential threats under his control.

"Hahahaha, Top Scholar Gao is truly a Dragon among men; your Divine Might on the martial arts field today truly opened our eyes!"

A hearty laugh rang out, breaking the subtle calm of the area.

A slightly chubby, kind-faced middle-aged man walked over, holding a wine glass with a beaming smile on his Face.

He was none other than the head of the Li Family, one of the four great Families of Hanyang City, Master Li.

"I am Li Wanjin, having lived a few more years, I have come presumptuously to toast Top Scholar Gao!"

Li Wanjin's attitude was very humble, and his Face was full of smiles.

Gao Feng glanced at him, nodded indifferently, and raised his glass in acknowledgment, but did not stand up.

Li Wanjin did not mind, and after downing his drink, he leaned in closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Top Scholar Gao, a heaven-sent talent like you surely has an unlimited future. I wonder, Top Scholar Gao, are you married? I have a young daughter, just turned sixteen; while I dare not call her a peerless beauty, she is gentle and virtuous. If you do not mind..."

Marriage alliance!

The most direct and effective way to win someone over!

Upon hearing this, Gao Feng's lips curled into an amused smile. He put down his wine glass and finally spoke, "Many thanks for your kindness, Family Head Li. However, I am devoted to the martial arts and aim to win the top spot in the palace examination, so I have no heart for romance at the moment."

His voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for those around him who were pricking up their ears to hear everything.

The smile on Li Wanjin's Face stiffened slightly, but he quickly returned to normal, laughing it off, "No matter, no matter! A man's ambitions lie in the four corners of the world; I understand! If there is ever anything you need from my Li Family in the future, Top Scholar Gao, just say the word!"

After saying this, he tactfully took his leave.

With Li Wanjin leading the way, figures from various factions took turns approaching, like a revolving lantern.

There was a steward representing the Chen Family, promising to gift gold and a mansion.

There was an Elder representing the Zhang Family, promising to gift Sharp Weapons and rare Medicinal Pills.

The conditions they offered were more tempting than the last; any one of them would be enough for an ordinary Martial Artist to strive for a lifetime.

But from beginning to end, Gao Feng remained neither humble nor arrogant, giving nothing away.

He neither explicitly accepted nor directly refused, simply using the phrase "devoted to martial arts, aiming for the palace examination" to lightly deflect all the olive branches.

This attitude, which was impenetrable yet inoffensive, made everyone feel as if they had punched cotton—having strength but nowhere to apply it. They felt even more mysterious and wary about Gao Feng's background.

Just then, a sarcastic voice abruptly rang out, breaking the harmonious atmosphere of solicitation.

"Hmph, 'devoted to martial arts'? I think you just don't dare to accept, right?"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw the Young Lord of the Raging Waves Gang, Jiang Bietao, walking over with a cold sneer, holding a wine glass.

Following behind him was Zhou Tong, whose Face was still somewhat pale.

Jiang Bietao walked up to Gao Feng, looked down at him, and his eyes were filled with provocation.

"Top Scholar Gao? Heh, what great majesty."

He swirled the fine wine in his cup and said with a mocking smile, "However, this Young Lord is quite curious, Top Scholar Gao, where exactly did you study, and where do you come from?"

"I sent people to check the entire Hanyang City, and even the famous Sects and Families of the Northern Territory, but I have never heard of any house producing such a brilliant talent as you."

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an overbearing Aura.

"You wouldn't happen to be from another prefecture, having traveled all the way to our Hanyang City to snatch a spot in the martial examination, would you? Or perhaps... are you a spy sent by some hostile prefecture to Hanyang City with malicious intent?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar!

Everyone's expression changed; this accusation was too grave!

The martial examination is the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty's talent selection and has always only allowed candidates to take the exam in their home prefecture.

Taking the exam across prefectures is a great crime of deceiving the Emperor, not to mention being a spy sent by a hostile prefecture!

In an instant, all gazes turned toward Gao Feng with a hint of suspicion and scrutiny.

Facing this sudden, malicious accusation, Gao Feng's Face remained calm, without the slightest ripple.

He did not even stand up, merely slowly raising his head, his eyes, deep as an abyss, quietly watching Jiang Bietao.

"Are you finished?" he asked indifferently.

"You!" Jiang Bietao was so angered by his calm and breezy attitude that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Gao Feng picked up a grape from the table, peeled it slowly, and put it in his mouth before slowly saying, "First, my background is detailed in the records of the Wang Family who recommended me. The chief examiner, Commander Lin, must have already seen it. If you have any questions, you should ask the Commander, instead of barking at me like a mad dog here."

"Pfft..." Someone in the crowd couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Jiang Bietao's Face instantly turned the color of pig's liver!

Gao Feng ignored him and continued, "Second, you say I might be a spy. Then, may I ask, Young Gang Leader Jiang, do you have any evidence? If not, what is the crime for publicly slandering a Top Scholar of the Martial Examination at the Commander's mansion banquet?"

"I..." Jiang Bietao was speechless for a moment; of course, he had no evidence. It was just a charge he had fabricated in his haste.

Gao Feng's eyes suddenly turned cold, and a majestic Aura, a hundred times more terrifying than it was on the martial arts field during the day, instantly soared into the sky!

That Aura condensed into substance, as if a towering ancient mountain was ruthlessly pressing down on Jiang Bietao!

"I, Gao Pan, do things as I please; why would I need to explain myself to trash like you?!"

"Bang!"

Jiang Bietao felt as if his chest had been ruthlessly struck by an invisible giant hammer!

He let out a muffled groan, and his whole body uncontrollably stumbled back seven or eight steps, "stumble, stumble, stumble," before barely stabilizing his figure. The wine glass in his hand had long since shattered, and he was in a state of utter embarrassment!

And Zhou Tong, who was behind him, was directly knocked to the ground by the aftermath of that Aura, falling flat on his Face!

Just a single suppression of Aura!

It made the top expert of the younger generation in Hanyang City, the Ocean-Covering Flood Dragon Jiang Bietao, make a fool of himself in public!

This... what kind of terrifying strength is this?!

The whole room once again fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked at the man who was still sitting calmly in his seat, slowly tasting fruit, with a look of awe as if they were looking at a god.

"Enough!"

A dignified, angry shout broke the stalemate.

From the main seat, the Hanyang City Commander Lin Zhennan stood up with a gloomy Face.

He first glanced coldly at the ashen-faced Jiang Bietao and the Raging Waves Gang Leader Jiang Hailong, who was also looking grim beside him.

Then, he turned his gaze to Gao Feng, squeezing a smile onto his stern Face.

"Top Scholar Gao, a young hero, it is understandable to have a hot temper. But tonight is a victory banquet; I hope you can give me, Lin, some Face and let this matter rest here, how about it?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Feng slowly retracted that terrifying Aura.

He cupped his hands slightly toward Lin Zhennan, considering it giving the other party Face.

"Commander, you speak too seriously."

Seeing this, Lin Zhennan nodded with satisfaction.

This disturbance, instigated by Jiang Bietao, was thus forcibly suppressed.

But everyone knew that the feud between Gao Feng and the Raging Waves Gang had been completely cemented.

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere became incredibly strange, and no one dared to easily approach and strike up a conversation with Gao Feng again.

After the banquet ended.

In the Commander's mansion, inside a quiet study.

Lin Zhennan dismissed all the servants and personally brewed a pot of fragrant, top-grade Da Hong Pao tea for Gao Feng.

"Top Scholar Gao, the matter tonight was due to my lack of strict discipline; I apologize for the spectacle," Lin Zhennan said straightforwardly, with a hint of apology in his tone.

"It is fine," Gao Feng said indifferently, "Just a few flies; it is not enough to affect my mood."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhennan could not help but smile bitterly. Perhaps only the person before him in the entire Hanyang City could compare the Young Lord of the Raging Waves Gang to a fly.

He pondered for a moment before finally getting to the main point.

"Top Scholar Gao, you must have seen that tonight, whether it is the Li Family or other factions, they all want to pull you into their camp."

Lin Zhennan looked at Gao Feng, his eyes becoming incredibly sincere, "I, Lin Zhennan, am no exception."

"However, what I represent is not myself, nor any specific Family."

His voice became incredibly solemn.

"What I represent is the Great Qian military!"

"Oh?" Gao Feng's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he finally showed a look of interest.

"The current Hanyang City appears calm, but in reality, there are already undercurrents surging."

Lin Zhennan sighed and continued, "The four great Families are deeply intertwined and have long ceased to respect the government. Jianghu Gangs, like the Raging Waves Gang, are becoming increasingly rampant and overbearing."

"Yet, our military within the prefecture is weak and constrained at every turn. If this continues, Hanyang City will likely completely slip out of the Imperial Court's control."

"Therefore, we need fresh blood. We need a true expert like you—someone with no background, no ties, but with strength sufficient to break all the rules!"

"As long as you are willing to join our military camp, I can guarantee you that your future will definitely be more than just a mere Top Scholar of the Martial Examination!"

After speaking, he quietly watched Gao Feng, waiting for his reply.