17: Chapter 17 is described in a light touch.

"Bang!" The fist wind and palm energy collided on the arena, shaking the wooden chairs in the surrounding audience stands.

Xiang Li and Xiang Mu fought for dozens of rounds. Both of their breathing was somewhat disordered, but the force behind their fists and kicks had not diminished in the slightest.

"Since our Martial Skills cannot determine a winner, then look at my Eighteen-Foot Serpent Spear!"

Xiang Li's eyes sharpened. With a twist of his wrist, a long spear glowing with a dark light suddenly appeared in his hand. It was his trump card weapon.

"Clang!" Xiang Mu did not hesitate, drawing his long sword with a backhand motion. The blade hummed, but when he saw the patterns on the spear in Xiang Li's hand, his expression changed abruptly.

Just as he was about to swing his sword to parry, the gust of wind from the spear rushed toward his Face. He stumbled, unable to steady himself, and retreated step by step until he was pressed against the edge of the arena, where he barely managed to stand firm.

"This is… a Divine Ability-Rank weapon!" Xiang Mu's voice trembled.

"Xiang Mu, you cannot beat me." A smug smile curled the corner of Xiang Li's mouth. He twisted his wrist, and the spear thrust toward Xiang Mu's chest again.

Xiang Mu's pupils constricted. Knowing he couldn't block this strike at all, he hurriedly dodged to the side and simply flipped off the arena.

"Xiang Li wins!" The referee announced loudly, then looked down at the stage. "There will be a one-hour intermission! In one hour, Xiang Tian and Xiang Li will conduct the final battle to compete for the position of Young Lord!"

Xiang Li smugly flicked his spear and walked off the arena with a flamboyant stride.

When he passed by where Xiang Tian was, he deliberately stopped and raised an eyebrow.

"Idiot!" Xiang Tian didn't even look up, just calmly spat out two words.

"Hmph!" Xiang Li's expression stiffened. He let out a cold snort, glared fiercely at Xiang Tian, and then sulkily sat down in the nearby audience stands.

"Who do you think will win the final battle?" Someone in the audience stands couldn't help but speak up, their gaze darting back and forth between Xiang Li and Xiang Tian.

"That's hard to say. Xiang Li has a Divine Ability-Rank weapon, but Xiang Tian hasn't shown his strength before…" Someone hesitated and shook their head.

"What's hard to say about that!" Someone nearby immediately retorted, "Xiang Li just beat Xiang Mu and is still holding a Divine Ability-Rank spear; surely he will win!"

"I actually think Xiang Tian can win. Did you forget his performance in the Family trial earlier? He looks low-key, maybe he's hiding his true ability!" Another person chimed in.

"Why don't we make a bet?" someone suggested, a glimmer of excitement flashing in their eyes.

"Oh? How do we bet?"

"How about we bet one hundred Spirit Stones? The person who bets correctly takes all the stakes!"

"That's a good idea! I bet on Xiang Li to win!"

"I bet on Xiang Tian!"

"Count me in…"

For a time, the younger generation of the clan gathered around, one after another taking out Spirit Stones to place bets, creating a noisy commotion.

Xiang Tian didn't pay any attention to this. He took out a bottle of beer, unscrewed the cap, took a "gulp," and looked indifferent.

On the other side, on the high platform, Xiang Zhennan and the Grand Elder were talking in low voices.

"Patriarch, who do you think will win in the end?" The Grand Elder looked at the Patriarch, his tone carrying a bit of curiosity.

"Grand Elder, why are you interested in this too?" Xiang Zhennan laughed.

"Who hasn't been young?" The Grand Elder sighed. "Back when I was competing with your father for the position of Young Lord, I was even more nervous than them, and didn't I make it through?"

Xiang Zhennan was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "It doesn't matter who becomes the Young Lord. Xiang Tian, this child, now has his own Opportunity. Being trapped in this small place like the Xiang Family is ultimately too small a scope for him."

"The Patriarch is right about that." The Grand Elder nodded, then changed the subject. "However, I did inquire about some information regarding Xiang Tian at the Haotian Sect."

"What information?" Xiang Zhennan pressed.

"It is said that in the outer sect Secret Realm, he killed quite a few people, including several Geniuses from other Families." The Grand Elder lowered his voice.

"Hmm!" Xiang Zhennan frowned slightly. "I heard this rumor a year ago and originally thought it was just gossip, but when Tian'er appeared safely before my eyes, I believed it. This child is more ruthless than we thought."

"Patriarch, now that Xiang Tian has returned, I'm afraid those Families he offended will soon receive the news, right?" The Grand Elder's tone was grave. "With the strength of our Xiang Family, we simply cannot withstand their retaliation."

"I am also considering whether our Xiang Family should relocate." The Patriarch rubbed his temples, his expression heavy.

"Patriarch, this matter should be done sooner rather than later!" The Grand Elder said urgently.

"Relocation is naturally the best option, but where should our Xiang Family move to?" The Patriarch sighed. "Although the world is vast, there are too few places suitable for a small Family like ours to settle. With our meager strength, if we run into any random power, we could be swallowed up without even our bones left."

"Decades ago, I heard my father say that our Xiang Family is actually a branch of some large Family." The Grand Elder suddenly spoke up. "Perhaps we can start from this aspect?"

"You aren't talking about the Xiang Family in the capital of the Tianyun Kingdom, are you?" Xiang Zhennan's eyes narrowed.

"That's right!" The Grand Elder nodded.

Xiang Zhennan, however, shook his head. "You should dispel that thought. I have heard another version; our lineage was voluntarily abandoned by the main branch back then. They won't acknowledge us at all."

"Then… Patriarch, what do you think our Xiang Family should do?" The Grand Elder also panicked.

"We can only call my younger sister back." Xiang Zhennan pondered for a moment and said slowly.

"You mean that girl Xiaoting?" The Grand Elder's eyes lit up. "She married into the Ouyang Family. The Ouyang Family is a top-tier power in the entire Tianyun Kingdom. If we have their help…"

"But I don't know what her status is in the Ouyang Family." The Patriarch sighed. "Ever since she married over there, she has never returned to the Xiang Family. Whether we can persuade her to help is still an unknown."

The two talked in low voices, time slipped away unconsciously, and one hour passed very quickly.

"Now, I invite Xiang Tian and Xiang Li to ascend the arena for the final battle!" The referee's voice rang out again, interrupting their conversation.

Xiang Tian and Xiang Li stood up almost at the same time and ascended the arena together.

"Xiang Tian, it's still not too late for you to voluntarily concede." Xiang Li gripped the Eighteen-Foot Serpent Spear. "Lest you get hurt by my spear later and lose Face."

"If you want to fight, just come over. Don't talk nonsense." Xiang Tian frowned.

"Then I will fulfill your wish!" Xiang Li was completely enraged. He raised his wrist, and the Eighteen-Foot Serpent Spear struck directly at Xiang Tian's throat.

But Xiang Tian seemed to have anticipated this. He tilted his body slightly and easily dodged this fatal blow.

Before Xiang Li could react, he raised his hand and slapped him.

"Slap!"

Xiang Li didn't even see Xiang Tian's movement clearly before being slapped off the arena.

"Alright, hurry up and announce it." Xiang Tian clapped his hands, his tone flat.

This scene completely plunged the entire venue into silence.

No one expected that Xiang Li, holding a Divine Ability-Rank weapon, would actually be taken out in one second by a single slap from Xiang Tian!

As the saying goes, "Unintentional showing off is the most lethal." This time, Xiang Tian really succeeded in showing off.

[Congratulations to the host for increasing your cultivation by one Rank. Reward: 10 face-slapping points.]

"This… is it over?"

"Was that a one-shot? Am I seeing things?"

"That's right! It was a one-shot! Damn, I only blinked for a second and Xiang Li flew out!"

"…"

The audience stands finally exploded with noise. Everyone was in a state of bewilderment, rubbing their eyes, unable to believe the scene before them.

"Congratulations to Xiang Tian for winning this competition! At the same time, Xiang Tian officially becomes the Xiang Family Young Lord!" The referee snapped out of it and loudly announced the result.

But Xiang Tian was not interested in this at all. He waved his hand: "Alright, I'm heading back first."

"Young Lord, wait a moment! There is still the exclusive reward for the Young Lord that hasn't been given to you yet!" A clansman nearby shouted hurriedly.

"I don't want it, I'm not lacking anything." Xiang Tian walked off the arena without looking back.

Trapped in this small place like the Xiang Family for a lifetime? What kind of international joke is that?

His figure gradually receded into the distance. When he passed by Xiang Hua, he didn't even take an extra look.

But Xiang Hua stared at him fixedly, her eyes vicious.

Xiang Tian not only won the competition but also caused her previous calculations to fail. This was the greatest humiliation of her life.

Xiang Tian had long since cast Xiang Hua's resentment to the back of his mind and walked straight toward Xiang Yuanyuan's home.

Not long after, he arrived at the door. Just as he was about to knock, he heard an argument coming from inside the house.

"Young Master Yang, wasn't it agreed that the wedding ceremony would be held in a few days? Why do you want to take her away now?"

"Hehe, that was me giving you Face before." An arrogant voice rang out. "I heard that Yuanyuan has been very close to a man in your Family. Today, I am here to take her away, so as to avoid any complications arising from delay."

"You… you can't do this!" The voice from before rang out again.

"You what?" Young Master Yang kicked the wooden table next to him impatiently. "Who told you to owe me ten thousand Spirit Stones? Damn, ten thousand Spirit Stones is not a small amount. Taking Yuanyuan to pay off the debt is letting you off easy!"

Just at this moment— "Bang!" The heavy wooden door was kicked open by someone, and Xiang Tian's figure appeared at the doorway.

The three people inside the room turned their heads in unison to look at the person who had arrived.

"Xiang Tian?" Xiang Yuanyuan froze in place. She never expected that Xiang Tian would come at this time.

Young Master Yang looked Xiang Tian up and down, a mocking smile curling the corner of his mouth: "You are that man who is involved with Yuanyuan? You look just average, yet you dare to compete with me for her?"

"And who might you be?" Xiang Tian raised his eyes.

"Xiang Tian, hurry and leave!" Xiang Yuanyuan hurriedly stepped forward and pulled on Xiang Tian's sleeve. "Their Yang Family is powerful and not something our Xiang Family can compare to! You have finally managed to Cultivate again; if your cultivation is crippled because of me, I will never forgive myself for the rest of my life!"

"Sister Yuanyuan, don't worry." Xiang Tian patted her hand, his tone firm. "No matter who the other party is, as long as he wants to hurt you or force you to do things you don't want to do, I will definitely teach him a lesson for you."

Xiang Yuanyuan felt a warmth in her heart, but still shook her head vigorously.

"Hmm? A bit interesting!" Young Master Yang watched the interaction between the two, his eyes turning sinister. "It seems your relationship is indeed not ordinary. Since you want to know my identity, then it doesn't matter if I tell you. I am the Young Lord of the Yang Family, Yang Zhi. How about it, do you know fear now?"

"Slap!" No sooner had Yang Zhi finished speaking than Xiang Tian's palm had already slapped him on the Face. A crisp sound echoed in the room; Yang Zhi's whole body was slapped to the side, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

[Congratulations to the host for increasing your cultivation by 5 layers. Reward: 100 face-slapping points.]

"Hmm? So much?" Xiang Tian was somewhat surprised.

[That is of course. This Yang Zhi is a Cultivator of the Opening Aperture Realm, much stronger than Xiang Li from before, so the reward is naturally more generous.]

"Oh? So that's how it is." Xiang Tian nodded in understanding.

Yang Zhi covered his Face. After reacting, his eyes instantly became fierce: "You actually dare to hit me?!"

"So what if I hit you?" Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow and raised his hand for another slap.

"Slap!"

This slap was equally loud, but there was no reward notification in his mind.

"Hmm? Why is there no reward?" Xiang Tian wondered.

[This is to prevent the host from farming levels. There is a cooldown period for slapping the same person consecutively. You can only receive rewards again after the cooldown ends.]

"Fine, fine, fine. You actually have such a System in place." Xiang Tian shook his head helplessly, finally conceding to the settings of this System.