92: Chapter 92: The Battle of the Martial Arts Schools Begins!

On the day of the fist fight, before the sky had even brightened, Heishan City was already seething with activity, emerging from its slumber.

The streets and alleys were crowded with people; countless commoners, Martial Artists, and merchants were driven like an invisible tide, pouring toward the massive training grounds in the west of the city.

Teahouses and taverns were packed, and there was only one topic of conversation—today's fist fight!

The Peak duel that would determine the future landscape of the martial arts world in Heishan City!

The training grounds had long been cleared. In the center, a massive ring, a zhang high and ten zhang square, had been erected, paved with iron-hard bluestone. Colorful flags were planted around it, snapping in the morning breeze.

On the east and west sides of the ring, exclusive viewing stands had been set up for the three major martial arts halls, while the remaining areas were occupied by various Families, small and medium-sized forces, and crowds of onlookers packed in so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

The sounds of clamor, discussion, and hawking blended together; the noise was deafening, and the atmosphere was so heated it was almost scorching.

The group from Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, led by Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, arrived at the east viewing stand.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng wore a green robe, his expression calm. His gaze swept across the arena, carrying an imposing air without needing to display anger.

Behind him stood the three Disciples representing Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall in the fight today.

At the head was Lin Tian.

He wore a deep black martial outfit, a long saber at his waist, his figure as upright as a pine. His presence was restrained and contained; standing in the crowd, he did not appear particularly conspicuous, yet those eyes, calm as a deep pool, possessed a steadiness and sharpness that was hard to ignore.

Beside him was Senior Sister Chen Yu. Today, she had changed into a crisp, green martial outfit that outlined her slender figure. Her pretty face was slightly tense, a hand resting on her sword hilt, full of heroic spirit.

The last person was the newly recovered Head Disciple Zhao Tiegang. The injuries on his arms had basically healed, but his face remained slightly pale, though his eyes carried a long-suppressed Battle Intent and determination.

Further back were Liu Yunfeng and the other Core Disciples, all of them looking solemn.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's gaze slowly swept over the group behind him, lingering briefly on Lin Tian, and he nodded slightly before waving his hand and saying in a deep voice, "Take your seats!"

Everyone sat down as instructed, and an invisible aura of killing intent began to quietly permeate the area around the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall seats.

Almost at the same time Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall settled in, the people from Baiyun Martial Arts Hall arrived at the west viewing stand.

Master Bai Song wore a moon-white robe, his figure thin, his gaze like lightning. He met Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's eyes from across the way and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Behind him also followed three Disciples prepared to take the stage, all of them possessing sharp temperaments and impressive auras.

"Brother Bai." Hall Master Chen Qingfeng stood up and offered a slight bow.

"Brother Chen." Master Bai Song returned the greeting, his gaze immediately falling on Lin Tian behind Hall Master Chen Qingfeng. A flash of brilliance crossed his eyes, and he took the initiative to speak: "This must be Young Master Lin, who has recently become famous in Heishan City? Truly a hero among the young, with extraordinary bearing."

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng called Lin Tian to his side and introduced him: "Tian'er, greet the Hall Revered Master of Baiyun. Brother Bai, this is my Disciple, Lin Tian. Later, on the ring, I hope your Disciples will offer some guidance."

Lin Tian stepped forward, neither servile nor overbearing, and clasped his hands in a salute: "Junior Lin Tian greets Hall Revered Master Bai."

"Young Master Lin, no need for such formalities." Master Bai Song wore a warm smile, though his tone carried a hint of solemnity, "Young Master Lin's great name has long been known to me like thunder. Today's fist fight concerns the honor of our two halls and the martial arts landscape of Heishan City. I hope Young Master Lin can give it your all and uphold the might of our Righteous Path."

"Hall Revered Master Bai, you are too kind. Defending the martial arts hall is my duty. This Junior will naturally do my utmost to not fail the expectations of the Hall Revered Master and my Revered Master." Lin Tian replied calmly, his tone firm.

"Good! With Young Master Lin's words, I can rest easy." Master Bai Song clapped his hands in praise, his eyes filled with even greater anticipation.

He could tell that although Lin Tian was young, that steadiness and self-confidence were by no means bluster, but stemmed from absolute certainty in his own strength.

With this young man fighting, Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall had stabilized one corner.

Just as the two halls were exchanging pleasantries, at the entrance to the training grounds, the crowd suddenly parted to both sides like a wave cleaved by a sharp blade!

A scorching, overbearing, and even slightly violent aura, like an invisible flood, came surging over!

Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had arrived!

At the head was Hall Master Lie Fentian. He wore a robe as crimson as fire, his red hair flying, his face revealing an undisguised arrogance and disdain amidst his majesty.

He walked with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger. Wherever he passed, the onlookers held their breath, subconsciously retreating, their eyes filled with awe, fear, and even a hint of sycophancy.

The current Liehuo Martial Arts Hall was too prominent and too powerful; it had become a behemoth in the Heishan City martial arts world that no one dared to easily provoke.

Behind Hall Master Lie Fentian followed a dense crowd of people. Apart from a few familiar Elders, the most eye-catching were the dozen or so powerful Martial Artists surrounding him!

Most of them were relatively young, their faces slightly flushed with excitement, their eyes sharp and piercing, their blood and Qi surging throughout their bodies—they were all at the level of a Second Grade Martial Artist!

Although the auras of many of them were slightly unstable and their Foundation shaky, the blood and Qi of over a dozen Second Grade Martial Artists connected, creating a pressure sufficient to make many heads of small and medium-sized Families present turn pale and struggle to breathe.

"Hiss—! More than ten Second Grade Martial Artists?!"

"My god! Since when did Liehuo Martial Arts Hall have such strength?"

"No wonder Baiyun and Qingfeng couldn't suppress them even by joining forces..."

"This... this is simply aiming to unify Heishan City!"

Exclamations, gasps, and incredulous whispers spread through the crowd like a plague.

Everyone was shocked by the mid-level military strength displayed by Liehuo Martial Arts Hall. This completely broke the balance of power that the three major martial arts halls had maintained for many years!

Standing at the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall seats, Lin Tian's gaze calmly swept over those dozen newly promoted Second Grade Martial Artists from Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, his brows rising almost imperceptibly.

"As expected..." he thought to himself. He had been somewhat skeptical when he heard that the strength of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had surged, but seeing it with his own eyes now, he knew the rumors were not false.

In such a short time, creating so many Second Grade Martial Artists could not be achieved through normal Cultivation or ordinary resource accumulation.

He immediately thought of the "rapid" Breakthrough of the brothers Constable Lie Ming and Lie Yun.

"Is it the method of the Demonic Cult?" Lin Tian's eyes turned slightly cold. He possessed the "red blood vermilion fruit," a rare treasure of heaven and earth, which allowed him to achieve a rapid Breakthrough while maintaining a solid Foundation.

Yet these people from Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had unstable auras; they had clearly used some kind of harsh medicine that overdraws potential and damages the Foundation.

This convinced him even more that Hall Master Lie Fentian, and perhaps the entire Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, had already deeply colluded with the Demonic Cult. Otherwise, where would they get so many "remarkably effective" and bizarre Medicinal Pills?

Under the gaze of everyone, Hall Master Lie Fentian walked straight to the main viewing stand on the north side and sat down. That was the position for the organizers of the fist fight, yet he occupied it without the slightest hesitation.

Immediately, his eyes, burning like fire, swept toward the Qingfeng and Baiyun halls on the east and west sides with undisguised aggression, finally landing on Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song.

"Hall Revered Master Chen, Revered Master Bai," Hall Master Lie Fentian's voice was loud, carrying a condescending tone, clearly spreading across the entire training grounds,

"With the fist fight imminent, I will ask you two one last time. Are you willing to set aside your prejudices and bring your Disciples to join my 'Little Martial Alliance'? Let us conspire for development and resist foreign enemies together?

As long as you two nod, this ring today can be turned into an altar for our alliance! Past grievances will be wiped clean! How about it?"

He spoke of an "alliance," but anyone could hear the threat and condescension in his words. So-called "joining" was merely a polite term for submission.

Master Bai Song snorted coldly, a trace of anger appearing on his thin face: "The Dao is different, so we cannot conspire! My Baiyun Martial Arts Hall stands upright and dignified; we will never consort with those who rely on heterodox paths and act tyrannically!

As for this 'Little Martial Alliance', it is better not to join!"

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng was also calm, his tone categorical: "I appreciate Hall Revered Master Lie's good intentions.

My Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall has an orderly Legacy and strict rules; our Disciples Cultivate relying solely on their own diligence and talent, without relying on external objects or taking shortcuts.

Since this ring has been set up, we shall follow the rules. Although fists and feet have no eyes, I still have some confidence in the Cultivation and Heart-Nature of my own Disciples."

"Good! A fine 'without relying on external objects'! A fine 'still have some confidence'!" Hall Master Lie Fentian laughed instead of getting angry, his laughter filled with mockery and grimness,

"Since you two are so unappreciative and insist on deciding the outcome on this ring, then do not blame me for being ruthless, for fists and feet have no eyes!

By then, if your esteemed hall's Disciples suffer some mishap on the ring, lose an arm or a leg, or even... lose their lives, do not regret it!"

"The outcome is not yet decided; Hall Revered Master Lie, you speak a bit too early." Hall Master Chen Qingfeng said indifferently, no longer looking at him.

Hall Master Lie Fentian hit a soft nail, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, but it immediately turned into a grim smile: "Since that is the case, there is no need for more words! Everyone is here, and the time is about right—"

He stood up abruptly, facing the entire venue, his voice like a great bell, suppressing all the clamor:

"The 'fist fight' agreement between the three major martial arts halls of Heishan City, now—begins!"

As his words fell, the huge training grounds instantly fell into a dead silence. All eyes were focused on that tall bluestone ring.

The air was filled with suffocating tension and killing intent.

The battle that would determine the fate of the martial arts world in Heishan City had officially begun!