90: Chapter 90 Arena Rules

Little Overlord's voice was deep and overbearing, like a sudden thunderclap on flat ground, echoing over the massive plaza.

He held a spear that was pitch-black from end to end, its tip glinting with a chilling edge under the morning sun. Standing in the center of the arena, he exuded an aura of looking down upon the world.

As soon as his voice fell, a figure leapt out from the crowd and landed steadily on the arena.

"Hejian Province, Iron Fist Sect, Chiliarch Zhou Tong, I ask Brother Little Overlord for your guidance!"

The newcomer was a burly man with a pair of iron fists polished to a greasy shine; he was clearly an expert in external martial arts.

Little Overlord grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Please!"

Chiliarch Zhou Tong dared not be careless. With a low shout, the bluestone slab beneath his feet cracked, and he transformed into a fierce tiger, charging straight for Little Overlord's center.

Little Overlord did not dodge or evade, merely giving the spear in his hand a casual flick.

Hum!

The air emitted a trembling cry. The black spear seemed to come alive, transforming into a black Dragon emerging from its cave. The spear tip struck first despite starting later, aiming straight for Chiliarch Zhou Tong's fist.

Chiliarch Zhou Tong's expression changed drastically. He felt an irresistible force strike him; his iron fists, which he took such pride in, were as fragile as paper before that spear tip.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, Chiliarch Zhou Tong let out a miserable scream. He was sent flying backwards, falling heavily outside the arena. His right fist was already a bloody mess, with all the finger bones shattered.

One Move.

Just one Move, and the victor was decided.

The entire crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted into cheers like a mountain landslide and tsunami.

"Good! Little Overlord is mighty!"

"This is true martial arts! He finished it with a single spear thrust!"

Chen Fan leaned against a rock, his eyes half-closed.

Little Overlord's strength was indeed overbearing. That spear thrust looked simple, but in reality, he had twisted all his body's strength into a single strand, erupting entirely at the spear's tip.

If it were him in his prime, he would have had to expend quite a bit of effort to take that blow head-on.

Soon, another Martial Artist carrying a long saber stepped onto the arena to challenge him.

This time, Little Overlord used three more Moves.

The long saber was smashed in half by the black spear, and the Martial Artist was struck in the chest by the spear shaft, spitting blood and fainting.

Little Overlord stood in the center of the arena, his spear propping him up as he scanned his surroundings. No one dared to step onto the stage easily again.

Just at this moment, a crisp female voice rang out.

"Shu Province, Tang Sect, Tang Nian, here to learn from the Little Overlord's high skill."

The crowd parted, and a petite woman dressed in light purple martial attire walked slowly onto the arena. She carried no weapon, only an exquisite little scent sachet hanging from her waist.

Tang Sect, Tang Nian.

Chen Fan's spirit lifted slightly.

When Little Overlord saw the newcomer, his overbearing aura receded slightly, and a hint of solemnity appeared on his face. "So it is Miss Tang. Please."

Tang Nian smiled slightly, her figure flickering as she vanished from where she stood.

Such fast footwork! It's no weaker than that of the Longxing Sect.

Chen Fan felt a shiver in his heart.

Little Overlord also dared not be slow; he held his spear horizontally, guarding his entire body.

The next moment, Tang Nian's figure appeared ghost-like on Little Overlord's left side. Her fair palms, carrying a sharp sound of breaking air, struck toward his ribs.

Little Overlord let out a violent shout, sweeping his spear back. The spear shaft, like an iron whip carrying the force of ten thousand jun, smashed toward Tang Nian.

Tang Nian did not clash with him head-on. She lightly tapped her toes on the spear shaft, using the force to float up. Her figure made an incredible turn in mid-air, and with fingers pressed together, she struck toward Little Overlord's brow.

Little Overlord's spear momentum was spent; unable to return to defense in time, he could only lean his head back in a sorry state.

The wind from her fingers grazed past the tip of his nose, drawing a bead of blood.

How dangerous!

The entire audience broke into a cold sweat for Little Overlord.

Little Overlord roared, his spear striking like a Dragon, no longer holding anything back.

He unleashed his Overlord Spear technique to the extreme. For a time, the entire arena was filled with layered spear shadows, and the violent Qi energy scraped a layer of stone chips from the bluestone ground.

That spear technique was grand and open, relying on strength to overcome ten thousand techniques; every spear thrust seemed capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks.

Tang Nian's footwork, however, was like willow catkins in the wind or duckweed on water. Amidst the storm-like spear shadows, she twisted and turned, always finding that sliver of survival at the most dangerous moments.

Her attacks also became tricky; one moment it was a hand blade, the next a poking kick, specifically targeting Little Overlord's joints and openings.

The two, one fiercely strong and unmatched, the other agile and eerie, fought in a tangle on the arena.

In the blink of an eye, it had already been over a hundred rounds.

Chen Fan watched without blinking. This was a true battle of top-tier Rank 7 Martial Artists. Little Overlord's spear technique won on the word "Overbearing," charging forward with an invincible spirit. Meanwhile, Tang Nian's footwork and Moves won on the word "Clever," avoiding the solid and striking the weak, using a single point to break the surface.

These two, whoever it was, were more than a tier stronger than that Nie Shu who only knew how to use underhanded tricks.

The situation on the field changed once again.

Little Overlord had been attacking for a long time without success; his breathing began to grow heavy. Although his spear technique remained fierce, it lacked a bit of fluidity.

Tang Nian seized this opening.

She suddenly lowered her body, dodging Little Overlord's sweeping spear, and like a civet cat, she slipped into Little Overlord's embrace.

Little Overlord was greatly alarmed, wanting to retract his spear to defend, but it was already too late.

Tang Nian's right hand had, at some unknown moment, reached into the scent sachet at her waist.

"Careful!"

Little Overlord only heard a delicate shout, and a thick, fragrant scent rushed toward his face.

Not good! It's a paralyzing drug!

He immediately held his breath, but that scent was pervasive, causing his brain to spin with dizziness.

This is it!

Tang Nian's left hand struck a palm onto Little Overlord's chest.

Bang!

Little Overlord's tall frame stumbled back several steps, his chest churning with Qi and blood, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

He knelt on one knee, using his spear to support his body so he wouldn't fall.

"I have lost." Little Overlord wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and being a straightforward man, he admitted it frankly.

Tang Nian withdrew her hand and cupped her fists toward him. "I accept the concession."

The entire crowd was silent.

No one had expected that the overbearing Little Overlord would actually be defeated by a woman.

Tang Nian stood in the center of the arena, scanning the crowd. "Is there any other friend willing to step onto the stage and offer guidance?"

For a moment, no one answered.

Uncle Song looked at the woman on the arena, then looked at the calm-faced Chen Fan beside him, and spoke in a low voice.

"The rules of the Sword Testing Conference have always been this way."

"All Martial Artists under thirty years of age can step onto the stage to challenge. The person defending the arena must accept all challenges until no one else steps up, or until they themselves are knocked off the arena."

"In the end, ten winners who successfully defend the arena will be determined."

"These ten people will be this year's top ten on the hero ranking list. They will conduct the final ranking battle on the main arena."

Chen Fan understood.

There can be unlimited challenges until ten people are decided.

This rule, while sounding simple, is actually cruel to the extreme.

This is not a martial arts competition at all; it is a war of attrition, a wheel battle. The person defending the arena must not only face one strong enemy after another but also face the constant consumption of their own Internal Energy and stamina.

This is practically a meat grinder.

No wonder Nie Shu wanted to use such underhanded methods to cripple him in advance. Under these rules, having one less strong competitor meant one could retain a bit more stamina and have a better chance of winning.

As for Little Overlord, who had just been defeated, although his defense failed, there were still opportunities for ten arena winners.

Although he lost to Tang Nian, he could challenge other arena winners.

As long as he won, he could still enter the top ten and make it onto the hero ranking list!

Uncle Song's voice carried a hint of heaviness. "Therefore, Nickname, you..."

He wanted to say that with his injuries, it was impossible for him to hold out under these rules.

Just at this moment, a figure leapt up from the Duan Shui Sect's camp and landed opposite Tang Nian.

"Duan Shui Sect, Zhao Qian, I ask Miss Tang for your guidance!"