Only Need A Smack . . .
If the young men who were fervently vying for the opportunity to challenge Cha Eun Xiao had known that their coveted opponent was one of the infamous godlike slayers responsible for a multitude of horrific killings, their emotions would undoubtedly have been a tumultuous mix of fear, anxiety, and disbelief.
But there was more to Cha Eun Xiao than met the eye. While he might not be as formidable as Xiao Monarch, he possessed considerable power. He appeared as a Spirit Origin Stage cultivator of level five or six, but this was a clever facade. In the presence of these young men from his own generation, Cha Eun Xiao could afford to be utterly arrogant and aloof. Even if they ganged up to confront him, their collective efforts would ultimately culminate in resounding failure.
Much to the bemusement of Han Bingxue and Cha Eun Xiao himself, he pondered, [Why are they so eager to have a go on the stage? Do they all consider themselves invincible?]
Cha Eun Xiao's transformation was evident from the time he had competed for the position of Prime Disciple in Cold Moon Palace. Back then, he had been quite frail, and his opponents had initially outmatched him. Yet, he had gradually gathered strength and seized control, outperforming his rivals. Now, he was immensely more potent than any potential adversaries. There was little point in engaging in such contests.
Recalling his past plan to tease Ye Shuxin and his followers, Cha Eun Xiao decided that the current situation presented an opportunity for similar antics. He stood on the stage, observing the chaotic scene unfolding among the young men competing for the right to challenge him. He was tempted to shout, "Stop bickering! Why don't you all come at once? It'll save me a lot of time!"
However, voicing such a suggestion would serve no purpose, as they were unlikely to comply. It would only prolong the decision-making process.
After a while, the squabbling contestants remained indecisive about who should challenge Cha Eun Xiao first. His patience waned, and he impetuously exclaimed, "What are you fighting about? Don't you understand the rules? Who the hell drew second? Get your ass up here! Clutching the second draw makes you a complete idiot!"
His blunt words incited anger among the young men. An irate representative from Li Clan, who had drawn the second lot, rushed onto the stage to respond but was swiftly interrupted by Cha Eun Xiao.
Without giving the young man a chance to speak, Cha Eun Xiao delivered a resounding slap to his face.
**Pah!**
The young lord of Li Clan barely had time to regain his balance or even introduce himself before he was launched into the air, spinning like a top. His visage contorted from the force of the blow. He soared as if carried aloft by the clouds and landed back in his original seat, perching there as though he had never left.
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
The slap had not only been exceedingly powerful but also astoundingly precise in its execution.
Li Clan's members erupted in indignation, vehemently protesting, "Our representative wasn't prepared! That was a sneak attack! It can't count!"
Cha Eun Xiao didn't seem bothered by the commotion he had caused. With a pleasant smile, he remarked, "No problem. I'm a reasonable guy. We won't count it then. Tell him to come back up, and I'll wait for him to be completely ready before we start."
As Cha Eun Xiao smiled, he allowed his eyes to half-close. The icy glints of his murderous intent shimmered in both of his eyes, a stark contrast to his friendly demeanor.
The members of Li Clan were left in silence.
Had that been a sneak attack? Clearly not.
The stage was uncompromising, devoid of mercy. Anyone who set foot upon it was considered ready, and the battle would commence. The young man from Li Clan had indeed stepped onto the stage, and yet, Cha Eun Xiao had slapped him away within the first second. It was an unequivocal victory for Cha Eun Xiao.
Cha Eun Xiao had exercised restraint when delivering the powerful slap. If he had intended to kill, he could have added a mere ten percent of his full power to shatter the young man's skull. A few individuals with keen perception had recognized this fact. If the young man from Li Clan was foolish enough to re-enter the stage, he would inevitably meet his demise.
They belonged to entirely different leagues; there was no point in the fight.
It was as though a mantis had tried to halt a chariot or an ant had sought to uproot a towering tree. The young man would only meet his end on the stage.
After a brief pause, the young man from Li Clan remained seated. Cha Eun Xiao called out, "Hey, kid! Are you coming back up or not? Say something at least! I'm here waiting to claim my lotus..."
Li Clan's members hesitated but eventually decided to spare their representative. Awkwardly, they declared, "We've lost this round."
The judges announced, "Ye Clan wins a Regeneration Ink Lotus."
Excitedly, Cha Eun Xiao strode over to collect the lotus from the guardian responsible for safeguarding them.
The expressions of the other clans grew dark.
They weren't foolish; they had all realized that the young man from Ye Clan who had taken the stage was far more potent than a level-five Spirit Origin Stage cultivator. His strength was so astounding that none of the other young men from the clans could even begin to compare.
In essence, he could single-handedly defeat all others on the stage.
This meant that Ye Clan would acquire all the lotuses due to Cha Eun Xiao's unmatched prowess. They wouldn't lose any of the sixty high-quality lotuses; instead, they would gain twenty from each of the other clans.
The other clans had diligently worked to set up the arena, only to find themselves handing their precious lotuses to Ye Clan, reaping the benefits they had hoped to gain for themselves. It was a classic case of 'going for wool and coming home shorn.'
What could they do, though? Ban Cha Eun Xiao? How?
He was not even twenty yet, fully meeting the stipulated conditions.
All the other clans felt as if they had swallowed a fly, an immense one that was still wriggling in their stomachs.
However, the combat had already begun. How could they stop it? They couldn't simply backtrack on their agreements while they were in the midst of the event.
Many clans were watching; they couldn't bring shame upon themselves like that.
So, what was their solution?
"Attrition!"
"One by one, each clan sends a man to challenge him until he's exhausted!"
This was the only plan they could devise at the moment.