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Liang Xiaolong retained some impression of Qi Tian. The fact that Qi Tian, at merely the Qi Cultivation First Level, was daring enough to run for the role of County Master made him the first in the history of Imperial Master Mansion. Clutching Qi Tian's jade identity token, he delayed the announcement of the start of the match.
Fearing that their past may influence the judgement against him, Ling Mu stepped forward and said, "Brother Liang, it was Qi Tian who challenged me, not the other way around. Please give way, I can hardly wait to let this reckless youngster taste the might of my Flying Flame Meteor Hammer."
"Hold your tongue! Who do you think you are? Daring to tell me what to do. If there is a next time, I will certainly punish you." Liang Xiaolong chastised Ling Mu sternly.
Ling Mu did not dare to offend Liang Xiaolong. Unable to vent his grievances on Liang Xiaolong, he could only throw a resentful look at Qi Tian, vowing to make him pay later.
Liang Xiaolong looked at Qi Tian and asked, "You are only at Qi Cultivation First Level, and your rank is nearly two thousand. Are you sure you want to challenge Ling Mu, who is ranked four hundred and fifty? This is a Moon-duel, the most close-to-real combat arena. I can't guarantee total safety for everyone, especially when the gap between you and Ling Mu is still so considerable."
Qi Tian hastily said, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Liang. But please rest assured, in my eyes, Ling Mu is nothing more than a commoner."
Ling Mu exploded at this, and through Liang Xiaolong, he retorted to Qi Tian, "Who did you call a chicken and a dog? Your whole family is made up of chickens; your entire family are the dogs."
Liang Xiaolong glanced back at Ling Mu who was now raging like a thunderstorm, deeply disappointed in this naturally strong but mindless fellow. Had he not caught on that this was Qi Tian's intentional provocation? Just one mockery thrown, and he became enthralled in fury and disarrayed, thus, if they really started fighting, it would be good if even seventy or eighty percent of Ling Mu's original strength could be put in use.
"Very well. Since you insist, I won't stop you. Remember, if anyone feels unable to support himself, he can admit defeat. Once one party concedes, the other party must not take action anymore."
Qi Tian nodded, not thinking that he would lose to Ling Mu. However, he appreciated Liang Xiaolong's well-intentioned reminder.
"Let the match begin." Liang Xiaolong stepped outside the bounds of the arena.
A ferocious smile surfaced on Ling Mu's face, his expression full of malevolent tendencies appearing quite terrifying. All this while, he had been ready to unleash his power at any moment. As soon as Liang Xiaolong announced the start of the match, he imbued his Flying Flame Meteor Hammer with True Essence, activating both the strength and fire symbols etched onto it. Immediately, the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer turned into a terrifying weapon weighing four hundred pounds and wrapped in raging flames.
The spectators around the area hastily retreated as there was no protective boundary around the arena. In case the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer carelessly flew outside the boundary, it might end up injuring or even killing someone.
Liang Xiaolong remained rooted to the spot without moving. What seemed terrifying to others was insignificant to him. If he were standing in the arena confronting Ling Mu, he could devise multiple ways of dealing with him. The simplest way would be to prolong the time. Activating the runes on the weapon and keeping them active was a process that consumed a lot of True Essence. Ling Mu, being only at Qi Cultivation Second Level with two meridians opened, had limited True Essence resources. This overt activation of all runes on the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer would exhaust his True Essence, and he would be finished after sustaining this for at most a minute. As long as Qi Tian was not too foolish, lasting a minute should not be an issue.
At this time, Ling Mu roared, "Qi Tian, prepare to die."
He hadn't used any intricate hammer technique on the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer, just exploiting his brute strength to swing it. By doing so, he instantly occupied more than half the arena. He just needed to take a few more steps to corner Qi Tian with no choice but to collide with his Flying Flame Meteor Hammer. Given Qi Tian's diminutive figure, any contact with the hammer would inevitably lead to severe injuries or even death.
Qi Tian raised his eyebrows. The deadliest part of the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer was the array of sharp spikes on its surface to him. If it weren't for these spikes, he would've snatched the hammer away directly. At the moment, he also realized the importance of always having a weapon at hand. That would allow him to fend off a unique weapon like the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer, rather than being slightly passive as he was now.
However, being at a disadvantage did not mean Qi Tian was without strategies. The Flying Flame Meteor Hammer had a weak area, namely the chain connecting the hammer and the handle, which was flexible. Ling Mu had no way to promptly convey his intentions to the hammer through the handle. As soon as any movement required a switch, there would definitely be an adjustment process. This might be brief, but the time difference was inevitably there.
Qi Tian reached into his pocket and touched around. He remembered that there was still a silver ingot in there, which he had left aside for emergencies and not wagered at the Lucky Gambling House.
"Ling Mu, watch out for the hidden weapon." Qi Tian weighed the five-tael silver ingot in his hand, then, channeling strength into his throw, he aimed at Ling Mu's facial area and threw it.Ling Mu saw a glinting silver object flying towards his face and instinctively tried to dodge.
He managed to avoid the silver, but his hand gripping the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer trembled. The Meteor Hammer immediately swayed, its speed dropping significantly, and its threat level plummeting.
Qi Tian had been waiting for this opportunity. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, pushed the Chasing Wind Step to its limit, and propelled his body at full speed, a solid ten meters per second. He aimed for Ling Mu's unguarded opening and charged. The platform was only nine square meters in total. The distance between the two was incredibly short, leaving little reaction time for either Qi Tian or Ling Mu.
Eight Desolate Demon Tiger Fist, Second Style - Young Tiger Wind.
Qi Tian drew on his True Essence and threw a punch, aiming at the opening in front of Ling Mu's chest.
Thud, thud, thud...
One move, three blows, swift like the wind, each like a bursting firecracker, a force of seven to eight hundred pounds slammed into Ling Mu, a man of just over a hundred pounds.
Ling Mu barely had time to react. He had just dodged the thrown silver, but then he saw Qi Tian, like a ferocious tiger descending a mountain, hurtling towards him, and then he was forcefully hit with three punches. Ling Mu managed to scream before he was sent flying by the blows, crash-landing heavily on the ground.
The power of Qi Tian's three punches was immense, and even Ling Mu, burly and possessing innate strength, couldn't endure it. His ribs were broken, piercing into his inner organs. He was unable to move as he lay on the ground, blood pouring from his mouth.
Qi Tian advanced a step, seizing the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer in his hands. Ling Mu was severely injured and couldn't input True Essence into the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer, hence its surrounding flames had long since disappeared.
Ling Mu glared at Qi Tian, his eyes practically spitting fire. This Flying Flame Meteor Hammer had cost him a full 3,000 taels to purchase. It was a middle-grade artifact of the Human Grade. How could he watch as Qi Tian casually seized it? But now he was struggling even to breathe. Blood gushed from his mouth every time he tried to speak, leaving him incapable of uttering a word.
With a smile, Qi Tian looked at Ling Mu and said, "According to the rules of Moon-duel, if one party does not surrender, the other can continue attacking. Seeing your predicament, I'm guessing you wouldn't want to taste a few more of my punches. So consider this Flying Flame Meteor Hammer as your compensation to me for refraining from further attacks."
At Qi Tian's words, Ling Mu was on the verge of tears. How could he say something like that? Even though he couldn't hit Ling Mu, Qi Tian claimed it as his loss. How could someone be so shameless? Where's the justice? Where's the rule of law?
Ling Mu, unable to speak, could only struggle to turn his head towards Liang Xiaolong, hoping that he would step in and ensure justice.
Liang Xiaolong and the spectators were utterly stunned. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, none would have believed that Qi Tian, ranking nearly two thousand, could pummel Ling Mu, ranked four hundred and fifty, so ruthlessly. Ling Mu was known for his innate strength, and his cultivation realm was even a level higher than Qi Tian's. Moreover, he wielded the Human Grade, middle-grade Flying Flame Meteor Hammer. Despite all these advantages, he had been brutally defeated by Qi Tian. How useless could Ling Mu be, and how powerful was Qi Tian?
"If Elder Brother Liang doesn't speak, it means he agrees. If you don't speak, it means you consent." Qi Tian bent down, patted Ling Mu's shoulder, and said, "Elder Brother Ling, you should be open-minded. I only took your Flying Flame Meteor Hammer. You're the one making a profit here. Think about it. What would you prefer, breaking a few more bones and spending months in bed, or sacrificing some wealth for safety?"
Qi Tian stood up, made a respectful gesture towards Liang Xiaolong, the Flying Flame Meteor Hammer hanging in his palm, swinging conspicuously. "Elder Brother Liang, can you proclaim my victory now?"
Liang Xiaolong nodded. He had finally recovered from the shock, but he still looked at Qi Tian with disbelief. "I declare Qi Tian the winner of this sparring match, and Ling Mu as the loser. Due to Ling Mu's severe injuries and his inability to continue the match, his journey in this Moon-duel comes to an end. Take Ling Mu off the stage immediately."
Immediately, two men hurried forward to carry Ling Mu away, where he would naturally be treated for his injuries.
"Elder Brother Liang, I should go and prepare for my next spar. We'll talk more later." Qi Tian said.
"Haha, go ahead. If you need anything, you can always find me at Huangque Hall." Liang Xiaolong had taken a liking to Qi Tian. With such tremendous talent, Qi Tian was destined for greatness. If they didn't get acquainted now, they might not even have a chance to talk in the future.
Qi Tian walked away, casually carrying Ling Mu's Flying Flame Meteor Hammer. The Imperial Master Mansion did not prohibit such actions. During Moon-duels, it was common for there to exist a disparity in power among some of the disciples. Weaker disciples often offered valuable items to their stronger peers in exchange for mercy. Even if the stronger disciples forcibly seized items from their weaker peers, the Mansion often turned a blind eye. The Mansion's protection of the weak was relative, not absolute. This was a form of survival of the fittest.