The next morning, the weather was clear, and the royal city was as lively as ever. However, many people had received news that the final match of the Martial Arts Competition would involve a duel against a disciple from a martial sect. Only by defeating this disciple could the victor truly win the championship.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiang cursed inwardly. He guessed that this must have been arranged by Shen Furong, who had recently left the royal city, with the intent of preventing him from winning the crown of the Martial Arts Competition.
"Don't worry, it won't be an inner disciple. Inner disciples don't have the time for something like this. It's likely a strong outer disciple, probably at the eighth level of the Mortal Martial Realm," Su Meiyao said, her knowledge of martial sects well-informed, as she and Bai Youyou were both familiar with such matters.
"That's fine too, as long as they don't disappoint me," Shen Xiang felt his fighting spirit surge within him.
In front of the Yao Family's gates, the square was packed with tens of thousands of people. This was the final match, and it was between two renowned young powerhouses.
Among the crowd, Shen Tianhu, Shen Yihan, Shen Haohai, and others had hidden themselves. Each of them was leading fifty elite disciples of the Shen family. If anything were to go wrong, they would act immediately.
As Shen Xiang walked onto the stage, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
"He actually dares to come! I've heard that after the final match, the Yao Family intends to capture him," one person exclaimed in surprise.
"Apparently, the disappearance of the Yao Family's genius and several of their elders is connected to him. It seems like he killed them, and the Yao Family is going to use this as a pretext to deal with him," a middle-aged man remarked.
"So young, yet already so fearless! Just a few days ago, he slaughtered Yao Cong in front of the Yao Family elders. Having strength really is something; it allows you to ignore threats," a young man said with envy.
"Of course. In this world, strength is everything. With power, you have everything."
Hearing the discussions around him, Shen Xiang knew the Yao Family had spread word of their intentions to provoke conflict with the Shen Family. This was a common tactic among rival factions, where small rumors would be leaked to warn or intimidate the opposition.
Not far from the arena was a tall tower, and within it sat many people dressed in luxurious clothes, surrounded by servants and guards. It was clear from their appearance that these were people of high status.
"The Emperor of the Nanwu Kingdom has also come to watch the fight, along with many of his palace's elite warriors. I've heard that even the royal concubines have arrived."
With his sharp vision, Shen Xiang could see the people inside the tower clearly. Among them was a middle-aged man dressed in a dragon robe, exuding an aura of authority. That was the emperor.
The royal family's power was only above that of the common people, but to powerful families, they were insignificant. To these families, the emperor was merely a figurehead responsible for managing the country and ensuring its orderly development, from which the families could profit from the stability.
The Crown Prince, Song Nanming, arrived in a grand display. He flew from the tower, wearing an elaborate red robe and using graceful movements of light martial arts to land on the stage, drawing excited screams from many women in the crowd.
Shen Xiang scoffed inwardly. "Enjoy your moment in the spotlight. Soon, I'll beat you so badly even your emperor father won't recognize you."
Song Nanming looked at Shen Xiang with contempt, speaking with a mocking tone, "If you don't want to suffer too much, now is your last chance to back out."
Song Nanming was well aware of Shen Xiang's strength but was confident in his own victory.
As Shen Xiang looked at Song Nanming's smug, sinister face, he guessed that the Crown Prince must have some underhanded tricks up his sleeve. He knew he had to be cautious to avoid being caught off guard.
"Don't worry about me. I've got thick skin. The only problem will be if your fists hurt from hitting me," Shen Xiang replied, his words genuine.
"Hmph, ignorant fool!" Song Nanming scoffed loudly, raising his voice so that the crowd could hear.
Seeing Song Nanming posturing, Shen Xiang found it amusing. If you don't have the strength to back it up, no amount of posturing will help.
"Let's get started. If anyone breaks the rules, they'll face the consequences," said an elderly man dressed in gray. He wasn't from the Yao Family but was a senior martial artist, rumored to be a descendant of the Martial Arts Competition's founder.
Song Nanming had already violated the rules before, but since there was no evidence, Shen Xiang couldn't do anything about it.
At the beginning of the match, Song Nanming removed his outer robe, revealing a tight-fitting golden outfit and matching boots, giving him an opulent appearance.
"Today, I'll show you the martial arts of the Nanwu Kingdom's royal family. Let you witness the power of Dragon Martial Arts!" Song Nanming shouted, and suddenly, a unique aura exploded from his body. It was similar to Shen Xiang's Azure Dragon True Qi, but it lacked the ancient and majestic feeling.
"Dragon Martial Arts" was an ancient martial art passed down in legend, said to have been imparted by a dragon that had taken human form and traveled the land. It was said that mastering it could grant the practitioner the same strength and aura as a dragon.
While it was only a legend, there was no doubt that it was powerful. However, the idea of it being as strong as a dragon was hard to believe.
As the golden veins on Song Nanming's fists pulsed with energy, the crowd gasped in shock. They hadn't expected to witness the fabled "Dragon Martial Arts" in action.
Shen Xiang narrowed his eyes and released his powerful, invisible divine sense, enveloping Song Nanming. He could clearly sense the flow of true qi within Song Nanming's body and began to memorize it. At the same time, he mimicked the qi flow in his own body, following the same pattern.
"I never thought I'd witness Dragon Martial Arts here in the mortal realm. Pay close attention and learn it well," Su Meiyao advised, transmitting her voice to Shen Xiang.
Shen Xiang was already studying it. Song Nanming was using a profound method of circulating his true qi, enhancing its power to an even higher level.
"Dragon Fist!"
Song Nanming suddenly leaped into the air, flying toward Shen Xiang like a streak of golden light. His fists moved swiftly, constantly shifting between claw and fist, launching a barrage of golden qi at Shen Xiang. The air trembled with each strike, producing explosive booms as the energy slammed into Shen Xiang's chest.
As the golden qi hit, Song Nanming appeared in front of Shen Xiang, his fists continuing to rain down blows at lightning speed. From a distance, it seemed as though he had hundreds of arms, unleashing a barrage of punches in the blink of an eye.
Each of Song Nanming's punches carried a powerful blast of qi, causing the massive arena to shudder violently, while the terrifying sound of the blasts sent chills down the spectators' spines.
But what shocked the crowd wasn't Song Nanming's Dragon Martial Arts. It was Shen Xiang, who was standing there, using his fists to block every one of Song Nanming's attacks with ease, a relaxed smile on his face.