Two moves, two victories—swift and decisive.
Silence enveloped the arena!
Ye Tian's gaze was piercing, his expression indifferent; it was evident he had not yet unleashed his full power. In stark contrast, Xiao Fei lay crumpled on the ground, blood pouring from his wounds, his vitality waning. Though he was not in danger of death, it was clear he had lost the will to fight.
The remaining three Black Armored Army captains wore grim expressions. One of them hurried to support Xiao Fei, administering a healing pill that restored some color to his face, but the shock in his eyes lingered as he glanced at Ye Tian.
At that moment, the surrounding crowd erupted in astonished murmurs. Leveraging Ding Hui's illustrious reputation, his captains had also made names for themselves in Blood Blood City. Thus, many were aware of Xiao Fei's formidable strength, undeniably a fourth-level martial artist, yet today he had been vanquished in mere moments.
Moreover, the one who had defeated Xiao Fei was a mere boy, seemingly no older than twenty.
News of this incident spread like wildfire, and Ye Tian's name began to circulate among the onlookers. Many marveled at what they believed to be another prodigious talent on par with Ding Hui.
The expressions of the remaining three Black Armored Army captains darkened, and one stepped forward, his icy gaze radiating a fierce determination. "Lu Jie!" He spoke decisively, without superfluous words, launching a relentless attack on Ye Tian, his palm wind swirling with immense force.
An expert in palm techniques!
Ye Tian's eyes sparkled with interest, and without hesitation, he unleashed his Thunderclap Palm in response.
As their battle unfolded, the spectators began to murmur.
"Lu Jie is a fifth-level martial artist, possessing the advanced Yellow-tier technique, Cloud-Pushing Palm. Among the captains of the Black Armored Army, he has few rivals."
"Yet this young man's palm technique appears to be only Yellow-tier low-grade, but he has cultivated it to perfection, making its power comparable to that of the advanced level!"
The crowd whispered in awe, captivated by Ye Tian's astonishing performance as he effectively overwhelmed Lu Jie with a low-tier martial technique. The spectacle was nothing short of breathtaking.
The wind howled and thunder roared as Ye Tian's hands moved in tandem, unleashing nine terrifying palm shadows that blotted out the sun, attacking Lu Jie from all directions with a terrifying speed.
The onlookers gasped in astonishment, and even the remaining two Black Armored Army captains shouted, "Be careful!"
Lu Jie had sensed Ye Tian's terrifying presence long before, so he immediately unleashed his prized technique, Cloud-Pushing Palm. However, despite its formidable power, he had only mastered thirty percent of it, unable to fully harness its potential.
Before long, Lu Jie found himself at a disadvantage, sent flying by Ye Tian's strike, much like Xiao Fei before him, blood spewing forth as he lost the will to continue fighting.
The scene fell silent; all eyes were fixed on the unfolding drama. Ye Tian had now defeated two opponents, each battle requiring no more than ten strikes, establishing his invincibility.
"Will you face me one at a time, or will you all attack together?" After defeating Lu Jie, Ye Tian coldly addressed the remaining two Black Armored Army captains.
At that moment, Ding Yao had already cowered in fear, thoroughly subdued by Ye Tian's overwhelming aura.
The remaining two Black Armored Army captains wore expressions of grim determination. One, a red-browed man, stepped forward, shaking the ground beneath him with his powerful presence.
"It's Zhong Gang! He is said to possess innate strength and an incredibly formidable physique, having reached the pinnacle of fifth-level martial mastery. He ranks among the top ten of all Black Armored Army captains!"
"Zhong Gang is renowned as the King of Strength!"
The crowd erupted in exclamations, clearly impressed by the reputation of the combatant. Ye Tian raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Zhong Gang spoke not a word but charged at Ye Tian with a powerful punch, a seemingly ordinary fist that suddenly erupted with blinding light. His immense energy flowed forth like a raging river, unceasing and relentless.
The spectators, watching from a distance, felt the fierce wind of his punch sweep toward them, prompting them to shield their faces in astonishment.
Ye Tian's eyes glinted sharply; he did not flinch but met Zhong Gang's punch with one of his own. Having never studied boxing techniques, his punch appeared unremarkable, yet it carried a terrifying energy and boundless strength.
"Fighting me with bare fists is a recipe for disaster, ha!" Zhong Gang scoffed at the sight.
"Boom!"
The two fists collided with a cataclysmic force, sending shockwaves through the arena. Ye Tian remained unmoved, like an immovable mountain, exuding an overwhelming presence. Yet Zhong Gang's mocking smile abruptly froze, shock replacing it in his eyes.
"Boom!"
Another thunderous sound echoed, but this time it was not the clash of fists; it was Zhong Gang being propelled backward by Ye Tian's immense power. Although he did not falter as dramatically as Lu Jie or Xiao Fei, he stumbled back several paces, blood escaping from the corner of his mouth.
Another defeat!
The entire crowd gasped in disbelief!
While Zhong Gang did not lose all combat capability, it was clear to even the dimmest observer that Ye Tian had triumphed over him in his area of strength, indicating a stark disparity in their abilities.
"By the heavens, is this young man even human? At such a tender age, he has surpassed sixth-level martial mastery!"
"I wager that within three to five years, he will undoubtedly ascend to seventh-level martial mastery, possibly even shattering Ding Hui's records in Blood Blood City."
"This is an unparalleled genius, even more formidable than Ding Hui!"
The onlookers were utterly astounded, their faces etched with shock.
Undoubtedly, Ye Tian's consecutive victories over three Black Armored Army captains had elevated his aura to its zenith, leaving even the surrounding soldiers in a state of disbelief.
The Blood Guards, meanwhile, were filled with exultation, gazing up at Ye Tian with adoration and pride.
Meanwhile, Ye Tian turned his attention to the last remaining Black Armored Army captain, sensing that this individual was indeed a sixth-level martial artist.
Yet, he felt no fear.
"It's your turn!" Ye Tian stated coolly.
"No need. The fact that you were able to overpower Zhong Gang through sheer strength is something I could never achieve. Even if I were to engage you, I doubt I would fare any better!" The final Black Armored Army captain replied, glancing at his injured companions, his pupils contracting slightly before he shook his head.
"Tsk!" The onlookers expressed disdain, clearly perceiving that the last captain was afraid of losing to Ye Tian and tarnishing his reputation, which prompted his refusal to engage.
One had to admit, he was a man who knew how to retreat gracefully. Ye Tian regarded him for a moment longer and calmly declared, "In that case, you may take your leave."
"We shall depart!" The captain acquiesced readily, casting a lingering glance at Ye Tian before leading his men away.
Ding Yao, too, called out, hurriedly following without daring to glance back at Ye Tian.
Ye Tian coldly watched the Black Armored soldiers retreat before rejoining his Blood Guards at the inn. After such a confrontation, it was likely that few in Blood Blood City would dare to provoke him again.
As the spectators witnessed Ye Tian's departure, they gradually dispersed.
Yet the name of Ye Tian spread throughout the entirety of the Black Blood City through the whispers of the crowd.
In less than half a day, the warriors of Black Blood City learned of a remarkable genius emerging from Blood Jade City, one who rivaled Ding Hui.
...
Inside the expansive training chamber of the Black Armored Army's camp, four centurions—Lu Jie, Xiao Fei, Zhong Gang, and others—stood respectfully, facing a slender young man who slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over Lu Jie and the others, causing them to tremble involuntarily.
"Defeated?" The young man, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, displayed a hint of surprise on his chiseled face, his dark eyes gleaming with an unsettling light.
Lu Jie and the others hung their heads, drenched in sweat.
"Enough; this is not your fault. Let this matter rest, and do not provoke him further!" After a prolonged silence, as Lu Jie and the others' sweat pooled beneath them, the young man waved his hand, signaling their departure.
With that, the four men sighed in relief, discreetly wiping their foreheads and bowing as they retreated.
The young man watched them leave, and when they disappeared from view, a glint of coldness flickered in his eyes as he softly murmured, "This Black Blood City… does not need a second Ding Hui, hmph!"
In the ensuing days, Ye Tian spent his time in tranquility. Beyond his daily training, he visited various taverns and tea houses to gather information regarding the Martial Sovereign's small world.
As he awaited the arrival of reinforcements from Blood Jade City, he also anticipated news from the one-armed bandit leader about the entrance to the small world.
Finally, after two weeks, Ye Tian received information from a tavern. It was said that a mysterious figure knew the location of the small world's entrance and had exchanged this knowledge for treasures from the Wu family, one of the four prominent clans.
Ye Tian immediately recognized this person as the one-armed bandit leader but was taken aback by his audacity to trade with the Wu family. Did he not fear the consequences of dealing with a tiger?
However, while Ye Tian was impressed by the bandit leader's boldness, the man sought him out that very night.
Inside a room at the inn, Ye Tian observed the one-armed bandit leader approach him, accompanied by a centurion.
"Leave us!" Ye Tian waved his hand, dismissing the centurion and allowing the bandit leader to remain.
"Master!" The one-armed bandit leader quickly bowed in deference.
"Alright, rise," Ye Tian said with a casual gesture, smiling faintly. "You certainly possess quite a bit of courage to strike a deal with the Wu family. Aren't you afraid they might eliminate you to keep silent?"
"Master, I sent one of my subordinates to negotiate on my behalf, so they do not know my identity. Even if they wished to silence me, they would find it impossible," the one-armed bandit replied, a glimmer of pride flashing in his eyes.
"You are quite clever!" Ye Tian commended him, then curiously inquired, "So, what brings you here?"
"Master, please see!" The one-armed bandit did not respond immediately but instead took out a small vial from his pocket.
"What is this?" Ye Tian asked, his face reflecting confusion as he struggled to discern the man's intentions.
"This is a supreme Qi Unblocking Pill, a total of thirty-six, sufficient to elevate your level!" the one-armed bandit proclaimed with a smile.
"What!"
Ye Tian's expression transformed into one of astonishment.