A fiery, uncontrolled rage flared from Mother Bing, her face flushed crimson with fury. She was ready to tear Cai Shuan apart for daring to lay a hand on Yuan.
The influential figures in the VIP stands froze, their expressions a mix of disbelief and unease as they felt the overwhelming qi and killing intent emanating from her.
PM Meng, ever calm and composed, swiftly rose from his seat and moved to Mother Bing's side, placing a hand on her shoulder and signaling her to calm down. Without a word, he signaled her to reign in her fury.
For a long moment, Mother Bing glared at him, her eyes burning with suppressed rage, before slowly restraining her qi. But the cold look in her eyes remained.
PM Meng sighed softly, and then glanced toward the ongoing fight in the Beast Evaluator's section.
Yuan rubbed his chest lightly as he straightened his back, smiling. The blow he received wasn't anywhere near as powerful as Jojo's had been. With a sly grin, he raised his head and taunted, "You're weaker than I expected. Maybe you should stay in your father's lap and stop embarrassing the Cai Family."
Cai Shuan's face twisted with anger, unable to swallow the insult. He rushed forward, hacking at Yuan with his sword. But Yuan was ready. With a casual sidestep, he avoided the attack and, in a single fluid motion, landed a powerful punch of his own.
Cai Shuan, already off-balance from his previous lunge, saw a heavy fist coming toward his face. His eyes widened in panic as he tried to dodge, but it was futile. The punch connected with a heavy thud, sending Cai Shuan crashing to the ground, unconscious.
The crowd watched in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed. 'Was this really the so-called "cripple" they had been hearing about?' they all wondered.
A disappointed look appeared on Yuan's face as he looked down at Cai Shuan's collapsed form. He had always wanted to beat this piece of trash for tarnishing his parents' reputation—but he had never expected it to be this easy. Still, he felt no satisfaction in the victory. Just disappointment.
He shook his head and turned toward the Beast Evaluator section, walking towards Han Mu and Ming Kai, who were standing at the corner. The two of them gaped at him in shock. They had never expected Yuan to be this powerful.
"Awesome!" Han Mu exclaimed, giving Yuan a thumbs-up. Yuan returned a slight, knowing smile.
The rivalry between the Menghao Beast Pavilion and Star Beast Pavilion was something Yuan's family had always ignored—so long as it didn't cross a certain line. But the same couldn't be said for their employees. There had always been a rivalry between the employees of Menghao Beast Pavilion and Star Beast Pavilion.
Back in the VIP stands, Mother Bing took a deep breath, her body finally relaxing as she saw that her son was unharmed. Deep down, she was still shaken by the sight of Yuan knocking out a Body Tempering Realm cultivator with a single punch.
Her gaze met PM Meng's, and for a brief moment, pride shone in their eyes.
Yuan, still lost in his thoughts, glanced around and noticed a familiar face. "Yo, Lu Ze! How's it going?" he called, spotting the young man standing a short distance away.
"I'm fine," Lu Ze replied with a smile. "Thanks again for helping me out last time. If it wasn't for you, I might've ended up as those Lynxes dinner."
"Don't mention it." Yuan shook his head. What are you doing here? I figured a fighter like you would be participating in the Fighting Competition."
Lu Ze raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Yuan's nonchalance. "I originally planned to, but this year's competition is way tougher than last year's," he explained, the weight of his words clear.
Yuan understood Lu Ze's thoughts and agreed with them. Although he could tell Lu Ze was a good fighter, this year's tournament wasn't average.
"What about you?" Lu Ze asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I am just joining in the fun" Yuan nonchalantly waved his hand.
Lu Ze rolled his eyes, knowing full well that Yuan was anything but "ordinary." But he didn't press the matter. After all, everyone has their secrets.
The two continued talking as more contestants gathered around them, the chatter rising as the start of the competition drew nearer.
Ming Kai, standing just behind them, eagerly filled Yuan in on various competitors. His voice trembled with excitement and anxiety as he listed the names of the most promising contenders.
When he mentioned the Thousand Beasts Sect, Yuan's attention sharpened. They were stronger than everyone in the Beast Evaluator Section. This group consistently dominated the top positions, their members renowned for their strength and skills.
Yuan glanced at Lu Ze and thought that he might get one of the top 3. Although Lu Ze's aura was hidden, Yuan still could feel it.
A smile crept onto Yuan's face as he felt the thrill of the tournament wash over him.
The arena buzzed with energy, each participant a potential rival or ally, and Yuan felt a spark of anticipation ignite within him. No matter the obstacles, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
"Who are those people sitting at the top?" Yuan asked, his gaze drawn to a specific section of the stands.
A group of nine individuals sat in the highest row of the VIP stands, their presence commanding attention.
They were surrounded by the City Lord's representatives, sect masters from surrounding regions, and powerful figures like PM Meng. Yet, these nine people occupied the very top tier, separated from the others by a considerable distance, which baffled Yuan.
Lu Ze glanced at them and explained, "Those are the representatives from the five academies and four sects. The one in the center is the representative from King Shu Academy of the Imperial Capital, the most prestigious of them all. It's considered the strongest of the nine."
Yuan nodded, understanding. He had heard of King Shu Academy, the pride of the Crimson Empire.
The academy's reputation was legendary, and it was known for producing some of the empire's most talented cultivators. Under the direct supervision of the Emperor, the academy received the lion's share of resources, making it a dream destination for any young cultivator.
Yuan had heard about 5 academies and 4 sects, but King Shu Academy was no stranger to anyone, especially in the Crimson Empire. It was the dream of every single cultivator in the empire. Anyone who performed well in the academy was almost guaranteed to achieve big.
"But only 1st of every section gets to choose this academy" Lu Zi sighed. A look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
"Oh, I see." Yuan mused, though his thoughts quickly drifted. This wasn't his concern. His path was his own, so why bother worrying for nothing?
Just then, a middle-aged man stepped forward, his voice commanding everyone in the Beast Evaluators section. "Everyone, please enter the examination area and take your seats."
Yuan stood and followed the rest of the participants into the examination area. A thousand seats stretched out in ten neat rows. Yuan chose a random empty seat and sat down, his mind still buzzing with the possibilities of the competition ahead.