"What did you say!"
The Xuan Gang realm cultivator from the City Lord's Mansion could hardly believe his ears.
Facing the olive branch extended by their City Lord's Mansion, this brat actually dared to refuse!
He was completely out of line.
"I'll give you one last chance. Kneel or not!"
His face was terrifyingly grim.
The other rogue cultivator geniuses were greatly frightened and quickly moved far away.
"Damn it, joining the City Lord's Mansion is such a good thing, and he actually refused."
"How dare he refuse the City Lord's Mansion!"
"This brat is indeed an animal with well-developed limbs and a simple mind."
"It's just kneeling! What's the big deal? If it were me, as long as I could join the City Lord's Mansion, I'd be willing to kneel for a day, a month."
Those rogue cultivator geniuses chattered amongst themselves.
Ji Hong said nothing more. He lowered his body, like a leopard ready to pounce at any moment.
This attitude was already as clear as it could be.
He would rather fight.
Than kneel.
And even less willing to become a blade for the City Lord's Mansion.
"Good for you, you little brat who refuses a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
The Xuan Gang realm expert from the City Lord's Mansion laughed instead of getting angry, but his smile was filled with chilling intent, causing the rogue cultivator geniuses to shiver involuntarily.
This was a true Xuan Gang realm expert!
Boom!
He made his move.
Terrifying martial arts gang qi transformed into a fearsome giant palm, which slapped down towards Ji Hong's head.
"If you won't kneel, then I'll beat you into kneeling!"
Beneath this giant gang qi palm, the air continuously exploded, and the terrifying Xuan Gang realm pressure permeated the area. However, Ji Hong's eyes held no fear; instead, a strong fighting spirit surged within them.
Two points of scarlet light flashed in his eyes.
His tall and agile body stretched like a leopard, and the qi and blood light on his palms bloomed like blood-colored gauntlets, fiercely striking the gang qi palm print.
Boom!
The gang qi palm print shattered.
Ji Hong was sent flying back, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and crashing through half of the wall.
But he immediately rushed out from the ruins, his eyes filled with even greater fighting spirit, and a vague black shadow appeared behind him.
"Fight!"
He roared indistinctly.
The Xuan Gang realm expert from the City Lord's Mansion narrowed his eyes slightly.
He was a true early-stage Xuan Gang realm expert, and not someone who had just entered the stage; he had been in this realm for quite some time.
He hadn't managed to take down Ji Hong with a single blow.
This made his expression slightly solemn.
It seemed this brat's physical body could indeed contend with Xuan Gang realm cultivators, it wasn't just talk.
Moreover, this brat was somewhat strange. Others grew weaker as their energy was depleted, but this brat grew stronger and more courageous as he fought.
He immediately felt a desire to retreat, not wanting to get entangled with this brat any further.
Anyway, this brat was in Star Sand City now, and it would be a simple matter for their City Lord's Mansion to deal with him.
With this thought, he snorted coldly and turned to leave.
The rogue cultivators snapped out of their shock, looking at Ji Hong with incredibly complex expressions.
Some were shocked by his strength, some were fearful and reverent, some were gloating and watching the show, and some even maliciously wished for Ji Hong to be killed by the City Lord's Mansion.
Ji Hong ignored their gazes, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and began to sit in meditation and cultivate again.
...
Not many people knew about the interlude that occurred in the underground hall.
Half an hour passed quickly.
Everyone gathered in the martial arts arena again.
"The City Lord has arrived!"
With a loud announcement, a sturdy figure with condensed and powerful aura slowly walked onto the high platform at the very front.
It was the City Lord of Star Sand City, Xiong Kuang.
"Father, you're here!"
Xiong Fei stood up with a grin from his seat and walked beside the figure.
Xiong Daying, a collateral genius of the City Lord's Mansion and one of the top ten in this martial arts competition, also stood behind them.
In addition, four experts exuding powerful Xuan Gang realm auras stood in a line behind them.
Five Xuan Gang realm experts in total, with City Lord Xiong Kuang being at the peak of the late-stage Xuan Gang realm.
For a moment, all the strong cultivators of Star Sand City looked at the City Lord's Mansion's contingent with solemnity and reverence.
Xiong Kuang had a square face, exuding an imposing aura that suggested long-held authority.
His gaze swept over the crowd below, scanning from the various families of Star Sand City.
"Where are the top ten of the martial arts competition? Receive your rewards!"
The ten geniuses stepped forward one by one to receive their prizes. The City Lord's Mansion was quite generous, rewarding each person with a hundred thousand taels, a top-tier mortal weapon, and a low-grade Yellow tier martial skill.
This was already a very generous reward.
"This martial arts competition is only one aspect of measuring the strength of the younger generation in our Star Sand City. On the other hand, I believe everyone is also aware that it is about the Star Sand Lake ruins."
"Each time the Star Sand Lake ruins open, only thirty-six spots are available for entry."
"And the number of spots allocated to our Star Sand City is merely twenty. The remaining sixteen spots have already been taken by several major powers in the Tian Chu Province."
"As for how these twenty spots in my hands will be allocated, I will now state a few points."
Xiong Kuang's domineering and sharp gaze swept across the entire venue.
"First, our City Lord's Mansion will take two spots."
"Second, the original twenty spots were to be divided among the top ten of the martial arts competition, with two spots each. But now there are only eighteen spots left, meaning only the top nine of the martial arts competition will receive spots, not the top ten."
As Xiong Kuang's voice fell, it immediately caused quite a stir.
The strong cultivators of Star Sand City were discussing amongst themselves.
However, the major families and powers did not rush to express their opinions.
According to Xiong Kuang's statement, one person among the top ten would inevitably be eliminated and would not receive a spot to enter the Star Sand Lake ruins.
As for who this person to be eliminated would be, these major families already had a vague guess.
As long as their own spots were not affected, they would have no objections.
"Damn it, this Xiong Kuang is as untrustworthy as ever, his words are like farts! The rules were set, and he changes them as he pleases. The City Lord's Mansion directly takes two spots, and with their Xiong Daying entering the top ten, they also get two spots. This way, their City Lord's Mansion will have four spots."
Liang Hutu said disdainfully.
Although he was from a bandit background, he had his own principles. He kept his word and was very contemptuous of Xiong Kuang's actions.
Ling Fan pondered, glancing at Ji Hong.
The strong cultivators of Star Sand City stared intently at Xiong Kuang, wanting to see who would be kicked out.
Xiong Kuang then said, "I have ranked the top ten geniuses based on their strength and potential. The top nine will still receive two spots each, but the tenth place, I'm very sorry, will be disqualified."
"First place among the top ten, Xiong Daying."
Xiong Kuang didn't bother with pretense and directly placed Xiong Daying in first place.
"Second place, Fei Kuai."