"Theoretically, it could last until night, depending on the Tian Shang Alliance's arrangements."

After a pause, Yang Hongxia carefully asked, "Master Ye, are you tired? Would you like to return to the carriage to rest? I'll notify you when there's news from the Tian Shang Alliance?"

Competitions have continuity.

In previous years, the martial competitions mostly involved consecutive events, directly determining the victors.

This year will likely be no different.

"I'm not tired. There's something I want you to investigate."

Fang Yue voiced his speculation. Yang Hongxia was taken aback, somewhat puzzled as to why Fang Yue was concerned about whether something had happened in Chu Nuan City at such a crucial time as the martial competition.

If the sky falls, there are always taller people to hold it up.

Since the Tian Shang Alliance has already taken action, they surely have a way to handle it. Why bother worrying yourself?

However, since it was Fang Yue's request, Yang Hongxia, despite her confusion, still sent people to inquire.

The Qing Si didn't seem to have particularly restricted the information. With a little effort, one could still uncover clues.

By the time the subordinates brought back the news, the Tian Shang Alliance had already announced the rules for the martial competition's second round.

A simple group match: divided into four groups, two people from each group would fight on stage. The winner would go to the next round, and so on, until the final four were selected for the ultimate contest.

Because of byes, there was no fear of a lack of participants.

Fang Yue was assigned to the fourth group. Since the numbers were completely randomized, it wasn't his turn yet.

He glanced at Tai Yuema from the Old Eagle Merchant Troupe, unfortunately placed in the first group.

Fang Yue wanted to meet him sooner. This guy was the Rabbit Seat, one of the Twelve Seats of the Phoenix Organization.

Fang Yue wasn't afraid to be ruthless with such people.

"All those who have been assigned to groups, take your places at your respective arenas. Those whose names are called, come to the stage to fight."

The Tian Shang Alliance's efficiency was astonishing, directly kicking off the second act of the martial competition.

As the scorching sun gradually set in the west, the martial competition was in full swing.

The second martial competition was of high quality, as the starting level of the participants was basically the Xiantian realm.

Each fight was exciting, drawing cheers from the surrounding crowd.

These Xiantian realm masters, whom they usually found it difficult to even catch a glimpse of, were now not only visible, but also displaying their signature skills.

This was much more interesting than the usual lantern festivals and other such activities.

The most eye-catching of them all was the genius youth named Ying, who managed to defeat several third-rate Xiantian realm martial artists with his Houtian realm strength, causing everyone's blood to boil.

Then, he was slapped down by a first-rate Xiantian realm martial artist, suffering a crushing defeat. When Ying was slapped down by that strong man, he was completely dumbfounded.

He knew the gap between himself and the Ren level experts, but he didn't expect the gap between himself and a first-rate Xiantian realm martial artist to be so huge.

However, the genius youth didn't know that even among those in the Houtian realm, there were huge differences in strength.

The difference in strength between a Xiantian realm martial artist who practiced a low-grade (wild chicken) cultivation method and a martial artist specifically trained by a sect or force was so great that they could almost challenge opponents above their level.

And the genius youth was extremely lucky… the people he had encountered before were all scattered individuals, the bottom of the barrel even among the third-rate Xiantian realm.

He mistakenly thought that he could be complacent after defeating those lowlifes.

Watching the genius youth's dejected departure, Fang Yue knew that the little genius had a long way to go.

If he couldn't even handle this setback, he might be eaten by a strange creature one day.

"Dayang Merchant Troupe's guest, Ye Se Liming!"

"Here!"

Finally, it was his turn.

With a push of his feet, Fang Yue jumped onto the arena.

As he landed, the arena was immediately covered in a thin layer of frost, and the temperature plummeted.

The black halo above his head continued to pour down [Night Rain].

Fang Yue's trademark was so conspicuous and eye-catching that cheers erupted as soon as he entered the stage.

"It's that big brother with the halo!"

"Look, it's always raining on his head!"

"Go for it! Big brother with the wet hair!"

Unexpectedly, he was quite popular with the crowd, with a high approval rating.

Perhaps it was because his features were easy to remember, or perhaps it was because his strength seemed formidable, but people were cheering for him.

Fang Yue didn't care about this, but his opponent, the middle-aged strong man, clearly showed displeasure.

"Changmei Mountain, Shanquan Sect's eldest disciple, Shan Wanquan!"

Didn't the referee just introduce him? Why again?

Fang Yue raised his head in frustration: "...Dayang prefecture guest."

"Arrogant! Don't think that just because you're at the Ren level, you're guaranteed to win against me! Although I'm only at the first-rate Xiantian realm, I'm far stronger than other loose cultivators of the same level! This is the foundation of a sect. I'm the strongest disciple trained by the sect! Even ordinary Ren level experts wouldn't dare to say they can win against me!"

With a loud shout, Shan Wanquan charged towards Fang Yue with great momentum. When he got close, he leaped high into the air, pressing down like Mount Tai.

Fang Yue was stunned for a moment, then quickly flicked his right hand, wrapped in a handkerchief.

*Boom!*

The next moment, Shan Wanquan's chest caved in instantly, and a burst of air erupted from his back.

The whole person flew backward, half of his body frozen in mid-air, and tumbled out of the large arena in astonishment, landing on the ground. After rolling a few times, he knelt on the ground in a daze.

His expression was dull and bewildered, as if he didn't understand how he had been defeated.

"Meiku Merchant Troupe's guest, Shan Wanquan, defeated!"

The referee, Lan Shan Lan Wei, was stunned for a moment before announcing the result.

No wonder he was a little dazed.

The start and end of the fight were too fast. Shan Wanquan had just jumped up to attack when he was slapped away, ending the fight.

The Lan Wei glanced at Fang Yue with some apprehension and announced Fang Yue's victory.

The surrounding people only reacted at this moment.

"That, that's a win?"

"I heard a long time ago that the halo big brother is a Ren level expert, I didn't expect it was true!"

"This strength is too brutal! He defeated a first-rate Xiantian realm sect disciple with one move!"

"Betting! Betting! I bet the Dayang Merchant Troupe's guest will win the fourth group, I bet fifty taels of silver!"

The surrounding discussions and the pointing fingers at Shan Wanquan gradually brought him back to his senses, and his face turned red.

The louder he shouted just now, the more embarrassed he was now.

Who would have thought that this guy's strength would be so terrifying!

Shan Wanquan thought that with his strength, he could last hundreds of moves against a Ren level expert before being defeated, but in the end... just one move!

"Could it be... that my cultivation is not refined enough? Is it my problem?"

Shan Wanquan couldn't imagine how much strength the young Fang Yue could have.

Even if he had advanced to the Ren level, he was likely only at the initial stage of the Ren level, not much stronger.

Therefore, the problem must be with himself!

"I've let down the sect!"