"The struggle for the Shu Commandery Prefect officially begins!"
At Che Ming's signal, Zhang Feng's clear and powerful voice reached everyone in the arena.
"This grand competition will be decided by a draw, with two-on-two duels!"
As soon as Zhang Feng finished speaking, a soldier, holding a jade plate, walked towards the high platform.
"Everyone, draw your lots!"
Che Ming coughed.
Soon, the four factions drew their lots.
The Yang family would face the Zhang family, and the Li family would face the Wang family.
After the draw, the Li family and the Wang family commenced their duel first!
Wang Ping of the Wang family was the first to step onto the arena.
"Wang Ping of the Wang family," Wang Ping bowed.
The Li family sent their second elder, Li Hui.
Li Hui leaped onto the stage. It seemed that after a month of treatment, his injuries had mostly healed.
"I am Li Hui."
"That old fellow Li Hui, he looks quite recovered. The Li family has invested quite a bit."
Wang Shan sneered.
"This old dried wood fellow is no match for my junior brother. The outcome will be decided in a few rounds."
Bai Hong narrowed his eyes, watching the two on the stage.
"Yu Ji, what do you make of these two?"
Yang Hao looked at the two on stage, unable to discern their strength for a moment.
"My lord, Wang Ping and Li Hui are both at the second level of Xiantian cultivation. However, observing them, Wang Ping possesses overwhelming strength and can defeat Li Hui with ease."
"General Zhou is correct. Wang Ping has received the full training of the Sword Sect and guidance from a Grandmaster. Defeating Li Hui will be effortless."
Zhu Sheng, fanning himself with a wooden feather fan, picked up where Zhou Yu Ji left off.
Li Hui and Wang Ping were direct and to the point, saying little and engaging in battle immediately.
Wang Ping drew his treasured sword from its scabbard, its cold gleam instantly transforming into hundreds of sword lights that shot into the sky, like dragons entering the sea. The chilling lights fiercely stabbed towards Li Hui.
Li Hui formed his hands into blades, moving as swift as lightning. In an instant, hundreds of palm prints coalesced, surrounding Li Hui like a vajra wall.
"Bang!"
The sword lights fiercely struck Li Hui. The vajra wall instantly shattered and dispersed. Li Hui was sent flying backward, and streaks of sword energy pierced his body.
"Pfft!"
"I surrender, I surrender!"
Li Hui lacked the courage to even resist and immediately surrendered!
Unfortunately, the moment Li Hui opened his mouth to surrender, a beam of sword light pierced his throat.
"Wang Ping, you..."
As the sword light dissipated, the arena was already a bloody mess.
Li Si was furious. "Wang Ping, what do you mean? The second elder clearly surrendered, yet you still struck him so ruthlessly."
"Apologies, your elder is advanced in age, and his speech was too slow. I couldn't retract my move in time."
Wang Ping performed a flourish with his sword and sat down on the stage to recuperate.
"Li Si, in arena combat, swords and sabers are blind. Blame only Li Hui for his inferior skills!"
Wang Shan said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Soon, someone from the audience carried Li Hui's body away and cleaned the arena.
"I'll do it!"
Li Si, enraged and wanting to kill Wang Ping himself, leaped onto the stage.
"Uncle Li, I apologize, I forfeit this match!"
Wang Ping said, then jumped off the stage.
"You..."
"Brother Li, I will be your opponent."
Wang Shan laughed heartily and walked onto the stage.
The two had fought thirty years ago, and Li Si had narrowly won.
Li Si's heart was already ablaze with anger. He unleashed his long sword with his left hand and charged at Wang Shan with great strides.
His sword was like a venomous snake, precise, accurate, and deadly, thrusting towards Wang Shan.
"Brother Li's swordsmanship is faster and fiercer than before."
Zhang Feng marveled.
However, just as the sword was thrusting towards Wang Shan in a sinister trajectory, Wang Shan's right hand directly grasped the sword.
"That's the Sword Sect's Xuan Yu Hand!" someone exclaimed from the audience.
While Wang Shan controlled Li Si's sword, he revealed his true strength: Xiantian fourth level.
Xiantian fourth level, this was already comparable to Zhang Feng.
"This Wang family is not simple!"
Che Ming watched the scene.
This Xuan Yu Hand indeed surprised many in the audience.
"Bang!"
Wang Shan clenched his left fist. While Li Si was still in shock and hadn't reacted, Wang Shan's fist hammered hard into Li Si's waist.
The violent aura churned Li Si's insides, making him extremely uncomfortable and unable to regain his composure.
Wang Shan's left fist delivered eight punches in the space of a breath, directly knocking Li Si out of the arena.
"Patriarch."
Li Yuan, the first elder of the Li family, rushed over to help Li Si.
"Brother Li, I concede."
Wang Shan clasped his fist.
"The Li family has lost two consecutive matches and does not need to proceed to a third!"
"I declare the Li family disqualified from the competition!"
As Che Ming's voice fell, discussions erupted in the square.
"This Wang family is terrifying. Two people have completely subdued the Li family."
"Indeed. I don't think even the Zhang family can match the Wang family. The Prefect position is settled for the Wang family."
"Next match, Zhang family versus Yang family."
Before long, a soldier announced the next match.
"What's the point of this match? With just Liao Hua, can that brat Yang Hao compete with us?"
Wang Ping was clearly unconvinced.
"Exactly. I say let our Wang family compete directly with the Zhang family."
The Wang family's grand elder immediately echoed Wang Ping.
"This matter is by the Governor's decree. You must not speak recklessly."
Che Ming shouted.
This Wang family, having just won a match, was already acting arrogantly, showing no respect for him.
"Without rules, there can be no order. Since it has already been decided, we should proceed according to the plan!"
Xu Ji sipped his tea.
Zhang Feng stepped forward and bowed. "Sir, I believe that Yang Hao's general, Liao Hua, is my equal in strength. I wish to fight against the Yang family to decide the outcome!"
This statement caused a huge stir!
"Brother Zhang, are you out of your mind? That brat Yang Hao only has Liao Hua. As long as you draw with him, and field a few more people, you can defeat Yang Hao."
"Yes, yes, you're overestimating that brat."
"City Lord Yang, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Zhang Feng ignored the dissuasions of others.
He knew that the Zhang family alone was not a match for the Wang family, so he was taking a gamble, betting on the two people behind Yang Hao.
"Very well."
Yang Hao thought, this saves a lot of trouble. Simple and effective.
Zhang Feng immediately bowed to Che Ming again. "I hope you will approve, sir!"
"Agreed!"
Che Ming had been watching Zhou Yu Ji, the one who had annihilated the Lin Hu tribe.
"I hope General Liao Hua will show mercy."
Zhang Feng clasped his fist and was the first to walk towards the arena.
With Yang Hao's permission, Liao Hua stepped out from behind Yang Hao, one step at a time.
A nine-foot frame, clad in a Qilin carved armor, with a powerful physique and a regal bearing, he strode forth.
The immense killing aura emanating from him convinced everyone that he was an unparalleled general, a demon who had emerged from a sea of blood.
"Where did Yang Hao find such a formidable general!"
Even Xu Ji was so surprised that he couldn't help but consider recruiting Liao Hua.
Liao Hua, holding his three-pointed halberd, slowly ascended the stage.