MTLNOVEL Chapter 162: Giving Away a Castle
Chapter 162: Giving Away a Castle
A noblewoman sneered, “You’re the one who benefited from those rumors, so of course you’d say that. But those rumors have damaged the reputation of Young Master Ming and Young Master Que. The two young masters need to prove their strength. I’m afraid you have no choice but to accept the challenge.”
Xu Lian didn’t know what to say. He really didn’t want to show off, but they were practically forcing him to. He looked at the martial-arts dressed youth and asked, “Is this what you want as well?”
Ying Ming shook his head with a smile. “I don’t care about rumors or reputation. It’s just that during the arena match, I was so focused on my duel with Jing Que that I overlooked you as an opponent, allowing you to win by default. That made me feel a bit unsettled. So I’d like to spar with you and see if your strength is really worthy of advancing to the elimination round.”
Xu Lian nodded. “Since you don’t care about the rumors or reputation, I have no reservations. I can accept the challenge. But don’t blame me if you lose even more miserably in the end.”
“?” Ying Ming was stunned.
The young nobles were also stunned, unsure where Xu Lian’s confidence came from.
Huo Xin’er looked at Ying Ming and said indifferently, “Since you’re not convinced, my master will beat you until you’re satisfied. Why don’t you call that Que fellow over as well? That way, my master won’t have to waste time dealing with you one by one.”
“…” Xu Lian hadn’t said anything like that. Huo Xin’er’s devotion to him as her master was truly intense.
Ying Ming’s expression darkened. “There’s no need to call Jing Que. I wouldn’t team up with him to fight your master. Jing Que’s strength is about the same as mine. If your master can defeat me, it’s the same as defeating Jing Que.”
Huo Xin’er calmly replied, “Whatever you say. My master will handle it.”
Her words seemed to infuriate the young nobles.
“Then let’s go to the dueling arena! The dueling arena is the place in the capital where grudges are settled. Injury or death is your own responsibility!”
“The unresolved matter from the arena ten days ago can be settled today!”
Ying Ming waved his hand. “Everyone, calm down. There’s no need to go to the dueling arena. I have no grudge or unresolved issues with this Xu Lian. I’m not a sore loser. If we go to the dueling arena, what would that make me? Let’s just find a place where we can casually spar and stop when necessary.”
“Alright, I agree. There’s no need to go to the dueling arena.”
Xu Lian couldn’t help but look at him a few more times. He was indeed open-minded, truly embodying the demeanor of a young master from a ducal household.
Seeing that Huo Xin’er still wanted to say something, Xu Lian raised his hand to stop her. Huo Xin’er didn’t say anything more, even though she clearly disliked how these people refused to admit their loss.
Thus.
After some discussion, both sides decided to fight on the lawn in front of the entrance to the historical site.
Everyone gathered on the lawn.
There were many people coming and going, so there would be no shortage of witnesses. This way, there would be no fear that the losing side would refuse to admit defeat. Of course, the young nobles were mainly worried about Xu Lian’s side not admitting defeat, so they chose a crowded place for the match.
In fact, the entire capital was densely populated. With 3,764 levels of streets, the population was huge. Even the royal family of the Yin Dynasty didn’t know the exact number of people in the capital.
As the two sides stood on the lawn and took their battle stances, a crowd quickly gathered to watch the spectacle. Since these young nobles were the direct descendants of prestigious families, they were well known in the capital. Xu Lian had also gained some fame from the arena fights, so more and more people came to watch.
“I heard that Young Master Ming from Duke Ying’s household and Young Master Que from Duke Jing’s household teamed up in the arena and still lost to Xu Lian. Are they so unwilling to admit defeat that they want a rematch?”
“Hah, the young masters from the noble families can’t accept it. What can a grassroots genius like Xu Lian do? He has no choice but to accept the challenge.”
“The young masters from noble families can lose many times. No matter where they fall, they can always get up again thanks to the support of their families. But a grassroots genius like Xu Lian? If he loses once, he’ll never have another chance. That’s the way the world works.”
Hearing the murmur of the onlookers, Ying Ming’s face darkened. How much resentment did the commoners have towards the nobility?
He began to regret challenging Xu Lian. Even if he won this sparring match, people would likely spread rumors that he had taken advantage of Xu Lian being distracted by his female companions and caught him off guard.
People’s prejudices were like a mountain. After all, they shared the same humble background as Xu Lian, so they would naturally side with him and have little goodwill towards someone from a noble family like Ying Ming.
Ying Ming explained, “Let me make this clear. During the preliminary match in the arena, both Jing Que and I actually lost to Xu Lian. We both admit that.
Now, my sparring match with Xu Lian is just for the sake of martial exchanges. It has nothing to do with the results of the preliminary round and won’t affect Xu Lian’s place in the elimination round.”
Upon hearing this, the onlookers’ anger eased slightly. Their impression of the young master from Duke Ying’s household improved. At least he admitted his loss in the arena and wasn’t a sore loser.
“Are you ready?”
Ying Ming looked at Xu Lian who was standing across from him. There was no referee here, so he didn’t dare to make the first move. Otherwise, it would only invite more criticism. This was the pressure of being from a noble family-there were always countless eyes watching.
Xu Lian held out his hand and gestured for Ying Ming to begin. “I’m ready. Let’s start.”
Ying Ming waited for a moment, expecting Xu Lian to make the first move.
But Xu Lian was also waiting for Ying Ming to begin.
So the two of them stood there, frozen for a moment.
The spectators were stunned. Was this some kind of deep spiritual attack?
“Be careful.”
Ying Ming had no choice but to give a warning before slowly charging at Xu Lian.
This sparring match was too civilized… Xu Lian had a good impression of the young master from Duke Ying’s household and decided to show him the utmost respect by going all out.
With a humming sound, golden flames erupted from Xu Lian’s palms, forming a golden castle. To be precise, it was a golden replica of the capital city, complete with its gates and all 3,764 levels of streets!
Ying Ming’s pupils contracted sharply, his expression changing drastically. He quickly activated his own combat technique to counterattack.
“Boom!”…
The two forces collided, resulting in a massive explosion as if a sun had risen on the grass!
As the light faded…
A large crater was left on the grass.
Ying Ming was blown off the lawn, landing on the ground and coughing up blood. His clothes were tattered, and he was bleeding profusely, nearly passing out.
The whole area fell silent.
Not a sound…
The young nobles were stunned.
Young Master Ming had lost?
And he had lost so miserably, defeated in a single move?
This was a result they had never anticipated. Even if Xu Lian was also at the Transformation Strength Rank 9 Stage, Ying Ming was at the same level. How could there be such a huge gap?
Huo Xin’er’s eyes sparkled with admiration. As expected of the master who had subdued her. His strength was unparalleled among his peers. When he had fought her, it was likely that he hadn’t used his full strength. Otherwise, she would have been defeated in a single move as well.
Jiang Yunyan’s eyes also gleamed, as if she had guessed that this was a secret technique from the Sacred Spirit Record.
The laymen watched for the spectacle, while the experts watched for the technique. The onlookers didn’t understand the intricacies of the battle, but they knew one thing: Xu Lian, the grassroots genius who had fought his way up from the first level, had soundly defeated the young master from Duke Ying’s household in a single move. That was all they needed to know, and they were thrilled.
With the help of the young nobles, Ying Ming struggled to his feet, his face pale. Coughing up blood, he asked Xu Lian, “I used the combat technique passed down through Duke Ying’s household. May I ask what technique you used?”
A Heavenly Technique… Xu Lian clasped his hands and said, “This combat technique was something I stumbled upon by chance. I’m afraid I can’t disclose it.”
Ying Ming didn’t push any further. He gave Xu Lian a respectful nod and left the scene with the support of the young nobles.