Chapter 629: One-Sided Beating

"The Purification Pool greatly aids soul power and enhances cultivation. For a martial selection, it is indeed the most suitable!"

After a moment of thought, Ye Qian nodded: "Alright, we'll compete in cultivation. With the vassal states as units, best of three. However, our sparring should prioritize harmony and be limited to touch. As long as one side concedes, it ends there; there's no need to decide life or death..."

"Your Highness, I disagree with this method!"

Hong Shi stood up.

The three major factions had clearly devised a plan to pressure them. If they agreed, wouldn't they be destined to lose?

Although he had let Luo Zhao off earlier without further追究, it could be considered a favor.

But for the opposing alliance, it was useless, after all, the benefits of the Master Competition were at stake. No one would let personal feelings cause their entire vassal state to bear the shame of defeat.

Besides, Luo Zhao wasn't stupid. He knew he hadn't snatched anything and was framed. Forget gratitude, he was surely plotting revenge... He wouldn't let such an opportunity slip.

Feng Yu needed no mention... beaten beyond recognition, he had long harbored resentment.

They were all sharpening their knives. Chen Yue, as the only one uninjured, wouldn't back down and naturally took the lead in speaking. This was probably decided before they came.

"Hmm?" Ye Qian looked over.

"Your Highness has seen that they all used Unity Spirit Pills to greatly boost their cultivation. We just arrived in the capital and had no chance to buy them, so our cultivation is lower. In a martial contest, the Hongfeng Empire's chances of winning are slim!"

Hong Shi spoke directly, without evasion.

There was nothing to be ashamed of. The other side had the help of Unity Spirit Pills, while they didn't. Falling short wasn't a big deal.

"A master, unlike other professions, doesn't rely solely on cultivation, but it is essential. Without sufficient cultivation, everything is a castle in the air! You came late and couldn't find Unity Spirit Pills—that's not our fault!"

Chen Yue snorted.

"The Purification Pool benefits cultivation. Low cultivation is no excuse!"

Feng Yu interjected.

"Hong Shi, we both know what happened at noon today. Let's not mention it. We can settle this grudge later. But... letting the juniors compete in cultivation to decide the名额 is the fairest and most suitable. If you think you can't win, I suggest you just concede!"

Luo Zhao also looked over coldly.

The three united in hostility, instantly cornering Hong Shi.

"Concede?"

Just as Hong Shi didn't know how to respond, Zhang Xuan spoke again: "Impossible! If anyone should concede, it's you!"

"Right, it's you who should concede!"

Knowing this young man had extraordinary wisdom and ideas, even more decisive than himself, Hong Shi nodded in agreement.

"We concede? On what grounds? We set the rules, and you don't even dare to compete. If you don't concede, what else do you want?" Chen Yue sneered.

"The rules are whatever you say they are?" Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"Right, the rules aren't your family's!" Hong Shi caught on and continued to chime in.

"The rules aren't our family's. If you think they're unsuitable, you can propose something else. But... it has to get everyone's agreement!"

Chen Yue's lips curled.

His meaning was simple: the three of us are allied. No matter how good your proposed rules are, if we don't agree, it's useless.

Hong Shi understood the implication and turned to look at the young man, waiting for his response.

"Oh? Good to know they aren't your family's. I just happen to have a new rule to propose for everyone's discussion!" Zhang Xuan smiled.

"I'm all ears!" Chen Yue said. "But whether we agree or not is another matter..."

"I believe you will definitely agree!"

Zhang Xuan looked over calmly: "Since we're competing by vassal state, why must it be the top three? What if someone gets injured? Tomorrow the Purification Pool opens—will they enter or not?"

"Exactly!" Hong Shi's eyes lit up, backing him up again.

"Then what do you suggest?" Chen Yue frowned.

"Heh!" Zhang Xuan chuckled lightly: "My rule is simple... the leading five-star masters will compete in martial arts."

"Right, the rule is simple... Huh?"

Continuing to back him up, Hong Shi stopped mid-sentence, his eyes wide as he stared: "We... compete?"

"Not only that, but Hong Shi will fight all three of you at once!" Zhang Xuan continued.

"Fight all three..."

Hong Shi swayed, his vision going dark.

Brother, I thought you had a good plan, but this is it?

Are you trying to kill me, or do you want me dead?

Not to mention the others, I might not even beat Luo Zhao alone. Fighting all three...

"You want him to fight all three of us?"

Not only Hong Shi was stunned; Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu were all taken aback, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Is this for real?

They had been thinking about how to beat this guy up, and now he's offering himself on a silver platter... What luck!

"What? I've set the rule. Do you dare or not?"

Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

"You ask if we dare?" Luo Zhao couldn't help but look at Hong Shi nearby: "Are you serious?"

He then saw Hong Shi, who looked like he was about to cry, with a constipated expression, nodding.

Although he didn't know why Zhang Shi was doing this, based on past experience, he knew Zhang Xuan never did things without a plan. Since he said so, he must have his own idea.

"What, scared? If you're scared, forget it. Don't spout useless nonsense."

Waving his hand, Zhang Xuan said no more.

"Why would we be scared? We're just afraid that later he'll beg for mercy on his knees!"

Chen Yue, Luo Zhao, and the others exchanged glances, confirming he was serious, and all burst into laughter.

"Your Highness, you saw the situation. It's not that we want to bully anyone, but Hong Shi voluntarily challenged the three of us to decide the名额. Since he is so sincere and insistent, we ask Your Highness to grant this!"

Afraid he might back out, Chen Yue quickly cupped his hands.

"This..."

Unexpectedly, it had come to this, Ye Qian frowned and turned to Hong Shi: "You are all early five-star masters, early Mortal Transformation Sixth Layer, with similar strength. Are you sure you want to fight all three at once?"

With equal strength, one against three was clearly suicide. Honestly, he didn't think highly of the other party.

"I'm sure!"

Before Hong Shi could answer, Zhang Xuan replied for him.

"Very well..."

Since both sides had agreed on the method, Ye Qian said no more. He looked around and announced: "Alright, I now declare the competition rules: Hong Shi will fight Masters Feng, Luo, and Chen, three against one, with the outcome deciding the名额."

With that, he waved his hand, and a group of guards came in from outside, cleared the living room, and made space for a wide area suitable for fighting.

"Touch only, and don't harm the harmony!"

Seeing the four enter the arena, Ye Qian instructed.

"Rest assured, we will definitely 'touch only'..."

Feng Shi sneered, deliberately emphasizing the words 'touch only.' Clearly, his intention was far from just touching.

"Right, Hong Shi and I are old friends; we won't go too far..." Luo Zhao also laughed.

Both had suffered losses at Hong Shi's hands, and now that he was openly seeking death, how could they let it go?

"Zhang Shi, does Hong Shi have any chance of winning against three?"

Seeing the impending match, Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai wiped cold sweat from their foreheads, extremely anxious.

Zhang Shi seemed clever; how could he make such a foolish decision?

One against three...

Wasn't that suicide?

"If not Hong Shi, do you think you can beat them?" Zhang Xuan looked at them.

"This..."

The two twitched and shook their heads simultaneously.

Although they were geniuses, the opponents had also been selected and were no pushovers. In a pure martial contest, with the level disparity, winning was impossible!

In other words, if they participated, their chances of winning were nearly zero.

"But Hong Shi..."

Although they couldn't win, Hong Shi's chances weren't great either.

"Just watch!" Without explaining, Zhang Xuan smiled.

"Alright..."

Not knowing where his confidence came from, but with no other options, the two could only continue watching with concern.

Luo Xuan and Bi Jianghai were worried, and even the crown prince in the center had his brows furrowed, unable to understand why Hong Shi would make such a suicidal request.

"Senior, who do you think will win?"

Unable to hold back, he looked at Wu Zhen nearby.

This man was a five-star master, superior in both strength and insight; perhaps he could see something.

"Under normal circumstances, Hong Shi has almost no chance of winning. However, since he made this request, he must have some reliance..."

In fact, not only the crown prince was puzzled; Wu Zhen was also baffled.

With his insight, he could clearly see the strength of all four.

Hong Shi wasn't even outstanding among them; winning one-on-one would be difficult. One against three was clearly a losing situation... Why insist on this match?

"Let's watch. Maybe... there will be an unexpected turn!"

After thinking for a while and still not understanding, Wu Zhen shook his head.

"Hmm!"

The crown prince nodded, thought for a long time, and still couldn't figure it out, so he continued to watch forward: "Hong Shi has always been steady; maybe he really has another way... Look, it's started!"

During the conversation, the four in the arena had already begun to move.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Luo Zhao, Chen Yue, and Feng Yu, three Mortal Transformation Sixth Layer experts, struck simultaneously, their狂暴 pressure sealing the space.

Seeming to worry that Hong Shi had some trick, the three didn't attack directly but sealed the surroundings, testing him.

After two试探 moves, finding it increasingly strange, Feng Yu suddenly threw a punch.

Bang!

It hit Hong Shi square in the face, immediately causing blood to flow from his nose.

"Ah?"

Unexpectedly, the sneak punch succeeded, Feng Yu's eyes widened, his body trembling with excitement.

In his excitement, he tore at his wounds and grimaced.

"This is being steady? Having reliance?"

Seeing that even Feng Yu, who was nearly dead from injuries, could easily beat Hong Shi's face bloody with the help of Luo Zhao and Chen Yue, Wu Shi was dumbfounded.

"How... does it look like a one-sided beating?"