Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Champion
The finals were scheduled for the afternoon.
An hour of recuperation was but a drop in the bucket for Zheng Biao. With a grim expression, Wu Tianxiong stuffed another white Elixir Pill, which gave off a cool, fresh fragrance, into Zheng Biao’s mouth.
"This is a Strengthening Essence Pill. It will suppress your injuries. Get on that stage and go straight for the kill. Finish him within ten moves."
Zheng Biao swallowed the pill, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "Understood."
Zheng Biao glared at Liang Cheng, who was across from him regulating his breathing with his eyes closed. He clenched his jaw. ’I can’t lose. Zhen Nan Martial Arts Hall must take first place!’
"The final match! Liang Cheng of Yangwei Martial Arts Hall versus Zheng Biao of Zhen Nan Martial Arts Hall!"
The Copper Gong sounded, silencing the clamor of the crowd.
Liang Cheng and Zheng Biao leaped onto the arena stage simultaneously.
Zheng Biao’s face was pale, but his eyes were filled with a menacing light. "You’ll regret stepping onto this stage."
The words had barely left his lips when he closed in like a wraith. His right hand formed a claw, striking for the fatal pressure point beneath Liang Cheng’s ribs. Liang Cheng twisted his waist to narrowly avoid the blow, but Zheng Biao’s left palm was already swiping for his neck.
Liang Cheng dropped his shoulder to block. Dark Force surged into his arm, making it go numb. He used the momentum to retreat, but Zheng Biao stuck to him like a shadow. Fingers, palms, claws, fists—every strike was vicious and cunning, aimed directly at his vitals, giving him no opportunity to gather power for a punch.
Unflustered, Liang Cheng shifted to a completely defensive posture. He embodied the principle of "stability" from his Mixed Element Stance to its absolute limit, evading the storm of attacks with the smallest possible movements. Any blow he couldn’t avoid, he took squarely on a non-vital area.
CLANG! THWACK! THUD!
The sounds of their blows were incessant.
On the sidelines, Yang Wei gripped the back of his chair, and Zhou Hu wore a grave expression. A smirk, however, had already formed on Wu Tianxiong’s lips. ’Although Zheng Biao isn’t at his peak, his experience and viciousness far surpass Wu Xiao’s. It’s only a matter of time before Liang Cheng is defeated.’
After thirty exchanges, Zheng Biao was breathing heavily, sweat beading on his temples. The effects of the Strengthening Essence Pill were wearing off, and a backlash of searing pain began to surge through his Meridians.
He knew he couldn’t drag this on.
A fierce light flashed in Zheng Biao’s eyes. He took a sharp breath, intentionally took one of Liang Cheng’s blocks on his left shoulder, and used the momentum to spin. His right leg lashed out like a steel whip, sweeping toward Liang Cheng’s midsection!
This kick contained the majority of his remaining energy and even faintly held a trace of power from the threshold of Transformation Force, a power meant to shatter bone and rupture organs in a single blow.
But this was the very moment Liang Cheng had been waiting for.
He abruptly tensed his core. Instead of dodging, he met the attack head-on, activating his Stone Armor Skill to its full extent. His skin took on a grayish-white sheen.
BANG!
Zheng Biao felt as if he had kicked a slab of raw iron. The rebound force instantly numbed his entire right leg, and a piercing pain shot straight to his brain.
His face went deathly pale in an instant.
Having weathered the blow, Liang Cheng unleashed the right fist he had been holding in reserve, imbued with the power of his Great Success Fierce Bull Force.
CRACK!
With a sickening crack of bone, Zheng Biao coughed up a spray of blood and was sent flying off the stage like a discarded sack. He crumpled to the ground, twitching, unable to get back up.
The entire arena fell deathly silent.
All eyes were locked on the green-robed young man on the stage. The clothing at his midsection was in tatters, revealing the firm, muscular flesh underneath, which was only slightly reddened.
"Great Success in a Hard Skill... He actually took a full-power blow from someone on the threshold of Transformation Force?!"
After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
The merchants’ section went wild.
Fatty Wang leaped to his feet, violently shaking one of his men. "Did you see that?! Great Success in a Hard Skill! Dark Force Cultivation! And he’s only sixteen! No matter how much money we have to spend, we must get him!"
At that moment, the great merchant of the Three Towns, Chen Bainian, also set down his teacup. He whispered a few words to the old servant behind him, and the servant quickly departed.
On the high platform, the City Lord’s emissary rose and applauded. "The younger generation is truly formidable. I hereby announce that Liang Cheng of Yangwei Martial Arts Hall is the champion of this year’s Three Towns Tournament! Yangwei Martial Arts Hall’s share of collaborative missions for the coming year will be increased by thirty percent, and they are awarded five hundred taels of silver!"
"Thank you, Emissary!" Yang Wei cupped his fist, his voice thick with excitement.
The reward silver wasn’t what was important. What mattered was the thirty percent increase in the Martial Arts Hall’s share of mission rewards—a bonus that had never been granted in previous years.
It was all because Liang Cheng’s performance had been so spectacular!
Just then, Liang Cheng slowly descended from the stage. A dull ache throbbed in his midsection, but it was nothing more than a flesh wound; he had sustained no internal injuries.
Brimming with youthful spirit, the boy’s eyes shone brightly.
The Yangwei Martial Arts Hall disciples swarmed him. Li Cheng and the others were so excited they were babbling incoherently. Yang Wei clapped him hard on the shoulder, his pride and approval understood without a word.
Although Yang Wei didn’t know where Liang Cheng had learned his Hard Skill, it no longer mattered. He had always been an open-minded man, one who was clear about rewards and punishments.
Not far away, Wu Tianxiong stared as the barely breathing Zheng Biao was carried back, his face livid. His gaze, venomous as a viper’s, swept over Liang Cheng and then Yang Wei. Inside his sleeves, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked.
Just then, the crowd parted, and the City Lord’s emissary walked up to Liang Cheng. He wore a gentle smile, but his eyes betrayed a hint of disbelief.
"Congratulations, Liang Xiaoy." The emissary’s voice was not loud, but it silenced the immediate area. "Sixteen years old, with Dark Force Cultivation and Great Success in a Hard Skill... Even in all of Lin Wu City, you would be considered a young prodigy."
As he spoke, he produced a palm-sized Profound Iron Token from his robes. The front was engraved with the character ’A’, and the back bore the crest of the City Lord’s Mansion.
"The A-Class Ministerial Decree of the City Lord’s Mansion." The emissary presented the Token to Liang Cheng. "With this decree, you may freely enter and exit the City Lord’s Mansion and will receive a monthly salary of thirty taels of silver. Should you wish to enter the Mansion’s service, an important position with a generous salary awaits you."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The wealthy merchants stared at Liang Cheng, their gazes growing even more fervent.
An A-Class Ministerial Decree!
That was a credential reserved for the most honored guests of the City Lord’s Mansion. Across all Three Towns combined, only a handful of people held such an honor. Furthermore, a monthly salary of thirty taels of silver was no small sum.
Liang Cheng did not immediately reach for it, looking instead to Yang Wei.
Yang Wei gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Under the rule of the City Lord’s Mansion, no Martial Arts Hall could afford to stand apart. Accepting this Token meant he would be registered as "one of their own" in the Mansion’s books. This would make future dealings more convenient and would also deter lesser villains.
Understanding, Liang Cheng accepted the Token with both hands. "Thank you for this great honor, Emissary."
"No need for such formalities," the emissary said with a smile. "You are still young. Cultivate diligently, and your future will be boundless. If you ever face any difficulties, bring this Token to the City Lord’s Mansion and find me."
With that, the emissary turned and departed, his guards following closely behind.
Only after he was gone did the crowd dare to start whispering amongst themselves.
"An A-Class Ministerial Decree... The City Lord’s Mansion clearly intends to groom him."
"Of course they are. A sixteen-year-old with Dark Force and Great Success in a Hard Skill? If it were you, wouldn’t you try to recruit him?"
"This means Yangwei Martial Arts Hall has really solidified its position now."
Wu Tianxiong stood a short distance away, his livid face having darkened to an almost blackish hue.
He had already been plotting his revenge—after the tournament, he would find an opportunity to cripple Liang Cheng and then slowly crush Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.
But now that the A-Class Ministerial Decree had appeared, he was forced to swallow all those plans.
Making a move on Liang Cheng now would be a direct slap in the face to the City Lord’s Mansion.
He stared daggers at the Token in Liang Cheng’s hand, his fingernails digging into his palm until they drew blood. At last, he gave a heavy snort, flicked his sleeves, and spun around. "Get Zheng Biao. We’re returning to the hall!"
The members of Zhen Nan Martial Arts Hall slunk away in disgrace, though no one paid them any mind.
The wealthy merchants immediately swarmed forward, only to be blocked by Yang Wei. Had it not been for the City Lord’s Ministerial Decree, he would have let Liang Cheng engage with them, but now, things were different.
"Everyone, a Disciple from our Martial Arts Hall is injured, so we must hurry back to treat him," Yang Wei announced. "If any of you have business to discuss, you may come to our hall."
After speaking, Yang Wei paid them no more mind. He led his disciples, had them carry Zhao Yuan onto a carriage, and headed directly back to the Martial Arts Hall.
They were returning, completely victorious!
