Chapter 1229: Chapter 1229: Team Battle Begins
The words of the Fang Family Elder fell.
All the surrounding Fang Family martial artists, including the Fang Family Master, turned to look at Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi’s expression remained unchanged, saying nothing.
"Young Master Xiao Yi," the Fang Family Master spoke first, earnestly looking at Xiao Yi.
"Although you refused me before, I still want to ask again, could you fight for our Fang Family?"
"Young Master Xiao Yi," Fang Muxue also called out, looking hopeful.
Xiao Yi’s face remained calm as he shook his head.
The Fang Family Master frowned, "In fact, I know the reason you were unwilling before, Young Master Xiao Yi."
"But this time, Qin Hao unexpectedly broke through his seclusion, and the situation is urgent. For the sake of that renegade, could you...?"
The Fang Family Master was not angry; he simply had an inquisitive tone.
Xiao Yi still shook his head, "Since you know the reason I don’t wish to represent a faction in the battle, you should know I won’t change my mind."
Upon hearing this, the Fang Family Master flashed a hint of disappointment but said no more.
"Young Master Xiao Yi, are you really so concerned about your reputation?" The maid looked clearly displeased.
"Young Master Xiao Yi was so confident before, and now he’s afraid of Qin Hao?"
"Cui’er, don’t speak nonsense," Fang Muxue reprimanded, "if Young Master Xiao Yi is unwilling, we cannot force him."
Though saying this, Fang Muxue’s face clearly showed thick disappointment.
Xiao Yi shook his head, looked apologetically at the Fang Family Master, "I’m sorry, I still want to fight representing myself personally."
"No problem," the Fang Family Master shook his head, "Young Master Xiao Yi has a keen mind, you have your own plans."
Xiao Yi nodded, "However, if it’s an opponent that even Fang Shushu said he had only a fifty percent chance of beating, I also wish to have a bout."
"Oh?" The Fang Family Master was initially taken aback, but then showed a look of delight, "Young Master Xiao Yi, do you mean...?"
Xiao Yi smiled, "Although I represent myself in battle, naturally there should also be an opponent."
"I guarantee Qin Hao won’t have the chance to interfere with your Three Family team battle then."
"That would be excellent." The Fang Family Master’s face instantly filled with joy.
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao Yi," Fang Muxue’s face was filled with happiness, "As long as Qin Hao doesn’t intervene, dealing with the Qin Family in the team battle won’t be a problem for Fang and Guu families."
Xiao Yi nodded.
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao Yi," several surrounding Fang Family Elders also expressed their gratitude.
As long as Qin Hao is absent, the heavenly talents of Fang and Guu families do not fear the Qin Family.
"Oh, by the way." At this moment, a Fang Family Elder suddenly spoke, "Family Master, there is another matter."
"What is it?" the Fang Family Master asked.
The Fang Family Elder said solemnly, "There is another rumor concerning the Qin Family."
"It’s said that a few days ago, the Second Young Master of the Qin Family and a few elders went out and haven’t returned, completely missing."
"Oh?" The Fang Family Master frowned, "That Second Young Master of the Qin Family is also quite a heavenly talent."
"The Qin Family Elders are all mighty martial arts emperors."
"With such powerful companions, there shouldn’t have been any accident."
The Fang Family Elder shook his head, "Normally that’s the case, but I heard the Qin Family had long dispatched quite a few elites to investigate."
"I’ve heard they went seeking the Emperor-grade Blue Thunder Fruit."
"Emperor-grade Blue Thunder Fruit?" The Fang Family Master looked surprised, "Such rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures must be guarded by fierce beasts."
"From what I know, tens of thousands of miles outside Four-direction City is a Demon Beast Forest, where rumors of the Emperor-grade Blue Thunder Fruit have appeared, but there is an Emperor-level Three Thunder Tiger guarding there."
"If those guys went to seek trouble with that beast, then they’re seeking death."
The Fang Family Elder nodded, "An Emperor-level Three Thunder Tiger, when we ordinary martial arts emperors encounter it, we have to run."
"If those few Qin Family elders have truly overestimated themselves, then they are indeed looking for death."
Beside them, Xiao Yi listened, showing an awkward expression, rubbing his nose, but said nothing.
...
The battles on the Martial Arts Arena ended just as night fell.
The first round of the Four-direction Tournament, which took only one day to complete for the first time in many years.
The next morning.
Once again, various factions gathered inside the City Lord’s Mansion.
The heads and elders of the Qin, Fang, and Guu families also took their seats early in the viewing area.
Everyone knew that today was where the excitement of the Four-direction Tournament truly lay and it might even shape the future direction of all major forces in the Four-direction Domain.
The seat of honor in the viewing area remained the same with those 10 judges.
When the morning sun cast its rays, today’s contention officially began.
The heavenly talents and martial artists from various factions took the stage one after another.
Since it was a team battle, there were naturally many participants.
However, no team could exceed 10 factions.
On the Qin Family’s side, there were a total of 10 participants.
Leading them was a young man about 25 or 26 years old, undoubtedly the Eldest Young Master of the Qin Family, Qin Hao.
Nangong Yan and Zheng Qing were also prominently present.
The other seven were the strongest heavenly talents from seven family forces.
Similarly, the Fang Family also had 10 participants, led by Fang Muxue.
With Fang Shushu absent, Fang Muxue was the strongest young heavenly talent representing the Fang Family.
Yuee Tian and eight heavenly talents from other families made up the Fang Family’s contestants.
On the Guu Family’s side, they were led by a son of one of their elders.
The Old Master Guu has only one daughter, Guu Yunshang.
However, Guu Yunshang has long relinquished her martial arts talent and does not belong to the younger generation, thus cannot participate.
The Guu Family could only allow their strongest heavenly talent within the family to compete—this elder’s son, named Guu Feng, also a renowned heavenly talent in Four-direction City.
Additionally, Lin Dong and eight other heavenly talents from other families constituted the Guu Family’s contestants.
Apart from the teams from the Three Great Families, there were also two teams from neutral factions.
Of course, there were also some Independent Martial Artists, each taking the stage alone.
Xiao Yi also took the stage, standing alone on one side.
He was one participant, representing himself alone.
At this moment, the Martial Arts Arena was much wider than it was yesterday.
The area at the City Lord’s Mansion was grander and more spacious than that of major factions and sects.
Now, this Martial Arts Arena occupied nearly one-third of the City Lord’s Mansion.
One could imagine how vast it was at this moment.
It’s clear the seats in the viewing area have been moved back significantly.
After all, for a team battle, the arena naturally needed to be much larger.
"Does anyone have any questions?" On the viewing seat of honor, the ten judges asked in unison.
"If there are no questions, the second round of the Four-direction Tournament, the team battle, will begin immediately."
Around the viewing area, spectators from various forces, family heads, elders, etc., all stared intently at the Martial Arts Arena.
The stage gathered the most outstanding young generation of the Four-direction Domain.
They each represented their own faction, their own team.
If anyone could dominate today’s battle, outshine all heavenly talents, it would represent that, in time, they could lead the entire Four-direction Domain.
This is the true meaning of the Four-direction Tournament.
...
First update.
