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Chapter 188: Chapter 104: A Real Man Can Be Long or Short

’And from the sound of it, my flames haven’t affected him at all.’

’This is bad!’

’Run!’

Zhu Yan was starting to regret stepping onto the stage, but all he could do now was run for his life.

On the Martial Arts Arena.

He ran!

He chased!

He had nowhere to run!

Zhu Yan was stunned. He didn’t understand how Zhao Ci had locked onto his position, nor why Zhao Ci was even faster than him.

Then.

He felt a hand grab the back of his collar and hoist him into the air.

Zhao Ci’s lips twisted into a smirk. ”Gotcha!”

Zhu Yan: ”...”

Scared out of his wits, he lifted his Long Sword to strike.

But with a sweep of his spear, Zhao Ci dislocated Zhu Yan’s right wrist, sending his Long Sword clattering far away.

Zhu Yan’s face went pale. ”I surr—mmph!”

Zhao Ci clamped a hand over his mouth and slammed his head to the ground. ”Damn it! Even now, you still think you’re my equal? Well, I guess I’ll just have to prove you wrong!”

Zhu Yan: ”???”

His eyes widened, his vision completely filled by the sight of Zhao Ci, who was wreathed in flames.

Zhao Ci’s face was scorched black, and little licks of flame still clung to his hair.

And yet, his eyes were unnervingly bright!

They even held a ferocious glint.

’Is this guy a ghost?’

POW!

A fist landed on his gut.

...

Below the stage.

Once the Fire Prison took shape, no one could clearly see the two figures on the stage.

All they could see was a roiling inferno of real and illusory flames.

Many people sighed to themselves, thinking that Zhao Ci, who had seemed so overwhelmingly powerful moments ago, was about to lose due to his own arrogance.

Zhao Yong was pleasantly surprised. ”I can’t believe Zhu Yan actually pulled it off. Lao Shi is powerful, but far too overconfident. He clearly didn’t study Zhu Yan’s techniques. If he had struck first before the Fire Prison was complete, the outcome might have been very different!”

Zhuge Xiao just smiled without a word.

This Fire Prison was derived from the Li Huo Grand Array. With its ability to freely switch between real and illusory flames, it could certainly trap and wear down an opponent to death.

’But is it really that simple?’

Zhu Li herself had been defeated by this very Fire Prison. There was no way she hadn’t warned Zhao Ci about it.

Below the stage.

Zhu Li was getting anxious too. ”Boss, what’s going on? Didn’t I tell him in the carriage to watch out for this Fire Prison? I just... huh?”

CLANG...

A Long Sword skittered across the floor and off the Martial Arts Arena.

It looked like... Zhu Yan’s personal sword.

Zhu Li: ”...”

The crowd: ”...”

Then.

”THUD!”

”Mmph...”

The Fire Prison on the Martial Arts Arena instantly dissipated into nothing.

Zhu Yan was on the ground, pinned down by Zhao Ci, who still had a hand clamped over his mouth.

Fists the size of punching bags rained down on his body.

Bizarre bulges erupted across his body, a clear sign that his True Qi had lost control and was rampaging through his meridians.

This...

Zhu Yan: ”Mmmph mmmph mmmph...”

Zhao Yong was stunned. He shot to his feet. ”Lao Shi! Zhu Yan said he surrenders!”

Zhao Ci showed no signs of stopping. ”Brother Huang, you must have misheard. Listen to his tone. He’s saying, ’I haven’t lost’!”

Zhao Yong grew frantic. ”Nonsense! Can’t you hear the way his voice drops at the end? He’s obviously saying he surrenders!”

”Don’t twist his words!”

Zhao Ci kept swinging his fists. ”He must have a weird accent or something. He’s saying ’I can’t lose,’ not ’I concede.’ Just stay out of it. Besides, surrendering and losing have the same outcome. I’m going to keep hitting him!”

”THWACK!”

”THWACK!”

”THWACK!”

He aimed each punch at non-vital areas.

It wouldn’t cripple Zhu Yan’s ability to fight, but the pain was sheer torture.

To be honest.

Zhu Yan’s fire was terrifying. Even Zhao Ci had been burned quite badly.

But they were only minor burns.

A moment ago, he had activated the Yu Xin Flame within him, letting it seep from his pores to form a protective film. Combined with the markings of his Celestial Demon Body, he could nullify ninety percent of Zhu Yan’s flame’s power for a short period.

It wouldn’t last long.

But it was long enough!

Zhu Li desperately tried to suppress her smile, but couldn’t stop a muffled giggle from escaping. ”Hee hee hee hee hee...”

Zhao Yong: ”...”

He couldn’t take it anymore. He looked up and shouted, ”Is the official from the Imperial Clan Court here? Zhu Yan has already surrendered! Can’t you do something about Lao Shi?”

A wizened voice drifted down from the sky, ”I ain’t heard Zhu Yan surrender either!”

Zhao Yong: ”???”

The crowd: ”...”

After a long moment.

A very long moment.

Zhao Ci grabbed the unconscious Zhu Yan, tossed him next to the recuperating Feng Tianxi, and said to a nearby doctor, ”He just fainted. It’s not a serious injury. Treat him quickly. He can fight again today.”

The doctor: ”...”

Zhao Yong: ”???”

Zhao Ci, however, glanced at the list. ”Next up is Zhuge Xiao, right? You can come on down. I’ve barely used any energy, and I’m in a hurry to score some points.”

But Zhuge Xiao just smiled. ”I have yet to open my Earth Element Divine Treasure, and my Qimen Skill is far from mastered. I am no match for the Tenth Prince. I surrender.”

Hearing this.

Zhao Ci’s brow furrowed. Things seemed to be heading in a direction he didn’t want.

He looked up at Zhao Yong. ”Brother Huang! Zhuge Xiao has surrendered. You’re next.”

Zhao Yong’s expression was placid. ”My injuries have not yet healed. I am no match for you. I surrender!”

Tan Kuang took a step forward. ”Tenth Prince! I...”

Zhao Yong stopped him. ”You will surrender as well!”

”But I...”

Tan Kuang was indignant, but seeing the firmness in Zhao Yong’s gaze, he could only relent. ”Tenth Prince, I surrender as well!”

At his words.

The entire arena erupted in an uproar.

No one could have imagined that after only two matches, Zhao Ci had forced the entire Ninth Prince’s Mansion—one of the two strongest factions—to surrender collectively.

How terrifying was that?

And yet, the very same Zhao Ci they were all marveling at did not look pleased at all.

’I’m confident that my Flesh Soul is invincible in this competition. Besides, most of the others haven’t even reached the Bone Forging Stage yet. Even if some freakishly strong expert showed up, I could just wear them down until they collapsed.’

’So my point-grabbing strategy is to wear everyone down. I’ll beat every opponent, strong or weak, until their combat power is halved. Then my three teammates can just swoop in and easily rack up the points.’

’If it works, we might even be able to take down Prince Lie’s Mansion.’

’But if they just surrender... this is going to be a problem!’