Hearing this, Su Yu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a strange feeling arose within him.

’What’s gotten into Patriarch Yang today?’

In a world where the strong ruled, having multiple wives and concubines was commonplace. But Yang Chongren was usually quite guarded around him.

’But today? Not only is he offering them, he’s practically gift-wrapping them as a package deal?’

Su Yu’s gaze was sharp as a blade, instantly piercing through Yang Chongren’s petty, merchant-like calculations.

’He’s just afraid I’ll go through the motions without putting in any real effort. He wants to use a honey trap to bind me completely to the Yang Family’s cause.’

His expression was calm, his tone detached but firm. "Uncle Yang, I have stated my intentions before. The path of Martial Arts is long, and I am still in the early stages. I do not wish to be fettered by romance so soon. As for this arena battle..."

Su Yu paused, an aura of sharp, convincing resolve radiating from him. "Since I have already agreed, there is no reason for me to hold back. Uncle Yang, you can rest assured."

Yang Chongren’s heart sank when he heard Su Yu’s partial refusal.

He was a merchant, and merchants only trust the bargaining chips they hold in their own hands.

Su Yu might be telling the truth, but Yang Chongren wasn’t one to gamble. He believed in transactions, in a clear exchange of benefits.

CLANG!

Just then, a gong sounded.

A middle-aged man clad in Black Iron Heavy Armor strode into the center of the arena, his Qi and Blood surging.

This man was none other than Lu Ping, the referee for the match, a Centurion in the Black Stone Army who also served as the Vice Commander of the Law Enforcement Team.

Seeing that time was up, the last of Yang Chongren’s restraint vanished.

"Nephew Su, Uncle Yang knows your ambition lies at the peak of Martial Arts and that you look down on worldly affairs. But for that very reason, you need someone attentive by your side to take care of you!"

"Uncle Yang genuinely believes in your future! I’m not asking for any official status for them! Even if you achieve great success one day and Zhen’Er and her sister can’t keep up due to their mediocre talent, you can make them your concubines, or even your handmaidens! It would be fine!"

Su Yu’s pupils contracted slightly.

’In this world, the status of a concubine was abysmally low. Yang Chongren was a wealthy merchant, a prominent figure in the city. How could he be willing to let his two pampered, legitimate daughters become mere concubines?’

But he quickly understood. Yang Chongren had been backed into a corner.

’But I have my own principles. I won’t take advantage of someone’s desperation.’

"Uncle Yang, my answer is the same. I will give my all in the arena battle!"

...

"I am Xu Yuanjie, a Tributor of the Qian Family! Which brother will come up and grant me a lesson?"

A middle-aged man in a blue shirt, his arms corded with muscle, walked to the center of the arena. His gaze was electric, fixed directly on the Yang Family’s contingent.

Wang Nianchen approached Su Yu. "Younger Brother Su, this Xu Yuanjie is from the Canglan Martial Arts Hall. Although his strength hasn’t reached the First Acupoint realm, his Canglan Fist Technique is famous. His power is not to be underestimated."

Yang Chongren immediately added, "Tributors, of the two Qian Family Tributors, Xu Yuanjie is the stronger one. If we defeat him, we’ll win the match!"

"Alright. In that case, Brother Su, how about I go first and test his mettle?"

"Be my guest."

Su Yu nodded in agreement.

"Hahahaha! Xu Yuanjie! I am Wang Nianchen, Tributor of the Yang Family! I’ve come to face you!" Wang Nianchen laughed heartily and strode forward.

Seeing that both combatants were in position and had taken their stances, the referee, Lu Ping, immediately announced, "The match begins!"

"Canglan Fury Fist!"

The words had barely left his lips when Xu Yuanjie’s figure shot forward. He wielded no weapon, yet his fists carried the faint rumble of wind and thunder, like a great wave rising from a calm sea to crash upon Wang Nianchen’s face.

The punch was immensely powerful, like the furious waves of Canglan crashing against the shore. It tore through the air with a terrifying sound, aimed directly at his opponent’s head.

Su Yu could tell with a single glance that Xu Yuanjie had been immersed in the Canglan Fist Technique for many years. He was no ordinary martial artist. ’If they fight head-on,’ Su Yu thought, ’Wang Nianchen is probably no match for him.’

Seeing the punch, Wang Nianchen didn’t dare to be the least bit careless. There was no time to draw and swing the broadsaber from his back; he could only hold it horizontally before his chest like an iron shield.

BANG!

The fist slammed into the flat of the wide blade, producing a sickening thud that set one’s teeth on edge.

Wang Nianchen used the impact to slide back several steps, neutralizing the force.

’He really is a tough opponent for someone below the First Acupoint realm! A head-on clash is out of the question!’

Wang Nianchen knew what he had to do. He immediately switched tactics, posturing as if he were launching a fierce assault.

"Black Tiger Breaking Gate!"

With a fierce roar, he unleashed his signature move. The broadsaber in his hand whistled through the air, chopping down toward his opponent’s torso.

His broadsaber was wide and thick, and the downward chop seemed to carry an immense force. Even Xu Yuanjie was alarmed and didn’t dare to meet it directly.

He retreated abruptly, barely dodging the wide, domineering strike.

Seeing his opponent dodge, Wang Nianchen rejoiced inwardly. ’He took the bait!’

"Black Tiger Linked Sabers!"

The broadsaber in his hand looked intimidating, but it wasn’t actually that heavy.

Once his opponent was too scared to meet his blows directly, they would fall into his tempo.

The next moment, the broadsaber became a tempest in his hands, chopping down again and again in a dense, astonishing flurry of light!

"How is this possible? How can such a heavy saber move so fast?"

Xu Yuanjie’s face paled in shock, thrown into disarray by this illogical fighting style.

’Excellent!’

Off to the side, Yang Chongren couldn’t help but clap and cheer. Wang Nianchen was truly worthy of his training at the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall; his power was actually suppressing Xu Yuanjie.

His gaze shifted to the opposing side. When he saw Qian Mushi’s calm expression, his heart sank.

’I expected him to look furious, but he doesn’t.’

’Does he have another trick up his sleeve?’

In the arena, Wang Nianchen seized the opportunity and pressed his advantage. Following the Black Tiger Linked Sabers, he unleashed several more ferocious saber techniques, forcing Xu Yuanjie into an increasingly wretched state.

Finally, after dodging repeatedly, Xu Yuanjie exposed an opening and was slashed across the chest. A spray of blood immediately flew from the wound.

"Brother Xu, concede! I have no wish to truly injure you!" Wang Nianchen said, unleashing another flurry of slashes that gave his opponent no time to breathe.

Xu Yuanjie saw that the broadsaber in his opponent’s hands showed no signs of slowing. He knew he was outmatched; continuing to fight would only lead to more severe injuries.

Thus, after a moment’s hesitation, he immediately surrendered. "I concede."

Hearing those two words, "I concede," Wang Nianchen was ecstatic. ’Xu Yuanjie is so strong, his Fist Technique is incredible... I can’t believe he fell for my bluff.’

’If he had just met my attacks directly, he would have seen through my act in a few exchanges.’

"Thank you for the match! Brother Xu, your Fist Technique is profound. I merely had the advantage of my saber."

"Brother Wang, you are too kind. I willingly admit defeat!"

The two men cupped their fists at each other, and the tense, hostile atmosphere immediately dissipated.

"We won? We actually won!"

Yang Chongren was so excited he slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming.

’We won relying on Wang Nianchen alone? Then my earlier offer to Su Yu... giving him my two daughters as concubines... was that too high a price?’

The moment they won, Yang Chongren’s merchant instincts resurfaced. He was already thinking about how to walk back the terms he had just offered Su Yu.

However, just as the members of the Yang Family were celebrating, a worried voice cut through the noise. "Father, it doesn’t look like the Qian Family is ready to concede!"

Yang Zhen, noticing that the opposing side remained completely unfazed, quickly spoke up to warn him.

Yang Chongren looked over at her words, and his heart gave a violent lurch.

Far from being angry about losing a round, Qian Mushi wore a mocking sneer. He was bowing respectfully toward an inconspicuous black carriage at the end of the street.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and two figures dressed in black martial attire stepped out.

Their steps were slow and deliberate, but they possessed such an astonishing aura that the crowd fell silent.

In the arena, Wang Nianchen, who had been so triumphant just moments before, turned deathly pale. He could barely keep a steady grip on his broadsaber.

"S-Senior Brother Song? L-Senior Brother Liu?"

His voice trembled. The imposing bravado he displayed moments ago vanished like smoke, replaced by deference and fear.

Seeing Wang Nianchen’s reaction, Yang Chongren was horrified.

’Experts from the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall!’

’This is bad! How could the Qian Family have found experts of this caliber!’

As the two drew closer, someone in the crowd recognized them and gasped. "That’s Iron Arm Song Qingya of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall! An expert who has reached First Acupoint Perfection!"

"He single-handedly defeated five martial arts halls! He’s undefeated among those at the First Acupoint realm!"

"And the young man beside him is Liu Hao! He placed in the top twenty of the Martial Examination! I heard he’s been preparing to break through to the First Acupoint realm ever since! He’s a genius of the new generation!"

The appearance of these two sent a wave of cheers through the Qian Family’s ranks.

Qian Mushi let out a wild laugh. "My lords, I’ll leave the rest to you!"

In contrast, on the Yang Family’s side, every face turned deathly pale.

"It’s over..." The butler, Yang Quan, was so terrified his teeth were chattering. "Patriarch, Song Qingya is a renowned expert at the First Acupoint realm! Even though Tributor Su has also reached the First Acupoint, how long has it been since his breakthrough? How can he possibly be a match for him...?"

Despair spread through the Yang Family’s ranks like a plague.

Yang Chongren’s face was grim. He knew now that he had been played by Qian Mushi. The man must have secured these experts from the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall long ago.

’He was just waiting for me to walk right into his trap!’

’They even accounted for Su Yu. They aren’t afraid of him at all.’

’So what if he was in the top five of the Martial Examination? He’s still too young. He only broke through to the First Acupoint realm a month or two ago. How could he possibly be a match for Song Qingya?’

By now, Liu Hao had already taken the stage. He looked at Wang Nianchen across from him with utter disdain.

Wang Nianchen immediately put on a fawning smile. "Senior Brother Liu, I concede, I concede! We’re both from the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall. How could I dare to raise a hand against you?"

"Wang Nianchen, it’s not too late to concede after we’ve had a little fight!"

Liu Hao snorted. Wang Nianchen serving the Yang Family alongside Su Yu was a taboo. How could he possibly let him off without a lesson?

The next instant, his body vanished, becoming a blur as a fist shot toward Wang Nianchen’s face.

Wang Nianchen had been able to react to a similar punch from Xu Yuanjie, but Liu Hao’s fist was so fast he had no time to respond.

He had no time to block and could only retreat instinctively, trying to dodge.

But the fist, roaring with Qi and Blood, was simply too fast. In the blink of an eye, it slammed into his chest.

CRACK!

With the sickening crack of bone, Wang Nianchen’s stout body was sent flying. A loud CRASH followed as he slammed into and shattered several tables and chairs at the edge of the arena.

The entire crowd of onlookers erupted in an uproar!

"So strong! Liu Hao defeated Wang Nianchen in a single punch! Is this the true genius of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall?"

At this, the people of the Yang Family fell into complete despair.

’It’s over... it’s all over. Tributor Wang couldn’t even withstand a single blow.’

’If Liu Hao is this powerful, just how strong is the even more formidable Song Qingya?!’

Liu Hao shook the blood from his hand. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Su Yu for a moment. He didn’t make another move, but instead retreated from the arena with a cold sneer.

’I know my own limits,’ he thought. ’Su Yu is at the First Acupoint realm and was able to kill Sun Shi. I’m definitely no match for him.’ 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’But he offended Senior Brother Sun Yan and the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall. Someone else will take care of him!’

"The trash has been dealt with."

Song Qingya, who had remained motionless until now, slowly opened his eyes. They were as sharp as a hawk’s.

He walked toward the center of the arena, step by step. With each footfall, the green flagstones beneath his feet splintered into spiderweb cracks.

When he came to a stop, the terrifying power of his Qi and Blood, honed to First Acupoint Perfection, erupted without reservation. Even from a distance, the crowd felt as if they could hear it roaring like a great river.

Song Qingya’s gaze was glacial as it fell upon Su Yu. His voice was bone-chilling. "Su Yu, get up here and die!"