novelzi Chapter 371 I Want One Against Five!
Chapter 371 I Want One Against Five!
The Martial Dao tournament this time had a total of twenty-two participants, and of course, these twenty-two people were all the cream of the crop among the younger generation of the Great Powers. After Zhao Gongming's words settled, Ye Feng slowly stood up and walked towards the Martial Battle Platform at the front.
"Be careful," began Cao Yi, Boss Cao, "Though the number of participants in this Martial Dao tournament is not large, they are all experts among experts, especially since there are one or two who are extremely formidable. Do everything within your means and remember not to overexert yourself!"
Ye Feng nodded slightly, then with a swift movement, he reached the platform. He could see that within the vast imperial capital, there truly weren't many who cared about him. Boss Cao Yi counted as one, and Second Sect Leader Shi Yehong was included as well. Besides, those dignitaries he had made connections with all had more or less some interests tangled with him.
The Martial Battle Platform was very large, and occasionally there were flashes of light around it. It was clear to the discerning eye that this was the gleam from an array barrier, meant to prevent the aftermath of the battle from spilling out and impacting others around it.
Zhao Gongming stood upon the high stage and announced in a deep voice, "According to the free challenge rules, each person has only one chance to issue a challenge, and each person also only has one chance to be challenged. Those who fail will be eliminated without exception!"
Originally, this free challenge round was not part of the schedule, but it was proposed on the spot by the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts, with the main purpose being to address those with deep-rooted grudges in private. Utility Pavilion considered it largely harmless and thus agreed to it.
The current situation among the upper echelons of Xuanyuan Nation had roughly formed two major camps. On one side was Utility Pavilion at the helm, and on the other side was an alliance formed by the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts. Overall, the alliance of the Nine Great Sects was a bit stronger.
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However, there were also divides within these Sects, and many secrets in the Utility Pavilion unknown to the public.
And since Utility Pavilion was nominally the representative of Xuanyuan Nation and the symbol of rule over the Mortal World, both parties had formed a balance of power for the time being.
"Now, the free challenge officially begins!"
No sooner had Zhao Gongming's words fallen than two disciples of the Flora Sect stood up together, glaring at Ye Feng and declared, "We of the Flora Sect, Hua Bairi, challenge Ye Feng of Utility Pavilion!"
"I from the Underworld Sect also challenge Ye Feng!" a disciple from Underworld Sect suddenly declared.
"And I from Mount Shu Sword Sect also challenge Ye Feng!" a disciple from Mount Shu Sword Sect, holding a longsword, suddenly stepped forward.
"I, a disciple of the Dao Sect, would also like to learn from Mr. Ye Feng!"
Instantly, several elite disciples from the Sects of Ancient Martial Arts stood up, one after another with imposing momentum, looking at Ye Feng as if they couldn't wait to tear him to pieces.
Zhang Wenyuan couldn't help but laugh quietly, "It seems you're the popular one, Ye Feng. Just as the saying goes, 'Fame brings trouble as the fattened pig attracts the butcher.' Now I truly understand this sentiment."
Ye Feng also responded with a smile, "Are you calling me a pig?"
Zhang Wenyuan didn't pick up on that comment but instead asked, "Who are you going to choose?"
The crowd's discussions bubbled over, with the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts all sneering and cursing, while the Utility Pavilion members were indignant, with quite a few people cursing the Northern King for his arrogant insolence!
As Zhao Gongming was only the host and not the highest authority, this decision was not his to make, so he had to seek guidance from the eleven elders seated at the highest platform. The instruction came down quickly; the conference did not forbid fighting against multiple opponents, provided that the challengers agreed to it willingly.
After receiving the reply, Zhao Gongming raised his voice and said, "Ye Feng, you may choose multiple challengers, but there is one thing I must make clear to you: everyone here has been carefully selected by the Great Powers, and not one is mediocre."
Ye Feng smiled faintly and looked at the five challengers before him, then took a step forward and declared loudly, "Since you all wish to challenge me so eagerly, I've never liked to disappoint. Let's all fight together!"
"What did you say? All of us together? You want to accept all our challenges—we are five people!" Hua Bairi of the Flora Sect exclaimed with wide eyes.
"Ye Feng, if you have the guts, say it again. We are five people, five genius talents from different sects. Each of us is in the Divine Path Realm, and even the least among us is in the Second Level of the Enlightenment Realm within the Divine Path Realm. You'd better think this through!" Ming Jiujing, a disciple of the Underworld Sect, coldly rebuked.
Ye Feng answered with a faint smile, "What, can't you all hear clearly, or do I need to repeat myself?"
Hua Bairi shouted angrily, "Alright, Ye, you're cocky enough, but since you're seeking death, we'll oblige you!"
Ming Jiujing, too, clenched his teeth and said, "Ignorant brat, thinking you're invincible just because you're the Northern Border King? You're nothing but a frog in a well. Now, let us show you just how different our status is from that of worldly nobility like you!"
Ye Feng couldn't be bothered with these fools and looked up at Zhao Gongming, "I'm up against five, can we start now?"
Zhao Gongming replied, "Please, non-participants must step down from the platform before we can begin!"
The others swiftly flew down from the platform. Seeing this, Boss Cao Yi's body went limp, and he said weakly, "It's over. My wager on a Spiritual Treasure is as good as lost."
Standing nearby, Second Sect Leader Shi Yehong said, "This is indeed the impetuosity of youth, but it's also good. Hopefully, this failure will teach him a lesson. After all, the people of the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts are simply incomparable to those in the Mortal World!"
By now, the entire Vermilion Bird Meeting Hall was abuzz, yet Ye Feng remained as calm as a gentle breeze and soft clouds on the Martial Battle Platform. Choosing these five people was not an impulsive decision.
In fact, he had long discerned that including the two from the Flora Sect, one from the Underworld Sect, one from the Mount Shu Sword Sect, and one from the Dao Sect, none could be considered top-notch, and none posed the slightest threat to him.
Furthermore, Ye Feng had another deeper consideration. The upper echelons of the entire Xuanyuan Nation were now concentrated in the capital, which resulted in the Four Realms being temporarily without leadership.
The situation in the Southern Territory was already tense, seemingly on the brink of a confrontation, and even the Snow Wolf Country to the north, due to the posture of the Three Southern Kingdoms, was restless and amassing a large number of troops to their south.
Thus, Ye Feng needed to conclude this Martial Dao Conference as swiftly as possible, to free up his energies to stabilize the situation in the Four Realms. However, his deep thought and foresight were mistaken by others for presumptuous arrogance.
Indeed, the world laughs at me as too mad, yet I laugh at them for not seeing through the truth!