Chapter 44 - Are You Trying to Cheat a Child?
Chapter 44: Are You Trying to Cheat a Child?
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
There were a lot of people seated in the pavilion of the spectator’s stand, and the ones with the highest status were naturally the three mentors of the Mt. Spirit Beast College. Next in the hierarchy were the generals of the West Garrison Army and Ji Tian. There wasn’t a need to mention the elders of the four major clans because even the Clan Heads didn’t dare to casually speak in this occasion.
The deputy general of the West Garrison Army had the same surname of Jiang. When he heard the female mentor, who had suffocating beauty, spoke, he nodded in agreement, “Lady Su is right. In the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks will turn into smoke. Look at the other four who are facing their opponents with their true skills, especially City Lord Ji’s daughter and that 008. They are using their formidable strength to oppress their opponents. From my point of view, I believe the two of them has the ability to achieve 100 consecutive victories. It seems the current generation of Skyplume City’s descendants isn’t too bad.”
“Sir Deputy General is too kind with his words!” Ji Tian replied with a restrained smile, but the satisfied look in his eyes could be concealed. On the other side, Jiang Yunshan stood with a smile and bowed with cupped fists. “Thank you for the praises, Sir Deputy General. Compared to the young masters of Jiang Yi City, my son is still lacking in many ways. The descendants of the Jiang Yi Clan are the true prodigies.”
Jiang Yi City was the first class city of the Divine Martial Kingdom and was the city where the Western Garrison Liege Lord resided in. The major clans of the Jiang Yi City were the true aristocrats of the Divine Martial Kingdom. This was why Jiang Henshui couldn’t be compared to the descendants of their clans.
“Oh? No. 008 is Yunshan’s son?” The Deputy General asked with some suspicion and then praised him. “Like father, like son—not bad, not bad.”
Jiang Yunshan and his members were all blooming with joy. The other three major clans were smiling but cursing in their hearts. This Deputy General stayed at the Jiang Residence yesterday and acted as though he didn’t know Jiang Henshui? This was obviously an act that was meant for the three mentors of the Mt. Spirit Beast College.
The Deputy General paused before asking intimately, “Yunshan, where is Lord Hai? The reason why I brought my squad is to see Lord Hai!”
“Lord Hai? Oh, you mean Uncle Hai, right?”
Jiang Yunshan, Jiang Yunshi, and the rest got a surprise, but their eyes were filled with doubt. Because the Deputy General accepted the gifts from the Jiang Clan, it was normal for him to put on some good words for the Jiang Clan. But to address Jiang Yunhai as Lord? Wasn’t it too polite?
The Deputy General sighed and said, “That’s right, Lord Jiang Yunhai. Did you all not know that Lord Hai once served our Liege Lord and was favored by him? But due to some disability left by his injuries, he had to leave the Liege Lord’s residence and came to the Skyplume City.”
After the Deputy General finished his explanation, everyone’s expression turned serious. Even the icy Mentor Su turned and looked at Jiang Yunshan. Favored by the Western Garrison Liege Lord? If this was true, then this Jiang Yunhai of the Jiang Clan was someone incredible.
Jiang Yunshan looked at Jiang Yunshi and Jiang Yunshe; their eyes had traces of shock. They had never heard that Jiang Yunhai once served in the residence of the Western Garrison Liege Lord. Neither did he mention any relationship he had with the Western Garrison Liege Lord who was the no.1 combatant of the Divine Martial Kingdom.
Whether the words of the Deputy General were true, he had truly done a great favor for the three old foxes. Seeing the respectful expression of the present individuals—with Ji Tian included—Jiang Yunshan felt extremely satisfied. He stood up and smiled apologetically. “Uncle Hai had always mentioned how the Liege Lord treated him well. Well... Uncle Hai went out to venture the world a few years back and should be returning within these two years.”
“Oh! That sure is a pity.”
The Deputy General let out an expression of pity that didn’t seem to be faked. He cast his sights at the stages and didn’t continue. The words that he said today were all on point. If Jiang Henshui was able to successfully take one of the enrollment spots into Mt. Spirit Beast College, then these words would naturally have some impact... at least to the three mentors present. But if Jiang Henshui didn’t succeed, then all the Deputy General’s words would be in vain.
“Nice!”
Bursts of cheers could be heard again, and it attracted everyone’s attention. Taking a look over, they saw Ji Tingyu and Jiang Henshui won another match. Leng Qianqian had already won three consecutive matches while the blue-robed youth was even more ferocious, winning four matches with ease.
“Bang!”
Jiang Yi had the same excellence, effortlessly kicking another individual off the stage. It was soon followed up by the voice of the veteran: “536, eight consecutive victories!”
“Next!”
Jiang Yi stood on the stage with pride as he roared and was insufferably arrogant. But no one took the bait this time, those participants who were only at the third or fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm received orders from their various clans. They were not allowed to go and humiliated themselves. They weren’t so naive to get kicked off the stage, putting shame to themselves in front of all the influential figures of the city.
“Ma Gu, go play with Lone Wolf!”
In the corner by the eastern side of the plaza, Ma Heiqi looked at the insolence of Jiang Yi and recalled the situation when Jiang Yi rejected his request for a spar. He didn’t act on his anger as he knew this single elimination open tournament required the challenger to win 100 battles in order to succeed. He naturally wouldn’t enter the stage at such an early phase, which was why he sent someone to go put out Jiang Yi’s prowess.
A young man, who stood behind Ma Heiqi, was as skinny as a monkey. He let out a cold smile and nodded before leaping into the air. Stepping on countless heads, he advanced towards Jiang Yi’s stage.
“Ouch!”
All those who had their heads stepped on by Ma Gu were furious, but they shut their mouth once they saw the face of Ma Gu. He was notorious within the Skyplume City: not only did he have formidable strength, but he also had a good family background and was extremely vicious, too. Anyone who offended him would end up with broken legs and arms.
Jiang Yi’s eyes turned stern as well. He had once fought against Ma Gu and knew of his vicious moves; Jiang Yi was nearly injured by him twice. Ma Gu had tyrannical strength at the seventh stage of Cast Tripod Realm and was the strongest opponent Jiang Yi had to face today.
Ma Gu leaped onto the stage and didn’t say anything but looked at Jiang Yi with cold eyes. The vicious snake eyes made Jiang Yi uncomfortable, and he unconsciously took a step back and even stumbled like he was in fear.
None of the audience hooted with laughter anymore but twitched their mouths instead. Jiang Yi put on too much of a show; even a retard could see that he was acting weak to bring down his opponent’s guard. But the audience didn’t think Jiang Yi could continue to rely on his luck this time as there was a large disparity in strength. The eyes from the spectator’s stand looked over too, wanting to see how Jiang Yi would fall.
“He!”
With a shout, Ma Gu bent body like a wave and rushed at Jiang Yi. His maneuvers were vigorous and ferociously fast: he reached the body of Jiang Yi in just two blinks of the eye. A white dagger suddenly appeared in his hands as he slashed at Jiang Yi’s neck.
He executed his first move with a weapon, and it was a fatal slash!
There weren’t any rules that state the prohibition of weapons. Leng Qianqian carried a saber on the stage, too; but Leng Qianqian had always acted properly by not attacking any crucial parts of the body. But this Ma Gu was already three stages stronger than Jiang Yi, and yet still used such vicious methods?
“Hmph!”
Jiang Yi was now truly infuriated. He used the Extreme Divine Steps to dodge to the side and activated the essence force on his hands to produce six fists that drowned Ma Gu. This was his first time using Jiang Clan’s martial skills. If he were to continue hiding his true strength, he would definitely be defeated. What’s more, Ma Gu made him unhappy, and he had decided to teach this Ma Gu a good lesson.
“Phantom Punch?”
Once Jiang Yi made his move, everyone got a surprise—even Jiang Yunshan and the rest on the spectator’s stand. The Phantom Punch was created by an ancestor of the Jiang Clan and only members of Jiang Clan had access to it. Could Lone Wolf be a clansman of the Jiang Clan?
“Clan Head, he looks like... Jiang Yi!”
Jiang Yunshe’s eyes had a flash of chill as he whispered. He had thought Jiang Yi’s figure looked familiar, but he was certain for sure now. Because Jiang Yi was at the fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm and had recently disappeared. Now he reappeared wearing a mask and knew Phantom Punch? Who else could it be?
“Jiang Yi?”
Jiang Yunshan mumbled to himself and thought Jiang Yi looked familiar; he then suddenly thought of something and quickly gave an order: “Ask someone to go check whether is Jiang Yi the Purple-Gold Token-Grade Sparring Partner—Lone Wolf?”
Jiang Yunshe stood up immediately and went out for a moment. His face turned severe as he reported: “He is indeed the Lone Wolf. This kid has ulterior motives that should be punished.”
“Hmph!”
Jiang Yunshan snorted and whispered his orders: “This kid is indeed an ingrate. Send orders to the men to hold. Wait till the recruitment ceremony is over. Do not let anyone else know the relationship between Jiang Yi and the Martial Arts Hall.”
In the views of Jiang Yunshan and Jiang Yunshe, Jiang Yi possessed such mysterious ability that could help others attain Phenomenal Stage in their martial skills, and yet he didn’t report to the clan. He used it for his personal gains to become a sparring partner at the Martial Arts Hall, benefiting others. Jiang Yi indeed had ulterior motives!
“Wow!”
Just as the two of them were in a discussion, they got surprised by a sudden commotion from the outside. The two of them took a glance outside, and their faces instantly let out a bizarre expression.
It was because Ma Gu got sent flying off the stage while blood violently spurted from his mouth. Even the armor on his chest got burst apart and had blood oozing out. It was obvious that he got severely injured.
“How is this possible?!”
The two of them gasped at the same time, and as they looked around, there were plenty of shocked faces in the pavilion. Even the ice mountain beauty, Mentor Su, had a scowl on her face and had doubt-ridden eyes.
The people that were seated in the pavilion were all at least at the fourth or fifth stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. Everyone had sharp eyes and could easily see that Jiang Yi was only at the fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm. Majority of the people witnessed his previous battles clearly as well. But this time, Jiang Yi didn’t use any tricks or schemes but upright blasted Ma Gu off of the stage.
The question was... what did Jiang Yi use to blast Ma Gu off the stage when he was at the seventh stage of Cast Tripod Realm?
When Jiang Yi previously defeated Jiang Rulong, Jiang Yunshan and the rest didn’t believe that Jiang Yi had such combat strength. When they inquired for more information after that day’s incident, they found out that Jiang Yi used Jiang Ruhu as a weapon. This prevented Jiang Rulong from using his true strength, and Jiang Yi then mounted a sneak attack to defeat Jiang Rulong.
Jiang Yunshe muttered to himself and immediately asked an elder of the Liu Clan who sat beside him, “How did the kid win?”
“How did he win? We should be the one asking you, Elder Yunshe!”
Unexpectedly, it was the elder of the Liu Clan that asked in return with some meaning in his words, “The kid used four different martial skills—Extreme Divine Steps, Phantom Punch, Silk Hands, and Shooting Star Punch—a total of twelve moves! Elder Yunshe, three of those martial skills are the unique martial skills of your Jiang Clan, right? Hehe... your Jiang Clan is sure hiding a lot of things uh? How did this kid impersonate someone at the fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm while being at the seventh stage of Cast Tripod Realm? Up till now, I still cannot find the method...”
Jiang Yunshe’s pupils shrank and quickly shook his head in denial. “The seventh stage of Cast Tripod Realm? Impossible! This kid was just at the first stage of the Cast Tripod Realm half a year ago!”
“Hahaha!”
The words of Jiang Yunshe invited a wave of sneering. Everyone witnessed Ma Gu blasted off by over ten feet in a single punch, and that one punch severely injured him. That strength of the punch must have been at least at the seventh stage of Cast Tripod Realm! How could someone advance from the first stage to the seventh stage of Cast Tripod Realm in just half a year? Are you trying to cheat a child?