White-Hot

Shh-shh-shh!

On the pathway of the plaza, a group of individuals walked in a grandiose manner. Dozens of youth was led by one young master that attracted all the attention. Before he even approached the plaza, countless people already greeted him from afar.

"Good day to you, Young Master!"

"Good day, Young Master Henshui!"

As Jiang Henshui walked, he nodded with a smile to acknowledge the people who greeted him. But very soon, his smile froze; and the Jiang clansmen, who walked behind, stopped in their steps, too. Everyone cast their doubtful look on the black-clothed frail-looking youth who stood on the stage. One of them exclaimed, "Look! It's Jiang Yi! He… why is he on stage?"

Jiang Henshui, Jiang Gushui, and Jiang Rulang—along with the other Jiang clansmen—quickly reacted. Jiang Henshui's eyes had a flash of complex thoughts, and he sighed, "It is because Jiang Yi is… Lone Wolf!"

"What?"

Majority of the Jiang clansmen widened their eyes into a perfect circle. They looked at Jiang Yi as though he was a stranger, thinking whether was he still the inept that had his dantian sealed? In just a short six months, he actually rose to such a high status. His progress was so fast that it was unbelievable. He was the one who defeated Liu He yesterday!

"Yi Jian? Jian Yi? Jiang Yi! Hehe!"

On the other side, Ji Tingyu walked in along with a group of Ji clansmen, too. Casting her eyes on Jiang Yi's face, she felt some emotions stirring. Her standards were always set high up. In this massive Skyplume City, there weren't many men that deserved her attention; but Jiang Yi had now barely qualified.

"This Lone Wolf looks rather decent. Even though he isn't as dashing as Jiang Henshui, Ma Heiqi, and Liu He; but his looks are starting to grow on me…"

Yi Lingxue stood within the crowd and looked at Jiang Yi, who stood high on the stage, while her heart felt as though she knocked over a bottle of feelings that overwhelmed her with different sensations. A few months back, she was the first to notice Jiang Yi's uniqueness, but she didn't think he was suitable for her due to her status. Right now, it seemed like she was the one who couldn't match up to Jiang Yi's status.

"The City Lord is here; time for the show to begin!"

A wave of cheers could be heard when Ji Tian, the three mentors of the Mt. Spirit Beast College, the officers of the West Garrison Army arrived. They followed along with the Clan Heads and elders of the five major clans. When Jiang Yunshan and his group looked upon the stages, their expression changed slightly. Jiang Yi, who was brazenly revealing himself, was as though he was trying to silently slap their faces.

"Let the elimination tournament begin!"

The voice of the splendidly-dressed veteran resonated; tens of thousands of audience got excited. Today's matches were certainly worth watching: as many of the clans had definitely made some secret arrangements. Today, these five challengers would surely have a hard time winning their ten matches.

"Swish!"

As the veteran finished his sentence, one of the participants immediately leaped onto the stage. Everyone looked over and had an 'as expected' expression.

The one on stage was a martial artist who was at the sixth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm, and he was rather famous in Skyplume City. He was a collateral descendant of the Ma Clan, and he was now on Jiang Yi's stage. It was obvious that… the Ma Clan was preparing to crush Jiang Yi.

"Hahaha!"

Jiang Yi laughed while putting on a calm front. He knew that if the Jiang Clan weren't going to make their move, the Ma Clan would. As long as he stood on the stage for an extra moment, the faces of the Jiang Clan's Head and the Ma Clan's Head would feel the extra moment of pain.

"He!"

Once the Ma clansman got on stage, he didn't say any redundant words and dashed in a straight line towards Jiang Yi with fierce eyes instead.

Black essence force!

Jiang Yi immediately channeled a wisp of black essence force onto his eyes. A sixth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm fighter couldn't put any pressure on him, but he remained cautious so that he could survive longer. Unlike Liu He who got careless at the crucial moment.

"Let me play with Young Master He!"

On the other side, a young master of the Liu Clan went on stage, and his target was the blue-robed youth—He Dao. When Liu He got defeated yesterday, it put shame on the faces of the Liu Clan. It was apparent that the Liu Clan was prepared to bring down He Dao to regain their morale.

"Young lady Leng, please offer me your guidance!"

Yi Lingxue flew on stage and took the initiative to look for Leng Qianqian. The strongest combatant of Yi Clan's current generation was Yi Longyu, and he was difficult for him to grab one of the five enrollment spots with his current strength. But over a dozen of the minor clans that were situated in the Skyplume City had decided to build an alliance meant for overthrowing these five challengers. If they succeeded, these five would lose their qualifications to join the Mt. Spirit Beast College, and the other descendants of the various clans would have a higher chance.

The other descendants of the two other major clans targeted Jiang Henshui and Ji Tingyu. The two of them seemed to have secured two of the enrollment spots, but who would know of the end result without giving it a try? What if they slipped up and got defeated?

The first matches of today were bursting with excitement; even the audience and the people on the spectator's stand were having high expectations. Some accidents were bound to happen today. Of course, the majority of the audience cast their sights on Jiang Yi and He Dao. It was obvious that the two of them would be facing great resistance and obstructions.

"Get down!"

Jiang Yi dodged the attack of the Ma clansman with ease; he then countered with a palm strike aimed at his opponent's chest. With his insane vision and reaction speed, he didn't even need to use the black essence force to easily defeat his opponent who was just at the sixth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm.

"Huh?"

With his crafty angle of attack, his opponent had to choose between retreating off the stage or enduring his palm strike. Had it been anyone else, they would definitely choose to retreat after seeing the power of Jiang Yi's strength. A single palm strike might cause serious injuries or even death.

But to Jiang Yi's surprise, the Ma Clan's martial artist didn't retreat. He took out a dagger from his sleeve and thrust viciously at Jiang Yi's left shoulder instead.

At the current juncture, Jiang Yi couldn't alter his move anymore. He could only forcefully dodge to the side and slam his palm on his opponent.

"Bang!"

As the Ma clansman immediately flew off the stage, a blood groove was drawn on Jiang Yi's left shoulder; and blood was violently spurting all over. He quickly retrieved and consumed a recuperation elixir; he then circulated the elixir's effect for a moment and managed to stop the bleeding. As a ray of light shot out from Jiang Yi's eyes, he saw another martial artist, who was at the sixth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm, jumping on the stage. He instantly understood.

It was a war of attrition!

It seemed like the Ma Clan came with a well-prepared strategy: constantly sending out their clansman into an all-out battle with Jiang Yi. The elimination tournament didn't allow any killing, and no matter how severe the injury Jiang Yi could inflict on them, they wouldn't have any losses. They would at most deplete some of their recuperation elixirs to heal themselves. On the other hand, they would risk it all to injure Jiang Yi and exhaust his essence force. Once Jiang Yi was riddled in wounds, Ma Heiqi would then go and deal the final blow.

This strategy was simple yet effective, and it was an upright plan that wouldn't invite any castigation. After all, this elimination tournament was meant to be carried out in the same method. It was also the toughest part of the single elimination open tournament.

"Playing ruthlessly? Alright then… let's see who is better at that!"

Seeing his opponent rushing at him like a savage wild beast, Jiang Yi let out a sinister expression, too. He stood still in place and waited for his opponent fist to crash in. He then channeled a wisp of black essence force to enhance his fist. He had decided to clash head on!

"Boom!"

As their essence force clashed, Jiang Yi was forced to take three steps back while his opponent took a dozen steps back. His opponent's robes on the right hand got burst apart, and the hand was oozing with fresh blood. It was obvious that his hand got injured by the clash.

"Swish!"

When you are sick, I shall claim your life1!

Jiang Yi's body rocketed over and along the way; his fists turned into six and entrapped his opponent. As expected, his opponent didn't dodge; neither did he try to flee. His opponent retrieved a dagger and gave a ferocious thrust. His plan was apparent—to drag Jiang Yi down even if he risked being injured!

"Clang, clang!"

The sound of metal echoed as the dagger of the Ma clansman got cut across by a green light; it then suddenly broke into two parts. Jiang Yi followed up with a ruthless punch to his opponent's head and, at the same time, let out a lightning fast kick, striking at the leg and sending his opponent flying out.

"Ah!"

The Ma clansman let out a miserable yell as he fell backward, crashing into the crowd underneath the stage. Jiang Yi's fist and kick were filled with the strength which caused the Ma clansman head to bleed and his leg to be injured.

This Green Destiny Sword is indeed a Treasure Artifact. It cut through metal like cutting through sand!

Jiang Yi then shot an apathetic stare below while stroking the green-colored short sword in his hand. The Ma clansmen nearly vomited blood from the agitation.

"Ma Yi. You go!"

Ma Heiqi had arranged for the injured Ma clansman to be carried back for recuperation. With a dark expression, he gave his order to another Ma clansman. Today, the Ma Clan was determined to take down Jiang Yi, no matter the cost. Even if they risk injuring all the strong combatants of Ma Clan's younger generation, they must take Jiang Yi down.

"Swish!"

Another Ma clansman went up the stage. It became clear to even a retard that the Ma Clan were targeting Jiang Yi. But if Ma Heiqi wanted to grab one of the enrollment spots, it was normal that he would strike at Jiang Yi's stage.

As the fights carried on, Ma Clan's schemes were clear. They constantly sent their clansmen on stage, and even though Jiang Yi kept winning, his body had been left with four scars. The Ma clansmen didn't fear getting severely injured while giving it their all to leave a wound on Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi was truly infuriated now. He sent all the Ma clansmen off the stage with severe injuries. Even though he was bursting with fury, he still didn't dare to kill. He knew that if he killed, he would be immediately disqualified. This was precisely the reason why Ma Clan could behave this despicably.

Seventh match!

Another martial artist at the sixth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm appeared. It seemed like Ma Clan was prepared to send all their elite fighters on-stage today—all just to take down Jiang Yi. Only four wisps of black essence forces were left. Jiang Yi had five parts of his body wounded; his essence force and stamina were nearly depleted. Seeing Ma Heiqi who couldn't stop smiling, Jiang Yi's heart completely sank.

"You are the ones who forced my hands!"

Jiang Yi let out a roar and catapulted himself using his legs. His body was just like a violent dragon crashing towards the Ma clansman. He stopped using any martial skills with his Green Destiny Sword and simply thrust at his opponent.

It was only the seventh match, and if he carried on like this, Jiang Yi would lose in a matter of time. Once he lost, the Martial Arts Hall would no longer give him any regards. He would end up being assassinated by the Jiang or the Ma Clan. Since that was the case, what was there to consider? He didn't bother about winning or losing and just wanted to have fun for now.

"Good!"

Seeing the state Jiang Yi was in, the Ma Clan's martial artist didn't show any trace of fear. Instead of retreating, he advanced towards Jiang Yi and ignored the short sword that was about to pierce his left chest. He took out a dagger in his sleeve with lightning speed and ruthlessly slashed at Jiang Yi's right arm.

"You want to cripple my arm? Then I shall cripple you!"

Jiang Yi fell into a complete rage as he forcefully twisted his right shoulder. Despite the dagger stabbing into his own right shoulder, he ferociously slid his short sword downwards and thrust it into his opponent's abdomen!

"Crack!"

Two of Jiang Yi's right shoulder bone got broken by his opponent and was temporarily disabled. But the dantian of the Ma clansman burst like a rubber ball. His abdomen shriveled as his dantian had been crippled by Jiang Yi forever.

The battle had now turned white-hot2!