"Dragon Commander, it seems your subordinate, Long Feng, is indeed an interesting fellow. Defeated by Ma Feng year after year, yet he bounces back each time. I'm starting to admire him," said Lin Jingmeng, the director of the West Ling Garrison Department, with a slight smile as he addressed Long Xiaotian, the director of the East Ling Garrison Department, observing Long Feng confidently challenge Ma Feng.
Among the sixteen cities in the Southern Ling region, each with its own Garrison Department, Lin Jingmeng was the only director under forty-five years old. His beauty was comparable to Gu Qinghan's, making him particularly striking in the crowd.
"Long Feng has always been stubborn since he was young. I've tried to persuade him countless times, but to no avail. There's nothing I can do. I only hope he can regain his dignity and confidence this time," Long Xiaotian replied. He understood Lin Jingmeng's subtle mockery but didn't retaliate, recognizing that taunting an opponent after a victory was somewhat expected.
Long Feng was Long Xiaotian's biological son, but he wasn't a beneficiary of nepotism. He joined the Garrison Department through his own merit and rose to a position equal to Qin Long's. Long Feng had many legendary deeds and was a renowned figure within the Jiang Province Garrison Department. However, for the past three years, he had consistently lost to Ma Feng, and each defeat was more crushing than the last, making him a laughingstock. No one expected that on the fourth year, Long Feng would again face Ma Feng right from the start; it seemed like destiny.
The draw for this match was conducted randomly by Lei Shen among the eight directors. Thus, it was pure luck, and it appeared Long Feng's luck was not good this year either.
"Long Feng, have you forgotten the humiliating experience of losing to me for three consecutive years? You dare to provoke me again this year?" Ma Feng, surprised by Long Feng's public declaration to reclaim his lost dignity, burst into laughter. "It seems I should teach you an even more painful lesson this year, making you fully realize the vast difference in our strength."
"No problem, if you can truly do that," Long Feng said, coughing. His complexion turned even paler as he beckoned Ma Feng with a finger. "I'll let you make the first move this time."
"You're asking for trouble." Ma Feng, provoked by Long Feng's repeated challenges, flew into a rage. His eyes turned bloodshot as he roared and launched a swift punch towards Long Feng.
Ma Feng had an uncle who was a lay disciple of the Shaolin Temple. His Arhat Fist technique had reached the pinnacle of mastery, capable of killing a water buffalo with a single punch. Ma Feng learned the art from his uncle since childhood. After two to three decades, his Arhat Fist had surpassed his uncle's, reaching an even more terrifying realm.
The moment he threw the punch, not only were the spectators below startled, but even the dignitaries on the high platform showed surprise. Compared to last year, Ma Feng was even more powerful and formidable this year.
"Brother Shen, it seems you're going to lose." Qin Long, witnessing the power of the punch, smiled at Shen Lang and said, "Apologies, I'll be gladly accepting those ten Hundred Poison Pills."
"Brother Qin, you're celebrating too soon. Look at the arena," Shen Lang's voice rang out with a smile after Qin Long finished speaking.
"What?" Qin Long was taken aback by Shen Lang's words, then looked up at the arena. What he saw left him stunned.
Facing Ma Feng's fearsome punch, Long Feng not only dodged it with incredible speed but also took seven steps in the air in a flash. With terrifying velocity, he appeared behind Ma Feng and delivered a heavy punch directly to his spine, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood and collapse to the ground.
"This..." Qin Long was dumbfounded. The other spectators were even more bewildered. No one had anticipated the match outcome to be this way. Ma Feng, whom everyone had favored, had lost to Long Feng, and so devastatingly.
"Since when did this kid learn the Daoist sect's Lingbo Weibu and the martial art's Tiyun Zong?" Lin Jingmeng, on the high platform, stared at the scene with disbelief and addressed Long Xiaotian. Lin Jingmeng, besides being the director of the West Ling Garrison Department, was also a top-tier expert who could discern Long Feng's hidden strengths.
"As expected of Director Lin; nothing escapes your eyes. Indeed, Long Feng used Lingbo Weibu and Tiyun Zong. However, this was also a surprise attack, as Ma Feng didn't take him seriously. That's how he succeeded. Anyone else wouldn't have been able to defeat Ma Feng," Long Xiaotian replied with a smile. This explanation was convincing not only to Lin Jingmeng and the others but also to Long Feng himself.
"Good kid, you really have it in you! I didn't expect you to set a trap for me here. Well done," unexpectedly, Ma Feng, who had been arrogant before the fight, now showed a smile on his face after his defeat. "You've broken my spine, and I need to get it treated promptly, or I'll be in a wheelchair for life. However, I injured you quite badly over the past three years, so this time we're even. I'll deal with you again next year."
"Alright, I won't be participating next year. Because I know I can only beat you once, and that's by catching you off guard. The gap between our strengths is too great," Long Feng replied with a smile.
"Okay, after I recover, if you're on a business trip to West Ling, I'll treat you to drinks." Ma Feng coughed up blood, then struggled to raise his hand and called out, "I concede." As his words fell, eight paramedics rushed onto the stage, placed Ma Feng on a stretcher, and immediately took him to the hospital for treatment.
"I declare that in the first battle of the top sixteen advancing to the top eight, Long Feng versus Ma Feng, Long Feng is the winner." After Ma Feng was escorted away, Lei Shen rose from his seat and announced to the spectators below.
"Long Feng—"
"Long Feng—"
"Long Feng—"
As they looked at Long Feng standing on the stage, a thunderous roar of excitement erupted from below. Long Feng bowed to the people on stage and below, then walked off the arena.
"Next, for the second match, Shen Lang of the Southern Ling Garrison Department will battle Xiao Zhantian of the Northern Ling Garrison Department." After the cheers subsided, Lei Shen announced to the crowd. Hearing Lei Shen's words, Shen Lang smiled slightly and strode onto the platform.
"He's Shen Lang?" When Shen Lang appeared on the platform, the members of other Garrison Departments below, as well as the directors on the platform, were all shocked. Shen Lang had accomplished many great deeds recently, so his fame spread quickly after he joined the Garrison Department, making him a dark horse in this year's grand martial arts competition. However, upon seeing Shen Lang, everyone was astonished because he was too young, completely contrary to the image of the formidable man who had subdued the Northern Gun King that they had imagined.
Interesting. Today's competition is getting more and more interesting.