My martial uncle spoke with imposing authority.
Although his own cultivation was only at the True Light realm, after drinking the medicinal wine and using the spirit-invoking technique, his cultivation could surge to the Dao Body realm.
Now, pointing at the nose of the Japanese team leader and cursing him, he felt no fear.
The Japanese team leader, Murakamu Fujikawa, though inwardly resentful, looked at the seriously injured and unconscious Hikawa Kojiro and the wounded Aoi.
He knew well that he couldn't contend with them here.
If he didn't compromise, he might truly be killed on Wudang Mountain.
He took a deep breath and spoke again:
"Sumimasen! I am willing to offer reparations."
After speaking, he bowed ninety degrees again towards my martial uncle.
My martial uncle snorted coldly and said nothing further.
Then, Murakamu Fujikawa drew his accompanying kunai and leaped onto the arena.
Yunxia Gu stood beside me, wary of a sneak attack.
Murakamu Fujikawa did not approach but spoke in stiff, accented Chinese:
"I apologize, I was too rash just now.
Please, Qin Ze-kun, forgive my impetuosity!
Sumimasen, Sumimasen, Sumimasen!"
The opponent apologized three times in succession.
Then, he struck his chest with his palm.
With a "puchi" sound, he coughed up a mouthful of blood as a form of atonement.
Simultaneously, he pushed his kunai forward and finally placed it gently onto the arena.
Then, he bowed ninety degrees and did not look up again,
awaiting my word.
I actually understood that the attitude of the Alliance Leader, True Person Cangsong, explained everything.
The other party was the representative of Japan, and the Dao Alliance and the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect were cooperating to deal with the Amaterasu Alliance.
It was impossible for them to let him be killed here for the sake of a mere rogue cultivator like myself.
I glanced at my martial uncle below the arena.
My martial uncle said nothing, only nodding slightly.
Seeing this, I finally spoke:
"Scram!"
Murakamu Fujikawa's body suddenly straightened:
"Hai!"
After speaking, he turned and leaped off the arena.
Then, he picked up the injured Hikawa Kojiro and, with Aoi, walked away.
In front of all the fellow cultivators of the world, he had violated the rules of the competition.
Wudang Mountain no longer had a place for him.
If it weren't for True Person Cangsong considering the bigger picture and sparing his life,
these three from the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect would likely have perished here.
This scene was witnessed by all the fellow cultivators,
who, with faces filled with excitement, continuously shouted:
"Go back to your Japan!"
"Japanese curs, truly shameless."
"Exactly, the junior couldn't win, so the elder sneak attacked. That's just despicable."
"..."
Murakamu Fujikawa's mouth bled, his expression unsightly, but he uttered not a word.
He merely carried Hikawa Kojiro and quickened his pace, leaving.
In a short while, he disappeared from everyone's sight.
My martial uncle finally let out a sigh of relief.
Then he said to me:
"Little Qin, fight well. Martial Uncle will guard you."
After speaking, he took a big gulp of wine.
And I, because of the commotion just now, had inhaled more spiritual energy.
In my depleted dantian, there was a trace of spiritual power again.
My body also regained some strength.
But it was only a little, just enough to keep me standing without feeling so drained.
Following that, Yunxia Gu looked at me and asked softly:
"Can you still compete?"
"Yes!"
I gritted my teeth and answered firmly, though in reality, I could no longer fight.
If another challenger appeared, I would only be able to overdraw my life force and fight to the death.
The grand plaza quickly returned to calm.
Yunxia Gu exchanged glances with a few referees, then
announced to the spectators below the arena:
"The competition continues."
Upon hearing this, everyone present looked around the arena.
They looked at each other,
but no one else stepped onto the arena.
Because they discovered that I, who had been gasping for breath earlier,
had, after the recent commotion, recovered my steady breathing.
Now, no one could judge how much fighting strength I had left.
Furthermore, the majority of the high-level cultivators had already challenged.
What remained were mostly disciples from smaller sects, and rogue cultivators with very low cultivation like Chen Yao.
Coupled with the fact that I had such a "fiercely protective" martial uncle who practiced lightning techniques and was guarding the arena,
it made some rogue cultivators who wanted to "pick up a bargain" abandon their plans.
At this juncture, picking a fight with me would undoubtedly make me an implacable enemy.
It would surely forge a deep resentment.
To incur the wrath of a genius and a short-tempered elder was something those rogue cultivators were unwilling to see.
Therefore, after five minutes had passed, no one stepped forward to challenge.
Seeing no one on the stage, the referee team, Daoist Master Liuyun, had to step onto the stage again to begin the countdown.
"Ten, nine..."
Another tense countdown. I was extremely nervous.
But on my face, I maintained a pretense of calm.
I didn't want anyone to see my inner anxiety.
With each number Daoist Master Liuyun counted, my heart skipped a beat.
Ten counts felt so long.
Until Daoist Master Liuyun announced in a long voice:
"Countdown complete.
Qin Ze has achieved eight consecutive victories, and no one has challenged again.
According to the competition rules.
No. 81 on the Path to the Underworld, Qin Ze.
Wins.
Becoming the first-ranked combatant in this generation's Dao Alliance Young Generation Challenge.
The competition is now declared closed!"
Daoist Master Liuyun's voice was muffled, resonating across the grand plaza.
Upon this declaration, drumbeats sounded.
"Dong, dong, dong..."
Instantly, the entire Wudang Mountain was filled with the clamor of gongs and drums.
Shouts of acclamation rose one after another.
"We yield, we yield! Qin Ze is truly a genius."
"A mere rogue cultivator, capable of fighting eight masters, his strength is truly formidable."
"The light of rogue cultivators, so brilliant, Qin Ze is awesome!"
"..."
Amidst the deafening cheers.
I looked up at the vast sky and closed my eyes slightly.
I won, I finally won...