Chapter 193 - 104: Zhu Li: Chew It Up, Feed Me

Chapter 193: Chapter 104: Zhu Li: Chew It Up, Feed Me

And from the sound of it, his flames didn’t seem to have affected him at all.

’This is bad!’

’Run!’

Zhu Yan regretted ever stepping onto the stage, but now all he could do was run for his life.

On the Martial Arts Arena.

He ran!

He chased!

There was no escape!

Zhu Yan’s mind went blank. He couldn’t understand how Zhao Ci had locked onto his position, much less why Zhao Ci was even faster than him.

Then.

He felt a hand grab the back of his collar, hoisting him into the air.

Zhao Ci smirked. "Caught you!"

Zhu Yan: "..."

Panicked, he raised his Long Sword and thrust.

But Zhao Ci simply swept out with the shaft of his spear, dislocating Zhu Yan’s right wrist. The Long Sword in his hand went flying with a CLANG.

Zhu Yan’s face went deathly pale. "I surr—mph!"

Zhao Ci clamped a hand over his mouth and slammed his head to the ground. "Damn it! Even at this point, you still think you’re my equal? Fine! I guess I’ll just have to prove it to you!"

Zhu Yan: "???"

His eyes widened, his vision completely filled by the sight of Zhao Ci, who was wreathed in flames.

Zhao Ci’s face was blackened with soot, and small flames licked at his hair.

And yet, his eyes were unnervingly bright!

They even held a savage glint.

’Is this guy a demon?’

THUD!

A fist landed on his gut.

...

Below the stage.

Once the Fire Prison took shape, no one could make out the figures of the two fighters on the stage.

All they could see was a churning inferno of real and illusory flames.

Many people sighed to themselves, not expecting that Zhao Ci, who had seemed so overwhelmingly powerful moments ago, would lose due to his own arrogance.

Zhao Yong was pleasantly surprised. "I can’t believe Zhu Yan actually pulled it off. Lao Shi is strong, but far too arrogant. He clearly didn’t study Zhu Yan’s techniques. If he had struck first, before the Fire Prison fully formed, the outcome would have been anyone’s guess!"

Zhuge Xiao smiled but said nothing.

’This Fire Prison is an offshoot of the Li Huo Grand Array. It can switch between real and illusory flames at will, making it perfect for trapping someone and wearing them down to their death.’

’But could it really be that simple?’

’Zhu Li lost to this very Fire Prison. There’s no way she wouldn’t have warned Zhao Ci about it.’

Below the stage.

Zhu Li grew anxious. "Boss, what is happening? Didn’t I tell him in the carriage to watch out for this Fire Prison? I... Huh?"

CLATTER... CLANG...

A Long Sword slid across the floor, right off the Martial Arts Arena.

It looked like... Zhu Yan’s personal sword.

Zhu Li: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Then.

"POOF!"

"Mmph..."

The Fire Prison on the Martial Arts Arena vanished in an instant.

Zhu Yan lay on the ground, pinned down by Zhao Ci with a hand clamped over his mouth.

Fists the size of sandbags rained down on his body.

Abnormal bulges rippled across his body—a clear sign that his True Qi was out of control and running rampant through his meridians.

This...

Zhu Yan: "Mmmph mmmph mmmph..."

Zhao Yong was stunned. He shot to his feet. "Lao Shi! Zhu Yan said he surrenders!"

Zhao Ci had no intention of stopping. "Brother Huang, you misheard. Listen to his tone. He’s saying, ’I haven’t lost!’"

Zhao Yong grew frantic. "Nonsense! Listen to the falling tone of that second syllable! He’s clearly saying he surrenders!"

"Don’t twist his words!"

Zhao Ci kept punching. "He must have spent too much time with people from the northeast. He’s saying, ’My sister lost,’ which means he hasn’t. Don’t get involved. Besides, surrendering and losing lead to the same outcome, so I’m just going to keep going!"

"THWACK!"

"THWACK!"

"THWACK!"

Punch after punch landed on non-vital areas.

It wasn’t enough to cripple his ability to fight, but the pain was comparable to torture.

To be honest.

Zhu Yan’s fire was terrifying, and even Zhao Ci had been burned quite badly.

But they were only minor burns.

Just a moment ago, he had activated the Yu Xin Flame within his body, letting it seep from his pores to form a protective film. Combined with the markings of his Celestial Demon Body, he could weaken ninety percent of Zhu Yan’s flames’ power for a short time.

It wouldn’t last long.

But it was long enough!

Zhu Li pressed her lips together, trying desperately to hold it in, but a suppressed giggle escaped anyway. "Hee hee hee hee hee..."

Zhao Yong: "..."

He couldn’t take it anymore. He looked up and shouted, "Is the official from the Imperial Clan Court present? Zhu Yan has surrendered! Can’t you do something about Lao Shi?"

An ancient voice drifted from the sky. "I didn’t hear Zhu Yan surrender either!"

Zhao Yong: "???"

Everyone: "..."

After a long while.

A very long while.

Zhao Ci grabbed the unconscious Zhu Yan, tossed him next to the recovering Feng Tianxi, and said to a nearby doctor, "He just fainted, it’s not a serious injury. Heal him up quick. He can fight again today."

The doctor: "..."

Zhao Yong: "???"

Zhao Ci glanced at the match list. "Next up is Zhuge Xiao, right? You can come on down. I’ve barely used any energy, and I’m in a hurry to score some points."

But Zhuge Xiao simply smiled. "My Earth Element Divine Treasure is not yet open, and my Qimen Skill is far from mastered. I am no match for the Tenth Prince. I surrender."

Hearing this.

Zhao Ci’s brow furrowed. ’Things seem to be heading in a direction I’d hoped to avoid.’

He looked up at Zhao Yong. "Brother Huang! Zhuge Xiao surrendered. You’re next."

Zhao Yong’s expression was indifferent. "My grievous injuries have yet to heal. I am not your opponent. I surrender."

Tan Kuang stepped forward. "Tenth Prince! I..."

Zhao Yong stopped him. "You will surrender as well!"

"I..."

Tan Kuang was indignant, but seeing Zhao Yong’s determined gaze, he could only say, "Tenth Prince, I surrender as well!"

As soon as he said this,

the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

No one had expected that after just two matches, Zhao Ci would force the entire Ninth Prince’s Mansion—one of the two most powerful factions—to collectively surrender.

How terrifying was that?

However.

the object of their amazement, Zhao Ci, did not look pleased at all.

’I’m very confident,’ he thought. ’In this competition, my Flesh Soul is invincible. Most of the others haven’t even reached the Bone Forging Stage, so I can wear down even the most freakishly strong opponent to death.’

His strategy for scoring points was to do just that: wear everyone down. He would beat every opponent, regardless of their strength, until their combat ability was cut in half, allowing his other three teammates to easily rack up points against them later.

If it worked, there was a good chance they could even pull Prince Lie’s Mansion down from its top spot.

’But if his opponents just surrendered... that would ruin everything!’