Chapter 1807 908: Grandmaster Battle

There are still many people coming afterward.

In the front row of the Martial Arts Observation Platform on the east side, sat the disciples of the Tai Chi Martial Arts Hall under Chen Yuanlu's command, all in dark blue strong clothes, with Yin Yang Fish embroidered on the cuffs, quiet like pine trees.

Next to them was the Xingyi Sect of Grandmaster Dong Changxing, with three elders present.

Leading them was Dong Changxing's second direct disciple "Iron Finger" Yang Chongshan, whose knuckles were thick like iron, calmly peeling a walnut, the shell breaking into eight even pieces.

To the west was the seating area for the Mystical Sect.

White Cloud Temple sent two High Priests, wearing blue-gray Daoist robes, holding horsetail whisks, meditating with eyes closed.

Scattered around were the heads of seven or eight Magic Veins in the Capital — the yellow-robed old Daoist of the Meishan Technique, the red-headed Master of the Lushan Sect, monks in Southern attire... each occupying a section, clearly delineated from each other.

This was only on the surface.

Li Yan scanned over the scene and recognized many acquaintances.

In the southeast corner sat Su Yu, the master of the Golden Swallow Sect, holding a teacup. Upon noticing Li Yan looking over, he nodded slightly and then averted his gaze. Clearly, he did not wish to exchange words in such a setting.

To the northwest, "Iron Arm" Zhou Chong was wrapped in a thick fur coat, his left arm still bandaged.

He was injured by Ba Donghai and hadn't recovered, his expression was gloomy, accompanied by four followers.

Further away, one could even see the liaison for the Sichuan Tang Sect in the Capital, a lean middle-aged man, with long fingers, fidgeting with a Copper Coin.

"The Grandmaster Battle involves the future pattern of the pugilistic world for decades, even a century."

A Daoist said in a deep voice to a companion, "The emergence of every Grandmaster breaks the old balance. If Ba Donghai wins today, the Primordial Emperor's Law Lineage can take root in the Capital, and the Martial Arts and Magic Veins factions of the Yuzhou line can rise with the tide. If Li Yan wins..."

He didn't finish, but everyone understood.

If Li Yan wins, the Crown Prince Mansion's faction could suppress the Vassal King's arrogance.

At least on the surface, people in the pugilistic world would feel that the Eastern Palace still has masters who can hold the scene.

Li Yan didn't speak, his gaze landed on the high-grade Martial Arts Observation seats opposite.

The focus of the scene was naturally on the Crown Prince Mansion and Prince Wu Mansion.

A space of three zhang separated the two groups, with no one sitting in between.

A silent standoff pervaded in the cold wind.

"Not a single onlooker from the common folk could get in."

Kuai Dayou came up from behind, he had gone to take a look around the perimeter this morning, "The Captain Bureau sealed off three streets, claiming the Grandmaster Battle involves the leakage of Astral Force, fearing harm to innocents—nonsense, they were afraid of too many eyes leading to trouble."

Sha Lifei whispered, "Several people over there have been watching us."

Li Yan glanced in the direction she indicated.

On the second floor of the Martial Arts Observation Platform in the southwest corner, sat three middle-aged men in embroidered robes, with jade at their waists and rings of various gems on their fingers, typical merchant attire.

Their conversation seemed casual, but their eyes occasionally drifted towards Li Yan's direction.

"Those are the heads of the Jin merchants, Huishi merchants, and Zhejiang merchants in the Capital."

He was responsible for the pugilistic world's intelligence, naturally recognizing them, "Cao Yun, salt and iron, weaving—these three control over sixty percent of Great Xuan's goods flow. They are here today not for the martial arts contest, but to watch for shifts in power."

Li Yan's gaze, however, was mainly focused on Ba Donghai.

The two of them slightly nodded to each other without saying much.

Both of them understood that today's battle was no longer a mere martial arts sparring.

Since Ba Donghai's northward journey of seventeen consecutive victories began, from when the forces behind him started hyping his victories, from when the news of his duel with Li Yan spread across the Capital—this had become the arena for the struggle between new and old forces.

Therefore, even though many on the Martial Arts Observation Platform had old ties with Li Yan, no one came forward to greet him at this moment.

At that moment, the sound of rushing wind came from the sky.

It wasn't birds or hidden weapons; it was the pure sound of a flesh body tearing through the air.

A figure leapt from the top of a Bell Tower thirty zhang outside the martial arena, changing directions in the air three times, with each turn creating a visible ring of air like a Heavenly Ladder.

After three turns, the figure crossed a hundred zhang distance, landing steadily on the central high platform of the Martial Arts Observation Platform.

Boom!

The entire platform shuddered slightly as he landed.

The newcomer was tall, nearly nine feet, with broad shoulders and a thick back, wearing brown strong clothes over sleeveless leather armor, his arms bare, with muscles etched like iron and steel.

His face was handsome and imposing, eyebrows like knives, a high nose bridge, with a short beard on his chin.

As his gaze swept across the crowd, it felt like a tangible blade skimming over.

"Huo Yin!" Someone below called out softly.

One of the Ten Grandmasters of the Divine State, currently acknowledged as the top in combat prowess, the master of the Divine Fist Hall.

Li Yan's pupils contracted slightly.

He had interacted with Huo Yin a few times, previously cooperating in the siege of the Jianmu Organization in the Capital.

Supposedly, Huo Yin should not appear in such a setting.

He was the confidant of the old Emperor Xiao Qixuan, and the Divine Fist Hall was the court's official organization for monitoring and balancing the pugilistic world, with its instructors spread across the Divine State's counties, having immense power.

Now, with the old Emperor just passed, the Crown Prince gravely ill, and the Vassal Kings engaged in covert strife, this sensitive moment meant Huo Yin, as the court's representative figure in the pugilistic world, should be avoiding suspicion.

But he came, nonetheless.

Not only did he come, but he directly sat in the judge's seat.

"Greetings to Master Huo!"

"Greetings to Senior Huo!"

Everyone on the Martial Arts Observation Platform, be they from the Martial Arts circle, the Mystical Sect, or merchants, all stood up together, cupped their hands, and saluted.

The voices overlapped, merging into one amidst the cold wind.

Huo Yin slightly nodded to the crowd in response.

He wasted no words and directly spoke, his voice as resonant as a bell: "Today's Grandmaster Battle, the rules are as before. First, only a winner is decided, not life or death. If killing moves are used, I will intervene. Second, one may use Martial Arts Gang Strength and spells or talismans, but Earth Vein Arrays and human blood sacrifices or other Evil Skills are forbidden. Third, if one side concedes or loses combat ability, the match is decided."