Chapter Twenty-Five: The Appearance of Yang Yan!

A thunderous clash echoed throughout the arena as the two figures' fists collided, a brilliant burst of radiance exploding like fireworks from the point of impact. Even in broad daylight, the dazzling light was blinding. Smoke and dust surged across the stage, obscuring the scene within.

A cold wind swept through, dispersing the haze. The crowd strained their eyes, and many were left stunned by what they saw. On the left side of the white jade platform, a youth lay motionless, his hair and face marked by burns, his clothes in tatters, and his entire right arm twisted and charred black. Judging by his figure, it was unmistakably Wu Fenghao.

On the other side of the platform, Xu Shaoguang hadn’t even moved a step. Seeing Wu Fenghao unconscious on the ground, Xu snorted coldly without the slightest hint of pity or sympathy and strode off the stage.

Before stepping down, his chilling gaze swept over the audience, finally settling on where Yang Yan was seated.

Yang Yan met his gaze without the slightest trace of fear. His face remained calm, and he even nodded at Xu Shaoguang with a faint smile.

"Let's see how long you can keep that smug look," Xu thought to himself. "If you manage to advance, you'd better hope you don't face me, or else..."

Xu Shaoguang’s easy victory was for two reasons: Wu Fenghao was hesitant and lost the initiative, and his spiritual power was of the wood element, while Xu’s was fire. In the cycle of the five elements, wood fuels fire. Coupled with the fact that Wu Fenghao was already weaker, it was no surprise he lost so quickly.

Thus, the first match ended with Xu Shaoguang’s overwhelming victory. Though many in the crowd felt a fleeting sense of pity for Wu Fenghao as he was carried away, attention swiftly shifted to the victor—only winners become the focus of the masses.

In such duels, injury is inevitable. If one lacks the courage to accept this risk, they are destined never to progress far on the path of cultivation. According to the rules of the clan tournament, as long as one does not deliberately attempt to kill or attack an opponent after they yield, all else is permitted. So, despite many being displeased by Xu Shaoguang’s ruthless methods, they could do nothing.

The second match was almost farcical. By a stroke of bad luck, two contestants from the Sun family were pitted against each other. The weaker of the two surrendered almost as soon as the match began.

In the Sun family’s section of the audience, the matronly woman in charge frowned slightly, displeased. But there was nothing to be done—sometimes, luck is just another form of strength.

With the abrupt end of the second bout, Yang Yan drew a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.

Strangely, the crowd was utterly silent—no cheers, no applause as in the previous matches. All eyes were fixed intently on Yang Yan, as if he bore some priceless treasure.

Though Yang Yan’s mind was more mature than his peers, he was still only fourteen. It was his first time standing before such a crowd, and it was impossible not to be nervous. The calm expression he’d worn earlier was at least half an act.

But as he drew closer to the jade platform, his nervousness faded, replaced by a surging sense of resolve and excitement.

Yes, ever since he set foot on the path of cultivation, he had spent nearly three years as a so-called "good-for-nothing young master" in the eyes of others, enduring ridicule and scorn both openly and behind his back from his own clan members in the Zhang family. Even the servants dared to speak to him with disrespect. Outsiders, out of deference to the Zhang family, rarely spoke ill of him to his face, but treated him as a plague to be avoided at all costs.

He would never forget those eyes—cold, mocking, pitying, contemptuous, and fearful of his status as the young master of the Zhang family.

But today, on this white jade platform less than five fathoms long, Yang Yan would finally wash away his humiliation.

He would prove, with his own actions, that those who looked down on him would regret it.

He would show Zhang Tai that his father’s years of love and care had not been in vain.

Before everyone, he would declare with his strength that he, Yang Yan, was no good-for-nothing.

With this thought, his blood surged, his heart pounded, and he felt power coursing through his veins. All nervousness vanished as he clenched his fists.

A clear bell rang out once more. The crowd fell utterly silent, their eyes fixed on the stage, waiting to see what this so-called "useless youth" had to offer at the clan tournament.

Zhang Tai, his fists clenched, showed little expression, but the slight trembling of his body betrayed his inner turmoil. For years, he had carried guilt toward Yang Yan. Unable to cure the cold poison in his son's body, he, as the head of the family, had been forced to endure the mockery and slander of others for the sake of the family’s stability, powerless to defend his son.

A child of this age should be carefree, but Yang Yan had borne too much and never once complained.

"Yan’er, no matter what happens today, from now on I will never let you suffer again," Zhang Tai vowed silently.

On stage, facing the calm expression of Yang Yan, the youth named Li Yang felt a flicker of surprise, hesitation flashing briefly in his eyes. He cupped his fists toward Yang Yan.

"My apologies," he said.

With that, Li Yang let out a low shout. Spiritual energy surged through his meridians, flowing to his palms and feet, creating a faint earthy glow. His form flickered as he launched the first attack.

"This Li Yang’s innate spirit is of the earth element. Judging by the strength of his spiritual power, he’s likely already reached the second level of the Spirit Sensing Realm—he might even be stronger than Wu Fenghao," someone whispered.

"But to use spiritual power against an opponent who’s only at the Body Tempering Realm—after all, the other is the third young master of the Zhang family. Isn’t he afraid of offending them?"

"You don’t know? The Li family has grown close to the Xu family in recent years, and the Xus have always been at odds with the Zhangs. Li Yang is clearly trying to curry favor with the Xus. Even if he offends the Zhangs, the Xus will back him up."

The crowd erupted as Li Yang struck first, immediately using spiritual power without mercy.

Of course, beyond seeking Xu family approval, Li Yang was also disgruntled by Yang Yan’s earlier, almost taunting, words. He intended to overwhelm him with a show of force, and as long as he didn’t cause death, even the Zhangs would have no grounds for complaint.

With this thought, Li Yang hesitated no longer. His hands, enveloped in a yellowish earthy glow, shot toward Yang Yan with sudden force.