The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Chapter 66 Opening

Time slipped away as I focused intently, and before I knew it, it was morning two days later.

A simple blue-canopied carriage was parked in front of Li Yuan's courtyard. The black horse pulling the carriage snorted and trotted its front hooves from time to time.

The steward of the Yan family stood by the carriage with his hands at his sides. When he saw Li Yuan, dressed in a neat short-sleeved outfit, walk out of the courtyard gate, he immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Martial Arts Master Li, the Madam has sent me to fetch you. Please get into the carriage."

Thank you for your trouble.

Li Yuan nodded slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the carriage and the steward. He lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage. Once inside, he closed his eyes, breathing deeply, as if resting or perhaps mentally rehearsing certain moves.

The carriage rumbled through the streets and alleys, heading towards the largest martial arts temple square in the city.

Pedestrians along the way saw the Yan family's mark on the carriage and made way for it, so the journey was unimpeded.

About half an incense stick later, the carriage came to a steady stop.

"Martial Arts Master Li, we've arrived." The steward's voice came through the carriage curtain, sounding a few decibels lower than usual.

Li Yuan opened his eyes, lifted the curtain, and got out of the carriage.

Before us lies the vast Wumiao Square, yet the atmosphere here is heavy.

A square area several tens of feet in size has been cleared in the center of the square. A simple arena, three feet high, has been built with large logs and the surface is covered with non-slip coarse hemp felt.

On either side of the arena, two spacious sunshades were erected, with tables and chairs set up underneath, which were now full of people.

Most of them were merchants and business owners in the city who were closely involved in hunting by the waterways and trading exotic beast materials. They were all dressed smartly, but their expressions were different. Some were whispering to each other, while others were silently observing.

The dispute between the Cheng and Yan families today concerns the future flow of rare goods from the underground river, directly affecting their interests, and no one dares not to attend in person.

"Li Xun!"

Liang Bai had been anxiously waiting in front of Yan's shed. When he saw him get out of the car, he immediately rushed to greet him.

He was dressed in a solemn dark outfit today, but his face was even more somber than his clothes. He grabbed Li Yuan's arm, lowered his voice, and spoke rapidly: "Li Xun, the one in the center opposite us, wearing a dark blue robe, is Cheng Shimo, the representative of the Cheng family. The one to his left is Xiao Yichen!"

Li Yuan's gaze was as calm as a still lake, without any ripples, as he looked in the direction Liang Bai pointed.

Across from him, in the main seat under the canopy, sat a man in his fifties, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe. He possessed an air of composure, but his eyes held an unyielding coldness and domineering presence. This was Cheng Shimo.

Beside him stood a man of considerable height, dressed in a black outfit with leather shoes around his waist, his arms crossed over his chest.

This man was about thirty years old, with a thin face, a high nose, and a pair of eyes that flashed with a sharp light when they opened and closed. At this moment, he was also looking coldly at Li Yuan, his gaze as sharp as needles tempered with ice.

Their eyes met briefly in the air.

Cheng Shimo didn't look at Li Yuan. He simply picked up the gilded teacup beside him, gently blew on the floating leaves, took a sip, and spoke in a low but undeniably decisive voice that clearly reached Xiao Yichen's ears: "Nephew Xiao, whether the Cheng family can completely control the underground river business depends entirely on today. Don't let this old man or the Cheng family down."

Xiao Yichen's lips curled into a slightly stiff but confident smile. His gaze never left Li Yuan, and his voice was low: "Uncle Cheng, rest assured. This boy is just a piece of trash from the Green Ox Martial Arts Society, a peasant who got lucky by sheer luck. He's only being used as a lifeline by the Yan family. His ranking was below mine back then, and I'm far better now. I know what to do, and I'll make sure you're satisfied."

The contempt in his tone wasn't deliberately amplified; it was as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

Liang Bai quickly whispered a few more words to Li Yuan about Xiao Yichen's recent progress and usual methods, then patted Li Yuan's shoulder with concern, turned around and sat down under the Yan family shed, his back straight, but he couldn't hide his tension.

Beside the ring, a notary had already examined the life-and-death contract signed by both parties, the red seal clearly visible.

Boom!

A deep, resonant gong echoed across the square, silencing all the clamor and discussion.

Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Yichen snorted lightly, and with a swift movement, he rose like a black cloud and landed steadily in the center of the arena.

With his feet slightly apart, he stood tall and imposing, exuding a powerful and imposing aura. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, piercing directly at Li Yuan below the stage.

Li Yuan remained expressionless as he faced countless expectant, scrutinizing, and doubtful gazes. Step by step, he steadily ascended the wooden steps, stopping a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) away from Xiao Yichen, his figure as sturdy as a pine tree.

"Is that Li Yuan, whom the Yan family hired? I heard he's from the Green Ox Martial Arts Society and practices Dragon Form Fist?"

"He was no match for him in the martial arts exam, and now that Xiao Yichen's cultivation has improved again, that kid has even less of a chance!"

"Xiao Yichen is said to have grasped the essence of the Transformation Realm, making him virtually invincible below that level! The Yan family is grasping at straws in their desperation—"

"Perhaps not. Look at Li Yuan, he's calm and composed, his steps are steady. Maybe he really does have someone he's relying on?"

"Quiet? That's called dull! Are you scared out of your wits?"

.

Under the canopy on both sides, a suppressed murmur of discussion arose, containing both fear and admiration for Xiao Yichen, as well as doubt and a faint expectation for Li Yuan.

Yan sat upright in the main seat of the Yan family shed, her back ramrod straight, trying her best to maintain the dignity of the person in charge. Only her hands, placed on her knees and clenched into fists, had knuckles that had turned white from the force, and her palms were cold and damp.

Several young members of the Yan family held their breath, their eyes fixed on the figure on the stage, their hearts filled with near-desperate astonishment and disbelief.

Can this kid do it?

Xiao Yichen glanced at Li Yuan, who remained calm and composed a few steps away, then suddenly grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. His voice boomed, ensuring everyone could hear: "Passing the martial arts exam is difficult, but cultivation is even harder. Take my advice: admit defeat and step down now, and you can still save face and your life. Why risk your life and ruin someone else's legacy?"

His words sounded regretful, but his eyes were calm and focused, firmly locking onto Li Yuan's aura. The last trace of his outward contempt had disappeared, leaving only the caution of a martial artist facing an enemy.

"I am unrivaled below the Transformation Realm. I'll say it again, if you admit defeat now, you can still save your life!" His gaze gradually turned cold.

On the fighting stage, fists and feet have no eyes; once the contract is signed, life and death are left to fate.

Everyone understands this principle.

Li Yuan met his gaze and spoke calmly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching the other's ears: "The so-called number one below the Transformation Realm is, in the end, nothing more than the Hidden Strength Realm. Rather than Young Master Xiao's life, how about entrusting it to me?!"

The calmness emanating from his words instantly made Xiao Yichen's eyes narrow slightly.

"Fine." He squeezed out the word through gritted teeth, clearly enraged.

Xiao Yichen said no more, but slowly nodded, his relaxed muscles tensing up inch by inch, his aura restrained, like a bowstring fully drawn.

"The time has come—let's begin, fistfight!"

The notary's clear yet icy voice suddenly pierced the air.

The entire Wumiao Square fell silent instantly; even the sound of the wind seemed to stop.

All eyes were fixed on the center of the ring.

The two on the stage clashed, collided, and fought each other in mid-air, their gazes as tangible as physical objects.

Under the invisible pull of the energy, a chilling atmosphere permeated the air, and even the falling dust seemed to freeze in the air.

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