Murong Fei?
Zhang Hao could now tell that this Murong Fei's cultivation was very strong, but he couldn't discern the exact level.
Suddenly, a sharp gaze shot over from the side. Zhang Hao immediately looked towards where the gaze came from. He found that the one looking at him was a youth with sinister eyes.
Li Jinwen, the eldest son of the Li Family. He was the Brother of Li Kaiyang, the second Young Master of the Li Family, who was killed by him.
A murderous aura locked onto Zhang Hao. From that gaze, Zhang Hao could feel endless resentment and Killing Intent.
"Hmph!"
Zhang Hao gave a cold smile and ignored the other party.
"For this Martial Arts Assembly, the top three in the ranking will receive three valuable treasures rewarded by the Royal Family. The ranking will be based on points. Each person must fight five matches. The more wins, the higher the ranking. If wins and losses are the same, they will fight another match against each other," Murong Fei said.
After speaking, Murong Fei immediately said in a deep voice, "Alright, this Martial Arts Assembly begins."
Zhang Hao felt the gazes of many Martial Warriors on the side lingering on him. They were whispering, and their gazes held contempt and disdain.
"This trash, why did he come to participate in the Martial Arts Assembly, contrary to his usual behavior? We originally thought the Crown Prince invited him, and he wouldn't dare to come!"
"Hehe, it's even better that he came. Doesn't everyone have to fight at least five matches? One of them can be used to make up the numbers with him."
"I heard that this time, Zhang Hao actually took first place in the Zhang Family's annual clan competition. Perhaps his strength has recovered."
"Haha, so what if he recovered? He's been silent for so many years, wasting so much time. We've long since left him behind. There's no place for him on the Genius ranking now."
...
Although those people spoke softly, they didn't deliberately lower their voices. Their words still reached Zhang Hao and Ning Xue's ears.
Ning Xue covered her small mouth and giggled, looking at Zhang Hao teasingly, "I didn't expect that in their eyes, you're just trash! That's really hilarious."
Zhang Hao gave an awkward smile, looking very embarrassed.
"What's so funny?" Zhang Hao felt a bit losing Face and deliberately put on a stern Face.
"Free challenges begin now!" Murong Fei said.
Although Zhang Hao was determined to win this Martial Arts Assembly, he wasn't in a hurry to enter the arena. He planned to observe first. There were dozens of disciples from various major families present.
Zhang Hao's gaze swept across the arena, lingering slightly on a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old. This girl had bright eyes and white teeth, extremely delicate features, and exuded a charming aura. However, Zhang Hao didn't dare to underestimate her, vaguely feeling that this girl might be a formidable opponent.
As if knowing Zhang Hao was observing the girl, Du Tao beside Zhang Hao smiled and said, "She is the Young Miss Dugu of the Yun Family, Yun Qiuyu. She is fifteen years old this year and reached the Martial Master realm at fourteen. Her current cultivation is still a mystery. She is a strong contender for the top three in this Martial Arts Assembly."
Zhang Hao nodded slightly. Yun Qiuyu seemed to sense Zhang Hao observing her. She glanced with her beautiful eyes, saw it was Zhang Hao, and her eyes revealed a cold light.
Zhang Hao also knew that peeking at someone was a bit impolite, so he gave an awkward smile and quickly looked away.
The only people Zhang Hao was truly paying attention to were a few individuals. Crown Prince Murong Fei of the Royal Family, Du Hai of the Du Family, the eldest Young Master Li Jinwen of the Li Family. Wang Taizhen of the Wang Family. And the Young Miss Dugu Yun Qiuyu of the Yun Family.
"Ah, it's going to be another fierce competition this year. However, the biggest favorite to win this year is still the Crown Prince!" Du Tao said with a slight smile.
"Oh, why?" Zhang Hao was a bit curious.
"It is said that the Crown Prince is already an Inner Disciple of Changfeng Academy. Some time ago, it is said he defeated one of the top ten students of Qingyang Academy's Inner Sect in three moves. His strength is unfathomable! Although Qingyang Academy is not as good as Changfeng Academy, those were students from the top ten of Qingyang Academy's Inner Sect!" Du Tao said with some reverence.
At this moment, someone had already stepped out.
"I'll challenge first!"
The one who stood up was a burly youth. He was around twenty years old. His Face was dark, and it was covered in scars. He was clearly a Martial Warrior who had fought with death for many years. He exuded a fierce aura. His eyes revealed a chilling light, causing anyone whose gaze was swept by his to involuntarily feel a chill.
"Xiao Han, a Genius of the Xiao Family. It is said he is a Captain in the border army of Watt Country. He is skilled with a saber," Du Tao muttered.
"Who do you want to challenge?" Murong Fei asked with a smile.
Xiao Han's gaze swept across the dozens of Martial Warriors present. When it landed on Zhang Hao, it lingered for a second before sweeping past. It finally landed on a youth in luxurious clothes. He shouted sternly, "Xue Zhen, do you dare to fight?"
A youth who was holding a beautiful woman snorted coldly, "Xiao Han, what is there to not dare? Let This Young Master have a go at you."
"This Xiao Han, what a strong killing aura!" Zhang Hao looked at Xiao Han with interest.
"Ah, what's the use of that? The Xiao Family, where Xiao Han belongs, is just a small Family. He only emerged five years ago in the Xiao Family's clan competition, taking first place and attracting the Xiao Family's attention. However, he has already missed the best age for martial arts training. Last year, he joined the border army, killed enemies year-round, accumulated military merits, and became a Captain of the border army, but defeating Xue Zhen will not be easy. Although Xue Zhen is a playboy, his strength is not weak. The Xue Family is also a second-tier Family, much stronger than the small Xiao Family," Du Tao said, shaking his head.
Zhang Hao didn't speak. He felt in his heart that Xiao Han was not that simple.
"Xue Zhen, ten days ago, did you ever harass a girl?" Xiao Han looked at Xue Zhen and asked angrily.
"What are you talking about? There are so many girls I, Xue Zhen, have dealt with, how could I remember?" Xue Zhen said indifferently, shaking his iron fan.
"Her name is Wu Feiying. She is the daughter of my Enlightenment teacher, which means she is my Junior Sister. How dare you harass her, making her cry for days? Today, I will avenge my Junior Sister," Xiao Han said.
"Then let's see if you have the ability," Xue Zhen said disdainfully.
With a roar of anger, the battle between the two sides began. However, Xue Zhen immediately gained the upper hand from the start. Although Xiao Han's saber techniques were grand and imposing, creating astonishing momentum, Xue Zhen used the Mystic Rank Top-Grade Martial Skill, Eighteen Quakes of the Iron Fan, which was incredibly powerful. This put Xiao Han completely at a disadvantage.
"Zhang Hao, who do you think will win?" Du Tao asked with interest.
"I think it will be Xiao Han," Zhang Hao said after a moment of contemplation.
"Hmph, trash is trash indeed, with such poor judgment. If Xiao Han can win, I'll eat this table corner," Zhou Qiang said disdainfully.
"Then you're definitely eating it," Zhang Hao said with certainty.
Just as Zhang Hao's words fell. Xiao Han, who had been on the defensive, began to exert his strength. Xue Zhen, whose initial rush yielded no results, was already at the end of his rope. Xiao Han seized a flaw and sent him flying with a single saber strike.
It turned out that Xiao Han knew his Martial Skills were grand and imposing, which was not advantageous for a match. Being clever, he took advantage of Xue Zhen's underestimation and carelessness, seized the opportunity, and defeated Xue Zhen with one strike.
"In this battle, Xiao Han wins!" the Referee announced.
"I heard someone was going to eat a table?" Zhang Hao's gaze fell on Zhou Qiang, whose Face had turned liver-colored.
"Yeah, you're not going back on your word, are you!"
Zhou Qiang also had quite a few enemies, and some people started jeering.
Countless mocking gazes fell on Zhou Qiang. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Zhou Qiang couldn't go back on his word. Although angry, he still broke off the table corner, put it in his mouth, and gnawed on it.
"I challenge Zhang Hao."
After the enraged Zhou Qiang forcefully swallowed the table corner, he stood up and came to the center of the martial arena, his gaze fixed on Zhang Hao.