Urban God of War: The Live-in Son-in-law

The Martial Dao tournament this time had a total of twenty-two participants, and of course, these twenty-two people were all the cream of the crop among the younger generation of the Great Powers. After Zhao Gongming's words settled, Ye Feng slowly stood up and walked towards the Martial Battle Platform at the front.

"Be careful," began Cao Yi, Boss Cao, "Though the number of participants in this Martial Dao tournament is not large, they are all experts among experts, especially since there are one or two who are extremely formidable. Do everything within your means and remember not to overexert yourself!"

Ye Feng nodded slightly, then with a swift movement, he reached the platform. He could see that within the vast imperial capital, there truly weren't many who cared about him. Boss Cao Yi counted as one, and Second Sect Leader Shi Yehong was included as well. Besides, those dignitaries he had made connections with all had more or less some interests tangled with him.

The Martial Battle Platform was very large, and occasionally there were flashes of light around it. It was clear to the discerning eye that this was the gleam from an array barrier, meant to prevent the aftermath of the battle from spilling out and impacting others around it.

Zhao Gongming stood upon the high stage and announced in a deep voice, "According to the free challenge rules, each person has only one chance to issue a challenge, and each person also only has one chance to be challenged. Those who fail will be eliminated without exception!"

Originally, this free challenge round was not part of the schedule, but it was proposed on the spot by the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts, with the main purpose being to address those with deep-rooted grudges in private. Utility Pavilion considered it largely harmless and thus agreed to it.

The current situation among the upper echelons of Xuanyuan Nation had roughly formed two major camps. On one side was Utility Pavilion at the helm, and on the other side was an alliance formed by the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts. Overall, the alliance of the Nine Great Sects was a bit stronger.

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However, there were also divides within these Sects, and many secrets in the Utility Pavilion unknown to the public.

And since Utility Pavilion was nominally the representative of Xuanyuan Nation and the symbol of rule over the Mortal World, both parties had formed a balance of power for the time being.

"Now, the free challenge officially begins!"

No sooner had Zhao Gongming's words fallen than two disciples of the Flora Sect stood up together, glaring at Ye Feng and declared, "We of the Flora Sect, Hua Bairi, challenge Ye Feng of Utility Pavilion!"

"I from the Underworld Sect also challenge Ye Feng!" a disciple from Underworld Sect suddenly declared.

"And I from Mount Shu Sword Sect also challenge Ye Feng!" a disciple from Mount Shu Sword Sect, holding a longsword, suddenly stepped forward.

"I, a disciple of the Dao Sect, would also like to learn from Mr. Ye Feng!"

Instantly, several elite disciples from the Sects of Ancient Martial Arts stood up, one after another with imposing momentum, looking at Ye Feng as if they couldn't wait to tear him to pieces.

Zhang Wenyuan couldn't help but laugh quietly, "It seems you're the popular one, Ye Feng. Just as the saying goes, 'Fame brings trouble as the fattened pig attracts the butcher.' Now I truly understand this sentiment."

Ye Feng also responded with a smile, "Are you calling me a pig?"

Zhang Wenyuan didn't pick up on that comment but instead asked, "Who are you going to choose?"

Ye Feng didn't answer either, just slightly turned his head to look toward a young man dressed in white at the far left edge. Even when stepping onto the stage, that guy hadn't forgotten to bring along his Wine Gourd. Indifferent to his surroundings, he occasionally lifted his head to drink as if he had no concern for everything happening around him.

Besides this young man in white, there were also two naturally arrogant disciples from Kunlun and Sacred Mansion. Undoubtedly, these people were extremely confident in themselves and indeed the experts among experts as mentioned by Boss Cao.

This time, Zhao Gongming spoke up, "So many wish to challenge Ye Feng. According to the martial combat rules, Ye Feng will now choose from these challengers. Whomever he selects, the two will face off. Ye Feng, you may now make your choice."

Ye Feng nodded slightly and was about to take a step when suddenly Zhang Wenyuan said, "Ye Feng, I just had a bold idea."

Ye Feng's brow furrowed slightly, but before he could speak, Zhang Wenyuan continued, "I want to challenge someone, and you should know who I have in mind!"

After speaking, Zhang Wenyuan stepped forward and loudly declared, "I too wish to challenge someone, but it's not Ye Feng I'm after, it's him!" As he spoke, Zhang Wenyuan's Great Hand pointed directly towards the Wine Gourd-holding, white-clothed young man at the far left of the lineup.

The entire meeting hall was stunned, not just the people from Utility Pavilion but also those from the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts, for it was entirely unexpected. After all, this young man in white was one of their own from Utility Pavilion and was said to be Utility Pavilion's most mysterious trump card, whose origins few had yet to comprehend, including the Nine Great Sects.

Of course, the most shocked and surprised person present had to be Zhao Gongming. Zhang Wenyuan was his beloved disciple, and he could never have imagined his apprentice being so impetuous, without even discussing it with him beforehand.

Ye Feng could only shake his head helplessly at this. Zhang Wenyuan had already spoken, and naturally, it was not Ye Feng's place to say more. Moreover, he knew Zhang Wenyuan to be an extremely competitive person, and it seemed that his earlier words had provoked the other's competitive spirit.

Ultimately, Zhao Gongming was still the Grand Sect Leader of Utility Pavilion. He quickly regained his composure and declared loudly, "According to the competition rules, after a challenge has been issued, the challenged party must not delay; otherwise, they will be treated as forfeited!"

The young man in white merely smiled faintly and took another swig of his drink, not even deigning to glance at Zhang Wenyuan throughout the process, his demeanor could only be described as the height of arrogance.

Zhao Gongming sighed and said, "Ye Feng, please choose one of these challengers as your opponent."

Ye Feng asked, "May I inquire, according to the rules of the competition, can I select only one of them?"

Zhao Gongming was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Ye Feng chuckled lightly and said, "What I mean is, may I choose two people at the same time, or perhaps even more?"

"Choose two or more?" Zhao Gongming was completely stunned this time, and after a long while, he asked, "You mean to say that you want to fight against two people at the same time, or even multiple opponents, to face them alone?"

"Exactly!" Ye Feng nodded solemnly.

At this, the entire meeting hall instantly burst into an uproar, erupting with waves of murmurs and discussions.

"Damn, this Ye guy, what is he planning to do? He wants to fight against multiple opponents; has he gone mad? Each of these individuals on the Martial Battle Platform is a peerless genius, some even prodigies. Struggling against two would already be tough for him, yet he wants to compete against several at once!"

"Isn't that the truth? If this kid isn't crazy, then he's probably just seeking his own death. According to the competition rules, as the saying goes, 'fists and kicks have no eyes,' accidental deaths are allowed. In other words, this Martial Dao conference might very well claim lives!"

The crowd's discussions bubbled over, with the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts all sneering and cursing, while the Utility Pavilion members were indignant, with quite a few people cursing the Northern King for his arrogant insolence!

As Zhao Gongming was only the host and not the highest authority, this decision was not his to make, so he had to seek guidance from the eleven elders seated at the highest platform. The instruction came down quickly; the conference did not forbid fighting against multiple opponents, provided that the challengers agreed to it willingly.

After receiving the reply, Zhao Gongming raised his voice and said, "Ye Feng, you may choose multiple challengers, but there is one thing I must make clear to you: everyone here has been carefully selected by the Great Powers, and not one is mediocre."

Ye Feng smiled faintly and looked at the five challengers before him, then took a step forward and declared loudly, "Since you all wish to challenge me so eagerly, I've never liked to disappoint. Let's all fight together!"

"What did you say? All of us together? You want to accept all our challenges—we are five people!" Hua Bairi of the Flora Sect exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Ye Feng, if you have the guts, say it again. We are five people, five genius talents from different sects. Each of us is in the Divine Path Realm, and even the least among us is in the Second Level of the Enlightenment Realm within the Divine Path Realm. You'd better think this through!" Ming Jiujing, a disciple of the Underworld Sect, coldly rebuked.

Ye Feng answered with a faint smile, "What, can't you all hear clearly, or do I need to repeat myself?"

Hua Bairi shouted angrily, "Alright, Ye, you're cocky enough, but since you're seeking death, we'll oblige you!"

Ming Jiujing, too, clenched his teeth and said, "Ignorant brat, thinking you're invincible just because you're the Northern Border King? You're nothing but a frog in a well. Now, let us show you just how different our status is from that of worldly nobility like you!"

Ye Feng couldn't be bothered with these fools and looked up at Zhao Gongming, "I'm up against five, can we start now?"

Zhao Gongming replied, "Please, non-participants must step down from the platform before we can begin!"

The others swiftly flew down from the platform. Seeing this, Boss Cao Yi's body went limp, and he said weakly, "It's over. My wager on a Spiritual Treasure is as good as lost."

Standing nearby, Second Sect Leader Shi Yehong said, "This is indeed the impetuosity of youth, but it's also good. Hopefully, this failure will teach him a lesson. After all, the people of the Nine Great Sects of Ancient Martial Arts are simply incomparable to those in the Mortal World!"

By now, the entire Vermilion Bird Meeting Hall was abuzz, yet Ye Feng remained as calm as a gentle breeze and soft clouds on the Martial Battle Platform. Choosing these five people was not an impulsive decision.

In fact, he had long discerned that including the two from the Flora Sect, one from the Underworld Sect, one from the Mount Shu Sword Sect, and one from the Dao Sect, none could be considered top-notch, and none posed the slightest threat to him.

Furthermore, Ye Feng had another deeper consideration. The upper echelons of the entire Xuanyuan Nation were now concentrated in the capital, which resulted in the Four Realms being temporarily without leadership.

The situation in the Southern Territory was already tense, seemingly on the brink of a confrontation, and even the Snow Wolf Country to the north, due to the posture of the Three Southern Kingdoms, was restless and amassing a large number of troops to their south.

Thus, Ye Feng needed to conclude this Martial Dao Conference as swiftly as possible, to free up his energies to stabilize the situation in the Four Realms. However, his deep thought and foresight were mistaken by others for presumptuous arrogance.

Indeed, the world laughs at me as too mad, yet I laugh at them for not seeing through the truth!