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Chapter 244 - Sitting Tight on the Fishing Terrace Despite the Storm
The City Clash Convention involved eleven great martial clans, each sending out eight juniors to participate.
In the Zhao Clan’s direction, an old man by Zhao Kongming’s side stood up. His gaze fell on the eighty-eight participants.
This old man was the Zhao Clan’s chief steward, Zhao De.
“The purpose of the martial arts competition is to check on the strengths of our Watermoon City’s outstanding descendants. So, don’t hold back your strengths.
“Those unable to overcome their opponents can admit defeat, concluding their match then and there. If you are unwilling to surrender, the match shall continue until one side falls, regardless of life and death.”
His words created ripples in the hearts of the onlookers.
If one refuses to surrender, then their life and death are out of consideration! How ruthless!
Some proud martial artists were extremely conscious of their image and were especially averse to admitting defeat. As such, very few people would choose to admit defeat.
Even if they were no match, they would continue to fight to defend their honor, finding pride in defeat.
However, Zhao De’s words left those people reconsidering things. After all, didn’t that mean no one would stop their opponent from killing them?
If both sides were of equal strength and unwilling to admit defeat, it would not stop until death, forming a deep feud.
This revelation also garnered silent admiration from many observers.
Brilliant.
Zhao De was obviously representing Zhao Kongming’s will. Doing things this way would only benefit the Zhao Clan.
After all, the competition was in the city lord's mansion. Who would dare to kill someone from their Zhao Clan right in the city lord's mansion?
The situation differed for the other clans. In this setting, fatal clashes would likely ignite, fostering animosity between the participating clans.
Zhao Kongming was trying to spark conflict between the other great clans through the martial arts meet. Although the other patriarchs were aware of his intentions, they could only go along with it.
After all, which patriarch didn't desire their clan to ascend above the rest, earning admiration from others?
Moreover, the City Clash Convention boasted a substantial prize.
For the clan at the bottom of the rankings, conceding one or even two businesses to the top-ranked clans would be a crippling blow to their strength.
Thus, they would naturally instruct their clans’ participants to go all out and fight for victory.
Moreover, Zhao De had said that one could admit defeat if they were no match for their opponent, and the fight would end right there.
The rules were somewhat fair, so it was not appropriate for them to argue. After all, who would willingly concede that their clan's descendants were inferior?
Zhao Kongming, Zheng Qinghu, Li Yuanba, and the other patriarchs of the six allied clans exchanged secret glances; a cold smile danced in the depths of their gazes.
Chen Fan and Chen Zhengqing sat in the middle of the Chen Clan.
“Hoho, Xiaofan, it seems these clans are not only planning on making our Chen Clan bleed financially, they are even planning to ruin our Chen Clan’s outstanding seedlings,” Chen Zhengqing said with a cold smile.
He had long been aware that the great clans, spearheaded by the Zhao Clan, had covertly allied with intentions to confront his Chen Clan.
Chen Fan also smiled coldly and said, “Father, it seems the Zhao Clan's machinations go beyond mere schemes. I suspect this City Clash Convention is akin to a Hongmen Banquet orchestrated to target our entire Chen Clan.” [1]
Chen Fan’s gaze fell on Zhao Kongming. His eyes flashed with a hint of iciness.
Given his current strength, his perception was incredibly sharp. As soon as he entered the city lord’s mansion, he sensed the auras of no less than thirty Yuanfu realm experts deep inside the mansion.
Despite these experts attempting to mask their auras from Chen Zhengqing, Chen Fan's sharp senses exposed them.
As the city lord clan of Watermoon City, the Zhao Clan, while formidable, couldn't possibly boast over thirty Yuanfu realm experts. The revelation of such a significant number of hidden experts within the Zhao Clan's mansion intrigued Chen Fan.
Chen Zhengqing, noting his son's reaction, inquired through primeval force voice transmission, "Oh? Xiaofan, do you know something?"
Chen Fan replied, “Father, no fewer than thirty Yuanfu realm experts are hiding deep within the Zhao Clan’s mansion. I’m afraid they’ve joined forces with some other clans. I don’t know what they are trying to do, but it can’t be anything good.”
“What?” Chen Fan’s voice transmission made Chen Zhengqing’s pupils contract violently.
More than thirty Yuanfu realm experts are hiding deep inside the city lord’s mansion?! What is the Zhao Clan trying to do?
Chen Fan added, “No need to panic, Father. Let’s just wait and watch.”
Uncertain whether all ten great clans had allied or only a select few had aligned with the Zhao Clan, Chen Fan opted not to sound the alarm.
Although thirty-something Yuanfu realm experts made up a mighty force, it was as fragile as a piece of paper in Chen Fan's eyes. He was not afraid in the slightest.
Chen Zhengqing discreetly glanced at Zhao Kongming and nodded slightly. He had decided to trust Chen Fan’s assessment.
Even if Zhao Kongming had some huge scheme going on, all plots and tricks were powerless in the face of absolute strength.
“I have obtained a list of all participants for the martial arts meet. I shall decide the arrangement of the battles. I wonder if the various clans have any objections?”
Zhao De’s gaze fell on Chen Zhengqing, Qian Tongtian, and the other patriarchs.
Qian Tongtian had an obese figure. His cheeks were so plump that his eyes squeezed tightly against his eyelids. He spoke out with a loud and nonchalant voice. “Hoho, since it’s the city lord mansion’s arrangements, naturally, I will agree to it.
“The past martial arts meets were all hosted by the city lord's mansion. This time will naturally be no different,” Li Yuanba said.
“I have no opinion, either,” Chen Zhengqing also said.
“Then, this old man shall give my thanks to all you patriarchs on behalf of the city lord mansion.” Zhao De smiled faintly at Chen Zhengqing, Qian Tongtian, and the other patriarchs. He announced, “The battles of the City Clash Convention will be elimination matches from the very first battle. The loser retires, and the winner advances.
“Now, I shall begin announcing the match-ups. Those called are to step onto the battle platforms. The rest, please await your turn below," Zhao De declared, making the eighty-eight participants narrow their eyes.
“On the main battle platform, Zhao Clan’s Zhao Qian versus Chen Clan’s Chen Chuge. The east battle platform is Zheng Clan’s Zheng Ming versus Qian Clan's Qian Xingjian. South battle platform, Li Clan’s Li Wu versus Lǚ Clan’s Lǚ Gao. West battle platform, Sun Clan’s Sun Yuanlong versus Zhang Clan’s Zhang Feng. North battle platform, Wang Clan’s Wang Hong versus Zhou Clan’s Zhou Nan.”
Ten people could fight at a time on the five battle platforms. With eighty-eight participants, it would take nine battles to cycle through everyone, eliminating half of them and leaving only forty-four behind.
The ten whose names were called walked up to their designated battle platforms one after another.
“Hoho, the Chen Clan’s Chen Chuge is really unlucky to be matched against the Zhao Clan’s Zhao Qian. Although Zhao Qian cannot be compared to Zhao Ziyang, he is also a renowned genius of the Zhao Clan. I heard he is already in the seventh level. He surely is a future Yuanfu realm seedling.”
“The Chen Clan’s foundations are too shallow, after all. Even though they have obtained the Lin Clan’s several hundred years' worth of treasure, how much could their clan’s descendants possibly improve in only one year? The Chen Clan’s younger generation is far too inferior when compared to the other clans.”
“It should be Zheng Ming’s victory on the east platform and Li Wu on the south platform. I heard the south platform’s Zhang Feng has already broken through to the seventh level. He should be able to claim victory. As for the north platform, Wang Hong and Zhou Nan are similar in strength, so I’m afraid it won’t be easy to decide a winner.”
“......”
The crowd had some understanding of the Watermoon City’s talented juniors and were clear about the differences in their strengths. So, they had already determined the winners and losers before the matches had even started.
1. The Feast at Swan Goose Gate, also known as the Hongmen Banquet, and other similar renditions, was a historical event that took place in 206 BC at Swan Goose Gate outside Xianyang. It was one of the highlights of the power struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu leading to the outbreak of the Chu–Han Contention, a violent civil war for supremacy over China. In Chinese culture, the term is used figuratively to refer to a trap or a situation ostensibly joyous but in fact treacherous. ☜