The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 284 Penglai and Yingzhou
"what!"

The weapon fell to the ground, and another person collapsed limply.

The body was dragged away by the Imperial Guards.

The victor, supporting himself with his weapon, watched with ecstatic joy as An Ziyang placed his family's wooden plaque next to the words "Peak," then looked at his sect leader rushing up, and with a smile, slowly collapsed.

This is the first battle in which the winner and the loser die together.

But everyone knew this wouldn't be the last one.

No one dared to hold back anymore, because no one knew if the other party would hold back either.

The martial arts of Da Shuo were different from most of the stories Li Miao had read in his previous life. The higher the level, the bloodier the battles became. Those who could reach this level were at least second-rate experts, and in life-or-death struggles, the outcome would be decided in just a dozen or so moves.

By this time, fewer and fewer people were going on stage.

An Ziyang switched the sign again and looked down.

"Let's stop this usual scuffle."

He secretly thought.

The exchange between "gazing at the moon" and "climbing the peak" has ended.

"The 'Summit' sign should remain unchanged."

He smiled as he looked at the crowd of people without seats.

"Next, someone should start coveting the 'Peak'."

Suddenly, a voice came from below.

"Commander An, I have a few questions."

Everyone looked over, and a person slowly walked out from the crowd of people without seats. He was well-proportioned, with an ordinary appearance and ordinary clothes. He would probably be hard to spot if thrown into a crowd.

He slowly walked out of the crowd and stood on the ring.

"Your Excellency, please speak."

An Ziyang said with a smile.

"Can sects that haven't been invited by the Garrison Commander still put their names on the list?"

he said loudly.

"Naturally."

"'Peak,' is that okay too?"

"can."

An Ziyang answered without the slightest hesitation.

The scene immediately fell silent.

Whose name is that on the sign hanging at the "Peak"? Shaolin! Wudang! Sword King Pavilion!

Aside from that inexplicable Huanhua Sword Sect, even the weakest of the Cao Gangs couldn't be easily fooled.

Could this person be—a peerless master?

Whom does Your Excellency wish to challenge?

An Ziyang asked.

The man shook his head.

"No, I don't want to challenge the people on stage."

"There are ten chairs on the stage, but only six people are sitting in them, leaving four empty. My question is, what do I need to do if I want to sit in an empty chair?"

He said.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that."

An Ziyang gave a mischievous smile.

"It's simple—beat everyone until they submit to you."

An Ziyang took a few steps forward, stood on the edge of the platform, opened his arms, and said loudly.

"Listen carefully, everyone—there are ten chairs at the pinnacle."

"Our Commander has reserved four arenas for you all. If you do not wish to challenge those already seated, feel free to step onto the stage. There are no restrictions on the battle for supremacy; everyone is welcome to challenge! Losers leave, winners stay!"

"Only the one that no one dares to challenge in the end deserves to be called the 'Peak'!"

"Everyone!——"

He gestured with his hand.

"Please."

coax!--

A sudden burst of voices erupted.

"The pinnacle, is it really that simple?"

"If I wait until everyone is too exhausted to fight before taking the stage, wouldn't I be able to gain an advantage?"

"This person is completely unknown; he's probably just an easy target!"

Almost the instant An Ziyang finished speaking, someone rushed onto the stage.

"I'll meet you!"

"Ah!" The man had barely stepped onto the arena and hadn't even regained his footing when he was suddenly sent flying into the air. He spat out a mouthful of blood mid-air, tumbled a few times after landing, and then fell silent, his head lolling to the side. A palm print several inches deep was on his chest, his sternum was shattered, and his heart beneath the skin was likely reduced to a bloody pulp.

"He is Tong Haoxiang! 'Earthly Executioner' Tong Haoxiang! A top-tier master of the heretical path!"

Someone exclaimed.

"He died in a single move! Even if the opponent was a top expert, he shouldn't have died so easily!"

"Who is on stage?! What is their background, and what level of skill do they possess?!"

Everyone looked up.

The ordinary-looking middle-aged man spoke slowly.

"My sect has not ventured into the martial world for over a hundred years, so we haven't taught them the rules of the martial world enough. I forgot to inform you all before we started fighting, which was my oversight."

"I am Gao Ming from the Qingluan Sect."

He gestured with his hand.

"In terms of skill level, he is more powerful than the top masters in the martial arts world."

"Before you step onto the stage, please think it over carefully, lest you throw your lives away in vain."

He spoke politely but expressionlessly.

An Ziyang looked at him and thought to himself.

"finally."

"After Sword King Pavilion, the second reclusive sect has made its debut."

--------

Zheng Lingchuan reached out and slapped away the oncoming blade, but was slashed in the side by a short sword thrust out from behind. The blood that flowed out had already begun to turn black, clearly indicating that he had been poisoned.

He dodged several feet away, intending to regulate his breathing and expel the toxins.

Suddenly, the sound of a flute began to play.

Zheng Lingchuan's internal energy froze for a moment, his legs went weak, and his body suddenly became erratic. The two men seized the opportunity to attack, and a continuous barrage of sword flashes instantly filled his vision.

"Tsk!"

He had no choice but to muster his strength and engage in a fierce battle with the two men.

Zheng Lingchuan realized that he was gradually falling into a desperate situation.

Having been dormant for over twenty years, his condition wasn't good. But if it were just these two celestial beings in front of him, he wasn't incapable of winning.

The real danger lies with Zheng Ming, who has yet to make a move.

The fact that he possesses a single-character name means his cultivation level is definitely no lower than mine. With him using his flute to restrain me, and the two people in front of me attacking me, I'm afraid I'll be worn down to death little by little.

If Zheng Ming were to personally intervene, he probably wouldn't last more than ten moves.

"But why did he just watch, even the sound of the flute was intermittent?"

"It's like—he didn't want to kill me outright."

“My life is worthless. What happened back then is clear as day. I don’t have any information he wants to know. There’s no point in taking him alive.”

"That is, he wants to use me to lure someone over!"

Zheng Lingchuan's expression changed drastically.

The moment he realized what was happening, Zheng Ming also laughed.

"You've finally arrived. I thought you wouldn't dare to come."

Clang clang—

Zheng Ming held his flute horizontally in front of him, blocking a long sword that was aimed at his face. Sparks flew as the blade rubbed against the flute.

He looked at the young woman in front of him who resembled him.

"what's your name?"

"Zheng Yi".

The woman said coldly.

"Oh—so you're similar to me, from your side."

Zheng Ming smiled, his long flute twirling to deflect the opponent's longsword, and then he struck out with a palm!
The woman neither dodged nor avoided the attack, and returned the blow with a palm strike of her own.

boom! ! !
A powerful burst of true energy erupted, sending dust flying!
Amidst the dust and smoke, the woman flipped and leaped out, landing lightly on her feet.

call--

Zheng Ming waved his hand to disperse the dust and smoke, then slowly walked out and looked at the woman.

"After hiding for so long, you've finally decided to come out."

"Penglai".

he said with a smile.

The woman said expressionlessly.

"You've been sending out invitations all over the Central Plains, aren't you just trying to lure us out?"

"Yingzhou".

(End of this chapter)