How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

They lack the ferocity forged in bloody battles, and the desperate spirit to fight to the death.

With such a rigid and disciplined team that has never experienced a real battle, how can they possibly win first place in a melee among the top players from six countries?

Lin Xuan shook his head.

It's very risky.

The martial arts competition of 300 elite soldiers came to a close, and the hunting grounds were filled with applause.

Duke Qin Lie stepped forward and announced loudly: "The second stage of the martial arts exercise: the arena competition! Members of the imperial family and sons of nobles are free to step onto the stage to exchange skills and enhance our military prestige!"

Emperor Qian surveyed the entire audience and spoke calmly: "Who dares to step onto the stage first?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Third Prince, Qin Fu, stepped forward, full of vigor, and proclaimed loudly, "Father, your son wishes to go first!"

After saying that, he leaped up and landed steadily on the ring, his posture upright and full of arrogance.

Several members of the imperial clan immediately stepped forward to challenge the idea.

However, these members of the imperial family were used to a life of luxury and had mediocre martial arts skills, making them no match for Qin Fu.

In just a few rounds, they were all easily defeated by Qin Fu and retreated in a sorry state.

Ministers on the sidelines showered him with compliments and praise.

"The Third Prince is highly skilled in martial arts and is brave and valiant even in his youth!"

"Agile and charismatic! You're sure to shine brightly at this six-nation hunt!"

Prince Su smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince is exceptionally brave and valiant, displaying much of the same spirit Your Majesty displayed on the battlefield in your youth. It is truly a blessing for our Great Qian!"

These words greatly pleased Emperor Qian, whose eyes were full of praise.

As Qin Fu listened to the praise from the crowd on the stage, he felt increasingly proud.

His gaze swept over the crowd, filled with blatant provocation and contempt, and once again fixed on Lin Xuan standing to the side.

Today's martial arts exercise was originally intended to boost morale for the six kingdoms' hunting expedition. Lin Xuan had no intention of vying for the limelight and planned to simply observe quietly.

But Qin Fu's repeated provocations and aggressive behavior were truly appalling.

Lin Xuan's eyes flashed coldly as he turned his head and calmly ordered, "Tiger, go up there and teach him a lesson."

"Yes, brother-in-law!"

Shen Hu stepped forward at the call, his steps steady, and walked straight to the arena, his voice booming: "I'll go!"

Upon seeing this, the ministers below the stage immediately began to discuss among themselves, all thinking to themselves: "The Crown Prince has finally lost his temper because he saw the Third Prince stealing the limelight."

On the stage, Qin Fu glanced at Shen Hu with disdain, then turned to Lin Xuan below the stage, his tone mocking:

"Your Highness, sending a guard up on stage is far too frivolous."

"You're too afraid to take action yourself? Why don't you step onto the stage and we'll have a showdown!"

Lin Xuan stood below the stage, his expression indifferent, and gave a curt reply:

"Defeat my men first, then we'll talk about everything else."

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Qin Fu sneered, pressing closer with his mockery:

"Is the Crown Prince afraid?"

If you don't even dare to fight in a mere arena match, how can you expect to command respect from the heroes of the other nations when you lead a team to participate in the Six Kingdoms Hunt?"

Faced with Qin Fu's repeated provocations, Lin Xuan remained unfazed and retorted sarcastically:

"To be a general or a commander, one must rely on one's brain, one's strategic planning, and one's ability to strategize and command."

It's not about brute force or reckless courage.

You're all brawn and no brains; you probably don't understand this principle.

In short, Qin Fu's bravery was publicly dismissed as the act of a reckless fool.

Qin Fu's face instantly turned ashen, his teeth clenched, and his anger surged to the top of his head as he shouted sharply:

"Very well! I will defeat your guards first!"

I want to see what the Crown Prince has to say next!

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Fu stopped wasting words, raised his fist and pounced straight at Shen Hu. His moves were fierce and tricky, and his punches and kicks were launched in succession, each move aimed at Shen Hu's vital points.

Although the moves were fierce, they were all blocked by Shen Hu. Qin Fu unleashed a series of rapid punches, and after several fierce attacks, his breathing gradually became disordered.

Qin Fu was anxious and suddenly turned to the side, raising his leg and delivering a powerful sweeping kick to Shen Hu's side.

Shen Hu's eyes narrowed, and he used his right arm to block the kick from the side. He then used the force of the impact to close the distance and lock Qin Fu's arm in place.

Qin Fu was shocked and struggled desperately to twist his wrist. He then slammed his other fist into Shen Hu's back, but Shen Hu's skin and flesh were tough and he felt no pain. He locked Qin Fu's shoulders and neck with his backhand, his muscles tensed, and he gathered all his strength.

"Go down!"

With a low shout, Shen Hu's right fist, imbued with immense force, slammed straight into Qin Fu's chest.

boom!

A dull, loud bang exploded.

Qin Fu's blood surged, his chest ached unbearably, and he completely lost his balance. His body was sent flying through the air, and he was blasted off the stage by this punch.

It slammed heavily onto the ground with a thud, sending dust flying.

Qin Fu curled up on the ground, clutching his chest and coughing violently, unable to get up for a long time.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

The continuous compliments and praises that had been ringing out came to an abrupt halt.

After a brief silence, Duke Qin Lie stepped out of the ranks first and announced loudly, "You Third Princes have already exhausted your strength after facing several members of the imperial clan. Your defeat this time is merely due to a lack of energy, not a lack of martial skill!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of officials and guards who were loyal to the Third Prince echoed his sentiments.

"The Duke is absolutely right! If Shen Hu were to rest properly for a while, he would certainly be no match for the Third Prince!"

"The Third Prince cannot unleash his true abilities bare-handed; if they were to fight with weapons, the outcome would be uncertain!"

As Lin Xuan listened to everyone making excuses, a sneer flashed across his lips, and he shook his head inwardly.

If you lose, you lose; there's no need to try to cover it up.

On the arena, Shen Hu, straightforward by nature, declared in a deep, resonant voice, "It's alright! I can wait until the Third Prince has rested properly, and then we can have another match later!"

Qin Fu, sitting in the audience, struggled to his feet, his chest still aching slightly.

He knew in his heart that Shen Hu's brute strength was terrifying, and that he could overcome any technique with sheer force.

Today, I have no chance of winning in a bare-handed fight. Only by fighting with weapons can I have a sliver of hope. But now, with everyone watching, if I fight again and lose, I will lose all face.

Seeing this, Qin Lie stepped forward again and said, "There are still many people waiting to take the stage in the martial arts competition. We can't linger here any longer. Let's continue!"

These words, ostensibly meant to maintain order, actually provided Qin Fu with a way out.

Qin Fu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and cupped his hands towards Shen Hu on the stage, feigning magnanimity: "Brother Shen Hu, your martial arts are superb. In this contest, I humbly admit defeat."

The surrounding officials immediately seized the opportunity to praise him.

"The Third Prince is magnanimous and composed in both victory and defeat; he truly understands the bigger picture!"

"To remain dignified even in defeat is truly rare!"

Shen Hu refused to give up, shouting gruffly, "No! Everyone said you were just lacking in stamina. I feel it was an unfair victory, and we must have another match to determine the true winner!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Fu's face stiffened, and he was momentarily at a loss for words, creating an awkward moment.

Just then, Lin Xuan spoke calmly, "Tiger, come back."

Five simple words, no room for argument.

Although Shen Hu was unwilling, he dared not disobey Lin Xuan's orders. He glared at Qin Fu, strode off the stage, and returned to Lin Xuan's side to await further instructions.

The commotion on the field subsided for the time being. Emperor Qian sat on the high platform, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Lin Xuan and Qin Fu, each with their own thoughts in mind.

Upon seeing this, Duke Qin Lie immediately raised his voice and said, "The arena competition continues! Is there any other disciple willing to step onto the stage for a duel?"

The next moment, a tall and straight figure slowly walked out.

It is Lin Xian.

He strode onto the stage, stood in the center, exuding arrogance, surveyed the entire arena, and proclaimed:

"Who would like to step forward and offer their guidance?"

Lin Xuan turned his head to look at Lin Mo beside him, and said calmly, "Brother Mo, you go."