Upon stepping onto the stage, the two exchanged a simple bow before cautiously engaging one another.

Although everyone present understood that the nature of this challenge was merely a custom passed down through generations, making any life-or-death struggle impossible, the sheer spectacle of two young masters from the great families going all out was a sight most in the main hall, let alone those gathered in circles nearby, rarely witnessed.

Thus, from the very moment they clashed, shouts of encouragement erupted incessantly, causing them to inject slightly more force into their opening moves.

Cheng Lannuo practiced a peculiar water-elemental technique; his dual palms moved like flying things, surging up and down like endless, ceaseless waves.

He Yihai, however, was a cultivator of fire techniques and was inherently disadvantaged against his opponent. Yet, surprisingly, as he began to circulate his fire art, his entire body radiated heat like a blazing furnace, sending forth an oppressive wave of warmth that deterred approach. These rolling thermal currents advanced fearlessly against the opposing water power, seemingly on the verge of shattering its confinement at any moment.

The experts see the essence; the masses watch the show.

While the majority cheered loudly as the two sparred heatedly on the platform, those who truly grasped the mechanics were secretly astounded.

Both individuals on stage were cultivators at the Sixth Layer of Inner Strength, and both the primary cultivation methods and battle techniques they employed were clearly ordinary.

Logically, Cheng Lannuo, utilizing water, should have held a clear advantage, but in reality, he was gradually losing the initiative and subtly finding himself on the defensive.

This was not due to Cheng Lannuo deliberately holding back, but simply because his intrinsic strength fell short.

Though both possessed Sixth Layer cultivation, He Yihai’s Inner Strength subtly surpassed his opponent’s, but more significantly, the advantage lay in his comprehension of the battle technique.

He Yihai had pushed his fire-elemental battle technique to its absolute limit, truly grasping its core essence. This understanding was the culmination of countless hours of effort and intense practice, gained through repeated discussions, studies, and sparring matches with He Yitian and He Yixuan. It was the ultimate truth of the technique, realized only after countless failures.

Thus, when he unleashed this technique, his entire being resembled a condensed furnace, while his opponent’s water seemed like scattered droplets that, upon contact, were instantly dried by the fierce heat, leaving behind little more than a wisp of smoke.

Although the attribute of power favored him slightly due to the elemental advantage, one opponent held his strength tightly clenched like a fist, while the other allowed his power to disperse—a strength scattered like loose sand could never overcome the focused might.

As soon as the two engaged, those with keen insight, like He Yiming, already discerned the likely outcome. After a few more exchanges, even the younger members like He Yitian relaxed their tense postures.

Suddenly, Cheng Lannuo’s palms danced wildly, creating the illusion of countless phantom hands, drawing immediate, thunderous applause. However, just as the crowd expected him to unleash some earth-shattering martial art, he abruptly disengaged, shouting loudly, "Brother Yihai, I concede! Cheng family youths, utilize the Wheel Battle formation against them."

A wave of confusion swept through the spectators; they could not understand why he would surrender when he clearly appeared to have the upper hand. Even if he was conceding, the pretense was overly obvious.

Only a few figures in the main hall managed faint smiles. Cheng Lannuo had lost the contest but not the momentum, and his final shout upon exiting the stage made everyone erupt in laughter.

Employing a Wheel Battle tactic during the challenges indicated that this was not a formal martial contest but merely a deliberate obstruction intended to complicate He Yitian’s impending marriage. This declaration immediately eased the slight tension that had built up, drawing knowing smiles from the esteemed guests seated on the dais.

Cheng Lannuo was indeed a talent; otherwise, the Cheng family would not have arranged for him to enter the ring first.

Amidst the general amusement, the younger generation of the Cheng family began taking their turns on the stage.

The highest among them possessed only Sixth Layer cultivation, and their mastery of battle techniques was even inferior to Cheng Lannuo’s. Naturally, they posed no genuine threat to He Yihai or He Yixuan.

Of course, they knew this was far from the Cheng family’s true strength. They had visited the training base where the younger generation was nurtured. Among those residents, there were indeed several true experts. While those individuals had not yet broken through the Sixth Layer barrier and thus couldn't match their elder brother, the outcome against He Yihai and He Yixuan was uncertain.

The playful chaos lasted for nearly half a day. As the sun began its descent toward the west, Yihai and Yixuan, fighting in rotation, were finally left panting heavily, realizing that this "welcoming marriage" challenge was not as easy as it looked.

Old Master Cheng nodded slightly with a smile. Cheng Jiahui stood up, just preparing to order the platform to be dismantled, when he heard a gentle, pleasant voice interject, "Father-in-law, please wait."

Cheng Jiahui paused, turned, and asked cordially, "What instruction does Young Master Lin have?"

Their titles differed, yet no one found this unusual. For the Lin family young master to address him as Father-in-law was a mark of respect; to act otherwise would be crass.

Lin Taoli slowly stood up and stated, "Seeing everyone competing on the stage has stirred my spirit. If Father-in-law does not mind, this humble son-in-law would also like to step up for a bout."

Cheng Jiahui and his son exchanged glances; their expressions revealed that this was not part of their plan—it was clearly a spontaneous request from the young master of the Lin family.

The brows of He Quanming and his brother furrowed deeply. Although they had never witnessed Lin Taoli’s martial skills, being renowned as the foremost expert among the younger generation of the Lin family, he was undoubtedly beyond the capabilities of He Yihai and He Yixuan.

Their gazes simultaneously fell upon He Yiming. Although they had never anticipated needing Yiming today, under these circumstances, he was undeniably the only viable candidate.

He Yiming acknowledged the looks from his father and third uncle, knowing escape was impossible. As he sighed inwardly and prepared to rise, Lin Taoli spoke calmly, "I have heard that the Xu family’s Blazing Fire Art is renowned throughout Taicang County, heralded as the county's foremost singular skill. I wonder if I might be afforded the opportunity to witness it firsthand."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall fell into an absolute, pin-drop silence.

Everyone immediately recalled a rumor that had circulated widely throughout Taicang County for the past six months—a rumor whose source traced back to one of the three great families: the Cheng family.

Six months prior, the Cheng family had suffered a devastating raid, resulting in over a hundred casualties. Although the bandits were eventually all eradicated, the Millennium Blood Ginseng, gifted by the Lin family, had been stolen by a masked assailant on the spot. This masked figure was not allied with the bandits, had exchanged a palm strike with Master Cheng Jiahui, and utilized the Blazing Fire Art—one of the two supreme skills of the Xu family. More frighteningly, the assailant’s cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer.

Although Cheng Jiahui had never publicized the incident, he had never denied the facts, offering tacit approval. The relationship between the Xu and Cheng families had grown increasingly tense, and the marriage alliance between the Cheng and He families further underscored underlying issues. Now, for Lin Taoli, the son-in-law of the Cheng family, to make such a specific demand of the Xu family—what hidden meaning did this carry?

Old Master Xu Yinjie slowly raised his head, his face, resembling withered wood, utterly devoid of expression. After a brief pause, he spoke slowly, "Young Master Lin, among our Xu family who have mastered the Blazing Fire Art to such a degree, there has only ever been one."

Lin Taoli’s gaze immediately shifted to Xu Xiangqian, a cultivator in his early forties who appeared barely thirty. He sighed lightly and slowly rose, saying, "Since Young Master Lin has such an interest, Xu Xiangqian will gladly accompany you, even at the cost of his life."

The two men left their seats and walked side-by-side toward the stage.

This time, everyone inside and outside the hall felt a subtle, cold knot of apprehension in their hearts. The esteemed status of these two individuals far surpassed that of the third-generation disciples who had fought moments before. More critically, the significance of their ascent to the platform was far from ordinary.

It seemed everyone sensed the intense gravity in the atmosphere; even the cheering faded into silence.

As the two stood upon the stage, Old Master Xu Yinjie’s eyes suddenly flashed with sharp light. He looked directly at Old Master Cheng Ningsheng and declared, "Among those in our Xu family who have achieved mastery in the Blazing Fire Art, there is only Xiangqian. Other practitioners of the Blazing Fire Art have not even reached the Sixth Layer."

His statement rang out clearly, striking heavily upon the hearts of the assembled crowd. Following this declaration, Xu Yinjie closed his eyes, refusing to look at anyone further.

Old Masters Cheng Ningsheng and Cheng Jiahui immediately understood his implication. They exchanged a look and both nodded in succession. For Xu Yinjie to repeat this statement twice under such circumstances, given his status, meant there could be no shred of falsehood.

At this moment, the Cheng father and son began to suspect that they had been pursuing the wrong target for the last half-year. However, no matter how they speculated, they could never have imagined that although the Millennium Blood Ginseng was not in the Xu family’s possession, it rested with the young man sitting beside them at the table.

Not only were the Cheng father and son consumed by complex thoughts, but the He brothers were also filled with uneasy surprise. If the Xu family had not stolen the Millennium Blood Ginseng, then who had? Had a completely new force emerged in Taicang County?

Or perhaps…

The Cheng father and son and the He brothers exchanged glances, and a hint of fear appeared in their eyes. Could it be someone who emerged from that place?

Ps: First chapter of the early morning, please shower White Crane with recommendation votes. Many thanks...