The carriage roof instantly disintegrated into shards of splintered wood with a deafening crash.

Chen Feng, in the instant the heavy object plummeted, had already leaped clear of the carriage, clutching the coachman in one hand, thus avoiding being crushed.

As the weight fell, another dark silhouette dove down from the sky like an eagle, landing squarely on the now roofless carriage.

It was a warrior clad in a white training robe, appearing no older than seventeen or eighteen, yet his expression was severe, conveying an unwavering intent to kill his opponent.

The object that had just smashed Chen Feng’s carriage roof was, in fact, the man this youth had kicked into the air moments before.

“Truly formidable; such cultivation at such a young age. No wonder he is Landiruf, the second-place winner of the Kort Empire’s rising star selection trials. I hear he’s already achieved the rank of an eighth-level Warrior,” remarked one person beside Chen Feng, admiring the white-robed youth.

“The one who got hit seems to be the fifth-place contender from the Toni Empire. What was his name again?” another person inquired.

“I don’t recall precisely—something like Cainenette. But that fellow is also quite capable; they say he’s only seventeen and has already reached the level of a seventh-level Warrior!” the first man replied.

In days past, seeing such talented young prodigies might have ignited a desire for rivalry in Chen Feng’s heart. But now, having ascended to the rank of Master Warrior, such individuals were beneath his notice.

Standing on the carriage, Landiruf stared down at Cainenette, who had been violently kicked away, and sneered, “Is this truly the caliber of man your Toni Empire selects? I suggest if this is all you have, you might as well turn back now!” His words were brazenly arrogant, seemingly holding everyone from the Toni Empire participating in the competition in utter contempt.

“I’ll take him on…” a youth among the crowd bristled, enraged by Landiruf’s demeanor.

Before he could step forward, a hand shot out from the side, halting him. The hand belonged to a tall, powerfully built man. “No need. Cainenette certainly won’t fall like this; he will surely counterattack. Let’s watch a bit longer!”

As his voice trailed off, the carriage exploded with a boom, shattering into countless fragments. The roof had been broken earlier; now the entire vehicle was utterly ruined.

Cainenette sprang out from the wreckage. His long, golden hair flowed wildly despite the absence of wind, and his surrounding battle aura surged outward in an instant.

“I will kill you!” he roared, hammering forward with both fists.

Because Landiruf had been standing on the carriage, the explosion sent him tumbling downward as the carriage disintegrated beneath him. Cainenette’s dual strikes arrived precisely in that critical window when his balance was lost and striking back would be hardest.

It seemed Cainenette was a formidable opponent indeed.

Landiruf, suspended in mid-air, remained utterly composed. His eyes snapped open, he let out a cold snort, and suddenly channeled force through his waist. His muscles, driven by his battle aura, rotated violently, and his right leg lashed out towards Cainenette’s incoming fists.

The reaction speed was astonishingly fast; to execute such a move while losing one’s center of gravity spoke volumes of Landiruf’s ingrained skill.

“Thud!”

Fist met leg with a dull, heavy impact. Cainenette’s face flushed crimson; he stumbled two steps back from the carriage floor and fell off, while Landiruf was driven backward by the force of the blow, landing in front of the ruined vehicle.

Cainenette had the initial advantage, planted firmly on the carriage floor and striking first. However, Landiruf possessed superior cultivation and reacted swiftly enough. Though his kick was somewhat reactive, he managed to convert the passive situation into a stalemate. This exchange was essentially even, with neither gaining a clear advantage.

The carriage, however, was less fortunate. Under the shockwave of their full-force battle auras, it gave a cracking sound and fell completely to pieces.

“Hsss…”

With the carriage destroyed, the horse tethered in front let out a piercing neigh, rearing up, struggling violently to bolt into the crowd. It was clearly terrified.

Landiruf was half-crouched directly in front of the panicked animal. If the horse charged forward, he would be the first one trampled. Without a moment's hesitation, he slammed his right fist directly onto the horse’s neck. Though magnificent, the steed could not withstand a full-power strike from an eighth-level Warrior. After one final, agonizing cry, it collapsed instantly, dead.

“My carriage… my horse…” Seeing his vehicle smashed to splinters and his horse slain, the coachman wailed loudly. “My entire family was counting on that for survival…”

A kind-hearted bystander tried to soothe him upon hearing the cries. “It’s a blessing you’re alive! Can’t you see these two started fighting right here in the street? Even the City Guards aren't interfering, which means they have influence. Consider this bad luck a price for peace!”

“This carriage and horse were the savings I accumulated through a year of hard work! How am I supposed to live now that it’s gone…” The large man broke down sobbing like a woman.

Chen Feng understood the hardship faced by common folk of low status. A carriage truly was the basic necessity for their livelihood. He placed a hand on the coachman’s shoulder. “Don’t fret. Those two will compensate you for the damages!”

“Compensation?” the kind bystander let out a cold laugh. “Don’t count on it. Trying to get people like that to pay for what they break is a pipe dream. Just yesterday, a similar group clashed in a tavern; they ended up dismantling the entire establishment. When the tavern owner demanded payment, not only did they refuse to give a single coin, they beat him half to death! He’s still bedridden now.”

Hearing the bystander’s words made the coachman’s face even paler, contorting into an expression of utter doom.

Chen Feng sighed inwardly. This man lacked spirit; was a mere carriage worth this level of despair? Yet, seeing his pitiful, genuine distress, Chen Feng felt a twinge of pity. He reassured him, “Don’t worry. After they finish fighting, I will demand payment from them. They will certainly compensate you!”

Before the coachman could respond, the bystander interjected, “Young man, you clearly don’t know the immensity of the heavens or the earth. Judging by their fight, both of those are masters. If you demand they pay, won't they lose face? I advise you not to cause trouble. They are all contestants from other empires. The empire’s laws hold no sway over them, and the Finlay Empire certainly doesn’t want to risk international conflict over trivial matters. If you get injured or killed by them, it’s just your own bad luck.”

All the competitors were the elite juniors of their respective nations. If one were killed by the laws of another country due to the actions of these visitors, it could genuinely strain relations between the empires. The bystander's warning was entirely free of exaggeration.

Chen Feng recognized the good intentions behind the warning, so he didn't argue, watching the battle unfolding in the street with a cold gaze.

By now, Landiruf had gained a definitive advantage. Although Cainenette was not weak, he was, after all, one level lower. This level gap was almost impossible to bridge without specialized equipment or unique techniques.

With a loud “Smash!”, Cainenette was knocked to the ground by a punch, his eyes rolled back, and he immediately passed out.

“Overestimating yourself. It seems this is the extent of the Toni Empire’s level!” Landiruf sneered at the prone Cainenette, his tone dripping with arrogance.

“Boy, don’t get too cocky, or you’ll meet a very grim end,” a voice cut through the crowd. Then, a tall, burly youth stepped forward—the very man who had insisted Cainenette would retaliate.

“Sidney? I’d like to see if the champion of the Toni Empire’s rising star competition truly lives up to his title!”

Upon seeing the newcomer, Landiruf immediately recognized him as the champion of the Toni Empire’s selection trials—Sidney. Rumor had it this youth had reached the level of a ninth-level Warrior at the mere age of twenty-three!

Landiruf, however, showed no fear. After his declaration, his battle aura surged, and he propelled himself forward with explosive force toward Sidney, closing the distance in an instant like a whirlwind.

“Sidney, watch out…” shouted the angry youth from the crowd.

Sidney smiled faintly. He shifted his footing, spinning rapidly on the spot like a top, instantly positioning himself behind Landiruf. His right hand flashed forward and down in a gentle tap. The movement didn’t look fast, but strangely, Landiruf couldn't dodge it at all.

“Thwack!” It landed squarely on his upper back. Landiruf spat out a mouthful of blood, stumbled a few steps forward, and collapsed onto the ground, unable to rise.

“Incredible…” Everyone gasped, their faces etched with astonishment as they looked at Sidney.

“Truly worthy of being the Toni Empire’s champion; his execution is extraordinary!”

“Look at his bearing, his skill—you can tell immediately he’s a master.”

“Is that Sidney? He’s actually my idol!”

…

The crowd erupted in chatter.

Landiruf and Cainenette had fought for a significant time in the street, with Cainenette finally being kicked onto Chen Feng’s carriage. Since the fight began, Landiruf’s strength had seemed undeniably potent in everyone’s eyes. To see him utterly defeated by Sidney in less than a second was too drastic a shift; the spectators couldn't process it.

In that instant, the thought formed in the crowd’s collective mind: Sidney was invincible.

This was the effect of popularity. In reality, the four-empire rising star trials, regardless of which nation hosted them, always involved such displays. These contestants from other empires willingly clashed in crowded areas to build recognition and hype for the subsequent matches.

This was, in fact, a method of attracting spectators. What was a competition without an audience? By demonstrating their might preemptively in this manner, though perhaps reckless, they often garnered unexpected dividends.

The initially furious youth rushed forward and helped Cainenette up. Seeing that he was merely unconscious and suffered no actual critical injury, he relaxed.

“If you seek revenge, send your Kort Empire champion, Casper, to find me,” Sidney stated calmly to the seated Landiruf, then turned to leave.

Though his face was contorted with resentment, Landiruf knew he was no match for Sidney. He panted heavily, his face flushed crimson.

Sidney maintained a faint smile as he turned toward the crowd. Before he took two steps, a hand intercepted him.

Chen Feng stood rooted to the spot, his back to Sidney, speaking coldly, “Pay for the carriage before you go!”

The carriage roof was shattered when Cainenette fell, and the body was damaged by him as well. Since Cainenette was unconscious, the debt naturally fell to Sidney.

“Money? Heh…” Sidney laughed as if he had heard a joke. These displays were purely about generating momentum. If every fight required monetary compensation, they wouldn't carry enough wealth to cover it.

“That carriage was honored to be destroyed by Cainenette. We should be charging you, not asking for compensation. What a joke!” Sidney stated flatly.

The coachman’s face went ashen upon hearing this, swaying as if he might faint.

The kind bystander, seeing Chen Feng actually demand payment, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly whispered, “Don’t ask for it, don’t anger them, or they’ll kill you!”

Chen Feng didn't turn his face when he heard Sidney’s words. He replied coldly, “Pay the money, or forfeit an arm. You choose.”

The surrounding people immediately erupted as if a bomb had detonated upon hearing Chen Feng’s demand.

“Is this red-haired kid insane? Daring to speak to the Toni Empire’s champion like that… Is there something wrong with his brain?”

“Look at his posture; speaking without even turning around. He must be schizophrenic…”

…

“Hah… Are you joking?” Sidney burst out laughing. “Forfeit one of my arms? That depends entirely on whether you possess the ability!”

“You mean you refuse to pay?” Chen Feng asked evenly.

“If you want me to pay, you must take it with your own strength!” Sidney bellowed.

Chen Feng shook his head. A wisp of purple flame suddenly materialized at the tip of his right finger. He whipped around violently, bringing his hand down in a swift chop towards Sidney behind him. The speed was so great that streaks of afterimages trailed in the air.

“Ahhh…” Sidney shrieked, unable to even react before his right arm dropped to the ground. The severed stump, seared by the purple flame, emitted a faint aroma of cooked flesh.

Chen Feng slowly turned back, ignoring the one-armed Sidney, and walked toward Landiruf, who was still sitting on the ground. “Pay for the horse…”

“A-alright… I’ll pay…” Landiruf, chilled by the sight of Chen Feng’s previous strike, was sweating profusely. Seeing that even Sidney was no match, he dared not utter another word of refusal. He fumbled in his tunic and produced a coin purse, handing it over. Chen Feng weighed it; it held seventy or eighty gold coins, which he casually tossed to the coachman. “That’s for the horse…”

A carriage plus a horse would cost no more than five gold coins at most. Throwing seventy or eighty gold coins at the coachman nearly caused him to faint; this was wealth he couldn’t earn driving for years…

“…Are you satisfied?” Chen Feng asked after the coachman accepted the money.

“Yes, yes…” the coachman nodded rapidly, not daring to imply otherwise.

“This…” The onlookers stared at each other, speechless, watching the red-haired youth in the center. The usually noisy street fell into a silence so profound a pin drop could be heard.

The kind bystander who had urged Chen Feng to stop clapped a hand over his mouth, his eyeballs nearly popping out. He mumbled, “Is… is this real? Am I seeing things correctly…”

PS: While moving house today, I jammed my little finger painfully against a coffee table. It took me a whole six hours to write this chapter of 4000+ words, I’m suffering terribly. There won't be a fourth update tonight, so don't wait up. Please show your support with monthly tickets and recommendation votes!

Also, Old Cliff has decided to stick to the old system: updates in exchange for monthly tickets. During the double period, for every extra 30 monthly tickets, I will add an extra chapter (with a minimum guaranteed length of 9,000 characters). Starting October 8th, for every additional 15 monthly tickets, I will add a chapter. To encourage updates, everyone with monthly tickets, please cast them generously! (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to www**com for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)