Li Liang chuckled, saying this. Although there had been a slight unexpected turn, the outcome was still within their established framework; adding the Zhang family meant just one more person, at most.

Moreover, he was a twenty-year-old youth. Even if his talent was exceptional, his age was a factor he didn't worry about at all.

He sat there smiling, unaware of how anxious Li Changfeng below him currently was.

He knew Zhang Yang’s situation, but he considered Zhang Yang a friend and hadn't disclosed his matters to outsiders.

Struggling against the Long family was due to the Li family’s long-standing refusal to accept the Long family's premier status for a thousand years; the Li family wished to collaborate with the Huyan family to bring the Long family down. This was a struggle between the major families, and while it might affect his relationship with Long Feng, the impact wouldn't be too significant.

They were all adults and understood that some matters were beyond their control.

But involving Zhang Yang was different. Although Zhang Yang claimed to represent a family, he was essentially just one person.

Most importantly, he knew Zhang Yang’s true strength. Zhang Yang was a monstrous talent. Despite his youth, he was already a Third Level master, accompanied by a spirit beast. None of the young disciples in the Li family could match him.

At this moment, he desperately wanted to warn Li Liang, who was his uncle, but his position was too far away, making it impossible to walk over and speak.

However, even if he spoke, it would likely be useless. Li Liang had already made his decision, and no amount of shamelessness could make him reverse it now.

“No rush. This Long Family Grand Competition has now evolved into a competition among our five great families, so naturally, the method must change!”

Long Haotian smiled and slowly stood up, speaking deliberately.

Long Haotian continued, “Among the young disciples of our Long family between eighteen and thirty years old, there are exactly fifteen who have reached the Second Level of Inner Strength. Adding Zhang Yang from the Zhang family makes sixteen. The young disciples you three families brought this time also total sixteen. The sides are now equal in number!”

Li Liang and the others slowly nodded. The Li family brought six young disciples this time, the Huyan family brought five, and the Hua family brought five, totaling exactly sixteen.

Long Haotian spoke again, “Since the numbers are equal, if we proceed with paired matchups, it will take a long time and might not even finish today. How about we switch to a tournament format? Our Long family and the Zhang family will set up the arena, and you send up disciples to challenge. Winners can remain on the stage, but each winner can only accept a maximum of three challenges. After three times, they must rest. Whoever remains on stage at the end will determine which side has won!”

Long Haotian slowly articulated his plan. Li Liang and Huyan Peng exchanged glances.

Originally, they expected direct duels, but now it had become a (leitai/arena) format. They were unsure why Long Haotian had suddenly changed the arrangement.

However, on the surface, they weren't disadvantaged. They had brought their elite disciples, whose overall strength should surpass the Long family’s. This change, in fact, seemed to benefit them.

The elder leading the Hua family contingent blinked slightly, a fleeting trace of joy appearing on his face before it quickly returned to normal.

“We have no objections. Brother Hua, what do you think?”

Li Liang and Huyan Peng exchanged looks, nodded together, and finally, Li Liang turned to the elder from the Hua family.

“You gentlemen decide this matter; our Hua family has no reservations!”

The Hua family elder readily agreed. His words seemed to align with the opinions of the Li and Huyan families without specifically offending the Long family.

Decide amongst yourselves—whether it’s the Long family or the other two—we will stand by your decision. The Hua family’s statement was like a universal solvent.

“Very well, it is decided then. We will proceed according to Clan Leader Long’s suggestion, using the arena format for the competition!”

The three families concurred, and they didn't bother asking Zhang Yang, directly agreeing to the terms.

This small action proved they hadn't taken Zhang Yang seriously at all; he was merely a shield the Long family had pulled in, or perhaps a puppet.

“Zhang Yang, what are your thoughts?”

They could ignore him, but Long Haotian would not. Long Haotian turned to Zhang Yang and asked again.

“I have no objections!”

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded. He understood exactly what Long Haotian was planning. With the arena format, he guaranteed at least three consecutive victories.

If the Long family could knock down many of the combined forces of the three families, even if only three opponents remained, they could still win, as the strength of an Inner Strength Third Level master far exceeded these Second Level practitioners.

Long Haotian smiled faintly and nodded again: “Good, let’s do it this way. Long Zheng will be responsible for arranging our Long family disciples. If any members of the Zhang family wish to fight, they are free to do so at any time!”

Long Haotian smiled brilliantly. What Zhang Yang was thinking was precisely his strategy.

He had immense confidence in Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang was no ordinary Inner Strength Third Level master; he had once defeated Long Jiu in a single move. How could these Inner Strength Second Level fighters possibly be his match?

Having Zhang Yang meant having an extra guarantee, especially since the Li family was unaware of Zhang Yang’s true strength.

Meanwhile, within the Li family and Huyan family contingents, two people felt a sudden chill and profound desolation.

These two were Li Changfeng and Huyan Aobo. Both harbored a bad premonition. They knew Zhang Yang’s true strength; Zhang Yang alone was more than they disciples could handle.

The Long family deliberately bringing Zhang Yang into the fray clearly meant they knew Zhang Yang’s capability and were intentionally setting a trap for them.

This implied they had absolutely no chance of winning this time.

Unfortunately, it was useless for them to try and warn the others now. They could only regret not revealing Zhang Yang’s situation sooner.

At this point, all they could do was pray that Zhang Yang would take the stage last. Their primary objective was targeting the Long family; as long as they defeated all the Long family members, they would consider this endeavor a victory.

Long Zheng, standing on the martial arts platform, nodded and immediately commanded: “Long Zhan, you stay on stage first. Have a contest with the brothers from the three families!”

Long Zhan was the disciple who had earlier stepped up, ready for the contest. He was at the early stage of the Second Level, twenty-two years old, considered quite good among the early Second Level disciples.

Keeping him on stage would also allow them to gauge the strength of the disciples from the three families.

“Yes, disciple understands!”

Long Zhan acknowledged and stood rigidly on the stage, looking out at the numerous young disciples from the three families.

He showed no trace of fear; his eyes even held a bit of anger. He was fortunate enough to be the first to remain on stage, and he was determined to teach these meddlers a good lesson. No matter who stepped up, he would give them a taste of their own medicine.

Li Liang and Huyan Peng glanced at each other, and finally, Huyan Peng spoke: “Ao Ying, you go first this round!”

Huyan Ao Ying was a young disciple of the Huyan family, also at the early stage of the Second Level, only twenty-three years old.

However, he had broken through to the Second Level at nineteen. Currently, he was at the crucial juncture of advancing from the early to the middle stage of the Second Level. Cultivating in seclusion had slowed his progress the most. Bringing him here served two purposes: to let him gain experience and to use external pressure to help him achieve his breakthrough.

Since their ages were similar and their strength comparable, having them duel first was the most logical arrangement.

“Yes!”

Huyan Ao Ying stood up. He was about 1.8 meters tall, appearing like a sunny young man.

He leaped directly off the platform, and within a few steps, he jumped onto the martial arts stage, standing opposite Long Zhan.

“I am Long Zhan!”

“Huyan Ao Ying!”

The two clasped their fists in greeting, and following Long Zheng’s instruction, their bout quickly commenced.

At the Second Level of Inner Strength, one could exert the full power of their martial arts techniques. The better the cultivation method practiced, the greater the advantage during a contest.

Long Zhan clearly specialized in palm techniques. When he didn't use weapons, his palms struck out continuously and rapidly, leaving no gap.

Huyan Ao Ying practiced movement techniques. Long Zhan was fast, but he dodged even faster, constantly maneuvering to find a flaw in Long Zhan’s offense.

Although their Inner Strength cultivation wasn't high, their martial arts skills were not poor, and their strength was respectable. The fight was brilliant, causing the Long family servants watching from the sidelines to gasp repeatedly, many cheering for Long Zhan.

After fighting for over ten minutes, Long Zhan deliberately exposed a weakness. When Huyan Ao Ying rushed in aggressively without seeing through the feint, Long Zhan struck him, sending his entire body flying backward.

This single palm strike injured Huyan Ao Ying quite severely.

Subsequently, Long Zhan fought with increasing vigor. The injured Huyan Ao Ying was no match for him and, after persisting for a few more minutes, was ultimately defeated.

Huyan Ao Ying retreated in shame and anger, while the crowd erupted in cheers. The spectators were all Long family members, naturally supporting their own. Having the home advantage counted. Huyan Peng’s face was grim. The Long family’s strength was indeed formidable. He had expected Huyan Ao Ying to handle this Long Zhan, but he had miscalculated; they lost the very first round.

Long Zhan won but did not leave the stage; he stood there, awaiting the next challenger.

The next person to ascend was someone from the Li family, also twenty-two years old.

The Li family member requested to use a weapon. The Li family were sword cultivators; their specialty was swordplay, making the use of weapons most advantageous for them.

Long Zhan specialized in palm techniques, so using weapons put him at a natural disadvantage. After a dispute, they finally agreed to draw lots to decide.

For future contests with similar ambiguities, they could draw lots again, or one side could voluntarily yield and swap out the competitor.

The lot draw resulted in Long Zhan taking a slight loss; he ultimately agreed to use a weapon. The Li family member brought a wooden sword without a sharpened edge, while Long Zhan chose to face him with his bare fists.

He hadn't practiced weapon forms, so using a weapon would only hinder him more than not using one.

The two clashed fiercely on stage for over ten minutes. In the end, Long Zhan, who fought without a weapon, was defeated. He was at a slight disadvantage due to the lack of a weapon, and having just fought a round, his loss this time was understandable.

Although Long Zhan lost, he received warm applause as he stepped down. The crowd consisted only of his people, who would support their own regardless of victory or defeat.

After Long Zhan, another Long family disciple took the stage.

This disciple also used a weapon—a spear.

Historically, spear techniques were rarely easy to master. In their thousand-year lineage, the Long family had acquired some excellent spear technique manuals, but few people chose to practice them.

This disciple, however, favored the spear, eventually choosing to master spear techniques and achieving a respectable level of proficiency.

He ascended the stage carrying a wooden spear. A spear versus a sword—they fought intensely on the martial arts platform. Both possessed excellent martial skills. Zhang Yang watched the entire fight, nodding occasionally, his eyes never blinking.

Although their cultivation levels were not high, their martial arts were profound. Zhang Yang had never witnessed such contests at home; for him, this was an excellent opportunity to learn. (To be continued)