Ace's expression remained unreadable as he processed the rules.
"They're allowed to kill?" he asked.
Hua Hua nodded. "Yes, the Dragon and Phoenix Tournant is taken very seriously. Strength determines one's fate here."
The voice inside Ace's mind echoed.
So, will you be willing to sacrifice your disciples' lives for your greed?
Ace ignored it, his jaw tightening. "I need to speak with my disciples."
The Hua family mbers didn't stop him. They rely watched as he strode toward the preparation area.
"i'er! Yifeng!" he called, scanning the crowd.
For a mont, he couldn't find them. Then, he spotted the two chatting easily, as if they weren't monts away from stepping into a battlefield where death was a real possibility.
He exhaled sharply and approached. "There you two are."
Liu i tilted her head. "Is sothing wrong, Master?"
Ace hesitated before speaking. "What do you say about forfeiting the tournant?"
Liu i smiled, her confidence unwavering. "Master, it's fine. We won't kill anyone."
Ace narrowed his eyes. "It's the opposite I'm worried about."
"Don't worry," she reassured him. "I can handle it."
He turned to Shan Yifeng, who rely grinned. "Master, just watch. I've got a big surprise for you."
Ace frowned. The duo was too confident. Maybe they didn't realize the danger.
He sighed. "If your opponent is a Gold Rank, forfeit. Understand?"
"Yes, Master," they both answered.
Ace's gaze hardened. "If you don't, I'll punish you even in death."
Even as he said it, guilt crept in. Deep down, he didn't truly want them to forfeit.
Sowhere within, he had already chosen—letting them fight, letting them risk everything.
It was a gamble.
Either they'd win and ultimately get him that divine grade cultivation manual or they die trying to win.
In the end, he chose to gamble with their life for his benefits.
Ace didn't have much ti to dwell on his thoughts before Shan Yifeng was called onto the stage.
"Next, we have Hua Feng from the Hua family!" the announcer called.
It was the alias the Hua family had given Shan Yifeng. Since Shan Yifeng was representing the Hua family, having a na that didn't include "Hua" wouldn't have made sense.
Yifeng grinned and waved back. "Alright, watch , Master!" he said in a cheerful tone before stepping forward.
Ace exhaled, arms crossed. His concern hadn't faded.
Liu i, standing beside him, smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Master. Junior Brother is much stronger now."
"I'm still worried, i'er. Can't your master worry?" Ace muttered.
Liu i smirked. "Don't you trust us?"
Ace shot her a look. "You're getting more cheeky. I probably shouldn't overfeed you anymore."
"Huh? What?! Master, if I don't eat, how will I grow?!"
"You shall stay tiny all your life," Ace replied flatly.
Liu i gasped dramatically. "That's cruel!"
The tension eased, and Ace found himself chuckling despite his worry.
Then, the announcer continued.
"His opponent—Hoo Lee from the Hoo family, also a peak Silver Rank!"
The crowd murmured in excitent.
Like the previous match, the referee raised a hand. "If either of you wishes to forfeit, raise your hand now."
Neither fighter moved.
The referee nodded as he grabbed the whistle in his hand and placed it on his lips.
FWEEEEET!
The whistle blew once more.
Hoo Lee scoffed, a mocking grin stretching across his face. "Hua Feng, was it? Why don't you just surrender before I kill you?"
Ace, standing off to the side, muttered under his breath, "Hoo Lee shit," before bursting into laughter.
He leaned on Liu i for support, unable to contain himself.
Liu i blinked in confusion. "Master, what is Hoo Lee shit?"
"Nothing, dear. Nothing at all," Ace replied, still chuckling. He quickly changed the subject. "So, who do you think will win?"
"Younger brother," she answered without hesitation.
"Alright, I'll firmly trust in you—and him." Ace replied grinning..
"Oh, and," Liu i added mischievously, "younger brother told he wants the princess to be his partner!"
Ace had completely forgotten about that.
The princess—who had declared she was searching for a dual cultivation partner and postponed the tournant by a week.
"I didn't know he had such… refined tastes," Ace mused.
Back on stage, Hoo Lee had already pressed forward, his punches relentless. Each strike carried crushing force; forcing Shan Yifeng to retreat step by step.
Boom!
A straight punch to the gut sent Yifeng stumbling back, his feet barely steadying on the cracked stone stage.
Bang!
Another blow ca—this ti to his shoulder. Yifeng's body twisted from the impact. His breathing grew heavy.
The crowd murmured.
"Hua feng's getting overwheld."
"Hoo Lee isn't giving him any space!"
Hoo Lee smirked, confidence surging. "What's wrong, Hua Feng? Not so cocky now? Co on, just surrender."
But just as he threw another punch—
Sothing changed.
Yifeng's body swayed, his stance loose and unpredictable. Instead of dodging with clean precision, his movents beca… chaotic.
No, not chaotic.
Unpredictable, unnatural.
Ace's eyes widened from the stands. His arms slowly uncrossed as realization struck him.
That's… the Drunk Man Technique?! How? I only showed him once!
Hoo Lee's fist missed by a hair's length as Yifeng staggered—seemingly off-balance—only to twist at an impossible angle. His arm flung out lazily.
Smack!
A palm connected with Hoo Lee's face. It wasn't even a full-force strike, yet the sheer awkwardness of it sent Hoo Lee stumbling.
"What the hell?" Hoo Lee growled, regaining balance.
He attacked again, but Yifeng was swaying, dodging, shifting in ways that made no sense. His body bent and twisted like a man drunk beyond reason—yet every movent placed him exactly where he needed to be.
A mistid swing. A wild step.
Hoo Lee's attacks no longer connected.
Yifeng suddenly smiled, his eyes shining with excitent. His footwork blurred—
And then he struck.
A fist, casual and unassuming—yet it landed directly in Hoo Lee's ribs.
Crack!
The sound echoed through the arena.
Hoo Lee staggered, coughing violently. He barely had ti to register what happened before—
Bam!
A knee to the jaw.
Wham!
An elbow to the temple.
Hoo Lee's body collapsed onto the stone, twitching.
Then there was silence.
The referee hesitated before raising his hand. "T-The winner—Hua Feng!"
Ace let out a slow breath, still staring at Yifeng, who showed no sign of excitent despite winning.
Liu i tugged at his sleeve. "Master, did you see? Junior Brother is amazing!"
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