Chapter 18: The Fall of Rank 18
Today was the day of the challenge. The sun shone brightly in the sky, and the main training grounds of the Xiao family were packed with disciples and elders. An air of excitement and anticipation could be felt. All eyes were fixed on the arena, eager to see how the 'Level 0' boy, Duan Liyang, would face Rank 18 Wang Xiao, who had recently reached Level 4 Peak Stage.
Wang Xiao had already entered the arena, his aura powerful and arrogant. He looked at Duan Liyang with contempt. "It seems that worm hasn't arrived yet," Wang Xiao said, raising his voice so everyone could hear. "He must have gotten scared and fled the family. I told you, he's just trash!" Some people in the crowd began to laugh, fueling his arrogance.
At one side of the grounds, a large betting stall had been set up. A busy attendant loudly announced, "Place your bets! Place your bets! If Wang Xiao wins, one silver coin will double! And if Duan Liyang wins, one silver coin will become ten times its value!" The majority of the crowd placed their bets on Wang Xiao, the pile of silver coins growing beneath his name.
The attendant in charge of taking bets, a thin disciple, turned pale. He feared that if Duan Liyang lost (which was almost certain), he would incur a huge loss. He whispered, "Someone, please bet on Duan Liyang too! I'll suffer a great loss otherwise!" Then, in desperation, he announced, "Alright! Whoever bets on Duan Liyang, if he wins, you'll get twenty times your wager!" A few people, tempted by the immense profit, also placed small bets on Duan Liyang.
Just then, a stir rippled through the crowd. Duan Liyang entered the grounds. His clothes, though new, now fit his robust body perfectly. There was no fear on his face, no nervousness, just a calm, focused confidence. His eyes were fixed directly on Wang Xiao.
"Who fears you?" Duan Liyang said in a calm but clear voice, his words echoing through the arena.
"You're just a weak dog that only knows how to bark!"
Wang Xiao's face immediately contorted with rage. "You... how dare you!" he roared.
Duan Liyang entered the combat arena without hesitation. As he stepped in, he glanced at the chubby boy in the crowd.
"Fatty!" Duan Liyang whispered. "Bet all your money on me!" The chubby boy hesitated slightly, fear in his eyes, but he saw the confidence in Duan Liyang's eyes and nodded. He placed all his and Duan Liyang's remaining money on Duan Liyang.
Duan Liyang had also contributed some of his past earnings for the bet, leaving him with no silver coins left.
In the arena, Wang Xiao cursed him furiously. "You will die today!" he yelled and lunged at Duan Liyang with all his might. Level 4 Peak Stage energy roared from his fist.
The crowd held its breath. They expected a fierce battle. But what they witnessed left them in shock.
Wang Xiao advanced at full speed towards Duan Liyang,
ready to deliver his lethal punch. Duan Liyang activated the blue particles in his eyes, observing Wang Xiao's every subtle energy flow and movement.
When Wang Xiao was approximately 10 feet away from Duan Liyang, Duan Liyang made an inconceivable move. He swirled his fist in the air, but instead of punching, he used a hidden ability of 'Ocean Blast' that he had been learning for the past five days. The air responded to his command, creating an invisible, immense force that pulled Wang Xiao towards him.
"What?!" Wang Xiao screamed, in shock as he felt as if invisible ropes were rapidly dragging him towards Duan Liyang. He tried to stop, but his power was futile.
Wang Xiao was now just a foot away from Duan Liyang, completely off-balance. Duan Liyang concentrated the power of 'Ocean Blast' in his other fist, and with a sharp 'Boom!' he delivered a direct punch to Wang Xiao's face.
Wang Xiao's eyes widened, and an intense pain surged through his body. He lost consciousness. He fell to the ground in a single blow, with a loud thud.
A deafening silence fell over the entire grounds. Only the whisper of the wind and the disbelieving gasps of the distant crowd could be heard.
Everyone stared at the unconscious Wang Xiao and the calmly standing Duan Liyang.
For a moment, there was no sound. Then, the betting attendant's face filled with astonishment and then immense joy. "He... he won!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "Duan Liyang won!"
A mixed roar of disbelief and then elation erupted from the crowd.
Those who had bet on Duan Liyang began to cheer. Those who had bet on Wang Xiao were in shock. Ren Hao's face had turned completely white, his eyes wide, his jaw slack. He was trembling. He knew Duan Liyang was no ordinary human, and that his own fate was now completely sealed.
Pushing through the crowd, the chubby boy rushed to Duan Liyang, tears in his eyes, but they were tears of joy and disbelief. He hugged Duan Liyang tightly. "Duan Liyang! You did it! You defeated him! How did you do that? This... this is incredible!"
Duan Liyang smiled, patting his friend's back. "Don't worry, Fatty. I'm fine."
Just then, Xiang Rui descended from the distant balcony into the arena, her movements as graceful as ever, but her eyes now held an even brighter sparkle. She looked at Duan Liyang, a calm, victorious smile on her face.
"I knew it, little brother, you would win," Xiang Rui said, a faint chuckle in her voice. She reached Duan Liyang, her eyes filled with pride and awe at his incredible victory. "Your punches... you completely overwhelmed him. That was the new ability of 'Ocean Blast,' wasn't it? That pulling force?" she whispered, a hint of mystery in her tone, as if she understood what he had achieved.
Duan Liyang nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Yes, Big Sister."
Xiang Rui nodded with satisfaction. "This is even more impressive than defeating Li Xiao. Wang Xiao was an established power." Her gaze fell upon the unconscious Wang Xiao, then shifted towards the elders. "I think you'll receive another summons from the elders now. And this time, they won't just be asking about 'capability'."
In the arena, the elder with the longest beard, who was Xiang Rui's grandfather, rose from his seat. His face was filled with gravity and deep contemplation. He looked at Duan Liyang, then at the unconscious Wang Xiao. His eyes were now fixed on Duan Liyang, holding a new, intense curiosity.
The other elders around him were also in shock, whispering amongst themselves. This victory, and the manner in which it was achieved, would surely shake the foundations of the Xiao family.
Duan Liyang looked at the unconscious body of Wang Xiao, then up at the sky. His journey had just begun, and it was now going to be even more exciting than before.
End of Chapter 18