Chapter 127: A Delaying Tactic

After signing the life-and-death contract, Liu Haiyang continued, "Before we begin, I hope you'll warm up. I wouldn't want you to lose all that sharp spirit of yours before the real fight even starts!"

With that, he walked to the back of the spectator stand, and a younger man charged onto the ring.

"Stop looking around. I’m your opponent, you bastard," the young man spat, his eyes filled with fury. Yet, both his stance and his body were riddled with openings.

Xiao Ye didn't even bother looking at him directly; his attention remained fixed on Liu Haiyang.

"I’m talking to you, trash!" Infuriated by being ignored, the young man swung his fist and lunged forward.

Xiao Ye raised his hand and slapped the man across the face. A crisp, sharp sound echoed through the hall, and before anyone could even process what happened, the young man was sent flying off the ring. A clear palm print was left on his face, his facial bones shattered, and two streams of blood trickled from his nose.

Just one strike!

The members of the Qin family stood with wide eyes and dropped jaws, their expressions frozen in shock. In contrast, Chi Long instinctively clenched his fists, the anger he had built up from Yan He’s provocations earlier now vented through that single strike.

Yan He’s expression turned even more terrified; his pupils dilated, unable to believe what he was seeing. He never imagined Xiao Ye possessed such power, knocking a man off the stage with a single slap. This young man was his own senior apprentice brother—how could he be so strong yet fail to withstand even a second of combat?

"Are you still not going to make a move? Sending these small-fry up is just a waste of time," Xiao Ye said, standing with his hands behind his back, his voice devoid of any warmth.

Liu Haiyang knew this was a direct provocation. The man’s aura was peculiar; even as a ninth-rank martial artist, he couldn't discern his opponent's true strength. But since Xiao Ye could knock a seventh-rank martial artist off the stage with one blow, he couldn't be that formidable. Liu Haiyang wasn't worried. He hadn't seen many grandmaster-level experts in his life, and in a small place like Jianghai City, it was impossible to find such talent. He refused to believe his junior apprentice brother had been killed by this man; he preferred to believe Xiao Ye had used a sneak attack.

"Mr. Xiao, you certainly have some skill!" Liu Haiyang waved his hand to have the unconscious man carried away, then leaped onto the ring.

"Taking out a small fish was easy. What’s the matter? Are you scared?"

"Mr. Chen, you jest. I’m not so pathetic as to be frightened by someone of a lower rank than myself," Liu Haiyang said with a smile.

"So many empty words. Why don't you come over and try it yourself? Then you'll know." Xiao Ye extended his palm toward Liu Haiyang in a mocking gesture.

"Mr. Chen, you have a sharp tongue, but I wonder if your ability matches it?" Liu Haiyang maintained his smile, but the veins on his neck began to bulge. Anyone familiar with him knew this was a sign of his boiling rage.

"Uncle Wang is angry! This is going to be good," Yan He said, rubbing his hands in excitement. He loved watching violent, bloody scenes—that was exactly why he had come today. Chi Long, however, wasn't worried at all. The person standing on that stage was a legendary figure! Dealing with these people wouldn't be a problem at all.

Liu Haiyang let out a cold snort and, without further words, charged toward Xiao Ye. The surrounding crowd couldn't track his speed; by the time they saw him again, he was already upon Xiao Ye.

"Take this punch!" Liu Haiyang leaped into the air and swung at Xiao Ye. The entire boxing gym was suddenly filled with his terrifying pressure.

Chi Long’s eyes widened in horror. It turned out Liu Haiyang hadn't used his full strength during their previous encounter. The pressure from a ninth-rank martial artist's punch was truly formidable! Even Yan He and those with weaker cultivation were forced to their knees by the sheer weight of the force.

Yet Xiao Ye remained unmoved, barely lifting a hand. The moment their fists collided, a massive surge of energy erupted, kicking up all the dust accumulated on the ring and filling the gym with a thick haze. Visibility on the stage dropped to nothing; one could only hear the booming sounds of impact, and the very foundation of the ring seemed on the verge of collapse.

When the dust finally settled, the scene left everyone stunned. Liu Haiyang was crouching a few steps away from Xiao Ye, panting slightly, his eyes narrowed with malice. Xiao Ye, however, appeared completely unscathed. How was that possible?

Yan He’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Xiao Ye looked so plain—how had he blocked Liu Haiyang’s full-strength blow?

"Your strength isn't worthy of making me fight back."

"What are you waiting for? Get up here and help me!" Liu Haiyang roared, his face twisted in a hideous grimace.

Hearing this, two men from the crowd jumped up and stood by Liu Haiyang’s side. Their strength was also around the eighth rank. Liu Haiyang knew that if he didn't call for backup, he might very well be killed by Xiao Ye. He had completely abandoned all pretense of pride.

Xiao Ye remained as calm as ever, which only infuriated Liu Haiyang further. The two newcomers flanked Xiao Ye, surrounding him, but there was no trace of fear in Xiao Ye’s eyes.

"You still don't understand how vast the gap in our strength is!"

As he finished his sentence, a massive wave of power erupted from Xiao Ye’s body, dealing a heavy blow to all three of them. With just one strike, the limbs of all three men shattered where they touched him, and a violent force surged into their internal organs. Liu Haiyang couldn't hold back, spraying a mouthful of blood on the spot. All three were sent flying off the stage, falling unconscious.

"You're a grandmaster... you're a grandmaster!" Yan He’s mind went blank, and he could only repeat those words. The title of "Grandmaster" echoed in the hearts of every Qin family member present.

After this battle, Chi Long was completely conquered by Xiao Ye, his eyes inexplicably filled with tears of emotion.

"A half-step grandmaster is nothing more than this. Can we leave now?" Xiao Ye withdrew his fist, his expression indifferent, and jumped off the ring. Just as he was about to leave the gym with Chi Long, he was stopped by Yan He from behind.

"You can't leave!" Yan He gritted his teeth and shouted. Bringing Liu Haiyang here was only one part of the plan. His mission remained unfulfilled; he could not let Xiao Ye and the others walk away!

Xiao Ye fixed a cold gaze upon him. Instantly, Yan He felt as if his blood had frozen, as if he would be killed in the next second. Seeing that the latter made no further move, Xiao Ye turned around.

"Brothers, get him! Don't let them leave!" Yan He’s neck veins bulged. He was determined to stall for time, even at the cost of his own life! The martial artists behind him, regardless of the consequences, charged toward Xiao Ye and his group.

"I’ve tolerated you people for long enough. Finally, a real fight!"