Luo Xiu continued to play with his phone, not even bothering to give Ren Xuan a glance.

"Flies will be flies. They smell something from a mile away and just have to buzz over for a bite."

Hearing this, Ren Xuan chuckled. He saw that Luo Xiu was scrolling through short videos of scantily-clad women dancing and curled his lip in scorn.

"Once a loser, always a loser. Still watching these kinds of videos? How degrading."

Luo Xiu simply looked at him with an innocent gaze and smiled. "I have videos of Yueyue dancing in a short skirt, too. I even helped her film them."

"You..."

Ren Xuan felt his breath catch in his chest. His gaze turned icy, and his fists clenched tightly.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to lash out. "Forget it. I'll teach you your lesson on the Combat Stage."

"Luo Xiu, I just came to remind you of one thing... don't you dare lose to anyone else!"

"Because your defeat is mine to deliver!"

With that, he turned and stalked back to the Sea City Martial Association's rest area.

Luo Xiu watched him go, finding the whole thing laughable.

He had a pretty good idea why Ren Xuan was latched onto him like a rabid dog—it was all because of Su Shanyue.

Not long after, Liu Jianghu walked up to Luo Xiu, his face beaming with joy.

"Excellent news, Luo Xiu! My application was approved. You're now the main combatant for Henghai Provincial City!"

Lin Xiyue had been injured in the previous match and was also pregnant. Because of this, Luo Xiu had spoken with Liu Jianghu on the way to the stadium that morning, asking him to apply with the organizers to replace their main combatant.

Liu Jianghu hadn't held out much hope, but to his surprise, the organizers approved the request on the spot!

Luo Xiu looked at the approval notice in Liu Jianghu's hand and smiled. "Thanks for your help."

"By the way, President Liu, I heard the Grand Martial Tournament has a 'solo challenge' rule. Is that true?"

Hearing this, Liu Jianghu gave Luo Xiu a strange look. "There is such a rule, but across all the years this tournament has been held, those who dared to attempt a 'solo challenge' can be counted on one hand."

As he spoke, he suddenly realized something, and his eyes widened. "Luo Xiu, you're not thinking..."

Luo Xiu simply smiled and nodded.

Liu Jianghu grew worried. "But that means you'll have to fight three people all by yourself. That's incredibly unfair."

Luo Xiu stood up. "I don't want to waste time. Besides, I have no interest in the Grand Martial Tournament itself."

"I'll have to trouble you to go and inform them, President Liu. Tell them that for the upcoming matches, our Provincial Capital Martial Association will be invoking the 'solo challenge' rule," he added. "This way, we can also earn more points."

"This..."

"Trust me."

"Alright then. We'll do it your way."

Liu Jianghu stared at Luo Xiu, a surge of adrenaline in his voice. "Our Martial Association is at the bottom of the rankings anyway. This time, I'm betting it all on you!"

"..."

The so-called 'solo challenge,' to put it simply, was like booking the entire stage for yourself. It meant a team would send out only one main combatant, with no substitutes. This single combatant had to fight all three of the opponent's team members. Regardless of the outcome, all three matches had to be fought to completion.

A perfect three-win streak would earn three extra points per victory, for a total of nine points. However, losing even a single match meant not only receiving zero points but also suffering a four-point deduction.

The 'solo challenge' rule had existed since the Grand Martial Tournament's inception. However, as Liu Jianghu had just said, teams daring enough to invoke it were few and far between.

Furthermore, the handful who had tried were invariably overconfident. They believed they were strong enough to sweep the competition, but not a single one met a good end. Reality always taught them a harsh lesson.

Of course, the only reason Luo Xiu had thought of this rule was his laziness. He simply didn't want to waste any more time on this event. Get it over with early, go fishing... now wouldn't that be nice?

「...」

As time went on, the moment of excitement finally arrived. The entire arena exploded into an uproar when the announcer declared that the main combatant of the Henghai Provincial City Martial Association would be undertaking a 'solo challenge.'

Thus, under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, Luo Xiu ascended the Combat Stage.

Stepping onto such a grand stage for the first time, watched by tens of thousands of spectators, Luo Xiu felt deeply uncomfortable. He even felt a bit of stage fright.

He was nothing like Lin Xiyue, who was used to these situations from regularly addressing hundreds of employees at her company.

「...」

「Rest Area」

Su Guobang watched Luo Xiu on the Combat Stage, a bitter smile etched on his face.

Ever since he'd learned that Luo Xiu had joined the Provincial Capital Martial Association, not a moment had passed without him being filled with regret. He wished he could just slap Su Quan to death! If it weren't for Su Quan's despicable actions, how could the Provincial Capital Martial Association have gotten so lucky?

Meanwhile, Su Quan and his companions were still gloating like a bunch of clowns.

Feng Xi looked baffled. "Is Luo Xiu that desperate for fame? Actually attempting a solo challenge."

Su Quan chuckled with disdain. "He's just a clown trying to grab the spotlight. He truly overestimates himself. Does he think just anyone can pull off a solo challenge? He's about to get what's coming to him!"

Ren Xuan added, "And look at their uniforms. They're plastered with advertisements. How broke can you get? Who else comes to the Grand Martial Tournament needing to make money from ads?"

Hearing this, Su Shanyue had to stop herself from laughing. That Ren Xuan must be all brawn and no brains. He has no idea that it's precisely because of Lin Xiyue's advertising that Shen Luo Company is now netting over ten million in profit every day. And he dares to call them broke? Truly a frog in a well, with a sky only as big as the opening above.

「...」

「On the Combat Stage」

Because Luo Xiu had chosen the solo challenge, there was no need to draw lots. The main combatant and two substitutes from the Zhucheng Martial Association could decide amongst themselves who went first.

Naturally, the first one up was a substitute.

The substitute on the stage gave Luo Xiu a mocking look. "Hey buddy, you new here?"

Luo Xiu nodded.

"Figured. I was wondering why I'd never seen you before. So, what happened to that goddess who used to be your association's main combatant?"

"She's injured and won't be competing in any more matches," Luo Xiu said. "I'm the main combatant now."

"Is that so? What a shame. But I have to ask, are you out of your mind?"

"Daring to try a solo challenge... In all the years this has been running, have you ever heard of one of those idiots having a good end? Go on, ask around. I guess they got famous, though... for being fools."

Luo Xiu was growing impatient. "This stage isn't a place for sissies to run their mouths."

The substitute gritted his teeth and sneered. "So you want to talk tough? Fine. I'll make you regret it!" He fell into a ready stance. "Bring it on!"

The next moment, however, Luo Xiu simply started walking toward him at an unhurried pace.

The entire audience was stunned, completely baffled by his actions. In a Martial Way contest, who just strolls toward their opponent, wide open and full of flaws? What was he thinking?

But in the next instant, the entire arena fell silent.

They watched as Luo Xiu simply walked up and kicked the substitute from the Zhucheng Martial Association right off the Combat Stage.

According to the rules, a match was lost if one side conceded, was knocked off the Combat Stage, or lost the ability to fight.

The crowd didn't react until the substitute who had been kicked off the stage scrambled up from the ground, pointed at Luo Xiu, and began cursing him out. The venue instantly erupted, with many people shouting indignantly.

"A sneak attack!"

"That was definitely a sneak attack!"

"Is this a brawl between thugs?"

"Who just kicks someone off the stage like that!"

"..."

On the Combat Stage, Luo Xiu remained expressionless, paying no mind to the crowd's accusations.

Just then, the second substitute from the Zhucheng Martial Association leaped onto the stage, glaring at Luo Xiu. "You despicable sneak!"

Luo Xiu ignored him and started walking forward again. The substitute's eyes flickered. He decided to strike first and launched an attack, determined not to give Luo Xiu an opening for another "sneak attack."

Luo Xiu calmly sidestepped the incoming palm strike while simultaneously grabbing his opponent's throat, making it look as easy as reaching into his own pocket.

He then yanked the man forward and drove a knee into his stomach.

The substitute let out a wretched howl and spat up clear fluid before Luo Xiu tossed him off the stage like a bag of trash.

Then, Luo Xiu looked down at the main combatant of the Zhucheng Martial Association, who was still in the waiting area. "You can save yourself the trouble and stay down there," he said coolly.

"Pause the match!"

Suddenly, the referee's voice boomed over the broadcast system.

The entire venue fell silent instantly.

The referee's voice echoed through the arena once more. "The combatant from the Henghai Provincial City Martial Association, report to the judges' table immediately!"

"..."

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