NOVEL NEXT Chapter 144: You think too highly of yourself!
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master stood tall and proud atop the fighting platform, his demeanor arrogant and his eyes showing contempt for everyone beneath him.
The Great Protector knelt at his feet, trembling with rage, yet unable to retort, feeling an overwhelming sense of humiliation.
Just then, the followers of the Brahma Kingdom's lamas began to shout, "The Grand Zen Master is mighty, sweeping across the world, unmatched and invincible!"
"We congratulate the Grand Zen Master on a victorious start. After today's battle, the Grand Zen Master's fame will sweep across the Southern Territory. Next will be the Western Territory, the Eastern Border, and the Northern Border, ultimately challenging the Xuanyuan Nation!"
"The Grand Zen Master's power is boundless; he will surely dominate the Xuanyuan Nation."
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master, upon hearing this, grinned broadly and burst into a hearty laugh, his face full of self-satisfaction.
All the people of the Southern Territory shook with anger at this moment, grinding their teeth in spite, yet powerless to counter.
Ye Feng, witnessing this, his gaze sharpened, thinking that it was probably time for him to intervene.
However, just then, the Second Protector suddenly stood up and said with a cold snort, "Your country's Grand Zen Master indeed possesses profound power, and the Arhat Fruit Position is certainly formidable. Our Great Protector lost to you, and there's naturally nothing to say about that, but still..."
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master turned his head abruptly, staring at the Second Protector on the high platform and demanded coldly, "What exactly do you wish to say?"
The Second Protector said solemnly, "What I wish to clarify is, the four of us grew up together and truly excel at combined attack techniques. If we fight separately, our power will greatly decline."
The Grand Zen Master sneered and said, "So, what are you trying to imply."
The Second Protector continued, "What I want to express is that, while the Grand Zen Master won against our eldest brother, that's hardly an achievement. After all, we are not adept at fighting solo. If you could win against the four of us brothers, that would count for something!"
This was a bit shameless. The guy lost and couldn't accept it, and now he wanted four to go against one. However, most of the audience was from the Southern Territory and naturally didn't point out the unfairness.
But these lamas from the Brahma Kingdom were obviously displeased, each of them snorting coldly, "Unable to accept defeat, you now want one to fight against four. Are the Southern Territory and even the whole Xuanyuan Nation so shameless as to wish for victory against the few with the many? How could this be considered a fair duel?"
The Second Protector smirked and said, "We four have been nothing but household servants to the Old Southern King all our lives, mere retainers at best. We certainly cannot represent the entire Southern Territory.
However, your country's Grand Zen Master, who was a peer of the Old Southern King ten years ago, is specifically seeking to engage in a contest with us mere servants, now that the Old Southern King has passed away. Isn't there also a sense of achieving an unearned victory in doing so?"
These old guards no longer proclaimed themselves the Protector Dharma Kings but instead lowered their own status to that of household servants. With the formidable enemy of their country present, these Four Protectors, despicable as they might be, had not forgotten their nation and tried their best to avoid tarnishing its reputation.
The Grand Zen Master huffed, clearly displeased.
The Third Protector then leapt to his feet and said, "Precisely, what the Second Senior Brother says is correct. First, the four of us brothers excel in combining our techniques and are not adept at fighting individually. Second, as mere retainers, even if the Grand Zen Master were to win, I fear that spreading such news would hardly be glorious."
The Fourth Protector also stood up and said, "When the time comes, other nations will only say that the Brahma Kingdom's Quasi-Wheel Grand Zen Master, who once lost to the Old Southern King, acted out of sheer frustration, bullying and oppressing the Old Southern King's servants. That would not make him any kind of hero."
It must be said, these Four Protectors were indeed sharp-tongued. Ye Feng shook his head with a hidden smile upon hearing this; he was no longer eager to take action.
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master, fuming with rage, clenched his teeth and said, "Then tell me, what will it take for you to be truly convinced?"
The Second Protector replied, "We four brothers specialize in combining our techniques. If you can defeat us all at the same time, then we will have nothing left to say."
Ye Feng frowned upon hearing this, nearly unable to hold himself back from stepping in, because he knew that even if these four joined forces, they would not be a match for the Quasi-Wheel Grand Zen Master. Below the Martial King, all are ants; it's not about having more people!
He thought it over but then held back again. Since these four fools were asking for trouble, let them be.
Outside the arena, the lamas shouted, "Four of you teaming up to fight our Great Zen Master? Are you trying to win through outnumbering? Even if you win, wouldn't that be somewhat lacking in honor? Are all of you from Xuanyuan Nation so shameless?"
However, the Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master suddenly gestured to stop them and turned toward the Four Protectors, saying word by word, "You wish to take on I alone with four of you. That is not impossible, but I do have one condition!"
By this time, the Great Protector had already stood up. He was injured, but his condition didn't seem too serious. He asked in a deep voice, "What is the condition of the Great Zen Master?"
The Great Zen Master snorted, "If the four of you join forces and lose this battle, I want something from the Southern Territory—I want the Azure Sky Glaze Sword that belonged to the Old Southern King. If I'm not mistaken, this sword is currently hanging in the hall of the Military Affairs Division at your Southern Territory Base Camp, correct?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Feng's gaze sharpened again. He couldn't fathom how this bald monk knew so many details about the Southern Territory, even where the Old Southern King's sword was hung.
From this perspective, it was likely that spies from Brahma Kingdom had already infiltrated the Southern Territory Base Camp. To put it further, Brahma Kingdom's ambitions were immense!
The Four Protectors looked at each other, unable to make a decision for a moment. After all, it was the sword once borne by the Old Southern King. The sword itself was not ordinary, being a rare treasure, and now that the Old Southern King had passed away, the sword naturally symbolized its late master.
If they even lost this sword to the opponent, then the future of the Southern Territory would truly have nowhere left to hide their shame—they would lose face completely!
Given the gravity of the situation, none of the Four Great Protectors wanted to be responsible, so they turned and looked towards Southern King Dugu Ming on the platform.
Dugu Ming also felt troubled, as a simple martial competition had escalated to such an extent. He didn't know how to reply, so he turned and looked to Ye Feng next to him.
Seeing this, Ye Feng sighed slightly and then turned his head to whisper something to Dugu Ming.
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master kept watching the platform, and upon seeing this scene, he frowned, giving Ye Feng a meaningful look. However, considering that Ye Feng was just a young man in a wheelchair with a broken leg, he didn't take it to heart.
Dugu Ming slowly stood up and then, overlooking the entire training ground, declared loudly, "The Old Southern King's personal sword is no ordinary item—it is not just a treasure but also a spiritual symbol of the Old Southern King, so it cannot be taken out lightly!"
At this point, Dugu Ming's tone shifted as he continued, "However, since the esteemed Great Zen Master of your nation insists on having the Glazed Sword as a stake, then for the sake of fairness, the Great Zen Master should also put something of equal value as a counter wager, shouldn't he?"
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and then said in a cold voice, "The Southern King's words are fair. In the spirit of fairness, if I lose this battle, then I will sever one of my arms and never set foot in Xuanyuan Nation again in this life. How about that?"
Dugu Ming was about to agree when Ye Feng suddenly interrupted with a sneer, "That's not enough. One arm in exchange for the Old Southern King's Azure Glaze Sword? That's overestimating oneself too much."
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master glared at Ye Feng, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine, one arm plus one leg—should that be enough for that sword? But even so, do you truly believe you can win against me?"
"We won't know if we can win until we've fought!" Dugu Ming snorted, then went back and sat down on the high platform chair.
After all, he had said everything he wanted to say, and as for the final outcome, he didn't care anymore, especially since he no longer had the power to care.
However, Dugu Ming was hesitant in his heart. He had intended to refuse since the Old Southern King's Azure Glaze Sword couldn't be lost, but the Northern King had persuaded him to accept. With no choice, he had to comply.
In that moment, something dawned on Dugu Ming—he realized he hadn't yet fully understood this young Northern King.
"Good, since that's the case, then the four of you, come forth. But what I can tell you is that I am set on that Azure Glaze Sword!"
The Reincarnation Wheel Grand Zen Master laughed loudly, his whole body exuding a wild and furious aura, the aura of the Martial King!