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Chapter 95 - 94: Rules and Official Start
Chapter 95 - 94: Rules and Official Start
Chapter 95: Chapter 94: Rules and Official Start
Translator: 549690339
The Headquarters Hall was extremely quiet.
After the appearance of Zhou Tairan, the President of the Fuhai Province Martial Arts Association, the martial artists who were either chatting and laughing or arguing heatedly all fell silent and quickly returned to their seats.
Even Shi Dazhuang, who knew nothing about the martial arts world, recognized Zhou Tairan’s fame.
This was because, on the walls of the Headquarters Hall, there were photos and stories of the past presidents.
Zhou Tairan, 68 years old this year.
Thirty years ago, he became the President of the Fuhai Province Martial Arts Association at the recommendation of his predecessor.
At that time, the martial arts scene flourished all over the country, with numerous disciples belonging to various sects enjoying great influence. They were only superficially accepting the policies issued by the Martial Arts Association, and they didn’t care about them at all behind the scenes.
Even the local branches of the Association were colluding with the martial arts sects at that time, indulging in shady practices together.
The Association’s headquarters was nothing more than a figurehead.
When Zhou Tairan took office, the situation had reached its worst stage.
But in just one year,
Zhou Tairan used an incredibly powerful set of Eight Extremities Boxing.
They forced all the sects in Fuhai Province to submit.
Do they not listen and obey?
Beat them!
Do they cause trouble?
Beat them!
Do they collude inside and outside?
Beat them!
And then expel them after beating them.
Just like that.
The Fuhai Province martial arts world, which the two previous presidents of the Martial Arts Association failed to consolidate during their tenure, Zhou Tairan managed to accomplish it with brute force in just one year. He was, as Zhou Li had mentioned before,
A genius who could possess unrivaled martial prowess even before the Tide
Rising Period arrived.
With such a person, once the Tide Rising Period began,
The speed of progress would be unimaginable for ordinary Qi-sensors.
Therefore,
When Zhou Tairan entered the hall, the fierce aura like a furious lion instantly swept in, quickly suppressing the uproar in the venue.
Even those who were sitting in the front of the hall, the leaders of the major sects who always appeared nonchalant, quietly adjusted their sitting posture to avoid appearing too casual.
Back then, when Zhou Tairan swept through the martial arts world of Fuhai, they were among the participants.
More accurately,
They were among the ones who got beaten.
Therefore,
When they saw Zhou Tairan, they felt the old wounds on their bodies start to ache again.
“Greetings, President Zhou.”
Even so, they still managed to squeeze out smiles.
An old man in a robe, with white hair and a youthful face, stood up slightly, nodding to Zhou Tairan in acknowledgment.
However,
Zhou Tairan only glanced at him indifferently, then withdrew his gaze without any intention of responding.
Luckily, the white-haired old man was well aware of his temperament and smiled indifferently, not minding too much.
Thump, thump.
Zhou Tairan walked up to the red cloth table and tapped the microphone lightly twice.
Sound waves instantly echoed throughout the hall.
His sharp gaze swept over the personnel of all the martial arts sects present.
Those who were swept by his gaze stood up to greet him.
But Zhou Tairan did not stop for any of them.
However, when he saw Zhou Li sitting alone on a wooden chair, a touch of abnormality flashed in his eyes that was difficult to detect. Zhou Li quickly turned his head, pretending to look left and right.
His poor acting skills were unbearable to watch.
Luckily,
Zhou Tairan had no intention of exposing him in public. After sweeping his gaze around, he withdrew his eyes.
“Let me explain the rules of the competition.”
His voice was steady and powerful, full of vitality, and not at all like that of an elderly man approaching his seventies.
“You are all familiar with the classification system of the Martial Arts
Association Sects.”
“The competition is divided into two rounds: the first round of advancement, and the second round of combat.”
“The first round of advancement will last for one day, from 2 0’clock this afternoon to 2 0’clock tomorrow afternoon.”
“The Association will divide each level of sects into different residential areas.”
“Within one day, you can challenge any of the disciples of the same-level sect and they cannot refuse.”
“In the same level sect, if you win against more than half of them, you can go to the next level area after passing the staff’s verification.”
“For example, in Class D, if you win against more than 11 sects, you can enter Class C area.”
“In Class C area, after defeating more than 6 sects, you can go to the Class B area.”
“Keep fighting all the way to Class A, and after defeating half of the Class A martial arts halls, you can advance smoothly to the combat round.”
Whoosh-
As soon as this statement was made,
There was some disturbance in the hall.
Although the personnel of the various sects did not dare to be noisy, But the subtle murmur of whispers was heard one after another in the venue.
“What a joke.”
“In just one day, those of us in Class C have to fight nearly 20 rounds, and maintain a winning rate of more than half?”
“We are not perpetual motion machines, do we not need to recover our strength?”
“Who the hell came up with this crappy competition rule?!”
Thump, thump.
However, just as these whispers began, Zhou Tairan tapped the microphone again.
“Shut up, all of you.”
His voice was not loud.
But it seemed to have a magical power.
Where his voice went, all the whispers vanished.
Zhou Tairan’s eyes turned to the leader of a Class C sect.
“I came up with this rule. Do you have any objections?”
The man appeared to be in the prime of his life, with a robust figure, and the bronze muscles seemed very intimidating.
Just before, he had muttered angrily that this rule was a crappy idea.
“No, no!”
Under Zhou Tairan’s gaze, the man waved his hands repeatedly, with a sheepish smile on his face.
His originally tall and sturdy figure shrank, looking as comically ridiculous as a shivering little chick. Zhou Tairan withdrew his gaze.
“Fair?”
“I allow people from Class A sects to start on the same level as you, which would be unfair to them.
“As a martial artist, what you should think about and do is to win every battle.” “If you have no confidence in this, then go back where you came from.” “If anyone is still dissatisfied with my rules, you can apply to challenge me one-on-one.”
“If you win, the rules are up to you.”
After saying this.
Those who met his gaze lowered their heads, not daring to make eye contact.
Seeing this, he gave a slight nod.
“Furthermore, those who fail to advance to the battle competition won’t be left empty-handed.”
“If you stop at Class B, after the Martial Arts Conference, your sect’s level will be promoted to Class B, and the treatment will also be improved.”
“Likewise, if the winning rate in battles for members of Class A and B sects is less than half, they will be automatically demoted.”
“Alright, the rule explanation is over. Next, staff members will lead you to your respective level residential areas.”
“Now, I declare.”
Having said this,
Zhou Tairan paused before speaking again.
“The Martial Arts Conference officially begins.”
After saying this,
Zhou Tairan left without staying, walking directly towards the side door. Before the participants of the martial arts sects could react, the glass doors of the hall opened.
A few staff members filed in.
Four of them held signboards in their hands.
Class A, B, C, and D.
“For those of Class A sects, please follow me.”
Under the guidance of the staff, sects of various levels left the hall in an orderly manner through the back door, heading to their respective residential areas.
In that moment, it felt like being in a primary school sports event.
The Eagle Body Sect belonged to the lowest tier, the D Level sects.
Zhou Li followed the staff in charge of D Level sects, leaving through the back door of the hall, and heading towards the rear of the Martial Arts Association.
The Martial Arts Association occupied a vast area.
Behind the Association was a training ground as large as a school’s playground.
Several buildings stood on both sides.
The people of the D Level sects, in great numbers, headed to the last and oldest building under the guidance of the staff.
Zhou Li looked from side to side.
At this point, the friendly atmosphere of the martial arts sects had disappeared. Even when walking, they consciously maintained a distance from each other.
Some rubbed their hands together, glaring fiercely at those by their side.
Others had a somber expression, also observing the people around them. Their eyes showed different colors as they thought about something.
But some people stood out from the rest.
Zhou Li quickly noticed Shi Dazhuang, who was looking around among the crowd as if he was on a trip.
Shi Dazhuang also saw Zhou Li and greeted him with an enthusiastic wave.
Neurotic!
Zhou Li rolled his eyes and hid himself in the crowd, hands folded.
However, he didn’t realize that,
his solitary figure, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded jacket and swaying as he walked, had already caught the attention of others. “Senior, are you… here for the competition alone?”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Zhou Li.
“I am Bai Tianyi from the Snake Fist Sect, nice to meet you, senior.”
Bai Tianyi smiled, with an inexplicable chill surrounding him.
Just getting closer, Zhou Li, who was afraid of the cold, shivered immediately.
“What do you want?”
Zhou Li’s heart tightened, but he still pretended to be indifferent, looking at the other party.
However, his subtle movements were still noticed by Bai Tianyi.
Aslight peculiarity flashed deep in his eyes.
He guessed correctly.
This old man was very weak, possibly not even a Qi-sensor.
He was perfect for boosting my battle record.
If I defeat him first and make him lose his eligibility to compete,
I can easily obtain a victory, and others won’t be able to get any more battle records from the old man.
Thinking this,
Bai Tianyi immediately prepared to probe Zhou Li’s information.
“I didn’t pay attention to Senior’s entrance before and failed to visit in time.”
“I came to apologize.” He put on a polite appearance.
However,
Zhou Li wasn’t a fool.
He immediately saw through the other party’s intention.
He scoffed.
“You think the old man is alone and easy to bully, don’t you?”
“Then you’re greatly mistaken!”
“Bring it on, and I will show you what terror is.”
Zhou Li’s confident look made Bai Tianyi somewhat bewildered.
Could it be that this old man was pretending to be weak?
It didn’t seem that way though.
Why not ask him which sect he belongs to and figure it out later.
With this thought,
Bai Tianyi repeatedly waved his hand and appeared humble. “Senior misunderstands. I just wanted to get to know you—I‘
However, before he could finish his sentence, Zhou Li interrupted him with a raised hand.
The old man looked arrogant, not valuing anyone equally.
“Enough!”
“If you want to come at me, just do it.”
“I’m Shi Dazhuang, the leader of the Stone Fist Sect.”
“If you dare to come, I’ll let you come in vertically and leave horizontally!”