Damon's Ascension-Chapter 119: War In Xiangyang 20

There was a sudden blare of horns when the time reached 7 am and the loud sound echoed across the coliseum, each blast imbued with subtle spiritual energy to silence the crowd and call attention to the central dais.

Martial artists, disciples, nobles, and officials alike turned their eyes to the high platform where Governor Zhao Fengliang now stood with hands clasped behind his back.

His voice, carried by a projection technique, echoed with forceful grandeur.

"On behalf of the Governor’s Office and the Prefecture Administration, I welcome all sects, noble clans, cultivators, and free warriors to the Annual Jiangxia Spring Challenge Festival!"

A polite ripple of applause spread across the stands.

"Today marks the beginning of the first day’s events: the Open Challenge Ring! As is tradition, any registered participant may challenge another within their realm to a duel, be it to settle personal scores, test their skills, or gain fame."

He gestured to the lowest of the four concentric rings. "The open ring is yours. Your words must be clear, your intentions public, and your strikes restrained."

There was a moment of ceremonial pause, and then a loud gong was struck. Just like that, the first day of the Jiangxia Spring Challenge Festival had officially begun!

...........

The first few matches were ceremonial duels meant to entertain.

An acrobatic disciple from the Heaven Dew Sect displayed their Thousand Petal Mist Palm against a wide-shouldered cultivator from a rural dojo, ending the match in three graceful moves while laughter and applause rang out.

Next came a proud descendant of the Sun family challenging a low-level practitioner from the outer districts. It was more of a display of clan pride than martial spirit, but the crowd still ate it up as the Sun clan youth posed dramatically after his shallow victory.

Then came a strange sight, a one-armed swordsman from the Liu family’s border territory called out a disciple of the Azure Sword Pavilion, causing the crowd to buzz.

The Azure Pavilion rarely accepted duels from lower-ranked families, but the swordsman didn’t flinch.

"I challenge to learn, not to win," He spoke calmly as he made a fist clasping gesture.

Master Yan Qiu nodded once from his seat and glanced at the disciple in question.

"Accepted," the disciple replied and leaped onto the stage with their sword behind them.

Their match was fast, brutal, and yet strangely meaningful. The Liu swordsman naturally lost, but left the ring grinning through bloodied lips, the crowd roaring with unexpected admiration.

Then came the first moment of true tension.

A loud voice echoed from the arena floor. "I, Fan Jiekai, of the Cao family, issue a formal challenge to any so-called wandering cultivators who dare sit in the Heirs Pavilion without affiliation!"

A hush fell as all discerning eyes slowly turned to Damon.

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Is this provocation or an invitation?"

"Both," Xue Rou replied under her breath, her eyes narrowing.

Feng Meizhen gave a low chuckle from where he sat, glancing sideways toward the challenger, then back toward Damon. "I suppose it begins."

Sun Liang folded his arms. "So... what do we do?"

Damon stood up without comment and began walking forward, his robe gently catching the breeze.

The crowd stirred, parting again, murmurs erupting like wildfire.

"That’s the one."

"The one who walked in without a name tag."

"Wait—why does he move like—"

Before they could finish their thoughts, Damon leapt gracefully into the ring, landing in absolute silence.

The Cao youth, dressed in battle silks and wielding twin sabers, sneered. "I’ve heard the rumors. You think you’re some mystery? Let me peel back the veil for everyone to see what’s beneath."

Damon didn’t speak, nor did he even take a stance as he glanced at the fellow placidly.

The bell rang and Fan Jiekai charged forward with a roar, intending to end this battle in seconds.

And the match did end in seconds, specifically in the span of three breaths.

Before Fan Jiekai could even understand what was happening, he was on the ground, unconscious, with one saber split in half and the other thrown into the crowd like a tossed broomstick.

Damon hadn’t moved from his spot the entire time, leaving the crowd utterly dumbfounded by what they were seeing.

At the very top of the pavilion, the veiled official from the Prefecture Capital finally leaned forward.

"Interesting, that... was not a casual duel," he whispered.

He turned to Governor Zhao with interest. "I’m curious to see what else this festival offers."

Meanwhile, the faces of those from the sects and noble families became grim because even they did not understand what had happened. They had dealt with practitioners of the Empty Soul Palm before so they were aware of its ’stealth’ related abilities, but as far as they could tell, Damon truly hadn’t moved, yet a promising Martial Warrior was floored in seconds without even getting close?

The three soldiers Damon had faced upon first entering the Instance had also been Martial Warriors, but their martial arts were clearly inferior to those of this family disciple. Back then, Damon had visibly needed to employ real techniques to bring them down, unlike now.

It had only been what, four days? And he could now take a Martial Warrior down with just a look? What the heck was going on here?

The arena had fallen into a strange state of stunned silence and the air itself seemed tangible like glass, as though a single word might shatter it.

Then, without waiting for an announcement or reaction, Damon lifted his hand and gestured casually toward the Heirs Pavilion.

"I’m not done," he announced coldly.

The arena stirred, as people turned their heads sharply, following the line of his outstretched arm.

His finger pointed... directly at Sun Jianhao, causing gasps to ripple through the crowd like falling dominos.

The young master of the Sun family, who had just begun enjoying a restored sense of dignity over the last two days, froze mid-swig of his ceremonial wine.

Color drained from his face as though a ghost had whispered in his ear.

"Me?" he choked as he pointed at himself.

"Yes," Damon replied, voice steady.

The announcer hesitated, this was unprecedented, but after a tense moment, the Prefecture Official gave a nod from the high platform.

"Challenge acknowledged," the announcer declared, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

Sun Jianhao stood slowly, shaking with both rage and dread. "You dare challenge me here, of all places? Do you know who I am?"

Damon looked him over once. "Just a name and a clan crest. Both of which are valueless."

That seemed to do it as Sun Jianhao practically stormed down to the arena platform, shedding his ceremonial robe to reveal a reinforced inner vest and jade-threaded gloves designed to amplify his internal strength.

He pointed at Damon with trembling hands. "I’ll make you regret ever stepping into this city!"

The youth surged forward with a full-body burst of power, his Qi roaring as he launched his Solar Hammer Fist, a technique said to mimic the blast of a midday sun.

The crowd roared in excitement, wanting to see a great duel between a rising star and a noble scion, but they could only fall silent again as Damon casually sidestepped the awesome attack.

That was literally it, he simply shifted half a step to the left and Sun Jianhao’s fist met air.

Before the momentum could even carry him through, Damon raised two fingers and tapped the fellow lightly at the base of the neck.

Crack!

The young master of the Sun family crumpled like a dropped puppet, face-first into the arena floor with his ass up in the air.

A sharp exhale escaped the crowd, followed by stunned silence.

No injuries were visible, but Sun Jianhao was out cold... no, even worse, he had somehow been defeated with a single touch.

Damon turned away from his fallen opponent without even glancing down.

"That should be two, I believe," he counted softly.

Then, without ceremony, Damon looked directly toward the Liu family’s pavilion.

"I would like to issue my final challenge for the day."

Liu Fan’s face twisted as he stood up in horror. "No..."

A rumble of whispers broke out as the crowd followed Damon’s line of sight.

"I, Damon Arnan, challenge Liu Yuren, heir of the Liu family!" He announced while folding his arms behind his back.

The silence that followed was even more terrifying. Even the most ignorant and air-headed commoner could practically taste the scent of gunpowder in the air, and they could tell that Xiangyang county was going to be in trouble this time.

Right then, footsteps rang out as from within the Liu family’s ranks, a tall robed youth stepped forward, calmly adjusting his sleeves. His expression was indifferent, but his stride was confident.

"Accepted, let it not be said the Liu family hides behind banners and law when called," Liu Yuren responded, his voice smooth and public-facing.

The two men entered the ring and unlike the prior matches, this one had tension.

Liu Yuren was no fool like the two who came before, so he didn’t charge in blind. He began by activating his best technique, the Silver Crane Flow, a water-style internal art that allowed rapid reflex redirection and seamless counters.

He circled Damon cautiously while watching his movements like a hawk.

"You’ve made quite the show of yourself, but every performance has its limits," Liu Yuren commented evenly.

"No need to monologue, you won’t finish it," Damon replied casually.

Liu Yuren frowned at this, then struck as he weaved in with fluid, graceful motions, his arms snapping out with force-enhanced strikes aimed at Damon’s torso and neck, his goal being to test for weakness.

Once again, Damon didn’t move as he chose to simply vanish from Liu Yuren’s senses, utilizing a blur of motion to appear beside Liu Yuren who staggered, blinking rapidly.

With a single, open-palm strike to the shoulder using the Silent Wheel Palm he had just learned last night, Damon sent layers of spiraling force through Liu Yuren’s body.

The Liu heir’s confused expression changed into raw panic as he stepped back and then stumbled, eventually being forced to scream as something inside him snapped.

This was not his bones nor any organs, but rather the crucial meridian threads. He hit the ground, convulsing slightly as foam leaked from his mouth.

Medics leapt from the Liu family’s pavilion, rushing toward him to try and rescue their young master while Damon watched without emotion as his opponent was carried off on a stretcher.

Then, he looked toward the central platform.

"Well, that should be three then," he mused with satisfaction.

A chilling silence followed.

Up in the Governor’s stand, Zhao Fengliang was pale and unmoving but the Prefecture Official leaned back, tapping a sealed scroll lightly against his palm.

"Three heirs, three moves. Xiangyang... is shifting." He whispered with a hidden smile.

On the other side of the coliseum, Brother Mian bit through his lower lip as blood dribbled down his chin, causing him to tremble silently.

Xu Baochun smiled faintly, watching him with a predator’s patience from afar with crossed arms.

And in the crowd below?

The crowd remained silent, caught between the urge to cheer... or flee.

Damon stepped down from the ring at a measured pace, returning to his group, just as the air shifted, and a sudden change swept through the arena.