"Zhixing!"
"Qingwan!"
As soon as Luo Cheng and the other two stepped onto the high platform, Luo Mingshan and the others rushed over immediately.
Seeing Luo Zhixing and Luo Qingwan's injuries, the nearby crowd was astonished, speculating about what might have happened in Moon Ring Valley.
"Cheng'er, what exactly happened?"
Luo Mingshan's expression turned grim.
With his experience, he could tell at a glance that the injuries on Luo Qingwan and Luo Zhixing's bodies were not caused by a Demon Beast!
Luo Cheng glanced in the direction of the Lin Family and shook his head. "Grandfather, let's treat their injuries first."
"Alright!"
Luo Mingshan immediately ordered someone to tend to Luo Qingwan and Zhixing's wounds.
Just then, cheers erupted again on the platform as more people returned!
"It's the Lin Family!"
"Huh, the Lin Family doesn't look to be in good shape either!"
The crowd was awestruck.
In their line of sight, Lin Yun was carrying two battered Lin Family disciples, both his hands holding one person each, and his robes were soaked in blood.
Just moments before, the Lin Family Head, Lin Canglang, had been calm and composed. Seeing this, he shot to his feet, frowning as he asked, "Could it be injuries from a Demon Beast?"
At that moment, another commotion arose.
A Qi Family guard rushed up onto the platform, addressing Qi Family Head Qi Fusong:
"Family Head, the Eldest Young Lady asked me to inform you that she is withdrawing from this Hunting Festival!"
"What!"
Qi Fusong was utterly shocked and immediately leaped down from the stands. "Withdrawing from the Hunting Festival? Did she really say that?"
"Yes!"
The Qi Family guard hesitated briefly before adding, "The Eldest Young Lady is gravely injured! Even Qi Fei and others are severely injured and unconscious. They've already returned to the family ahead of us."
Qi Fusong felt as if he'd been struck by lightning, his voice low and grave: "What on earth happened!"
The Qi Family guard shook his head. "The Eldest Young Lady didn't explain the specifics. All she said was for the Family Head to return as soon as possible!"
Qi Ting's pride had taken an enormous blow, her entire face beaten swollen by Luo Cheng. She no longer had any face to participate in the Hunting Festival and left Moon Ring Valley through another route.
"Let's go!"
Qi Fusong had no mood to linger. Taking the Qi Family members with him, he hurriedly departed.
This turn of events left the audience stunned.
A single Hunting Festival, and all three major families had their members gravely injured!
The Qi Family even outright forfeited the tournament!
At this moment, Lin Yun ascended the platform.
"Lin Yun!"
A bewildered Lin Canglang strode forward, his gaze shifting to the critically injured Lin Cheng brothers. His face darkened, "What happened!"
The injuries on the Lin Cheng brothers were clearly inflicted by someone!
Originally, he believed everything was going according to plan and that the Lin Family had the first place in the Hunting Festival secured.
Who could have anticipated such drastic and unexpected changes!
"It was Luo Cheng!"
Lin Yun's face was livid, his angry eyes fixated on Luo Cheng, his expression twisting into a ferocious snarl as he shouted loudly:
"Luo Cheng, you lucky trash! You actually managed to dodge me! You clearly didn't hunt any Demon Beasts. Let's not waste words. You and I, one-on-one, right now! The winner takes first place in this Hunting Festival. How about it?"
Lin Yun's sudden outburst left everyone momentarily stunned, and all eyes immediately turned toward Luo Cheng.
"You're quite lucky yourself!"
Luo Cheng chuckled coldly and replied in an equally chilling tone, "If you want a fight, I'll gladly oblige!"
He was already looking for an opportunity to avenge Luo Zhixing and Luo Qingwan!
If Lin Yun didn't come for him, he would've gone after Lin Yun!
Hearing Luo Cheng's acceptance, the entire platform erupted into a commotion.
Lin Yun, the undisputed genius among the Lin Family's younger generation, had awakened a Six-star Martial Soul Scorpion-tailed Tiger! He had already advanced to the Ninth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm and was probably nearing the Transcendence Realm!
Luo Cheng, on the other hand, had awakened a zero-star Martial Soul that lacked any growth potential. He was infamously recognized as Qishan City's number one piece of trash!
The two were about to duel, and Luo Cheng actually agreed!
Many began to wonder if Luo Cheng had gone mad!
Without saying a word, Luo Cheng headed directly to the center of the platform.
The platform, aside from the spectator stands on all sides, had a clearing over a hundred meters wide in the middle, making it a perfect natural arena!
"You're quite confident, aren't you!"
Seeing that Luo Cheng didn't take him seriously in the slightest, Lin Yun sneered coldly and continued, "Since you're so confident, why don't we raise the stakes? If you lose this duel, all of South City Market will belong to the Lin Family!"
The fox's tail was finally revealed!
Luo Cheng raised an eyebrow and sneered. "And if you lose?"
"If I lose?"
Lin Yun acted as though he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. Losing? How could he possibly lose? Dismissively, he said:
"If I lose, the Lin Family will hand over all of North City Market to the Luo Family!"
"Agreed." Luo Cheng nodded in acceptance.
Hearing these conditions, everyone present was taken aback.
Everyone understood that the North and South markets were the foundational assets of the Luo and Lin Families!
The two of them were actually using these as stakes!
Even Lin Canglang was momentarily stunned, but soon, his eyes gleamed with delight. If they could acquire South City Market, the Luo Family would suffer a complete collapse, and the Lin Family would unquestionably claim the position of the number one family in Qishan City!
As for losing, Lin Canglang didn't even entertain the thought.
Lin Yun's strength was more than enough to crush any Martial Artist in the Body Tempering Realm.
How could a mere "trash" like Luo Cheng possibly win?
"Luo Mingshan, do you also agree to this wager?" Lin Canglang looked at Luo Mingshan, wanting him to make a public declaration to prevent any reneging later!
Luo Mingshan frowned slightly, hesitating.
The wager was simply too staggering—it placed the Luo Family's entire survival on the line!
"Father, let it go! At most, we'll let the Lin Family have first place in this Hunting Festival!" Luo Heng hesitated for a moment and urged in persuasion.
Conceding voluntarily might hurt their pride, but compared to losing South City Market, it was a trivial matter!
The other members of the Luo Family also hesitated.
After all, South City Market was far too crucial!
"Family Head!"
Luo Qingwan, who had regained some strength, suddenly spoke up and whispered something into Luo Mingshan's ear.
A sharp glint flickered in Luo Mingshan's eyes as he stared at Lin Canglang and declared loudly:
"Fine! The Luo Family accepts this wager!"
Luo Hong, Luo Heng, and the others were visibly shaken. They had not expected Luo Mingshan to choose to take up the challenge!
A roar of excitement swept through the crowd as Luo Mingshan's words fell.
At this point, the duel was no longer just about Luo Cheng and Lin Yun—it now determined the rise and fall of the two families and would completely alter Qishan City's power structure!
At this moment, the Eighth Prince, Jin Min, approached Lin Yun, fixing his gaze on Luo Cheng, and said in a low voice:
"Lin Yun, make sure you teach him a good lesson! Best if he's ruined for life!"
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback. He couldn't recall when Luo Cheng might have offended the Eighth Prince, but for him, this was an advantageous situation. He nodded and replied:
"Don't worry, Eighth Prince. After today, he'll truly be a complete waste!"
Jin Min nodded slightly, discreetly handing two items to Lin Yun—a Jade Token and an Elixir Pill.
"What are these?"
Lin Yun's eyes showed curiosity.
Jin Min explained, "This is my Identity Token. With it, you can become an Outer Disciple of the Xuanyuan Sect in the future."
Xuanyuan Sect!
Lin Yun was overjoyed and exclaimed excitedly, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Jin Min nodded faintly. Awakening a Six-star Martial Soul gave Lin Yun the qualifications to become an Outer Disciple of the Xuanyuan Sect. This was merely a favor done in passing.
"As for this Elixir Pill, it is called the Violent Blood Pill. It can momentarily boost your strength by an entire level, allowing you to break through to the Transcendence Realm!"
Lin Yun sneered diabolically. "It's just a piece of trash. I could crush him with one hand! I don't need such measures."
"Better safe than sorry."
Jin Min shook his head slightly and cast his gaze into the distance, where Yun Mengli stood, his voice cold as steel. "Remember, be ruthless!"