Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates-Chapter 8 - 007: Defeating the Enemy with a Single Move

Xiao Teng stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back, saying with self-satisfaction, "Without an invitation, it proves that no girl fancies you; you have no right to be here."

"Without an invitation, one cannot participate in the marriage selection event? Is that a rule you created? Are you, Xiao Teng, so arrogant that you dismiss the authority of the three village chiefs?" Xiao Ye's voice grew colder and colder.

"You!" Xiao Teng's breathing halted, his face flushing with anger.

Although it was customary to send invitations before the marriage selection, there indeed was no rule stating that a man without an invitation could not participate.

Moreover, the three venerable village chiefs were present. If he continued to retaliate, wouldn't he be confirming his reputation for disrespecting his elders?

Xiao Ye gave him a cold glance and then bowed to the three village chiefs: "Chief Grandfather, Grandpa Wu, Grandpa Shi."

"Xiao Teng, step down," Xiao Tianxiong said with an unfriendly expression.

He was disappointed because Xiao Teng was too impulsive, which made it hard for him to achieve greatness. Xiao Tianxiong felt a sense of waste recalling the effort he took to obtain the Jiao Snake Blood for such a person.

"Ye'er, it's only your fault for awakening too late," Xiao Tianxiong sighed in his heart.

"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Xiao Teng sat back down. "On the field of the marriage duel, you'd better not encounter me, otherwise, I'll make you pay!"

Firecracker sounds began to ring out, marking the start of the festive meal.

In the Central Square of Green Sun Town, as far as the eye could see, at least a few thousand banquet tables were set up. Everyone was eating and drinking merrily.

About two hours later, when everyone had their fill, a middle-aged man ascended to the central platform.

Xiao Ye raised his head and saw that it was Xiao Dashan, the coach for their village's younger members.

"Quiet down, everyone, the moment everyone has been eagerly awaiting – the marriage competition will now begin. Please, all the participating ladies, step forward," Xiao Dashan announced loudly.

Immediately, one after another, young girls dressed in festive red gowns appeared, walking elegantly and shyly to the front of the platform.

Among these young girls, Wu Mei'er, standing at the front of the line, was particularly eye-catching. She alone attracted the gaze of most of the young men.

"Gross, you're actually drooling!"

"Can't help it, Wu Mei'er is so beautiful. If I could marry her, I'd willingly live ten years less!"

This remark instantly drew out roaring laughter from the audience.

"Ten years? You're too greedy. If it were me, I'd happily live twenty years less." Another young man spoke up, elevating the atmosphere to a peak, and laughter continued without end.

Xiao Ye sat in his place, continually eating his food.

He came to the marriage selection to make Xiao Yang proud; he had no desire to be tied down by marriage so soon.

As exclamations of admiration came, Wu Mei'er proudly puffed out her well-developed chest, her gaze sweeping over the crowd like a proud princess.

"Hmmph, you stinky men, dreaming of getting your hands on me? Keep dreaming!"

Yet, when Wu Mei'er's gaze fell on Xiao Ye, her expression abruptly changed. He didn't even look at her and was instead lowering his head to eat.

Could it be that she, Wu Mei'er, wasn't as enticing as a dish of food?

"Xiao Ye, I will make sure Brother Teng beats you to death!" Wu Mei'er gritted her teeth in anger at his disregard.

"I declare the marriage selection event officially open!" Xiao Dashan announced loudly before pulling out a list from his bosom. "Next, I will call names from this list. The two young men called may freely engage, but remember, no injuring one another."

Then, Xiao Dashan explained the process of the platform battle.

This was Xiao Ye's first time participating in a marriage selection, so he listened intently, his mind dawning with realization.

There were a total of six hundred fifty-five young men participating in the marriage selection. Excluding the five men who received the most invitations, the remaining six hundred fifty would have to go through several rounds of melee to select one finalist.

This rule had been passed down in Green Sun Town for hundreds of years, and originally, there weren't many loopholes because the ladies chose strong men to send invitations to. It would be unreasonable to have strong young men participate in the melee.

However, this time, the audience looked amused and then turned to look at Xiao Ye.

In everyone's hearts, although Xiao Ye was no longer considered the number one genius of Xiao Family Village, his talent was undeniable. Among his peers in Green Sun Town, he was outstanding.

Had it not been for his unexpected coma, he definitely would have received many invitations, and even if he couldn't compare to Xiao Teng, he would surely be one of those five.

"Ye'er, can you do it?" Xiao Yang asked with some concern.

Even if Xiao Ye made it to the finals through the melee, he would have exhausted too much energy to display his peak strength, which was why Xiao Yang was worried.

"Father, Mother, don't worry," Xiao Ye confidently asserted, feeling a surge of boldness within.

Just six hundred fifty people? If need be, he would fight his way up and dazzle all onlookers. Surely this way was adequate to honor his parents.

With that thought, Xiao Ye chuckled to himself.

As for those who looked down on me, this time you'd better watch closely.

"Take your seats on the Tiger Thrones!" Xiao Dashan waved his hand on the platform, and immediately six burly men placed six tiger skin chairs on the open ground in front of the platform, lined up impressively.

The tiger seat—only the most outstanding youngsters of Green Sun Town were entitled to sit upon it, symbolizing the expectation and faith that they would one day soar as dragons and leap like tigers.

Swoosh!

No sooner had the tiger seat been raised than many young eyes were locked onto it, for it was the seat that commanded the most attention throughout Green Sun Town. Over the years, everyone who had sat on the tiger seat had grown into a pillar of their respective villages.

"Xiao Family Village's Xiao Teng, with sixty marriage proposals, takes the first seat!"

"Shi Family Village's Shi Bo, with twenty-two marriage proposals, takes the second seat!"

"Shi Family Village's Shi Wei, with eighteen marriage proposals, takes the third seat!"

"Wu Family Village's Wu Daniu, with fifteen marriage proposals, takes the fourth seat!"

"Li Family Village's Li Wubo, with twelve marriage proposals, takes the fifth seat!" Xiao Dashan announced loudly.

In an instant, young men began to step out from the crowd.

Xiao Teng rose from Xiao Ba's side and took his place on the first tiger skin chair, a proud smile spreading across his face as he savored the envious glances from around him.

"Xiao Ye, I wonder if you have the capability to take the sixth tiger seat?" Xiao Teng sneered at Xiao Ye in the crowd.

The selection marriage contest wasn't just for fifteen-year-old boys—there were also veterans who had participated several times, including those who had reached the Ninth Body Refining Realm. He didn't believe Xiao Ye could break through the relentless melee battles.

"Enjoy the first tiger seat while you can because soon I will replace you," Xiao Ye responded calmly.

"I'll be waiting," Xiao Teng said coldly, turning away from Xiao Ye.

Following Xiao Dashan's command, the selection marriage competition officially began, with young men from two weaker villages taking the stage first.

As soon as they entered the arena, they began fiercely battling, eliciting shouts from the crowd whenever a thrilling move was executed.

This was the most anticipated arena in all of Green Sun Town!

The victor's face would shine with pride, bringing honor to their parents and possibly winning the heart of a beautiful woman. Hence, every young man fought with all their might.

After watching several bouts, Xiao Ye soon lost interest. To someone at the Postnatal Realm Martial Artist level like him, such fights were like child's play.

If it weren't for wanting to make his parents proud, he really wouldn't bother participating in these duels.

"Xiao Teng, having used the Jiao Snake Blood, what level have you reached? I hope you won't disappoint me," Xiao Ye murmured to himself.

"The next match, Xiao Family Village's Xiao Ye versus Wu Family Village's Wu Dou!" Suddenly, Xiao Dashan's voice quieted the arena, and all eyes turned to Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye smirked, then stepped onto the stage amidst the gaze of the crowd.

"It's actually Wu Family Village's Wu Dou; this guy has participated in five selection marriages, a seasoned candidate with the strength at the Refining Body Ninth Layer Middle Stage."

"Yeah, it's Xiao Ye's first time up, and he's facing Wu Dou. That's tough luck for him," the crowd began to buzz with conversation as Xiao Dashan read the names.

Not all men participating in the selection marriage could find a suitable partner and marry a beautiful lady.

For example, this time, there were about a hundred eligible girls attending the selection marriage, and yet there were as many as six hundred fifty-five men from various villages. The situation of many suitors for few brides meant that most men would return empty-handed.

Those who couldn't reconcile with this fate would participate again the next year, and Wu Dou was one of these men.

These experienced participants were the hardest to deal with. Though their talents might be limited, what they lacked in talent, they made up for in cultivation time, and the crowd began to lament for Xiao Ye.

Swoosh!

Following Xiao Ye's ascent to the stage, a youth around twenty-five leaped up as well.

"Xiao Ye, I know you—the once top genius of Xiao Family Village. Tough luck running into me," Wu Dou grinned, taunting.

He had already taken part in five selection marriages, and those who showed interest in him were of unsatisfactory looks, and he likewise found none appealing, leaving him unmarried to this day.

In previous selections, he was swiftly eliminated after a few rounds of chaotic fighting, naturally failing to attract the attention of pretty young women. But this time was different; he had encountered Xiao Ye amidst the chaos!

Though the other had lost his luster of being the top genius, he was still among the best of Green Sun Town's younger generation. Crushing such a figure underfoot would surely win a beauty's favor, right?

With that thought, Wu Dou became somewhat elated. His gaze swept over the girls with pretty faces and graceful figures, and he couldn't help but swallow his saliva in secret.

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"Wanna climb over me to the top?" Seeing his green-eyed look, Xiao Ye felt contempt—had this guy been lonely for too long?

At that moment, Wu Dou crouched slightly, ready to pounce like a leopard, throwing a straightforward right hook without any trickery.

"Get down!" Wu Dou roared, unleashing all his strength in the hope of appearing brave and invincible.

All of a sudden, Wu Dou felt a blur before his eyes and his punch hit nothing because Xiao Ye had vanished from sight.

"With such meager strength... it's you who should go down instead!"

A faint voice reached Wu Dou's ears, and at the same time, a palm imprinted on his back, a push of internal force sent him tumbling off the stage.

Witnessing this scene, everyone's faces were filled with astonishment—the fight had ended so quickly, they were still trying to process what had happened.