The young man was none other than Tang Zhong!

As he stepped out of the taxi, he said, "Apologies, I woke up late today!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The moment these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in astonishment.

No one could believe that what he said was true.

Earlier, everyone assumed Tang Zhong knew Yan Chihuo would show up, and out of fear, he chose not to come. Nobody had expected this to be the reason!

However, some quickly sneered, "Afraid? Just admit it. Why come up with such ridiculous excuses? It’s laughable!"

In their eyes,

Tang Zhong’s words were a mere cover for his fear.

In the distance, Yan Nantian’s face twitched with disdain. "Saying foolish things like this—does he take everyone here for fools?"

The faces of the Dragon Group members grew dark.

"That guy... wasn’t he not coming?" Zhang Changgong’s expression turned grim.

If Tang Zhong had avoided showing up, he could have simply fled. At worst, he’d carry a reputation for fear. But now, since he had come, he would have no choice but to fight Yan Chihuo.

The top figure present also frowned; things were becoming increasingly unfavorable.

Even those eagerly watching the confrontation between Tang Zhong and Yan Nantian looked at Tang Zhong with nothing but contempt. To them, Tang Zhong’s behavior screamed cowardice.

Only one person present could see the truth of Tang Zhong’s words—Yan Chihuo.

But as he gazed at Tang Zhong, Yan Chihuo grew more and more excited. This was precisely the kind of opponent he needed. He had been stuck at the Half-step Supreme realm for far too long. All he needed now was an adversary strong enough to push him through—and Tang Zhong was that adversary.

Yet Tang Zhong’s attitude infuriated him.

To Yan Chihuo, this fight with Tang Zhong was no trivial matter. He had carefully reviewed countless recordings of Tang Zhong’s previous battles. But to think, this Tang Zhong had claimed to have overslept!

Where did such confidence even come from?

The more arrogant Tang Zhong seemed, the more Yan Chihuo wanted to see him dead!

"Tang Zhong... you’re here," Yan Chihuo said coldly.

"Yes, I’m here," Tang Zhong replied, locking eyes with Yan Chihuo.

"I’ve been waiting a long time for you," Yan Chihuo continued icily.

"Oh, I’ve heard of you for a long time!" Tang Zhong replied with a grin. With a swift leap, he landed atop the mountain summit, facing Yan Chihuo from afar.

Those who had just prepared to mock Tang Zhong now looked utterly dumbfounded. At the very least, such a move was beyond their capabilities.

The Dragon Group members, who had been worried for Tang Zhong, couldn’t help but feel a spark of confidence. If Tang Zhong were truly weak, how could he have become so powerful in such a short time? They had no reason to doubt him; they should be boosting his morale instead!

"Perhaps this guy really can fight him. Even if he loses, he won’t go down pathetically," the Kunlun Master remarked.

"Let’s hope so. Now that Tang Zhong is here, there’s no avoiding this duel. As long as he survives, that will be enough!" Zhang Changgong said thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Yan Nantian and his group were laughing and chatting among themselves.

"How many moves do you think our family patriarch will need to kill him?" someone asked.

Another feigned deep thought before replying, "If I had to guess, probably just one!"

Hearing this, the group burst into laughter!

To them, Tang Zhong’s defeat was inevitable. The disparity between their strengths was plain for all to see. Tang Zhong may have reached the Martial Arts Peak, but Yan Chihuo had already surpassed it to become a Half-step Supreme, just one step away from the legendary Martial Supreme realm.

While the Martial Arts Peak Perfection realm was equivalent to Half-step Supreme on paper, let’s not forget:

The gap separating them was one that Yan Chihuo had spent decades crossing!

It might seem like a small step, but it was, in reality, a massive leap. A very massive leap!

At this moment, Tang Zhong and Yan Chihuo locked eyes.

"Tang Zhong..." Yan Chihuo began to laugh. As the martial arts powerhouse of Xuan Country’s foremost family and a former figure on the Black List fifty years ago, every movement of his exuded the dignity of someone who stood at the top.

The way he addressed Tang Zhong showed just how little regard he held for him.

"You’re the most exceptional young talent I’ve seen in years. No one among those from my Yan Family could even compare to you!"

Tang Zhong merely smiled faintly.

"Your talent is impressive, but unfortunately, you’ve made a grave mistake," Yan Chihuo continued, sneering. "I sent you a letter of challenge, and you had the audacity to respond. It truly surprised me. I thought you’d come crawling to my Yan Family in fear, begging for forgiveness and mercy!"

"But I didn’t expect you to actually accept the duel!"

"So now I must ask: Who gave you the courage?"

Yan Chihuo had never taken Tang Zhong seriously.

"Stop wasting time and get to the point!" Tang Zhong snapped.

"You..." Yan Chihuo’s brows furrowed, but then he chuckled. "Had you actually fallen to your knees and begged, I would’ve looked down on you even more. But you didn’t, and for that, I commend you. I genuinely hope that you’re as strong as the legends say so we can have a real fight!"

In Yan Chihuo’s mind, his status as a Half-step Supreme was merely a stepping stone. He lacked only one defining battle to break through into Martial Supreme.

Initially, his expectations for Tang Zhong hadn’t been high, but now, a smirk crept across his face.

"I will kill you," Tang Zhong said coldly.

Yan Chihuo, who had been smiling moments ago, instantly darkened.

"Just you?"

"The desecration of General Peng Yuan’s grave—was it done with your approval?" Tang Zhong asked icily.

"You’re talking about Peng Yuan? While I didn’t explicitly order it, I did tell my Yan Family not to hold back no matter what happened. I told them I’d take full responsibility and that they needn’t be afraid. As for digging up graves—well, I quite like that move. After all, that despicable old fool should’ve died long ago!" Yan Chihuo said with a cold smile.

Hearing this, Tang Zhong’s fists clenched tightly.

"Though I don’t know exactly how he died, I can say it was for the best. Someone like him—a farmer’s son daring to become a titled General, thinking he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with an esteemed family like ours? Who gave him such delusions? And as for you... you’re no better. Look at you; you’re angry, aren’t you? Come on, show me what you’ve got. Let me see what you look like when you’re enraged!" Yan Chihuo taunted with a sly grin.

Tang Zhong, however, broke into a smile. "Why would I waste my energy getting angry? Anger is useless. When faced with things like this, my favorite approach is always the simplest—smash it into oblivion. So... you’re dead!"

In the next instant, Tang Zhong hurled a punch forward.

In a flash, the Blood Power coursing through his arm surged, and he stepped into the air from the peak of the mountain, charging directly at Yan Chihuo.

The battle had begun!