Chapter 60: Initiating Provocation

“Shameless!” In the audience, Du Caini couldn’t help but curse out loud, both worried and furious as she watched Fan Tong once again lunge at his beloved.

“Sister Caini, what’s wrong?” Du Long, beside her, asked in confusion.

“Hmph!” Du Caini snorted angrily. “The Yang family’s combat techniques are designed for the battlefield. Their strongest attack is the Yang family spear technique! On the academy’s dueling stage, weapons aren’t allowed in combat. That means Yunfeng is using his weakness against another’s strength!”

“I see! That Fan really is shameless!” Du Long couldn’t help but curse as well. The others around them all gained a new understanding of just how base the Fan family could be.

“And yet, they still have the nerve to demand my cousin fight him head-on?!” Zeng Wan’er was clearly upset, especially since Yang Yunfeng, the one on stage, was her own cousin.

On the dueling stage, Yang Yunfeng was once again locked in combat with Fan Tong. In a direct confrontation, he was clearly at a disadvantage. Though he wasn’t about to lose immediately, signs of defeat were beginning to show.

Bang!

Staggering back several steps after narrowly dodging several attacks, Yang Yunfeng was finally forced to meet Fan Tong’s assault head-on. The immense backlash sent him flying, nearly off the stage before he managed to regain his footing.

Fan Tong would never let such an opportunity slip by. He darted forward in pursuit, palm striking out with a move that locked off all avenues of escape, forcing Yang Yunfeng into another direct clash.

With no other recourse, and his arms already injured, Yang Yunfeng did something unexpected—he leapt off the stage, effectively conceding the match of his own accord!

“What’s this? I heard the Yang family would rather die than surrender! And yet you give up so easily? Hahaha, Yang Yunfeng, looking at you now, how dare you show off for a woman? What a joke! Hahaha…” Fan Wei, atop the stage, burst into laughter, blatantly mocking Yang Yunfeng for jumping off and admitting defeat.

“Fan! If you’re so bold, why not fight me with weapons?! Challenging me with your strength against my weakness—what’s there to be proud of in such a victory?” Yang Yunfeng stood below, shouting angrily at Fan Tong, undaunted.

“Hahaha… You fail the challenge and now you make excuses? You’ve disgraced the Yang family’s honor built over generations. You think you’re worthy to challenge me? Even if you train for another decade, you still won’t be my match!”

In the stands, Du Long’s face darkened as he watched Fan on stage heap scorn upon Big Brother Yang. Today’s events had started because of him, yet it was Yang who suffered on his behalf. The anger grew within him until…

“Rice Bucket (Fan Tong)! You’re a year older than Big Brother Yang, yet you still need to rely on your strengths to win and then yap like a dog! Your name suits you perfectly! Hahaha…”

Suddenly, a scornful, mocking voice rang out from the stands. To be honest, in the Haotian Empire, there were few who dared insult the Fan family heir so openly. Yang Yunfeng dared retort, partly because his strength wasn’t far off, and their families were longstanding rivals.

But Fan Tong, as the Fan family’s direct heir, was not someone to be insulted at will!

The previously noisy dueling stage fell into sudden silence at the outburst, and every eye turned in shock toward the source. Soon, a black-clad youth standing in the stands became the focus of everyone’s attention.

That black-clad youth was none other than the first-year student—Du Long!

Not only were the other spectators stunned, but even the group around Du Long was left speechless, staring at him as he pointed at the stage and shouted. Princess Fire Phoenix and the rest wondered if he’d lost his mind.

“Are you crazy?!” Du Caini, knowing full well Du Long’s current strength, was alarmed. If he dared offend the Fan family, the consequences would be dire.

Between noble families, one could not send experts to assassinate or bully another’s heirs at will. But if you lacked strength and still provoked others, you could only bear their wrath.

Sure enough, on the stage, Fan Tong lost all interest in Yang Yunfeng, glaring murderously at Du Long in the stands, his gaze radiating a deadly chill.

“When did any stray cat or dog dare insult the Fan clan? Du Long, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish. I, Fan Tong, challenge you today! If you don’t accept, the Fan family’s wrath is not something you can bear!”

“I, Du Long, accept your challenge, you rice bucket!” Before anyone could stop him, Du Long accepted the challenge outright, still using that deeply insulting nickname.

“Hahaha…” On the stage, Fan Tong’s rage turned to laughter, though it was clear he’d been thoroughly infuriated. The entire audience could hear the murderous intent behind his laughter. “Fools know no fear! Du Long, don’t think you’ll leave this stage alive today!”

“Young master…”

“Du Long, don’t be reckless!”

His friends all tried to persuade him, even Xia Qinglian, who knew he’d reached the second level of the Qi Cyclone realm, was alarmed—he was still four whole levels below Fan Tong!

“Say no more! As a son of the Du family, since I’ve accepted the challenge, I’ll fight for my family’s honor!” Du Long silenced them all in a low voice, then leapt toward the stage.

From where he stood to the nearest point of the stage was dozens of meters, yet with a single leap and a series of Wind Stride steps, he glided effortlessly over the heads of many spectators and landed gracefully on the stage.

Before he jumped, the spirit ring beauty had tactfully removed his weights, letting him show off this impressive feat on a whim!

“Excellent!”

The crowd erupted in applause at his dazzling entrance, the whole area around the stage echoing with cheers. From that leap alone, it was clear this freshman was no weakling!

“My god! A first-year student accepting a challenge from a third-year? Isn’t he courting death?!”

“I think the Fan family pushed him too far—corner a rabbit and it’ll bite…”

“Maybe, but the Du boy is too reckless! I heard he just reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation, and yet he dares take on someone at the sixth level of Qi Cyclone?!”

All around the stage, teachers and students murmured, most feeling sorry for the freshman. To be accepted into the Royal Academy’s martial division, his future was boundless—why risk it all on a rash act?

“Du Long! Don’t be foolish! Forfeit now!” Below the stage, Yang Yunfeng only snapped out of it once Du Long had landed, calling out anxiously.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother Yang. With this rice bucket, it’ll be a long time before he can take my life!” Du Long replied with a reassuring smile, not forgetting to taunt Fan Tong once more. By now, Fan Tong’s face was so twisted with rage he looked ready to explode.

“What are you all gawking at? Announce the start of the match already!” Not wanting to waste words with Du Long, Fan Tong bellowed at the instructor in charge of the stage.

At the Royal Academy, every instructor knew his identity. The stage instructor, unwilling to anger him further, turned helplessly to Du Long. “Student Du Long, do you truly accept Fan Tong’s challenge?”

“I do! I, Du Long, accept!” Du Long nodded without hesitation, ignoring the instructor’s efforts to let him reconsider.

“Very well! The challenge stands. Are there any rules you don’t understand?”

“None! Instructor, you may begin the match!” Du Long answered briskly, not wanting to make things difficult for the instructor.

“Very well! I declare this challenge officially begun!”

Instantly, the area around the stage fell silent as everyone held their breath, focusing all attention on the stage. They all wanted to see just what this freshman was capable of. To be honest, not even the spirit ring beauty understood Du Long’s actions.

“Heh, Du Long! I don’t know whether to admire your courage or your ignorance!” Fan Tong seemed suddenly unhurried, shaking his head and sneering at Du Long atop the stage.

“You came here for me in the first place. As a man, I can’t let others take the fall for me! Besides, Fan, do you really think you’re invincible? Don’t come running home to your grandfather in tears if you lose!” Du Long replied with a cool smile.

“Insolent fool!” Fan Tong’s fury reignited. With a roar, he charged at Du Long, clearly in no mood for courtesy as he launched his attack.

At that moment, Du Long felt something strange. Ever since he had started wearing those weights—even while bathing—he had become used to the burden. Now, he felt as light as a swallow, his whole body brimming with strength!

He pushed his Wind Stride technique to the limit. Countless spectators saw only a blur—Du Long’s figure vanished from sight, even Fan Tong on the stage couldn’t keep track, seeing only a fleeting shadow of black.

“What speed!” Fan Tong’s eyes narrowed in shock. Yet, focusing all his attention, he was able to track Du Long’s trajectory, and at a chosen point, he struck out with a mighty palm—the Fan family’s Heaven-Cleaving Palm!

The force swept out, covering a wide sector, clearly intending to use a large-area attack to contain his opponent’s speed. In truth, the sudden burst of terrifying speed from Du Long had given him quite a fright!