“Did you see that? How the chains made of magma bound the beast? The Second Elder survived because they activated in time!”

“I thought Demon Subduing Formation was nothing special. But I have to eat my words. Not only did the formation bind the beast with chains of magma, but also weakened it!”

“The Sects really have a deep foundation. The methods employed by the Hu Clan and City Guards couldn’t even compare to the Demon Subduing Formation!”

The audience chatted about the team’s accomplishment, even after Zhen Ya had dissipated the screen. They were so enamored by the mystical methods that they even missed the arrival of the City Guard’s Team.

Though the attacks of the Monstrous Flame Sect were nothing flashy, the Chains of Magma alone gave the crowd a glimpse of a realm beyond Sense training. Compared to this magic, people quickly forgot the skillful and tactical performance of City Guards.

In the Sect’s Pavilion, Sect Master Yan heaved a sigh of relief.

“Deacon Zhi, thank you for providing us with the Demon Subduing Formation. I knew it was powerful, but I didn’t think it would allow us to kill a Spirit Condensation Beast without any casualties!”

Zhi Yang scoffed at the praise.

“Did you think a Formation from Tier 1 Sect would not be able to kill a mere Spirit Condensation Beast? Let me tell you this; The disciples of my Earth Fire Sect use this formation to trap Foundation Establishment stage Beasts!”

Sect Master Yan’s eyes widened. He looked at the Crystal placed in the center with amazement. A Foundation Establishment Stage Beast was as powerful as someone who had just entered Chakra Opening Realm.

And his team had used it to defeat a Spirit Condensation Beast. It was overkill!

While Sect Master Yan was engrossed in his thoughts, Zhi Yang noticed the carcass of Cloud Patterned Leopard lying outside the City Lord’s Pavilion.

“Huh! Looks like City Lord’s team is back.”

The white-bearded man’s tone held reproach. Since the Second Elder had failed to win first place, it had put a minor hurdle in their plans.

Soon after his words, Zhen Ya came out with Lu Shao.

“Commander Lu Shao and his team are the first to return after fulfilling their task.”

Though she had not announced the winner after her declaration everyone knew the City Guards had secured first place without a doubt.

“After the mysterious Formation, I thought the Sect had other cards up their sleeves. They would somehow return earlier, but I guess I expected too much. City Guards beat them at hunting the beast, and they also won in the contest of speed.”

“The City Guards have skill. The Sectarians relied on gimmicks to hunt the beast.”

After Zhen Ya’s declaration, many people changed their tunes. The ones singing praises of Monstrous Flame Sect began to condemn their use of Demon Subduing Formation as flashy and frivolous.

The reason for this change? With the winner decided, the City Lord had proven his strength again. Though there was a specific tax structure in place, he had the power to reduce or increase the tax according to his wish.

Only the power balance in the City prevented him from becoming an economic tyrant.

The members of Monstrous Flame Sect had shown promise, but they belonged to Secular World. They couldn’t interfere in the political matters of the City due to the Pact. Unless it concerned their industries, they had no right to object.

Hence, it was up to the Hu Clan to keep the City Lord in check.

With the death of a Sense Realm expert, their clout had reduced significantly. This caused the power balance in Birch City to tip heavily in the City Lord’s favor.

As a result, many merchants and landlords in the camp of the Hu Clan abandoned their faction. These turncoats were boot licking the hardest. Their voices were loudest when they glorified the City Guards.

Their reason? They didn’t want to be clubbed down with extra taxes.

While people celebrated the City Guards, Yao Mao hobbled into the stadium with the Tri Tusked Boar’s head. His team was nowhere to be seen, and neither was the Boar’s body.

When he saw the City Guards already present inside the stadium, his eyes despaired. Even after taking advantage of the loophole that only demanded the head of the beast, he was still late.

To make haste he had even left his injured comrades behind in the forest. He gritted his teeth and approached the Arbitrator.

Zhen Ya impassively received the head and announced Yao Mao’s position.

“Yao Mao of the Hu Clan has arrived second with the Beast’s head!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the team from Monstrous Flame Sect, dragged the humongous body of the Chimp inside.

Rising from his seat, Zhi Yang paced in their Pavilion. His calm demeanor had crumbled, and he had a fire in his eyes.

“Useless Fools! They couldn’t walk faster than a limping man!”

He cursed, glowering at his team. Turning his head to Sect master Yan, he hissed his warning.

“You better ignite this spark or else…”

At the Center of the Stadium, Zhen Ya acknowledged the latest team to arrive.

“All three participants have defeated their assigned beasts. In accordance with the rules, I declare the City Lord’s team as the Victor of this Year’s Tribute Tournament. The Hu Clan takes second place and the Monstrous Flame Sect is in third place.”

Applause broke out at her declaration. People didn’t miss this chance to flatter the City Lord.

But the City Lord was busy thanking someone else.

“Brother Ikasa, I owe this victory to you! Without your techniques and Feng Yan’s presence, it would have been difficult to kill the Leopard. Not to mention taking first place.”

The bearded man said, raising his glass of wine. His smile was stretched wide, unable to contain his joy. Ikasa clinked his goblet against City Lord’s and responded with an equally big smirk.

“Congratulations, City Lord! I would say you are flattering me, but what you said is true. Now that you have proven your strength, there is nothing stopping us from taking over Birch City’s Cultivation market.”

While City Lord was receiving congratulations from his affiliates, Clan Master Hu and Sect Master Yan arrived at the Center of the Stadium.

“Arbitrator, I decline to accept this result!”

Clan Master Hu’s voice rang in the bustling stadium. The noise died down instantly. Zhen Ya glanced at the old man and asked, “Why?”

“We suspect City Lord of foul play. Unless City Lord Zhen clarifies the origins of Feng Yan, we will not comply with this result.”

The commotion outside attracted the attention of Zhen Wu. He walked out with Lu Shao and Feng Yan, joining Zhen Ya at the center.

“I respected Clan Master Hu for your straightforwardness. I did not expect you would act like a sore loser. Did Sect Master Yan incite you? Because this sounds like something he would concoct.”

When a lord of the City speaks, people pay attention. With a few chosen words and their implications, City Lord had maligned the image of Sect Master Yan in the heads of all merchants and businessmen present.

“Zhen Wu, don’t play word games and clarify his origin.”

His words were drenched with his disdain and contempt for the man. The spectators turned their heads to see how the City Lord would reply.

But before City Lord could reply, his sister rebuked the Sect Master.

“Sect Master Yan, City Lord Zhen is an official appointed by the Imperial Court! Are you challenging the Royal edict by not acknowledging his post?”

She narrowed her eyes and her aura belonging to the Chakra Sensing Realm flared. Sect Master Yan took a step back because of the suffocating pressure she emitted. Intimidated, he was forced to put aside his disrespectful attitude and apologize.

“City Lord Zhen, please, do tell who Feng Yan is?”

His overt politeness made a mockery out of Zhen Ya’s rebuke. Just as she was about to slap this old fossil to death, her brother intervened.

“You should have asked this politely from the beginning, Sect Master Yan. I would’ve happily complied then. To answer your queries, Feng Yan is my Second Commander.”

Zhen Wu cleverly mocked Yan Hao’s attempt at mockery. But the crowd missed it due to the shocking revelation after. His answer sent ripples through the crowd.

Even the City Guards scratched their heads.

“When did we get a second commander? Wasn’t that post vacant since last year?”

The City Lord’s reply came as a shock to Feng Yan as well. But like the seasoned old man he was, he played along and remained impassive.

Sect Master Yan refused to take his words at face value. Even Hu Clan Master did not believe him.

“City Lord Zhen, we thought better of you. I did not believe you would resort to lying to keep your victory.”

Clan Master Hu asserted, shaking his head. His usual domineering self was mellowed due to the death of Cui Chen.

“What is there to lie about? Haven’t you always wondered why the post of Second Commander was vacant? If it was not vacant, why did he never appear in the City?”

Before Yan Hao or Clan Master Hu could deny, City Lord continued.

“Don’t bother denying. You have sent so many incompetent informants over the years that I know what information you are searching. My Second Commander was out on a mission in Beech City. I recalled him just in time for the tournament.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep