"What did you say?" Dong Hu was furious upon hearing the words, and he would have rushed forward if not for He Xiong holding him back.

"Sun Hao, watch how you speak. Respect your opponent. Some people only realize their true weight after being struck," Chen Biao said, seemingly scolding Sun Hao, but the sarcasm was even thicker.

"Fine, Chief Chen, we shall meet in the arena," He Xiong took a deep breath to calm the anger in his heart.

"Chief He, I suggest you prepare some antiseptic medicine. Our young Hao tends to have a heavy hand," Chen Biao provocatively said.

"Don't bother yourself, please," He Xiong gestured dismissively.

Chen Biao led his people away, leaving the members of Peach Blossom Village Martial Arts Gym with faces full of anger.

He Xiong looked around at his people, "Alright, let's arrange the order of appearance."

"Hold on, before that, please ask the irrelevant people to leave," Dong Hu coldly said, pointing at Lin Chen.

All eyes fell on Lin Chen. With a formidable enemy ahead, Dong Hu's intent to stir internal conflict was seen as despicable by many.

"What do you mean?" He Xin's face changed dramatically, angrily questioning Dong Hu.

Dong Hu sneered coldly, "Chief He, either Lin Chen or I can stay. Make your choice."

"This…" He Xiong was also in a difficult position now.

He was very familiar with Dong Hu's abilities, but he had only heard from his sister about Lin Chen's prowess; he had never actually witnessed it.

After a moment of thought, he finally made up his mind, "Lin Chen, I'm sorry, please leave for a while!"

"Brother…" Seeing that Dong Hu had asked Lin Chen to leave, He Xin was somewhat unhappy.

After all, Lin Chen was her invitee. He came with good intentions to help her, but now he was being sent away, leaving He Xin embarrassed.

Lin Chen looked at He Xin's red-tinged face, patted her head, "Little Xin, don't be angry. I didn't want to fight in the competition anyway. I'll cheer for you from below."

As he spoke, Lin Chen left with a laugh, and before departing, he cheekily pinched He Xin's pert bottom.

He Xin's face turned beet red, and Dong Hu, seeing this, ground his teeth in anger.

With Lin Chen gone, He Xiong forced a smile, "Alright, let's arrange the order of appearance now. Little Xin, you go first to wear down Sun Hao's strength. If you can't beat him, concede immediately. Li Fei, you're the second up, do the same as Little Xin. If unsuccessful, concede immediately as well. Dong Hu, you're on for the third match.

Peach Blossom Village Martial Arts Gym is counting on you!"

"Wait a second, I disagree," Dong Hu interrupted just as He Xiong finished speaking.

He Xiong frowned and asked, "Brother Dong, what do you suggest?"

Dong Hu humphed arrogantly, "It's just a Sun Hao. There's no need to go through so much trouble. I alone am enough. Otherwise, even if I win in the end, it'd be a dishonorable victory that gives others a handle against me."

"But this Sun Hao is very strong; we shouldn't underestimate him."

Before He Xiong could finish his sentence, Dong Hu impatiently waved his hand off, "Enough, I alone am enough to enter the arena. I've participated in the National Martial Arts Competition; I don't believe a small place like East Willow Village can have any real masters."

Knowing Dong Hu's character, He Xiong realized that further discussion was pointless, so he simply nodded, "Then let's change the order. Li Fei, you go on second, Little Xin take the third match!"

"Alright!" The other two nodded seriously.

With the order set, the group headed towards the arena. By now, the area around the arena was crowded and the atmosphere was quite heated.

The competitors from both sides stood on the stage, and an old man with gray hair wearing a white Qi Refinement suit leisurely walked up.

This old man was Lu Qian, a martial arts heavyweight for miles around, reputed to be at a later stage of Qi Refinement.

Lu Qian moved to the center of the arena, bowed to the crowd below, and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, today Peach Blossom Village Martial Arts Gym and East Willow Village Martial Arts Gym are competing here to claim the glory of being the best in the Western District.

Two years ago, Peach Blossom Village Martial Arts Gym defeated East Willow Village Martial Arts Gym and kept the first-place plaque here in Peach Blossom Village. If East Willow Village Martial Arts Gym can defeat us today, they will take the plaque; otherwise, it will remain with us in Peach Blossom Village."

As he spoke, Lu Qian reached out to pull down a piece of red silk behind him, revealing a plaque embedded with "The Best in the West" in front of everyone.

Seeing this plaque, many people were reminded of the bloody battle two years ago and anticipated this competition even more.

Lu Qian coughed and continued, "Today I have been invited by two martial arts schools to serve as the referee for this competition. Let me explain the rules. This competition will adopt a king-of-the-hill format, with each side sending one contestant to fight. The winner stays on the stage to defend, and the loser sends another contestant to continue the challenge.

Each team is limited to three players entering the field, and the last one remaining on the stage wins."

"Do you all understand?" Lu Qian looked at both sides as he spoke.

"Understood!" All the contestants said in unison.

"Good, this competition aims to promote friendship through martial arts. Fatal moves are not allowed, and the contest should stop when a hit is acknowledged. Now, I declare the competition open," Lu Qian announced loudly, his voice resonating like a great bell.

All other contestants stepped off the stage, leaving only Dong Hu and Sun Hao.

The two had already made enemies off the stage and now facing each other on the stage intensified their rivalry.

"Kid, I told you earlier I'd smash your head," Dong Hu said viciously.

Now full of rage, Dong Hu had decided to take it out on Sun Hao.

Facing Dong Hu's provocation, Sun Hao didn't get angry at all, just hooked his fingers and coldly smiled, saying, "As I said, you're just trash in my eyes. You don't have the ability to smash my head."

"You're asking for it!"

Dong Hu's eyes flashed with fury; he clenched his fists, and his arms quickly swelled. In the next instant, he stepped forward, shooting out like lightning.

Sun Hao slightly squinted his eyes and took a light step to the left, tilting his body to dodge Dong Hu's attack.

As he brushed past Dong Hu in that moment, Sun Hao's right hand fiercely chopped down, his palm like a blade's edge, mercilessly striking at Dong Hu's wrist.

Sun Hao's strike was both fast and fierce, yet Dong Hu, having spent a few years in the fighting circles, still had some skills.

Dong Hu changed his punch to a palm and counterattacked with a heavy palm strike against Sun Hao.

Bang!

Accompanied by a muffled sound, both men were knocked back a step by the impact.

"Kid, you're still far from capable of smashing my head with such skills," Sun Hao said with a cold laugh, his tone confident and arrogant.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Sun Hao's figure drew a blur as he charged towards Dong Hu.

Lin Chen shook his head helplessly as he watched the two exchange blows below.

Dong Hu was far less skilled than Sun Hao. Although they seemed evenly matched, Dong Hu was already at a disadvantage both in speed and strength.

Indeed, by the eighth move, Dong Hu was only able to defend, unable to counterattack.

When they exchanged the ninth move, a hint of Evil Qi flashed in Sun Hao's eyes, and in a flicker, he moved behind Dong Hu and struck out with a heavy palm that landed on Dong Hu's back.

"Bang!"

Dong Hu's body shot forward more than ten meters, stumbling for a few steps before stabilizing his figure.

"Wow!" Upon seeing a clear winner emerge, the crowd around the stage erupted in amazed exclamations.

By this time, Dong Hu had lost his initial momentum, and Sun Hao's Muay Thai was both fast and fierce, each move carrying strong offensive power.

After several intense clashes, Dong Hu felt his arms becoming numb, almost unable to lift, and his shoulders were painfully throbbing from that last palm strike.

Dong Hu looked at the slowly approaching Sun Hao with a face filled with fear.