Lin Feng had no idea that Hua Yu's journey was for him.
As the list was announced, numerous contestants were arranged to go on stage to draw lots.
The first round of matches was mandatory; whoever you drew, you had to fight.
Winners could freely challenge other victors, while losers forfeited their challenge rights.
Lin Feng drew Tie Quan Liu Meng, a master ranked forty-fourth on the Earthly Ranking.
Dong Yichen was fortunate enough to draw Chen Man in the first round.
Lin Feng paid no mind to how the remaining people were assigned; his current concern was defeating Liu Meng first.
Only by defeating Liu Meng could he earn the chance to challenge Chen Man.
"Haha, Lin, you're truly lucky! Although you didn't draw my cousin, this Tie Quan Liu Meng is enough to give you a tough fight!"
Upon seeing the draw results, Chen Meijia was so amused that tears almost sprang to her eyes.
For Lin Feng, ranked fifty-fourth on the Earthly Ranking, to face Liu Meng, ranked forty-fourth, was akin to an egg hitting a stone.
It was well known that a difference of just one rank on the Earthly Ranking signified a considerable gap in strength.
Lin Feng and Liu Meng were separated by ten places, indicating a vast disparity in their abilities.
To put it bluntly, Lin Feng had virtually no chance of winning against Liu Meng!
"Chen Meijia, can you please shut up? If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute. Who wins and who loses will only be known after the fight!"
Lu Jingzhe was thoroughly annoyed by Chen Meijia.
"Jingzhe is right. You thought Huo Zhigang could beat the Thai boxing master before, but his leg ended up being broken!"
Xia Xue sneered, helping Lu Jingzhe to fiercely retort against Chen Meijia.
"You, you all!"
Chen Meijia's face turned red with anger, leaving her speechless.
Lin Feng paid no mind to Chen Meijia, instead taking a seat in the contestants' area.
Dong Yichen immediately came over to greet him, with Zheng Bowen and Feng Jingyao following behind.
"Brother Lin, you've encountered a tough opponent this time. This Tie Quan Liu Meng is no simple man. Don't let his forty-fourth rank on the Earthly Ranking fool you; his true strength is probably around the thirty-fifth spot."
"His greatest trump card is his pair of iron fists, which are indestructible and impervious to blades and spears. It's rumored he practiced the Iron Shirt technique at Shaolin, making his entire body as hard as iron!"
Dong Yichen reminded him with a smile.
"It matters not. Every martial artist has weaknesses. I am not worried about not being able to defeat him!"
"As for you, facing Chen Man in the first round, what are your chances?"
Lin Feng was more curious about Dong Yichen.
Dong Yichen chuckled and shook his head: "Less than thirty percent. I never planned to win against him. This match is purely to gauge the gap between him and me."
"It's good to meet him in the first round. I'm not interested in anyone else; only Chen Man interests me!"
Dong Yichen was philosophical, and his calm demeanor was precisely what Lin Feng admired about him.
Someone like Dong Yichen, who was indifferent to winning or losing, had immense potential.
Even if he was no match for Chen Man now, he would surely surpass Chen Man in the future.
As the two chatted, the first round of matches officially began.
Lin Feng and Liu Meng were scheduled to be the first combatants.
At the referee's signal, Lin Feng rose and walked onto the stage.
As Lin Feng stepped onto the platform, Tie Quan Liu Meng also appeared in everyone's sight.
He was a burly man with his upper body bare. His bronze skin shimmered with a metallic luster, and his muscles were as clearly defined as coiled dragons.
He appeared to be around thirty-five years old, with a shaved head marked by Buddhist precepts.
Clearly, Dong Yichen's words were accurate; Liu Meng had spent time at Shaolin and had undergone ordination.
What drew the most attention were Liu Meng's iron fists.
His fists were several sizes larger than those of a normal person, covered in thick calluses, and exuded an aura of destructive power.
As the duel between Lin Feng and Liu Meng was about to commence, Lu Jingzhe, Xia Xue, and Shen Xinyue in the audience couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Lin Feng.
This was because the live audience unanimously believed Liu Meng would crush Lin Feng.
Some had even set up betting pools among the spectators.
Lin Feng's odds were a staggering one to ten, while Liu Meng's odds were a mere 1.2.
"I bet on Liu Meng to win. I'm wagering ten million!"
In front of Lu Jingzhe and the others, Chen Meijia decisively placed her bet on Liu Meng, casting a somewhat provocative glance at Lu Jingzhe.
"I bet on Lin Feng, also ten million!"
Although Lu Jingzhe disliked gambling, she made an exception and took out her bank card in defiance.
Shen Xinyue also bet ten million to cheer Lin Feng on.
Xia Xue didn't have much money, but she still wagered a hundred thousand yuan.
The amount of money wasn't important; what mattered was showing Lin Feng that they stood firmly behind him, offering their full support.
In the VIP box, Uncle Shou looked at the two evenly matched combatants on the stage and couldn't help but grumble, "Miss, this Lin Feng is only ranked fifty-fourth on the Earthly Ranking, and he's already facing Liu Meng. I think he's going to be crippled!"
Hua Yu said calmly, "Even if he's crippled, it won't affect my desire to marry him!"
Uncle Shou was momentarily stunned and then chuckled, "Miss, you refuse to marry Lin Zhen, the top-ranked on the Earthly Ranking, and instead choose to marry a cripple. I'm truly getting old; I just don't understand the thoughts of you young people!"
"If you don't understand, then don't try to. Just watch the match quietly!"
Hua Yu was as indifferent as ever. She paid no mind to the outcome of the match; her heart was in turmoil.
She wasn't sure if her decision was right or wrong.
But regardless of whether it was right or wrong, she wanted to resist for herself, just once.
From childhood to adulthood, everything in her life had been arranged by her family.
She had never truly lived for herself.
It wasn't until the family announced her betrothal to the Lin family that she realized she was merely a sacrifice for her family.
She looked at Lin Feng on the stage, her emotions complex.
She even felt a sense of shared plight with Lin Feng.
Lin Feng was an abandoned son of the Lin family; she was a sacrificial pawn of the Hua family.
If two people abandoned by their families were to truly be together, wouldn't the Lin and Hua families be pleasantly surprised?
Thinking of this, Hua Yu smiled. Her smile was as tragically beautiful as a wilting flower, tinged with a mockery of fate.
Dong!
The gong sounded, and the duel between Lin Feng and Liu Meng officially began.
At this moment, all eyes were focused on the roughly ten-square-meter ring.