Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 70

Suddenly, the two fighters on the ring separated—one was sent flying off the stage.

“Jiang Tian, we won! Ten-to-one odds—we just made a hundred thousand!” Zhao Xueqing cheered excitedly.

“No big deal. Keep betting, and we’ll make even more.” Jiang Tian smiled faintly.

Three more rounds passed.

Xueqing’s initial ten thousand had ballooned to half a million—all because Jiang Tian called every match correctly.

“Jiang Tian, how do you always guess right?” Ye Ziwei asked curiously.

“Zizi, you don’t know yet? Jiang Tian’s incredible now! He knows mystic arts, can exorcise ghosts, and is a martial arts master! Everyone in Linzhou respects him!” Xueqing bragged proudly.

“Oh? Little Tian’s that amazing now?” Ziwei covered her mouth, giggling—though she didn’t believe a word of it.

Jiang Tian had been frail as a child, always losing fights. How could he possibly be some martial arts master?

…

The next day, Jiang Tian continued accompanying Xueqing and Ziwei, placing bets and occasionally trying his luck at the casino.

Thanks to his spiritual senses, he won every time, leaving Xueqing overjoyed.

“Husband, this trip was worth it! We’ve made three or four million already!”

“We’re rich!”

Xueqing kept checking her bank balance, grinning from ear to ear.

“You like money that much?”

“Of course!”

She laughed. “I’m no ethereal fairy—life’s tough out here!”

“Fine. I’ll make you so much money, you’ll become the world’s richest woman.”

“Perfect! I always knew my husband was the best!”

She clung to his arm, beaming with pride, radiant with happiness.

Suddenly, a formidable middle-aged man approached Jiang Tian, sneering.

“Jiang Tian. You beat my son?”

“Xue Mingyi?” Jiang Tian recognized him immediately.

“At least you’ve got eyes.”

“So what if I did?” Jiang Tian sipped his tea, utterly unbothered.

“Arrogant bastard!”

Xue Mingyi’s face twisted with rage. “This isn’t over. Once we’re off this ship, I’ll end you!”

With that, he stormed away.

…

Finally, the third day arrived.

This was the real showdown—the previous matches paled in comparison.

The atmosphere on the deck had shifted entirely.

Under the sunset’s glow, four elevated platforms surrounded the ring, lined with leather sofas. Spotlights bathed the area in white light, bright as day, offering perfect visibility.

Rows of black-clad enforcers stood guard, their waists bulging with concealed weapons, expressions stern.

The wealthy spectators who had been rowdy days ago now sat stiffly, not daring to breathe too loudly.

This was no ordinary fight—it was where the elites of three cities settled disputes. Anyone who caused trouble here would be shot dead and fed to the fish.

“They’re here!”

A murmur swept through the crowd as the big shots arrived.

“Xue Mingyi, the tycoon of Jiangzhou!”

“Kun, the Hound-Face, under Master Ye!”

“You wanna die? Call him Brother Kun!”

“The Linzhou faction’s here too—Tang Wannian, Zheng Guangsha, Long Wu, Zhou Zhenghao… the strongest have gathered!”

Each arrival sparked whispers—some admiring, others jealous.

These were not ordinary rich men. They were titans who commanded cities, moved mountains, and held heaven in their hands.

Then, the deck fell silent as all eyes turned to a refined, scholarly man stepping onto the platform.

“Master Ye!”

“Ye Gufeng of Donghai—the undisputed king of the North!”

Of all the powerful figures present, he stood tallest—the wealthiest, the most connected.

Publicly, he was the chairman of Haihang Group, controlling billions in assets, dominating Donghai, the largest city in the North, with Jiangzhou under his thumb. Even Xue Mingyi bowed to him.

Compared to him, the others were mere shadows.

Ye Gufeng took his seat, Elder Qiu standing behind him. His gaze swept the crowd as he spoke, his voice calm but commanding—every word carrying the weight of law.

“You all know the rules. Tonight, we settle disputes through combat. The results are final. Anyone who breaks their word will face the wrath of the entire North!”

“Understood, Master Ye!” The gathered elites nodded in unison.

Ye Gufeng’s eyes then landed on a tall young man behind Xue Mingyi.

“Wu Feng. I hear you’ve taken over the Wu family?”

“Y-yes! I humbly ask for your guidance, Master Ye!” Wu Feng jumped to his feet, bowing deeply.

Though he ruled Heihe City with billions in assets, standing equal to local officials, before Ye Gufeng, he trembled like a schoolboy.

“You’re unfit.”

Ye Gufeng sipped his tea, not even looking at him. “You slept with your stepmother. You denied your father medical care. Disloyal, unfilial, dishonorable. Cut off three fingers and hand the family to your brother. Now, get out.”

“Yes, Master Ye!”

Wu Feng’s face turned ashen. He took a knife from an underling, severed three fingers, and fled without another word.

“Master Ye, your wisdom saved the Wu family from ruin!” Xue Mingyi fawned, not daring to protest.

Such was Ye Gufeng’s power—his word could reshape dynasties.

The crowd erupted in praise.

“Truly, Master Ye’s justice is impeccable!”

“Who else could cleanse such corruption?”

Just then, a speedboat cut through the waves, a bald man standing at its bow, laughing loudly.

“Master Ye! I heard you’ve got some fighters. Let’s see who’s the dragon and who’s the worm!”

“Who is this arrogant fool?” The crowd buzzed in shock.

“Damn it! Yang Kunpeng actually dared to show up!” Liu Zikun slammed the table, furious.

Ye Gufeng’s eyes narrowed, but he forced a smile and cupped his hands.

“I’m honored our Northern affairs have drawn friends from Zhonghai. Welcome.”

“Master Ye, I’ve been wanting to meet you, but you never gave me the chance. So I invited myself!”

Yang Kunpeng puffed on a cigar, laughing arrogantly, as if Ye Gufeng were beneath him.

He boarded with his entourage, claiming a platform as if declaring himself an equal.

“Yang Kunpeng!”

“The top magnate of Zhonghai!”

The crowd murmured in fear.

Yang Kunpeng had overseas backing—he was one of the few who could challenge Ye Gufeng.

Ignoring him, Ye Gufeng raised a hand.

“Today, we settle the disputes of three cities. Let the tournament begin!”

Immediately, Liu Zikun stood, pointing at the Linzhou faction.

“Long Wu! Your men wrecked my turf in Tianshui Town. How do we settle this?”

Tianshui, a border town between Donghai and Linzhou, housed factories and tens of thousands of workers. Its entertainment districts raked in hundreds of millions yearly.

“How do you want to settle it?” Long Wu remained unfazed.

With Li Zhenwei’s breakthrough, they didn’t even need Jiang Tian’s intervention.

“We fight! If you lose, the town’s mine!”

“Master Zhenwei, we leave it to you.” Long Wu clasped his hands respectfully.

“Easy. With Master Jiang’s teachings, killing him would be like slaughtering a chicken.”

With that, Li Zhenwei kicked off the ground, shooting like an arrow across ten meters onto the stage.

Liu Zikun blinked in surprise.

“Li Zhenwei? You’re from Foshan—that’s in the South. Why meddle in Northern affairs?”

“Not meddling.”

Li Zhenwei shook his head. “I’ve no interest in your squabbles. I’m just paid to solve problems.”

“Hah! An old man like you dares to fight? You seeking death?”

A heavily accented voice rang out as a lean, bandy-legged man in a white karate gi stepped forward.

With a single leap, he left two deep footprints in the solid wood floor.

“A Japanese!”

Ye Gufeng frowned. “Zikun, you brought a foreigner?”

“Master Ye, skilled fighters are rare!”

Liu Zikun laughed nervously. “But Kameda here is… pro-China!”

Ye Gufeng nodded slightly, letting it pass.

On stage, Li Zhenwei smirked.

“Fine by me. I’ve always wanted to beat up a Jap. Since Kameda’s asking for it, I’ll oblige.”

“Bakayarou!”

Kameda’s face flushed with rage, veins bulging as he charged, launching a devastating axe kick.

Li Zhenwei dodged—the kick shattered a wooden pillar behind him into splinters.

Li Zhenwei’s pupils shrank.

This guy’s got skill.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The stage trembled as fists and feet collided, the two tearing through the wooden platform like bulldozers.

The crowd watched, stunned.

“These are real masters! The champions from before were nothing compared to this!”

Hearts pounded, heads spun—this was true martial prowess.