Magnolia Manor.
Located on the outskirts of Leighton City, nestled among mountain ranges and surrounded by lush greenery.
The scenery here is beautiful and the climate is pleasant.
When Evan Lin arrived and got out of the car, he saw that a large plaza outside the manor was already crowded with people.
Most of them were in their twenties to forties, brimming with energy—fierce as dragons and tigers, with burly builds.
A few had less imposing builds, but they still carried an aura that couldn’t be ignored.
"The Ding family really went all out this time. Wendy Ding is their most cherished daughter, and I heard she’s a real powerhouse—she even stepped into the Underground Boxing Championship and took the crown herself."
"So what if she’s tough? Whoever wins this championship gets her in the end—and the Ding family’s even throwing in some kind of artifact. They say it’s super mysterious. The Ding clan’s ancestors used to be nobodies, just chopping wood in the mountains, but after the old master got his hands on that artifact, their whole family shot right up."
"Man, if I could win this championship, life would be set—talk about living the dream!"
“Don’t get your hopes up. The Ding family’s stakes are so high that even Medicine King Valley sent people over. Looks like they’re after the artifact too.”
Evan walked over. While everyone chatted, nobody paid much attention to him—he looked way too young.
"Sir! You’re here!"
Evan had only walked a few steps when a voice called out from behind.
"It’s me, it’s me, Sir—long time no see!" Shawn Shi grinned, his face usually radiating killing intent now looking a bit comical with that smile.
Dong Zi stood beside him, looking at Evan with a hint of admiration. Both of them were only mid-stage Outer Strength fighters, and they’d come to Magnolia Manor hoping to test their luck.
Getting a qualification spot would be great, but even if they didn’t, just meeting someone from Medicine King Valley could be a stroke of luck.
The others glanced over, eyes full of mocking delight, just waiting for drama.
Shawn gritted his teeth. Dong Zi’s face flushed with anger. "Watch your mouth!"
"Sir, there’s still half an hour until the assessment starts. You’re definitely going to qualify! If you make it big, don’t forget about us."
Shawn looked completely obsequious, showing not a hint of contempt for Evan’s young age.
In their eyes, strength is everything—the one with the bigger fists makes the rules.
Evan’s single-finger knife snap had already left a deep impression on them.
No matter how much you train Outer Strength, at best you can bend a blade, but you can’t break it. Breaking the blade—that’s the classic difference between Outer and Inner Strength.
“What exactly is the assessment for entering the tournament?”
Evan asked.
Right now, outside Magnolia Manor, over two hundred people had gathered. The weakest among them was mid-stage Outer Strength—in the eyes of ordinary people, that’s a master.
It was Evan’s first time seeing so many martial artists at once. Though most were mediocre, he figured almost none could withstand even one finger from him.
“I heard it’s all about testing raw force—right over there.”
Shawn glanced at a spot beside Magnolia Manor, where a tall iron pillar stood upright. In the center was a transparent glass tube.
The tube had ten marked gradations, and below the pillar was a raised platform with a flat iron block on top.
As Evan was looking that way—
someone walked over.
"Shawn Shi, I can’t believe you actually came to compete. With your skills, you won’t even qualify. Why not just stay in River City instead of embarrassing yourself in Leighton?"
A discordant voice rang out.
The newcomer was at least 1.9 meters tall, with dark skin and a centipede tattoo covering half his face. Just standing there, he was like a mountain.
He strode over, face full of contempt, his huge fists radiating a powerful sense of oppression.
"Harvey Pang, what’s that supposed to mean?" Shawn’s face turned ugly. Compared to Harvey, he looked much scrawnier.
"What I mean is, you should just go home and guard your little patch of land—be a security guard somewhere! Three years ago I didn’t crush your head with one stomp, that was me giving you face. Now what, you’re back like a dog sniffing a bone, hoping for luck? Look at yourself!"
Harvey’s voice was loud and, after he finished, both Shawn and Dong Zi looked embarrassed.
A few years ago, when Harvey came to River City to challenge the underground ring, he fought Shawn in the arena and nearly killed him.
"What, not convinced? River City’s strongest was Drake Huang, right? I heard he got killed recently. Who else do you have?"
Harvey sneered and stepped forward, slapping Shawn’s face. "You’d better hope you don’t qualify—if you run into me, I’ll kill you."
Shawn gritted his teeth. Dong Zi’s face turned red with anger. "Watch your mouth!"
"Polite?"
Harvey’s eyes flashed. He slapped Dong Zi so hard he sent him flying.
"Dong Zi!"
Shawn rushed over when he saw Dong Zi get knocked away.
"Cowards."
Harvey spat, cursing. Then he noticed Evan standing nearby with a backpack and baseball cap. His eyes narrowed. "What’re you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll beat you too! Even your boss Shawn is just a dog to me!"
"Are you talking to me?"
Evan looked at Harvey, frowning slightly.
"What, you got a problem with that?"
Harvey grunted, clenching his fists as he strode toward Evan.
"River City’s fighters keep getting worse. What kind of trash is this?"
"Heh, with Drake Huang gone, there’s hardly anyone left in River City who can fight. Over in Minghai, at least there’s King Dihao—wonder if he’ll show up."
"This kid looks scrawny, like a student. Maybe he’s just a tourist who wandered into the wrong place."
The others glanced over, eyes full of mocking delight, just waiting for drama.
Harvey was already looming over Evan, his massive figure casting a shadow over him.
Next to Harvey, Evan looked just like a kid.
"I’m talking to you! If you’re not convinced, shout it out!"
Harvey jabbed a finger at Evan’s forehead, grinning viciously. "If you’ve got guts, say it!"
Harvey loosened his grip, confident that if this kid so much as opened his mouth, he could crush his neck instantly.