I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 205: A duel, a tense situation

"Three days from now, I'll be at the family arena..." Ren Xiaoyao deliberately stretched out his words, stirring everyone's curiosity. He glanced around, finally settling on the Great Elder, and spoke word by word, "I have an announcement..."

The Great Elder's brow furrowed ever deeper. Ren Xiaoyao's behavior clearly showed he didn't take him, the head of the family, seriously, and a hint of anger rose in his heart. However, years of self-control allowed him to suppress his anger. He asked in a deep voice, "What do you want to announce?"

"I will challenge all the younger generations of the family, make friends through martial arts, and prove my strength!" Ren Xiaoyao's tone was firm and resounding. As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted like a lake after a huge rock was dropped into it.

"What? Challenging all the young people? Is he crazy?"

"He thinks he can challenge us? He's overestimating himself!"

The family members were discussing this matter, their words filled with disdain and ridicule. They had always harbored resentment towards Ren Xiaoyao, the young master who had just been "airdropped in", and now seeing him so arrogant, their anger was aroused even more.

The second young master was the first to react. He stood up abruptly, his face filled with undisguised contempt, and sneered, "Ren Xiaoyao, are you kidding? You think you can challenge all of us? I advise you to save your energy and go back to practice for a few years before trying again!"

Ren Xiaoyao remained unmoved, staring directly at the Second Young Master with a confident smile on his face. "Second brother, you're joking. Since I dare to challenge you, I must be confident. What's the matter? Are you scared?"

"Afraid?" The Second Young Master laughed out loud, as if he had heard something hilarious. "I'm afraid of you? That's a joke! I'll be the first to challenge you and let you know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is!"

"Okay!" Ren Xiaoyao didn't waste any words and directly accepted the challenge, "I'll wait for you at the family competition arena in three days!"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense, and everyone was waiting for the Great Elder's decision. The Great Elder was silent for a moment, and a glint flashed in his cloudy eyes. He slowly said, "Since that's the case..."

The Great Elder paused for a moment, a gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyes, and he slowly said: "In that case, then as you said, three days later, all the younger generation can participate in the family competition." He wanted to see how powerful this young master of the Ren family, who had disappeared for more than ten years and suddenly appeared, was.

The entire room erupted in an uproar as these words were spoken. Everyone knew that the Great Elder had tacitly approved of this seemingly hopeless duel. The Second Young Master's face was filled with ecstasy, as if he had foreseen Ren Xiaoyao's crushing defeat. The family members who supported the Second Young Master also began to shout, their words filled with contempt and provocation towards Ren Xiaoyao.

The Third Young Lady, sitting in the corner, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. She wanted to speak out to stop this farce, but looking at Ren Xiaoyao's determined profile, she knew that no matter what she said, she would not be able to change his decision. The Third Young Lady could only look at him with concern, hoping that he would escape this competition unscathed.

Ren Xiaoyao felt the Third Miss's gaze and turned, giving her a reassuring look. He understood her concerns, but he had his own resolution. He wanted to let those who looked down on him know that he, Ren Xiaoyao, was no ordinary person!

"Thank you for your help, Great Elder." Ren Xiaoyao bowed to the Great Elder with a neither humble nor arrogant tone. Then, he turned and left the hall, leaving only a tall and straight figure behind.

The chatter in the hall didn't stop with Ren Xiaoyao's departure; instead, it intensified. Everyone was speculating about the outcome of the competition and the changes it would bring to the family. The butler from another family, who had been standing silently behind the Great Elder, quietly left the hall. He hurried toward the competition arena, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "Interesting, really interesting..."

After leaving the hall, the butler from another family headed straight for the family's arena. He stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly strolling leisurely, but each step was meticulously calculated, his strides steady and swift. Upon arriving at the arena, he didn't immediately begin making arrangements. Instead, he paced around the arena, his sharp eyes scanning everything around him, as if searching for something.

"Hmm..." the butler muttered, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes. He pulled a jade token from his sleeve and gently tossed it into the air. The token traced a perfect arc in the air before landing steadily in the center of the arena.

As the jade token fell to the ground, ripples suddenly appeared above the originally empty arena. Visible energy fluctuations spread from the jade token, forming a huge translucent barrier that enveloped the entire arena.

"This way, we can ensure absolute fairness in the competition." The butler nodded in satisfaction, looking at his masterpiece. The barrier he had set up not only blocked out any external interference but also suppressed the internal fluctuations of spiritual energy within both combatants, forcing them to rely solely on pure strength and skill during the competition, thus ensuring the fairness of the competition to the greatest extent possible.

After finishing all this, the butler did not rush to leave. He looked up at a towering ancient tree in the distance, with an intriguing smile on his lips, "What do you think of my arrangements?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a mysterious figure in a black cloak, his face indistinct, silently appeared from the branches of the ancient tree. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing towards the arena, as if he could see through everything.

"Well done." The mysterious man's hoarse voice was filled with praise. "In this competition, I want everyone to know who is the true master."

The butler bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Everything is at your command, sir."

The mysterious man didn't say anything else. He looked deeply in the direction of the arena, then turned into a ball of black mist and disappeared on the spot, leaving only a few fallen leaves to prove that he had been there.

Two days later, a large number of family members had gathered around the family competition arena. They were all looking forward to the start of this competition that would determine the future of the family.

Ren Xiaoyao, dressed in white, walked slowly towards the arena like a sword unsheathed, with an unstoppable edge. Every step he took seemed to tread on the hearts of the crowd, making them hold their breath.

He felt the gazes from those around him, some expectant, some suspicious, some hostile... But his eyes were firm. He knew that this competition was a key step in resolving his family disputes, but he also knew that the road ahead was full of unknown dangers.

Walking to the center of the arena, Ren Xiaoyao stopped and looked up at the azure sky. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his eyes gradually becoming sharper. "Come on..."

Ren Xiaoyao slowly closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing, feeling the flow of spiritual energy within him. His figure was as straight and upright as a pine tree, every inch of his muscle poised for action, like a sword about to be unsheathed, emitting a compelling edge.

The surrounding chatter gradually died down, and everyone stared at Ren Xiaoyao in the center of the arena, awaiting his next move. In the crowd, Xia Lin looked at Ren Xiaoyao with concern. She knew how important this competition was to him, but she also understood the risks involved. She clenched her fists gently, silently praying that Ren Xiaoyao would be safe.

The Great Elder sat on the high platform, his cloudy eyes gleaming with complex glints. He hoped that Ren Xiaoyao would win and bring new hope to the family, but he was also worried that Ren Xiaoyao's sudden rise would upset the existing balance of the family and even threaten his position.

The Second Young Master crossed his arms, a sneer on his lips, his eyes filled with disdain. He considered Ren Xiaoyao a mere fresh-faced young man, not worth mentioning. The Third Young Lady clasped her hands together, a look of worry on her face. She didn't want to see any internal strife within the family, and even less wanted to see Ren Xiaoyao get hurt.

The steward from another family stood behind the Great Elder, his brows lowered and his eyes submissive, making it difficult to discern his inner thoughts. He seemed to be standing aside, but in reality, he was taking in everyone's reactions, his lips occasionally curling up in an intriguing arc.

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing. He slowly raised his right hand, fingers spread out, palm facing upward. A powerful suction force erupted from his body, sucking in the fallen leaves and dust around the arena, forming a small tornado.

"Hah!" Ren Xiaoyao growled, clenching his fists. The tornado dissipated instantly, and powerful energy waves spread out, shaking the air around him. He slowly stood up, his eyes sweeping across the crowd, finally stopping at the Second Young Master. A confident smile played on his lips, "We can begin now."

The second young master's eyes flashed with surprise upon seeing this, but he quickly regained his composure and snorted coldly, "Hmph, playing tricks! I want to see just how capable you are!" With that, he leaped into the arena...