Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 147 - 146: A Public Challenge, All Eyes on the Showdown

By now, the first round of duels within Modu had already ended.

This round had really been more of a probing phase, with everyone searching for suitable opponents while showcasing their strength and skill.

The most important battles were yet to come.

Now, all sides would begin to carefully select their opponents.

Yi Beidou had fought four Saints in a single day, proving his strength was a cut above the rest in Donghua’s new generation. He had naturally become the primary target to be dealt with.

The strongest combatant to enter Donghua this time, one of the Starry Sky Country’s "Sea, Land, and Air" trio—Earth Giant God Yuri, who had just defeated Huang Tianhu—was now officially making a move against Yi Beidou.

This challenge was a declaration, a public announcement.

It was a claim: this was his opponent, and no one else was to covet or interfere.

"Mr. Derek, we’ve received confirmed intel. The man from Donghua is in this hotel. I’ll lead the way."

A Caucasian man in a sharp suit and leather shoes stepped out of the driver’s cabin and spoke respectfully to Derek.

"No need. That man’s aura is so obvious. How could I not sense it?"

Derek smiled faintly and strode into the hotel.

A massive entourage of paparazzi and reporters followed close behind, forming a vast procession. They were all speculating which expert from the Martial Hero Conference Derek was planning to challenge this time.

As such a group entered the lobby, they immediately drew the attention of many guests coming and going.

"Who is that foreigner? Why is he being followed by so many people who look like reporters?"

"Derek! The Martial Artist from the Starry Sky Country, Derek! You don’t know him? It’s been all over social media lately. Some people are even saying he’s a Superpower User. In just two days, at least three provincial champions from the Martial Hero Conference have lost to him, many without even lasting three moves!"

"So he’s that guy they’re calling the ’Muscle Mutant’ online? He’s here to challenge our Donghua Martial Artists? Is there an expert from the Martial Hero Conference staying in our hotel?"

"..."

Many people stopped to watch, whispering among themselves.

Seeing the situation, the hotel lobby receptionist quickly called the manager to handle it.

Soon, the lobby manager walked over with several security guards.

"Sir, how may I help you?"

The lobby manager asked cautiously. Although he had a few guards with him, he didn’t dare to speak loudly.

They were a high-end hotel and employed a professional security team. Each guard was strong and fit, but standing before this young Caucasian man—who was over 2.2 meters tall with an incredibly powerful build, like a giant from legend—they seemed as helpless as baby chicks.

They could barely withstand a single glance from him.

"I don’t need anything. I’ll just wait here. That person surely knows I’m here. Whether he appears or not is up to him."

Derek smiled faintly, but his words left everyone around him completely baffled.

Many of the media personnel had been following Derek for some time and knew his style.

He was extremely arrogant, exceptionally skilled at verbal attacks, and his methods were tyrannical and ruthless.

This was the first time anyone had seen him speak so humbly, taking such a modest stance.

’Just who is he looking for this time?’

For a moment, everyone couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity.

Before long, an elevator descended, and a tall figure emerged, capturing everyone’s attention.

"It’s the Kyoto provincial champion, Meng Qianyuan! He’s a favorite to win this Martial Hero Conference! Could he be the one Derek is looking for?"

The crowd whispered and parted, clearing a path for Meng Qianyuan to walk up to Derek.

Meng Qianyuan’s gaze was like a torch as he met Derek’s eyes.

The two were similar in height and build. As their auras clashed and their gazes met, sparks seemed to crackle in the Void between them, making everyone’s scalp tingle.

It was like two giant spirits standing among mortals.

"I have come to deliver a challenge on behalf of my school’s elder. Please pass it to Mr. Yi."

Derek smiled faintly and handed the envelope to Meng Qianyuan.

"Mr. Yi is already aware of this matter. He agrees to the fight."

Meng Qianyuan took the letter without even looking at it and gave his reply directly.

"One more thing. This is a challenge from me to you. Before our elders fight tomorrow, I challenge you to a battle. Do you dare to accept?"

In the next instant, Derek’s eyes became incredibly sharp, and his aura surged violently.

"We don’t have to wait for tomorrow. I can fight you right now."

Meng Qianyuan clenched his fists, his muscles swelling as his face took on the likeness of a Celestial King Giant Spirit.

The crowd of onlookers immediately fell back.

"Don’t be in such a hurry. We’ll have a result tomorrow."

Derek laughed heartily but didn’t accept the immediate fight. Instead, he turned and strode away.

The crowd watched Derek’s back disappear, whispering among themselves once more.

A favorite to win the Martial Hero Conference was about to face off against the foreign Martial Artist, Derek. However, that wasn’t even the most explosive news.

The even more explosive news was the duel between their respective school elders.

If the two of them were already this strong, what level of power did their elders possess?

This inevitably made the crowd recall some of the battles between Superman-like Superpower Users that had occurred in the city that day, as well as the legends about the ultimate realm of the Martial Arts Dao—"Body Ascension"—that were rapidly spreading online.

This was probably a clash between figures of that caliber.

For a moment, everyone was thrilled beyond measure.

This news spread rapidly through Modu, especially within the Martial Arts Realm.

Street fights between Saints happened randomly and were hard to come by, but a pre-arranged duel like this meant they could find out the location in advance and go watch it in person.

It was a rare battle to witness. Furthermore, a duel between a top Donghua expert and a foreign master lent the fight a different layer of significance.

In the contest between Donghua and the Starry Sky Country, who was stronger and who was weaker?

Meanwhile, Yi Beidou was not the only one to receive a challenge.

「Inside the main command center.」

"’Earth Giant God’ Yuri has challenged Mr. Yi Beidou, ’Source Stream’ Ulysses has challenged Ms. Zhou Qingchen, and Pusaka Country’s ’Silent Heaven’ Aduvan has challenged Mr. Ding Huiyuan..."

"Right now, among the major known combatants from every country, only the Starry Sky Country’s ’Sky’ Devi has yet to make a move."

A staff member reported the current situation in a low voice to Wei Cheng and the others.

"According to our intel, this representative of ’Sky’ from the Starry Sky Country is the leader of their ’Sea, Land, and Air.’ He is also extremely arrogant, proclaiming that he will become the number one human. He won’t make a move easily until the final victor is decided."

"This man’s power has reached an unbelievable level. We can’t even pinpoint his exact location in the city. His personal magnetic field seems to be able to interfere with the operation of electronic devices."

An agent from the intelligence department spoke in a low voice, a look of disbelief in his eyes.

The city was now blanketed with informants and surveillance everywhere, yet they were somehow unable to track one person’s specific movements.

It was simply incomprehensible.

The man’s abilities were beyond imagination.

"No matter who he is or what abilities he possesses, he will ultimately be defeated by our people. All of you, just wait and see."

Wei Cheng said in a calm tone.

「The next day, Modu Central Park.」

This was one of Modu’s largest park plazas and a popular spot for citizens’ morning exercises. But today, a police cordon had been set up early, and a large crowd had gathered outside, unable to enter.

The tall buildings surrounding the plaza were already packed with people. They couldn’t get inside the park, but from here, they could use binoculars and long-range camera equipment to watch the duel that would soon take place within.

This would be the battlefield for Yi Beidou and Yuri.

After Derek delivered the challenge that night, the news spread rapidly, and many people had found out the exact location of the duel in advance.

However, not everyone was barred from entering the park to spectate. Martial Artists with the proper qualifications and the ability to protect themselves were allowed inside.

Jiang Yiyang, Shen Jiayue, and two other students from the Dechang University Martial Arts Club followed closely behind Pan Hexuan, passing through the police cordon and entering the park.

If Pan Hexuan hadn’t used his family’s connections, and being a member of the Martial Arts Realm himself, he never would have been able to bring them in.

When they arrived, they found that quite a few people were already waiting around the plaza.

Some were clearly identifiable as foreigners at a glance, while others were Donghua People in various styles of dress.

But all these people shared a common trait: every one of them had an extraordinary aura, exuding a sense of pressure just by standing there.

These were all people of the Martial Arts Realm.

Jiang Yiyang and the others saw many figures from the Martial Hero Conference’s top 100 list. It was an experience they had never had before, almost as if they had stepped into the legendary Martial Arts World.

They were like a group of little rabbits that had stumbled into a den of lions.

"In a moment, you’ll all follow close behind me. Do exactly as I say. Absolutely no messing around, or you could be in great danger. Understand?"

Pan Hexuan instructed in a low voice.

Everyone nodded in agreement, but in their hearts, they all felt Brother Pan was being overly cautious.

They were just here to watch from a distance of at least fifty meters. What danger could there possibly be?

"Brother Pan, do you think Mr. Yi can win this time?"

Jiang Yiyang couldn’t help but ask.

"I can’t say for sure. Mr. Yi’s opponent is said to be very strong. We’ve already had a Saint Expert fall to him. That man is the representative from the Starry Sky Country, so he most likely came prepared."

Pan Hexuan’s expression was quite grave.

The others looked at each other in dismay.

It wasn’t just Pan Hexuan’s group. The three major schools from Han Province, including Cyan Wood Heart Intent; Yang Tianhe and his contingent from Yunhai Province; and people from many other large schools had all arrived and were discussing the same topic.

’You managed to defeat the Blasphemer, but can you overcome this giant mountain from the Starry Sky Country?’

In a corner of the park, a woman—1.9 meters tall, with an incredibly curvaceous and alluring figure and fiery red lips—muttered to herself.

It was Elena, who had been defeated by Yi Beidou just the day before. Even some other foreign Saint Realm experts like Moncalis and Li Taiyu had also come to the scene.

The duel between Yi Beidou and the top expert from the Starry Sky Country was no longer a simple matter of victory or defeat. It was about national fortune, a struggle for superiority.

This battle had captured everyone’s attention.

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from the outskirts of the park. The Saint Realm experts present felt two auras rise up like billowing pillars of smoke.

The two duelists had arrived right on time.