Chapter 130: A Fierce Battle

"What are they doing?" Up on the command platform, Emperor Wu Qingdi, along with the ministers and royal relatives, was still unaware of the situation. They only saw the final four contestants standing opposite one another: on one side, a solitary figure; on the other, three martial scholars.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, at the request of the martial scholar Fang Xian, he intends to take on all three at once. Therefore, the top four have entered the arena simultaneously for the final test." A Ministry of War official soon approached to explain the turn of events.

Immediately, the crowd on the platform began to murmur. Some deemed Fang Xian arrogant, others called him bold, while some saw it as a sign of confidence. Only Wu Qingluan, knowing his true strength, felt no concern about his ability to prevail.

"It seems he is going to such lengths just to marry me," Wu Qingluan thought to herself. She knew that if not for her, Fang Xian might not have even participated in the previous imperial examinations.

"Fang Xian, if you want to take on the three of us, then show us what you're made of!" In the arena, the three men spurred their horses, surrounding Fang Xian in a triangle formation. Tang Yuyong shouted.

"Fang, I will definitely knock you off that horse! You don't deserve such a fine steed," Han Jiahong roared, his eyes red with envy.

Only Zhao Yaozhong remained silent. His aura was sinister, feeling to Fang Xian like a dormant venomous snake waiting in the shadows for an opportunity—for he was a member of the Golden Guard.

Fang Xian did not know Zhao Yaozhong, but the man knew him well. Having been by Hong Tianzhi’s side, Zhao was privy to Fang Xian's affairs. He thought that if he could use this chance to severely injure or kill Fang Xian, he would certainly receive a grand reward from Hong Tianzhi upon his return.

However, the imperial martial examinations strictly prohibited intentional homicide. Since killing Fang Xian was unrealistic, he would settle for using this opportunity to secretly cripple him, which would also be a meritorious deed.

Fang Xian did not know Zhao Yaozhong's thoughts, but he sensed a faint murderous intent emanating from his cold, piercing gaze. While the other two were filled with fighting spirit, they lacked the desire to kill; yet the quiet Zhao Yaozhong harbored a lethal intent that puzzled Fang Xian.

Nevertheless, now that he was aware, Fang Xian was on his guard. Besides, with the help of his horse, Fire King, he was confident he could defeat them—even if all the top ten martial scholars attacked him at once.

"Kill!"

Han Jiahong was the first to let out a thunderous shout. His long spear struck like a bolt of lightning, aimed directly at Fang Xian's front. His spear technique was dragon-like, whistling through the air with the force of a thousand pounds.

"Hah!"

Tang Yuyong roared as well, his spear sweeping toward Fang Xian’s waist like a heavy staff. The weapon tore through the air with a howling sound, crashing down fiercely.

Zhao Yaozhong, however, remained silent, lunging with his spear from the other side. He aimed straight for Fang Xian’s underarm; his strikes were as sinister as the man himself, surging forward like a striking viper.

"Neigh!"

At that moment, Fang Xian’s mount, Fire King, suddenly threw its head back and let out a long, thunderous neigh. The sound was like a crack of thunder in a clear sky, startling the three nearby warhorses.

Although the three men were battle-hardened and possessed excellent control over their mounts, preventing them from retreating, the momentary distraction disrupted their offensive momentum.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

In that split second, Fang Xian moved. His spear flashed like lightning, tracing starlight through the air as he struck the tips of Han Jiahong’s and Zhao Yaozhong’s spears, while simultaneously hitting the shaft of Tang Yuyong’s.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The hardened spearheads shattered instantly, and Tang Yuyong’s weapon was nearly knocked from his grip. The power Fang Xian unleashed in that moment completely overwhelmed the three, forcing them into a hasty retreat.

Fortunately, the three were able to support one another. Once they regained their composure, they began to coordinate, their spears dancing around Fang Xian, aiming relentlessly at his vital points. Zhao Yaozhong, in particular, remained quiet, his strikes targeting only the most lethal areas.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Fang Xian remained unfazed, engaging the three in a fierce melee. Fire King snorted plumes of hot air, kicking out at the surrounding horses, which often helped Fang Xian evade attacks while he continued to counter-strike.

Although Fang Xian had little experience in mounted combat and had not faced any true battles in the previous rounds, he was now finding his rhythm, slowly reaching a state of perfect harmony with Fire King.

Though the three opponents fought with increasing intensity, they felt growing pressure. They noticed that while Fang Xian had struggled at the beginning, requiring his horse’s assistance to handle the attacks, he was becoming more at ease. After dozens of bouts, his experience deepened; he needed his horse less and less, acting with such freedom that he seemed to maneuver the steed without even thinking.

"Tell me, do you think Fang Xian can take them all down?" a martial scholar asked among the spectators.

"Of course he can! You don't know who his brother is. I’ll tell you all, Brother Fang is here to take the title of Martial Champion. Would he boast if he didn't have the strength?" It was clearly Xia Zhenghong speaking; he had developed a sincere admiration for Fang Xian.

"That's right, I also believe Brother Fang will emerge victorious. The title of Martial Champion belongs to him," others chimed in. Gradually, the martial scholars were being won over by Fang Xian, becoming his loyal fans.

"I think it's still uncertain. Fang Xian is impressive, but the other three are true powerhouses. It won't be easy to win," Guo Shunsheng muttered from the back of the crowd. He disliked Fang Xian regardless of the circumstances, and not just because he had made a fool of himself in front of him.

In truth, once the battle began, it wasn't just the martial scholars debating; the ministers and royal relatives on the command platform were also arguing, with some believing in Fang Xian and others predicting his defeat.

Wu Qingluan watched with rapt attention. Although she believed in Fang Xian, this match was clearly different from the previous ones. This was a true battlefield clash: horses colliding, spears crossing, thunderous roars, and intense energy rippling through the air.

She realized that Fang Xian was not using his full strength, displaying only the cultivation of a top-tier expert. Relying instead on his exceptional perception and spear technique, it was clear he did not want to crush them with pure power, but to defeat them in a fair competition of skill.

"Hah!"

The fierce battle continued. Han Jiahong’s style was bold and sweeping, and Tang Yuyong’s was honorable and direct. Only Zhao Yaozhong’s attacks remained cold and insidious, always attempting to land a vicious blow when Fang Xian was off guard.

"Time is about up," Fang Xian thought to himself after more than a hundred rounds. He sensed the three men’s momentum beginning to wane, whereas he, constantly replenished by his mysterious energy, could have fought for another day.

"Boom!"

Fang Xian suddenly surged forward. His spear moved with blinding speed, crashing down toward Tang Yuyong. The latter raised his spear to block, but with a massive explosion, his weapon snapped in half. The force of the blow sent Tang Yuyong flying backward, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.