Chapter 116 The Contest
Miyamoto Musashi's indifferent gaze swept across the crowd of the Southern Border Army beneath the arena, his eyes carrying a clearly visible disdain.
That disdain, tinged with provocation, seemed to be telling the Southern Border Army below, "If you've got the guts, come up and fight me!"
Although the Southern Border Army has seen a decline in its control over the region due to the disappearance of the Southern Border King over the years, this did not mean they had lost their innate bravery! Enjoy new chapters from empire
Faced with such a gaze from Miyamoto Musashi, how could the crowd remain calm?
Immediately, many stepped forward a few paces, ready to storm the arena and eradicate Miyamoto Musashi!
Even though the Southern Border King had already spoken to stop this kind of behavior earlier, under Miyamoto Musashi's provocation, the Southern Border Army showed signs of uprising once again.
Although the Southern Border King was the ruler of this region, his prestige in the Southern Border Army still could not compare to that of the three elders of the fields!
With the second elder of the three elders injured by Miyamoto Musashi, the Southern Border Army naturally wanted to avenge the second elder.
Seeing that the Southern Border Army present were disregarding his words, the Southern Border King's expression grew increasingly ugly.
Even though he knew his control over the Southern Border Army had reached a freezing point, he still felt somewhat indignant at this moment.
"All of you, back down for me!"
Just then, the second elder, who was kneeling on one knee on the arena, suddenly spoke out.
Upon these words, the tens of thousands of Southern Border Army soldiers who had been inching closer to the arena a second ago suddenly fell eerily silent.
With grave expressions, they stared at the second elder kneeling in the arena, many eyes flickering with involuntary sympathy, and others with naked murderous intent towards Miyamoto Musashi.
"Hahaha! You make me laugh!"
"You lose a fight against me, and now the Southern Border Army wants to raise an army to surround and attack me?"
"Does Dragon Country really consider itself a grand nation when it conducts itself in such an unsightly manner?"
Miyamoto Musashi, with his hands folded behind his back, looked proudly at the tens of thousands of Southern Border Army soldiers below the arena, sneering as he spoke.
His words were full of disdain and contempt, deeply wounding everyone present.
Chen Dao's expression darkened as he leaned close to Ye Ling and whispered, "My lord, let me take action..."
"Stand down and stay put. Your strength isn't weak, but you stand no chance against a War King," Ye Ling glanced at him and replied.
Hearing this, Chen Dao reluctantly moved aside.
He knew all too well what Ye Ling meant; although Chen Dao was at the pinnacle of Great Grandmaster status, ranking among the top in that realm, he was still far too weak compared to a War King!
A War King, if he wished, could slay a Great Grandmaster with any level of strength, without any chance of the latter surviving.
"Below a War King, all are mere ants," this saying was no exaggeration.
Only those of War King strength could contend with a War King.
Ye Ling certainly knew of Chen Dao's dissatisfaction with Miyamoto Musashi, but it was not yet time for them to act.
Even if they were to take action, Ye Ling would not let Chen Dao enter the arena, for a Great Grandmaster stepping up would be no different from courting death.
Ye Ling's gaze fell on the second elder, his eyes carrying a hint of contemplation.
Shortly after, the second elder seemed to have recovered somewhat, as he slowly rose to his feet, his gaze dark as he looked towards Miyamoto Musashi.
"Grandmaster Miyamoto jokes, how could my Southern Border Army ever commit such a disgraceful act?"
The second elder sighed softly, his face showing a hint of despondency.
Even though he harbored much discontent and murderous intent towards Miyamoto Musashi, what could he do?
Confronting a combatant of Wang Qiang's caliber, he, as a Great Grandmaster at his peak, had no chance of victory.
It wasn't just him; even the entire Southern Border might not be able to find a combatant of Wang Qiang's level.
"Heh heh, is the Second Elder preparing to admit defeat?"
"Or should this old man knock the Second Elder off the stage and end this match?"
Miyamoto Musashi looked at the Second Elder with a smile brimming with intent, his words tinged with a hint of mockery.
Upon hearing this, the Second Elder's expression immediately darkened, his eyes filled with rage.
His hands clenched into tight fists, his body trembling slightly with anger.
But before he could speak, Miyamoto Musashi spoke again, "I've heard that the three elders of the Southern Border's military farm have trained together since childhood, and their coordination is nothing short of miraculous."
"Rumor has it that you three elders have a combined attack strategy that allows you to defeat an opponent one whole realm stronger than yourselves when used together?"
"Second Elder, I wonder if there's any truth to this rumor?"
Hearing his words, the Second Elder was also taken aback.
This combined attack strategy was a secret amongst the three elders of the military farm, how did Miyamoto Musashi come to know of it?
Without showing any change in expression, the Second Elder spoke, "Master Miyamoto, what do you mean by bringing this up now?"
"Heh heh, this old man simply wants to offer the Second Elder and the Southern Border military a chance to regain face!"
Miyamoto Musashi chuckled and then continued, "This old man is willing to fight the three elders alone, taking on all three at once!"
"But in return, you also have to agree to a condition from this old man."
Upon hearing this, the Second Elder's brow furrowed tightly, his eyes filled with contemplation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He then looked at Miyamoto Musashi with a grave voice, "May I ask what condition Master Miyamoto proposes?"
The crowd below the stage also held their breath involuntarily.
The three elders were the pinnacle of the Southern Border military's strength, and if the three collaborated, perhaps they could indeed defeat Miyamoto Musashi!
But Ye Ling shook his head; the strongest of the three elders, the First Elder, was merely half a step into Wang Qiang's realm.
Even if the three had that so-called combined attack strategy, rumored to best those one realm stronger, it was after all only a rumor!
Furthermore, the realm of Wang Qiang was different from the previous realms, as below Wang Qiang, all were but ants; it wasn't just a saying.
Even if the three elders joined forces, facing Miyamoto Musashi they would only have one outcome: defeat!
At this moment, Miyamoto Musashi's proposed condition was likely for the prize he had mentioned.
"Heh heh, this old man knows that the Old Southern Border King once had a treasured sword, that after the Old Southern Border King passed away, was placed within the main base of the Southern Border military."
"Being called the foremost Sword Dao expert of Wo Country, naturally I cherish swords as life itself, and I've long admired the Old Southern Border King's treasured sword."
"Why not use this opportunity for this old man to take on the three of you, and if you all combined still fall to this old man, then hand over the Old Southern Border King's treasured sword to this old man!"
Miyamoto Musashi said with a light laugh.
Though his speech did not reveal any particular emotion, anyone could feel an absolute confidence, a determination to win emanating from his words.
Hearing this condition, the Second Elder fell into silence.
If it were any other condition he might have considered it, but since it involved the Old Southern Border King, he would naturally not agree!