Chapter 1234: Routine

The solid wood core of the bow had long been hollowed out. It simply couldn't withstand the tension required for a 50-meter shot. If Xu Yang tried to draw the bow with an ordinary person's strength, it would immediately break apart.

The city guard soldiers who had prepared the bow looked smug, waiting to see Xu Yang make a fool of himself. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Xu Yang's hands.

At that moment, Xu Yang slowly drew the bow.

The instant Xu Yang released his right hand, the arrow shot forth once more. To everyone's astonishment, Xu Yang not only fired the arrow steadily without using any cultivation base, but its power and speed were also far greater than the centurion's shot.

Under the intense gaze of the crowd, the arrow precisely struck the very center of the target, piercing through the centurion's arrow and completely shattering its wooden structure.

However, there was one drawback: Xu Yang's arrow did not remain in the bullseye. Yet, everyone could see how Xu Yang had won the duel.

"Hahaha, see that? That's our boss's skill! Even if the bullseye can only hold one arrow, it means your centurion's arrow had to be shattered for the outcome."

Big Crab once again opened his mouth wide, taunting the centurion, only to hear disgruntled murmurs from the city guard soldiers.

"What nonsense are you talking about, fellow? In archery, the winner is determined by the final position in the bullseye. While your boss's arrow was powerful, I don't see it in the target. Only our Centurion's arrow remains firmly in the bullseye. Although the surrounding area was shattered, his arrowhead is still securely embedded in the center of the bullseye. How do you explain that?"

There was a clear discrepancy in the interpretation of the outcome between the two sides. Just as a verbal conflict was about to erupt, the centurion stepped forward and waved his hand slightly.

"Enough. Although your arrow didn't stay in the center of the target, we all saw that it hit the same spot. This round is a draw. Let's have one more match; I intend to defeat you fairly and decisively."

How could the centurion not see that Xu Yang's bow was problematic? However, he only realized this after Xu Yang had fired his shot.

To save face and ensure the competition remained fair, the centurion gave a look to his adjutant, who was preparing the equipment.

The adjutant shivered on the spot, realizing the centurion was displeased. He no longer dared to tamper with the bows and instead found two of the strongest bows, giving one to the centurion and one to Xu Yang.

Upon seeing the centurion's fair judgment, Xu Yang nodded with satisfaction. "Your Excellency's skill is indeed exceptional. In my opinion, why don't we increase the difficulty a bit?"

The centurion smiled. "Are you suggesting I personally set the rules for the game?"

Xu Yang nodded gently. "Exactly. Although the previous round was a draw, your fair attitude, Centurion, earned my respect. I also trust your integrity to provide an impartial judgment for this competition between us. Therefore, as a sign of my respect, I will entrust you with the opportunity to set the rules for the final match. This way, no one else will have the right to comment on our upcoming contest; only you will truly know who the victor is between us."

It must be said that Xu Yang's arrangement was extremely wise. While it appeared he was handing over control of the outcome to the centurion, he was actually using this method to silence the three thousand surrounding city guards.

Because in this upcoming match, regardless of who won or lost, the other spectators would have no right to offer their judgment.

And the centurion was not a despicable person who would resort to any means to achieve his goals. As long as he gave his approval, Xu Yang's team would have no problem passing.

Xu Yang's move directly hit the crucial point, firmly taking control of the seemingly complex situation.

This ability truly made the Fifth Prince, who was nearby, admire him immensely.

The Eight Gates team members initially couldn't even grasp the situation, but the Prince was a discerning person. He clearly understood that Xu Yang's action was a case of sacrificing little to gain much. To possess such foresight and wisdom showed just how extraordinary Xu Yang was.

"To take, one must first give. What a clever tactic of 'letting go to grasp'! It seems that even without his astonishing cultivation, your boss would undoubtedly become the ultimate victor if he entered the court struggles. It appears the wisest choice I've made in my life is to forge an alliance with your boss. Without his help, my grand plan to contend for the Central Plains might never be easily realized."

The Fifth Prince couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Little Hua, standing not far from him, also showed a relieved smile. The fact that the Prince could say such words proved that in his eyes, Xu Yang's position was already irreplaceable. He would never "kill the donkey after it grinds the mill," unlike other high-ranking officials.

He knew very well that with his own strength, he could not control Xu Yang. "Very well, since you've put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony. In this next round, I will allow you to use your cultivation base, and I will do the same. However, with the rules I set this time, there can only be one victor."

As soon as the centurion finished speaking, he suddenly took off his helmet. As a centurion, his helmet had a decoration.

It was a very exquisite peacock feather, a colorful plume, inserted at the very top of the helmet, but its texture was remarkably tough.

Although it was just one feather, under normal circumstances, as long as the helmet wasn't directly shattered by a powerful force, the feather would never fall off.

After removing his helmet, the centurion exerted immense brute strength, directly throwing the helmet hundreds of miles away, between distant mountains.

Between those mountains was a large boulder, but it was incredibly far away. One could say that an ordinary person looking at the boulder from their current position would see it as blurry.

Of course, for the top experts present, though the boulder was distant, it wasn't so far as to cause blurred vision.

Nevertheless, this indirectly highlighted how astonishing the centurion's arm strength was. The helmet landed on the massive boulder atop the mountain peak, making the peacock feather look like a tiny needle a hundred meters away.