# Chapter 2103: Admitting Defeat
"Whoosh..." The strong cultivators of the Wen Family took a deep breath, feeling an indescribable sense of relief throughout their bodies. They couldn't imagine what the situation would have been if Tian Chi had been defeated.
The Jing Family, aside from their own strength, had also invited several formidable figures, nearly pushing the Wen Family to the brink of extinction. Yet it seemed fortune favored them—Master Tian Chi and his companions had arrived at the Wen Family and were willing to help them through this calamity. Even when Tian Chi stepped onto the Array Ore Battle Platform, their hearts remained suspended, but now, they could finally let go completely.
Tian Chi returned to the Wen Family camp. The many strong cultivators of the Wen Family stood up one after another, bowing slightly to Tian Chi, Ban Ruo, and the others, sincerely thanking them: "We are deeply grateful for this battle. If you have any conditions, the Wen Family will certainly agree to them."
The Array Ore was extremely important to the Wen Family, and now, it was finally secured.
Compared to the Wen Family, the faces of those in charge of the Jing Family were gloomy beyond measure. The dominance over the Wen Family's Array Ore had been within reach, yet they had lost another battle. Neither the Feng Family's nor the Wen Family's Array Ore would fall into the hands of the Jing Family.
Their gazes fixed on Tian Chi, Ban Ruo, and the others—who were these unfamiliar visitors?
Not only them, but everyone around was paying attention to Tian Chi, Ban Ruo, and the earlier Ruo Xie. Where had these people suddenly appeared from? In the past, Green Mountain City had never seen such formidable young figures. With their strength, if they were from Green Mountain City, they couldn't have remained unknown.
All of this was as mysterious as a riddle.
The Yu Family was both happy and worried. Happy because the three allied families—the Feng Family and the Wen Family—had both defended their Array Ore. Worried because next, the Jing Family would spare no effort to seize the Yu Family's mine. If the Yu Family lost, the mine would become the Jing Family's possession. The Yu Family could afford this defeat even less than the Feng Family or the Wen Family.
"See you at the Yu Family's mine," said a member of the Jing Family, rising and sweeping their sleeves as they departed in a rolling gust. Instantly, everyone's eyes fell upon the strong cultivators of the Yu Family. An oppressive pressure descended upon them. Next, the Jing Family would use all their strength to take the Yu Family's Array Ore. The most severe challenge would be for the Yu Family.
Everyone clearly understood that the two geniuses of the Jing Family, members of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion—Jing Yan and Jing Ran—had not yet appeared on the battlefield. Who were they being held back for? Everyone knew in their hearts.
"Let's go." The Yu Family members, their expressions grave, flickered away one after another. Everyone rose and moved forward. The next battle would determine the fate of the Yu Family's mine at their Array Ore site.
"Brother Hou, Brother Ruo Xie, let's go watch together," the Feng Family members said politely to Hou Qinglin and the others. Hou Qinglin nodded slightly—of course, they would go.
Similarly, the Wen Family invited Tian Chi and his companions to observe. Everyone headed toward the Yu Family's Array Ore location.
The next battle would likely be the most intense and spectacular one.
...
At the Yu Family's Array Ore location, a massive circular Array Ore sat at the center. Various factions sat in the void. In the direction of the Jing Family, the crowd finally saw Jing Yan and the others. They were all there, including Jing Xiaoyue among them.
Everyone then shifted their gaze toward the Yu Family. They saw Yu Lin, who had gone to cultivate at the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, had returned. Yu and others with considerable talent were also there. Beyond that, the Yu Family had even invited several very formidable figures from Green Mountain City.
"Without further ado, the Yu Family will send out their first combatant," said the leading strong cultivator of the Jing Family calmly. The losses in the first two battles left them with nothing to say—they had to take down the Yu Family.
Among the Jing Family members, Jing Xiaoyue's gaze looked into the distance, searching for Mu Chen's figure. In her beautiful eyes, there was a hint of disappointment and a trace of anticipation. Would he really not appear?
"Xiaoyue, stop waiting for him. If I had been in Green Mountain City back then, I would have killed him myself. He's wasting your future," Jing Yan, standing beside Jing Xiaoyue, said in a low, comforting tone.
"That's right, Xiaoyue. That Mu Chen won't show up at all. This battle with the Yu Family is practically a life-and-death struggle. If he appeared on the battle platform, how could the Yu Family let him live?" another person advised.
Jing Xiaoyue remained silent. Her beautiful eyes turned toward the Yu Family, looking at Lin Feng standing behind the Yu Family crowd. Was there some deeper meaning to his words?
Lin Feng seemed to sense something. His gaze pierced through the void, meeting Jing Xiaoyue's eyes, and he gave a slight nod. This made Jing Xiaoyue's eyelashes flutter. She had a feeling that Lin Feng might know Mu Chen.
"Yu Lin, what do you think about this first battle?" Yu Kun's gaze fell upon Yu Lin. This battle was so crucial that even he didn't dare act rashly. The Yu Family's entire mine was staked on this fight.
"We need to send out three combatants first, while the Jing Family sends two. Of those two, Su Mu and I are almost certain to secure victory. If only someone could share the burden of one win," Yu Lin said in a low voice, his expression grave. Besides Jing Yan and Jing Ran, he also saw another person—also from the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion. The Jing Family had invited another strong cultivator from that place.
This meant that the Jing Family had three strong cultivators from the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, while their side, besides himself and Su Mu, had also invited one Dao-awakening expert—also three people. However, they had to send out their combatants first, giving the Jing Family complete initiative.
"Yu, go ahead and test the waters," the Yu Family finally decided, letting Yu fight the first round.
"Yu has considerable talent, but the Jing Family certainly won't give up this first round. Yu will likely be defeated without a doubt," the crowd thought.
A gust of wind swept by, and a strong cultivator descended onto the battle platform. It was Jing Ran. Seeing him appear, everyone understood that the outcome was already decided.
Jing Ran was a member of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion. Yu couldn't possibly win.
And indeed, Yu was defeated quickly. Jing Ran used only his Array Dao power to suppress her completely, even injuring her. The Jing Family's goal was clear: their three strong cultivators from the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion would ensure victory in three battles.
In the second battle, the Jing Family sent out an invited external strong cultivator, while the Yu Family deployed their only Dao-awakening expert invited from Green Mountain City, securing a victory.
Two battles, one win and one loss, but the situation became even more tense.
For the third battle, how would the Yu Family decide? Who would fight?
"If we lose this battle, we must win the next two. But the Yu Family has no one who can confidently suppress Jing Yan," the Yu Family's strong cultivators realized that when it came to actually stepping onto the battle platform, it was no longer just about courage and determination. They had no strong cultivators to deploy, no initiative—they couldn't control the battle situation.
Lin Feng's gaze turned toward the Wen Family's direction, looking at Tian Chi. The two nodded slightly to each other.
"Whoosh!" A gust of wind swept by as a wild and domineering figure charged toward the Yu Family's side. It was Xing Zhan, his body radiating a terrifying primordial aura, as if he were a battle body.
"If the Yu Family trusts me, I am willing to fight on behalf of the Yu Family," Xing Zhan said calmly. This made the Yu Family members' pupils contract slightly.
Yu Kun's gaze turned toward the Wen Family's direction, and then he heard a strong cultivator from the Wen Family say: "Brother Yu, this person is the junior brother of Master Tian Chi, who just helped our Wen Family secure victory. He can absolutely be trusted."
Hearing this, Yu Kun's eyes flashed with sharpness. Everyone had witnessed Tian Chi's power earlier.
"Good. Since you, young friend, are willing to step forward, the Yu Family is deeply grateful. If the battle is won, the Yu Family will surely reward you heavily."
"This battle is entrusted to you, sir," the Yu Family's strong cultivators said one after another. Xing Zhan nodded slightly, then stepped onto the battle platform.
On the other side, the expressions of the Jing Family members grew quite grave. The junior brother of Tian Chi—were these outsiders deliberately opposing the Jing Family?
"I'll trouble you, junior brother," Jing Yan said, nodding to the strong cultivator beside him. This was his junior brother, extremely powerful. With the addition of Array Dao, even if the opponent was very strong, they would still secure victory. As long as this battle was won, the final round would be his to command, and victory would be certain.
In the direction of the Wen Family, seeing this person appear, a strong cultivator from the Wen Family reminded Tian Chi: "This person is from the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion. He has comprehended the power of Dao and, with the aid of Array Dao, his strength will likely be very formidable."
"Aside from him, the Jing Family only has Jing Yan left as the last member of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, correct?" Tian Chi asked.
"That's right," the Wen Family member nodded, not understanding Tian Chi's intention but answering nonetheless.
"I understand." Tian Chi nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the battle platform as he sent a divine mind transmission to Xing Zhan.
"Sir, please," said the strong cultivator opposite Xing Zhan on the battle platform. But Xing Zhan revealed a smile and said: "In this battle, I admit defeat."
With that, his figure leaped back toward the Wen Family's direction. This scene left everyone stunned. The Wen Family was stunned, the Yu Family was stunned, and even the Jing Family was stunned.
Just like that... he admitted defeat?
The next moment, the faces of the Yu Family members turned ashen, reaching the extreme of anger.
"Brother Wen, what is the meaning of this?" A strong cultivator from the Yu Family shot icy, blade-like glares toward the Wen Family. The Wen Family members looked at Tian Chi, their expressions unpleasant. How could Tian Chi do this?
Tian Chi's expression remained perfectly calm. His gaze swept over the Yu Family's strong cultivators as he spoke: "There are still two battles left. Why are you all so angry? The Jing Family only has one or two combatants left, correct? Even if the Jing Family takes the Yu Family's mine, we can help the Yu Family seize the Jing Family's mine in return."
Hearing this, the smiles on the faces of the Jing Family members froze slightly. That was right—they had very few people left. If they took the Yu Family's Array Ore, what would happen if these troublemakers helped the Yu Family seize the Jing Family's mine?
At that time, how would they resolve it?