<h4>Chapter 1129: Chapter 1129: Strict Rules Within the Hongmen</h4>


    In the Hong Sect, selecting candidates is a long-standing tradition that can’t be changed by just anyone.


    Although Hong Jinbao is the Sect Leader, even he cannot alter this rule.


    After selecting the candidates, they are reviewed by the Sect Leader, and only after passing the review can they officially be candidates.


    Even after bing a candidate, it doesn’t guarantee that they will be the Sect Leader. They need to remain in the candidate position for a period until the Sect Leader steps down before they can take the position.


    Therefore, the position of Sect Leader in the Hong Sect is not something that can be achieved casually. One must not only have personal strength but also opportunity. Missing either of these two points is uneptable.


    "ording to the rules, let’s begin," Hong Jinbao announced.


    The first round involves drawing lots to select an opponent, and then the two engage inbat. A candidate must have a certain level of personalbat ability.


    There are nine people standing in the center; theoretically, there should be ten, but Xiang Yu is no longer here, so someone who draws Xiang Yu will automatically advance.


    The nine people drew lots one after another; Fang Xiaoming was first and casually picked one.


    In his view, it didn’t matter who he drew since no one was a match for him, he could settle it within two moves.


    When he opened his lot, it read number one. After drawing, he stepped forward and shouted, "Who’s number one, stand out quickly."


    At this moment, another person snorted coldly and stood without hesitation in front of Fang Xiaoming.


    This person was from Brocade Hall. They were all elite members, representing the honor of their hall, and naturally wouldn’t be intimidated by Fang Xiaoming’s aura.


    The drawing of lots only took two minutes, and after seeing that they weren’t number one, everyone stepped back a few paces, leaving space for number one.


    "Let’s begin," Hong Jinbao said once everyone was ready.


    Fang Xiaoming stood there smirking coldly, "Kid, if you surrender now I won’t beat you up, butter you won’t get the chance to surrender."


    The person from Brocade Hall also snorted and said, "It’s not certain who will win or lose."


    Once they finished speaking, they immediately started fighting.


    Before today, Brocade Hall’s Hall Master Jin Guozhong had already investigated Fang Xiaoming. He was personally trained by the Sky Thief Rat, and his skills were remarkable.


    If the entire selection process is conducted in this kind ofpetition format, this person is highly likely to be selected as a candidate.


    Of course, there was one person he hadn’t investigated, which was Leng Chan, rmended by Dumei Hall.


    This person, Brocade Hall had never seen before. Since Poison Rose had a good rtionship with him, he hadn’t investigated Leng Chan.


    Sure enough, the fight between the two was no contest. Fang Xiaoming maintained the upper hand, and it was evident they weren’t on the same level.


    Fang Xiaoming pressed forward step by step, throwing punch after punch with immense speed. Brocade Hall believed that if any of them were in the ring, they wouldn’t stand a chance.


    The fightsted about five minutes before Fang Xiaoming kicked the person’s chest and sent him flying.


    He immediately moved forward and kicked the person’s arm, producing cracking sounds.


    "I surrender," the person screamed aloud.


    "Surrender? It’s toote," Fang Xiaoming shouted and stomped down heavily.


    The person let out a harrowing scream.


    Fang Xiaoming had no intention of letting him go and jumped to stomp on the other arm.


    "Stop," Jin Guozhong finally lost hisposure and rushed forward with a shout.


    This person was carefully selected by him. Although he had no high hopes for him, he was still hisrade.


    Fang Xiaoming snorted and stomped. The sound of bones breaking echoed again.


    Jin Guozhong, enraged, kicked Fang Xiaoming away.


    Fang Xiaoming simply fell to the ground but calmly got up, dusted off, and coolly watched everything.


    "What are you doing?" Jin Guozhong had his man carried away and then shot a cold nce at Fang Xiaoming.


    "I told him to surrender earlier, but he refused," Fang Xiaoming shrugged indifferently.


    In Fang Xiaoming’s eyes, the candidate’s position was already his. In time, he would oversee everything, and his status wouldn’t be lower than Jin Guozhong. Therefore, he didn’t fear him at all.


    The Sky Thief Rat sat there leisurely watching everything, showing no intention of getting involved.


    "Sect Leader, they’re breaking the rules," Jin Guozhong turned to Hong Jinbao and said.


    "There were even more brutal times before, and no one said anything about such rules back then," the Sky Thief Rat proimed loudly.


    As soon as he spoke, everyone’s expressions changed. While they hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, they had indeed heard that when Hong Jinbao was elected as a candidate, thepetition was intense, and an error led to a death.


    After all, they had lived lives licking blood off des, and such fiercepetition seemed eptable to them.


    Hong Jinbao’s expression was not any better, and he waved his hand saying, "From now on, as long as someone surrenders, that’s considered the end."


    Brocade Hall could only grit their teeth. The Sect Leader had spoken, and there was no alternative.


    The Sky Thief Rat stood there with a victorious stance, humming a tune, looking in a particrly great mood.


    The Sky Thief Rat had strained rtionships with many, especially Brocade Hall. Jin Guozhong had a straightforward personality and couldn’t stand many of the Sky Thief Rat’s actions, and the feeling was mutual. There was a degree of animosity between them.


    Now, with Jin Guozhong’s man beaten, it was like a p in his face. He harbored a deep resentment.


    But under these circumstances, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.


    The fights among the other halls were equally thrilling, and Leng Chan from Dumei Hall drew the number five.


    It turned out that the number five, reserved for Xiang Yu, was left over. Since Xiang Yu didn’t show up, she advanced directly.


    After one round, five people were left. It was gettingte, and after a day of meetings, everyone was tired, so they decided to hold the remaining matches the next day.


    Everyone agreed and went to rest separately.


    Hongxing Vi wasrge, enough to amodate these people and more if needed.


    At this time, in Hong Jinbao’s room, Jin Guozhong was frowning deeply.


    "Sect Leader, just look at the Sky Thief Rat’s posture now. If that Fang Xiaoming bes a candidate, won’t he be insufferable?"


    Hong Jinbao sighed and shook his head, "What can we do? It’s a tradition passed down through generations."


    "If only Xiang Yu were okay," Jin Guozhongmented mournfully.


    Hong Jinbao also felt helpless; in the past, he had been too extreme. He knew that when he spread the word, people would definitely trouble Xiang Yu.


    By then, Xiang Yu would be forced to agree with him, but the situation developed differently.


    "There’s another person who I think can rival Fang Zuming," Hong Jinbao mused thoughtfully...