"Then, next up is Group Two's match."
Commentator Ai Fei's voice rang throughout the venue through the Soul Tool Amplifier, carrying her usual passionate enthusiasm:
"The next two contestants—Ye Lan and Nan Fusheng—have both reached this stage with eight consecutive victories! This promises to be an evenly matched clash of titans. Let us wait and see!"
As her words fell, the passages on both sides of the arena lit up simultaneously.
Nan Fusheng, dressed in fitted combat clothes, stepped steadily onto the arena. Faint ripples of Soul Power circulated around him, showing that he had made every possible preparation.
On the other side, Ye Xinglan slowly entered everyone's view. However, she looked somewhat frail, and her face carried an unmistakable pallor.
Just as the entire Audience held their breath, awaiting the opening of this battle between powerhouses, Ye Xinglan had barely reached the center of the arena before clearly uttering three words: "I concede."
Those three brief words were like thunder from a clear sky, instantly causing an uproar throughout the venue.
The spectators in the stands froze for a moment before erupting into incredulous commotion—no one had expected this genius contestant, who had fought her way through every round without a single defeat, to forfeit before the match had even begun.
The referee beside the arena frowned slightly and stepped forward, asking in a grave tone, "Contestant Ye Lan, are you certain you wish to forfeit this match? Once you declare defeat, the result cannot be changed."
Ye Xinglan raised her head and calmly met the referee's gaze, clearly answering with two words: "Yes."
Her face remained pale, as though even speaking had taken considerable effort. After a pause, she added, "The injuries I sustained in the previous round have yet to fully recover. It would be unsuitable for