Geniuses, Too, Have Their Gaps

Seven in the evening.

Rong City First Stadium.

On the grass field, all the smaller arenas had been removed, leaving only the largest one in the center.

Spotlights flashed as the stadium, capable of holding tens of thousands, was packed to the brim with a dense crowd.

Blue Star people's enthusiasm for martial arts was plain to see.

To maximize profits, starting today, the Group A and Group B matches would be held at staggered times.

This ensured the largest possible audience flow.

"Dear audience, there are still fifteen minutes until the Youth Cup Group B ranking matches begin. Please wait patiently."

"Today, we are honored to have invited Mr. Tang Cheng of the Qingzhou Martial Arts Association, a Mid-Rank Seven-Star Martial Artist!" The host's excited voice echoed through the stadium.

In martial arts competitions, commentary was an extremely important role.

Unlike competitive sports such as football and basketball, without professional martial artists providing commentary, most ordinary people could not understand martial arts matches very well, and more than half the enjoyment would be lost.

At the commentary desk, a rugged-looking middle-aged man in his forties smiled and nodded.

"Mr. Tang Cheng, what are your thoughts on this match?"

Tang Cheng tested the microphone. "First of all, I'm honored to serve as a commentator for our Rong City Youth Cup."

"This match is, I would say, the most compelling one among the ranking matches."

"Why do you say that?" the host prompted.

"The two contestants in this match are both stepping into the arena for the first time. The audience here, including us commentators, are unfamiliar with both competitors' combat levels and fighting styles."

A handsome young man appeared on the big screen.

The moment he appeared, the entire audience erupted.

"Jiang He! Jiang He! Jiang He!"

Glow sticks of the same color waved in unison, while thunderous cheers resounded throughout the stadium.

"Wow, it seems contestant Jiang He is very popular," the host said at just the right moment.

"Mr. Tang Cheng, what do you think?"

"I think that's perfectly normal. Jiang He is the most talented martial artist Rong City has produced this year. He entered the Transformation Stage right after graduation, then underwent professional training and completed his transformation in an extremely short time, officially becoming a martial artist."

Tang Cheng's voice carried undisguised admiration.

"I can say this: within the next few years, Jiang He will soon have a place among the competitors Rong City sends to the Provincial Competition."

"Mr. Tang Cheng, I noticed you said 'in the future.' We know that qualifying for the Provincial Competition requires reaching the Youth Cup's top sixteen. Do you think Jiang He is not yet capable of making the top sixteen?"

"Haha." Tang Cheng shook his head with a laugh.

"That is certain. As I said, Jiang He is very young. That is both his advantage and, for now, his weakness. He has trained for too short a time and lacks sufficient accumulation of vitality and blood. As for reaching the top sixteen in the Youth Cup, I think everyone can expect that by next year."

"It seems you think very highly of Jiang He."

"Next, let's take a look at the other contestant."

The host pressed a button, and another spirited young man appeared on the big screen.

He stood on the arena with a smile on his face, holding the identification badge of Chengtian Martial Arts School high in his left hand, radiating confidence.

"Another contestant hailed as a genius—Li Changqing!"

Boo—

The intense boos nearly made the host lose his composure.

"Only our Jiang He is a genius!"

"What kind of trash is this? How can he even compare to our Jiang He?"

"Exactly! Are you even a martial artist, calling yourself a genius? Our Jiang He is a real genius martial artist."

The entire stadium was nearly filled with glow sticks cheering for Jiang He. Who was Li Changqing? They did not know, nor did they care.

Hearing the boos from below, the host hurriedly threw the topic back to Tang Cheng.

"Mr. Tang Cheng, what do you think?"

Worthy of being a professional martial artist, Tang Cheng was not affected by the audience at all. He looked calmly into the camera.

"Compared to contestant Jiang He, contestant Li Changqing's background is much more mysterious. From the public information, we can only see that he graduated in the same year as Jiang He, even from the same university. But after Jiang He went to further his studies at an academy, Li Changqing came to Rong City alone and joined Chengtian Martial Arts School."

"However, we still found no information on contestant Li Changqing on Chengtian Martial Arts School's official website."

"This can only mean one thing: contestant Li Changqing is not even a registered martial artist of Chengtian Martial Arts School. He is still only a student."

"And—"

Tang Cheng suddenly shook his head and laughed.

"After looking into it over the past two days, they found contestant Li Changqing's university graduation test results."

"His talent is D-Class."

D-Class meant he was average even among ordinary people.

The moment those words were spoken, the entire venue erupted once more.

"I knew it! That Li-whatever Qing isn't a genius at all!"

"D-Class? I was already C-Class when I graduated from college. Did this guy pay to rig the matches or something?"

The host's eyes lit up. This was huge traffic—he hadn't expected this martial artist to be such a showman.

He quickly threw out another question.

"Then, Mr. Tang Cheng, do you believe contestant Li Changqing is unworthy of the title of genius?"

"Unworthy! Unworthy! Unworthy!"

The fans in the stands went wild again.

Faced with such a pointed question, Tang Cheng remained composed and looked straight into the camera.

"If someone who graduated from college only a few months ago can defeat a martial artist with one punch, clear the Three Consecutive Arena Defenses, and do it all in under ten seconds, isn't a genius—then who is?"

"Without a doubt, Li Changqing is a genius!"

"Then what about his graduation test results...?"

"The equipment malfunctioned." Tang Cheng spread his hands. "Or the teacher in charge of the test made an operational error."

"Then, according to you, do you think Li Changqing has a chance of winning?"

Tang Cheng's smile widened as he paused for a second.

"Of course not."

"Huh?" The host was completely bewildered by Tang Cheng's antics.

You praised him one second and tore him down the next—what exactly did you mean?

"I said Li Changqing is a genius, but..." Tang Cheng paused strategically.

"Jiang He is a genius even more exceptional than geniuses."

Tang Cheng began his analysis.

"First, we need to understand one thing: the outcome between competitors depends not only on their own cultivation, but other factors are equally important."

"We can compare them. Jiang He's coaches and teachers are martial artists from Qingzhou Psionic University, including quite a few powerful High-Rank Martial Artists. But what about Li Changqing? He's merely a student at Chengtian Martial Arts School. The ordinary coaches there are basically all Lower-Rank Martial Artists. Their only High-Rank Martial Artist is the school master, who hardly participates in teaching at all."

"Next, let's look at cultivation resources. The gap is even greater. Jiang He uses the academy's high-end products."

"As for Li Changqing, given his assets, even using potions may be a struggle for him."

"So whether in terms of talent, resources, or connections, Li Changqing falls short of Jiang He in every way."

The host understood. He was praising both sides so as not to offend either one.

"Then, Mr. Tang Cheng, according to you, Li Changqing has no chance of winning this match at all?"

Tang Cheng shook his head. "I think very highly of Li Changqing, but unfortunately, he shouldn't have encountered Jiang He today."

He gave his final conclusion.

"Even among geniuses, there are differences."

"What utter bullshit. Does this guy even know what he's talking about? A Mid-Rank Martial Artist? I suspect he got paid off."

Standing beside Li Changqing, Huang Xuan's eyebrows twitched as he listened to Tang Cheng's assessment.

"Our coach's theoretical knowledge is incredibly extensive. When it comes to understanding the old art of Tai Chi, what the hell does that bastard have to compare with our coach?"

"Shut up."

Kang Tianchen raised an eyebrow. Huang Xuan immediately fell silent, turned around, and began facing the wall in self-reflection.

Then he looked at Li Changqing, his expression instantly softening.

"Changqing, don't be nervous. Just relax."

"Once you're on stage, don't carry any burdens. Fight with confidence, and show them our style."

At this point, Kang Tianchen could no longer think of any techniques to offer. He could only resort to the mandatory skill of all coaches: motivational speeches.

"No matter what happens afterward, Changqing, you are the most talented student in our martial arts school, without question!"

"In one month, you went from failing to complete the physical fitness test to easily defeating a martial artist who had just finished the Transformation Stage. You're already very strong."

"Sometimes, having everything go smoothly may not necessarily be a good thing."

"Besides, Tang Cheng was right. My level really is..."

"No."

Li Changqing raised a hand to interrupt Kang Tianchen. He looked at him with utter seriousness.

"Coach."

"My Tai Chi was taught by you."

"I'll prove to everyone that you're not inferior."

Li Changqing strode out of the contestants' tunnel, his broad back as towering as a mountain.

Boooo—

The moment he stepped onto the arena, deafening boos erupted from all around.

"Why does this feel like an away match?"

"I'm from Rong City too."

Li Changqing shook his head with a laugh, no longer paying attention to the roaring boos as he walked straight onto the stage.

Just as he took his place, the boos abruptly turned into frenzied cheers.

"Jiang He! Jiang He! Jiang He!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

From the opposite tunnel, a figure in flowing white stepped gracefully onto the stage. His eyes were filled with helplessness, yet he still smiled and nodded toward the stands on all sides.

Then, the two locked eyes.

"So it was you." Once he saw Li Changqing's face clearly, Jiang He wore an expression of complete understanding.

He said in a half-joking tone, "You hitched a ride in my car last time. Once you complete your martial artist registration, you'll have to treat me to a meal."

Li Changqing hadn't expected Jiang He to remember him. After all, he had merely been a random passerby back then.

"Once I receive my martial artist allowance, Senior can pick the place."

"Then I won't hold back." Jiang He straightened his clothes.

"Later, you shouldn't hold back either.

"I really want to see just how capable Li Changqing, the genius said to be on par with me, truly is."