The Commentator's Curse!

7:00 p.m.

The martial arts arena was packed with people.

Countless high-speed cameras above the ring rotated along their tracks. Everything was ready.

Commentary booth.

Besides Tang Cheng, two Mid-Rank Martial Artists would be providing commentary today as well.

The host displayed the roster on the public screen. "The Youth Cup represents the younger generation of each martial arts school and its students."

"Teacher Kang Hui, what do you think of this year's Youth Cup Top Sixteen?"

"Similar to last year, Jixing Martial Hall has eight entrants, while Qingzhou Psionic University has seven. Both are normal results. The only thing I find a little regrettable is Chengtian Martial Arts School here in Rong City."

At that, Kang Hui shook his head.

"Five years ago, Chengtian Martial Arts School could still guarantee at least five spots. Who would have thought that this year, not a single one of them from Group A made it into the Top Sixteen? But..."

At this point, even Kang Hui could not help feeling envious.

"They were incredibly lucky to have found contestant Li Changqing. I heard that before the competition, Li Changqing was not even an official student."

"Eh, it looks like Jixing Martial Hall has a newcomer this year. Sun Sheng? I don't think I saw him in the previous matches, did I?"

Wang Zhi stroked his chin.

"And he's only twenty-five. Do any of you know this young man?"

Tang Cheng casually shook his head.

"He's probably a Jixing Martial Hall student from another city in Qingzhou who just happens to be from Rong City. Jixing Martial Hall was last year's champion, so they have one direct-entry spot in the Top Sixteen. That's perfectly normal.

"And since they had to use a slot to get him in, this contestant Sun Sheng is probably only around average strength."

Kang Hui, on the other hand, was far more meticulous. He took out Jixing Martial Hall's competition roster and examined it carefully.

"Teacher Tang Cheng, don't underestimate Sun Sheng. On Jixing Martial Hall's expedition roster, he's listed as the chief."

"The chief?" Tang Cheng frowned.

Wasn't the chief supposed to be someone each martial arts school sent specifically to draw attention?

Why waste a slot on him?

But the thought only flashed through his mind for an instant before he carelessly shook his head.

"Chief or not, Jixing Martial Hall's second seat is only at the peak of Lower-Rank Seven-Star. This chief can't be much more than Eight-Star."

Hearing that, the others stopped paying attention to him as well.

The atmosphere had already reached a fever pitch.

The host raised his microphone, his impassioned voice igniting the audience's emotions.

"Next, let us welcome with thunderous applause the winner of Youth Cup Group B, the genius contestant from Chengtian Martial Arts School!"

"Li Changqing!"

The atmosphere exploded as the large doors on the other side of the ring swung open.

Li Changqing strode out in a white Daoist robe with wide sleeves.

Kang Tianchen had specially commissioned these clothes for him. For a martial artist of Li Changqing's level, wide robes and sleeves were not a hindrance. On the contrary, they perfectly concealed the movement of his muscles and were better suited for displaying Taiji.

As for grabbing his clothes or sleeves?

Don't joke around. Did you really want to grapple with a Taiji master who had mastered Listening to Strength?

The fabric was specially made as well, ensuring it would not be torn apart by the forceful winds of combat and preventing the awkward sight of someone ending up naked in the middle of a fight.

Of course, if he took a punch directly, that little bit of fabric would not be able to stop it.

Chen Danqing sat in a corner of the audience, silently watching Li Changqing stroll onto the ring.

The wrinkles on his face bunched together as he smiled kindly. "You brat, you look pretty handsome."

"Li Changqing! Li Changqing! Li Changqing!"

The cheers from all around thundered like rolling thunder, creating an atmosphere almost like a home field.

Li Changqing walked up leisurely and stood in the center of the ring, ready to face his first opponent.

By convention, the first match of the elimination rounds always began with the winner of Group B.

The elimination-round draw was conducted live on-site.

As the large screen spun, Li Changqing's first opponent appeared.

"The first match of the Youth Cup elimination rounds."

"Contestant Li Changqing versus Bei Xing, the second seat from Jixing Martial Hall!"

Explosive!

The very first match pitted championship favorite Li Changqing against Bei Xing, Jixing Martial Hall's second seat and a Lower-Rank Seven-Star peak martial artist.

Moreover, the former came from Chengtian Martial Arts School, a longtime rival of Jixing Martial Hall.

"This match just got interesting." A flicker of surprise flashed through Kang Hui's eyes.

"If contestant Li Changqing hadn't emerged out of nowhere, contestant Bei Xing would also have been a seeded contender for runner-up or champion. Who would've thought he'd run into Li Changqing as early as the Round of 16?"

Wang Zhi smiled meaningfully. "I remember that earlier, during the Round of 32, Wang Zhi eliminated Chengtian Martial Arts School's top student, Liu Yi, ahead of schedule. He nearly kept Chengtian Martial Arts School out of the Round of 16 altogether this year."

"Call it one good turn deserving another."

The host seized the chance to ask, "Teachers, does Bei Xing really have no hope of winning?"

"It's not that there's no chance. It's just that the chance exists in another parallel universe," Kang Hui joked.

A lower-rank peak fighter facing a Lower-Rank Seven-Star was basically the equivalent of beating up a child.

Tang Cheng added a line, directly delivering the final verdict.

"Let me put it this way: if Bei Xing lasts ten moves, that counts as a victory."

On the arena stage.

Bei Xing slowly stepped onto the stage, his expression grim.

In his mind, aside from Senior Disciple Brother, no one in this Youth Cup could have been his opponent.

Who could have expected Li Changqing to suddenly appear in Group B? His luck was truly terrible—he had even run into him in the first round of the elimination matches.

"Changqing!"

Just then, a shout rang out from Chengtian Martial Arts School's spectator stands.

Kang Tianchen waved his arms at Li Changqing and threw a punching gesture.

"Don't let them get cocky!"

Looking at Bei Xing standing on the stage, Kang Tianchen was reminded of their previous practice match. The other side had not even lifted a hand, merely sending out team members ranked below third seat, yet Chengtian Martial Arts School had failed to win a single match.

Now, they finally had a chance for revenge!

Bei Xing turned back toward his martial arts school's stands. Everyone sat silently with their heads lowered. No one even dared to shout words of encouragement.

Li Changqing's name echoed throughout the entire venue.

Even his coach understood that he had no chance of winning.

Bei Xing gritted his teeth. Even if he lost, he absolutely could not lose too badly.

He was at the peak of the Lower-Rank Seven-Star level. At the very least, he had to last ten moves!

"Referee, I request to use a weapon!"

"Approved."

Beside the arena stood an enormous weapon rack.

The Martial Arts Tournament did not prohibit cold weapons, but contestants had to use the standardized weapons provided by the venue.

Their opponents could also choose whether to use one or not.

In the Martial Arts Tournament, there was no rule that unarmed fighters had to face other unarmed fighters. Weapons were also part of martial arts. If you could not use them, you could only blame your own cultivation for being insufficient.

Once the matches reached High-Rank Martial Artists, even firearms would no longer be prohibited. Many martial artists even used high explosives, guns, cannons, and the like to assist in unleashing their supernatural abilities.

"Contestant Li Changqing, do you need one?"

"No."

Li Changqing calmly shook his head as he watched Bei Xing select a red-tasseled spear over three meters long.

Bei Xing assumed his spear stance.

Bajiquan was about turning the spear into the fist.

And with a long spear in hand, his fist technique could finally be considered complete!

Bei Xing's eyes flickered. Just as expected, Li Changqing had not chosen a weapon.

He had calculated that no matter how talented Li Changqing was, he could not possibly master weapons without instruction. In just one month, his coach could not possibly have taught him how to use them.

This was his only advantage!

Using the spear's reach and sharpness, he would try to last ten moves.

I can do this!

"Contestant Bei Xing is quite clever. He calculated that contestant Li Changqing has cultivated for only a short time and most likely does not know how to use weapons. He wants to use this advantage to drag things out a little longer."

Tang Cheng's sharp eye immediately exposed Bei Xing's plan.

"That's indeed the case. With the spear's offensive advantage, contestant Bei Xing should be able to last ten moves." The other two agreed as well.

They greatly admired Bei Xing's fighting spirit. Even knowing he was bound to lose, he still intended to give it everything he had.

That was the spirit of martial arts!

On the stage, the referee raised his left hand.

From the corner of his eye, Li Changqing saw Kang Tianchen's excited expression.

Since it was his teacher's wish.

He looked at Bei Xing, who faced him as though confronting a formidable enemy.

Sorry about this.

"Match, begin!"

The instant the whistle blew, Li Changqing moved.

He's coming!

Every hair on Bei Xing's body stood on end, as if he had been locked onto by a predator higher up the food chain.

This kind of pressure...

Bei Xing, you can do this. Stay steady!

He encouraged himself and, following the split-second instinct of his sixth sense, thrust his spear straight ahead.

Dragon Emerges from the Sea!

Li Changqing neither dodged nor evaded, his pupils fixed on the spear tip.

Under everyone's gaze, he slowly extended a single index finger.

Screech—

Fingertip met spear tip.

Frail flesh came into contact with tempered steel.

Yet it was the latter that shattered.

His muscles relaxed, his movements effortless.

As if the spear of tempered steel before him were not a weapon at all, but a sheet of paper.

Li Changqing barely exerted any force as his index finger pushed forward.

Spearhead, shaft, butt.

Using the momentum of Bei Xing's thrust, he cleanly split it in two.

Clack.

The spear, broken into two pieces down the middle, fell to the ground. Li Changqing's index finger stopped at Bei Xing's throat.

Then he withdrew his right hand and held the extended finger upright before his eyes.

One move.

The arena erupted.

Even Kang Tianchen in the stands rubbed his eyes.

"Coach, it looks like Junior Brother has improved again?" Huang Xuan muttered quietly beside him.

If Li Changqing had defeated Rong Heng last time through his unmatched vitality and blood, then this time, what he displayed was a mastery of force that had reached perfection.

Hou Chengtian, seated beside Kang Tianchen, had flickering eyes. Though he had already gained a general understanding of Li Changqing's strength through the recordings, he was still stunned today.

Remembering his earlier decision to reject Li Changqing, Hou Chengtian lowered his head.

He let out a long sigh.

He had miscalculated.

At the commentator's desk.

Tang Cheng's eyes gleamed, and he was incomparably excited.

"Although we already knew that contestant Li Changqing would win, we never expected that in just one month, contestant Li Changqing would not only raise his vitality and blood to the peak of the Lower Rank, but would also attain such masterful control over his strength."

"I dare say that even if we gathered every invincible Lower Rank martial artist in Rong City's history onto this arena, contestant Li Changqing would still be the brightest star among them!"

At this moment, Tang Cheng had become Li Changqing's staunch supporter, sparing no effort in singing his praises.

On the arena.

Bei Xing turned around dejectedly.

He had known he would lose, but no one had expected him to lose so completely.

He walked toward the silent stands. At this moment, everyone from Jixing Martial Hall had their lips pressed tightly together.

Li Changqing's strength made them feel suffocated.

Was it really going to end like this?

"Bei Xing, pull yourself together. You're a martial artist."

"Don't give up so easily!"

A steady male voice suddenly rang out beside everyone from Jixing Martial Hall.

This voice...

!!!

In the competitors' tunnel, broad shoulders were hidden in the shadows, his face obscured from view.

But at that moment, the previously dejected members of Jixing Martial Hall all rose to their feet, not a trace of sorrow left on their faces.

That invincible man had finally returned!

"Senior Disciple Brother!"

Today's schedule was packed.

Li Changqing had only just left the arena surrounded by the crowd when the next match was about to begin.

"Please welcome Qiao Yi from Qingzhou Psionic University, and Jixing Martial Hall's contestant, Sun Sheng!"

Sun Sheng?

"Two crowd favorites in a row. The draw has been pretty good this time."

Kang Hui said with a chuckle:

"The first match featured a major favorite to win the championship, and the second features Jixing Martial Hall's lead disciple. Their opponents are in for a rough time."

He turned to the other two.

"Do you think this unfamiliar contestant, Sun Sheng, will bring us a surprise?"

"I doubt it. Contestant Li Changqing has already shown us the absolute limit a Lower-Rank Martial Artist can reach. Whether in vitality and blood or skill, he is unquestionably number one."

"Even if contestant Sun Sheng is also at the Lower-Rank peak, it will be difficult for him to surpass contestant Li Changqing."

Tang Cheng could not wait to voice his opinion.

The others neither agreed nor disagreed.

"Indeed. Even in the history of the Youth Cup, Li Changqing's performance would be exceedingly rare."

As they spoke.

The two had already stepped onto the arena.

The host continued dutifully searching for something to discuss.

"Qiao Yi is a Lower-Rank Six-Star contestant, considerably weaker than Bei Xing. Given the relationship between Chengtian Martial Hall and Jixing Martial Hall, contestant Sun Sheng will likely also pursue a swift victory."

"What do our commentators think?"

"What else is there to think? He'll either crush him with vitality and blood, or with technique. Jixing Martial Hall's lead disciple is bound to have some real skill." Tang Cheng was once again the first to speak.

"Still, with Li Changqing's brilliant performance coming first, it will be hard for Sun Sheng to break free of the confines of a Lower-Rank Martial Artist."

Qiao Yi made the same choice as Bei Xing and drew his weapon.

Sun Sheng, like Li Changqing, chose to fight barehanded.

At the referee's command.

Qiao Yi braced himself as if facing a formidable enemy. How would he attack?

Just as unease filled his heart.

Sun Sheng opened his eyes. Visible golden light shot from the depths of his pupils and instantly fell upon Qiao Yi.

Boom—

The match was over.

No vitality and blood. No technique.

With just one look, Qiao Yi, a Lower-Rank Six-Star, did not even know what had happened.

He crashed to the ground.

High-speed cameras faithfully broadcast the scene throughout the venue.

Kang Tianchen's smile froze on his face. Hou Chengtian had already risen to his feet, his pupils trembling slightly.

At the commentators' desk.

Gulp—

Tang Cheng swallowed hard, cold sweat breaking out across his body.

Kang Hui and Wang Zhi looked at Tang Cheng with strange expressions, their tones filled with emotion.

"Teacher Tang Cheng, who would've thought? You really do have a cursed mouth."

"What you said was indeed correct. In terms of vitality and blood and technique, contestant Sun Sheng had almost no chance of surpassing Li Changqing."

"He truly did not break free of the confines of a Lower-Rank Martial Artist."

"But..."

Neither of them could keep it together anymore.

"If we're not mistaken, that was a spiritual assault combined with artistic conception, wasn't it?"

"A Mid-Rank Martial Artist at twenty-five. I never expected Mr. Sun Sheng, whom we had never met before, to be such a prodigy as well."

Kang Hui's gaze swept over Tang Cheng's stiff face, and he barely managed to suppress his laughter.

"No matter how strong a Lower-Rank Martial Artist at the peak was, he was still only a Lower-Rank Martial Artist."

"But contestant Sun Sheng has already grasped artistic conception. He's about to step into the realm of a Mid-Rank Martial Artist!"

Sun Sheng, who had defeated Qiao Yi in a single glance, had clearly used a mental force attack.

And that was the hallmark of a Mid-Rank Martial Artist!