A Defeated Opponent

"Changqing, don't overthink it!"

Inside the waiting room, Kang Tianchen pressed a hand on Li Changqing's shoulder, his gaze unwavering.

"Remember, you're a genius. Geniuses don't fall here. You belong on a bigger stage."

Kang Tianchen was not good at pre-match pep talks. As a martial artist who had come from a research background, his words were rather plain.

Yet Li Changqing could see the deep expectations and confidence Kang Tianchen held for him in his eyes.

"The qualifiers, the ranking matches. Whether it was Zhang Wei, Jiang He, or Rong Heng—don't laugh at me..."

Kang Tianchen gave a self-deprecating smile. "Before every match back then, I thought your luck was terrible. With your strength, you simply couldn't be their opponent. But unexpectedly, every single time, you gave me a surprise I never saw coming."

He helped Li Changqing straighten his collar, smoothing out the wrinkles before giving it a light pat.

"But this time, your teacher chooses to believe in you. Of all the students I've taught over the years, you're the best."

"I believe you can still create a miracle, just like you did in your previous matches!"

"It's just a pity that your teacher isn't capable enough to help you much..."

"No, Coach. You've helped me far too much."

Li Changqing's expression turned solemn as he said earnestly:

"Back when I failed the test, if you hadn't taught me that Old Technique Tai Chi, I wouldn't have had the chance to stand on the Youth Cup stage today."

Although Chengtian Martial Arts School recruited students all 365 days of the year, if Li Changqing had missed that selection for fresh graduates, then the condition for joining Chengtian Martial Arts School later would have been reaching the Transformation Stage.

Without Old Technique Tai Chi, Li Changqing could only have trained through the most basic endurance and strength exercises. His progress would undoubtedly have been far slower, and he would have had no way to meet Chen Danqing and obtain that crucial breathing method.

One step behind, and every step after would lag behind.

His fate would inevitably have changed drastically.

"Coach, I'll win this match."

"I believe you."

"Junior Brother Li, I believe in you too!" Huang Xuan also cheered Li Changqing on.

Having witnessed Li Changqing's journey firsthand, Huang Xuan possessed an almost blind confidence in him.

Hou Chengtian stood at the very back of the waiting room. Aside from Kang Tianchen and Huang Xuan, no one else from Chengtian Martial Arts School even knew Li Changqing.

Only he stood there as the martial arts school's representative.

Although Hou Chengtian also greatly admired Li Changqing, he was the only person present who had personally experienced the gap between a Mid-Rank Martial Artist and a Lower-Rank Martial Artist.

He held no hope whatsoever for Li Changqing in this match.

Perhaps in terms of vitality, physique, and skill, Sun Sheng might not necessarily surpass Li Changqing.

But a Mid-Rank Martial Artist who had mastered mental force would utterly crush Li Changqing.

The gap was simply too great.

"Changqing."

This was the first time that he, the master of Chengtian Martial Arts School, had spoken face-to-face with Li Changqing.

"Yesterday, I sent your information to my senior brother. Coach Kang must have told you already—my senior brother is the only Psionic User to have come out of Chengtian Martial Arts School."

Hou Chengtian took out his business card and handed it to Li Changqing.

"After this match, with your talent, it won't be difficult for you to obtain investment from the Psionic Research Institute. Even without the Seedling Plan, I'll find a way to take you to the capital and let you participate in other programs."

Hou Chengtian did not think Li Changqing could win at all, but he did not state it outright. He merely expressed his goodwill tactfully.

Even if Li Changqing lost, with his own talent and a Psionic User's recommendation, he could still obtain an investment project no worse than the Seedling Plan.

However, Li Changqing merely smiled and shook his head.

"Master Hou, I appreciate your kindness."

"But the spot in the Seedling Plan is mine and mine alone."

His words carried an overbearing arrogance that seemed to look down upon all else.

Even Hou Chengtian was taken aback by such an attitude. After a moment, he chuckled.

"It's a good thing for young people to have ambition, but sometimes, having another way out isn't a bad thing either."

With that, Hou Chengtian pointed at the timer on the wall.

"We can talk about this after the match. Get ready to go onstage, Changqing."

Li Changqing nodded and turned to walk into the waiting tunnel.

Just then, Kang Tianchen called out to him.

"Changqing!"

"Hm?" Li Changqing abruptly turned back.

"Are you confident?"

Li Changqing grinned. "Of course."

"I'm not afraid of Sun Sheng."

"Then let's step onto the stage!"

Sunday, 9:30 p.m.

Prime time.

As Li Changqing emerged from the preparation tunnel, thunderous cheers immediately erupted from the surrounding stands.

"Li Changqing! Li Changqing! Li Changqing!"

But before his name could echo through the martial arts arena, even more fervent cheers instantly drowned it out.

"Sun Sheng! Sun Sheng! Sun Sheng!"

A massive poster was raised by the crowd, taking up the entire left-side stand.

Jixing Martial Hall had always been more popular than Chengtian Martial Arts School.

And Sun Sheng already had one foot in the realm of a Mid-Rank Martial Artist. Whether in terms of popularity or the strength he had displayed, he surpassed Li Changqing.

In martial arts competitions, strength reigned supreme. This was a field that worshipped the strong.

The strong rose; the weak fell.

Pretty boys without strength had no place here.

Only champions mattered. At least in martial arts competitions, that was correct and objective.

Because only the strongest could stand against the alien fleets that would invade Blue Star in the future.

At the commentary desk, the three guests for the final were still Tang Cheng and the others.

"Dear viewers, the final match of this year's Youth Cup is about to begin."

"Sun Sheng, the top disciple of Jixing Martial Hall, will face Li Changqing of Chengtian Martial Arts School."

"At the same time, this is the first time in nearly five years that a member of Chengtian Martial Arts School has reached the finals. Contestant Li Changqing is also the youngest contestant in the history of our Rong City Youth Cup. He is only twenty-two this year!"

The host's passionate, excited voice pushed the atmosphere in the arena to another peak.

As he spoke, he turned to Tang Cheng and the other two behind him.

"Teachers, could you share your predictions for this year's final with our viewers?"

Tang Cheng spread his hands, a relaxed expression on his face.

"This final should be the most obvious one-sided match in years."

Kang Hui nodded in agreement. "Just as Teacher Tang Cheng said, the outcome of this year's final is very clear."

Wang Zhi added the final word. "In the history of Martial Arts Tournaments, there has never been a record of a Mid-Rank Martial Artist losing to a Lower-Rank Martial Artist."

The host was momentarily at a loss for words. Inwardly, he screamed wildly, Teachers, even if you have to make it up, give us some suspense! Otherwise, the match won't be interesting!

"Teachers, if... I mean, if there's a possibility that contestant Li Changqing could..."

"No." Tang Cheng was once again the first to speak.

"How could a Mid-Rank lose to a Lower-Rank?"

"But I heard that contestant Sun Sheng may not have fully tempered his spiritual power yet and hasn't officially entered the Mid-Rank Martial Artist realm. Perhaps..."

"An incomplete Mid-Rank Martial Artist is still Mid-Rank. They are absolutely incomparable to a Lower-Rank Martial Artist. This is an insurmountable gulf."

In just a few sentences, Tang Cheng had used several absolute terms in a row. Yet the other two did not refute him; instead, they both nodded in agreement.

The host sighed helplessly. These three commentators clearly were not going to give him anything to work with. Glancing at Li Changqing and Sun Sheng, who were already in position on the ring, he simply rose and left the commentary desk.

Rather than waste time chatting nonsense with these three, he might as well go make some big news with the contestants!

On the ring, Li Changqing and Sun Sheng stood facing each other.

This was their third meeting.

The first time they met, Li Changqing had not even been worthy of being Sun Sheng's opponent.

The second time, Sun Sheng had already been defeated by him.

And now, this was the third time.

"Go, Senior Disciple Brother!"

"Our top disciple will win!"

The Jixing Martial Hall stands were packed with people, excitement gleaming in their eyes.

No matter how talented you are, Li Changqing, can you surpass our Senior Disciple Brother?

He was a Mid-Rank Martial Artist!

By contrast, on Chengtian Martial Arts School's stands, only Kang Tianchen and Huang Xuan rose to their feet and gave Li Changqing a thumbs-up from afar.

Thud, thud, thud—

The host jogged all the way onto the arena.

Forcing himself to withstand the stifling atmosphere, the host approached Sun Sheng.

"Contestant Sun Sheng, is there anything you'd like to say to contestant Li Changqing regarding today's final?"

The host worked up his emotions.

"After all, this should be your first time meeting."

As the microphone was handed to Sun Sheng, even the cheers from the audience gradually subsided.

They all wanted to hear what the chief disciple of Jixing Martial Hall—the certain and sole favorite to win—would say.

Would it be confidence or arrogance?

Recognition or mockery?

Sun Sheng took the microphone and looked at Li Changqing.

"Li Changqing, this is the third time we've met."

!!!

In the stands, Kang Tianchen's eyes widened. The third time?

They had met twice before? How did I not know?

Hou Chengtian had not expected this either. He hurriedly looked at Kang Tianchen beside him, only to find the latter equally bewildered.

What was going on?

The people from Jixing Martial Hall were also frozen in place. Bei Xing, their second-ranked disciple who had been defeated by Li Changqing in one move, furrowed his brows tightly.

"That's not right. Li Changqing only graduated this year, and Senior Disciple Brother only came to Rong City this year. How could they know each other?"

Yet judging from Sun Sheng's tone toward Li Changqing, they were clearly not strangers.

Under the focus of countless cameras, Sun Sheng remained utterly composed.

"When we first met, you had only just finished the Transformation Stage. I never expected that by our second meeting, you would have already defeated me.

"You were the first genius I'd ever met whose talent surpassed even mine."

"And today is our third meeting."

Sun Sheng's voice traveled through the microphone and echoed throughout the entire martial arts venue, and the cheers of support came to an abrupt halt.

Everything he had said before no longer mattered.

Defeated!

That word struck everyone present straight in the heart.

Sun Sheng had actually lost to Li Changqing?

How was that possible?!

!!!

At the commentary desk.

Tang Cheng's expression was utterly spectacular.

Kang Hui and Wang Zhi could no longer hold themselves back.

"Teacher Tang Cheng, you truly live up to your reputation."

Boom!

The entire venue erupted.

Kang Tianchen sprang to his feet and threw a fist through the air in excitement.

"I knew it!"

"That kid always finds a way to surprise us!"

The host was practically losing his mind. This was huge news—huge news!

Sun Sheng, whom everyone had regarded as the only possible champion, had actually been defeated head-on by Li Changqing not long ago?

Amid the madness sweeping through the martial arts venue, Sun Sheng did not shift his gaze in the slightest, simply staring at the opponent before him.

"Li Changqing, are you ready to accept my challenge?"