I'll Cover for You! Li Shuxing's Fierce Protection of His Own!

"Your actual combat ability is already invincible among those at Manifest Strength. Combined with your mastery of Internal Force, which is likely only a hair's breadth away from the absolute limit of Manifest Strength, you may even stand a chance of defeating a Heart-Mind Unity expert head-on!"

Looking at Huo Yuanhong, whose entire body steamed with sweat, Old Xu said with a smile.

"Thank you, Old Xu."

Huo Yuanhong clasped his fists with both hands and gave him the salute one would offer a half-master.

Over those seven bouts, Old Xu had poured out all the experience he had fought for through most of his life, benefiting Huo Yuanhong enormously.

One had to know that many masters would not even dare teach their own disciples so thoroughly, fearing that their disciples might one day surpass them.

"No need to thank me."

Old Xu waved a hand. "If you hadn't learned so quickly, I couldn't be bothered to teach you."

That was the truth.

He had secluded himself in the martial hall for twenty years and had never taught anyone else martial arts because none had caught his eye.

In truth, had Huo Yuanhong's talent not truly astonished him, he would never have accompanied him through seven bouts.

The first two had been because of the rules he himself had set, but the five added afterward had come purely from heartfelt amazement and appreciation!

"Old Xu, could I ask you to help hold down the fort later, so the Sword Inquiry Martial Hall's senior masters and Instructors won't interfere?"

After resting for a while and applying some medicinal ointment, Huo Yuanhong asked Old Xu once his strength had mostly recovered.

Under the three-hundred-and-sixty-fivefold amplification, the gains he had reaped from these seven bouts were no less than if he had fought several thousand matches—and those several thousand matches had been personally fought alongside a Peak Expert like Old Xu!

Not even the biological son of a Peak Expert would dare claim such treatment!

The extent of his gains was easy to imagine!

Having made up for his weakness in actual combat—and even raised that former weakness to an unbelievable level—his overall strength now far surpassed what it had been before. Even if three of his former selves rushed him at once, he would defeat them with ease!

If he faced an established Heart-Mind Unity expert like Old Ghost Luo again, then even without launching a sneak attack to seize the initiative, he was still confident he could suppress him in a fair fight!

As for Martial Persons from the Sword Inquiry Martial Hall whose strength fell short of Old Ghost Luo's, there was naturally no suspense at all!

"Oh? What do you intend to do?"

Old Xu asked.

"In the very first match, I'm going to challenge all of them alone and beat all ten people the Sword Inquiry Martial Hall sent for this martial contest flat on the ground."

Huo Yuanhong's words made Old Xu choke slightly.

Having lived most of his life, he had seen many arrogant figures. After all, among skilled martial artists, how many were not proud?

But someone this arrogant was truly rare. Other than the one before him, perhaps only the young Li Shuxing had been like this.

One person...

Challenging everyone on the other side alone?

One had to know that the opponents were no ordinary Manifest Strength practitioners. Nearly all of them stood at the peak of Manifest Strength, and they were peak Manifest Strength experts skilled in lethal combat. There was even a publicly acknowledged invincible Manifest Strength practitioner like Wang Tianlong among them!

One against ten—what outrageous arrogance!

Yet recalling the terrifying strength Huo Yuanhong had displayed during their earlier exchange, Old Xu could not help but feel his heart stir.

This...

Seemed...

Like he really might fight through every last one of them?

Old Xu gave Huo Yuanhong a long, deep look, dusted the dirt from his sleeves, and spoke.

"Go. I may be old, but I'm still more than capable of covering for you."

"Before you fight through every one of them, no one will be able to affect you."

"Not even if their chief Hall Master comes."

Old Xu spoke calmly.

This Peak Expert, whom even the Fang Family Patriarch had personally failed to invite out, was actually willing to act again for the sake of a young man. If word got out, it would absolutely cause an earthquake-like uproar!

With Old Xu's promise to stop anyone else, Huo Yuanhong headed toward the guest rooms.

The guest rooms were some distance away, and he had to pass through quite a few places to reach them.

As he passed the room used for preparations before the martial contest, he accidentally learned an unexpected piece of news...

Wang Tianlong had lost!

"Who did Wang Tianlong lose to?"

The calm voice from behind startled Fang Yu, but she immediately revealed a delighted expression.

"Master, you're back!"

Seeing Li Shuxing appear before her, Fang Yu finally felt the huge stone in her heart drop to the ground.

"I just arrived. When I passed through the outer courtyard, I heard Wang Tianlong had lost. What happened?"

"It was Yue Xiuwen..." Fang Yu's expression darkened. "Yue Xiuwen is simply too strong, especially his real-combat style—it's strong to an unimaginable extent. In a private spar, he defeated Wang Tianlong with ease in just nine moves and even broke one of his arms..."

"Even Wang Tianlong was crushed like dry branches and rotten wood. In our martial hall, who else could possibly withstand even a single exchange with Yue Xiuwen?"

Fang Yu let out a sigh, forced to accept reality.

They could not beat him...

They really could not beat him!

There was not even the faintest hope of victory. Yue Xiuwen's real-combat style was simply too terrifying!

"Yue Xiuwen..."

Li Shuxing frowned slightly. After closing his eyes in thought for a while, he said blandly, "It seems these people have no intention of drinking—they're after something else..."

Fang Yu froze, then gradually caught on as well. Her face turned ugly. "Master, you mean this tournament is a trap set specifically for us? Several parties have joined forces to target Divine Spear Martial Hall?!"

"Otherwise? With Sword Inquiry's abilities, they couldn't possibly have produced such formidable disciples."

Li Shuxing spoke calmly.

"Master, are we just going to swallow this loss? Why don't we find outside help as well? As long as we find a way to postpone the tournament by a few days, with the Fang Family's connections, finding a few deathsworn fighters who specialize in killing and combat won't be a problem!"

Fang Yu said in a low voice.

"There's no need."

Li Shuxing merely waved a hand. "If everyone sends deathsworn fighters into the ring, then what martial arts competition is there left to hold?"

"What's there to fear? At worst, I'll flip the table. No one gets to walk away happy."

Flip the table!

Fang Yu's eyelids twitched.

Her master truly had the ability to flip the table. Even if Two Heroes and the Thirteen Protectors joined forces on the other side, he was not the least bit afraid.

But if it truly came to that, the cost would be far too severe. Most likely, both sides would end up badly wounded!

Besides, her master was already advanced in years and carried old hidden injuries. If he truly went all out, even if he won in the end, he would suffer grave damage to his vitality. If those old injuries flared up, he might not have long to live.

Looks like I still have to find a way to reclaim first place. Even if I have to use some less-than-honorable schemes, it would still be better than having Master flip the table himself!

"If I'm not mistaken, Fang Pingsheng has already tampered with the lots. When they draw for the final few matches, he'll certainly arrange for someone like A-Hong, who has no hope of reaching the top three, to draw Yue Xiuwen. That way, Wang Tianlong and those two prodigies won't run into Yue Xiuwen and be knocked out early."

Li Shuxing suddenly said.

"This... Second Uncle is doing it for the martial hall's honor too. It's Tian Ji's Horse Racing, after all."

Fang Yu looked somewhat embarrassed.

This was indeed her second uncle Fang Pingsheng's plan. Though her junior brother was talented, he had started far too late. At most, he would finish fifth in this tournament.

But Wang Tianlong and the other two martial arts prodigies were different. Even if they were no match for Yue Xiuwen, taking second, third, and fourth place would not be a problem!

In the final rounds, someone on their side had to face Yue Xiuwen eventually. Arranging for her junior brother to fight Yue Xiuwen, allowing Wang Tianlong and the other two prodigies to continue advancing, was undoubtedly the best choice!

This was also Fang Pingsheng's favored tactic: superior horses against middling horses, middling horses against inferior horses, inferior horses against superior horses! And who on their side was the inferior horse being traded away was self-evident!

"Tell Fang Pingsheng that I can't be bothered with whatever tricks he wants to pull. But if he dares tamper with A-Hong's draw, don't blame me for showing no regard for old ties."

"I'm sending A-Hong to experience real combat. If he faces Yue Xiuwen and gets eliminated straight away, what would be the point?"

Li Shuxing said indifferently.

"...Yes."

Though Fang Yu was unwilling, she could only obey her master's words.

Still, she found it somewhat regrettable.

According to her second uncle's arrangement, as long as Wang Tianlong and the other two prodigies did not encounter Yue Xiuwen in the final rounds, they would be guaranteed to win against anyone from Sword Inquiry Martial Hall!

But if it were Junior Brother Huo, that would be hard to say. Most likely, he would lose no matter whom he faced.

Since he could not beat any of them anyway, he might as well face Yue Xiuwen. At least that would allow the others on their side to advance smoothly!

"Do you think your master is being too biased? That just to let A-Hong have one fair match, I'd rather our side lose another bout?"

Seeing Fang Yu's reaction, Li Shuxing smiled faintly.

"I would not dare. It's just that if we arrange things this way, the others may have something to say."

Fang Yu hurriedly replied.

"Let them say what they like. When I, Li Shuxing, do things, why should I fear others pointing fingers?"

Li Shuxing chuckled. "I am biased. I want to give A-Hong this chance, to let him truly experience what it feels like to compete on the stage. It doesn't matter if he loses!"

"Are only Fang Pingsheng and Wang Tianlong allowed to use Crimson Refining Paste, while I'm not allowed to arrange a fair match for my own disciple?"

"I've long found Fang Pingsheng and the others displeasing. A martial arts competition should be just that—a martial arts competition. What's the point of all this scheming? They pull these under-the-table tricks, and when I make sure my own disciple gets one fair match, somehow I'm the one cheating? What kind of damned atmosphere is this..."

Li Shuxing sneered.

"Tell them this: whoever refuses to accept it can come find me!"

"But if anyone dares play tricks against Ah Hong, then don't blame me, Li Shuxing, for casting aside all shame and bullying the young with my seniority!"

As a Supreme Expert of this age, Li Shuxing was famously protective of his own!

"Rest assured, Master. This disciple will make sure the message gets across. I won't let Junior Brother be deliberately arranged to face Yue Xiuwen!"

Fang Yu hurriedly said.

Li Shuxing gave a slight nod.

"Alright, go attend to your business. A few old fellows have arrived; your master will go meet them."

With that, Li Shuxing clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the depths of the Martial Arts Hall.