Martial Arts Tournament-Semifinals!
Imperial Capital University.
More than five thousand people had entered the Preliminaries, and fewer than a thousand remained. Yet even more spectators had come to watch.
The stands around the Martial Arts Arena were packed. Even the aisles were full of people.
"Who do you think has the best shot at first place?" No one knew who asked, but the question instantly set the already noisy crowd ablaze.
"I'd say Ye Xiao, hands down! He's always been number one on Imperial Capital University's Strength Rankings. The top spot in this Martial Arts Tournament has his name on it!"
"Not necessarily. I heard Yu Xuerou has also broken through to Ninth-Rank Martial Master. Who'll come out on top between those two is anyone's guess."
"And there's Liu Feng. He's only an Eighth-Rank Martial Master, but one of his techniques packs the force of the Ninth Rank!"
"Right! I've seen Liu Feng's Army-Breaking Fist. One punch cracked the Arena!"
"Aren't you forgetting a few dark horses? Like that..."
"..."
Voices rose and fell throughout the crowd.
Li Yao stood at its edge with his hands in his pockets. He listened and smiled.
Then a voice suddenly rang out.
"I think Li Yao has a chance too."
At those words, the noisy crowd fell deathly silent.
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
He was a boy wearing glasses. With so many people staring at him, his face flushed red. He hurriedly lowered his head and muttered, "I... I was just saying..."
"Hahahahaha!"
"If Li Yao takes first, I'll livestream myself eating shit while standing on my head!" A burly boy doubled over laughing and slapped his thigh. "Bro, did you even watch the Preliminaries? Sure, Li Yao won three straight, but look who he fought: Zhang Wei, Ye Xuan, Zhao Qiang. Not one of them was a high-rank Martial Master!"
"I heard he was a Third-Rank Martial Master before. No idea how he suddenly reached the Sixth Rank. He probably forced his way up with some spirit medicine. His foundation's shaky, and he'll fall apart in a real fight."
Li Yao heard it all. Rather than get angry, he smiled.
He walked over to the boy with glasses and patted his shoulder. "Bro, you've got a good eye."
The boy looked up, saw Li Yao, and blushed even harder. "Li... Li Yao, I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine." Li Yao waved a hand. "What's your name?"
"I'm... Liu Ming."
"Liu Ming, just watch." Li Yao grinned. "When I take first, dinner's on me."
Everyone around them froze.
Li Yao turned and headed for the center of the Martial Arts Arena.
"Holy shit, does he actually think he can take first?"
"What's with the act? It'll be hilarious when he gets eliminated."
"He's all talk. Once he gets into the Arena, they'll beat him so badly his own mother won't recognize him."
Li Yao ignored them and went straight to the Semifinals check-in desk.
The teacher in charge paused when he saw him. "Li Yao, are you sure you want to compete in the Semifinals?"
"Of course." Li Yao said. "I've made it this far. Am I supposed to withdraw now?"
The teacher nodded and made a note in his ledger. "All right. Wait in Section A. You'll draw for your opponent shortly."
Li Yao headed toward Section A.
Quite a few people were already there, all contestants who had advanced from the Preliminaries.
When Li Yao arrived, some looked at him with disdain, some pretended not to see him, and others laughed outright.
"Well, if it isn't Li Yao. You really showed up?" A boy in black training clothes walked over, folded his arms, and looked him up and down.
Li Yao knew him: Liu Feng, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master famous for his Army-Breaking Fist.
"I'm here. What about it?" Li Yao raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing." Liu Feng smiled. "I just think you've got guts, entering the Semifinals as a Sixth-Rank Martial Master. But if you draw me, I'll go easy on you."
"Much appreciated." Li Yao smiled too. "But you might not get the chance. I'll put you on the ground first."
Liu Feng's face stiffened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said." Li Yao shrugged.
Liu Feng sneered. "Fine. Keep talking. We'll see what you're made of in the Arena."
With that, he turned and left.
Li Yao paid him no mind and found a place to stand.
Before long, the referee stepped into the Arena and picked up a microphone. "Contestants, the Semifinals are about to begin. Opponents will be determined by lot. Each match will be one-on-one: the winner advances, the loser is eliminated. After five rounds, we'll have our top one hundred. Those hundred will earn a chance to compete for the top ten!"
"Now, draw your lots!" Li Yao stepped forward, reached into the box, and pulled out a slip of paper.
It read: "Section A, Arena Three. Opponent: Liu Feng."
He paused, then smiled.
"What a coincidence." He looked up at Liu Feng, who was watching him with a smug smile and a slip of paper in his hand.
"Li Yao, looks like even heaven wants me to teach you a lesson." Liu Feng walked over and waved his slip. "Arena Three. I'll be waiting."
"Sure. Be right there," Li Yao said.
The two headed for Arena Three.
The spectators in the stands grew excited when they saw them.
"Holy shit, Li Yao against Liu Feng? Isn't he going to get beaten to death?"
"Liu Feng's an Eighth-Rank Martial Master, and Li Yao's only Sixth Rank. He's walking straight into a slaughter!"
"I told you Li Yao was just lucky. He drew nothing but soft persimmons in the Preliminaries. Now he's run into someone tough!"
"Liu Feng, hit him! Hit him!"
Li Yao stood in the Arena, rolled his wrists, and looked at Liu Feng across from him.
The referee stood between them and raised a hand. "Ready!"
Li Yao and Liu Feng took their stances at the same time.
The referee swept his hand down. "Begin!"
Liu Feng struck first, his fist whistling toward Li Yao's face.
Li Yao slipped sideways, dodged the punch, and kicked at Liu Feng's shin.
Liu Feng had anticipated it. He hopped back to evade the kick, then threw another punch.
Their fists collided in midair with a muffled thud. Li Yao took two steps back; Liu Feng took one.
"Hm?" Liu Feng paused. "You're pretty strong."
"Not bad, I guess." Li Yao smiled. "Keep going?"
Liu Feng gritted his teeth and punched again, this time with all his strength.
Li Yao didn't dodge. He met the blow with a punch of his own.
Bang! Their fists collided. Liu Feng's expression changed, and he staggered several steps back, nearly falling.
"You..."
"What's wrong?" Li Yao asked with a smile. "Is that all an Eighth-Rank Martial Master can do?"
Liu Feng's face flushed crimson. With a roar, he charged again.
Li Yao gave him no opening this time. He lunged forward and kicked Liu Feng in the stomach.
Liu Feng flew backward and slammed into the ground below the Arena.
The stands fell silent.
Everyone stared in shock.
"Holy shit... Li Yao won?"
"He... he really put Liu Feng on the ground?"
"No way! Liu Feng's an Eighth-Rank Martial Master!" Li Yao stood in the Arena, dusted off his hands, and smiled down at Liu Feng. "Bro, didn't you say you'd go easy on me? Why are you lying on the ground?"
Liu Feng's face turned livid. He got up, said nothing, and walked away.
The referee came to his senses and announced, "Arena Three: Li Yao wins!"
Cries of astonishment erupted from the stands.
"Damn, Li Yao really won!"
"That last move had to be Ninth-Rank Martial Master level, right?"
"Wasn't he supposed to be only a Sixth-Rank Martial Master?"
"A Sixth-Rank Martial Master beat an Eighth-Rank Martial Master like that? Are you kidding me?"
Li Yao jumped down from the Arena and dusted himself off.
A system notification sounded: "Ding! Congratulations to the host on winning the first round of the Semifinals. Background Value +2,000. Current Background Value: 3,700."
"Not bad." Li Yao smiled.
Then a voice came from behind him.
"Nice fight."
Li Yao turned and saw a girl standing nearby.
She wore white training clothes, her long hair tied in a ponytail. Her features were delicate, and she had a cool, aloof air.
Yu Xuerou.
"Thanks," Li Yao said.
"Your timing on that kick was excellent." Yu Xuerou walked over and studied him. "But you're stronger than a Sixth-Rank Martial Master, aren't you?"
"Take a guess." Li Yao smiled.
Yu Xuerou said nothing. She gave him one more look, then turned and left.
Li Yao watched her go and muttered, "She's pretty interesting."