The Lucky Break: A Bye Straight into the Top Three!

The other four arenas had already seen their winners decided.

In the first arena, Ye Xiao stood with his arms crossed, his face expressionless. He looked as if he had not fought at all.

At his feet, though, Zhang Tao lay on the ground, gasping for breath. His clothes were in tatters, and his face was covered in bruises.

In the second arena, Yu Xuerou stood brushing dust from her clothes. She looked calm, as if nothing had happened.

Across from her, Liu Yang lay facedown and motionless. No one knew whether he had passed out or simply did not want to get up.

The fight between Zhao Tiezhu and Chen Wei in the third arena was over too.

Zhao Tiezhu had won, but he was in rough shape. Wounds covered his body, his breathing came fast, and sweat rolled down his face.

Chen Wei had lost, but he lay there catching his breath with a smile on his lips, apparently satisfied with the fight.

The fifth arena had seen a fierce battle as well. Li Mengqi stood leaning on her long sword, cuts covering her body and blood staining her clothes red.

Across from her, Zhou Hao lay clutching his chest, unable to get up.

In the fourth arena stood Li Yao.

The referee swept his gaze across the arenas and called out, "The top five have been decided!"

"Ye Xiao! Yu Xuerou! Zhao Tiezhu! Li Mengqi! Li Yao!"

"The other four rankings in the top ten remain unchanged! Wang Lei is provisionally sixth!"

The crowd below erupted.

"Damn, the top five are monsters!"

"Ye Xiao and Yu Xuerou crushed their opponents. Zhao Tiezhu and Li Mengqi had brutal fights. But Li Yao... why did it look like he was out for a stroll?"

"You don't know a thing. Li Yao was showing off. Didn't you see his fight with Wang Lei? At first, he looked evenly matched with him. Then he sent him flying with one punch the second time!"

"True. That kid's been hiding his strength."

"But what happens next? How do they decide the top three?"

"No idea. Let's hear what the referee says."

The referee cleared his throat. "I'll announce the rules for determining the top three!"

"You'll draw lots for one-on-one matches! One person gets a bye!"

An uproar broke out.

"What? A bye?"

"There's a bye? Does that mean someone goes straight into the top three?"

"Damn, so it comes down to luck?"

"Is that really fair? The other four have to keep fighting without a break!"

"Who cares if it's fair? Luck is part of your strength!"

"If I got the bye, I'd wake up laughing!"

"Wake up laughing? You couldn't even make the top five!"

"..."

Li Yao's eyes lit up when he heard that.

A bye? Now that sounded good. Straight into the top three without another fight.

The referee continued, "Next, draw your lots!"

"All five of you, step forward!"

Li Yao jumped down from the arena and strode over.

Ye Xiao, Yu Xuerou, Zhao Tiezhu, and Li Mengqi jumped down and followed.

The five stood before the referee, waiting to draw.

Everyone below watched them tensely.

"Damn, who's going to get the bye?"

"I'm betting on Ye Xiao. He's always lucky."

"I'm betting on Li Yao. That kid's luck has been incredible today."

"Quiet! Let's see!"

The referee produced a tube holding five lots.

"Each lot has something written on it. Whoever draws the one marked 'bye' advances straight to the top three!"

"The other four will fight in pairs!"

With that, he held the tube out to them.

Ye Xiao reached in first and drew a lot.

He glanced at it, then raised it without a change in expression.

It read: Zhao Tiezhu.

"Ye Xiao versus Zhao Tiezhu!"

Another stir ran through the crowd.

"Damn, Zhao Tiezhu's in trouble. He just finished a fight and he's in terrible shape. Against Ye Xiao, he doesn't stand a chance!"

"Nothing he can do. Bad luck."

"Ye Xiao's practically guaranteed a spot in the top three."

Zhao Tiezhu's face went pale. He gritted his teeth but said nothing.

Yu Xuerou reached in second and drew a lot.

She glanced at it and raised it calmly.

It read: Li Mengqi.

"Yu Xuerou versus Li Mengqi!"

Li Mengqi's expression changed too. She was in even worse shape than Zhao Tiezhu, with cuts all over her body and nearly all her Spiritual Power spent. Against Yu Xuerou, she had almost no chance.

"Li Mengqi's got it rough too. How's she supposed to fight Yu Xuerou like that?"

"She might as well hand over the win."

"So does that mean Li Yao got the bye?"

"Wait, I think it does..."

"That guy's luck really is..."

Li Yao took a deep breath, reached for the remaining lot, and pulled it out.

He looked down. Sure enough.

Two bold words stood on the lot: A BYE!

"Hell yes!"

Li Yao's eyes lit up, and he could not hold back a shout.

"Luck finally came my way! I got the bye! Hahaha!"

The crowd exploded!

"Holy shit! Li Yao really got the bye!"

"That kid's way too lucky!"

"He's going straight into the top three without a fight!"

"I'm jealous. I'm so damn jealous!"

"That's not fair! Why does he get the bye?"

"Why does it matter? Luck is part of your strength!"

Ye Xiao glanced at Li Yao, his face expressionless.

Yu Xuerou looked at him too and gave a small nod without speaking.

Zhao Tiezhu and Li Mengqi stared at him with envy written all over their faces. They looked ready to snatch the lot from his hands.

The referee announced, "The draw is complete! Ye Xiao versus Zhao Tiezhu! Yu Xuerou versus Li Mengqi! Li Yao gets the bye and advances straight to the top three!"

Cheers and chatter rose from the crowd again.

"That Li Yao. He's got the luck of the devil!"

"If I were him, I'd be laughing myself sick!"

"His spot in the top three is locked in!"

Li Yao slipped the lot into his pocket and grinned.

"A bye's great. No need to fight."

He turned toward Wang Lei, who stood below the arena watching him with resentment all over his face.

Li Yao smiled at him. "See that? Your boss is just that lucky."

Wang Lei gritted his teeth and said nothing, but the defiance in his eyes was plain.