Gilo's choice left Mu Yang feeling somewhat sentimental, but he quickly shook his head, casting aside those melancholy emotions and turning his attention to the next match.
The next match was Arlo of the Maple Leaf Style against Book of the Four Forms Style.
Mu Yang paid close attention to this match, because the name Four Forms Style sounded somewhat familiar. It was not until the contestant named Book publicly displayed his school's technique and split into four that Mu Yang suddenly realized.
The Four Forms Fist!
No wonder the name had sounded so familiar. This Four Forms Fist was the technique Tien Shinhan had used in the original story during the 23rd World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament.
"Amazing, he turned into four people at once. Arlo is under tremendous pressure now." Seeing this unexpected move, Xis's eyes nearly popped out.
"Perhaps. The Four Forms Fist might be a trump card against ordinary martial artists, but it may not work against experts. This move has a fatal weakness."
Watching the two fighters fiercely exchange blows on the stage, Mu Yang spoke calmly.
Xis froze for a moment, then asked in surprise, "What weakness do you mean?"
Mu Yang smiled faintly. "If everyone is at a relatively low level, then having four people surround one person naturally makes it easier to gain an advantage. Their speeds may differ, but not to an unacceptable degree. On the other hand, fighting several opponents alone can easily leave one unable to attend to everything and vulnerable to the enemy's attacks. But if the same move is used against martial artists at a higher level, its effectiveness may not be so certain."
"You mean that splitting one person's power into four does not merely weaken their strength? No matter how good the technique is, it is useless if it cannot hit the enemy?"
After hearing this, Xis fell silent for a moment.
Mu Yang nodded. "Yes. Speed and strength carry different weight at different stages. When experts fight, victory is decided by the smallest margins. Uncle Xis, watch—the Arlo is about to counterattack."
After saying that, Mu Yang fixed his gaze on the arena again. Sure enough, Arlo had already recovered from the encirclement of the four Books and discovered his opponent's weakness.
"That Book has slowed down," Xis said in surprise.
"Exactly." Mu Yang shrugged.
"You saw it right away?" Xis's eyes widened.
"Mm." Mu Yang nodded lightly, but did not say that he had known the Four Forms Fist's weakness in advance because he had read the original story.
"Hiss—" Xis sucked in a breath.
When had Mu Yang's eye for combat and judgment become so sharp? This was not simply a matter of spotting a move's weakness. The crucial point was the shift in fighting philosophy between different levels!
As young talents such as Mu Yang, Gilo, and Arlo continued to emerge, Xis suddenly wondered whether he had already grown old.
On the stage, the match continued. As expected, Arlo had already taken control of the battle's rhythm, and there was little suspense left over who would win.
Before long, Book exhausted his strength. Arlo seized an opening and claimed victory in the match.
At this point, the final four had been decided: Lis, Mu Yang, Arlo, and a disciple from a major school. After a brief rest, the semifinals would begin.
Throughout the following matches, Mu Yang remained calm and composed. In truth, the Maple Leaf Style's leader and Elder Nali of the Qianhe Style already knew in their hearts who would become champion. Sure enough, Mu Yang calmly defeated Lis in the semifinals, while Arlo advanced to the finals in the following match.
"This is the final match. The champion and runner-up will soon be decided," the Maple Leaf Style's leader said with a faint smile.
"The outcome has already begun to take shape. I favor the contestant named Mu Yang," Elder Nali said with a smile.
It was not that she was deliberately opposing the Maple Leaf Style's leader. Mu Yang simply had the better chance of winning.
Master Xiulin also fingered his prayer beads and said softly, "Barring any surprises, Mu Yang will be the champion."
"I think so too."
"Mu Yang of the Tianxin Style will win."
The others generally shared that opinion. Mu Yang's performance in the earlier matches for the top eight had been too outstanding. There were very few among the younger generation who could use Ki Blasts, and with people of Xis's generation absent from the tournament, it would truly be difficult for anyone to defeat him.
"You all..."
Seeing that not a single person favored his disciple, the Maple Leaf Style's leader's lips trembled with frustration. What happened to home-field advantage? Why was no one taking that into account?
But recalling the earlier matches, the Maple Leaf Style's leader could not help shaking his head. "Heh, since everyone shares that opinion, then let us watch. The Tianxin Style has produced such an outstanding talent. In the entire martial arts world, apart from the legendary Kame Style and Crane Style, I fear no one of his generation can defeat him."
"Let us wait and see!"
"Heh heh."
Stay calm, stay calm. Since the opponent is simply too outstanding, losing would not be shameful.
Besides, it was not as though they would be the only ones losing.
The Maple Leaf Style's leader glanced at the other schools, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Not far from the stands, Xis had also grown nervous. The whispers around him sent him into ecstasy, and with a flushed face, he shouted excitedly, "Go, Mu Yang! Give it everything you have!"
"Contestants Mu Yang and Arlo, please come onto the stage for the final match!"
As soon as the staff member finished speaking, Mu Yang and Arlo's expressions turned serious. They both lightly leaped onto the arena, then faced each other beneath everyone's gaze.
This was the most exhilarating moment of the tournament. The air itself seemed saturated with tense confrontation.
At this moment, whether they were contestants or the teachers leading them, everyone wore solemn expressions and watched intently.
"Match begin!"
At the referee's command, both contestants tensed their bodies, every muscle trembling. With a whoosh, Mu Yang struck first, instantly turning into an afterimage and vanishing from everyone's sight.
When he reappeared, the rapid crackle of fierce combat began ringing out without pause.
Three days later, aboard a passenger ship at the ferry dock, Xis bent over a desk and wrote furiously, recording the results of the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament in a letter to be sent back to the Da Qingshan Mountains sect's headquarters.
As his pen fell upon the paper and he wrote of the final result, Xis still could not suppress the excitement in his heart.
At the 11th World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament, the champion had unexpectedly not been an elite disciple from a famous school, but a dark horse no one had heard of beforehand—Mu Yang of the Tianxin Style.
Although the older generation of martial artists had not participated, making this championship somewhat less prestigious,
there was no doubt that Mu Yang had become one of the foremost members of the younger generation. He had officially begun to make a name for himself in the martial arts world.
Recommended book: "American Comics: Starting from Superman."
Li Ya had transmigrated to America and become a high school student in Kansas. By chance, he obtained the Friendship System.
The so-called Friendship System allowed him to obtain skill cards containing corresponding abilities by increasing his friendship level with others.
"I obtained Kryptonian blood from Superman, the Speed Force from the Flash..."
"From Batman... uh, why was the superpower I got from the old man being rich? And from Thor, I got... a hammer? Hammer God??"
"I am not targeting anyone here. Everyone present is... is my brother!"
According to the author, the early part of the story took place in the DC universe, while the later part took place in Marvel, in parallel universes. Those who liked that sort of thing could check it out.
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