"Hedgehogs are covered in barbs, and porcupines smear venom on their backs—all to deter their predators from hunting them, for fear of the quills and venom. This is the survival strategy of the weak. I make myself appear utterly insane in the eyes of others, like a vicious wolf that tolerates no provocation, simply to intimidate those who harbor delusions. Anyone who dares to extend their claws towards my Chambord City should be prepared to have their seeds chopped off."
Sun Fei paused here, observing the mysterious powerful figure's expression. Seeing that the other party did not show any objection, he continued, "In my opinion, the only weapon the weak have to protect themselves is the courage to resist to the death, the courage to rather be a broken jade than a whole tile. Only resistance and courage are the only things the weak can rely on to survive in this jungle-law continent, and only then will those self-proclaimed high and mighty figures truly feel fear."
"The courage to die a glorious death rather than live a shameful life?" the mysterious expert murmured to himself, followed by another long silence.
After a long while, a strange smile appeared on the mysterious powerful man's lips. This was the first time Sun Fei had seen him display any expression other than solemnity. The mysterious powerful man looked up at the starry sky, his gaze lost in the brilliant starlight, as if lost in distant memories. He murmured softly, as if talking to himself, "Yes, resistance and courage. Time flies. Many years ago, someone, just like you, sat quietly before me and said the same thing to me. And later, he did indeed achieve it, more thoroughly and more successfully than you are now..."
"Senior, are you referring to Emperor Yassin?" For some reason, upon hearing the mysterious expert's words, the seemingly magical name Yassin suddenly popped out of Sun Fei's mouth.
"Hmm?" The mysterious expert paused slightly, then nodded gently and said, "That's right, it's him."
The mysterious powerful figure remained silent.
He truly hadn't expected that the young King before him would be so similar to that person. Perhaps it was because they were truly the same kind of people. No one would ever know that as he examined the path this young King had taken over the past few days, he often felt as if time had truly rewound to more than thirty years ago, returning to that era of fierce competition, and witnessing that spirited martial arts genius rise to prominence step by step.
"Is Emperor Yassin similar to me?" Sun Fei was a little surprised, as this was the first time he had heard someone describe him in this way.
"Hmm." The mysterious expert nodded slightly, then fell silent again.
But when he looked up again and saw the young King's expression, a mixture of confusion and smugness at his words, he suddenly seemed to realize something. His expression turned solemn, and he said with utmost seriousness, "Don't be like him!"
"Huh?" Sun Fei was a little confused.
This was the first time a mysterious, powerful figure had emphasized something so solemnly, even using a commanding tone.
However, Sun Fei was not averse to it, because he could sense that within the mysterious expert's stern and commanding tone lay an inexplicable concern, which was what touched Sun Fei slightly.
The mysterious expert shook his head and suddenly stood up.
In the next instant, a chilling and murderous aura emanated from his thin yet straight body, as if he had suddenly become a different person. Gone was the approachable feeling from before; his body instantly became tall and imposing, only able to be looked up at. His powerful and unpredictable aura exploded out, with streaks of azure light swirling around his body.
He regained the detached, otherworldly demeanor he had when he first saw Sun Fei in the Giant Pit Battlefield, and said calmly, "My attack will still be ten moves. This time, I will go all out."
Sun Fei paused for a moment, then nodded and stood up.
Sun Fei knew that since the mysterious expert was unwilling to continue, even if he continued to ask, he wouldn't get any answers.
However, tonight's conversation was beyond Sun Fei's expectations.
Sun Fei had initially thought this mysterious and taciturn expert would only speak a few words at a time, refusing to utter a single extra word. However, tonight, the expert took the initiative to say so much. Although the conversation was entirely controlled by the expert, Sun Fei hadn't managed to get any of the questions he wanted answered, the conversation did reveal some information. At the very least, it showed that the expert was very familiar with Emperor Yassin and had a deep understanding of the once-glorious founding emperor of the Zenit Empire.
Who exactly is this mysterious and powerful figure?
Just a second before throwing a full-force punch, Sun Fei was still Earth Inquiry himself a question.
The next day.
The sun was rising, the sky was cloudless, and the weather was much better than yesterday.
On the fifty sword-testing platforms of the twenty-mile-long affiliated state-run district, the regional ranking competitions of the five major war zones of the Zenit Empire's current Martial Combat Competition are in full swing.
Northern Theater Command.
King of Chambord's opponent this time was the third-class vassal state of the Kodi Kingdom.
The Kodi Kingdom is not particularly strong. In yesterday's first round, it was only by good luck that it drew a weaker sixth-class vassal state, which allowed it to advance to the second round of the winners' bracket.
However, their good luck came to an end today, as they were drawn against Chambord City, a country that many consider one of the most terrifying participating nations in the Northern Theater.
As it turned out, the competition unfolded exactly as many had predicted.
Facing the significantly stronger experts from Chambord City, the Kodi Kingdom also did not forfeit.
Despite choosing to bravely face the challenge, the Kodi Kingdom suffered ten defeats in ten battles, failing to win even a single match.
Fortunately, the Chambord people were very measured in their attacks during the competition, unlike some other countries' top fighters who would kill or injure anyone with a single move. As a result, the Kodi Kingdom was able to preserve its strength and enter the losers' bracket to fight for a final chance.
The ten matches lasted less than fifty minutes before they were over.
Chambord City won the second leg of the regional ranking competition decisively, advancing to the top twelve in the regional ranking competition.
Because Chambord City's performance yesterday was so spectacular, coupled with the immense mystery surrounding King of Chambord City, many bards chose to gather in taverns and other public places after the match, exaggerating the events in their usual way. Within a single night, many within the twenty-mile camp knew that Chambord City had produced renowned masters such as [ White-Haired Swift Sword ], [ Black-Haired Berserk Fist ], [ Son of the Wind ], and [ Assassin of the Shadow ]. As a result, even more people came to watch the Chambord City matches today, exceeding two thousand attendees—far surpassing even some high-profile clashes between first-class vassal states.
The crowd was so large that it completely surrounded the No. 46 fencing platform in the competition venue, creating an extremely lively scene.
"God, someone tell me, where is that [ White-Haired Swift Sword ]'s sword? It's too fast, I can't even see it..." A swordsman looked at the longsword in his hand with some frustration, unable to imagine how fast a sword had to be to be so fast that the opponent couldn't even see it.
"Ahhh, [ Son of the Wind ] is so handsome! The way he shoots arrows is like an elf fallen to earth. He's my idol..." A bearded archer in the crowd widened his eyes and shouted wildly after watching Torres's match.
Such scenes happen all the time among the crowds.
If they had previously doubted the exaggerated descriptions of the Chambord people by the bards as mere habitual absurdity, they now completely believed the bards' tales, for the Chambord people had demonstrated unimaginable strength.
Among the crowd below the testing platform were mostly low-ranking warriors, some of whom had not even cultivated their Dou Qi vortex. They were all warriors from vassal states of lower rank. However, the Chambord people, who were also warriors from low-ranking vassal states, had demonstrated extraordinary strength, which gave them a subtle sense of recognition in an instant.
Especially during the ensuing team battles, seeing the Chambord warriors use their heavy shields to smash the high-ranking third-class vassal state warriors off the sword-testing platform, many people felt their blood boil at that moment, as if they had won a victory. The crazy shouts and cheers erupted like a volcanic eruption.
The only disappointment for many spectators who came to watch the Chambord match was that the legendary young king, King Chambord, did not participate in this round of the competition.
Even in their rest area in Chambord City, they never saw the King of Chambord appear.
Where exactly did the King of Chambord go?
Sun Fei was watching the game at that moment.
He mingled in the crowd, wearing a black cloak that completely concealed his face, disguised as a nameless passerby. He was hand in hand with Princess Angela, who was also disguised as a passerby and looked excited and happy, watching a key battle in the Western Theater. The first-class vassal state of Kingdom of Metz was really unlucky. In the first round of yesterday's competition, they encountered a first-class vassal state, and their opponent in the second round was also a first-class vassal state called Rodi.
After the first day of fierce fighting, the fighting strength of the Kingdom of Metz was greatly reduced. The three experts who went into battle earlier were all injured. Not only did they fail to win the match, but one died and two were seriously injured, which can be described as a crushing defeat.
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