77: Chapter 77

77

Su Qingxue gave a soft huff, stood up, and walked toward the bathroom.

...

The next morning, when Jiang Haojie and Su Qingxue arrived at the stadium, Ma Chenyu and the others were already there.

"Today is the first day of the finals, and it's also the first round of competition."

Ma Chenyu spoke concisely, "Everyone, get ready. The competition starts immediately."

As soon as Ma Chenyu finished speaking, the massive light screen behind the judging panel began to flicker and scroll rapidly.

A moment later, two images and their corresponding data were clearly presented before everyone.

"First round: Huang Wanwan from Dongsheng University versus Zhu Guangming from Yuanhua University."

A man and a woman subsequently stepped onto the martial arts stage.

Both were juniors; one was a Third-Order Physical Enhancer, and the other was a Third-Order Mutant.

The moment the referee announced the start, Zhu Guangming's figure suddenly twisted and expanded, transforming into a pitch-black crow.

Almost simultaneously, a strange change appeared on Huang Wanwan's skin—azure patterns emerged from beneath her flesh, spreading like the cracks in ice-glazed porcelain.

The Ice Spirit Body.

This was a special constitution that hovered between a Physical Enhancer and an Ice-type Psionic.

While she couldn't condense ice with a wave of her hand like a true Ice Psionic, every one of her attacks would carry a bone-chilling frost.

This constitution might not be considered peerlessly strong, but it was sufficiently rare and treacherous.

In her Ice Spirit Body state, Huang Wanwan gave her wrists a light flick, and a pair of T-shaped tonfas slid from her sleeves into her palms.

She tapped the stage with her toes and shot toward the crow's shadow like an arrow.

"Caw—!"

Zhu Guangming let out a raspy cry.

This crow's cry was not only his signature move but also possessed a dual impact of sonic waves and mental shock.

All his previous opponents had been defeated by this single sound.

Huang Wanwan retreated rapidly upon hearing the sound, slamming her tonfas together to produce a clear, vibrating ring.

This was the countermeasure she had devised for sonic attacks—using sound to break sound.

It had to be admitted that Huang Wanwan was indeed quick-witted.

Although the sonic wave she struck out didn't completely cancel the impact of the crow's cry, it significantly weakened its power.

However, the mental vibration still seeped into her spiritual platform, causing a sweet taste to rise in her throat and slightly disturbing her internal breath.

How could Zhu Guangming miss such an opening? He flapped his wings and dove down like a black cloud.

Huang Wanwan gritted her teeth and hurled the tonfa in her left hand, aiming it straight at the crow's belly.

Sensing the wind sharpening below, Zhu Guangming swerved to dodge, then immediately circled behind Huang Wanwan, his iron-hook-like claws lunging straight for her heart from behind!

He was so fast that an ordinary person wouldn't even have time to react.

In all fairness, with Huang Wanwan's strength, only an Awakened with an SS-level or even SSS-level talent could suppress her within the same order.

But she just happened to encounter Zhu Guangming.

The greatest advantage of the crow transformation was aerial mobility, a factor that left most ground-based combatants helpless.

Because of this, Huang Wanwan was on the defensive from the very beginning.

But how could someone who reached the finals be mediocre? In an instant, Huang Wanwan suppressed her injuries and suddenly ducked low, letting that lethal claw graze past the tips of her hair.

Without waiting for Zhu Guangming to adjust his posture, she sprang up like a coiled spring, her right hand darting out to grab one of the crow's talons.

Surprise flashed in Zhu Guangming's eyes as he beat his wings frantically to break free, but he was half a beat too late.

Huang Wanwan's eyes suddenly turned ice-blue, and the cold air surging from her palm climbed up Zhu Guangming's body like a living thing.

The bone-chilling cold seeped into his marrow, and Zhu Guangming shuddered as if his blood had frozen into ice in an instant.

This was the power of the Ice Spirit Body—if viewed through the lens of the old era, it was akin to those bizarre powers known as 'Extraordinary.'

"Caw—!"

A shrill shriek erupted from Zhu Guangming's throat, and a wave of sound carrying an impact that struck directly at the soul rippled out once more.

Huang Wanwan's brow furrowed deeply. Though she wanted to tank the hit and finish her opponent for good, the intertwined power of sound and soul was too dangerous, forcing her to release her grip and retreat rapidly.

However, no matter how fast one's movement technique, it couldn't outrun the speed of sound or an attack that struck directly at the consciousness.

The moment the sound waves hit her, her face turned deathly pale, she spat out a mouthful of warm blood, and her entire aura rapidly withered.

Ignoring the layer of ice spreading over his body, Zhu Guangming took the opportunity to counterattack, his claws lunging out fiercely as he twisted his form.

Huang Wanwan struggled to get up, but because her soul was injured, she couldn't gather her strength. She could only watch helplessly as the talons clamped down on her shoulders—had her skin not been as hard as profound ice in her Ice Spirit Body state, she likely would have been pierced through.

Now powerless to resist, she allowed Zhu Guangming to lift her up and hurl her violently off the stage.

The moment Huang Wanwan hit the ground, the Yuanhua University seating area erupted like a tide, with cheers and applause exploding.

The outcome of this battle decided the ownership of a top ten seat. Zhu Guangming only needed to win one more match to secure his place among them.

Meanwhile, the people from Dongsheng University all hung their heads in disappointment—their last contestant had been defeated, and their hope of entering the top ten was completely extinguished.

"Winner: Zhu Guangming from Yuanhua University."

"Next match: Ding Jianlian from Wannan University versus Diwu Changyu from Lujiang University."

The tournament continued to progress.

As they reached the final stages, none of the contestants held back anymore, and the clashes on the stage became increasingly intense and dangerous.

This kind of all-out fighting also allowed observers to see the depth of each person: those who revealed their trump cards too early often meant they lacked follow-up moves and were forced to show their killing blows now.

Even if they could win the current battle, they would also expose their weaknesses to future opponents.

The afternoon sun shone diagonally into the arena. Just as the fourth match was beginning, it was Jiang Haojie's turn to take the stage.

Seeing him reappear, a slight commotion rippled through the audience, and countless gazes intertwined with curiosity and scrutiny.

Could this young man, who had made it all the way here, continue his previous luck?

At this moment, whether in person or watching from a screen, all eyes were focused on that figure.

Low-voiced discussions spread quietly:

"What do you think... this time, will Jiang Haojie win or lose?"

"It's probably looking grim this time. Are there even any 'soft persimmons' left in the finals? Jiang Haojie making it here on luck is already a miracle, but luck can't be a meal ticket forever."

"Agreed."

"An Ancient Martial Artist from an ordinary university standing on the finals stage is already enough to be written into his school's history. But wanting to go a step further? It's simply impossible."

Comments flowed across the screen like water.

When Jiang Haojie stepped onto the stage, he finally saw his opponent clearly.

It was a girl with a ponytail, her features delicate, holding a bright silver longsword in her hand.

Speaking of which, besides Xu Qing, this was the second female opponent he had encountered in this tournament.

Tan Wenya, a junior at Duling University and a Third-Order Physical Enhancer with an A-level talent. Her ability was similar to his high school classmate Yan Chun, both possessing the 'Invincible Vajra' body.

"Start!"

The moment the referee's voice fell, Tan Wenya's longsword was already unsheathed, and her figure lunged toward Jiang Haojie like a bolt of lightning.

Even though Jiang Haojie was just an Ancient Martial Artist, she didn't dare to show the slightest contempt—she had watched all his previous matches.

This man seemed unremarkable, yet he had managed to make it all the way to the finals; there had to be more to him.

The conclusion she reached was simple: she couldn't hold back and had to end the battle as quickly as possible.

Jiang Haojie saw through her intentions at a glance.

Unfortunately, if Tan Wenya were a Fourth-Order Awakened, he might have had to be on high alert.

But a Third-Order, especially one with an A-level talent, did not pose a threat to him.

Even at the same Third-Order, she wasn't as good as Dan Bei back then—and he carried the title of SSS-level talent.

The silver sword pierced through the air, aimed straight at his face.

Jiang Haojie's figure suddenly moved. He executed a Critical Hit, and the moment he sidestepped the blade's edge, he lunged into her personal space.

Tan Wenya's heart tightened. She retreated rapidly, instantly putting several meters of distance between them before she could catch her breath.

Although she was a Physical Enhancer and didn't fear close-quarters combat, Jiang Haojie's move just now had simply been too fast.

If he truly got close, even if she didn't lose, she would certainly fall into a bitter struggle—she hadn't missed seeing how Jiang Haojie had defeated other Third-Order Awakened one by one.

In the audience, many people nodded slightly.

Tan Wenya's reaction could be called sharp.

Inside a hidden room deep within the stadium.

Wang Changxiao, the principal of Zhanwu Academy, smiled as he looked at the person beside him: "Old Feng, this girl from your school isn't bad. If she's cultivated well, breaking through to the sixth order shouldn't be a problem in the future."

"Tan Wenya's talent might not be top-tier, but she's willing to work hard."

Feng Yuanji nodded. "I've already planned to have her stay at the school as a junior teaching assistant after she graduates."

He had noticed such a talent long ago and had even taken her under his wing already.

Sun Wanyu turned his head and looked at Shen Tianming with a smile: "Old Shen, how about it? Do you want to bet another round this time?"

"Get lost!"

Shen Tianming slammed his palm on the table.

This tournament wasn't even over yet, and he had already lost two A-level weapons.

Looking at Shen Tianming's furious expression, everyone couldn't help but chuckle and shake their heads.

Sun Wanyu toyed with the two A-level weapons in his hand that glinted with a cold light, and spoke leisurely: "Since your temper is so high, I'll still bet on Jiang Haojie winning this round. If I lose, I'll return these two weapons as they are; but if you lose, you just need to add one more A-level weapon—how about it?"

"You still dare to bet on him winning?"

Shen Tianming's eyes widened, almost thinking he had misheard.

Seeing Sun Wanyu nod calmly, Shen Tianming suddenly slammed his palm on the tabletop, making the teacups rattle: "A bet it is! I want to see if an Ancient Martial Artist can really defy the heavens. If he can still advance in this final, it simply wouldn't make sense!"

Beside them, Wang Changxiao, the principal of Zhanwu Academy, leaned over with interest: "Old Sun, why do you hold that kid in such high regard?"

"Just intuition."

Sun Wanyu cast his gaze toward the distant stage, his tone calm. "I always feel that we might have all underestimated this child."

Shen Tianming gave a snort. "Since you think he's not simple, why not just recruit him into Beichen Academy?"

Sun Wanyu smiled slightly and didn't respond.

He indeed had the thought of recruiting him, but everything still needed to be observed—Ancient Martial Artists and Physical Enhancers are often hard to distinguish in the early stages, and the true divergence only gradually appears on the long road of cultivation.

What made him hesitate now was whether Jiang Haojie had already burned through all his potential, or if he still hid a deep, unrevealed ocean.

At least from the current battle, no stunning points could be seen yet.

On the stage, Tan Wenya lunged forward with her sword again.

This time, she abandoned her straightforward attacks, and the tip of her sword drew several arcs that flickered between reality and illusion—though not as subtle as orthodox martial arts, it was a killing move she had tempered from countless actual battles.

Jiang Haojie's footsteps shifted repeatedly, his figure drifting back like a fallen leaf in the wind, consistently avoiding a direct clash with the sword's edge.

Yet Tan Wenya followed him like a shadow, her sword light weaving a dense net that pressed in step by step.

Seeing that his opponent left him no room to breathe, Jiang Haojie suddenly accelerated, sidestepping a direct thrust of cold light and instantly circling behind Tan Wenya.

The woman reacted extremely quickly, twisting her waist and slashing back, the blade grazing Jiang Haojie's sleeve.

He retreated again, just barely avoiding this sharp counterattack.

"I underestimated Jiang Haojie... looking at this dodging rhythm, his combat experience is quite deep."

"What use is experience? Tan Wenya has a sword in her hand, while he is empty-handed—an ordinary university ultimately can't afford decent resources, and his defeat is already set in stone."

"It's just stalling for time; he's bound to lose sooner or later."

Discussions broke out in the audience, and almost no one believed Jiang Haojie could turn the tide.

In the shadows of the contestant area, a gaze like a poisoned needle was fixed firmly on Jiang Haojie's back.

That person soundlessly ground their teeth, a bloodthirsty curse churning in their heart: Jiang Haojie, you better pray you die on the stage... otherwise, I will definitely tear you into a thousand pieces.

Jiang Haojie was still retreating, but his gaze was like a hawk's, locking onto every subtle fluctuation in Tan Wenya's swordplay.

He had already spotted the flaw—he was only waiting for the right moment to turn it into a thunderous strike.

Tan Wenya was completely unaware that she had already fallen into Jiang Haojie's sights, and her offensive remained as sharp as a violent storm.

She didn't know she was stepping into a trap he had meticulously laid out, one step at a time.

"Old Sun, what else do you have to say about the situation now? Jiang Haojie's defeat is certain. Those two A-level weapons should belong to me now."

Shen Tianming glanced at the stage, his tone carrying a hint of certainty.

Sun Wanyu only shook his head with a smile: "The winner hasn't been decided yet, so why the rush? It won't be too late to talk after the final whistle blows."

That said, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous for Jiang Haojie—in everyone's eyes, the young man seemed to have no power to fight back.

Tan Wenya captured an opportunity, and her sword light became even more dense, like silver snakes dancing wildly.

And in that very instant, Jiang Haojie's eyes narrowed, and he moved.