Free Web NovelChapter 121: Chapter 120: Accepting the Challenge
"You’re saying I should avoid the fight?"
Zhao Xuanqi looked at Ge Chuanming and asked calmly.
"That’s not exactly it. It’s just a strategic move. I just got word that his name is Gao Wujie, a key member of the Sanmei Sect from the three provinces of the Northern Territory. I don’t have specifics on his strength, but he’s at least reached the level of Internal Organs Resonating and very likely has even entered the Five Qi Tongxuan realm. In short, he’s definitely strong enough for the A-rank arenas."
"Avoiding him is the best course of action. You can hide your true strength and preserve your winning streak."
Ge Chuanming explained. Without a doubt, he had offered the best possible plan.
"I don’t care about the empty reputation of a winning streak. If he can beat me, he’s welcome to it. What I need are worthy opponents. Go on, submit the match schedule. I’m fighting again tonight."
Zhao Xuanqi said coolly to Ge Chuanming.
He had come to Jinmen with two goals. The first was to use Jinmen’s superior platform and wider network to acquire the Secret Medicines and Rare Beast Materials he would need for his next stage of training. The second was to experience the various Martial Daos of the Divine Land.
At his current realm, his control over his body had hit a bottleneck. The residual will of Zhao Qi’s body was unreliable, sometimes present and sometimes not. If he wanted to improve quickly, the fastest way, aside from training day and night, was to hone his skills in duels.
A surge of Blood Qi, a clash of auras... a duel between masters was like a dance on a knife’s edge.
An opponent was the best whetstone for mastering oneself.
"But..."
Hearing this, Ge Chuanming wanted to protest further, but when he met Zhao Xuanqi’s unquestionable gaze, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
He knew that masters of this caliber all possessed a proud spirit. Their word was law, and once they made a decision, a lowly Boxer like him had no power to change it.
"I understand."
He sighed, stood up from his seat in the rest area with the match schedule in hand, and walked into the office.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the rest area occupied by the members of the Sanmei Sect.
Gao Wujie sat on a bench, his eyes half-closed. His gaze was vacant, giving him the air of a high monk in meditation, unmoved by the surrounding clamor.
However, the four Sanmei Sect disciples with him—three men and one woman—were huddled together, whispering amongst themselves as they glanced in Zhao Xuanqi’s direction.
"That guy over there, he’s the other one with three straight wins tonight? I heard he’s exceptionally skilled. Do you think he’ll continue to the fourth round?"
"His name is Zhao Xuanqi. I watched one of his matches. He seemed to be using some kind of Beast Form Fist, but I couldn’t make out much more than that. If he continues to the fourth round, he’ll definitely run into Senior Brother Gao, right?"
"The Sanmei Sect’s reputation is widespread. Plus, we’re not hiding it—we’re wearing our School’s Martial Arts Uniform. As long as their Boxer isn’t a complete greenhorn, he’s bound to know who we are and who Senior Brother Gao is. I think there’s a high chance they won’t fight the fourth round. They’ll probably avoid it."
"I think so too. Given Senior Brother Gao’s reputation and strength, anyone with a lick of sense would choose to back down, wouldn’t they?" freewebnσvel.cøm
"..."
The Sanmei Sect disciples chatted amongst themselves.
"That man will not avoid the fight."
Just then, a calm voice spoke up. It was Gao Wujie, who had been sitting to the side with his eyes half-closed, as if in a deep trance.
"Senior Brother Gao, why do you say that?" the disciples asked, somewhat surprised.
However, after saying this, Gao Wujie once again half-closed his eyes, returning to his meditative state without answering his junior brothers’ and sister’s questions.
In truth, the reason was simple.
The moment his eyes had met Zhao Xuanqi’s, he had seen in them the look of a predator that had found suitable prey.
That was why he knew Zhao Xuanqi would absolutely continue to the fourth round.
What hunter ever backs down from their prey?
’I’m rather curious, what makes him think he can look at me like prey?’
Time flew by, and soon the match schedule for the fourth round was released. Ge Chuanming took one look at it and saw that, just as expected, Zhao Xuanqi and Gao Wujie, both with three consecutive wins, were listed in the same matchup block.
"He really accepted..."
Over on the Sanmei Sect’s side, when they received the match schedule, looks of surprise flashed across their faces.
Senior Brother Gao had guessed right! Their opponent hadn’t chosen to avoid the fight but to face it head-on!
What courage! What confidence!
In spite of themselves, a sense of admiration rose in the hearts of the Sanmei Sect members. If they were in his shoes, they probably wouldn’t have been able to make the same decision.
That courage to face a challenge head-on was enough to earn their respect.
Meanwhile, in the arena.
Countless people were waiting in anticipation. It was already close to 10:30 at night. Normally, half the spectators would have already left, needing to get home and go to work the next day.
But tonight, even at this late hour, the crowd of spectators hadn’t thinned in the slightest.
The arena was still buzzing with a cacophony of voices and excited discussion.
This was all because two extraordinary newcomers had appeared in the Martial Arts Arena tonight. Both had three straight wins. One was a famous master from the Sanmei Sect in the Northern Territory, and the other was a mysterious and powerful newcomer. If both continued to the fourth round, they were guaranteed to face each other.
This would be a duel far beyond the level of the D Class arenas. Just being able to watch this single match would make the price of tonight’s ticket worthwhile. Even if it meant dozing off at work tomorrow, it would be absolutely worth it.
Such was the passion of Jinmen’s people for the Martial Dao.
The only uncertainty was whether one of them would deliberately avoid the fight.
Thus, everyone was gossiping, with the main point of discussion being whether Zhao Xuanqi would participate in the fourth round.
The mystery was only solved when the fourth round began and the names of the combatants were posted on the arena’s public notice board.
Zhao Xuanqi: Three wins, zero losses. Six victory points.
Gao Wujie: Three wins, zero losses. Six victory points.
"He took the fight! He took the fight! Now we’ve got a real show!"
"I can’t believe it. I really thought this Zhao Xuanqi guy would dodge this match. I mean, Gao Wujie and the Sanmei Sect’s reputation speaks for itself. But he actually accepted the challenge."
"Who do you think has a better chance of winning this one?"
"..."
The moment their names were posted on the board, the spectators in the arena erupted, the atmosphere growing even more feverish.
No one was paying attention to the other matches this round. Nearly everyone had crowded around Zhao Xuanqi and Gao Wujie’s arena, surrounding it so densely that it was impossible to get through.
Although the arena platform was raised, the crowd was so large that shorter people on the outskirts couldn’t even see what was happening on stage. Still, that couldn’t dampen the spectators’ enthusiasm.
A duel of this caliber was a rare sight for ordinary people, and no one wanted to miss it. freewebnøvel.com
Because so many people were placing bets, the betting station in front of the arena was completely overwhelmed and had to extend the pre-match period to half an hour.
Just as the pre-match period was about to end, the bustling crowd suddenly and spontaneously fell silent, parting to either side to open two paths for the approaching fighters.
Two figures, like lions parting a flock of sheep, slowly advanced toward each other under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
