Chapter 588: Challenging Fist Techniques

As they stepped onto the stage, Master Hong announced the contestants for the remaining three arenas.

Those who drew numbers B-1, C-1, and D-1 also went to their respective positions.

With both sides present, they negotiated the content of the competition.

This was no longer decided by Master Hong.

Soon, the choices were made.

Of the four arenas, two chose Teaching and Nurturing, one chose Mindscape Calibration, and only one chose Martial Combat.

Masters, involving auxiliary professions, mindscape calibration, divine oral transmission, teaching and nurturing, and many other skills, naturally would not determine victory solely by martial force like warriors. If it were that simple, there would be no need to organize such a grand competition.

Thus, although they were on the arena stage, in reality, very few actually chose to settle the outcome with fists.

"This is the true Grand Competition of Masters!"

Zhang Xuan sighed with emotion.

What he had experienced before were only selections, and this was the real contest and competition among masters.

This was the true Grand Competition of Masters.

Looking up, among the four venues, there was actually an old acquaintance.

Song Chao!

In the previous selection rounds, although dangerous, his results seemed not bad; he had overcome obstacles and advanced.

His opponent was also a sect disciple, of similar strength, but with far inferior selection results. Knowing that in other events his chances of winning were even smaller, he proposed martial combat.

"Begin!"

As the sound of the gong rang out, the disciple gritted his teeth and charged straight at Song Chao.

The two were evenly matched in strength. As they engaged, the wind howled and the entire arena rustled.

Although these arenas were small, they were equipped with formations. With their strength, they could not damage them, so they could fight freely without worrying about other matters.

"It seems... Song Chao can still advance one rank!"

After watching for a while, Zhang Xuan knew that Song Chao should have no major problem defeating his opponent.

Although their strength was similar, Song Chao was clearly more agile in movement, waiting at ease for the right moment.

As soon as the opponent showed anxiety, he could easily counterattack and decide the outcome.

Knowing the result, he stopped watching and turned to look at another arena where the Teaching and Nurturing competition was taking place.

Compared to the scene of roaring true energy and fists and kicks flying, this one looked much more refined.

The two contestants randomly selected twenty guards of varying cultivation levels from the square, each picking ten, dividing them into two groups.

After dividing, they taught via sound transmission, without interfering with each other.

The limit was one incense stick's time. They would then assess the teaching effects and conditions. The one with better results won; the one with less improvement lost.

This kind of competition was much more refined than martial combat and better suited the temperament of a teacher.

Seeing that this would also take a considerable time to determine the winner, he looked at another arena where mindscape calibration was being contested.

Both used mid-grade pattern stones, and soon the numbers appeared: one was 14.7, the other 14.9. The latter won.

This was the simplest and fastest, so no need to consider it further.

However, mindscape calibration was a master's foundation and capital. Many were unwilling to disclose it, so being able to witness such a direct comparison was probably a stroke of luck.

Soon, the first round ended. As Zhang Xuan had guessed, Song Chao won.

The two arenas that chose Teaching and Nurturing also produced results. The best one had a practitioner he taught break through on the spot within the incense stick's time, securing victory. The other also advanced through comprehensive evaluation.

"Second round, contestants who drew A-3, B-3, C-3, and D-2, please step onto the competition stage..."

With the first round over, some rejoiced and others worried. Master Hong paid no heed and announced the second round.

Among them, B-2 and C-2 were byes.

Hearing that it was his turn, Zhang Xuan did not delay and walked straight to the arena marked "D."

"Master Zhang... drew D-2? Why am I so unlucky?"

Seeing him emerge from the crowd, a young man's face changed, and he almost cried.

Clearly, he had also drawn this number and would face this destructive maniac in the first round.

"To compete with him in the first round is indeed unfortunate..." A companion beside him also twitched his mouth.

This Master Zhang, in the selection rounds, crushed everything, broke all treasures, and used various unfathomable methods. If there was anyone in the entire venue that everyone least wanted to compete against, this guy was definitely number one.

His current fame even surpassed Luo Xuan's.

To encounter him right from the start—what rotten luck.

"What should I do? Should I forfeit? Otherwise, I'm afraid... if I go up to compete, he might dismantle me..." The young man said with a mournful face.

Given this guy's tendency to break everything he sees, if he went up, would he also be torn limb from limb? He only wanted to participate in the competition, not die without a complete corpse...

"Cough, cough, he probably won't dismantle a person!" The companion comforted him.

"I also thought he wouldn't dismantle the Celestial Star Chess..." The young man said.

"This..." The companion was immediately speechless, not knowing how to answer.

This guy was truly terrifying. If they had to face him again, they would probably rather choose the alien race than him.

In other words, the pressure of competing with him exceeded facing the alien race directly.

"Since we've come this far, forfeiting is definitely not an option. Don't worry. Even if this Master Zhang is very powerful, he may not be truly invincible!"

The companion comforted him again: "Anyway, the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance's last result was not as good as our sect. If you propose a project you're best at and make him participate, you might win. Once you succeed, riding this momentum, not just the top sixteen, but the top eight will be easy!"

"This... that's true!" The young man nodded after a pause.

His match with Zhang Xuan would surely be watched by everyone. If he could win, his confidence and everything else would greatly improve. Perhaps he could use this to break into the top ten.

In a master's battle, confidence was very important.

"Alright, I'll go for it!"

Understanding this, the young man gritted his teeth.

As a Four-Star Master, even if afraid, he could quickly adjust.

"Then let's first analyze this Master Zhang's weaknesses..."

Seeing that he did not intend to give up, the companion nodded with satisfaction and said, "In the first round, Master Zhang destroyed the Ghost Domain Illusory City, indicating that its formations and mechanisms had no effect on him. His mental fortitude is only one aspect; his eyesight must also be excellent!"

"Hmm!"

The young man nodded.

The Ghost Domain Illusory City was pitch black, filled with spiritual beings. Without excellent eyesight, one couldn't even tell north from south inside, let alone destroy anything.

"You definitely can't do that, so... don't compete with him in eyesight, or anything related to it."

"Right! What's related to eyesight is detecting cultivation errors and guiding cultivation!" The young man quickly said.

"Hmm, in the second round, he made the alien commit suicide by speaking, indicating his mindscape calibration is extremely strong and his control over divine oral transmission is terrifying... Don't compete with him in mindscape calibration and... teaching and nurturing!"

The companion continued analyzing.

Making an alien commit suicide just by speaking showed not only strong mindscape calibration but also a very high level of divine oral transmission. Competing with him in this would likely repeat the alien's fate.

"In the third round, book recitation; in the fourth, comprehension assessment... Although nothing specific is revealed, high comprehension and intelligence naturally mean a high understanding of cultivation. So... overall, I think you should directly challenge cultivation!"

After analyzing, the companion gave his conclusion.

"Right, I'll directly challenge strength. He's only at the Yin-Yang Realm peak, while I'm at the Turbid-Clear Realm fourth layer mid-stage. Defeating him should be simple." The young man's eyes lit up.

Compared to other master skills, he couldn't match him. In that case, let's go with the simplest and most brutal... martial combat!

His strength was higher than the opponent's, clearly giving him a great advantage.

"But... this idea is good, but he... has one chance to refuse. What if he refuses?" After being happy for a moment, the young man shook his head again.

Although the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance finished last in the previous competition and had no right to choose the competition event, they still had one right to refuse.

If he proposed martial combat and the other party disagreed, wouldn't they still fall into the trap of those other events?

"You fool, martial combat is a general term. You can directly ask him to compete in fist techniques. After he refuses, then propose competing in sword techniques. That way, after one refusal, he can't refuse a second time! If it really comes to sword techniques, with your sect's number one swordsmanship, I don't believe he can beat you?"

The companion laughed.

"Right!"

His eyes lit up, and the young man regained confidence, feeling proud: "Thank you for your advice. After I defeat him and enter the top ten, I'll definitely reward you well. Wait for news of my victory!"

Having said that, he walked happily toward the D arena.

...

"I am Wu Tianhao of the Flying Cloud Sect. Please enlighten me, Master Zhang!"

Standing on the arena, the young man cupped his fists.

"Zhang Xuan of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance!" Zhang Xuan also nodded and looked over: "May I ask what kind of competition Master Wu wishes to choose?"

"I want to challenge your fist techniques!" Following his companion's suggestion, Wu Tianhao raised the corners of his mouth.

"Fist techniques?" Zhang Xuan nodded: "Alright."

"What, you disagree? If you disagree, then we'll compete... Ah?"

Just as he was excitedly about to continue, Wu Tianhao suddenly realized and froze: "You said... you agree?"

"Yes, it's just a fist technique competition. Let's begin!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

He could guess what the other party was planning, but to him... it didn't matter!

"..." Wu Tianhao staggered.

Why aren't you playing by the rules?

When I proposed competing in fist techniques, shouldn't you have directly refused, and then we end up competing in sword techniques?

Why did you agree so readily?

He had originally planned to rely on his extraordinary swordsmanship to defeat him, but now it seemed there was no chance...

Forget it, even if fist techniques weren't as good as swordsmanship, they weren't too weak. At worst, he would use all his strength from the start, using brute force to overcome skill. Let's see how you counter that!

The opponent was a full two minor levels below him, involving the transition between the Primordial Qi and Turbid-Clear realms. He didn't believe he couldn't win.

"Since you agree, let's begin!"

Having made up his mind, Wu Tianhao gritted his teeth, and his aura instantly surged. Like a tiger emerging from the forest, he clenched both fists, let out a shout, and charged forward with his whole body.