"Cough, cough—"
"Cough, cough—"
The two behind Yang Hong felt a bit awkward. They hadn't expected that the thirty moves would be Wu Xiuchen's losing strategy.
"Cough, cough—It's fine, our Great Song already has two people who advanced. Great Tang is just getting its first."
"Right, right, we're still at an advantage."
Hearing the self-consolation of the youths behind him, Yang Hong found it quite amusing.
The next match was between a young disciple from a martial sect of Great Tang and a young soldier from Wu Zhou.
Both of them cultivated external martial arts. The entire match was a direct clash of "boom, boom, boom," with no skill involved.
In the end, the Wu Zhou youth's body was harder, and he won.
This battle was very quick, ending in just five minutes.
"Sixth Young Master, the next match is for Seventh Miss."
Old Wang whispered in Yang Hong's ear.
Yang Hong just nodded, remaining silent.
Below the arena, a white-clad youth stood up from the VIP section and then sprinted. Ten zhang away from the arena, he suddenly leaped.
The white-clad youth stepped on the air repeatedly, actually crossing the ten-zhang distance and landing gracefully on the stage.
"Amazing! Such incredible Qinggong!"
Many young martial artists were directly shocked, their eyes wide open as they watched the ethereal Chu Yushu.
"Impressive, truly the son of Chu Liuxiang. This Qinggong is indeed like treading on snow without a trace."
"To be able to cross ten zhang at the First-Class expert level, perhaps only this Chu Yushu can do it. Even the first-class experts of the older generation might not be able to achieve this."
"Nonsense—even many Xiantian Grandmasters can't leap ten zhang, let alone First-Class experts."
"Truly, a tiger father begets a tiger son."
The older generation of Grandmaster-level experts also praised him.
Continuous exclamations came from in front of and behind him.
Yang Hong also learned the identity of this ostentatious young man.
A participant from Great Ming, the son of the martial arts Grandmaster Chu Liuxiang, a peak First-Class expert. He was 18 years old and an ultimate genius who had never taken any elixirs.
"Sixth Young Master, Grandfather's requirement for Seventh Miss is to last for two ke (a unit of time, approx. 15 mins) under this Chu Yushu, and then concede."
Old Wang saw Yang Hong's grim expression and, thinking he was worried about Yang Zixuan's safety, quickly explained in a low voice.
"Heh heh—lose? The little girl might not lose."
Yang Hong wasn't worried. He knew Yang Zixuan appeared delicate, but she had a strong personality.
The competition had just begun; how could she concede?
Moreover...
There might be a surprise.
Although she was only at the Mid-First-Class realm, two minor realms lower than Chu Yushu, her foundation was solid. She might not lose.
As they spoke, Yang Zixuan, clad in purple training clothes, jogged onto the arena.
She didn't waste her internal energy on flashy displays, simply running up in a conventional manner.
"Little sister, concede, I'm afraid I'll make you cry."
In the center of the arena, looking slender and weak but possessing a beautiful face and delicate features, Yang Zixuan was met by Chu Yushu, who suddenly felt protective.
He said gently.
"Little brother, you concede, I'm afraid I'll make you cry."
Yang Zixuan tilted her head, looking at this greasy-haired, pretty boy, and felt a bit disgusted. She retorted directly.
In her heart, she thought of her brother.
'This pretty boy is so handsome, almost as handsome as Imperial Brother. I must beat his pretty face crooked later.'
With that thought, Yang Zixuan clenched her small fists, already eager to fight.
Soon, the referee announced the start. Both leaped backward simultaneously, adopted their stances, and then charged at each other.
To maintain secrecy, Yang Zixuan didn't use the "Phantom Movement Technique." She only used the intermediate movement technique from the Great Sui imperial collection, the "Willow Catkin Movement Technique," and the advanced Qinggong "Chasing Wind Steps."
As for Chu Yushu...
"This Chu Yushu is indeed the top prodigy of our young generation. This 'Treading on Snow Without a Trace' movement technique is at least at the Proficient level."
"Yes, worthy of being Chu Xiangshuai's son. So handsome!"
The commentators behind Yang Hong were back online, and more than one commentator had joined.
"Sister, do you also like Little Xiangshuai?"
"Yes, yes. Sister, do you too?"
"Me too! Little Xiangshuai is the most handsome! He's the number one handsome guy on the Bai Xiaosheng's Young Talents list, in the junior category."
"Little Xiangshuai's reputation as the number one handsome guy is indeed well-deserved. Look how handsome he is with every gesture."
"..."
Yang Hong was speechless. Three girls' voices joined from behind him. They weren't concerned about Chu Yushu and Yang Zixuan's strength, but...
Chu Yushu's appearance.
Yang Hong channeled his true qi to his eyes and looked closely at Chu Yushu.
Clear eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose and a round mouth, a body like a jade tree. He was indeed a handsome man.
However, Yang Hong felt that this guy wasn't as handsome as himself, at least not as refined.
The "Treading on Snow Without a Trace" movement technique was indeed a top-tier technique. In its twists and turns, it gave off a breathtaking beauty, and when facing an enemy, it could reduce their hostility and guard.
"Perhaps, I can learn it."
Yang Hong suddenly thought of his special ability—eidetic memory. He could completely learn it through observation.
However, Yang Hong dared not be careless. When he entered the arena, he had sensed two true qi energies at least at the Qi Refining stage.
Therefore, he could only be careful, careful, and more careful.
At this moment, on the arena, the white figure was still as elegant.
But Chu Yushu became more and more alarmed as they fought. The slender little girl in front of him looked weak, but the strength in her sword was considerable. Several times, she made his Profound Iron Fan unstable.
One should know that his Profound Iron Fan looked only one chi and two cun long, but its ribs were made of Profound Iron, and the surface was woven from golden silkworm silk, weighing 98 jin.
This weight was heavier than an ordinary greatsword.
Now, it was being made unstable by an ordinary long sword. One could imagine the great strength Yang Zixuan possessed.
"Clang—"
Another clang of metal against metal. Chu Yushu retreated two steps to create distance. Looking at Yang Zixuan, who also retreated and was panting, a hint of seriousness appeared on his face.
"Little sister, I'm going to get serious now. Be careful."
"Hmph, hmph. I've always been serious."
Yang Zixuan frowned displeasedly, gripping her sword and charging forward again.
However, now that he recognized Yang Zixuan's strength, Chu Yushu didn't want to clash head-on with her.
As he unleashed his movement technique, two white figures appeared simultaneously on the stage.
These two white figures simultaneously attacked Yang Zixuan's left and right shoulders.
"Hiss—Afterimages! This Chu Yushu has actually practiced afterimages. In terms of speed, this kid is an absolute prodigy."
"Yes, how many Xiantian Grandmasters practice diligently but can't produce afterimages? This kid is only 18, yet he's produced them. A peerless genius."
"The champion of the junior group in this Five Directions Heavenly Pride Competition will undoubtedly be Chu Yushu."
"Indeed. Even if other contestants break through to Xiantian, they won't be Chu Yushu's match."
This time, the exclamations were not from the young men and women behind Yang Hong, but from the middle-aged men in front of him.
In Yang Hong's perception, they were all Xiantian Grandmaster experts.
Yet, upon hearing this, Yang Hong smiled faintly.
If Chu Yushu could use his maximum speed to defeat his opponent in a short period, then this victory would be his.
But he encountered Yang Zixuan.
On the arena, Chu Yushu's speed did startle Yang Zixuan, but...
"Eh, it doesn't hurt~ It really doesn't hurt~"
Yang Zixuan felt the attacks that had landed on her a few times and then smiled. She smiled quite brilliantly.
"Crack~ crack~ crack~"
Muffled slapping sounds echoed continuously, like popping beans.
The spectators in the audience shivered with each sound. They could feel the pain just by hearing it.
Suddenly, the figures on the arena separated and stood still.
A voice rang out.
"I concede~"