Zhuang Xun also reduced his strength to the same level Yu Xiao displayed after holding back, and then showcased his own martial arts attainment.
Yu Xiao was taken aback for a moment, understanding Yan Pingsheng's intent. Unwilling to just give up, he began to trade blows with Yan Pingsheng to test their martial arts mastery.
But he discovered that in terms of martial arts mastery alone, although both were at the level of great perfection, he was completely no match for his opponent.
In an instant, the resentment he had harbored toward Yan Pingsheng because of Liang Shaohua's forced order to lose completely vanished.
He mouthed to Yan Pingsheng, “I admit defeat.”
Zhuang Xun smiled and exchanged dozens more moves with Yu Xiao, creating the illusion of an evenly matched battle so his opponent wouldn't lose face in front of the crowd. Finally, with Yu Xiao's cooperation, he knocked him off the stage.
“Thank you for the match.”
Thunderous applause erupted below the stage as the disciples discussed in astonishment.
“Whoa! To think the Ascetic, a veteran expert, was actually no match for the Crouching Tiger! It seems Crouching Tiger ranks near the top even among the Four Great Experts!”
“Not necessarily. Didn't you see they were evenly matched just now, with only a hair's breadth of difference? They're probably neck and neck, and either could win on any given day!”
“Why do I feel like the strength of the Four Great Experts is just so-so? I feel like even I could hold my own up there.”
“What do you know? The clashes between experts might look ordinary, but there are undercurrents of danger beneath. If you went up there, the shockwaves of their clash alone would kill you!”
...
In the subsequent matches, Zhuang Xun happened to run into people belonging to Chen Jinzhu and Liang Shaohua.
Thus, he repeated the trick, letting those disciples realize that even without Chen Jinzhu's and Liang Shaohua's orders, they were still no match for Yan Pingsheng. At the same time, he held back and traded several rounds with them so they wouldn't lose too embarrassingly.
This series of actions successfully dispelled the resentment these disciples held toward Yan Pingsheng, while also making them feel grateful to him.
After all, Yan Pingsheng was one of the Outer Court's Four Great Experts. Being able to fight him to a standstill gave them plenty of face in front of the other disciples.
As for losing? It was simply a lack of skill, nothing to complain about.
As long as they didn't lose due to some underhanded conspiracy, they weren't sore losers.
In this manner, Zhuang Xun secured his spot in the Upper Two Courts without any suspense, saving his reputation in the process. Not only did he avoid being relegated to sharing a table with Guichen, but his standing even rose to a new height.
...
“Next match: Li Zigeng versus Yu Xiao!”
To think I'd run into him. Li Zigeng took a deep breath, his expression grave.
Although both were part of the Outer Court's Four Great Experts, his strength was slightly inferior to Yu Xiao's.
After all, his great perfection level of martial arts mastery, which he had previously tried to hide, had been forced out by this very opponent.
Li Zigeng clenched his fists and thought, There are only two matches left, and everyone has one chance to lose. I haven't lost a single match so far. Once I go up, I'll exchange a few moves with Yu Xiao and then surrender to preserve my strength. As long as I don't run into the Fifth Young Lady in the next match, I have a very high chance of securing a spot in the Upper Two Courts...
“Junior Brother Li, the Fifth Young Lady wants you to go all out to exhaust Yu Xiao's strength. It would be best if you can severely injure him.”
Li Zigeng froze. Looking at Chen Qing'er, who had delivered the message, he forced a smile that looked worse than crying.
“...Zigeng understands.”
Li Zigeng walked onto the stage step by step. Looking at the cold-eyed Yu Xiao, his voice was incredibly suppressed.
“Bound by others, my life is not my own. Next... please forgive me.”
“Likewise.” Yu Xiao had also received a strict order from Liang Shaohua to “severely injure Li Zigeng.”
The moment the two clashed, their moves erupted with an unprecedented ferocity, every strike aimed at severely injuring the other.
After exchanging over a hundred blows, both were covered in wounds, their bodies swaying unsteadily, leaving numerous bloodstains on the martial arts stage.
During a brief pause to catch their breath, Li Zigeng panted heavily like an ox, his body hunched. He turned his one swollen eye, in which his pupil was barely visible, toward Chen Jinzhu's direction.
Chen Jinzhu remained expressionless, merely staring back at him with a silent, commanding look: Continue.
“Ahhh!” Li Zigeng roared in anguish and charged at Yu Xiao.
Yu Xiao roared in kind and lunged at Li Zigeng.
Neither dodged nor evaded, focusing entirely on offense without any defense.
Thud! One palm strike landed squarely on the other's chest, while a fist smashed directly into the other's head. Then, both froze completely.
Below the stage, the watching disciples' hearts leaped into their throats, not daring to breathe. They wondered what kind of deep-seated grudge existed between the two to make them fight so ruthlessly.
Blood began to seep from the corners of Li Zigeng's mouth and ears. He felt a sudden bout of vertigo, and his vision began to fade to black.
He was the first to give out. His palm slid weakly off Yu Xiao's chest, and his body fell straight backward.
Bang!
Lying sprawled out on the martial arts stage, he stared up at the blue sky as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
If only I hadn't accepted the Chen family's sponsorship back then... If only I had worked a bit harder on ordinary days... If only... He lost consciousness.
Yu Xiao was in no better shape. His eyes were bloodshot, and he forced down the metallic taste of blood rising in his throat. Just as he tried to take a step, he stumbled, tripped over the prone Li Zigeng, and collapsed. After struggling twice, he failed to get back up.
Among the disciples below, Zhuang Xun, who had finished his matches long ago, watched this scene and shook his head.
How pitiful.
I should probably think of some preachy life lesson here, but unfortunately, my mind is completely blank. I don't know what to say.
Whatever, let's just go with some random lines. Let's see—
Zhuang Xun: “A person must rely on themselves!”
Yan Pingsheng: “Ohhh! Well said, well said!” (Claps hands)
Bai Yujing: “Ohhh! Well said, well said!” (Claps hands)
Debt-Lending Bladesman: “Ohhh! Well said, well said!” (Claps hands)
Yan Qingshan: “Ohhh! Well said, well said!” (Claps hands)
Zhuang Xun's other former clones: “Ohhh! Well said, well said!” (Claps hands)
Yan Pingsheng: “Father, aren't you dead?”
Yan Qingshan (Reanimated): “Screw you.”
While Zhuang Xun was playing out this little theater in his mind, because Yu Xiao and Li Zigeng were severely injured and unable to fight, their next-round opponents, Chen Jinzhu and Liang Shaohua, advanced directly. Thus, the top ten of the martial competition was decided.
They were: Yu Wuyong, Chen Jinzhu, Chen Qing'er, Liang Shaohua, Liu Ziyang, Liu Yun, Xia Yiqiu, Yan Pingsheng, along with a deeply hidden female disciple who possessed great perfection martial arts, and a male disciple with extremely rich combat experience.
These ten would compete in another round tomorrow to determine their rankings among the top ten, after which they could be promoted.
I'll just slack off tomorrow. Anyway, the qualification for the Upper Two Courts is secured. I also need to control Bai Yujing to come over.
Besides his identity as the academy's Chief Disciple, Bai Yujing was also a true disciple of the Formless Courtyard. Every year, he had to lead the disciples promoted to the Formless Courtyard to their new home, which was an old tradition of the Wanxing Martial Academy.
Zhuang Xun had only learned of this yesterday after being reminded by Zhou Ziruo.
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