Gu Zuo and Tianheng weren't the only ones who didn't predict this. Everyone present didn't antic.i.p.ate this happening.
The Prince Beside the Emperor Cang He stared blankly ahead. Then, he couldn't help clapping and laughing heartily: “Good, good, good! Our Cangyun Empire actually has three people advancing to the finals. This is seriously the best!”
The numerous martial artists of the Cangyun Empire all reacted differently.
Duanmu Qingrong and Sima Yuanyou's expressions were very odd.
But the Helian clan members recalled that Zhanghao previously received a Gongyi Clan medicinal pill. Suddenly having this kind of luck would make one think: If it were Helian Xingcheng who entered these matches, maybe the one to have this luck could've been him? Whether jealousy or reproachfulness, their emotions were a jumbled mess. Yet, even more than that, they were unwilling.
Although Zhanghao was ordinarily cold and arrogant, there was a flash of rapture in his eyes.
He took a deep breath. Standing next to his own Xiantian protector, it was as if he didn't notice the needle-like gazes from all the martial artists from the other countries.
This was his luck. If possible, he hoped to recover faster. He also had to compete with others for several matches in the finals!
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On a stone platform.
Zou Qingyue glanced at Zhanghao: “Who's that?”
Liu Wuyuan pondered for a moment: “Apparently, he's a martial artist from a third cla.s.s empire.”
Luo Yanfang said: “That's Huangfu Zhanghao, a partic.i.p.ant from the Cangyun Empire. His strength is regarded as only average. That he could make it to this final juncture is entirely based on luck.”
Zou Qingyue revealed a hint of a smile: “An extremely lucky person is also beneficial to the sect.”
Yanfang said: “Momentary luck shouldn't be utilized.”
Wuyuan interjected: “It could also be a combination of luck and skill.”
In this way, the three spoke for a bit, and all of them had their own opinions.
At last, Zou Qingyue said: “In the end, whether if it's luck or skill, we'll see it in his performance in the finals. If it's the latter, then we could actually make an exception…”
Luo Yanfang and Liu Wuyuan heard this and both nodded their heads: “What junior sect sister says is true.”
Such statements about luck were only briefly hinted at, and weren't brought up again. These kinds of words absolutely weren't information that could be known by the citizens of the other empires.
There were only those who genuinely walked certain paths that could've glimpsed at bits and pieces of their conversation. However, that was something to deal with in the future.
Down below.
It wasn't long before the fourth round's five winners emerged. Among them, two were from first cla.s.s empires, and three were from second cla.s.s empires. As for third cla.s.s empires, there was only Huangfu Zhanghao.
At this point, they'd become candidates who could partic.i.p.ate in the finals.
— They were on the verge of joining the ones who bested the grindstones and advance to the final battles.
Their achievements would determine the status of their countries.
They didn't have to wait till the next day for the finals. Rather, it would begin immediately.
Right away, it was time to draw lots again. The remaining thirty eight people would conduct their matches on the six platforms.
This time, because of the number of people, there would still be two rounds where someone would take a free pa.s.s. If there was a lucky person who could persevere through the first set of matches, that person would automatically advance since there would be nineteen people during the second round.
After calculating with great difficulty, Gu Zuo silently transmitted his voice: Big brother, you said that Huangfu Zhanghao might be able to keep pa.s.sing?
Gongyi Tianheng looked calm: Anything is possible.
…If he was able to win in the first round.
Gu Zuo understood this kind of subtle, unspoken dialogue.
However, the lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d Zhanghao definitely wasn't the most important one now. The most important one was his honorable big brother. After how many b.l.o.o.d.y trials, he'd finally come to the part where he could fight face to face.
He didn't know this time around, but what ranking did his big brother want to get?
Yes, after Gu Zuo watched the performances of those martial artists, he felt that the ranking and so on were already firmly under his big brother's control. He could get whatever rank he wanted. Even if a great majority of his opponents were half-step Xiantian, to his big brother, they were merely peak Houtian ninth stage martial artists who'd completely condensed their bone pearls. He could suppress them all one by one.
Merely, Gu Zuo wasn't able to guess what his big brother was specifically thinking. But no matter what, he certainly had a plan… Right?
Gu Zuo also didn't ask.
His thoughts, which still kept worrying about Tianheng, caused him to start second-guessing himself when he watched the battles on the platform previously.
Tianheng's appearance was composed. Gu Zuo didn't see how he moved, but he was already before the three Immortal realm martial artists. The thirty eight people were well-behaved, and when that Zou Qingyue shot her hand out, the dozens of dusky tiles that flew out like lightning were quickly grabbed by them!
Immediately after that, they lowered their heads and looked at the contents of the tiles.
On the tiles were written countless names.
Each one that a martial artist grabbed had the name of their opponent.
Perhaps it was through some furtive pull, but there actually wasn't a single martial artist who grabbed their own name.
The allocation wasn't considered very challenging.
Next, that Liu Wuyuan scattered a handful of wooden lots.
And written on these lots were grade numbers divided from one to four, which were the sequence they were to get on the platforms.
After that, the finals were about to begin.
Gongyi Tianheng didn't read them urgently. Once he returned to Gu Zuo's side, he took out the tile and lot.
Written on the tile: Feiyu Country, Zheng Hong, Half-step Xiantian.
The wooden lot had the number one.
Gu Zuo understood with a glance: “Big brother, take care.”
Tianheng faintly smiled: “Then, I'll be going.”
Gu Zuo waved his hand.
Tianheng's footsteps created a gust of wind and his body became an indistinct shadow as he flashed by. His landing on the right side of the stone platform was neither fast nor slow.
This body technique was too fast. Many people didn't have enough time to see his movements before he was already standing on the platform.
On the contrary, after waiting for a few moments, his opponent Zheng Hong dropped onto the other end of the platform like a leopard.
Gu Zuo couldn't see the particulars of Tianheng's movements. After staring distractedly, he focused his psychic power in his eyes.
This time, when he looked at the platform, everything was clearer.
In his mind, he inwardly thought: It seems big brother's strength has had a new change…
That's right. Tianheng never deliberately concealed when he practiced his martial arts, but Gu Zuo couldn't see through this time's footwork. So he could've had a very recent insight.
However, Gu Zuo didn't feel it was especially odd.
Because the martial skills his big brother learned were usually improved versions and his cultivation method was self-created, the moves he employed would be like a heavenly steed soaring across the skies. As for the change in appearance while fighting, that'd be making a fuss about nothing.
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Gongyi Tianheng was already clashing with Zheng Hong.
Zheng Hong was a talented martial artist from a second cla.s.s empire. He was only twenty one years old, and was a half-step Xiantian realm. Under his guidance, his every move faintly carried the power of heaven and earth. This at least doubled the power of his martial skills. This also matched his treacherous body techniques. In merely the blink of an eye, he already carried out over ten consecutive moves, which blanketed Tianheng from all directions.
Then, Tianheng acted.
His feet slightly staggered as his body became smoke-like. And although it looked like he acted very agilely, it unexplainably gave people the impression that he was actually very slow. This seemingly slow martial skill steadily resisted Zheng Hong's every move. Each of Tianheng's fists that hit his flesh made thumping sounds.
Gu Zuo heard those sounds and suddenly felt a little jittery.
It was as if all these impatient noises wanted to pour into your skull. Each one would leave your heartbeat in an abnormal state, like it was being suspended from a string. With your pulse suddenly slowing or quickening, it was extremely hard to bear.
Under these sounds, you'd feel like you'd want to vomit, but nothing would come out. There was a brain-piercing buzzing like you've suffered heavy blows to the head over and over again!
Gu Zuo, who almost lost consciousness, bundled his body in psychic energy.
This way of using it could be considered flexible armor, a defensive object that would protect his body. Isolated from those noises, he gradually relaxed.
At this moment, he abruptly reacted.
It was a rhythmic sensation.
When his big brother exchanged blows with that person, the sounds that were produced could be called an accursed rhythm!
That was practically cheating…
Gu Zuo flung his head around, his complexion paling as he looked at his surroundings.
At this time, he discovered that those Xiantian martial artists were merely furrowing their brows, but the partic.i.p.ating martial artists who were holding their numbered tiles were revealing jittery looks.
Unfortunately, they didn't have psychic power. They could only forcefully endure it, leaving each of their complexions miserable.
The Immortal realms monitoring the platforms were also paying attention.
Zou Qingyue's looks changed: “Eh?”
Liu Wuyuan glanced at Gongyi Tianheng. His expression didn't look too good as he clicked his tongue: “Just a minor accomplishment.”
Luo Yanfang gave a rare approval this time: “One should seize every opportunity.”
Zou Qingyue's gaze swept across the two and didn't speak again.
She still paid attention to this seedling, and felt that his methods were very modern. Merely, she also couldn't disagree with the other two as a consequence.
Let alone what those Immortal realm powerhouses thought, the reactions of just those partic.i.p.ating martial artists in the audience were so intense. One could well imagine what Zheng Hong, who was fighting with Tianheng on the stage, was feeling.
Oh, if one wanted to summarize… It was just like being dragged into a quagmire and having someone ring a golden church bell covering his head. Strike after ferocious strike left him dizzy with blurred vision. He opened his mouth, feeling like he needed to throw up.
Zheng Hong's heart was embittered.
What kind of monster did he encounter? There were martial skills he'd never seen before. There were many styles that looked familiar, yet weren't. And he wanted to resist the changing moves, but more and more emerged. When he was fast, the guy seemed slow but was actually fast, and when he was slow, the guy seemed fast but was actually slow. In short, what his eyes could see was completely different from what he could sense.
He was being led by the nose…
After exchanging two or three hundred moves, Zheng Hong found his head hurting more and more and his eyes were seeing stars. When he made his moves, it was even harder to judge his opponent's momentum. Unwittingly, his body had already suffered dozens of attacks.
If this continued, he might simply be beaten to death!
As for his opponent?
Zheng Hong barely cracked his eyes open to see that his counterpart was still calm and unruffled. Each of his moves were still familiar and unfamiliar, so much so that it was as if he'd already been struck many times over…
He suddenly understood.
His opponent was letting him save face, and keep his life.
If he didn't tactfully forfeit, then the consequences might be very wretched.
After that, Gu Zuo, with his five sharpened senses down below, heard Zheng Hong speak.
“I forfeit.”
Gu Zuo abruptly revealed a great, big smile.
He realized that his big brother had won, as expected!
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