The instant Zheng Hong forfeited, Gongyi Tianheng stopped his hand.
And just as he stopped his hand, the sensations that left people jittery immediately faded away.
Zheng Hong shook his head. Previously, it felt so heavy. The pain of holding down a big rock in his stomach had scattered at this moment. He felt his whole body lighten, but his frame of mind wasn't the least bit relaxed.
He lost.
He burst into the finals with great difficulty, but he lost in the first round. This kind of loser was doomed to only be reduced to a “phoenix tail.” [1]
According to the rules of the Hundred Countries Tournament, each country that entered the finals could receive rewards from the Qingyun Sect. They could also have their invisible rank upgraded. But, the amount it was upgraded and the amount of rewards obtained all relied on how well their representative fought.
If it was a country that didn't enter the finals, their talented martial artist was just a flickering light. If there was a martial artist who entered the finals and issued them a challenge, then that country's position might change.
— For example.
Suppose a certain first cla.s.s empire's martial artists suffered a complete wipeout, and didn't have anyone in the finals. If a second cla.s.s empire's martial artist entered the finals and obtained a particular ranking, he could possess the right to issue a challenge. If that first cla.s.s empire had all its martial artists die, then the challenger wouldn't have to fight and would win by default. The challenger's country of origin would be promoted to a first cla.s.s empire and that first cla.s.s empire would drop to second cla.s.s. Both sides would switch positions.
And suppose the first cla.s.s empire still had some people left over. Then, the challenger would challenge the opposite party's martial artists. After continuously besting three people, they would similarly be able to take the other empire's rank.
Merely, in order to prevent the situation from becoming too chaotic, third cla.s.s empires couldn't skip ahead to challenge first cla.s.s empires.
Just as the current Cangyun Empire was cla.s.sified as a third cla.s.s empire, if Tianheng and the others obtained good rankings, they could go challenge a second cla.s.s empire that didn't have any martial artists who entered the finals. Thereby striving to promote the Cangyun Empire to a second cla.s.s empire.
Zheng Hong's current situation was that he already lost the qualifications to promote his own empire. As a loser who lost in the first round, after the finals ended, he could only challenge others who similarly lost in the first round. Once he beat them, he could forcibly take the other finalist's rewards. The more people he beat, the more rewards he could take. In a country with an identical cla.s.s, the stronger his empire's position would be.
How could this not leave him disappointed?
However, Zheng Hong's dejection wasn't a rare case at all. In the initial nineteen fights of the first round, there was bound to be nineteen people to suffer the same fate as him.
As for the achievements of the winner at life, Gongyi Tianheng, he didn't look down upon Zheng Hong at this time. He also didn't reveal any smug expressions; he simply looked the same as always. Just then, using the same strange footwork when he got on the stage, he instantly returned to the small territory of the Prince Beside the Emperor and the others.
Gu Zuo's eyes faintly shined.
He customarily opened his mouth and said: “Congratulations, big brother!”
Tianheng's fingers previously twitched to ruffle his hair, but stopped themselves.
There were currently many people watching him. A few actions in front of them could still be taken note of. Otherwise, it needn't be said that it would give people a misunderstanding and adversely affect his little pharmacist's safety.
Gu Zuo looked Tianheng up and down for a bit. He found that there really wasn't the slightest injury, and was very pleased.
In his mind, he transmitted his voice: Big brother, do you need a Qi Generating Pill?
Tianheng's eyes held a smile: No need, Ah Zuo.
Gu Zuo understood.
His big brother meant that the match just now was just a warm up.
It was just that easy!
On several other platforms, three or four matches still hadn't ended.
Gu Zuo was just listening to Tianheng's explanations when he sensed that there was a gap in strength between the martial artists of the finals and those from the previous battles. He also gradually came to understand the subtleties and weak points of a few moves in his heart.
According to his big brother's suggestions, the more he knew, the more likely he was to realize the opportunity to release his psychic power to stop his opponent in the future. If he was skilled, he wouldn't even need to be forced to use his silver drill to try and explode his opponent's head. He would just need to use his psychic power's silver needle. With that opportune strike, he could even get a result with half the work and twice the effect! This could cut down on a lot of psychic power.
Gu Zuo thought deeply.
His psychic power was limited. Just like true qi, the more proficiently he used it, the bigger the advantage he had.
He could continue honing himself this way.
Very quickly, the first set of matches ended. The winners were already determined.
In the subsequent second set, it was astonishingly Huangfu Zhanghao on the first platform!
Gu Zuo stared blankly.
It was because Zhanghao's opponent… Why did he seem to be strong in appearance, but weak in reality?
Tianheng's expression suddenly became a little subtle.
Gu Zuo hesitatingly said: “Young master Huangfu's opponent is…”
Tianheng sighed: “It was during the second round's trial. He's someone who persevered to the end. However, at that time, he suffered twenty to thirty sword wounds and lost a lot of qi energy. Although he could directly enter the finals, if he didn't have a long time to recuperate, he'd be in a state where he couldn't recover. In this trial, appears a situation where someone who pa.s.sed has worser injuries than someone who didn't pa.s.s. Only here could there be such a thing.”
Gu Zuo: “…”
In other words, that lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d Zhanghao would still continue on, right?
He didn't know how to describe this kind of feeling.
Because of this, Gu Zuo developed a very strong interest.
To be honest, he was just a teenager. In the modern era, with the information age's big bang, although he was comparatively busy with his livelihood and stayed at home, he also heard others mention a few topics from time to time.
Like this case of being born with exceptionally good luck. When someone rarely talked about it, he merely considered it as listening to gossip, and didn't particularly pay much attention. He even thought that it was just hearsay.
He didn't expect that he could really see this kind of person.
The following development came as no surprise. Huangfu Zhanghao was none too gentle as he defeated his opponent. Unexpectedly, he smoothly advanced once again!
This would leave anyone amazed. After the third and fourth set of matches on the platforms ended, when the winners drew lots again, Zhanghao got the free pa.s.s again!
This was truly…
The corner of Gu Zuo's mouth curled: “Big brother, I think maybe young master Huangfu will reach the end just like this. What do you think?”
This time, Tianheng shook his head: “No.”
Gu Zuo was stumped: “Why?”
Tianheng said: “He could pa.s.s the second round, but he'll still need to fight in the third round. Among the many martial artists currently fighting, there aren't any who're weak. It would be in the fourth round that there would be another free pa.s.s. [2] If nothing unexpected happens,, then Zhanghao should stop at the third round.”
He somewhat muttered to himself and said: “However, even though it's like this, Zhanghao's luck can be said to be excellent.”
Once Gu Zuo heard this, he thought it over and felt that what Tianheng said was very reasonable.
It was only if there was a martial artist who got the stomach flu during the third round. Otherwise…
The second round's matches immediately began after that.
Gongyi Tianheng was still in the first set to go on stage. He still fought using that method that left a person jittery. His opponent guarded against it early on, but there were some fighting styles that he definitely couldn't resist without preparation. This was just the kind of Gongyi Tianheng who would leave a person completely out of sorts. As it happened, there was no way to deal with him.
Just like before, after two or three hundred moves, Tianheng leisurely won.
No matter how the others watched him in this time's fight, they still couldn't tell how much power he had in the end. It left them unaware of the limits of the trump cards he'd play. Yet, he really was just this effortless.
However, while Tianheng's performance was a little strange, it was far from being conspicuous.
After all, each martial artist who could reach this stage had their own hidden tricks. Each match was also unusually brilliant with its own outstanding points.
In fact, each time a certain martial artist used his martial skill, it practically shook the earth. It truly left people stunned, and they viewed him as a formidable opponent.
However, in one match, there were two battling martial artists who were both on the brink of losing.
Through this pyrrhic victory, both their bodies were in tatters.
This kind of injury obviously couldn't be treated in a short time.
Gu Zuo felt a little like sighing.
He didn't know why but he had a premonition in his heart… After that, he turned his head to look at his big brother.
Tianheng also stopped: “Ah Zuo, keep watching.”
Gu Zuo's eyes twitched: “Okay.”
This matter's development…still had the pattern of something unexpected.
The third round's lot drawing.
The lot Zhanghao drew was that person. It was precisely the martial artist who lacked the strength to fight again.
This round was even more ridiculous than the first round. The opponent didn't even have the strength to stand on the stage. Huangfu Zhanghao didn't fight and just won!
At this time, Tianheng showed another victory. Yet, besides Gu Zuo and Gongyi Zhuoyue, the members of the Cangyun Empire's aristocratic families were all paying attention to Zhanghao.
— Not him. This was because his experience was already too legendary.
Though he didn't carry everyone's expectations, when it was time to draw lots for the fourth round, he still go the free pa.s.s again! He directly advanced to the top three places!
At this time, Princess Yaomin, who always calmly accompanied Cang Yu, let loose qi energy that could propel a person for five hundred kilometers. With the voice of a little cutie, she said: “Imperial elder brother, this, this is very weird.”
Cang Yu's expression was also very peculiar. He thought it over and slowly shook his head: “Perhaps… the Immortal realm powerhouses would know what's going on?”
He bitterly laughed in his heart — Huangfu Zhanghao had luck that was in defiance of the natural order. Gongyi Tianheng had enigmatic strength. As for him, although he risked his life to reach the fourth round, it was clear that it was impossible for him to win in the fourth round's matches.
To say nothing of Duanmu Qingrong and Sima Yuanyou, their faces showed bitter smiles. They only felt that this matter was hard to put into words. Even at this moment, Helian Xingcheng somewhat forgot the humiliation the Gongyi Clan brought him. Switching over to Zhanghao, there arose a trace of jealousy and resentment.
Xingcheng had always been blessed by the heavens and his luck was always extremely good. And after this Hundred Countries Tournament, it was like all his luck had been transferred to Zhanghao…
Gongyi Tianheng's eyes beheld everything.
His gaze slightly flickered.
…The Gongyi Clan, the royal family, and now the Huangfu Clan on top of that.
Ruminating over calculations like this, Tianheng's sleeves lowered. He turned his head to see that Gu Zuo met his gaze.
Gu Zuo was also felt it was interesting: “Big brother, this time, you didn't guess correctly.”
Tianheng couldn't help laughing: “Yes. I guessed wrong this time.” His vision immediately turned distant, “Huangfu Zhanghao's luck is truly enigmatic…”
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[1] (龙头)凤尾 - Long tou feng wei, dragon's head, phoenix's tail, based on the negative connotation 虎头蛇尾 (tiger's head, snake's tail: strong start, but weak finish).
[2]
1st Round: 38 -> 19.
2nd Round: 18+1 -> 9+1.
3rd Round: 10 -> 5.
4th Round: 4+1 -> 2+1.
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