The four people still remaining had to carry out two matches. The two who won would enter the top three. Afterwards, they could vie over those top three places. As for those numerous martial artists below them, they could only fight for the remaining rankings.
At this time, someone discovered that in this rendition's Hundred Countries Tournament, there was a third cla.s.s empire that actually appeared to have…unprecedented abilities.
Currently, there was the lucky Huangfu Zhanghao who already entered the top three. He was from the Cangyun Empire. Of the remaining four fighting over the top three, two were also from the Cangyun Empire.
If those two Cangyun martial artists triumphed in these matches, wouldn't the top three positions all be in the Cangyun Empire's bag? Even if it were one victory and one loss, or if both simply suffered defeat, the achievements of the Cangyun Empire this time would've still surpa.s.sed all the other countries — Correct. Even those first cla.s.s empires couldn't be compared to the Cangyun Empire right now.
This just made everyone think: What was the mysterious background of that Cangyun Empire?
After they carefully thought it over, they realized that although the Cangyun Empire could've always been planning ahead, generation after generation, it was merely only one of the several strongest third cla.s.s empires. Perhaps they could occasionally compare to a second cla.s.s empire whose comprehensive strength was very weak. But when it came to them pressuring the developmental trends of a first cla.s.s empire like this time, then it truly left people flabbergasted — It felt inconceivable.
And there were conspiracy theorists who thought that maybe the Cangyun Empire had been hibernating for many years and was now intent on “waking up” [1]. Merely, they had second thoughts and realized that even if the national power of the Cangyun Empire was great, even if the Cangyun Empire truly hid its strength and made schemes early on, it couldn't guarantee these kinds of achievements all of a sudden.
Supposing that only one person could enter the top five… On the contrary, this was still somewhat normal.
In reality, these people had indeed guessed correctly.
This time around, if it weren't for Gongyi Tianheng meeting Gu Zuo and having his rubbish body fixed, he certainly wouldn't be here. And if he weren't here, Huangfu Zhanghao wouldn't have received a Rejuvenation Pill to save his life. If it had been like that, then there'd only be the one meticulously nurtured by the royal family, the exceptionally talented Cang Yu who actually schemed a hundred ways to get here. He could've risen into the top ten or even the top five.
If it was like this, the Cangyun Empire would've received the attention of many discerning people, but it wouldn't have astonished them like right now.
However, now wasn't the time to consider this.
After Gu Zuo teased his big brother, he watched Tianheng leap onto the stage.
The opponent Tianheng greeted had already been explained to Gu Zuo previously. The strength left in the martial artist was nearly the same as Cang Yu.
And Cang Yu's opponent, whose cheers were especially loud, was a seeded player from a first cla.s.s empire.
— The Qingcang Empire's unrivaled genius, who was first place in the first round's trial: Hecheng Feng.
Although this kind of distribution was the result of drawing lots, there wasn't anything significantly fishy going on.
On the contrary, because it was like this, people felt it was fair.
If Tianheng fought Hecheng Feng and Cang Yu fought the other person, the ultimate winner of the former combination would naturally be very convincing. However, the latter combination would inevitably make people somewhat disapprove.
Yes, if it weren't for Zhanghao's previously eye-catching good luck, Tianheng and Hecheng Feng would've been the most powerful martial artists. Now that the shock Zhanghao brought had already quieted down a little, the battle between them returned to its initial appearance — Becoming something that people antic.i.p.ated the most.
Beneath the platform, Gu Zuo's vision swung back and forth between both sides.
Of course, for each match from start to finish and no matter what kind of opponent he faced, his big brother used the exact same strategy, with the exact same frequency, and with the exact same att.i.tude. He whittled down his opponent's true qi and threw his opponent's tempo into disarray, thereby winning.
After each of his matches ended, those watching were unable to tell how much true qi he used up or whether if he still had trump cards.
This time also was no exception.
Even though it was already the final match determining the top three places, the opponent still had the vague appearance of an average martial artist. And similarly, within two or three hundred — Uh, no. Perhaps, the strength of the opponent this time wasn't ordinary, or perhaps it was due to Tianheng feeling that he should change things up. The opponent withstood four to five hundred moves before his rhythm gradually collapsed. With his clothes drenched with sweat, he was unable to resist.
Moreover, there was the other martial artist of the Cangyun Empire. Wasn't Cang Yu and Hecheng Feng's battle entirely one-sided?
Hecheng Feng was a seeded player, and nurtured by a first cla.s.s empire. He even had a bit of reputation with the Qingyun Sect. How could he not have real martial arts in his possession?
Cang Yu fought for a little over one hundred moves before he fell to a disadvantageous position.
At this time, he profoundly understood that when the many opponents he met before were added together, they still didn't threaten him as much as Hecheng Feng did.
This was reality.
In addition to the one ama.s.sing the luck of heaven and earth, there was the one who could be considered an extremely rare genius. Ordinary and extraordinary talents had risen up from a third cla.s.s empire. Even if their Xiantian qualifications weren't inferior to those first cla.s.s empires, their life experiences [2] and their Houtian cultivations were limited. These things created this kind of chasm-like disparity for them.
To say the least, he was unable to bridge the gap at this time.
And until one chanced upon a fortuitous encounter in the future, everyone wouldn't be able to stand at the same starting line… But this was only a rough estimate.
Cang Yu also wasn't too disappointed.
In the empire, he was secretly nurtured by experiencing many more life and death trials than those five young masters of the imperial capital's Clans. Gongyi Tianheng wasn't included for the time being, but if it were the other four, they definitely weren't comparable to Cang Yu.
His will was extremely tough, and couldn't be compared to ordinary martial artists.
Although his prospects declined more and more, Cang Yu's mind was actually considering an idea —
He was already doomed to lose to Hecheng Feng. So if he put forth all his efforts and used up more of Hecheng Feng's strength, when it was time for his and Tianheng's match, could he increase Tianheng's odds of success?
However, in the end, Cang Yu wasn't someone without a brain.
Martial artists often had to do their best in all aspects, but there were many times they had to smoothly compromise — Naturally, this definitely wasn't saying that they had to restrain their own pride to bow and bend their knees. Rather, they had to consider that they shouldn't be the one who attracted the most attention during non-mandatory situations.
…This could also been considered a self-defensive method to avert trouble.
The current Cangyun Empire was already very conspicuous. Among them, the astonishingly lucky Zhanghao was too strange, so onlookers didn't say anything about it. Cang Yu lost this time and only settled in the top ten, receiving some applause. All except Tianheng. If he beat that first cla.s.s empire's seeded player, even if he won fair and square, it could possibly ruin that first cla.s.s empire's potential plans and draw their ire.
— This was a hidden danger.
So, what was Gongyi Tianheng thinking about?
Cang Yu would become a partic.i.p.ant in the top ten, and he would inevitably go on to challenge a second cla.s.s empire and forcibly take their rank. If Tianheng needed an even greater certainty of beating Hecheng Feng, if he still had a valuable technique that could only be used once, he'd need to use it immediately — Once Tianheng won first place, the empire of this number one martial artist could naturally be promoted to a second cla.s.s empire. And if Tianheng had such intentions, he could stop himself in time should Hecheng Feng be too difficult to deal with. Tianheng could forfeit in advance, and then make preparations for the challenges taking place immediately after. At the same time, if Tianheng wasn't aiming for first place, he wouldn't use up too much strength. Doing the challenges together with him would up their chances of success by ten percent. [3]
Both methods previously mentioned would be good for the Cangyun Empire.
Yet, the crucial point was still Gongyi Tianheng.
As Cang Yu thought this, his gaze fell upon Tianheng.
At this time, he found that Tianheng had just won, and Tianheng's eyes were also looking at him as if he'd expected it… For a split second, Cang Yu was slightly amazed.
But he calmed down very quickly.
While his attentions were split, his falling prospects grew increasingly clear. Yet, just at this time, he saw Tianheng faintly shake his head. He understood in the blink of an eye.
Cang Yu didn't delay. The longsword in his hands suddenly hacked at Hecheng Feng. When the lengthy halberd in Hecheng Feng's hands immediately swept out, he quickly retreated and jumped off the stage!
“This contestant Cang concedes defeat. I forfeit.” He thus stated.
He Chengfeng withdrew the halberd with ease.
He won.
Hence, those vying for the top three became Hecheng Feng, Gongyi Tianheng, and Huangfu Zhanghao.
Cang Yu and the other martial artist who lost compared notes. The two bitterly struggled for a long time, but Cang Yu still begrudgingly lost.
Naturally, Cang Yu didn't fight with his all. The gap between fourth and five place definitely wasn't so obvious.
Up until now, the looks of envy and even malice that the Cangyun Empire was receiving were even greater.
Cang He looked all around and stood upright and unafraid.
Since the empire could have these kinds of achievements, as the empire's Prince Beside the Emperor, he couldn't show the tiniest weakness!
At this moment, the members of the Five Great Clans, including Princess Yaomin, all stood majestic and tall.
Even the Helian Clan similarly stationed themselves around the Prince Beside the Emperor —Regardless of the amount of hatred they had, at the very least, they had to safeguard their own empire at this time.
Gu Zuo sensed everything that happened and sighed a little in his heart.
Clans. Empires.
There were many things rooted in one's blood that he didn't resonate with. Yet, if he thought about his dad, he could also roughly understand.
Ah, camaraderie…
After that, Gu Zuo flung his head back.
What was he feeling rueful about now? He was daydreaming too much.
The most crucial point right now was that his surrogate big brother was about to fight with Hecheng Feng!
In the fight for the top three places, drawing lots again wasn't necessary.
Discerning people would all know that Zhanghao had relied on luck to get here. During the matches for the top three, it wouldn't be likely to make Tianheng and Hecheng Feng both suffer first. After that, wouldn't Zhanghao become the “king of no fighting”?
As a result, it was arranged for Zhanghao and Tianheng to fight.
Since not drawing lots was considered to be restraining Zhanghao, it was in consideration of Zhanghao's needs to compensate a little — An ally versus an ally wouldn't create any danger to one's life.
Huangfu Zhanghao absent-mindedly entered the top three places. Even he himself never expected it. He'd watched many scenes of Tianheng fighting others, and clearly understood that he wasn't Tianheng's opponent.
Thus, he made a decision in his heart long ago.
After a little more than ten moves with Tianheng, he experienced that sense of defeat. He immediately pulled back and forfeited.
Soon after, Zhanghao met with Hecheng Feng — He discovered the killing intent in his eyes.
And before his counterpart unleashed himself, Zhanghao forfeited at once.
Finally, it was Tianheng and Hecheng Feng's turn to fight.
Gu Zuo secretly wrung his fingers.
In the end, was his big brother going to win or not…
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[1] 翻身 - Fan shen, to turn over (when lying down), to free oneself, or change one's fate.
[2] 出生后的眼界 - Chu sheng hou (after one is born) de yan jie (scope, ken, knowledge)
[3] This whole paragraph was a little difficult for me. I'll probably have to work on it some more.
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T/N: I have a paper to write, so the next chapter may be delayed to the weekend. Also, does anyone know if it's Hecheng Feng or He Chengfeng?
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