The competition is divided into three rounds, corresponding to grades A, B, and C, with the C-grade nursing ho competition starting first.
"The rules for this competition are simple: anyone who wins seven matches in a row can beco a B-class nursing ho guard!"
Pang Long sat in a temporary shed as heavy snow fell around, covering everything in white. He had a heater next to him and so warm green tea, looking quite leisurely.
After announcing the rules, he took a small sip of the hot tea. This was "Kung Fu Tea" awarded by his wife, which helps to soothe the muscles and bones and detoxify and nourish the qi.
His wife said that he had reached the "Half-step Food Essence" realm and was at a crucial juncture. She was very attentive to him, often inquiring about his health and giving guidance.
In front of him was a spacious flat ground with a platform set up.
To the right side of the platform stood more than forty people, all C-class nursing ho guards participating in the competition.
Li Xian was among them.
"Each duel will be arranged by . Those whose nas I call, please quickly co up to the stage for the competition."
"Does anyone have any objections to these rules?"
Pang Long put down the teacup, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.
"No objections," the crowd replied in unison.
"Commander Pang knows each nursing ho’s strength most clearly, and having him arrange opponents is indeed the best fit."
From what Li Xian knew of Pang Long, with him presiding, there should be no underhanded tricks. Moreover, strength speaks for itself, and anything else is just an illusion.
"The competition begins, the first group, Gao Xiong versus Zhang Wai."
As soon as the voice fell, a shout of "Bravo" ca, and suddenly, soone leaped onto the stage from the crowd. The lightness of their body was an eye-opener.
This person was Zhang Wai, who had been a nursing ho guard for three years and was skilled in the leg technique "Continuous River Leg."
The man nad "Gao Xiong" walked up to the stage. After a simple greeting, the two began their match.
When Zhang Wai first kicked, it was caught by the opponent who threw him sideways with force.
Flying out of the platform, he slid several zhangs before stopping, plowing a furrow in the snow, unable to rise again.
"This person is quite formidable." Li Xian frowned, becoming secretly vigilant.
He thought to himself:
"According to the rules, one needs to win seven straight matches. Although there are forty participants, the chance of eting this man in the fifth, sixth, or seventh match is quite high!"
He kept this in mind but remained unflustered.
"Gao Xiong wins!"
Pang Long looked at the list, pondered for a mont, and called out two more nas.
People continued to go on stage to compete, with the winners staying and the losers standing outside the arena. After a few rounds, the number of people decreased significantly.
It was not until the fourth match that Li Xian’s na was called. Relying on the Four Directions Fist, he won easily.
"Good kid, with this level of skill, it’s indeed impressive." Pang Long’s eyes showed appreciation.
After the initial round, those qualified to vie for the B-class nursing ho spots had almost all erged.
There were eight people in total, including Li Xian, who had all beco aware of each other, eyeing and comparing themselves in secret.
"Li Xian versus Ye Qing!"
After four consecutive wins by Li Xian, Pang Long called his na again.
This ti the opponent was a seven-year veteran nursing ho guard, skilled in seven martial arts, one of the strong opponents Pang Long had ntioned.
"Apologies!"
The two t on the platform, greeted each other, and imdiately started fighting.
Indeed, it was a good fight, as Ye Qing had learned "Opening and Closing Palm," "Flying Flower Hand," "Four Directions Fist," "Earth Plate Leg," and several other martial arts. Although only at a mastery level, the inner qi accumulated from several martial arts was quite impressive.
Seeing that Li Xian also knew the Four Directions Fist, he first used it to probe him, wanting to topple strength with strength, to discern who was superior.
"This man is rash, with more courage than skill." Li Xian thought to himself after a few exchanges.
Ye Qing, realizing his fist technique couldn’t match Li Xian’s, imdiately changed his moves, switching to the Opening and Closing Palm.
This palm technique emphasizes large openings and closings, complented by his inner strength. If exhibited from the start, it would have been difficult for Li Xian to withstand.
However, he had first engaged in Four Directions Fist combat with Li Xian, allowing Li Xian to understand his fighting style. When he later switched moves, Li Xian was already prepared.
As a result, Li Xian’s punches pressed in, hindering Ye Qing’s Opening and Closing Palm from fully deploying.
The fight beca stifled, with the palm technique failing to expand properly, its power diminished to a fraction. Ye Qing, feeling frustrated, saw no effect from the palm and switched to using the Earth Plate Leg.
In doing so, he exposed a flaw. As he changed moves, Li Xian launched a double punch, bringing up a spray of snowflakes. At a glance, his two fists beca four...
Ye Qing hastily defended, unable to discern the truth from falsehood.
"Bang!"
With a loud noise, Ye Qing was thrown out of the platform as Li Xian cupped his hands in greeting, declaring victory.
"Ye Qing’s inner qi is indeed strong, but sadly he couldn’t exert his advantage fully."
Li Xian felt more confident, "It seems these veteran nursing ho guards lack in combat experience. Even if I lack a solid foundation, I still have significant room to maneuver."
After this battle, Li Xian had won five matches.
The sixth match was against "Gao Xiong." This man was indeed a formidable opponent, much more challenging than Ye Qing. He was born with great strength, and his seemingly clumsy movents were actually difficult to defend against.
He mastered three martial arts, one horizontal martial arts training "Vajra Skill," and two grappling martial arts "Dragon Capturing Hand" and "Crane Capturing Hand."
The Vajra Skill focused on "external strength," cultivating physical prowess and robust physicality. The "Dragon Capturing Hand" and "Crane Capturing Hand" aid at grappling.
It was evident his path was to capture the enemy’s limbs and win by relying on his imnse strength. He didn’t aim to defeat opponents through martial arts but to throw them off the platform.
Li Xian first used the Four Directions Fist to bewilder, making it difficult for Gao Xiong to distinguish real from fake punches. Attempting to grapple naturally beca extrely challenging.
After several tries, Gao Xiong grew frustrated.
Then Li Xian suddenly executed the mighty Wild Bull Fist.
Skillfully employing both fist techniques, he landed a punch on Gao Xiong’s face, winning once more.
"Impressive!" Pang Long nodded frequently.
Throughout these matches, Li Xian had both advantages and disadvantages, but he made every effort to avoid the latter and highlight the forr. The victories were clean and beautiful.
Don’t underestimate the simplicity.
Pang Long, who practiced boxing in his youth, understood the fierceness of boxers. When a punch is thrown, it all depends on one’s natural reactions to the opponent.
Upon reaching middle age and further advancing in boxing skills, one learns to conserve and control strength, becoming more adept.
That’s when thoughts gradually add to the boxing, learning to analyze strengths and weaknesses and how to cleverly seize victory in a fight.
To achieve this, one is already capable of defeating the strong with the weak.
"This guy... I wasn’t wrong about him. He is indeed very talented," Pang Long was now certain that one of the three spots would go to Li Xian.
Li Xian’s final opponent was nowhere near as challenging as Ye Qing or Gao Xiong.
He achieved victory smoothly.
Pang Long announced, "In this nursing ho competition, the first to be promoted to a B-class nursing ho guard is..."
"Li Xian!"
As his voice fell, the gathered nursing ho guards looked at Li Xian with great envy.
"Li Xian is truly amazing. He’s been here for less than a month and has already beco a B-class nursing ho guard. This has never happened before!"
"He already had a boxing foundation, and his Four Directions Fist was extrely proficient. His victory isn’t surprising."
"A B-class nursing ho guard... I’ve always dread of becoming one."
"To beco a B-class nursing ho guard at such a young age truly holds endless potential!"
...
The crowd was bustling with noise.
"Li Xian, since you’ve won, co inside and have a seat. Warm yourself by the fire," Pang Long called.
"Alright."
Li Xian quickly ran into the shed, shaking off the snow on his body and gently exhaling.
From today onward, he had taken another step forward, rising another level, now a B-class nursing ho guard!
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