Chapter 143: The First Day Concludes
The instant the Presiding Elder announced the match result in a resonant voice, the entire Grand Competition Arena seed to ignite.
Cheers, gasps, and heated discussions intertwined into a boiling sea of sound.
Long Tao nearly leapt to his feet from the Comntary Platform in excitent—not only because of the breathtaking match, but because he realized that Nan Yuchen’s strength far exceeded his expectations.
Ever since he had decided to personally take on the Comntary Work, the greatest difficulty of the System Task had been whether Nan Yuchen could truly break into the top four.
Though he had always joked that placing the system’s task on Nan Yuchen was simply standard storybook protagonist wish-fulfillnt plotting, for a disciple who had only just broken through to the third level of Foundation Establishnt to reach the top four in a Grand Competition filled with elites was no small feat.
While the gap between minor cultivation levels was not as despairing as that between major realms, it was by no ans insignificant.
Outside the sect, when facing a few unaffiliated cultivators with no background who practiced trash techniques and had unstable foundations, it was not particularly difficult for elite sect disciples to cross one or two minor levels to slay their opponents.
But this was the Grand Competition—everyone here was an elite. If Nan Yuchen could truly accomplish that, it would be sowhat outrageous. Yet the facts proved that what seed outrageous to ordinary people was rely daily routine for a genius.
Still, he could tell that although the match had ended quickly, it had by no ans been easy. Lu Wenjie truly had real strength.
Otherwise, Nan Yuchen would never have chosen such a perilous head-on exchange at the final mont. With even the slightest mistake, his protective barrier would have shattered first.
After his excitent eased sowhat, he picked up the “microphone.”
“It’s over! The match actually ended in this way!” Long Tao’s voice, amplified by the Speech Pivot Pearl and formation, spread across the entire arena, carrying barely restrained excitent.
“Perhaps to many people, this match ended a bit too quickly—but I believe… the process was absolutely not as easy as it appeared, especially that final exchange. It felt like either side could have won! Isn’t that right, Senior Brother Fang?”
“Indeed.” Fang Wuqi responded calmly, a faint smile of admiration and excitent on his face.
“Junior Brother Lu was by no ans defeated as easily as it appeared on the surface. The reason this match ended so swiftly was because both sides coincidentally chose a strategy of rapid resolution. Had Junior Brother Lu opted for a steady, prolonged battle, he could certainly have dragged the fight out. But he would rather sacrifice face and choose the tactic with the higher chance of victory. That decisiveness is worthy of praise.”
As a spectator with higher cultivation and broader experience, Fang Wuqi had naturally seen through the entire match and understood Lu Wenjie’s choice.
If it had beco a prolonged battle, though he appeared to possess more spiritual energy, his actual chance of victory would have decreased.
However, by extending the fight, even in defeat, he would not have lost too much face—after all, his opponent was a genius.
Yet he still chose to gamble.
Therefore, Fang Wuqi did not want Lu Wenjie’s strength and decision to be misunderstood, and he imdiately offered clarification.
Long Tao eagerly followed up.
“Moreover, Senior Brother Lu has completely changed my impression of him! The young male disciples in the sect always thought he was just a pretty-faced young master with nothing but looks. Who would’ve thought—who would’ve thought! On the battlefield, Senior Brother Lu is actually decisive, calm, and fiercely bold—a real man! The way you fought just now was far more handso than your usual elegant image with a folding fan!”
His words instantly sparked enthusiastic responses throughout the arena. Many disciples loudly agreed.
When soone fought with everything until the very end, even in defeat, most people would not speak ill of them.
By now, the Soundproof Barrier had been withdrawn.
Hearing this evaluation, Lu Wenjie could not help but reveal a faint, relieved bitter smile. He had never imagined that after such a swift defeat, he would receive such a reaction.
In previous competitions, uninford spectators would likely have mocked him for being defeated by soone of lower cultivation, rarely bothering to consider the tactical reasoning behind it.
Thinking of this, he inclined his head slightly toward the Comntary Platform in silent thanks.
At the sa ti, he learned from Long Tao’s words—for the first ti—what image he held in the eyes of the male disciples. It seed he would need to change that slightly.
“Senior Brother Lu, that final move was truly magnificent.” Nan Yuchen approached, dragging his heavily wounded body.
The right half of him was stained with blood, and several deep wounds on his right arm exposed bone, making for a shocking sight. “To encounter an opponent like you in my very first match—it was truly wonderful.”
“Not at all.” Lu Wenjie shook his head with a bitter smile, his gaze complicated as he looked at this astonishing junior brother. “To be honest, I am still unwilling to accept it. This was likely the only chance in my lifeti to defeat you. Next ti we stand on the sa stage, I fear even my cultivation level will be surpassed by yours. Thinking of it… it truly is regrettable.”
……
At the sa ti, the Long family group at the edge of the arena was equally exhilarated.
“Xiao Ying! These senior brothers and sisters are all so amazing! And big brother too—his comntary is… decent, I suppose. It’s just that he seems to predict wrong every ti.”
Xiao Ying suddenly recalled that in over a dozen matches today, most of the winners Young Master had predicted during the matches had ended up losing. His luck was truly dreadful.
Even guessing at random should at least have resulted in half correct. What a crow’s mouth he had.
Yet what occupied her mind more at this mont was whether, three years later, she could also reach Foundation Establishnt like Nan Yuchen and directly participate in the Grand Competition.
If she could also stand in the lilight like that, would Young Master praise her more during his comntary?
Thinking of this, she clenched her fists again. Xiao Ying! Once they returned, she would have to cultivate diligently!
……
After Nan Yuchen’s heart-stirring match ended, the emotions of the entire audience seed to have undergone a cathartic release and gradually settled.
However, perhaps influenced by that thrilling duel, the pace of the subsequent matches noticeably quickened. The contestants seed unwilling to prolong their battles.
Most astonishing was the duel between two sword cultivators. They had agreed to determine victory with a single strike.
The instant the elder’s “Begin” fell, before the Soundproof Barrier could even be raised, two streaks of sword light had already crossed. Victory and defeat were decided in a flash of lightning.
As a result, before dusk had even fallen, all thirty-two matches of the first day had concluded. Even more surprising, until the very last match ended, the spectator stands remained completely full.
This stood in sharp contrast to previous Grand Competitions. In the past, once the most anticipated matches concluded, spectators would gradually leave, showing no consideration for the later contestants.
When the final match ended, Long Tao collapsed onto the desk.
Although he had known it would be exhausting, it still far exceeded his expectations.
Thinking of the coming days of such high-intensity match-watching and comntary, he felt utterly drained of hope.
anwhile, Fang Wuqi beside him appeared rather excited.
The experience of Comntary Work was not only novel, but observing the arena while simultaneously speaking about it provided a unique perspective he had never experienced before.
It seed he himself had gained greater insights as well.
Just as the two intended to return and rest, a large group of relatives and friends imdiately surrounded them, questions flying in all directions, leaving them no chance to escape.
……
In the VIP seating area, the Sixth Imperial Princess of the Suhuang Heavenly Dynasty had been staring at a certain spot for quite so ti.
“Yuezhu, let’s go.” The Sixth Imperial Princess’s voice was gentle as water, yet carried unquestionable authority. “It’s ti you went to see that heartless man.”
Shao Yuezhu lowered her head slightly, her delicate face filled with conflict.
“Mother, please don’t say that. Senior Brother had his own difficulties back then.”
“Difficulties? Following that little girl of the Long family and hiding here in the Nine-Xia Realm as a steward for so many years—I’d say he’s been living quite comfortably. I see no sign of hardship.”
At this mont, Uncle Liu, who had been following behind the Long family group, seed to notice sothing as well.
He looked toward the elevated seating opposite them and let out a helpless sigh.
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