Only after the people streamed in did Mao Zimiao and Wu Shiqin show up. The latter still had a fight left, while the former had two. Yesterday’s wounds hadn’t completely healed, as was evident by the unnatural hint of red on Wu Shiqin’s face, but Ai Dinglan made sure she was fit for battle.
The girls were taken aback by Wang Qi’s state. Wu Shiqin was the first to react. “You thought that losing to someone at Ai Changyuan’s level wasn’t such a big loss so you thought you might as well give up trying?”
“Shiqin, Little Qi isn’t that kind of guy, nya… nya?”
It would seem that even Mao Zimiao’s endless and questionable trust in Wang Qi was rattled.
“Wa-ha-ha-ha, no worries, let me solve a few hard problems and I’ll be sober in no time, like a true bookworm!”
Was what Wang Qi said in reply to everyone’s skeptical looks.
It didn’t take long for the Eminence Stage’s Primordial Spirit overseer to set up the barrier and set the stage for another heated competition in today’s examination.
It was the last chance for Argent Apex disciples to wash away the shame, while Langde was gunning for the last fruits of victory. However, if there was one thing the both sides agreed on, that was to go all out.
Depressed and morose as he might seem, Wang Qi knew his situation best. Last night’s fervent calculations taxed his spirit, but the Upper Clarity Fractal lording over his soul made sure recovery was just around the corner. Even if the Immortal Alliance set up so he’d fight Ai Changyuan right now, he could hold his own by relying on spiritual power to stimulate his spirit for the hours-long glorious showdown ahead.
Probability theory, in the end, was always fair. Wang Qi didn’t have to go that far.
While he waited, Mao Zimiao had a match with someone from Langde. The demonborn girl’s opponent used Thunder Art, with flashing lighting and was adept in both offense and defense. Though Mao Zimiao had trained half a year in Evolution Chart, enough to combine her demonborn innate strength with her cultivation, given the majestic demon power she showcased in her every move. She even trained somewhat in having the ‘natural selection’ aura.
In the end, the fighters were evenly matched, but the advanced Evolution Chart trumped over Thunder Art. The deadlock was short, as Mao Zimiao came out on top by knocking out her opponent.
Wang Qi watched her smiling face as she returned and wanted to congratulate her, but a flat and unfeeling voice echoed throughout the stages.
“Langde Immortal Institute’s Ai Changyuan and Argent Apex Immortal Institute’s Wang Qi standby at 1st stage 9th arena.”
The calculator’s voice had no inflection, tone, or punctuation, yet it still lit a fire in many people’s eyes. [The strongest of every institute ares ducking it out! It’s a duel of monsters!]
After a brief moment of silence, for the news to set in, the examination area roared with cheers.
“Finish him off, Ai Changyuan!”
“Don’t lose, Senior Brother Wang!”
Both camps shouted at the top of their lungs.
Feeling the many eyes on him, Wang Qi stood with a sigh and stretched. “I guess there’s no time for a couple more problems.”
“Just how obsessed are you with problems?” Wu Fan quipped like an episodic character.
Wu Shiqin asked, “Confident?”
Wang Qi beamed as he went ahead. “Out of the question. Ai Changyuan specializes in offense. With a little luck, or bad luck, the fight’ll be over with the first blow.”
“Good luck, Little Qi!” Mao Zimiao rushed over to cheer him on.
“I know, I know. I’ll make sure to win gloriously.”
Hu Jianghao watched Wang Qi and Ai Changyuan walk on stage with seething anger.
[Curses, that should be me being cheered on!]
Immense irritation for Ai Changyuan aside, Hu Jianghao still hoped the guy would knock Wang Qi into the ground.
Only a crushing win over Argent Apex would provide him the first step in fulfilling his ambition.
The people watched as the strongest two peers finally met.
It came as a surprise how there was a lack of animosity from either of them, with not even a snarky comment being thrown. “Bothersome, no?”
Ai Changyuan looked around hinting at the outside with his head.
The two acted like old buddies.
“To be honest, I’ve been looking for this fight for a while now.”
“Same here. I’ve wanted to clash with a Transcendent’s descendant as well.”
“I’m not just my ancestor’s descendant.”
As they chatted, the match on the 1st stage 9th arena came to an end.
It was a somewhat important fight too, eclipsed, however, by the most anticipated battle that was to come. None bothered with it as a result.
All pairs of eyes watched as the two drifted on stage with a flex of their movement arts. Wang Qi aimed for Myriad Arts Sect and lightness skill was one way to do it. His feet touched the ground in a series of light and accurate steps, with precise control over the energy used. Ai Changyuan exploded with force, jumping over in one leap.
The two were so in tune that they each picked a corner as if they agreed beforehand. After the judge identified them, the fight would begin. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩
The moment the fight started, Wang Qi felt his opponent’s aura erupt. The guy’s aura was like boiling lava, rising higher and higher.
“Ready? I won’t go easy on you.”
Wang Qi smiled. He turned his hand to grab the blade at his waist, laughing. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Formless power rose around the blade. It was no Saber Energy, but formless yet real, Grand Ripple Enigma’s ripples turned physical. The ripples were constricted so that the blade would heat up to a bright red.
Ai Changyuan felt the waves becoming more and more chaotic in an attempt to cancel out the heat.
Celestial Entropy! The burn damage suffered from that attack was only secondary, especially since Celestial Entropy’s disorder energy would flow into the body to trigger entropy amplification and cause ‘Heat Death.’
The danger didn’t come with fear in Ai Changyuan, only excitement.
At this point, all that remained for them to do was…