The competition list for the top ten matches was out. Since it was divided into two groups, the schedule was more intense than before.
There were two matches on the morning of the 13th and two more in the afternoon.
Fang Ping and his team were placed in group A. On the 13th, MCMAU was up against SCMAU at 8 a.m. with SCMAU against FMS at 3 p.m.
It was the same for group B.
At 10 a.m. NMAU went up against DNMAU, with CCMAU facing ESNNU at 1 p.m.
When the schedule came out, it caused an immediate sensation!
Four matches in a day—with the top four martial universities and the military schools all going up against each other on that same day!
All of a sudden admission tickets became highly sought after!
However, CCMAU simply did not plan ahead for the four matches on the 13th. To avoid any hassles, they even sold tickets on competition day itself for only 1000 bucks.
Consequently, when the schedule came out at noon that day, there were already people selling tickets for 10000 bucks on the internet. By midnight, the price had skyrocketed to 30000 bucks per ticket!
...
Fang Ping regarded CCMAU with utter disdain in light of how they managed their ticket sales system.
Just because it was too troublesome, these fellows could not be bothered to seize the chance for making a profit, even with all this easy money thrown at them!
There were four matches per day, all of them middle-ranked matches. This was an average of 250 bucks per match. Were they hinting that it was not worth watching the Rank-4s compete? [1]
Followed the competition schedule, each university had to battle for four rounds. With five universities in a group, that would be a total of 10 matches.
Since there were two groups, there would be twenty matches. Four matches in a day would mean five days of competition.
On top of that, there were still the upcoming Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Finals. The Government had expressed its wishes for the competition to end by December so that it would not take up too much of the students’ time. The tight competition schedule meant more intense combat, but shorter recovery periods for all contenders.
The unfortunate SCMAU had to fight two matches in a single day. However, they were certainly no exception to the rule.
...
Sunday, December 13.
When the day arrived, the number of people who turned up was massive. There was also a large gathering of fans outside the entrance of CCMAU, many of them holding banners in support of their favorite teams.
By this point in the Martial Arts Championship, some of the universities and individual contenders had gained a considerable number of fans.
Apart from those who gathered onsite, the number of spectators watching the live-stream also increased as the event happened to fall on a Sunday.
On the 13th, the first contender of the day was MCMAU.
When the car with the MCMAU team arrived, a great roar went up from the crowd outside the venue!
“MCMAU, one of them’s worth more than five!”
“The number one martial arts uni, the rest will all fall to them!”
“Fang Ping, I love you!”
“Trash SCMAU!”
“...”
The thunderous cheers continued, wave upon wave; Fang Ping’s ears hurt.
He noticed his friends in the car looking at him. His face darkened and he retorted, “Don’t pay attention to them!”
D*mn it, Old Man Chen still held a grudge against him. He would be embarrassed to do as they suggested; these were real fans!
At the end of the day, however, MCMAU was still an elite university. They might have only fought one match so far, but when Fang Ping was on the battle stage, he dominated it, attracting countless fans.
A few of his teammates could not help being amused nonetheless. Chen Wenlong hesitated for a moment before venturing, “How about if you start the match?”
“No, you start. We can’t just solely highlight my abilities. MCMAU has countless powerhouses! This battle against SCMAU should be no problem. Later on, things will get tougher as FMS and SNMAU are hard nuts to crack. I’ll start only if we need to intimidate the other party.”
For the matches against SCMAU and TMAU, Fang Ping was happy to let Chen Wenlong be the starter.
On the list of the top one hundred powerhouses, there were no weaklings!
Chen Wenlong might not be as famous, but that did not mean he was weak. For him to go up against SCMAU and TMAU on his own was not difficult at all.
On CCMAU’s side, Qin Ze was chosen to start the match instead of the usual Li Hansong. This allowed the school’s other competitors to shine.
The greatness of a martial arts university did not lie solely in the strength of a single person.
No matter how strong Wang Jinyang from NMAU might be, no one would ever think that NMAU was equal to the Big Two.
Chen Wenlong took a deep breath. No matter what, the pressure was always there however slight.
He was not afraid of failure, but he was afraid of being unable to break through his opponent’s defenses.
They were getting out of the car when Chen Wenlong thought for a moment and asked, “Chen Haoran is quite strong; should we go easy on him?”
Chen Haoran was the grandson of Grandmaster Chen, but that was not important. The point was that he was Chen Yunxi’s older brother.
MCMAU might be ruthless to outsiders but they would always look out for their own people.
“No need for that. As a gesture of honor and respect, if you can finish the match off with one punch, do it.”
Fang Ping said this matter-of-factly. Anyway, it was not as if Chen Wenlong owed anyone money; there was nothing to be afraid of.
“Alright, understood.”
Chen Wenlong nodded, as a military commanding officer, he was a lot less opportunistic than Fang Ping and more forthright in character.
...
CCMAU stadium.
This time around, CCMAU chose to host the battle for the top ten in an outdoor stadium.
This decision served to increase the number of spectators. A wire fence had been erected as a barrier and only those with admission tickets were allowed in, while the rest were not allowed into the CCMAU compound. Even so, many CCMAU students had gathered outside the fence.
Perhaps because CCMAU had not taken advantage of being on their home turf in their previous match, many CCMAU supporters had come out in full force, even though CCMAU was not scheduled for a match today.
When Fang Ping and his team reached the stadium, the crowd outside the stadium once more erupted into roaring chants.
“CCMAU, slay them all!”
“CCMAU, fight them relentlessly!”
“...”
When Fang Ping heard them, he rubbed his ears and smirked, “CCMAU is silly; all of them are definitely silly to be chanting like this!”[2]
A few CCMAU students nearby heard him and flushed angrily; they wanted to bash him up so badly.
They were baying for his blood.
Fang Ping could not be bothered. He walked into the stadium, level-headed and composed. A huge battle stage had been set up right in the middle of the stadium.
However, this battle stage was only for decorative purposes.
The rules for this competition had changed. As long as one did not admit defeat and exit the stadium, leaving the battle stage was not counted as losing.
...
“The MCMAU team has arrived!”
“MCMAU’s instructor has submitted the name list for their team. Will Fang Ping still start the match this time?”
“Alright! SCMAU has also submitted their team’s name list. Let’s reveal the battle order for both teams!”
“MCMAU”s starting contender is...Chen Wenlong! Seems like MCMAU has modified their strategy as Captain Fang Ping will not be the first one up. Are they feeling the pressure or are they just playing it safe?
Chen Wenlong, Rank-4 martial artist and 68th on the top one hundred ranking list!
Compared to Qin Ze of CCMAU, Chen Wenlong is ranked much higher. However, we haven’t had a chance to watch Chen Wenlong in combat. His most recent battle was on November 18th, when he challenged Zhang Qingqiang, an instructor from SSUST. However, since it was a private battle, we were unable to witness it.
Rumor has it that Chen Wenlong defeated his opponent with just three strikes—that’s some incredible power right there!
Currently, the Rank-4 members in the top one hundred ranking list are Li Hansong of CCMAU who fights barehanded with fists, and Chen Wenlong who also fights with fists. Both contenders are known as the Gods of Fist-fighting. Who exactly will prevail?”
“Alright, let’s have a look at SCMAU’s name list. The first to fight is...Chen Haoran!”
“Chen Haoran, president of SCMAU’s Martial Art Society and a Rank-4 Upper-stage martial artist. Although his ranking is slightly lower compared to Chen Wenlong, nevertheless, he is extremely strong. Previously while battling against MCWU, Chen Haoran single-handedly struck down five opponents in one go, easily defeating MCWU.”
“...”
By now, the commentator was enthusiastic and in full voice.
After some more commentary regarding the lineup of both schools, a powerhouse soon shouted, “The first contender from both parties may go on stage!”
Chen Wenlong and Chen Haoran each walked towards the stage from opposite sides.
From his position in mid-air, the same powerhouse continued bellowing, “The battle for the top ten is not restricted to the battle stage. However, both parties must neither leave the stadium nor cross over to the spectators’ area. To finish the battle, you may either admit defeat or fight until an opponent is completely knocked out!
There must be no murderous intentions and no blows after one has conceded defeat!
Besides these restrictions, there are no more rules!”
After the rules were announced, the powerhouse in mid-air waited for both opponents to finish their martial salutes before shouting, “Start!”
“Thud!”
Chen Wenlong launched off the ground into the air, fists raised to strike!
Chen Wenlong already had his boxing gloves on; they radiated cold light. As his Vitality force circulated, a blood-red mist began billowing from the gloves.
Chen Haoran was not taken aback. The moment Chen Wenlong made his leap, Chen Haoran leaped too. His body moved at the speed of light, leaving faint afterimages.
The thud came not from the sound of both parties exchanging blows, but from Chen Wenlong pushing off into the air. The force of his launch step was so massive the battle stage began to shake.
The battle stage was made of alloy, but the surface beneath it was soil.
At this moment, the huge battle stage started shaking slightly and began sinking into the ground.
Speed was not Chen Wenlong’s strong suit. However, he had cultivated his bodybuilding techniques to a certain level and his extremely strong physique allowed him to be very fast.
To the crowd, Chen Haoran exemplified lightning-swift movements, while Chen Wenlong’s movements seemed bullish and clumsy with choppy afterimages.
“You can’t dodge this!”
Chen Wenlong shouted coldly. As he raised his fist mid-air, a flash of blood-colored light sliced through the void.
At the same time, the dazzling glint of a sword sliced down from mid-air!
“Boom!”
A loud explosion sounded. Without warning, a long sword appeared right behind Chen Wenlong’s chest!
Chen Haoran was extremely nimble. Chen Wenlong, on the other hand, looked somewhat clumsy. Evidently speed was not his forte.
...
Off the battle stage.
Fang Ping glanced at the battle stage and shook his head slightly.
Chen Haoran had lost.
When martial artists fought, if one was not as strong and not as fast, the battle usually ended swiftly.
Just as expected, while Fang Ping shook his head, the seemingly oblivious Chen Wenlong made a single coordinated movement. Grasping the long sword securely with his left hand, he sent a ferocious punch forward with his right.
At this moment, the powerhouses could all see Chen Haoran, who also moved decisively. He abandoned his sword and retreated as swiftly as he could.
However, Chen Wenlong, who had thus far always seemed a step behind, pursued his target relentlessly. His speed had increased shockingly and his fist was getting closer to his opponent.
It only took the blink of an eye for his blood-colored fist to reach the throat of his foe.
Chen Haoran’s expression altered slightly and he sprang into the air. The moment he leaped, Chen Wenlong’s punch landed home, striking Chen Haoran squarely on the chest.
“Bam!”
Chen Haoran’s hands curved into claws as he tried to block the attacks. The impact of Chen Wenlong’s blow caused his hands to shake violently and the sound of an explosion thundered through the stadium Both his hands started to bleed, his alloy-like skin badly ripped.
“Boom!”
Chen Wenlong was merciless and his blows were lightning-fast. He sent out dozens of consecutive punches with just his right fist alone. Chen Haoran tried as much as he could to retreat and block but he was helpless due to the disparity in their strength. His hands and mouth were bleeding profusely.
As a Rank-4 Upper-stage powerhouse, his blood had considerable density. Every blood drop that fell to the stage made a soft sound like tiny steel balls rolling.
A few moments later Chen Haoran was forced off the battle stage due to his opponent’s continuous attacks. Chen Wenlong, eyes cold and sharp, continued in his offense, sending out more than 10 punches with his right hand. He continued holding onto Chen Haoran’s long sword with his left hand.
The minute Chen Wenlong saw that Chen Haoran had retreated off the stage, he suddenly released the sword in his left hand, sending it flying through the air. The sword pierced through Chen Haoran’s abdomen with such force that it pinned him to the ground!
Up until now, Chen Wenlong had shown no signs of slowing down. A blood-red burst of Vitality enveloped both of his fists!
“We concede!”
From the dais in the distance, Chen Yaoting finally spoke up.
Chen Wenlong halted his attack and went to help Chen Haoran up.
Chen Haoran looked clearly dejected. He did not say a word but nodded slightly to indicate that he was fine. He carefully pulled the long sword from his abdomen and kept his palm pressed onto his wound while exiting the battle area.
The recovery rate of a martial artist was extremely rapid. Although Chen Haoran had been pierced through the abdomen, his injuries were not that serious as Chen Wenlong had held back so as not to injure his internal organs.
Nevertheless, Chen Haoran was dejected because this encounter with Chen Wenlong left him with no chance to defend himself.
Even if it seemed like an impressive match, Chen Wenlong had not showcased the full extent of his capabilities.
In terms of speed, Chen Wenlong was definitely not lacking.
When one had achieved Peak Rank-4, obvious weak points were rarely present, especially in prodigies. If speed had really been Chen Wenlong’s weakness, he would have been killed in the Catacombs long ago.
...
Outside the battle stage.
Yao Chengjun asked solemnly in a low voice, “Bai Xu, are you confident about this?”
The young man in military uniform beside him furrowed his brows and answered, “Less than 30%...”
Yao Chengjun nodded slightly. This meant that there was a high probability of them losing. If FMS went up against MCMAU, they needed to at least crush Fang Ping and then strike down Chen Wenlong. Only then would their chances of winning increase.
“Fang Ping...”
Yao Chengjun eyed Fang Ping from afar. Up until now, Fang Ping had not showcased much of his abilities. All his fights had been against Rank-4 Middle-stage martial artists. No one knew the true extent of his capabilities.
“That saber he has...”
Yao Chengjun shifted his focus onto the saber that Fang Ping had at his waist. Prior to this, Fang Ping had never used a saber.
...
Chen Wenlong had decisively defeated Chen Haoran, which meant that the end results for SCMAU were a foregone conclusion.
A second Rank-4 Middle-stage martial artist went onto the battle stage. In less than 20 seconds, Chen Wenlong landed a punch on his opponent’s chest and the crack of bone could be heard!
“Old Man Chen is still not surrendering... is he a masochist?”
Fang Ping muttered something about disastrous outcomes when one stubbornly insisted on going up against MCMAU.
There was still another match against FMS in the afternoon. If this went on, SCMAU might not be able to fight in that match.
Chen Yaoting abruptly appeared next to Fang Ping with no warning. He calmly said, “I wanted SCMAU’s students to see how lacking they are. After the first three contenders, the disparity in skill becomes far less pronounced. The difference between two adjacent placings is nothing more than a few hundred million in funding.
“SCMAU students will only strive harder and improve if they realize how weak and how far behind they are.
“How is it that my students are not as capable when all of them are young prodigies of the same era?” Chen Yaoting frowned, “This is because they don’t have enough pressure. Just because they are invincible at school doesn’t mean they will be invincible elsewhere. After this, SCMAU’s Peak Rank-3 martial artists will continue to contend. Win or lose, at least they now know there is always someone out there who is better than them!”
Fang Ping swallowed and smirked, “Principal Chen is indeed a man of vision!”
The old man had appeared so abruptly; had he overheard what Fang Ping had said about him earlier?
Honestly, sometimes people could scare each other to death.
Chen Yaoting did not continue the conversation. When his third student was struck down and seriously injured by Chen Wenlong, Chen Yaoting shook his head. The disparity in skill was just too wide.
...
“The victor is MCMAU!”
The referee announced the outcome a minute later.
Chen Wenlong defeated five consecutive opponents with ease!
In all honesty, SCMAU was not weak at all. They did have Rank-4 Middle and Upper-stage martial artists, but somehow they still were soundly defeated. This made the other martial arts universities extremely anxious.
As expected from the big Two, talented students were in abundance.
On MCMAU’s side, excluding Fang Ping, they still had Chen Wenlong. One of him was sufficient to bring CCMAU, FMS, and a few other stronger universities to their knees. The rest of the other universities could only bow their heads in defeat. Even without Chen Wenlong, there was still Zhang Yu and Qin Fengqing; both of them could easily defeat SCMAU.
This was truly pressure of the highest order!
The weakest contender from MCMAU was Xie Lei, and even he was a thrice-honed Rank-4 Middle-stage martial artist. Although Chen Haoran had recently achieved Upper-rank status, he might still not even be a match for Xie Lei!
At this moment, spectators and martial artists alike were experiencing an emotional rollercoaster ride.
Elite schools were definitely not created equal.
“NMAU and DNMAU, prepare for your matches!”
Matches always ended quickly and martial artists never bothered waiting for the scheduled time. Everything they did was swift, efficient, and never late.
Currently, the match set for 10 a.m. had already begun.
When the crowd saw Wang Jinyang from NMAU walking out with a saber, many of them sighed a little.
In fact, NMAU was quite weak. They were not like the Big Two, where there were many powerhouses in the lineup even if their captain did not compete.
If NMAU did not send Wang Jinyang out as a contender, there was no one else to hold the fort.
Wang Jinyang had never cared about how others saw him, nor did he need other people’s sympathy. If NMAU was weak, he would make them strong. The day would come when NMAU would be as strong as the Big Two, where any one of them could easily overpower their peers!T
[1] In the Chinese spoken language, the number 250 connotes stupid or worthless. This number is usually avoided in pricing as well.
[2] the chant “CCMAU, slay them all” and “CCMAU is silly” have the same pinyin in mandarin.