Chapter 88 - 73: The Kidney-Cutter’s Redemption (3)

Chapter 88: Chapter 73: The Kidney-Cutter’s Redemption (3)

After all, the Dual Blade Master’s performance just now had been quite impressive.

It even seemed like he was a shoo-in for the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.

But who would have thought that he would be completely powerless against the Spear User?

"Heh! This kid is not bad!"

Zhao Ci was secretly pleased. As a master Spear User himself, he could tell the Spear User’s fundamentals were incredibly solid. His thinking was also clear; he constantly maintained the advantage of his long weapon and was an excellent observer, having seen through all of the Dual Blade Master’s weaknesses.

The only fly in the ointment was his insufficient physical strength. If the Dual Blade Master’s True Qi had been at its peak and this was their first encounter, the Spear User’s odds of winning would have been less than thirty percent.

But that was something that could be easily remedied with resources, which was completely acceptable to Zhao Ci.

"Your spearmanship..."

Zhao Ci’s interest was piqued, and he wanted to ask a few more questions.

But he never got the chance.

The words had barely left his lips when someone else leaped onto the stage.

"Brother, what fine spearmanship! I am Bao Longtao, and I wield a Long Sword measuring four feet and one inch. Please, grant me a match."

"Let’s have a match!"

The Spear User didn’t even hear Zhao Ci’s voice clearly before immediately assuming a stance.

Zhao Ci’s brow furrowed slightly. This new challenger seemed to be in a great hurry. He glanced over and saw Zhao Yong staring intently at the Martial Arts Arena, not even looking his way.

’Tsk!’

’Who do you think you’re fooling?’

’Usually when I look at that guy, he always puts on a refined act and meets my gaze. This time, he’s avoiding my eyes. If he isn’t hiding something, what is he doing?’

’Bao Longtao, is it?’

Zhao Ci looked toward the stage and, sure enough, saw a line of text above Bao Longtao’s head.

[Bao Longtao’s Current Wish]: Beat all potential experts into dust. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +10, Ultimate Clay-Baked Chicken Recipe x1.

’What kind of weirdo is this?’

Without a change in expression, Zhao Ci struck the bronze bell on his table.

The moment the bell rang, Bao Longtao charged forward, Long Sword in hand. His Body Technique looked simple and unadorned. When the spear shaft swept toward him, he simply raised his sword to block. Aside from the angle of his block, his movements were no different from the Dual Blade Master’s.

But the result was completely different.

The Spear User’s expression changed drastically, his hands barely managing to keep their grip on the spear shaft.

By the time he recovered, Bao Longtao had already closed the distance. He could only retreat repeatedly, trying to create some space again.

Normally, in a situation like this, an opponent would never give him the chance to pull away.

And yet... he managed it.

The moment they clashed, it looked like two clumsy novices pecking at each other.

And Bao Longtao, this supposed novice, looked flustered and angry as he attacked with his sword again. The exact same script played out, and he succeeded once more.

The Spear User was instantly put in an incredibly sorry state.

The two quickly became locked in a tangled struggle.

The crowd around the Martial Arts Arena fell silent. This... seemed a little weak.

A Spear User letting someone get close so easily.

A Swordsman who couldn’t maintain his advantage for even a moment after finally getting in close.

They hardly seemed like people who could pass the examination to become a Martial Scholar.

Zhao Ci, however, saw the trickery involved. This Bao Longtao was definitely an expert. His blocking technique was very similar to the force-neutralizing skill of the Imperial Extreme Scattering Hand. It looked simple, but in reality, his True Qi easily traveled up the spear shaft to vibrate the Spear User’s grip. In that situation, it was impossible to hold the spear steady.

And during that moment, closing the distance was incredibly simple.

It was like a top-tier player fighting a high-tier one, but deliberately using idiotic-looking methods to win, making both of them look like complete beginners.

’Whoa!’

’Yongzi really put some thought into this! Even among the scions of the great clans, a genius like Bao Longtao must be rare!’

This "novice-level pecking" went on for a full quarter of an hour before finally ending with the Spear User’s defeat.

The Spear User was completely stunned. He stood frozen in place for three breaths before bitterly admitting his skills were inferior and leaping dejectedly from the Martial Arts Arena.

The crowd below was quiet for a good while, then suddenly, in an instant, they began to whisper among themselves.

"Uh, what just happened?"

"How did that brother seem like a completely different person?"

"That spearmanship was absolutely atrocious!"

"But how did he win the last match?"

"He must have secretly studied his opponent’s moves inside and out. That’s the only reason he looked like an expert."

"That makes sense. If he really had any skill, he wouldn’t have been beaten so badly."

"A shame for the Dual Blade brother, getting defeated by someone like that."

Hearing this, the Spear User couldn’t help but feel ashamed. He had the urge to just turn and leave, but he refused to believe that the spearmanship he had painstakingly honed was so pathetic. There was something very fishy about this Bao Longtao.

’I can’t leave!’

’At the very least, I have to see what this person’s true background is.’

’But the position of Mansion Official in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion is probably out of reach now. I was hoping to get that Top-Grade Qi Cultivation Pill to achieve a breakthrough and get a good ranking in the Prefecture Examination. What a pity...’

Meanwhile, Bao Longtao was panting heavily, acting as if he were thoroughly exhausted. He cupped his fists and said, "Your Highness! After such a grueling battle, my stamina is completely drained. Please allow me to recover my energy before I go up and embarrass myself again!"

Zhao Ci nodded. "Permitted!"

His tone was flat, as if he were quite disdainful of this pair of "novices."

Next, the competitions continued.

It had to be said, there were still quite a few talented individuals among those participating in the Prefecture Examination.

There were many who were skilled enough for Zhao Ci to take note of them. However, as soon as these people won their matches, they would be "pecked" off the Martial Arts Arena by Bao Longtao in another "novice-level" fight. Bao Longtao would then step down to "recover his stamina," waiting for the next "novice."

This put a damper on the entire banquet.

It wasn’t until the very end of the banquet that an unbelievably formidable figure emerged.

This formidable person’s name was Xiao Shenke. His weapons were a pair of Emei Needles. His Body Technique wasn’t top-tier, but his application of it was exquisitely masterful. Facing a Swordsman who also had a decent Body Technique, he toyed with him, slicing the fabric over a dozen vital points on his opponent’s body and forcing him to drop his sword in surrender.