Chapter 496 - 495: It’s Time to Show Real Strength!

Nine in the morning.

The massive Bird’s Nest stadium was packed, not a single empty seat in sight.

As the host strode onto the stage, the atmosphere shifted—the finals were about to begin.

"Ladies and gentlemen here at the venue, and to all our friends watching from home—welcome back to the Martial Arts Conference!" The host’s voice rang out with practiced eloquence. "After countless battles, only four players remain. Today, here in this very arena, they will decide victory and defeat!"

"Now, with thunderous applause, let us invite our top four contestants to the stage!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The Bird’s Nest erupted with cheers and applause that shook the air.

Amidst the roar, Fenric, Tang Zichen, Qian Ming, and Sun Zhengying emerged from the backstage tunnel, stepping onto the ring one after another. The moment they appeared, the cheers grew even louder, as though idols had graced the stage.

"Sun Zhengying, go for it!"

"Qian Ming! The sword points to the championship!"

"Fairy Tang, we love you!"

Fans waved banners and shouted the names of their chosen idols. Tang Zichen, Qian Ming, and Sun Zhengying each had organized fan groups chanting in unison.

The only exception was Fenric. Hardly anyone called his name.

His earlier scandal of a supposed fake match had indeed made him notorious and the subject of heated debate. Yet that fame carried no cheers—only suspicion and contempt.

Fenric, however, remained indifferent.

Soon, he thought, he would silence them all.

"As per the rules, the players will now draw their lots!" announced the host.

The four approached one by one, drawing their numbered balls.

Fenric drew No. 3. His opponent: No. 4, Sun Zhengying.

"The results are in!" the host declared. "Player No. 1, Qian Ming, will face Player No. 2, Tang Zichen! Player No. 3, Fenric, will battle Player No. 4, Sun Zhengying!"

The crowd erupted with excitement.

"Perfect! Sun Zhengying avoided Qian Ming in the first round!"

"Yeah, those two are the strongest contenders. If they clashed early, one would’ve been eliminated right away."

"Too bad for Fairy Tang—running into Qian Ming right from the start. She’s finished."

"There are only two spots to represent the nation, right?"

"Exactly. Only the champion and runner-up qualify."

"Then it’s settled. Sun Zhengying and Qian Ming will definitely take those spots!"

"Haha, the faker’s in trouble now. Sun Zhengying’s been ruthless—every opponent since his promotion ended up seriously injured."

"Yeah. Just wait—Fenric’s going to get crushed!"

Their disdain spread like wildfire, both in the stands and online among live-stream viewers. Whenever someone dared to defend Fenric, their words were quickly drowned in mockery.

"Now then," the host raised his voice once more, "Players No. 3 and No. 4, please step down to rest. Players No. 1 and No. 2—remain in the ring. The match begins!"

Fenric and Sun Zhengying left the stage. The host too retreated, leaving the arena to Tang Zichen and Qian Ming.

Clang!

The bell rang—the semifinal match had begun!

Without a word, the two launched at each other.

Whoosh!

Qian Ming struck first, unleashing a storm of attacks that cracked the air. His explosive power, the hallmark of an innate master, was on full display.

Even Fenric, watching from the viewing platform, leaned forward with interest.

The exchange was ferocious. Qian Ming pressed forward with relentless offense, while Tang Zichen took a defensive stance.

But what shocked the audience was Tang Zichen’s calmness. Despite the storm raining down on her, she defended smoothly, her expression composed, without the slightest trace of panic.

"This...?"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The so-called "Fairy Tang," once dismissed as nothing more than a pretty face, was revealing unexpected strength.

Gradually, Qian Ming’s pace faltered. His furious barrage had cost him dearly in stamina. Even an innate master couldn’t sustain such an output forever.

As his blows weakened, Tang Zichen began to turn the tide. The shift was obvious—even to casual spectators.

"If she counterattacks now, Qian Ming will lose!" someone shouted.

Qian Ming himself realized it. Having fought tooth and nail to reach this stage, he couldn’t accept defeat.

"HAA!"

With a fierce roar, he lunged forward, unleashing a powerful palm strike aimed straight for Tang Zichen’s face. The blow was even more savage than before.

Yet, with a graceful sidestep, Tang Zichen avoided it effortlessly.

A flash of malice crossed Qian Ming’s face. That strike had been a feint.

In the same instant, his body twisted—his leg whipping upward like a viper striking from a sleeve.

The infamous Sleeve Bottom Kick!

A move short in distance but devastating in power, difficult to detect and nearly impossible to block. A single hit could cripple—or worse.

In the VIP section, many martial arts masters’ eyes lit up at the sight.

But Tang Zichen’s expression didn’t waver.

Like a phantom, her right hand shot out and clamped down on Qian Ming’s calf bone.

Suddenly—!

Qian Ming felt an overwhelming force clamp down on his leg before his kick could even rise.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

He staggered back several steps, shock flashing across his face. His entire right foot was numb, yet Tang Zichen stood there calm and collected, her gaze indifferent—like still water untouched by wind.

"I lost."

Qian Ming admitted defeat without hesitation.

At that moment, he finally understood—the gulf between him and Tang Zichen was simply too vast. She was no ordinary innate master. If he continued, the only result would be humiliation.

The Bird’s Nest stadium fell into stunned silence.

No one had expected it. The once-favored champion, Qian Ming, had lost—and not through concession or trickery, but through sheer inability to match Tang Zichen’s strength.

A shocking reversal.

The crowd began to realize that Tang Zichen, long dismissed as nothing but a pretty face, had been hiding her true abilities all along.

"The winner of the first match—contestant No. 2, Tang Zichen!"

The host’s announcement shattered the silence. Thunderous applause followed, mixed with the deafening cheers of Tang Zichen’s supporters.

"Fairy Tang, we love you!"

"Fairy Tang, you’re the best!"

"Fairy Tang, take the championship!"

Their cries rose above the applause, shaking the arena with fervor.

But Tang Zichen herself remained serene. Without even glancing at the frenzied fans, she simply left the stage with calm grace, her focus fixed solely on the competition.

On the viewing platform, Sun Zhengying watched her retreating figure, his expression tightening.

Beside him, his assistant whispered, "Brother Sun, that Tang girl might be your greatest rival. In the next match, you should conserve your strength and finish off that Fenric quickly."

Sun Zhengying nodded slightly in agreement.

"Now then," the host called out, "let us welcome contestant No. 3, Fenric, and contestant No. 4, Sun Zhengying!"

At the sound of his name, Sun Zhengying rose and strode toward the ring.

"Fenric, do your best!"

Among the crowd, Xiao Linger’s clear voice rang out, cheering him on. Fenric responded with a faint smile as he followed his opponent into the arena.

The two men stood at opposite ends of the stage, locking gazes as the atmosphere grew tense.

The audience buzzed with anticipation. For many, this was the match they had been waiting for—not out of admiration for Fenric, but because they wanted to see him fall.

"Sun Zhengying, crush him!"

"Teach that fraud a lesson!"

"Knock him down where he stands!"

The cheers for Sun Zhengying were laced with malice for Fenric, the so-called "counterfeit fighter."

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(Translator’s Note: Regular updates will be 2–3 Chapters per day, but if you want me to continue uploading 5 Chapters daily, please leave some Power Stones. Reaching the Top 3 in the Power Stone rankings isn’t impossible, but for now, let’s aim for the Top 5. If we reach it, I’ll update 5 Chapters every day.)