All eyes in the arena swept back and forth between Li Zhenyue and Luo Yu.
The whispers of private conversations were unceasing.
"This time there's going to be a good show."
"I thought the strongest this time would be God's Child, Li Zhenyue, and the others, but I didn't expect such a dark horse to suddenly emerge."
"Our Great Xia really has hidden dragons and crouching tigers; there are masters among the common folk."
"I wonder if Li Zhenyue dares to accept the challenge. If he loses, he would at most secure the third place in this tournament."
"Brother, are you joking? Li Zhenyue not dare to accept a challenge? This guy comes from a prestigious family, and it's said that when others were still in high school, he was already on the battlefield, bathing in blood and fighting ferocious beasts, not to mention inheriting the Ancient Spirits that are suspected to be divine."
"Wow, that fierce?" The student who heard this took a deep breath, knowing that those who have been bloodied on the battlefield and warfare examinees who have always cultivated in a protected environment were entirely different.
"Of course, do you think the title of Military God that Li Zhenyue bears is self-proclaimed?" Someone lowered their voice and said, "That is the predecessors of Great Xia looking favorably upon him, and the recognition of his battle achievements."
"Looking at it this way, the dark horse may not be able to surprise us after all." The students who initially thought it would be a match of dragons and tigers suddenly felt that Luo Yu was more likely to lose than win, wondering how to compete with someone so talented and diligent.
Li Zhenyue was unperturbed by the heated discussions around him, as if everything was unrelated to him.
He slightly raised his eyebrows at Luo Yu on the arena.
"Are you provoking me?"
"The techniques I practice are military killing techniques, lethal and direct, aiming straight for the vital points. Are you sure you want me to come up?"
Luo Yu yawned.
"Hurry it up, don't waste time."
Watching Luo Yu's casual demeanor, over nine hundred martial examinees kept a watchful eye.
"Is this guy truly confident, or just bluffing?" someone questioned, immediately met with a rebuttal from someone else.
"Of course he's confident, are you out of your mind? Anyone can tell by the way he defeated Da Ming's renowned general Chang Yuchun and the Champion Marquis Huo Qubing, would such a genius need to bluff?"
Li Zhenyue faced Luo Yu's words unflinchingly.
His stern face was filled with the iron-blooded aura of a battlefield soldier.
"Are you trying to enrage me to disrupt my attack strategy?"
Luo Yu couldn't help but laugh in surprise at the other's serious analysis.
He wondered whether to praise his rival for being meticulous or to say he was overthinking.
"Come on up. Beat me, and I will tell you who my Ancient Spirit is."
Li Zhenyue shook his head:
"We can fight, but not now."
"Huh?" Luo Yu asked with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
Li Zhenyue replied, "You've already fought two battles in a row. I'm not one to take advantage of someone's weakness. Even defeating you would bring me no sense of achievement. Rest for a while; I'll take you on later."
Luo Yu shook his head: "No need, I haven't expended much."
At his words, Huo Tongtian and Chang Shengshan below the stage felt an embarrassing flush, faces turning pallid and crimson. They had put in their full effort, and now he was saying he hadn't expended much?
It was infuriating.
Huo Tongtian felt both anger and some admiration.
After all, it was Luo Yu who had truly defeated him, and there was nothing to be resentful about.
But this guy's irritating way of talking, why did it feel so familiar?
He looked puzzled.
Li Zhenyue crossed his arms.
"I'll give you two hours of rest. After two hours, I'll come for you on the stage."
"You, not at full strength, would give others a reason to say I won ignobly. I, Li Zhenyue, can't afford to lose that reputation."
Luo Yu ultimately didn't insist, shrugging helplessly.
But he showed no intention of resting, instead directing his gaze at the others: "Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me? Feel free to come up."
Li Zhenyue's eyes narrowed sharply.
Not planning to rest at all.
Was this a sign of disrespect toward him?
You'll pay for your arrogance later.
"I will!"
A crisp female voice rang out at this time, and with a fragrant breeze, a slender figure leaped onto the arena.
She stood facing Luo Yu.
Upon focusing, Luo Yu saw it was the school goddess Diao Lingluo.
But as he was concealing his identity, he didn't greet her.
"Classmate, let me test your abilities," Diao Lingluo said, extending her right palm and taking up an ancient martial stance: "Please enlighten me."
Luo Yu nodded his head.
"Come."
"Swoosh——"
Behind Diao Lingluo appeared the vision of a supremely beautiful and mature woman, her slender waist as if a breeze could lift it, her graceful figure exuding astonishing charm.
Luo Yu thought to himself that this girl's strength had improved quite quickly.
The Ancient Spirit she had inherited must be adept in illusion techniques.
Diao Lingluo's Beautiful Eyes were serious, shimmering with a sharp edge.
As she moved lithely, the entire arena echoed with music, and nine figures of Diao Lingluo appeared.
The spectators below couldn't tell which one was real.
The nine figures simultaneously attacked Luo Yu, their footsteps as light as a descending fairy, unpredictable in their advance.
Luo Yu looked on with interest.
"While concealed with killing intent, these movements are beautiful and effective, clearly well-studied, and must come from an ancient lineage."
"You have good eyes,"
All nine figures spoke in unison, their voices filling the arena.
Many students were amazed, and even Huo Tongtian was somewhat surprised: "This woman, she didn't have such skills last time, did she find another opportunity?"
"Boom——Boom, boom!"
The nine figures had already closed in on Luo Yu, their palms striking simultaneously, causing explosive sounds, attacking Luo Yu from every angle without a dead spot.