Chapter 153: Upset! Shi Yong Has Lost!

Li Feng's defeat came so quickly that it nearly knocked the jaws of the onlookers clean off.

One must remember that Li Feng was no weakling — in the fourth and fifth rounds, he had been ranked seventh!

Yet now, he had lost this fast?

"The gap in straw-man arts is only growing wider."

"Zhao Xing's straw-man arts are probably in a league of their own, just like Shi Yong at the Nine Sections Arena — one move is all it takes to finish a fight."

"Just how far has Zhao Xing's straw-man arts reached?"

The spectators watched the scene, murmuring among themselves.

Because Li Feng had fallen so quickly, others hadn't even been given the chance to observe the fight properly.

The straw-man art Zhao Xing deployed had also merged with the 'Invisible Straw-Man Art', and dispersed on its own after the fight — bystanders couldn't make heads or tails of it at all.

"Second match: Cai Jin versus Fang Yi."

Liu Tianning promptly announced the second match.

Zhao Xing, meanwhile, stepped back from the plaza.

Now, within his mid-tier straw-man arts, Flying and Martyrdom were at Perfection.

Divine Valor at Nine Revolutions, Great Shield at Nine Revolutions, Invisibility at Nine Revolutions, Illusion at Eight Revolutions.

Guardian and Soul-Catcher were the lowest, at only Three Revolutions.

After completing the perfect merger of Flying and Martyrdom, Zhao Xing found merging his other arts far smoother as well.

With two arts already perfectly merged, he naturally gained experience when merging the rest.

Therefore, any two arts Zhao Xing merged now could maintain a very high level — for instance, merging Divine Valor with Invisibility still kept every trait of both at Nine Revolutions.

And when merging three arts, the third was added purely for practical combat, so the effect unleashed was naturally terrifying.

Even Liu Tianning was certain that Zhao Xing's talent in straw-man arts surpassed everyone else's, which made his victory over Li Feng look effortless.

"Against anyone else, Li Feng could've made the top ten, but running into Zhao Xing — you could only say his luck was bad." Lu Bang shook his head.

"What luck? I arranged it on purpose." Liu Tianning said lightly.

"What?" Lu Bang was stunned.

"This fellow kept muttering beside the rockery during training that he wanted to have a match with Zhao Xing," Liu Tianning said. "I was reading nearby, and his chatter got so annoying I simply granted his wish."

"..."

Lu Bang was left speechless — Li Feng had truly gotten exactly what he asked for.

Second match: Cai Jin versus Fang Yi — Cai Jin wins.

Third match: Zhuang Ziqing versus He Yuan — Zhuang Ziqing wins.

Fourth match: Feng Qi versus Chao Yun — Feng Qi wins.

In the first four matches, the gap between the two combatants was fairly large; among them, Fang Yi had been twentieth in the previous round, barely qualifying.

Cai Jin had consistently held second place, while He Yuan was eighteenth.

Feng Qi versus Chao Yun followed the same logic.

The victors all won by an absolute margin.

But starting from the fifth match, upset after upset broke out!

Fifth match: Guan Junyang versus Qian Guang — Qian Guang wins.

Sixth match: Cao Shuang versus Che Shihai — Che Shihai wins.

Seventh match: Jiang Tianming versus Wei Chen — Wei Chen wins.

Eighth match: Han Bing versus Wu Yue — Wu Yue wins.

Geniuses who had originally been in the top ten of the fifth round were defeated one after another by lower-ranked opponents!

Even top-tier talents like Cao Shuang and Guan Junyang, who had already reached the Fourth Revolution of the Knowing Realm, still lost!

A great uproar rose below the plaza, and more and more people flocked to the third round to watch these duels.

Yet unexpectedly, so many of the originally favored top-tier talents had lost.

Some even had a clearly higher level of straw-man arts and seemed to hold the advantage, yet in actual combat failed to win.

"What's going on?" Lu Bang also watched the scene in surprise; he didn't know straw-man arts well, so this sight struck him as quite strange.

"This is the difference between theory and real combat," Liu Tianning said. "Straw-man arts differ from other arts — they are 'external incarnations.' Although their straw-men don't possess the strong controllability of a 'True-Self Straw-Man', some controllability still exists."

"When commanding a straw-man and issuing it orders, there is a thread of connection between the mind and the straw-man; the stronger the straw-man, the stronger this connection."

"If it's a True-Self Straw-Man, then the straw-man is essentially another body! One mind controlling multiple bodies — the difficulty is far greater, which is why the True-Self Straw-Man of the Ten Thousand Arts of Evolution is called the ultimate art of straw-man arts."

"I know a bit of straw-man arts myself — why have I never felt this?" Lu Bang humbly asked for guidance.

"You're at the Fifth Grade Realm, so your mind is powerful; these effects are naturally nothing to you. Besides, you haven't studied it deeply — you've only grasped the basics."

Liu Tianning only knew the basics, and Lu Bang had no desire to argue, because the man was indeed qualified to say so.

Liu Tianning explained: "The connection between the straw-man and the true self is an influence on the true self."

"Casting straw-man arts in real combat affects you far more than suddenly growing a third hand or a third foot."

"If you only issue relatively simple commands — vague orders like advance, retreat, attack, defend — it's still manageable."

"It's like having a third hand and third foot grow on you, but not actually using them; there's some discomfort, but the impact isn't strong."

"But once you enter real combat and perform fine control, the effect on these little fellows becomes very obvious."

"That's why I said earlier that real combat experience decides victory or defeat."

"The victors now are simply more adapted to this 'external incarnation' art."

"Just as some people are born with a stronger sense of spatial direction or visual imagery than others."

"In straw-man arts, the current victors simply have stronger talent."

Down on the field, Cao Shuang, Han Bing, and Jiang Tianming, who had come to stand beside Zhao Xing and Zhuang Ziqing, wore somewhat bewildered looks in their eyes.

Even now, these three still seemed unable to believe they had lost.

"How could I possibly lose?" Cao Shuang stared at his own hands. "Che Shihai is clearly weaker than me. Setting aside his comprehension of the Dao, just look at his strawman arts — he used four eight-revolution Mysterious Soldier strawmen plus a Holy Shield strawman, and overturned all six of my nine-revolution strawmen?"

"Could it be because of spell compatibility? Or a poor performance?" Jiang Tianming was also summing things up; the situation he encountered was much the same.

"Impossible. Speaking of spell compatibility, Brother Cao's, mine, and Brother Jiang's compatibility is also somewhat stronger than the opponent's. Although the advantage isn't large, it is still an advantage. There's absolutely no way we lost because we were weaker in this aspect." Han Bing, rarely speaking at length, showed clear bewilderment even on his expressionless face.

"Then what on earth is the reason? Could it really that we're just bad? Couldn't handle the pressure and underperformed?"

"Brother Zhao, can you see what's going on?" Cao Shuang looked toward Zhao Xing. After all, in the previous round, Zhao Xing's strawman arts had been the strongest.

Zhao Xing thought for a moment, then said: "It's not that your mental fortitude is lacking, that you failed to handle the pressure and underperformed, nor that your spells are weak."

"It's that you can summon strawmen, but you don't know how to use them well."

"Strawman arts are different from other spells. You've seen martial artists practice with sabers, haven't you?"

"Being skilled with a single saber doesn't mean you can handle twin sabers. And a saber cultivator who can carry multiple sabers on his body at once — sabers that aren't just for show — is even stronger."

Zhao Xing spoke at length: "Sword cultivators among martial artists are strong, but why are sword cultivators rarely seen? It's simply because most can't do it. Each additional sword controlled adds a greater burden. Strawman arts also have their high and low levels of control."

"Many people, when practicing single-spell strawmen, can push through to nine revolutions in one go without a problem. But in battle, each additional strawman places a greater burden on oneself."

"Some people are naturally more suited to this type of spell, and some are not."

"The emergence of spell compatibility was actually meant to solve this drawback. One strawman with multiple applications, and the burden is even smaller. But achieving the unification of multiple spells is no less difficult than simultaneously controlling multiple single-spell strawmen."

After all that was said and done, it still came down to a matter of talent.

Han Bing, Cao Shuang, and Jiang Tianming immediately understood that on the path of strawman arts, they would probably find it very hard to continue.

As for Zhao Xing? Judging by how he looked, he was probably a "strawman talent."

During the casual chat, the ninth match — Yu Hao versus Li Jian — concluded.

Yu Hao emerged victorious; he had also been in the top ten of the previous trial.

The tenth match: Shi Yong versus Yin Yang.

Zhao Xing also watched Shi Yong's battle for a bit.

In the end, Shi Yong still won, and it was also a swift victory.

"Both of his strawman arts have reached nine revolutions. With dual-spell unification, the Divine Brave Giant Shield strawman that emerged has each individual effect already very close to nine revolutions," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "I wonder if this is his full strength."

At this moment, Shi Yong also walked down from the plaza. Throughout the entire battle, he had been slightly frowning, lost in thought about who knows what.

Soon the first round was finished. The ten who lost received the fifth-tier reward of five thousand points.

Including the basic qualifying points from before, these ten people could receive a total of over six thousand points, which was already not a small amount.

The remaining ten — Zhao Xing, Cai Jin, Zhuang Ziqing, Feng Qi, Wei Chen, Qian Guang, Wu Yue, Che Shihai, Yu Hao, Shi Yong — would continue to the second round of lottery duels.

It was still a single match to decide victory or defeat.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"

The command tokens flew out, and the other nine all snatched theirs in a flash.

Zhao Xing, however, leisurely waited for the last token to fly into his hand on its own.

"This kid." Lu Bang couldn't help but smile at the sight. "Everyone else wants to know their opponent as soon as possible, but Zhao Xing is unhurried."

"He is confident enough, so naturally there's a sense of ease about him. Facing the enemy in battle, this is exactly the state one needs." Liu Tianning grew increasingly appreciative of Zhao Xing. "This boy could serve as the commander of an army. No wonder Fang Wu evaluated him that way."

The command token Zhao Xing received was still number one.

The moment he received it, a youth beside the plaza with prominent cheekbones and very faint brow lines couldn't help but sigh.

His name was Qian Guang, and he had also drawn number one.

"Looks like I can only get the points reward for the fifth-to-tenth tier."

Qian Guang had defeated Guan Junyang in the previous round, but in Qian Guang's view, Guan Junyang's strawman arts were not outrageously strong.

Although Guan Junyang was formidable in the Nine Nodes Dao Arena, and had even cultivated one of his Solar Term Tokens to the fourth revolution of the Knowing Realm, this competition tested the Benwo Sect's strawman arts.

Qian Guang was quite talented in this path. In actual combat, he controlled six strawmen with ease. So when fighting Guan Junyang in practice, although his strawman levels were somewhat weaker, his control over the strawmen was stronger, and he ultimately won the match.

However, facing Zhao Xing in this round, the confidence he had just built up wavered once more.

Just look at how Zhao Xing performed in the fourth and fifth rounds.

In the single-spell strawman contest, eighteen strawmen — ranked first!

In the multi-spell compatibility contest, perfect dual-spell strawmen — ranked first!

And watching him fight Li Feng, one could tell this man was definitely an old hand at using strawmen.

His practical control of the spells certainly wouldn't be weak.

"No matter what, I can already get eight thousand points."

"Forget success or failure. Consider it practice."

Facing the pressure of Zhao Xing's past battle record, Qian Guang closed his eyes, and his mindset quickly returned to calm.

"First match, Zhao Xing versus Qian Guang, begin!"

Hum~

The barrier rose. At the very start, both men pointed at the materials beside them simultaneously and began casting.

The materials were disappearing, but no strawmen appeared.

Clearly, both were using invisible strawmen as their base, preparing strawman puppets.

Qian Guang kept his eyes fixed on Zhao Xing. He had to constantly monitor Zhao Xing's movements, to avoid the enemy sending strawmen over without him knowing.

The first strawman took shape, and Qian Guang felt a little more confident in his heart, because it was an "Invisible Giant Shield strawman."

The vast form of the Giant Shield strawman gave Qian Guang some sense of security.

But the second glance at Zhao Xing made Qian Guang's heart skip a beat, because the materials beside Zhao Xing were disappearing far too quickly.

The materials were disappearing at twice his speed!

This proved the opponent summoned strawmen faster; there might already be two strawmen formed!

"Invisible straw man, go!"

After finishing the first straw man, Qian Guang couldn't wait to make a second single-spell invisible straw man, and ordered the straw man to begin its attack.

In real combat one doesn't necessarily have to win by the rules—he had real talent for invisible straw men, his formation speed the fastest.

He changed from his earlier approach of hoarding quantity, and began sneaking in surprise attacks.

Because he knew that, whether by quantity or by quality, it would be very hard to beat Zhao Xing.

Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps… only a hundred steps separated the two.

The invisible straw man crept stealthily toward Zhao Xing, while Zhao Xing seemed completely unaware, still staring at the materials before him.

"Could he be all show and no substance?"

Qian Guang's heart pounded, because the invisible straw man had already appeared right in front of Zhao Xing.

"Boom!"

A swarm of invisible straw men blasted Zhao Xing flying, sending him tumbling right outside the plaza.

"I won?!"

Delight flashed across Qian Guang's face, but the next instant he sensed something was wrong, because that 'Zhao Xing' crumbled apart the moment he fell out of the plaza.

"Damn, it's a Shape-Shift straw man!"

"When did he make a Shape-Shift straw man?!"

Qian Guang instantly felt something was off, and instinctively tried to leave his original position.

But just then a pair of arms wrapped around Qian Guang, clamping him tight, and began to heat up.

"Holy shit, I surrender! I surrender!"

Qian Guang immediately started shouting.

No wonder Qian Guang panicked—this was a Perfection-grade Sacrificial Explosion straw man. Being hugged by a Sacrificial Explosion straw man, anyone would be terrified!

With a Si Nong's frail body, if this thing blew up, he'd be done for on the spot. Of course, Liu Tianning's duel arena had protective mechanisms, so it couldn't actually kill him—but why suffer for nothing?

"Zhao Xing wins." Liu Tianning's voice rang out, and then the red light automatically dispersed and broke down into a pile of materials that scattered beside Qian Guang.

"Crackle-crackle-crackle~" The firecracker materials hit the ground, popping and snapping, and the still-shaken Qian Guang gave an immediate start, leaping off the plaza at top speed.

Qian Guang's comical fleeing figure immediately drew a burst of laughter, but the others still in their matches couldn't laugh at all.

Qian Guang, who had defeated Guan Junyang, was utterly powerless before Zhao Xing—couldn't last a single exchange. Who could possibly stand against him?

…………

Second match: Cai Jin versus Wu Yue, Cai Jin wins swiftly.

Third match: Zhuang Ziqing versus Che Shihai, Zhuang Ziqing wins swiftly.

Fourth match: Yu Hao versus Wei Chen, locked in combat for two quarter-hours, Yu Hao wins.

Looking at the matchup list, they said it was random, but in truth that Lord Liu still pulled some strings behind the scenes—he didn't let the strong face the strong, always pairing the strong against the weak.

After all, this concerned points and rewards; if the weak lucked their way into high points instead, that would hardly be fair.

Just as everyone was nursing this thought, the fifth match—Shi Yong versus Feng Qi—greatly exceeded everyone's expectations.

Shi Yong versus Feng Qi, final result: Feng Qi wins!

Seems some big shot readers guessed the ending—our book friends are truly a talented bunch.

The plot will pick up pace from here; the next chapter jumps half a year ahead.

Also, the new book's monthly ticket ranking is very close to third place too—on account of this author's diligent updates, please toss me a wave of monthly tickets!