Chapter 888: Starlit Martial Performance Ceremony (43)

Yan Qing's eyes darkened, he steadied his stance, and his right fist slammed straight into Lu Ka's chest and abdomen, left gaping from the counterattack!

But at the moment the fist was about to land, Lu Ka's entire body shifted ever so slightly at an unbelievable angle— and the next second, Lu Ka's iron fist was already on his face.

Bang!

Yan Qing closed his eyes, seeming ready to endure excruciating pain, but the moment the fist touched his skin the force dissipated, the iron fist merely brushed his face lightly, then, together with its owner's full weight, fell to the ground.

Fortunately Yan Qing reacted extremely quickly, a hand firmly supporting Lu Ka. After Lu Ka gradually regained consciousness, he rose onto his toes, raised one hand high, lifting Lu Ka's iron arm, and declared to the surrounding audience, clearly and powerfully, the end of this duel.

"Brother Yan Qing... are you pitying me? I don't need such a victory; I can already accept my defeat calmly," Lu Ka said, covering his iron arm.

"No, you haven't failed." Yan Qing looked toward the audience on both sides, "Didn't you hear? Lu Ka of Beloberg, everyone is cheering for you. I think, in their hearts, this version of you is certainly not a loser."

——

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable.

"Unfortunately, Lu Ka fell short... after the blow to his chin caused a concussion, but managing to swing those two punches despite the concussion, even landing on Yan Qing, is already impressive," Abdel said regretfully, shaking his head, "Yan Qing's palm support both saved himself and secured his victory; as the champion of this year's Martial Performance Ceremony, he truly deserves it."

In a roadside restaurant in Egypt, Polunarev was enjoying a freshly bought ice cream cone, pursing his lips, "But ever since this kid gave up using his sword, in my view he hasn't been giving his all; a swordsman who abandons his sword is just throwing the fight!"

"All-out? All-out is meant for dealing with the Bountiful People; using all-out against an alien human probably wouldn't even be allowed by the competition officials," Hanakyouin Tenmei smiled faintly, "I think deciding the outcome with fists is already fine; Beloberg's technique ultimately couldn't stand up to Yan Qing's sword. Even if Yan Qing won with his sword, it only shows his weapon had an edge over Lu Ka. Only a bare‑fisted fight between the two is fair."

"A youth from the lower ranks of Beloberg who managed to land a punch on Yan Qing in the final arena already has a glorious record, worthy of being called a glorious defeat."

——

"Thank you, Brother Yan Qing. For a true battle, what does it matter if we lose? The competition naturally has win‑lose judgments; I've already given my all, I did it! Keep punching, punching, until the end! When I return to Beloberg, at some point in the future I'll have another match; I still have many battles to fight!"

Lu Ka lowered his head, clenching his fist tightly, "Maji, I gave my all... just like you, I won."

After a while...

Returning to the athletes' rest area, Lu Ka slumped in his chair, recalling the recent fight, still finding it unbelievable.

"I didn't expect... to end my competition at the Martial Performance Ceremony this way."

"Lu Ka, are you alright?"

Lu Ka let out a long sigh, "It's truly unprecedented ease; I think it's time to pack my luggage and go home with Lingke and the others."

While the two were talking, Xikui took the initiative to come over, saying that General Jingyuan wanted to see him.

Lu Ka followed Xikui to the Shencefu, and upon meeting, Jingyuan greeted proactively, "Hello, Lu Ka of Beloberg. Glad to meet you."

"Lord Jingyuan, it's an honor to receive your audience. But I'm not clear why you summoned me to Shencefu."

Jingyuan replied honestly, "Because of the brilliant match you just fought, and because over seven hundred years have passed, you are the second Yarlio person to reach the Luofu Immortal Boat and take part in the Martial Performance Ceremony."

Lu Ka's eyes brightened, "Do you mean... could it be that you've heard of Igor Hafte?"

Jingyuan turned, his gaze seeming to pierce through time toward the Luofu Immortal Boat of over seven hundred years ago.

"Igor... such a nostalgic name. I know him—no, I shouldn't say I know him. I will forever remember him. You and he, truly alike."

"General, do you know Igor's experiences on the Immortal Boat? In our homeland, many have heard Igor Hafte's heroic tales, but we never know what he went through when traveling beyond the heavens. Please tell me!"

Jingyuan: "That was over seven hundred years ago. I was still young then, and I once served as a defending swordsman in the Martial Performance Ceremony."

——

Demon Slayer.

"Eh?? Does that mean Jingyuan previously sparred with Igor at the Martial Performance Ceremony?" Ganlu Temple Miri widened her eyes in surprise, "Who won? Who won?"

"Of course Jingyuan won, need I say more?" Inosuke Jimi crossed his arms, "This happened before the second Bountiful People War; Jingliu was still within the Luofu Immortal Boat. At that time, Jingyuan was a top disciple of Jingliu, receiving hand‑by‑hand instruction."

From Inosuke's perspective, although he feels Jingyuan's innate sword talent is inferior to Yan Qing's, that doesn't mean Jingyuan's martial talent is lacking— the key is who he is compared with. Compared with Yan Qing he may be a bit behind, but earning Jingliu's hand‑by‑hand tutelage and representing the entire Yunqi as a defending swordsman shows his talent is a tier above other Yunqi.

It may even be that his martial talent is only being measured against his own strategical acumen; compared to drawing a sword into battle, Jingyuan's foresight and victory planning from afar shines brighter than raw martial talent.

"It's a pity that at that time Jingyuan wasn't yet a general," Butterfly Ren sighed lightly.

"Even if so, even if Jingyuan had the authority to allocate Yunqi troops to support Beloberg, given the circumstances he wouldn't dare," Ihei Kobane said calmly, "If we support Beloberg, it would further deplete the Immortal Boat's forces. Moreover, the legion hadn't invaded the Immortal Boat yet, right? Opening a second front voluntarily would be courting death."

"War is everywhere in the universe, tragedy everywhere; setting aside the ancient cosmic locust plague and the Emperor War, the peripheral star trade wars caused by human folly have dimmed countless stars forever. For the Immortal Boat, Yarlio is just the most ordinary of the stars about to fade; the distant antimatter legion certainly lacks the oppressive presence of the nearby Bountiful People. If the Immortal Boat were to recklessly split its forces, it would be the Boat that 'dims'."