Match Two (Please add to your favorites!)

The rumble of thunder still lingered faintly in the air, and already the outcome of the match was decided.

One link, four apertures against one link, zero apertures—less than five seconds had passed, and the former was utterly defeated!

Yes, utterly defeated.

If not for the protection of the Heaven-Link Seal, Yue Xunyu would have had his Heartseed shattered by Jiang Feng’s strike, collapsing lifeless to the ground!

Even with the protection of the Heaven-Link Seed, he was on his knees, pain clouding his vision, unable to rise at all.

There had already been considerable attention on this match. Even those who hadn’t expected Jiang Feng to lose never imagined he would win so swiftly, so decisively!

Fang Liuxian was stunned as well, and after a long moment, he shook his head and sighed with a smile, “I never thought this boy would be such a gambler.”

Among those present, these two instructors were the strongest. They could see that Jiang Feng’s rapid victory was because he compressed all his Ming Force in an instant and sent it into Yue Xunyu’s body, striking directly at his Heartseed.

This tactic was rather risky. He had wagered all his cards in a single move. Had Yue Xunyu dodged or endured the blow, Jiang Feng would have had no strength left for a second attack.

But regardless, he had won—overcoming strength with weakness, and winning beautifully!

In a hush, Fang Liuxian clapped and smiled, “A beautiful fight!”

Applause and cheers broke through the silence. Ping Luanshan let out a loud “Ah!” as he jumped up and clapped vigorously, “Well done! Old Jiang, you’re incredible!”

Others gradually came back to their senses.

A one-link, zero-aperture defeating a one-link, four-aperture? It was unimaginable!

Now, the other candidates’ feelings had shifted yet again. After all, no group reveres the strong more than martial cultivators; such strength is not just a matter of numbers but must be displayed in battle. To defeat the strong while weaker is the ultimate proof!

But this was only the first match. A brief stir rippled through the candidates, quickly settling down. This time, however, far more eyes followed Jiang Feng’s next match.

Hong Cheng was a complete pessimist. As Ping Luanshan clapped and laughed, he still fretted, “Jiang Feng took a risk in that round. Next time, his opponent will be prepared—it won’t be so easy…”

Ping Luanshan was annoyed by his gloomy talk, but couldn’t help feeling he might be right.

Only now did those from the Ancient Vine Martial Hall recover from the shock. The instructor grabbed Yue Xunyu as he stepped off the stage, scolding him sharply, “What happened out there? How could you be so careless!”

Yue Xunyu finally regained his senses, his face ashen. He hung his head in silence, his heart burning with resentment.

The instructor would not let him off so easily. He questioned him in detail, then pulled Tang Yonghuai and Teng Zhi over as well, saying in a grave tone, “Remember this! Yonghuai, you have one link, four apertures; Teng Zhi, you have one link, five apertures. In terms of Ming Force, strength, and speed, you’re both far superior to that boy! Xunyu, had you not underestimated him just now, with your speed there’s no way you couldn’t have dodged that strike!”

The enhancement from Ming Force and the Origin Core is absolute. A gap of four levels is like that between an adult and a youth. The youth could try his utmost, perhaps even stab the adult fatally with a single blow. But if the adult is on guard, he could easily evade!

Yue Xunyu was filled with regret, while Tang Yonghuai and Teng Zhi nodded together. Tang Yonghuai declared with confidence, “Master, I understand! My absolute strength surpasses his. I’ve already seen through his trick—it won’t work again!”

The instructor nodded with satisfaction. “That’s right, keep calm. That boy is sly as a fox—don’t be fooled by him!”

Elsewhere, Jiang Feng sat down to recover, deciding not to disturb or remind anyone.

This victory was entirely within Jiang Feng’s expectations, and his heart was undisturbed. He had just expended all his Ming Force in that strike, now his body was hollow and urgently needed replenishment.

His eyes were half closed, the Heavenly Heart Seed spinning slowly. Since entering the Dawn Realm, his sense for Ming Force had become keener. Sitting here, he could feel the faint currents of Ming Force in the air around him.

With so many martial cultivators present, the Ming Force was somewhat chaotic, but refining it had always been his specialty. He absorbed it slowly, bit by bit restoring himself.

After a while, his eyes snapped open—the timing was perfect. His second match was about to begin!

Tang Yonghuai was already on the stage, taking his place and assuming his stance.

Now, Ping Luanshan and others gathered around the stage, watching Jiang Feng intently. Besides them, many other spectators were present as well.

A single victory could be luck; the crucial test was this second bout!

Jiang Feng ascended the stage unhurriedly, calm and composed.

Tang Yonghuai lifted his eyelids to cast a glance at him, then lowered them again.

Unlike Yue Xunyu, he made no attempt to provoke, focusing his full attention on defense.

His opponent didn’t provoke him, and Jiang Feng was even less inclined to speak. He stood quietly, his gaze drifting across the stage, pausing here and there.

Fang Liuxian, watching not far off, caught a glint in his eyes.

This boy’s way of observing…

Before his thoughts could fully form, the golden light faded, and that viscous sense of suspension vanished.

In an instant, both fighters moved at once!

Jiang Feng assumed the exact same stance as before, lowering his body and shooting towards Tang Yonghuai like a cannonball. Without hesitation, Tang Yonghuai stomped heavily on the stage and shot off to the right!

Both their movements were astonishingly fast—they met instantly at the center of the ring.

According to Tang Yonghuai’s plan, he should have brushed past Jiang Feng’s right side, avoiding the palm strike, then counterattacked!

He never imagined that Jiang Feng’s palm would be aimed directly at his right side!

If he had not moved at all, Jiang Feng would have brushed past him harmlessly. But by dodging right, he delivered himself straight into Jiang Feng’s grasp!

With a muffled boom—not as loud as the previous match, but with a heaviness that struck like a sledgehammer to the heart—everyone felt a jolt in their chests.

Tang Yonghuai was sent tumbling backward, staggering three steps before falling flat on his back.

Jiang Feng pressed a palm to his body, then sprang back to the edge of the stage.

At that moment, the Heaven-Link County rankings displayed the result—

One link, four apertures, Tang Yonghuai; versus one link, zero apertures, Jiang Feng. Jiang Feng wins!

Another victory, another match decided in under five seconds!

A breeze swept across the training ground, not a sound carried on it.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath, staring in disbelief at Jiang Feng atop the stage—the youth stood as he had before the fight, his expression unchanged, as if he had foreseen this outcome all along.

And indeed, events were unfolding exactly as he had envisioned.

How had he predicted Tang Yonghuai would dodge right, and so perfectly targeted his attack?

Was it luck, or careful calculation from the start?

Crisp applause rang out once more.

It was Fang Liuxian again.

A delighted smile played on his lips, as though he had just made a wonderful discovery. This time, however, he did not rush to recruit Jiang Feng as his disciple as he had after the earlier round. He simply smiled, applauded, and nodded, “Beautiful!”

Another wave of applause followed, then another, and another still.

In moments, applause filled the entire training ground.

Two consecutive victories against stronger foes had proven Jiang Feng’s strength beyond doubt. He was not merely first in the statistics, but the undisputed champion of this county’s examination!

Yes, with two victories, he had scored another hundred points, bringing his total to 472—no one could surpass him now!

There was still the final round, but he had already secured the top spot ahead of time!

The applause surged like waves, unceasing.

Such was this world.

Among competitors, if scores are close, there may be jealousy or resentment. But with such overwhelming dominance, unless there is deep-seated enmity, all that remains is sincere admiration.

The faces of those from the Ancient Vine Martial Hall were nearly black.

They alone did not applaud, but no one spared them a glance.

This disregard was the greatest humiliation of all—especially when the entire crowd was cheering for their opponent.

The instructor’s voice slipped through clenched teeth, cold and menacing: “Teng Zhi, do you see? Now you’re all we have left. If you lose as well, the face of Ancient Vine will be trampled into the dirt!”

Teng Zhi seemed dazed, but at his master’s words, he clenched his fists. “Yes, I must win!”

No one noticed that he said “must,” not “will.”

Jiang Feng stepped down from the stage, and Ping Luanshan rushed up, throwing an arm around his shoulders and laughing, “No wonder you’re my brother! Two matches, both won spectacularly!” His eyes glittered as he asked, “How did you know he would dodge right?”

Jiang Feng smiled at him, “A lucky guess?”

Ping Luanshan blinked, then burst out laughing again, “A good guess—and the right one!”

Jiang Feng turned to meet Teng Zhi’s gaze. The wiry young man’s eyes burned with fighting spirit, but without a trace of hatred.

The two would face each other in the next round: one link, zero apertures against one link, five apertures—a gap of five full levels.

But it was clear that Teng Zhi intended to fight with everything he had, holding nothing back.