The second day the 32 finalists returned on stage after restful night.
The spectators stormed in, while Fu Hantian took his leisure time being escorted by guards, but not alone this time. Fu Hantian looked at his nephew every now and then. The visual changes fascinated Hantian. This once haughty boy went from an adultery breakdown over a high spirited to a composed state in a couple of weeks, resulting in a sudden leap into the martial artist realm.
No longer ignorant, but with an aura of confidence and determination, Fu Wuying took broad strides.
"Sir Fu!" Both stopped in union as a young man jumped in front of them. The guards instantly holding their sharp blades on his throat. The latter shrieked up in reaction.
"I don't think I know you." Fu Hantian said in a cold tone.
"Please don't misunderstand, I am from the Pharmacy shop and wanted to pay my respect to the young lord and thank him for shopping in our store." Lute held his hands up, meaning no harm.
To Hantian's surprise the young man was actually talking to Fu Wuying.
"Huh?" Fu Wuying was confused by his words. He had not left his room until he was informed that his teacher was participating in the junior's fights and had not visited any store since his arrival.
"Care to elaborate?" Hantian dug deeper into the topic, seeing his nephew's questionable expression.
"Ah, yes, since the young lord was not there personally, he might not know. A week ago, a servant of yours had taken some ingrediency." Lute obediently ran down the list like it happened yesterday.
The price was calculated inside the old merchants' mind in a split-second. His heart aching at the thought of recklessly spending a good amount of gold coins.
"So, you are here to collect the payment?" Knowing that no penny could leave his hand undetected the man must have come for him, Hantian thought. Having seen through this man's scheme his eyes narrowed and his voice grew colder.
"No Sir, the resources were paid off on purchase. Well, there was a discount, but that was due to my neglection. Had I known that she was under young lords order I would have not been so disrespectful." Lutes answer surprised the old aristocrat yet again.
"Seeing that the young lord has achieved the martial artist stage, means that the painful procedure must be of great success. Using a whole pack Ying-Yang powder for every bath. To be honest, I had my doubts. Again, my deepest respect." Lute left in a haste after a respectful salute.
The Fu duo was left frozen on the spot, bearing one and the same thought, 'Using a whole package for a single bath, who is this madman!? Wait. He said 'she'… Don't tell me…'
"For those of you who don't know how the tournament will progress, listen up. You will be fighting 1 on 1 and only the winner will progress to the next round. With that, may the main event begin." When the nobles got to their seats, the main event finally started.
"Number 1 and 23, please enter the stage." Undwindled, the fights started of right away.
Xuegang jumped with confidence onto the stage after hearing his number. He was slightly taken aback though, when looking at his opponent.
"Eh? So, you are my first stepping stone." An arrogant voice entered his ears.
"OMG, Xuegang is so gonna lose this battle. He has to fight the first round against the chief's son, Min Jidan, in the first round. I can only pity him."
"Hmph, Jidan, don't think I fear you because you are already in the 4th stage."
"Then how about you taste my sword. Blazing sword first slash!" The blade of the sword emitted a faint flame as it met the spear.
Crack* Zing*
"Umph. "The spear split and so did Xuegang's top. He fell on the ground and cold sweat gathered on his forehead. "T-That's a mortal tier weapon. How did you get your hands on that?"
Weapons were not just weapons. Those forged excellently by strong master smiths also known as forge master and produced with certain materials could amplify and support the wielders might and attack.
"I am the chief's son. Of course my father gave it to me as a present. How about it, wanna feel it again?"
"N-No. I give up." The spear had not displayed much of a resistance. The image of his flesh and bones clash with the sword hurt him just from thinking about it. To surrender was his sole option.
"Number 1 wins."
"Hehe, that's my son." The chief, sitting in the judge's lounges, had a big grin on his face.
"Chief Min Song, your son is very excellent. He even learned the first move of Blazing Sword which is a high-level sword skill."
"The 49th tournament will surely be won by him." The younger judges had nothing but praise for Min Jidan.
Min Song looked at the VIP section, wanting to find praises from the Fu. He was somewhat let down thou, when he saw Hantian only stroking his beard, deep in thought.
'Hehe old geezer, you better take a good look at how true warriors are bread.'
The crowd cheered as well, including players as they were in ecstasy seeing the flaming sword strike.
"I want that sword skill. It looks so cool and can even destroy the opponents' weapon."
"Me too."
"Me three."
"Damn it, where is the record function. This shit is worth gold in the movie industry."
The excitement dwindled a bit, as the next practitioners were called to the stage.
Two rounds later.
"Number 5 and 20."
"I should be number 1 as it is only befitting my beauty and talent." Pi She angrily grumbled while she was landing gracefully on the stage. Upholding her image came first.
Her opponent felt a bad omen, feeling Pi She's crystal-clear eyes looking at him in annoyance.
"3 Patel Lotus flame!" Before the saber wielding youth could act, he was hit by Pi She right in the face.
"Number 5 wins, medics!" The judge called out to those who were still treating the injured patients of the previous elimination round.
Her opponent was rather weak as he was one of the 3rd places who barely made it to the main stage.
"Hah, hah. Yeah!" Even John won his first match, but it was really close. Standing strong, he supressed his breath.
The American players frantically shouted out to him. "U.S.A, U.S.A!" Confusing many natives as they did not understand what they said, but still clapped for the winner.
"And lastly 37 vs 213" It felt weird hearing such a high number as many of the 32 finalists had attempted to become martial artitists before signing up.
The last round out of 12 was finally Luo Si's turn.
She leisurely walked up the stage, seeing an impatient slim female. She held 6 knives in between her fingers, looking like the worst wolverine knock off version Luo Si had ever seen.
"This is so unfair, why can't I fight a girl."
"Dude, you didn't even sign up for the tournament in the first place." The male player stared enviously on stage.
"Xuegang that idiot lost to you, but don't worry, I will show you-!" The imposter was still talking when Luo Si had instantaneously closed the 20-meter gap. The latter had rammed her knee deep in the opponents' center whilst standing on the other foots tip.
"Urgh." The female wolverine puked after retreating 5 meters from the hit spot. Even though Luo Si's attack came unexpected, her opponent was in the 3rd stage, able to take some damage.
"So, you hid your speed. However, if this is your best, then you are nothing in front of me." This was the first time Luo Si had used anything aside her foundation technique. But she seemed not to be the only one with a tendency for movement skills.
'Grey wolf hunting steps.'
Wolverina ran around Luo Si very fast, unable to be grasped right away.
"Min Yijun is smart. Her opponent should have learned Skid Step, which is a fast but inflexible movement technique and seen from the previous fights, she must have chosen it based on the fact that her fighting style seems to be very slow. Grey wolf hunting Steps on the other hand is very flexible and fast, but exhausts the user very fast." A judge commented.
'The young are so proactive nowadays.' Luo Si just stood still as if petrified.
"Hah, Howling wolf claw!" Yijun changed her direction and attacked Luo Si from behind.
Luo Si stretched out her right leg and shifted her center of gravity onto it, looking like she predicted the attack without looking and wanting to escape.
'Nia, don't even think you can escape my Howling claw?' Yijun slightly tilted her runway to catch up with her prays positioning. When she was close, however, Luo Si's center shifted back instantly.
The claw missed and only a stretched leg greeted her. The wolf girl tripped as she had too much momentum to stop and rolled off the stage.
"Number 213 wins."
The fight ended less melodramatic than expected and nobody clapped.
"A-Alright." The first round ended and only 12 practitioners are left for the next round."
"Number 7 and 16 into the ring."
The second round started and things took a quick turn.
The American was instantly defeated by his opponent. His opponent however, was surprised when John Cage left the stage being celebrated like a war hero.
Pi She was no better as she met Jidan and surrendered instantly.
It was Luo Si's turn and Pi She said aloud. "Min Erol, beat that bitch."