The battles went on and more injured left the stage. Those left could now be counted with one's fingers and represented the true strong.
The crowd was in turmoil, when some more people arrived. "Look, the hunters appeared."
The players could feel a light pressure and even Luo Si looked at the new faces.
The people, categorized as hunters, were those with cultivation above martial learners. They could only be spotted in the wilderness as they nourished the tribe with naturel resources. Executing a strong and tough aura, the hunters watched the coming battles without care.
"There's Min Shiled he came first last junior competition. He is still young with 16 in the 5th stage. He will surely be picked this time. I heard he had opened his 28th meridian not long ago."
"My god, Min Zhihao is already in the late stages of the Martial Artist Realm. Too bad he is already 26 and his potential will meet its ends soon."
The young Martial Learner could do nothing but scream up in their presents.
"Are there any potential seeds this time?" A scarred youth tightened his eyes.
"Min Jidan seems to be doing just as expected. He has gotten really motivated after his brother left. Oh! Min Erol is out, wasn't he proclaimed to be one of the top 5? Did he encounter Jidan or Pi She?"
"No, Pi She is also out. She should have met Jidan since she looks fine."
"What? Both are already out, before the quarter finals even started."
"It doesn't matter. Erol might have practiced the coal mountain technique to the second stage, but without a fire vein he can only pull out 30% of its might."
"Please, everyone. We shall proceed with the tournament and start the quarter final."
"Number 39 vs 213"
The next opponent Luo SI had to face jumped up on the arena.
"Hu…"
Luo Si shook her head. She had deduced that her next battle would not be as entertaining as expected when the fighter took a deep breath in secret.
Pah * Peng*
2 attacks later, her opponent laid flat on the ground.
"Hmm… who is that?" Min Zhihao looked deeply at Hong Luo Si.
A girl hooded in a brown cloak next to him replied. "That must be one of the resentful souls. Astonishing that one of those made it to the semi-finals. She must be very lucky."
"Lucky?" Zhihao raised his brow. "Maybe, but maybe not."
Luo Si was very fortunate this round as her opponent had previously fought a bitter duel and expended most of his stamina beforehand.
'Another point Wu Ji Quan excels in.' She thought.
Since Qigong was a foundation technique it was not as strenuous on the body as other fighting techniques.
…
The quarter final ended, giving rise to 4 elites. 2 of them were Martial Learner in the 3rd, while the other duo had already left the first sub-realm long ago.
Besides Luo Si the other Martial Learner was Shan Hop. He had defeated every opponent in less than 4 exchanges, every opponent heavily pierced by his lance or surrendered under his menacing gaze.
"Alright, it has been decided. Shan Hop versus number 213 and Min Jidan will fight Min Mei Bing."
"Eh, seems like I will fight Shao Hop in the finals." Jidan threw a smirk towards the orphan. He did not put Hong Luo Si in his eyes.
"Hmph, Jidan don't be too full of yourself." Mei Bing roared. "Even though I've just become a Martial Artist, you should not look down on my fists."
"Hehe. The final will be between the new hero and the fallen orphan of the strongest tribe." Min Song looked at Fu Hantian. "Doesn't sound bad for a final, don't you think?"
Hantian was deep in thought when he heard the lineup.
"Uncle Han." Wuying grabbed onto his uncles' robe.
Hantian smiled back at the village chief. "Oho, I dare not bet on something so uncertain. They are all mighty warriors."
"What, do you think my son is as weak as Min Mei Bing? Tse, I might still be injured from that event, but I have taught my son well these days." Min Song coughed up once after pronouncing his dissatisfaction.
"That is not what I meant. It's not the Min Mei Bing, but…" He stopped, not wanting to talk anymore.
"Hantian, I think you have gone senile. You and your sister were once the most promising off springs. You even went to those that domain the mountains. But after your sister's marriage you left and have done nothing besides business. Your instincts must have already left you."
Hantian was actually of the Min village, but left after his sister married into the kingdoms' aristocratic family, the heir of the Fu.
He had visited to the Min village after he heard of the tragic events.
"Shao Hop vs number 213"
"No way, a player made it into the semifinals in the first event. The prize she will get must be huge."
"I don't think so. That Shao Hop is a real demon." One of the participated players said. "I was in the same group as him, but when he appeared in front of me, I could see my life flash before my eyes. It was so scary and awesome. Luckily the referee intervened or else I would have to start all over."
…
"Give me … my mother… sister. Give me back… family. Give me back my village." Shao Hop mumbled in a low absent-minded voice as he entered the stage.
Luo Si looked in her opposites' eyes. "What? If you have something to say, speak louder."
The orphans' eyes turned red as he yelled. "You demon. It's all your fault! Drop dead to my flash strike!" Shao Hop had developed an instinctive grudge the moment he had perceived something inside Luo Si's advancement.
As always, he appeared right in front of his opponent, driving his needle as fast lightning-strike into his opponent.
Slash* Splash*
A dozen blood stains rained on the ground and Luo Si felt a numbing sensation.
The Needle had hit the target.
However, out of nowhere a hand appeared and grabbed onto the boys' collar. He was ready to take the punishment of being expelled from the tournament for killing a resentful soul. It was worth it in his opinion, for he could finally revenge his family.
"Brat." A feminine voice, not from the judge entered his ears woke him up. "How about you take a break, to sober up from your childish delirious."
He was flung in the air. The earth and sky turned once before his ass met the hard ground.
"N-Number 213 wins." Even the main judge needed to look twice before he confirmed his statement.
Luo Si stood on stage. A big needle was stuck in her stretched-out palm. She removed the needle. There was no pain. Her hand was numb and shacking, but the blood flooded out nonetheless.
The stage was cleansed after a requested bandage was handed over.
"M-Miss, are you sure you don't want any help?" The medic had a pale face seeing the hole in her hand.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just leave." Hong Luo Si waved off.
The bandage had been cooled by her and the wound was no longer bleeding. But that was all. She did not heal it any further and took a small rest to reduce the burden on her foundation. Having to violently fill the 3 cups with worldly energy over and over, since her opponent were stronger than her.
The preliminary fight contestants were riddled with flaws and inexperience. It was nothing but bullying for her, making her end the fight in a jiffy. The older teenagers had at least gathered some in the wild, making them worth a handicapped warm up.