This woman gave Chu Tian the same eerie feeling as when he faced Clarissa. It was as if she were like air when facing the system, completely elusive. Moreover, when he had passed by her earlier while copying talents and exchanging them, he had thought she was just an ordinary human mercenary watching the matches. However, it now seemed that she might be a formidable opponent, pretending to be weaker than she actually was.
The order of the matches was determined by drawing lots, and Chu Tian was fortunate enough to get the number three slot. The first match was between Lan Feng and Xia Long.
Sitting in the waiting area, Chu Tian watched as Lan Feng and Xia Long took the stage. When the host, Caesar, announced the start of the match, Xia Long immediately launched his attack, while Lan Feng remained motionless.
Xia Long controlled the first bolt of lightning to strike Lan Feng's head, but strangely, it landed just a few centimeters beside her. He continued his attempts, but each time, the lightning inexplicably missed Lan Feng, prompting laughter and mockery from the spectators.
"Xia Long, are you blind? How can you miss such a big target right in front of you?" one mercenary in the audience taunted, leading to more voices joining in the ridicule.
The mockery embarrassed Xia Long, who then increased the output of his talent, enveloping himself in more lightning. However, his attacks still missed Lan Feng, causing confusion among the audience.
Chu Tian, using his spiritual power, noticed that the lightning attacks were not actually aimed at Lan Feng but were mysteriously diverted just before hitting her. This subtle shift made it appear as if Xia Long's talent was inaccurate.
Chu Tian was puzzled by this unusual situation, as he couldn't identify the specific talent responsible for diverting ranged attacks in the Federation's records. He extended his spiritual perception to Lan Feng and Xia Long and realized that Lan Feng was not using a talent but instead manipulating her spiritual energy with exquisite precision, creating an invisible defensive barrier.
This barrier had subtly redirected Xia Long's attacks, rendering them ineffective. Suddenly, Lan Feng moved, walking slowly towards Xia Long, who was struggling to understand what was happening.
As Xia Long increased the output of his talent, trying to break through the barrier, his attacks continued to miss. Lan Feng remained calm and even yawned. Finally, Xia Long abandoned his lightning talent and decided to engage in close combat.
He charged towards Lan Feng, but just as he was about to reach her, he activated Blink Step, disappearing from her view. Lan Feng nonchalantly raised her leg and delivered a powerful kick behind her.
Witnessing the strange turn of events, the spectators were amazed. Xia Long, who had been knocked out of the stage, landed below with a pained cry.
The swift and straightforward match left the audience in awe. Chu Tian furrowed his brow, realizing that the force behind Lan Feng's kick was not to be underestimated.
After defeating Xia Long, Lan Feng stepped off the stage, giving way for the final match between Chu Tian and Xia Long.
If Xia Long were to lose this match, he would likely end up in third place, just below the top two. Chu Tian climbed onto the stage while Xia Long, still catching his breath, joined him a few minutes later.
In this round, Xia Long was determined to give his all, hoping to secure the second position if he defeated Chu Tian. The rankings among the top three were significant because they determined the quality of the spiritual energy concentration at the center of the Third Eye.
With a deep breath, Xia Long stepped onto the stage. When Caesar announced the start of the match, Xia Long unleashed his full power, with lightning enveloping his entire body.
Chu Tian understood that Xia Long was ready to go all out, but he remained unfazed. He vanished from Xia Long's sight using Blink Step.
Xia Long, taken aback, instinctively looked around, but suddenly, a looming figure emerged before him. He barely had time to react before a powerful punch sent him flying off the stage.
The entire sequence happened so quickly that from the start of the match until its end, not even a minute had passed. Chu Tian's immediate and direct approach had caught Xia Long off guard.
Witnessing Xia Long's defeat, the audience erupted in cheers. Although Xia Long had obtained the qualification to continue into the top eight due to connections, he had failed to advance further, leaving him feeling humiliated.
Chu Tian glanced at the audience and noticed Nota and Hong Shang watching from nearby, holding popcorn and beer as if they were regular spectators.
Seeing Chu Tian look in their direction, they raised their popcorn and beer as a friendly gesture.
Caesar observed Chu Tian on the stage, then turned his gaze to Lan Feng, who was preparing to face him. He declared, "Next, we have the final match, where the first and second positions will be determined between these two. Without further ado, let the match begin."
As Lan Feng stepped onto the stage, Chu Tian's expression turned serious. This woman was an enigma, as the system couldn't detect her talents or level. Although Chu Tian didn't know why the system wasn't