High-Martial World: System Arrives 30 Years Late-Chapter 100 - 99: One Stroke from Su Mu, Defeating Cui Jian
"I now announce the start of the semifinal ranking battle. The twenty-nine of you can now choose your challengers and draw lots for the order."
The twenty-nine people quickly completed the drawing of lots.
"I want to challenge Number 30!"
Number 30, Zhang Zong from Gaoshan City, showed a hint of helplessness. Among the thirty-one participants, he seemed to be the weakest. He must win the upcoming battle impressively, or else more challengers will inevitably come after him.
Zhang Zong took a deep breath and revealed his weapon, a sword that resembled an eight-sided Han sword.
"Let’s first see the strength of this Zhang Zong."
Many on the challenger’s side were very focused, as the upcoming match concerned their chance to get into the top thirty and obtain the pre-selection qualification. Everyone would undoubtedly give it their all.
"Alright, next is Number 45 versus Number 30, both sides please prepare."
Number 45, Zhu Yu from Qianhai City, was a short-haired woman wielding a long spear.
In the midst of the yellow sand, the two stood a hundred meters apart. As Shi Hao’s words fell, the challenger, Number 45, Zhu Yu, launched her attack first. A thin membrane of qi and blood flowed over her body as she took swift steps forward to close in.
A glint of cold light flickered, and the spear thrust out like a dragon.
Sst.
The spear and sword met, producing a piercing sound of metal scraping, with sparks flying.
Then Zhang Zong’s Han sword clung to the spear like a venomous snake. He stepped forward and delivered a slash.
An inch longer, an inch stronger. Zhu Yu knew she couldn’t let Zhang Zong easily get close, so she exerted force with her wrist, causing the long spear to shake like a flood dragon’s tail, trying to deflect Zhang Zong’s sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amidst the clashing of metal, in just a breath’s time, the two clashed over ten rounds. With each exchange, the residual qi and blood waves they generated stirred the yellow sand, sending dust flying.
In the end, Zhang Zong, with his superior skill, parried the spear with his last strike, his sword poised closely in front of Zhu Yu.
"I lost!"
Zhu Yu said these words with great reluctance. She was born in the coastal base of Qianhai City and was known as a genius since childhood, the pride of her family. Even in the qualification tests for the training camp, she excelled.
Yet, she hadn’t expected that in the end, she wouldn’t make it into the top thirty.
"In this battle, Number 30 wins, Number 45 is defeated!" Shi Hao announced the result.
Hearing the result, Zhu Yu, somewhat disheartened, left the center of the field with her spear.
Many noticed the regret on Zhu Yu’s face, but for those who reached this stage, weren’t they all geniuses from their respective bases?
The Alliance’s talent competition has always been cruel, with only the geniuses being screened out.
"This Zhang Zong is very strong, and his sword technique uses softness to overcome hardness. Zhu Yu was precisely restrained by it," someone analyzed.
The semifinals continued.
In the second battle, Number 41 challenged Number 29 and lost.
In the third battle, Number 32 challenged Number 28 and won.
"In this battle, Number 32 wins, Number 28 loses, please exchange your tokens!"
After the first successful challenge, the challenger’s side was greatly encouraged, with many eager to fight, while those defending their positions felt a bit more anxious.
Su Mu carefully watched each battle. Every person’s fighting style was different. As he watched, he imagined how he would respond if he were to face certain opponents.
"I want to challenge Number 30."
Zhang Zong did not look happy, and there was anger in his heart. This was the second time he was being challenged.
But this time, he lost, and the challenger was Hong Yi.
"Su Mu!"
After approaching Su Mu, Hong Yi’s hands trembled. During this period, his motivation to get stronger was not the pre-selection, but Su Mu himself. He wanted to see with his own eyes how far Su Mu could go, and surprisingly, he managed to do it.
"Congratulations."
"Just lucky, Su Mu, keep it up."
Time ticked by second by second.
Soon, the semifinals reached their conclusion.
Among the twenty-nine challengers, the highest successfully challenged Number 20. Only five people challenged successfully, with the others targeting those beyond Number 25.
Numbers 20, 25, 26, 27, and 30 were defeated and eliminated, losing their pre-selection qualification.
...
"First of all, congratulations to the thirty of you for obtaining the pre-selection spot," Shi Hao said, and Xu Zhi beside him nudged his shoulder.
It was then Shi Hao realized there were still thirty-one people on the field, and Huangfu Xue spoke up at the right moment.
"Currently, there are still thirty-one of you, so next, we will conduct a real ranking battle among you. The current top ten will advance directly to the next round. The rest will draw lots to determine the opposing sides, and there will be one bye in the first round."
"Luck is a part of strength; if you lose, you can’t blame anyone else."
Quickly, the lot drawing results came out, and Hong Yi got the bye in the first round. Hong Yi looked pleasantly surprised, as it meant he directly entered the top thirty and obtained a pre-selection spot!
"This guy’s luck is really good."
Many sighed at this, feeling the pressure, and knowing the bye wasn’t for Su Mu, which meant amongst them, one unlucky soul would face Su Mu.
Who would be the unlucky one?
"In the first battle, Shenjiang City Number 11, Lu Qing, versus Shenjiang City Number 31, Su Mu."
Upon these words, the once-confident Lu Qing’s face changed drastically, while the others breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat schadenfreude.
"Haha, it’s Lu Qing, and both are from Shenjiang City. I think Lu Qing occupied Dormitory Number One for two days, right? He’s also a talented martial artist, right?"
"I remember Lu Qing triggered the rule of three irresistible challenges in three consecutive days before, right?"
"The first talented martial artist is about to be eliminated."
For a moment, Lu Qing stood there, stunned, full of reluctance. The only way to elimination, and he encountered it.
"Both parties, please take your positions!"
Lu Qing came to the field with a gloomy face. To withdraw voluntarily now, he would be unwilling, having come so far, and being a talented martial artist!
"Su Mu, let’s go."
Right now, Lu Qing could only think of not losing too humiliatingly. Even lasting one more round would suffice. To avoid utter embarrassment, he launched an attack first.
With a determined momentum, he thrust his long spear at Su Mu.
Feeling Lu Qing’s momentum, Su Mu vaguely saw himself on the alien race battlefield, where he once faced a Fifth Level Alien Race.
"To go all out is the greatest respect!"
Clang!
The Red Sun Saber unsheathed, its edge revealed.
Su Mu slashed down with one strike.
"I lost!"
Lu Qing admitted defeat, his face full of disbelief, eyes staring blankly at the spear in his hand, which had become a mere stick.
The broken spearhead fell onto the yellow sand; Su Mu’s strike had surprisingly cut off his weapon.
"To cut a Fifth Level weapon in one strike, what terrifying sword momentum!"
"An astounding strike, the saber in Su Mu’s hand must be extraordinary too."
"This strike makes me feel Su Mu has grown even stronger than before!"
Only Lu Qing could feel that Su Mu had actually held back with his saber, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been just his spear that broke.
"Thank you."
After speaking, Lu Qing seemed relieved, the discontent in his heart seemed to dissipate greatly, as he faced an opponent of a completely different level, he couldn’t muster any resentment.
"How was that strike?" Huangfu Xue asked in a low voice.
"Very strong, Su Mu has made great progress during this time." Shi Hao blurted out.
In the crowd, Tantai Yan looked at Su Mu, and Su Mu, sensing the gaze, looked over as well, their eyes meeting.
For a moment, Su Mu’s words echoed in Tantai Yan’s ears.
"So I hope when we meet in the ranking battle, you can fight with all your strength, of course, I will also go all out to attempt to defeat you."
Tantai Yan took a deep breath, she was somewhat looking forward to it, this was their mutual agreement.
...
After Su Mu’s initial match, although strong opponents continued to face off, Su Mu’s instantaneous defeat of Lu Qing had been too shocking, overshadowing the rest, making the audience somewhat uninterested.
"I wish Su Mu would have more strikes."
"I want to see Su Mu draw his saber more, that’s enjoyment."
Those ranked beyond thirty, not having to face Su Mu, couldn’t help but think, while those still continuing in the arena lamented, almost on the verge of cursing.
In this tournament, unexpectedly, there were two monsters, both with speed talents.
Besides Tantai Yan, the top ten prayed not to encounter this monster, Su Mu, prematurely.
Nineteen versus Number Eleven, Number Eleven won.
Eighteen versus Twenty-One, Twenty-One won.
...
Twenty-Nine versus Twenty-Five, Twenty-Five won.
The ten battles quickly ended, next, one person among the defeated would be eliminated, after pairs faced off, finally, Number Twenty-Eight was regretfully out.
Number Twenty-Eight clenched his fist, if not for the variable of Su Mu, he would have been in the top thirty, but luck is also a part of strength.
"At least I’m luckier than Lu Qing, not facing a monster like Su Mu."
Thinking this, he finally sighed and accepted reality.
Shi Hao glanced at the final twenty, "Now, among you twenty, the top ten will be decided, having come this far, leave no regrets, give it your all."
"We’ll still use the draw lots method, the current top ten will be avoided from meeting each other in advance."
Hearing this, the top ten secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it’s a privilege brought by strength, the rules favor the strong, the only one to keep an eye on is Su Mu.
"Who will be the unlucky one?"
Outside the arena, many were eagerly anticipating.
Soon, the twenty drew lots, all eyes were on Su Mu when he drew, and as soon as he looked down, someone announced the unlucky match-up.
"Su Mu has drawn Number Two, Cui Jian!"
"Haha, this is interesting, it’s actually Cui Jian, the show is about to start."
"Cui Jian is unlucky, this is a premature battle for the second place."
"Cui Jian might be stronger than You Ming, but I think only slightly. If Su Mu could defeat You Ming in two strikes, I predict three strikes at most to defeat Cui Jian."
Hearing this, Cui Jian’s heart dropped, his expression stiffened, had he actually drawn Su Mu?!
At this moment, everyone noticed the evident panic in Cui Jian, Gaoshan City’s strongest this year, and one of the only two Speed Talent Martial Artists, while Su Mu remained calm.
To him, as long as it’s not Tantai Yan, anyone else is the same.
At this time, Shi Hao, Xu Zhi, and Huangfu Xue secretly sighed in relief as long as Su Mu and Tantai Yan did not encounter each other early.
"First match, Shenjiang City’s Number Eleven, Su Mu versus Gaoshan City’s Number Two, Cui Jian."
Cui Jian took a deep breath, his figure flickered, surprisingly leaving several afterimages on the spot.
"Such speed! Could Cui Jian have been holding back all along?" You Ming saw this scene, pupils narrowed.
"Cui Jian’s speed has improved tremendously over this time, could it be..."
Seeing Cui Jian perform a Secret Technique, Shi Hao and Huangfu Xue both looked at Xu Zhi, Xu Zhi waved his hand, "Since this kid found me last, with such good talent, I could only reluctantly teach him a trick."
"Su Mu will win, but it won’t be easy."
Shi Hao remembered the difficulty when he faced Xu Zhi and immediately made his judgment.
As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden change occurred.
Su Mu took a deep breath, his sword momentum capturing the general method, clearer than before.
"You reap what you sow!"
"The Spiritual Defense cultivation during this time... also honed my sword momentum!"
His gaze was calm, and immediately a more domineering aura than before surged from him, on the field Cui Jian’s face changed drastically, suddenly feeling a life-threatening crisis, only to see Su Mu directly swing a strike forward.
For a moment, Cui Jian was breathless because he found himself losing control of his body for an instant, as if bound in place.
For a Speed Talent member, nothing is more terrifying than speed being ineffective, Cui Jian’s prideful speed was entirely ineffective against Su Mu.
At this moment, he finally felt the despair You Ming had previously faced against Su Mu, Su Mu’s strike slashed directly over a distance of over ten meters.
The sword momentum raged, the gale rose.
"I, I admit defeat!" Cui Jian shouted repeatedly.
With just one strike, did Cui Jian also immediately surrender?!
Even someone as strong as Cui Jian couldn’t withstand even one round against Su Mu?!
