MMB Chapter 200 League 1
Chapter 200 League 1
Song Chen moved, almost to the extreme.
The high-speed camera on the giant electronic screen captured only a fleeting afterimage as the golden-purple blade energy exploded on the blade, tearing a white vacuum blade mark in the air.
The first of the Seven Heavenly Thunder Slashes.
The Grandmaster-level Seven Heavenly Thunder Slashes embodies his complete understanding of swordsmanship in each strike. The sword is his arm, lightning, and a direct extension of his will.
This wasn't the first strike; after reaching the Grandmaster level, the power of the first strike was close to that of the third strike in normal condition.
Ye Beichen raised his arms, and his blood and qi condensed into a thick qi shield.
He started practicing martial arts at the age of three, and all his twenty years of skill were put into this one block.
He knew he couldn't break through, and he didn't even think about attacking. As long as he could block this attack, Tianhai would admit defeat.
The moment the blade struck the qi shield, the qi shield shattered.
Like a hammer striking glass, shards flew everywhere.
Ye Beichen felt the bones in his arms screaming, his tiger's mouth splitting open, and before the blood could flow out, it was blown away by the wind pressure of the blade's energy.
He slid backward, his feet carving two black scorch marks into the alloy plate.
As he slid out, he tried to use his second layer of blood energy shield to hold on, but the blade energy had already passed through his defenses, and the remaining force hit his chest, sending him flying.
Ye Beichen flew off the stage.
He tumbled dozens of meters in the air before crashing heavily into the protective wall at the edge of the field.
The walls were made of a specially made cushioning material, but the dull thud of the impact still echoed throughout the venue.
He slid down the wall and sat on the ground, his arms trembling so badly he couldn't lift them, and blood began to seep from the mouth of his hand.
He looked down at his still trembling hands, then looked up at the figure on the stage who had sheathed his sword.
His lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
Song Chen stood in the center of the arena, the Heavenly Blade already sheathed.
The residual electric arcs around him bounced twice on his team uniform before dissipating into the air.
The thunder from the heavens receded, and the intent of the sword was withdrawn.
Su Wanning still held her twin swords in front of her. She looked at Song Chen's back, then looked down at the swords in her hands and suddenly felt that her swords were as light as toys.
The arena, which held 120,000 people, was silent for a full three seconds.
Then it exploded.
Screams, applause, and shouts mingled together, making it impossible to distinguish between cheers and shock, or between fans of Tianjin Tianhai and audiences from Beijing.
The giant electronic screen began replaying the high-speed slow-motion version of the slash that had just occurred.
The golden-purple blade energy sliced through the air, and every fragment that broke off when the energy shield shattered was clearly visible. The moment when Ye Beichen's feet left the ground and he was pushed away by the blade energy was frozen for a full five seconds.
The referee had his whistle in his mouth but forgot to blow it.
The host gripped the microphone with both hands, his lips trembling several times before he finally managed to find the words: "One...one cut!"
In the waiting area, Han Zhongming leaned against the door frame, staring at the figure on the stage who had sheathed his sword, and opened his mouth: "See that? That's one of our Tianhai people."
The teacher leading the team didn't answer; his eyes were a little moist. Tianhai had finally won first place.
Song Chen stood in the center of the ring, with no opponents left.
Ye Beichen's breathing was erratic, and his chest felt tight from the residual force of the blade's energy, but his bones were not broken. Song Chen withdrew his strength.
He looked down at his still trembling hands, then slowly raised his head to look at the figure in the Tianhai team uniform on the ring.
He opened his mouth.
"I surrender."
The three words landed in the arena of 120,000 people like a stone thrown into a lake.
The cheers from the stands suddenly rose, the hundreds of students from Tianhai University waved their school flags loudly, and the home fans from Beijing also stood up and applauded.
Although I lost, my opponent was an honorary councilor who single-handedly broke through the beast tide, so it's not shameful.
The referee finally blew his whistle.
"Tianhai University wins the semi-final!"
Su Wanning let out a long breath. She walked to Song Chen's side, wanting to say something, but in the end she just reached out and patted his shoulder lightly, her fingertips trembling slightly.
As Song Chen stepped off the stage, he glanced at the contestants' tunnel on the opposite side of the arena.
Ye Beichen had been helped up by the team doctor from Beijing, and his arms were wrapped in spiritual energy liquid.
Their eyes met, Ye Beichen paused for a moment, and then nodded.
Song Chen nodded, looked away, and continued walking forward.
He had just reached the entrance to the waiting area when Han Zhongming rushed up to him: "One move! That's Ye Beichen!"
"He's not bad." Song Chen didn't react much.
He was serious. He withstood a knife blow from Ye Beichen and even managed to sit up and admit defeat himself. Ye Beichen was indeed impressive.
Han Zhongming paused for a second, then threw his head back and burst into laughter.
After laughing, he glanced back at the staff packing up equipment on the ring, then looked at Song Chen and asked in a low voice, "Are you still going to fight in tomorrow's finals?"
"beat."
Han Zhongming grinned: "Good, those bastards from Xuanwu are probably having trouble sleeping right now."
Just as he finished speaking, the teacher in charge of the team received a ring on his terminal.
He glanced down, a strange expression appearing on his face, then looked up at Song Chen.
"Xuanwu University concedes defeat."
The entire waiting area was silent for two seconds.
Han Zhongming snatched the terminal and stared at the message on the screen, his eyes widening.
Han Zhongming handed the terminal back to the team leader, his voice rising half an octave: "Give up? You're not playing in the finals?"
"We're not playing anymore," the teacher in charge nodded.
"After watching the match, the captain of the Xuanwu team went directly to the organizing committee and said that they would forfeit the final and that their second-place finish would be fine."
"What's the reason?"
The teacher leading the team read the message on the terminal: "Councilor Song Chen's strength far exceeds the scope of the college league. Xuanwu University chooses to abstain as a way of expressing respect for the honorary councilor."
Han Zhongming blinked, then turned to look at Song Chen: "Are you scared?"
Song Chen didn't respond, which surprised him.
Xuanwu University is the second-ranked martial arts high school in the Great Xia Dynasty, and has long been superior to Tianhai University. Their captain is at the peak of the fourth rank and is known for his tough fighting style.
He originally thought he would have to make at least one more cut tomorrow.
But Xuanwu is not Ye Beichen. Ye Beichen has the confidence to gamble with his 17,000 health points, while Xuanwu, at the peak of the fourth rank, doesn't even have the qualifications to gamble.
Abstaining was a smart choice, but what made Song Chen uncomfortable was the reason given.
"This is to express our respect for the honorary councilor."
If this got out, people would think he used his position as a member of parliament to force his opponent to withdraw from the competition.
He looked at the teacher in charge of the team: "Admitting defeat is easier, but it doesn't sound good. People will think that you won the championship because of your status."
Han Zhongming, who was still laughing, stopped smiling and thought about it after hearing this.
"What can we do then? Xuanwu has already submitted his withdrawal, and the organizing committee has approved it. You have no opponent left if you want to fight again."
"Yes, let them all go up together and fight another match. Let their strength decide the champion."
Upon hearing this, the teacher in charge nearly dropped his terminal.
Song Chen took out his phone and sent a message.
One second later, the captain of Xuanwu University's phone rang.
Ten seconds later, the teacher in charge of the group's phone rang.
He looked down and saw the reply from the captain of Xuanwu University.
"Thank you for your high regard, Councilor Song, but we're not stupid. We won't play. Congratulations to Tianjin Tianhai on winning the championship."
"By the way, thank you Councilor Song for beating up Ye Beichen. I've been annoyed with this old bastard who's been dragging his feet on graduating for a long time."
Han Zhongming leaned over to read the message, then plopped back down in his chair, laughing so hard he almost fell over.
Song Chen put away her phone.
"If they won't fight, then forget it."
The college league organizing committee handled the situation faster than anyone expected.
An hour later, the organizing committee of the Daxia University League issued an announcement that Xuanwu University had forfeited and Tianhai University had won the championship of the 37th Daxia Martial Arts University League.
The awards ceremony was held on the central stage.
There are no silver or bronze medals; it's a tradition in college leagues that losers don't stand on stage, only the champions do.
Song Chen stood at the highest point, and the host handed him a crystal trophy. He took it, said thank you, and then handed it to Han Zhongming.
Han Zhongming caught the trophy with his left hand, glanced down at the word "Champion" engraved on the crystal base, pursed his lips into a line, and his eyes reddened.
"Don't cry," Su Wanning said in a low voice, standing next to him.
Han Zhongming sniffed: "I didn't cry, it's just windy."
But on the awards stage, there were only spotlights, no wind.