Chapter 126: He Succeeded
Bai Zhi had previously told him not to get hurt, so upon hearing his opponent’s words, Yan Yichen instinctively glanced in the direction where she had been. When he didn’t see her, he couldn’t help but scan the area, finally spotting her beside Yue Junxiao.
His gaze seemed to be asking a question, and at the same time, drawing strength for his resolve.
Upon seeing him, Bai Zhi said nothing. She simply watched him calmly, as if leaving the decision entirely up to him.
He stared at her for a long moment before finally declaring with conviction, "I will not concede."
Hearing this, the Beastman across from him scowled. ’This guy just doesn’t know what’s good for him.’
He shot a sidelong glance at Zelda, who was staring intently at the stage, then pressed his lips into a thin line. "Then don’t blame me for what happens next."
He gathered his strength and charged at Yan Yichen.
Bai Zhi now knew how to use her spiritual power for control, so she wasn’t quite as worried. Still, her eyes remained locked on the stage. If he were in any real danger, she would intervene.
A friendly spar was one thing, but if his opponent tried to land a killing blow like before, she would not stand idly by.
Yue Junxiao said worriedly to Bai Zhi, "My wife, why don’t we have Yi Chen come down? That Beastman often uses dirty tricks. Even though Yi Chen can fly, his inexperience makes him vulnerable."
Bai Zhi shook her head. "He’s not a child anymore. Since he has made his decision, let’s let him see it through."
Hearing this, Yue Junxiao was about to protest further when Zelda spoke up. "His opponent won’t dare to play any overt tricks. Besides, he has plenty of weapons. The outcome is still anyone’s guess."
The opponent had won against Jun Xiao by relying on underhanded moves. Compounded by Yue Junxiao’s inexperience, he had lost despite his arsenal of weapons.
But Yan Yichen had not only watched several of the opponent’s matches, he had also just faced him personally. She expected there might be a surprising outcome.
Lang Qiu added, "Yi Chen doesn’t want to give up."
Even Sang Mo had come down at some point. He stood to the side, his gaze fixed intently on the stage.
Sure enough, thanks to his recent experience, Yan Yichen fought with greater focus. His opponent couldn’t fly, so every time he was about to land a hit, Yan Yichen would simply take to the air.
There were restrictions on the stage that forbade the use of spiritual power for suppression.
Eventually, his opponent had no choice but to draw his axe again. He faced Yan Yichen and roared, "Sky Splitting Slash!"
Yan Yichen was prepared and swiftly flew aside.
The Sky Splitting Slash was powerful, but it could be dodged if one was fast enough.
Moreover, the Sky Splitting Slash consumed a great deal of spiritual power. Even though Yan Yichen couldn’t beat his opponent in a direct confrontation, he would win if he could just exhaust the other Beastman’s spiritual power.
Yan Yichen zipped back and forth, loosing a few arrows from time to time, keeping his opponent on the defensive. However, Yan Yichen was also accumulating more and more injuries.
If it weren’t for the self-defense clothes Bai Zhi had bought for him, he’d be in a much worse state.
The opposing Beastman went from being completely at ease to realizing Yan Yichen’s strategy, and his approach grew more cautious.
Seeing that his stalling tactic was no longer effective, Yan Yichen switched to an all-out assault.
The true battle began now.
BANG—
At the moment of impact, Yan Yichen was sent flying. He spun rapidly to stabilize himself before his feet hit the ground, carving a deep crater into the stage.
SPURT—
Yan Yichen spat out a mouthful of blood. A second later, he wiped the stain from his lips and charged forward once more.
One was a mid-to-late stage S-Class approaching his peak, while the other had only just entered the early stages of S-Class. If not for his superior equipment, Yan Yichen would have been defeated long ago.
Again and again.
Yan Yichen was sent flying with every exchange, but he charged right back in each time.
After several more clashes, he finally found his opening.
’Now!’
Yan Yichen’s eyes locked onto a single point. He flew forward, wrapping an arrow in his spiritual power before letting it fly.
PSSHH—
The arrow plunged deep into his opponent’s body, the sound of the arrowhead tearing through flesh sickeningly audible.
The arrowhead burst through his back, though most of the shaft remained embedded in his torso.
The opposing Beastman seemed shocked. He never expected that Yan Yichen, despite being so thoroughly beaten, was still looking for an opportunity to strike back.
He was even more surprised that Yan Yichen had actually managed to wound him.
He simply stared, stunned, at the wound in his chest for several long seconds.
In that instant, a hush fell over the tens of thousands in the crowd.
Yan Yichen, who had been kneeling on one knee, wiped the blood from his mouth and rose to his feet. His self-defense clothes were in tatters, revealing the wounds beneath.
His gaze burned like a torch as he stared at the other Beastman. "The arrow is a centimeter from your heart. It won’t be fatal, but you need medical attention immediately."
In other words, this was no accident. Yan Yichen had aimed it deliberately, intentionally missing the heart by a centimeter to avoid a fatal blow.
Otherwise, his opponent would now be a corpse on the ground.
The opposing Beastman staggered back a few steps and collapsed onto the ground, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.
’I was actually defeated by a complete rookie?’
After hearing Yan Yichen’s words, the crowd’s opinion of him shifted. He was no longer just a handsome and talented young Beastman; he was now a truly impressive one.
His sheer perseverance—to be so grievously injured and still turn the tables on his opponent—was enough to make many of the females in the audience swoon.
Then, Yan Yichen dragged his battered body, step by painstaking step, toward the edge of the stage.
He looked at Bai Zhi and smiled brightly.
’I did it!’
Bai Zhi raised her hands and began to clap for him, slow and steady.
In the silent arena, the sound of her applause was exceptionally loud.
Hearing her, many others began to applaud as well.
The applause was soon followed by the excited screams of the females in the crowd.
"That smile! I think I’m going to die! Don’t anyone try to stop me!"
"AHHH! I want him to be my Beast Husband!"
Just as that female finished speaking, another one beside her said, "I won’t stop you, but it looks like he already has a female."
The face of the female who wanted Yan Yichen as her Beast Husband stiffened. "I don’t care! So what if he has a female? I can be his other female!"
"I declare him today’s strongest Beastman!"
While the females were shouting excitedly, Yan Yichen reached Bai Zhi’s side. "I’m sorry, my wife. I broke my promise, but I won."
Bai Zhi shook her head. As she skillfully began to treat his wounds, she said, "You were amazing. I’m so proud of you."
Yue Junxiao threw an arm around Yan Yichen’s shoulders, patting him with a brilliant smile. "You’re incredible! You actually beat him! You avenged me!"
The pat landed on an injury, and the sharp pain made Yan Yichen suck in a sharp breath. "HISS—"