Chapter 4481 — Turning Defeat into Victory
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Qi Wenmo and the others, by contrast, erupted in earth-shaking cheers. Before Wei Zhao had stepped back onto the stage, they had already braced themselves for defeat; in their eyes, so long as Wei Zhao himself came to no serious harm, this outing would count as a success. Who could have imagined that Wei Zhao would prove so heaven-defying as to crush the man with his own ultimate technique?
Wei Zhao stood amid the ruins of the platform, his gaze at last coming to rest slowly upon Wu Baoliang. The man had indeed been blasted clear and cut a rather wretched figure, but he was still far from being gravely wounded or dead.
Toward scum like Wu Baoliang, who had exhausted every last shred of decency, Wei Zhao clearly had not the slightest intention of holding back. It was simply that this was his first time unleashing the Fury-Fire Thousand-Blast Fist; managing to perform it smoothly at all was already quite good. He could not yet fully command this newly created technique—neither its power nor his timing was quite there yet.
"A pity." Wei Zhao shook his head faintly. Failing to put the thing down for good in one blow did leave him somewhat regretful, but it hardly mattered. He straightway called out in a clear voice toward the panel of judges: "I choose to challenge the Dragonboat Escort Agency."
Another wave of uproar. The spectators below could not help feeling that today had been well worth the trip—not only had they witnessed a heaven-defying duel between two extraordinary Gold Core-stage masters, but the moment before, Wu Baoliang had been riding high, ready to trample the Skypillar Escort Agency into the ground, and in the blink of an eye it had all been reversed. This kind of instant comeuppance was always the most eagerly devoured gossip in the taverns and teahouses.
Qi Wenmo and the others had no objection to Wei Zhao's decision. Though they were somewhat worried whether he could hold out and keep challenging, if any of them had possessed such strength, they would have made the same choice.
Strike while the iron is hot, and finish a foe while he is down—the Southern Continent's seas had never been a place for mercy or righteousness, and this was, besides, a long-hated, deeply resented enemy. If they did not seize this chance to stamp him out, endless trouble would surely follow.
By contrast, the faces of the Dragonboat Escort Agency's people turned far grimmer—especially Long Kuiba and Cheng Haonan, who were grinding their teeth in hatred. Even now they could not accept reality: Wu Baoliang, whose strength rivaled that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert, had actually lost to Wei Zhao?
"What do we do?" Long Kuiba looked at Cheng Haonan. So firm had been his belief in Wu Baoliang's invincibility that he had never once anticipated such a situation, and for the moment he had no idea how to respond.
"There's nothing to be done about it—I'll have to go up myself." Cheng Haonan watched Wei Zhao on the platform with a cold, sinister expression. He had meant only to borrow another's blade, but now there was no help for it; circumstances forced him to take the field in person. To avenge the death of his son—a hatred no ocean could wash away—he would accept it even if it meant being called to account for it afterward!
"Very well, then I'll leave it to you, Deputy Chief Cheng." Long Kuiba nodded. On paper they were both peak Gold Core-stage masters, but Cheng Haonan's strength was even a cut above Wu Baoliang's; sending him out would surely mean no margin for error.
"Wait—I'll do this myself. I was careless and underestimated him a moment ago, but this time I will most certainly slaughter this wretched thing!" At that moment the bedraggled Wu Baoliang suddenly rose and came over, speaking through gritted teeth. Though he looked thoroughly wretched now, judging by his steps and bearing at this moment, he still had some fight left in him.