Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 98 - 8: A Despairing Gap (Part 2)

In comparison, I still lag behind in this aspect and need to learn more from Senior Sister.

No matter how much shock Lin Chen brought to the martial artists present, the contest had to continue. The next contestants took the stage, and the spectators were still watching with great interest, cheering constantly.

However, the martial artists present felt that something was missing as they watched the matches on the stage, like Meng Yuan from Mantis Martial Arts Hall battling Qi Fei from Cloud Conceal Martial Arts Hall, it was an extremely exciting fight, yet it felt like something was missing.

More accurately, everyone’s mind was not on the stage, somewhat absent-minded.

With Lin Chen setting the bar so high previously, although the remaining matches were exciting, they failed to impress the audience, making them feel somewhat dull.

Qi Fei and the others were the same. After their matches were over, they quickly left the stage regardless of winning or losing.

Soon, the top nine emerged.

Apart from Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall being completely eliminated, the other halls were left with one contestant each, while Jingshui Martial Arts Hall had three including the exempted Fu Jingya.

The judge responsible for drawing lots appeared in the backstage again, setting his eyes on Lin Chen: "Lin Chen is exempt from this round."

Gu Shan and the others were stunned but then involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief deep down.

They had to admit that in this round of matches, they would rather face Jiang Qing than Lin Chen.

The Martial Affairs Office appointing Lin Chen to be exempt saved them from worrying about encountering him in the next round.

Lin Chen was also surprised that the Martial Affairs Office arranged for his exemption directly but did not refuse.

Being exempt was naturally a good thing.

After the draw ended, Lin Chen and Jiang Qing returned to the Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, where Kong Yinglei nodded in understanding upon learning that Lin Chen was exempt.

Unexpected but understandable.

The second round of matches was not as fast-paced as the first. Excluding Fu Jingya, the remaining contestants were all seed participants from their respective halls without much disparity.

Who would win depended on each individual’s on-the-spot performance and combat techniques.

This kind of intense and exciting match prompted waves of cheers from the audience, surging one after another.

After the second round, the rankings of the top five came out.

Fei Hong from Iron Blood Martial Arts Hall, Gu Shan from Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Qing from Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, Song Yu from Seven Stars Martial Arts Hall, and the exempted Lin Chen.

Five people, does someone have to be exempt again in the third round?

Not only Lin Chen and the others thought about this, but also the martial artists present.

The battles in this third round were bound to be extremely fierce, and those exempted could maintain their best condition and wait for the laborious fighters, which was very unfair to the four who were not exempt.

"I think we should go for a round-robin battle next, with the five of them taking turns to fight to determine the final rankings."

"Not suitable, if it’s like this, those who fight first will be disadvantaged, and how much strength they can exert after a grueling battle is uncertain."

"Round-robin battles are possible, but each participant should be given enough time to rest, which would drag the event too long, taking at least two days to end."

So many spectators were present; extending the final competition for the top spot to the next day would make this martial hall contest imperfect.

Backstage of the arena.

Jiang Qing glanced at the silent Gu Shan and others and suddenly spoke: "I have now broken through to the Nine Acupoints."

Whoosh!

Gu Shan and others’ pupils contracted, looking at Jiang Qing in disbelief.

Nine Acupoints?

Is it shocking?

Indeed, it is shocking.

But with Lin Chen’s Clear Wind Palm Perfection before, Jiang Qing’s Opening of Nine Acupoints was not that unacceptable.

In fact, in their hearts, it was much easier to accept Jiang Qing’s Opening of Nine Acupoints than to accept Lin Chen’s Clear Wind Palm Perfection.

Lin Chen looked up at Senior Sister Jiang without much surprise. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Before the match, Senior Sister Jiang had already hinted at possibly entering Nine Acupoints before the contest.

He was more curious about the purpose of Senior Sister Jiang saying this now.

Persuading with strength?

"Only Junior Brother Lin has the qualification to fight me on the scene. You three can withdraw from the competition or fight for the other ranks; the positions of third, fourth, and fifth should not make much difference to you."

Jiang Qing spoke domineering words in a calm tone.

Lin Chen guessed right, Jiang Qing indeed planned to persuade with strength.

Opening Nine Acupoints ahead of the Opening of Eight Acupoints is not just a simple gap of One Acupoint.

She didn’t want to waste any more time; only Junior Brother Lin could make her fight seriously on the scene.

Gu Shan, Fei Hong, and Song Yu exchanged glances, seeing the bitterness in each other’s eyes. The top martial hall masters were never looked down upon like this before.

But they had to admit that Jiang Qing was right. To them, there wasn’t much difference between third and fourth place, and the extra silver taels reward wasn’t even worth their consideration.

Facing Jiang Qing with Nine Acupoints, they indeed felt powerless. But what about Lin Chen?

They knew the strength of mastering a cultivation technique to perfection, but without firsthand experience, making them give up just because Lin Chen was ahead by two acupoints was truly unsatisfying.

Seeing Gu Shan and the others looking at him, Lin Chen guessed their thoughts, feeling their unwillingness to give up.

In that case, he made them lose all hope.

"Yesterday, I also opened one acupoint, now reaching Seven Acupoints."

Gu Shan: ...

Fei Hong: ...

Song Yu: ...

Not playing anymore!

You at Jingshui Martial Arts Hall can play by yourselves.

The three of them felt a bit crushed at that moment, thinking that the two of them were playing tricks on them.

One hid the strength of One Acupoint, while the other hid Clear Wind Palm Perfection and One Acupoint; if they had said so earlier, they wouldn’t have even competed.