novelhk Chapter 775 Your Purity Isn't High Enough
Chapter 775 Your Purity Isn't High Enough
According to the established rules of the martial arts tournament, the semi-finals of each sub-venue are the final hurdle to the final Yujingtai tournament. Only the two outstanding individuals who win here are qualified to step onto the final stage that everyone is watching.
With a wave of its hand, Beidou directly included Traveler's name in the semi-final list of the Ocean Venue, which is almost equivalent to a direct ticket to Yujingtai.
Unfortunately, the Traveler and Paimon were not focused on these complicated schedules. They were still somewhat unaware of the convenience and consequences brought about by Beidou's seemingly casual but actually far-reaching operation, and did not fully realize its significance.
At that moment, the traveler and Paimon quickly found the female sailor, Zhu Han, dressed in the uniform of the Southern Cross fleet, at the registration desk.
Despite explaining that it was Beidou's order, Zhu Han's pupils visibly contracted the moment she heard that the Travelers could directly enter the semi-finals, and a clear look of surprise flashed across her face.
But as a capable officer on the Death Star, she was highly professional and quickly suppressed her surprise, her face regaining its well-trained and capable smile: "Understood, then please follow me, you two."
Zhu Han then deftly led the two to the quieter waiting area.
The number of participants at the Ocean venue is far less than that at the Mountain and Forest venues and the venues in Liyue Harbor.
This is understandable, since most of the sailors, wanderers, and explorers who make a living on the vast ocean are elusive, like seagulls. At this moment, they may be drifting on the boundless blue waves, chasing the wind and waves and treasures, or they may be venturing into some unknown sea area, unable to get away to participate in this grand event on land.
The entire waiting area seemed rather empty and desolate.
According to the original plan, travelers only needed to participate in the morning preliminary rounds, which would be over in the middle of the morning, while the afternoon would be the crucial semi-finals at the Ocean Venue.
Taking advantage of this rare break, the traveler sat quietly in a corner, closed his eyes, and tried to adjust his breathing and state of mind.
Paimon wandered around the area for a while, feeling rather bored. Eventually, he couldn't stand it any longer and, taking advantage of the brief respite, dragged the girl back to Liyue Harbor via the statue at the Leyline Anchor. There, they quickly accepted and completed several simple quests at the Adventurers' Guild.
When they returned to Guyun Pavilion, it was already past noon.
At this point, the semi-final matchups were finally posted.
The traveler's gaze swept across the list, finally settling on the name of his rival.
Rong Shi.
When the two women followed the name and turned to their opponent, even the battle-hardened traveler couldn't help but feel a slight chill.
The man named Rong Shi was so burly that he was like a moving mountain, almost as tall as two travelers. His muscles were bulging and stretched, making his brown short-sleeved outfit, which was common in Liyue, look tight and as if it would tear at any moment.
Simply by standing in a corner of the somewhat crowded waiting area, he naturally created an invisible space, and the people around him subconsciously kept their distance from him.
That silent, mountain-like presence brings an almost tangible, suffocating sense of oppression.
"Oh my god!"
"Traveler! Did you see that? Is that really an ordinary person? How can it be... how can it be so big!"
Paimon was so startled that he took a half-foot step back in mid-air, his little finger pointing at the tower-like figure, his big eyes wide open, and his voice changed.
"You...you're going to fight that 'mountain' in your next match?"
Paimon swallowed hard, his little face filled with disbelief, while the traveler's gaze was already firmly fixed on Rong Shi, his original calm finally replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
The girl nodded slowly, a sharp light gathering deep within her amber pupils.
As Paimon exclaimed, this opponent truly felt unlike any other warrior the traveler had encountered before.
Just looking at the other person, a primal and heavy sense of threat, originating from pure physical power, immediately hits you.
Although the Traveler couldn't sense any elemental fluctuations from the other party, that muscular physique, seemingly cast from refined steel and brimming with explosive power, was itself an indestructible weapon, and the danger it contained was absolutely not to be underestimated. The Traveler considered herself quite modest, but she hadn't expected that she had still underestimated the martial artist of Liyue.
Just then, outside the waiting area, the gongs and drums announcing the start of the next competition suddenly sounded, urgent and loud, like war drums beating against one's heartstrings.
Zhu Han, who was in charge of guiding, walked over quickly, his expression solemn, and clearly addressed Rong Shi, who was resting with his eyes closed, and the traveler who was on high alert:
"Mr. Rong Shi, Ms. Traveler, it's your turn to take the stage next, please get ready!"
Almost simultaneously, on the arena, the referee's powerful voice pierced through the noise and echoed clearly in the sea breeze of Lonely Cloud Pavilion.
"Next match, the Ocean Arena semi-final! 'The Great Hero Who Saved Liyue,' Ying, versus 'Dark Horse,' Rong Shi!"
"Please invite your two contestants to the stage!"
Perhaps because of the previous decisive victory, amidst the cheers from the stands, the Traveler's title of "Sailor of the Southern Cross Fleet" had been replaced by the more resounding title of "Great Hero Who Saved Liyue".
But the traveler, focused on adjusting his breathing and fighting spirit, automatically shut out these clamorous praises from his consciousness.
Zhu Han's reminder mingled with the increasingly loud shouts from the audience below the arena, and the Traveler and Rong Shi got up almost simultaneously and headed towards their respective entrances.
The paths to the ring converge behind the waiting area, and inevitably, the two will briefly brush past each other.
Rong Shi's massive, mountain-like body occupied almost half of the narrow passage. When he walked towards you, the traveler even had to turn slightly to pass by this wall of people.
Just as the two were about to pass each other, Rong Shi suddenly stopped, and a huge shadow instantly enveloped the traveler.
He lowered his head slightly, his cold yet resolute eyes fixed on the girl like a rock. Then he spoke, his voice deep and resonant, carrying a heartfelt solemnity and almost pious seriousness that clearly reached the traveler's ears:
“I watched your previous matches and know that you can use two elemental powers and your swordsmanship is also very strong... That’s good.”
Rong Shi paused, and a battle intent as powerful as a crushing mountain silently spread out.
"But I, Rong Shi, am not weak. I will give it my all in this battle, and I hope you will give it your all and fight me with your strongest strength!"
Rong Shi's deep voice struck the tense air like a heavy hammer. The traveler stopped in front of him, looked up to meet those eyes full of power and will, his jawline slightly tense, and nodded in response with the same solemnity.
"Of course, I won't hold back."
At such close range, the oppressive aura emanating from Rong Shi, originating from pure physical strength, almost solidified, pressing heavily on the traveler's shoulders.
The man's arms and calves, exposed outside his short-sleeved top, were covered with deep and shallow, crisscrossing scars, some as dark as bronze, others with a freshly healed pale red hue.
These silent medals are not bestowed by the training wooden stakes, but are the cruel testament to countless bloody battles.
Rong Shi is clearly a tough guy who has truly emerged from life-or-death battles!
Paimon shuddered at Rong Shi's fierce aura and solemn, almost terrifying tone, and hurriedly shrank behind the traveler, only daring to peek out half of his head and a pair of nervous eyes, timidly examining the silent iron tower.
Finally, the two stopped talking, turned around, and with steady steps, stepped onto the center of the arena from opposite ends, standing in their designated positions.
"clang!!!"
A resounding gong pierced the sky, tearing apart the brief silence like a thunderclap.
The competition has officially begun! (End of Chapter)