11 Song Yang vs Li Qiang

Tan Yanyan was already back next to Song Yang and Xia Zilin.

"Sister Yanyan, you were amazing! I didn't know you were so strong!" Said Song Yang, looking at her with admiration.

"I'm glad you didn't use that technique against us when we were sparring!" Said Xia Zilin, jokingly.

"Well, I hid my real strength before and didn't show it to anyone. I wished my big brother could have seen me, though..." Said Tan Yanyan.

The last fight of this round was easily won by Hu Xia who cut his opponent before he could even move.

...

The third round ended and half an hour later, the fourth began: the Semifinals of the tournament.

"First fight: Li Qiang against Song Yu Qi!"

"Good luck, Sister Yu Qi!" Said Xia Zilin.

Song Yang nodded and walked on the stage.

Facing Li Qiang, the first thing Song Yang noticed was that he was looking at him with a lecherous gaze.

The way Li Qiang was staring at him was giving him goosebumps.

It was not an exaggeration to say that the beauty of the body he was 'possessing' could cause the downfall of a kingdom, so he was conscious that a lot of boys often looked at him like that. At first, he was really disgusted but he got used to it after some time.

"I won't hurt you too much, I will be gentle." Said Li Qiang with a perverted smile.

Clenching his fists, Song Yang waited for the elder to announce the start of the fight before using his Rushing Frost Steps.

In a moment, he disappeared and reappeared behind Li Qiang and punched his back. However, his fist went through him! It was like he just struck a hologram.

Li Qiang suddenly appeared behind Song Yang and gave him a powerful kick on his back. Thanks to his tough skin, the kick didn't eject him but made him stumble forward.

Song Yang quickly turned back and eyed Li Qiang warily. He didn't understand what happened.

"Hahaha. You're not the only one who can use a Martial Art. My technique Flash Step makes me so fast that I can create an After Image." Said Li Qiang, mocking him.

"Wow, you're really stupid to reveal your technique to your opponent..." Said Song Yang, analyzing what he just said.

"You will lose anyway, so it doesn't matter." He retorted, smirking.

Li Qiang rushed towards him and Song Yang immediately punched his face when he was in front of him. However, his attack once again went through him and Li Qiang appeared on his right before punching him hard on his right cheek.

The blow made Song Yang stagger and fall to the ground but he got up quickly, used his Rushing Frost Steps, and kicked Li Qiang's chest after he closed the distance between them.

Unfortunately, his kick passed through his body and Li Qiang kicked him on the back with his knee. The powerful attack threw Song Yang forward as a cry of pain escaped his mouth.

Song Yang got up from the ground, took a deep breath, and looked at his opponent. There was no trace of fear or worry on his face, on the contrary, he was smiling.

'I finally discovered the weak point of his technique.' He thought.

Li Qiang appeared in front of Song Yang but he only left an After Image to lure him while he actually appeared on his left. He gave him a strong punch on his face, but contrary to his expectation, Song Yang caught his fist with the palm of his hand!

"How did you...?"

Before he could finish his question, Song Yang used his Freezing Palm technique to freeze his hand.

Li Qiang screamed in pain before taking back his hand and retreating a few meters away.

Still using his Rushing Frost Steps, Song Yang appeared in front of Li Qiang and kicked him. However, that kick was only a feint. At the last moment, he turned back and kicked the real Li Qiang who was behind him. He already predicted that the one in front of him was only an After Image.

The kick knocked Li Qiang backward who fell to the ground, confused as to how his opponent was able to hit him.

How was Song Yang able to discern the After Image from the real Li Qiang? It was because he noticed that an After Image didn't have a shadow.

Previously, when Song Yang was attacking Li Qiang, he was also analyzing his technique and discovered this flaw.

The Martial Art Flash Step that Li Qiang was using was only a Mortal-grade Martial Art. Moreover, he didn't master it yet as he learned it not too long ago. For these reasons, the technique he was using was full of flaws that Song Yang could easily see through despite his lack of battle experience.

Song Yang appeared next to Li Qiang, decided to end the fight. But Li Qiang used his Flash Step to get away. Song Yang followed him and once again appeared in front of him but his opponent got away again.

The chase continued for a few minutes before Song Yang lost patience.

"Stop running away!" He yelled, angrily.

"Ahah. As long as you can't catch me, you can't beat me!" Said Li Qiang in a provocative tone. He couldn't use his right hand anymore so he needed time to think of a plan to win the fight. He regretted not having bought a Healing Talisman before the tournament...

"You think I can't catch you?" Asked Song Yang, smirking.

He still had one trump card: the Heavenly Ice Qi. One of the effects of his cultivation manual, the Heavenly Ice Scripture, was to greatly increase the power of the Martial Arts of the Ice element. So, if he used Heavenly Ice Qi instead of simple Ice Qi when using his Martial Arts, they would be greatly boosted!

Song Yang channeled Heavenly Ice Qi in his feet and used his Martial Art Rushing Frost Steps. As he rushed to Li Qiang, he felt like time seemed to slow down around him. In a fraction of a second, he found himself in front of Li Qiang and punched his stomach.

As he expected, Li Qiang couldn't react to his new speed and received the blow.

"AHHH!!!"

Due to Song Yang's high speed and momentum, the power of his punch was immense! Some of Li Qiang's ribs broke from the impact as he was thrown backward like a ragdoll.

Seeing that Li Qiang was lying on the ground and hadn't moved for a moment, Song Yang sweatdropped.

'Shit, maybe it was a little too much.' He thought.

Song Yang turned to the elder and waited for the announcement of his victory.

"W-Winner: Song Yu Qi!" He announced, dumbfounded by what he just saw.

"She can even beat Li Qiang!?"

"This time it's sure, she's really from a Hidden Martial Family!"

"This girl is really the black horse of this tournament!"

Song Yang once again ignored the comments of the people in the audience and walked back towards his roommates while the elder announced the next fight: Tan Yanyan against Hu Xia.

"Good luck, Sister Yanyan." He said, as he met her midway.

Tan Yanyan answered with a smile and walked on the stage.

She was facing her opponent who was taller and larger than her. The two sharp swords he was holding were intimidating.

Tan Yanyan was specialized in close combat but since she didn't use weapons, she was disadvantaged against someone who used them. She didn't think that she could win but she would do her best.

"Begin!"

Slash! Slash!

As usual, Hu Xia dashed towards his opponent and cut her in one attack.

Tan Yanyan was not fast enough to completely dodge the attack so her left shoulder was deeply cut and profusely bleeding.

"You manage to dodge my attack? Impressive. I shouldn't have used only 70% of my speed." Hu Xia said with genuine astonishment.

Hu Xia trained and fought since he was little. He had always won all his fights in one attack. It was the first time that someone the same age as him was still standing after his attack, so he was surprised.

Tan Yanyan, who was grimacing and breathing heavily because of the pain on her shoulder was shocked when she heard that. She used all her speed to dodge this attack but he was only using 70% of his!?

She realized now that she couldn't win but she didn't want to give up.

She rushed to him and struck him with her right palm but Hu Xia dodged it by stepping aside and kicked her back, making her stumble and fall to the ground.

Before she could stand up, she felt something sharp pressing against her throat. That thing was Hu Xia's sword. When she looked up, she saw him looking coldly down at her.

"Surrender." He said, pressing the sword against her throat even more.

There was nothing else she could do...

"I give up." She said in a low voice.

"Winner: Hu Xia!"

"After half an hour of break, we will proceed to the final round!" Announced the elder.

Tan Yanyan left the stage and received a Healing Pill from one of the elders. After swallowing the pill, the wound on her left shoulder immediately healed and her tiredness was washed away. Then, she walked towards Song Yang and Xia Zilin.

"Are you alright?" Asked Song Yang.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little disappointed." Answered Tan Yanyan.

"Sister Yanyan, you're already in the top 5, you shouldn't feel disappointed. You did great!" Said Xia Zilin.

"Hmm, you're right! By the way Sister Yu Qi, Hu Xia is really strong and fast, you must be very careful." Said Tan Yanyan.

"I know, don't worry." Said Song Yang, smiling.

"Do you think you can win against him?" Asked Xia Zilin.

"Yes, I have my chances." Answered Song Yang.

He was confident that if he used Heavenly Ice Qi and the technique Rushing Frost Steps, he would be faster than him.

...

"The break is now over. The final of this tournament is about to begin!"

"Final fight: Song Yu Qi against Hu Xia!"