The live broadcasts, Suzhou Star Martial Arts Bar, and even the newly launched provincial martial arts forum all exploded into activity.

They didn't just want to see the exciting fights of Star Martial Warriors; they wanted victories too. As residents of Suzhou City, and moreover, the host organizers, how could they save face being wiped out so effortlessly by others?

"Let's watch another match. If we lose again, I'm done. It's infuriating to watch."

"I'm afraid that won't happen; this match is doomed to be a loss!"

"I suspect the guy above isn't on our team. Show your team badge, or else my forty-meter sword is coming out."

"A team badge for this? We also want to see the real situation. Can't you see the data released by both sides? Our guy from Greater Su City, Wang Lan, is at the peak of the Star Shine Stage. That guy Jiang Wanzhou is at the early Star Cloud Stage. He's an entire realm away..."

"Can't we kill beyond our level?"

"Upstairs, the major realm divide for Star Martial Warriors is a chasm. The difference between the Star Cloud Stage and Star Shine Stage is like comparing a high schooler to a kindergartener in terms of physique. Their strength, speed, and build are incomparable."

"Then there's nothing to hope for. We're screwed."

"Disperse, disperse..."

"Passing by, just passing by!"

Though they said to disperse, their bodies honestly stayed seated in front of their computers, watching the entrance of Wang Lan and Jiang Wanzhou.

"Wang Lan, Jiang Wanzhou, are you ready?"

"Ready!"

"Good to go."

"Then, let the match begin—"

At the sound of the whistle, Wang Lan's figure instantly moved. His form exploded into a series of afterimages, shooting towards Jiang Wanzhou like streaks of light.

"Earth's Pulse!"

THUMP—

A heartbeat-like rhythm appeared beneath Wang Lan's feet. In an instant, the ground beneath him felt as unstable as a water's surface, making it hard to find footing. Wang Lan's figure immediately scattered in mid-air, exploding into dozens of afterimages like a peacock spreading its feathers, before landing steadily at the very edge where the other's Star Martial Skill couldn't reach.

"Wang Lan, not even Soul Resonance could awaken your Star Martial Warrior talent, yet you're a genius who managed to awaken it on your own at the age of sixteen," Jiang Wanzhou said with a light tone, stepping across the undulating ground as gracefully as a Medieval European noble.

"If it were just based on your Star Shine Stage Cultivation Level at your age, the title of genius would be somewhat unwarranted. So, I made a point of looking into your background. I wouldn't have known without looking, and what I found was quite shocking. Awakened at sixteen, you broke through from the Starlight Stage to the Star Shine Stage in just a few days. You haven't even been a Star Martial Warrior for a full year, and you're already at the peak of the Star Shine Stage. You've traversed in less than a year what took us seven or eight years to cultivate. The title of genius is well-deserved in your case.

"By the way, weren't you also last year's champion of the Suzhou Star Martial Competition, the anonymous participant known as Wolf King?"

Typically, the two fighters wouldn't chat, at least not in the matches before Wang Lan's. What's there to talk about? Either I go down or you do, simple as that.

But the Jiang Wanzhou in front of him exuded a strong aura of being a 'chunibyo' from head to toe. All this nonsense, said in his unique tone, was transmitted from the live microphones to thousands of households over the internet.

"Such intense 'chunibyo' vibes! Is that you, Ou Doudou?"

"Had you not mentioned it, I wouldn't have known how badass Wang Lan actually is. To awaken on his own at sixteen? Looks like I'm not without Star Martial Warrior talent; it's just that my talent hasn't awakened yet."

"Wait, what did he say? I didn't quite catch that."

"I think I heard him say Wang Lan is the Wolf King, last year's Star Martial Competition Champion?"

"Wolf King? The missing person has returned?"

"Not a missing person; we just never found out Wolf King's whereabouts, never locked down his identity. He is the Wolf King? For real?"

"That Star Martial Skill Wang Lan displayed just now, doesn't it look like Wolf King's signature move to you?"

"Don't ask if it looks like it. It's definitely him! That Peacock Spreads its Feathers move just now? I'm absolutely sure. Fuck, I thought he was a bronze, but it turns out a king has returned."

"Wang Lan, Wolf King... making any connections? Suzhou Wolf King Fan Club, congratulations to our king for reclaiming his throne—"

"All the primary school students in Suzhou City, congratulations to our academic god for reclaiming his throne!"

"Worthy of being that man! The academic god and Wolf King united? Suddenly, I'm interested in this match."

The traffic on Suzhou City's online streaming platforms skyrocketed almost instantly. The anticipation for Wang Lan alone wouldn't have caused such a miraculous surge in viewership. But when this match featured Wang Lan overlapping with the man from last year who had soared victoriously, stepping over countless fallen to reach the peak of the Star Martial Arts, things changed. The cooled blood suddenly began to boil. At this moment, almost all online streaming platforms were filled with comments declaring that the Wolf King, that man, had returned. And Wang Lan, in the midst of the competition, knew nothing about all this.

Jiang Wanzhou chuckled and said, "I've researched every match you fought in the Star Martial Competition. Your clean and swift moves could defeat many seasoned Star Shine Stage professional warriors even within the Star Shine Stage. But this isn't the Star Martial Competition where only Star Shine Stage fighters participate. You have no chance of winning."

Wang Lan sneered, raised his hand, and pointed at Jiang Wanzhou, who seemed to walk on waves. In an instant, his Star Power surged. A pair of dazzling wings unfolded from his wrists.

WHOOSH—

The Crescent Arrow shot out in an instant, like a bullet leaving the chamber, heading straight for Jiang Wanzhou's face.

"What?"

In an instant, a wall of earth rose in front of Jiang Wanzhou.

BOOM—

The Crescent Arrow exploded, shattering the earth wall. As Jiang Wanzhou raised the earth wall, his Earth's Pulse also stopped fluctuating. Wang Lan's figure shot out like lightning, firing arrows at Jiang Wanzhou in rapid succession.

"Fuck, when did Wolf King become an archer?" The viewers on the streaming platform erupted into a frenzy.

"That's normal. It's been a year; it's totally reasonable for Wolf King to have learned new Star Martial Skills. Wolf King had no long-range attacks before and was severely countered, so of course, he learned his lesson."

"Wolf King, charge—"

"Shoot him! Shoot him point-blank—"

The audience watching online was even more excited than those on site, cheering and roaring, pounding their tables, which went THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

"Upstairs, there's an earthquake—"

"Charge—"

Wang Lan transformed into a streak of light, closing in on Jiang Wanzhou to within a dozen meters. Jiang Wanzhou kept retreating. Just as he planned to change his Star Martial Skill to block Wang Lan's advance, he was faced with another Crescent Arrow.

Finally, Wang Lan's form closed in on Jiang Wanzhou. The Crescent Arrow transformed into a Flame Sword. With a SWOOSH, two Solar Wheels rose in his hands.

"It's settled—"

"It's settled! As long as Wolf King gets close, no matter what stage of Star Martial Warrior you are, you have to kneel. Wolf King, charge—"

The Solar Wheels turned into a streak of lightning that tore through the void, instantly destroying the earth wall defense in front of Jiang Wanzhou. His form, as swift as light, slashed down again as the wall burst.

SLASH—

Water splashed everywhere, and cameras from all directions instantly focused a close-up on the action.

"Won—"

"Definitely! That slash was too sharp, that blood splatter... wait, something's not right."

As the dust settled, Wang Lan's entire palm was buried inside Jiang Wanzhou's shoulder, which rippled away like a shimmering water surface.

"You think I couldn't dodge that move? Or do you really think I'm intimidated by your Crescent Arrows? Against my Hydrometamorphosis Secret Skill, all your attacks are ineffective."

BOOM—

Wang Lan punched out instantaneously, slamming his fist towards Jiang Wanzhou's head, which burst like a smashed watermelon.

"Ah—"

Whether they were watching the live broadcast via video or witnessing the match in person, many spectators gasped. That scene was horrifying—as if Wang Lan had really blasted Jiang Wanzhou's head to pieces.

But then, Jiang Wanzhou's body turned into a flowing silver liquid, and a new Jiang Wanzhou appeared in front of Wang Lan.

"All your attacks are ineffective against me, including your strongest Flame Sword. Wolf King, I actually hold you in high regard; I even admired you when you participated in the Star Martial Competition. I admired your momentum, the glory with which you stepped onto the throne.

"But this is not your stage. Your Star Martial Art level is not as high as mine, your attribute is firmly countered by mine, and all your powers are useless against me.

"All your advantages are firmly suppressed by me. So tell me, how will you win against me?"

Jiang Wanzhou felt damn good about this speech; he hadn't had such a full-on, exhilarating chance to brag in a long time. Especially considering this was a nationwide live broadcast with countless viewers watching his domineering performance, he felt so exhilaratingly blissful that every pore on his body seemed to open up.

"Damn it, has Wolf King actually encountered such an unbeatable asshole?"

"Physical attacks are useless, elemental attacks are completely countered... Fuck, Wolf King really can't win?"

"No way, Wolf King is invincible! Remember during the Star Martial Competition? There were several matches where everyone thought Wolf King was bound to lose. But what happened in the end?"

"Unless Wolf King uses another type of Star Martial Skill that counters water, there's no chance..."

A keyboard warrior wearing glasses was rapidly typing on his keyboard, but his motions suddenly stopped dead. Through his thick glasses, his squinted eyes widened in shock.

CRACKLE AND POP—

"Fuck—Am I some kind of prophet? No, isn't Wolf King fire-attributed? This is—"

Electrical arcs began to flicker around Wang Lan, engulfing him in blue electricity in an instant. The current, running along Wang Lan's arms, surged into Jiang Wanzhou's liquefied body.

Jiang Wanzhou stared with dull eyes, looking completely dumbfounded at Wang Lan. The electric current invaded his body, causing such intense paralysis that even speaking became incredibly difficult. But through Jiang Wanzhou's pleading eyes, Wang Lan pretty much guessed the kind of shock he was trying to convey.

"How will I beat you? Just like this!"

CRACKLE— A burst of electricity exploded on Jiang Wanzhou's body.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.