If there's anything redeemable about the clash of Star Martial Skills, the hand-to-hand combat between these two was seriously lacking. While they might have been considered outstanding among the senior class, they fell far short of the overall level at the provincial martial arts competition. Perhaps it was because both Zhang Hao and Qiu Tianci were Mages.

Suddenly, Wang Lan, who had been quietly watching the match, leaped to his feet, a look of horror on his face. Almost simultaneously, Xie Sisi and the other experts widened their eyes, feeling a chill crawl over their scalps.

Zhang Hao thrust his knife into Qiu Tianci's chest, hitting the heart, while Qiu Tianci slit Zhang Hao's throat. An exchange of life for life, executed without the slightest hesitation. Their seemingly foolish fight was underpinned by a deadly resolve to kill the opponent.

This moment was frozen in time, as if it had become eternal.

"TRRRR—" The referee blew the whistle frantically, sprinting towards the arena. But by that time, it was already too late.

The mutual destruction happened too quickly; it didn't seem like a situation where they had no strength left to pull back. It could be said that any other competitor, had they still possessed the strength, would not have allowed the situation to reach this point.

All the spectators in the stands stood up in shock, while the countless viewers watching the live broadcast were simply dumbfounded.

It had long been said that the world of Star Martial Warriors is cruel, and that their battles are a matter of life and death. Many hadn't believed it before, always thinking it was an exaggeration to glorify Star Martial Warriors.

With such a beautiful country and a stable and prosperous society, where were these life-and-death battles? Where was the call to serve one's country with no regrets in life or death? Even online, there were always some idiotic comments. There were claims that the Pioneer Space did not exist, that it was a fiction created by the state to romanticize Star Martial Warriors. If it existed, where was it? Why couldn't it be found?

The Pioneer Space is a Different Dimensional Space. Of course, ordinary people can't see it or enter it. This beautiful country, this prosperous era—they were all shouldered by the Star Martial Warriors.

And the brutality of this moment left many keyboard warriors speechless. Actual lives had been lost, right before the public's eyes.

Stretcher bearers quickly carried the two away. With vital spots hit and without Wang Lan's Self Healing ability, even gods couldn't save them. Just moments before, when Qiu Tianci unhesitatingly took Zhang Hao's lethal blow, Wang Lan had thought he too possessed some Self Healing trump card. The outcome... could it truly be this?

"Star Martial Warriors are warriors. The provincial martial arts competition is not just a sports event. In the world of Star Martial Warriors, there's no such thing as safety first.

The competition is a drill; the battle is real combat. Even if casualties occur, that is within the bounds of acceptance. Injuries and deaths are inevitable at the annual provincial martial arts competition..."

Before the keyboard warriors could even react, the organizers of the provincial martial arts competition quickly issued a statement on the necessity of real combat and the rationale behind casualties. Just as drills allow for casualties, so too do Star Martial contests.

An hour-long intermission was given for everyone to process the first match's incident.

"Zhang Hao, carotid artery severed, exhibiting no signs of life."

"Qiu Tianci, heart penetrated, exhibiting no signs of life."

"Is there anything suspicious?"

"That requires further autopsy."

While everyone was still stunned by the sudden mutual demise of Zhang Hao and Qiu Tianci, the school's head instructor made a phone call, his expression serious yet tinged with excitement.

"Mu Shaoyun, where are you? The train station? Get back here right now! What? The train... Forget the train! You've got third place now; you'll need to be on the podium soon. Details? You'll find out when you get back. The champion? Not yet, but the final duel is about to begin."

After the head instructor hung up the phone, Wang Lan glanced back.

Mu Shaoyun was getting ready to leave?

"Yes, he's at the station now, planning to head to E Province. It's lucky I called him in time; it would have been troublesome if he'd already boarded the train."

"The second match of the semi-finals is about to begin. Wang Lan and Xiao Zi, please take your places."

Wang Lan was about to inquire further when the loudspeaker announced the imminent start of the match. He had to suppress his curiosity, rising to walk towards the repaired arena.

Wang Lan was also shocked by the mutual destruction that had just occurred. However, he always felt there was something more to their end. This, combined with Wang Mingling eyeing the provincial martial arts competition eagerly, made Wang Lan exceptionally sensitive.

Lost in thought, Wang Lan arrived at the tournament ground.

Xiao Zi's face was still filled with a sunny smile, and her eyes showed nothing but goodwill towards Wang Lan.

"Wang Lan, we're just having a match, right?" Xiao Zi suddenly scratched her head and greeted him.

"Of course, we are not enemies."

"Then there's no need to risk our lives, right? If you can't take it later, just admit defeat. The semi-finals have practically become the final. I don't want the actual final to be cancelled too."

"The same goes for you. Don't push yourself too hard if you can't handle it."

"Are both competitors ready?"

"Ready!"

"OK!"

"Then, Wang Lan versus Xiao Zi, begin now!"

But the moment the referee's voice finished, Xiao Zi's Star Power surged wildly around her. Wang Lan instantly transformed into an electric arc and rushed towards Xiao Zi. He was barely halfway there when endless waves came crashing down with a roar.

A normal person's Tsunami Technique would be like a breached river dam, water pouring forth in a deluge. Even a master's Tsunami Technique only differed in scale and water volume.

However, Xiao Zi's Tsunami came from all directions, making Wang Lan personally experience the true meaning of being overwhelmed by a flood. The frenzied water, like thousands of stampeding horses, engulfed Wang Lan with a deafening ROAR.

It's not that Wang Lan didn't want to escape; there was simply nowhere to escape to.

The massive amount of water spread across the entire arena. Had it not been for the protective barrier around it, Wang Lan suspected Xiao Zi might even have the ability to flood the entire stadium.

Water continued to spread far and wide. At the spot where Wang Lan was swallowed, a streak of sword light flashed, cutting through the surging floodwaters. Wang Lan's basic sword technique had already reached the Gold level. Even though his Sword Qi couldn't extend three feet outwards yet, slicing through the giant waves was no problem for him.

After fending off the impact of the violent waves, Wang Lan instantly burst forth, standing atop the water surface just like Xiao Zi. In that short span, the entire arena had transformed into a cubic water world.

The volume of water Xiao Zi produced was several times greater than during her battle against Xu Ruo.

"Damn, is she even human?" In the stands, many contestants couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

If previously Xiao Zi's level of Star Power was considered unfathomable, at this moment it had risen to an unbelievably incredible level. Everyone present was at the Star Cloud Stage. Yet, when they compared their Star Power to hers, many began to wonder if their own Star Cloud Stage was a sham.

The entire competitive field was about half the size of a soccer field. Yet, Xiao Zi had managed to flood the whole area without any water source and raise the water level by several meters! Surely, not even a Star Sea Stage master would dare attempt this, right?

This single move had nearly rendered all of Wang Lan's fire-based Star Martial Skills useless.

What is controlling the field? This is what real control looks like.

Standing on the water, Wang Lan instantly raised his hands, wreathed in purple flames, a purple Flame Sword flickering like ghost fire.

Suddenly, Wang Lan flicked his wrist, and a purple Flame Flying Knife shot out towards Xiao Zi in an instant. With a slight lift of her hand, a koi fish made of water suddenly leaped from the surface.

Colliding with the Flame Flying Knife, it exploded with a BOOM, bursting into a cloud of steam.

Indeed, in this cubic water world, Xiao Zi was the absolute ruler.

With a gentle wave from Xiao Zi, the water surface surged violently. Countless water droplets shot upwards, transforming into a barrage of water needles in mid-air. With a slight push from Xiao Zi, the water needles shot towards Wang Lan like a dense rain of arrows.

In an instant, Wang Lan's hands danced, and numerous Flame Flying Knives flew out to meet the water needles like bats. A series of explosions followed, dense steam billowing upwards. In the blink of an eye, the cubic water world transformed into something resembling a steamy bathhouse.

Wang Lan's brows furrowed. The current situation was even more disadvantageous than when he faced Mu Shaoyun in his Black Emperor form. Wang Lan had used the rule against leaving a designated area to win against Mu Shaoyun, and now Xiao Zi was using the same rule to suppress him.

Within the arena, everything was under Xiao Zi's control. There was no choice but to rise to the challenge. Retreat was not an option.

Steam clouded Wang Lan's vision, making it impossible to track Xiao Zi's movements.

"Dynamic Vision, activate!"

After the Crescent Arrow was upgraded to the Gold level, not only did the Crescent Arrow become the Sun-Shooting Arrow, but Dynamic Vision had also been enhanced. Besides an improved locking-on capability, it now possessed heat-sensing abilities. Although water vapor filled the air, it wasn't steam from heating, but rather a fog-like mist.

Under Wang Lan's Dynamic Vision, Xiao Zi's humanoid silhouette appeared in his sight. At that moment, Xiao Zi's palms moved slightly, and the surrounding water surface once again surged tumultuously. Countless water dragons reared their heads above the surface and, like a pack of hunting dragons, opened their gaping maws towards Wang Lan.

"CRACKLE—" Electric arcs flashed around Wang Lan's body. He instantly transformed into a streak of light, darting towards Xiao Zi in a serpentine trajectory.

In a contest of Star Martial Skills, Wang Lan knew he didn't stand a chance. His only advantage lay in close combat. Xiao Zi was a pure Mage, weak in close quarters. But with field control abilities like Xiao Zi's, her supposed weakness in close combat was hardly a vulnerability anymore.

Just as a dragon's head crashed down, Wang Lan narrowly dodged Xiao Zi's attack. Yet, as he charged towards Xiao Zi, she could still precisely pinpoint his location.

After dodging five consecutive strikes from the water dragons, Wang Lan's charging momentum finally had to stop. Even with Thunder Activity, he couldn't maintain continuous, split-second evasions indefinitely.

The moment Wang Lan paused, he thrust out a hand, and dense Thunder Snakes erupted from his palm. Dozens of Thunder Snakes, emitting piercing thunderous crackles, rushed towards Xiao Zi.

Xiao Zi remained unmoved; countless water snakes burst out from the water surface. Intercepting one Thunder Snake with a single water snake was difficult, but ten water snakes against one made it simple.

Having endless Star Power was indeed such a luxury. If it were Wang Lan, he couldn't even execute one such Star Martial Skill, yet for Xiao Zi, it seemed as effortless as lifting a finger.

Yet another attack failed. Xiao Zi remained steadfast, seemingly unbeatable.

Xiao Zi's current state perfectly countered every tactic Wang Lan could conceive.

The water created by Star Martial Skills was pure, and pure water does not conduct electricity. Wang Lan's Thunder-type Star Martial Skills were useless in Xiao Zi's immense cubic water world.

His fire-type skills, naturally, were utterly suppressed.

Not only could water counter Wang Lan's Star Martial Skills, but it also provided Xiao Zi with sensory input. Even if Wang Lan attempted the Star Cloud Sword Dance, Xiao Zi could use the water and steam to sense his true location.

The only Star Martial Skills he had left that might be effective were the Crescent Arrow and Phantom Tracer.

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.