Chapter 14: Yang Tong vs. Qin Tianyue

“Now I declare, the matches officially begin!” Principal Long loudly announced.

The matches started, with four arenas holding contests simultaneously. Arena One: Yan Xiaodong vs. Li Zicheng. Arena Two: Long De vs. Xiao Jian. Arena Three: Yang Tong vs. Qin Tianyue. Arena Four: Ge Yunfei vs. Feng Jun.

After the referee teachers at each arena announced the match pairings.

“Contestants, step onto the stage.”

Yang Tong leaped onto the platform with a single bound, and immediately after, a tall woman with short hair also jumped onto the stage.

Yang Tong sized up his opponent. Qin Tianyue was not an absolute beauty who could topple kingdoms, but she was tall, pleasant to look at, and quite cute. However, since she could stand out among so many students, she certainly had extraordinary strength.

“Please!” Yang Tong and Qin Tianyue exchanged a polite salute.

Qin Tianyue seized the initiative to attack first, without any courtesy. “Take this!”

Yang Tong was instantly surrounded by countless leg shadows. Yang Tong’s reflexes were indeed quick, accurately catching Qin Tianyue’s attack paths, but his body couldn’t keep up. After dodging for a while, he was kicked several times, looking quite disheveled.

Qin Tianyue’s attacks were characterized by one word: fast!

The speed of her leg techniques was actually still increasing, which secretly amazed Yang Tong.

It seemed he had underestimated this world. Even a girl his own age possessed such astonishing skill.

Yang Tong was caught off guard, but fortunately, his defensive skills were adequate. Although he was at a disadvantage, he wasn’t showing signs of defeat.

Actually, Qin Tianyue’s leg strength wasn’t very powerful; it was just that her leg techniques were too fast. But this single aspect of speed kept Yang Tong firmly at a disadvantage.

As the saying goes, a prolonged defense is bound to fail.

After defending for about ten minutes, Yang Tong’s defense was finally broken through, and his chest was inevitably swept by a leg. Luckily, although Qin Tianyue’s leg speed was fast, her power was only average. Combined with the protection of his leather armor, Yang Tong used the force to fly backward in an instant. His entire body flew back four or five meters, creating distance. He quickly adjusted and didn’t suffer any major injury.

“Great leg technique!” Yang Tong praised.

“Oh? You managed to escape my Shadowless Legs. Not bad. The warm-up is over; let’s get serious,” Qin Tianyue said with full arrogance.

“Alright, let’s get serious.” Yang Tong was stunned for a moment. That wasn’t serious just now? But on the surface, he didn’t show any weakness and calmly replied.

The Shadowless Legs won with speed, while Taiji Fist used softness to overcome hardness.

“I want to see whether your Shadowless Legs are more powerful or my Taiji is more exquisite,” Yang Tong became serious, adopting the Taiji starting posture.

The Grand Final Tournament was indeed extraordinary. In the very first match, he encountered a formidable opponent, forcing Yang Tong to take it seriously.

Qin Tianyue’s leg techniques were unleashed with feeling. The leg wind howled, and before the sound arrived, the leg shadows had already struck.

Yang Tong used the Thirteen Postures of Taiji Fist to cope. To be honest, this was the first time Yang Tong had encountered such a situation. Taiji Fist was easy to learn but difficult to master. Although Yang Tong possessed the essence of Taiji, to say that his Taiji Fist training was profoundly deep would be pure nonsense.

Qin Tianyue’s Shadowless Legs won with speed, which actually put tremendous pressure on Yang Tong, allowing his Taiji Fist to improve by leaps and bounds under such intense pressure. Through this exchange, Yang Tong gradually gained insight into some of the subtleties of Taiji. If Yang Tong’s Taiji Fist was only at the beginner’s level before, now he was gradually achieving mastery and comprehension.

Yang Tong was still suppressed at a disadvantage by Qin Tianyue’s Shadowless Legs. At this moment, the key principles of Taiji came to his mind: empty and spiritual, the crown quiet; chest contained, back straightened; shoulders sunk, elbows dropped; waist relaxed, hips lowered. Seemingly relaxed but not entirely; about to extend but not yet; force broken but intention continuous; using intention, not force; Taiji circular and continuous, never allowing a break.

“Taiji circular and continuous!” Yang Tong suddenly understood what Taiji circular and continuous meant. At that very moment, Qin Tianyue’s leg swept towards Yang Tong’s left shoulder. Yang Tong’s shoulder sank along with the force, redirecting the leg’s power to his elbow. Then, with another drop, he transferred the force to his waist. His waist relaxed, and his hips lowered, allowing part of the force to flow directly through his body into the arena. The other part of the force also held onto Qin Tianyue’s leg, preventing her from comfortably retracting it for a follow-up move.

Immediately after, Yang Tong seized the opportunity to counterattack: Strum the Lute, Step Forward, Parry, and Punch, Apparent Close-Up, followed by Single Whip. Four moves in a row sent Qin Tianyue flying backward.

Each of Yang Tong’s four moves used at least seventy percent of his strength, which was even more powerful than Qin Tianyue’s full-force leg strike.

Qin Tianyue only felt that she was suddenly and inexplicably struck by heavy consecutive moves, sending her flying. The air in her chest felt stifled, and she almost couldn’t catch her breath. After Qin Tongyue fell to the ground, she realized her internal organs had suffered some minor injuries.

“1, 2, 3, 4…” The referee started the count. The Grand Final Tournament used a countdown system; if a contestant knocked down did not get up within ten seconds, it was considered an automatic surrender.

After Qin Tianyue fell, she struggled to regulate her breathing for a while. When the referee reached eight, she finally stood up.

“Continue the match,” the referee nodded and said.

“Yang Tong, your skills aren’t bad. Come again!” Qin Tianyue snorted coldly.

“If the power of Shadowless Legs isn’t strong enough, let you taste my Whirlwind Shadowless Legs.” After saying this, Qin Tianyue’s entire body began to spin rhythmically.

Instantly, Yang Tong was surrounded by countless leg shadows.

Whirlwind Shadowless Legs was an enhanced version of Shadowless Legs. It was faster and more powerful than the original Shadowless Legs!

“It’s no use. I’ve already seen through your leg techniques,” Yang Tong shook his head.

Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail, Single Whip, Raise Hands and Step Up, White Crane Spreads Its Wings, Brush Knee and Twist Step, Strum the Lute, Step Forward, Parry, and Punch. That wasn’t enough. Yang Tong stepped forward and pulled Qin Tianyue, who was about to fly away, back. Taiji circular and continuous, never allowing a break. Again, Single Whip, Raise Hands and Step Up, White Crane Spreads Its Wings, Step Forward, Parry, and Punch.

Qin Tianyue was beaten into a daze until her entire body was sent flying, her whole body in excruciating pain.

Yang Tong had already shown mercy. These moves only used half of his strength. If he had used his full power, probably…

“1, 2, 3, 4… 9, 10!” The referee finished the count and announced, “Yang Tong wins.”

Qin Tianyue was helped up by the referee, who asked, “How are you? Are you okay?” The referee had watched very accurately because Yang Tong’s moves weren’t fast, and his power wasn’t great. Moreover, they all struck areas protected by leather armor, none were vital points, so even if injured, it was only minor.

Qin Tianyue caught her breath and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“You are strong. I lost. Can you tell me what fist style you used?” Qin Tianyue sighed. Only those involved understood the power of this fist style. Although she lost, she felt very frustrated. This feeling of having strength but nowhere to use it was extremely unpleasant.

“Taiji!” Yang Tong nodded and replied. After saying this, he turned and jumped off the arena.