Chapter 11: Di Xuanluo
The arena champion who finished the elimination round the fastest was Di Xuanluo, a well-known figure among this year's graduates—a genius youth capable of defeating a fourth-level Apprentice Martial Artist while being only a third-level Apprentice Martial Artist.
Some groups had only just finished one elimination round; judging by the situation, it would be good if all group elimination rounds could be completed today.
"You are free to move around, but you cannot go home for the time being. We will notify you of the final tournament matchups once the schedule is set," the chief judge in charge of this group said to Yang Tong.
"However, I suggest you walk around and observe your opponents. See more and learn more. I am optimistic about your potential."
"Thank you, teacher," he replied.
The crowd soon dispersed. Feng Xiaobo, who was most familiar with him, came over and said, "Since we can't go home, let's go and learn about your opponents together."
"That works too," he nodded. He knew that Feng Xiaobo was well-informed and sociable, completely different from himself.
Just then, a group of people emerged from the crowd, led by a youth with a build similar to Yang Tong's. Two people followed behind him, walking with the stride of a dragon and the pace of a tiger.
The youth walked to a spot three meters in front of Yang Tong, stopped, and looked him up and down.
"Your strength is very strong, and I am very pleased," the youth declared with an air of superiority. "My name is Di Xuanluo, and I hope we meet in the competition." He had an arrogant look on his face.
"Hello, I have heard much about you. I will do my best," Yang Tong replied calmly.
"Hmm," Di Xuanluo said, then turned and waved his hand. The followers behind him didn't say a word; they just glanced at Yang Tong indifferently, then turned and followed him away.
Among the crowd, the meddlesome youths and those who loved excitement all began to discuss it.
"Yang Tong actually received Di Xuanluo's recognition? His strength must be very strong, so why haven't I heard this name before?" Many people didn't know Yang Tong because he was simply too low-key.
"Ah, Yang Tong, I know him. He is from our class five. His grades in our class have always been at the top, and he studies very seriously." This classmate from class five began to show off.
Feng Xiaobo whispered to Yang Tong, "You have been targeted by Di Xuanluo."
"So what?" He didn't care about this; he didn't even care about the people around him looking at him with strange gazes.
"Di Xuanluo is a martial arts fanatic who loves competing with experts; many geniuses have been defeated by him. I heard that in order to compete with the top expert of the same grade at the Northeast Academy, he actually blocked the other person's classroom for three days. He suffered a crushing defeat, but after that, he went back to block the classroom every month for three months before finally winning. This guy is like a piece of sticky plaster; once he sticks to you, it's troublesome to get him off," Feng Xiaobo talked eloquently.
"I bet that in this final tournament, if you don't run into him, he will definitely seek you out for a match afterward."
Yang Tong shook his head, feeling speechless. It was indeed a trouble.
However, this was not beyond his expectations. Youthful arrogance—who hasn't had it? It's just that he had already passed that stage. Although his physical age was only twelve, his mental age, well...
The Dao of Tai Chi emphasizes a peaceful and calm state of mind, valuing intent over force.
He could be considered half a student of the Dao, having been influenced by the Daoist principle of Wu Wei, and had long since passed the stage of competitiveness. In a competition like this, if it were before, he would have already withdrawn at the peak of success. However, for the sake of the prize, he had to fight for it; after all, it concerned his own personal interests.
"It's not just him; the two followers beside him are also not to be trifled with. I have sparred with that thin, tall guy named Ma Jiao, and I lost very depressingly. His parrying and defensive methods are very strong; it seems he has specifically trained in a set of defensive cultivation techniques," Feng Xiaobo continued.
"The other person is called Niu Yue, also not easy to deal with, with strength even higher than Ma Jiao. I heard that their fathers are subordinates of Di Xuanluo's father, and they have followed Di Xuanluo like sidekicks since childhood."
Di Xuanluo led his two followers, walking between the various arenas in the competition venue. No matter where they went, whether people knew them or not, they would consciously clear a path.
"Big Brother, what is so great about that kid that you actually want to challenge him?"
"Yeah, I took a look; just him, what kind of strength does he have?"
"Ma Jiao, Niu Yue, you have underestimated him. His fist technique is extremely brilliant, always possessing a sense of mystery that makes one unable to fathom it, and an indescribable sense of harmony," Di Xuanluo corrected them seriously.
Di Xuanluo had finished his group elimination round early and happened to catch Yang Tong's last arena elimination match. After seeing the Tai Chi Fist that Yang Tong used, he was instantly somewhat incredulous.
"Just that kind of slow-moving fist technique? I think his opponent was just too weak," the youth named Niu Yue said disdainfully.
"Yeah, Big Brother, who are you? You are the number one expert of the sixth grade in the East District!" Ma Jiao flattered him.
Di Xuanluo nodded and didn't say anything more. He also had his own pride and self-confidence.
The entire group elimination round lasted a whole day before it was completely finished, with a total of sixteen people selected to participate in the final tournament.
These sixteen people are: Yan Xiaodong of class one, Li Zicheng of class two, Long De of class three, Xiao Jian and Qin Tianyue of class four, Yang Tong and Ge Yunfei of class five, Feng Jun and Feng Yuan of class six, Di Xuanluo, Ma Jiao, and Niu Yue of class seven, Zheng Meimei of class eight, Jiang Yifeng and Lu Guang of class nine, and Beikensong of class ten.
Obviously, this group competition separated the top experts of each class. All ten classes had people entering the final tournament. In terms of numbers, class seven was indeed the strongest class.
Among the sixteen people, there were actually two girls: Qin Tianyue and Zheng Meimei.
Not long after, the school arranged the elimination schedule for tomorrow's final tournament.
Feng Xiaobo dragged Yang Tong to look at the schedule, saying, "The group of male classmates in class eight has now become the laughing stock of the entire grade; they didn't even have a single boy enter the final tournament. It's really embarrassing. Hahaha..."
"Gender equality, you don't need to be so gleeful about it," he shook his head and said.
"Eh, your opponent is actually Qin Tianyue from class four. Your luck is really good; you drew one of the two girls right away. Fortunately, it's not Zheng Meimei, otherwise you'd be in trouble," Feng Xiaobo laughed.
"Why, is Zheng Meimei very strong?" he asked curiously.
"That person over there is Zheng Meimei. See for yourself." Feng Xiaobo pointed to the left and lowered his voice.