The first round of matches all ended.

Besides Li Shangtian, all the Eternal Sect disciples smoothly advanced.

According to regulations, they still needed to draw tokens again to determine second-round opponents. The result was that Su Xiaomo led the charge, and his opponent turned out to be Lingli.

This arrangement seemed so deliberate that even the system couldn’t help but want to complain.

“Junior Brother.”

Li Qingyang said, “Don’t be careless.”

Although he was also furious about Li Shangtian being tormented, undeniably, Lingli truly had real skills. When dealing with such an opponent, one must be cautious and then more cautious.

“Understood!”

Su Xiaomo walked toward the battle platform.

However, just as he was about to go up, he suddenly stopped, because Ye Xingchen transmitted a message: “Forfeit, leave him to me.”

“…”

Su Gousheng’s facial expression became spectacular.

“Junior Brother, this is a Galaxy Competition, the Sect Master values it so much, how can you ask me to forfeit!”

“There’s still the revival competition, what are you afraid of?” Ye Xingchen said.

“…”

Su Xiaomo was truly speechless.

True, if you lose you enter the losers’ bracket and can still fight your way into the finals, but since he’d been matched up, he also really wanted to torment that arrogant guy!

Ye Xingchen said, “Give me face.”

“…”

Su Xiaomo became conflicted.

He secretly glanced at the Sect Master on the viewing platform, discovering he was smiling at him, and immediately understood.

“Alright.”

Su Xiaomo said, “I’ll let you have him.”

“However…” He walked toward the battle platform, his gaze cold and sharp: “Before losing, I want to ruthlessly torment him.”

“As you wish.”

Ye Xingchen didn’t object.

Such an arrogant guy—if he fell into Su Xiaomo’s hands but couldn’t personally crush him in the palm of his hand, he definitely couldn’t swallow the anger of Li Shangtian being tormented.

At this time, one could also see that although the Night Emperor was usually aloof and extremely resistant to emotions, he valued fellow disciple relationships extremely.

Precisely because of this.

Su Xiaomo decided to choose to hold back, letting him teach Lingli a lesson, which would help improve relationships among fellow disciples.

…

On the viewing platform.

Gu Tianxing was quite worried: “Your disciple is probably also in danger.”

“Uncle.”

Jun Changxiao said proudly, “Xiaomo is a core disciple.”

These simple few words spoken carried absolute confidence.

Li Shangtian could only be considered a relatively outstanding inner sect disciple in the Eternal Sect. People like Su Xiaomo and Xiao Zuiji were all core disciples cultivated with full effort, especially having entered the Peak Truth-Seeking Realm long ago—their strength should not be inferior to any Cangyun Galaxy genius.

This point.

The system also acknowledged.

Although Li Shangtian and Long Ziyang and the others had all broken through to the peak, whether in strength or comprehension, they were far behind the core disciples. More precisely, though at the same realm, they were completely not on the same level.

“Moreover.”

Looking at Su Xiaomo walking onto the stage, Jun Changxiao said, “This disciple of mine specializes in speed.”

Li Shangtian lost to Lingli because his opponent’s attack speed was too fast. If not for relying on his body tempered in the sect, he probably would have been done for in one round.

And Su Xiaomo?

He was precisely a speed-type fighter.

Jun Changxiao was very confident, so he maintained a smile throughout.

…

“Stomp.”

Su Xiaomo walked onto the platform. Seeing the Sect Master still smiling at him, he became even more determined in his thought.

What thought?

Hold back, give to Junior Brother Ye.

“The match begins!”

When Lingli came up, the referee announced the match start.

“Whoosh!” In an instant, Su Xiaomo’s speed erupted, his entire person seemingly merging into space.

“Holy crap!”

“That speed is too fast!”

Witnessing the afterimages filling the battle platform, the audience’s eyes suddenly became dazzled.

“Swish!”

Suddenly, Su Xiaomo circled behind Lingli, executing a cold side kick toward the opponent’s neck. The speed was so fast, the power so strong, even space was stirred into distortion.

However, just as it was about to connect, the words Ye Xingchen said earlier—”give me face”—suddenly rang in his ears, and he immediately pulled back several points of power.

Since Junior Brother said so.

As Senior Brother, he must give him face!

“Boom!”

Su Xiaomo obviously slowed his speed and power. Lingli blocked with his right hand, his left hand clenching together, gathering explosive energy and blasting over.

“Swish! Swish!”

Su Xiaomo tumbled backward like a monkey, then half-crouched with one hand on the ground, sliding to the edge of the arena, saying lightly, “Your reactions are too slow.”

“…”

Lingli’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Whoosh—” He stepped forward in one stride, instantly closing in, his fist shadows immediately filling the battle platform.

The same close-quarters combat, the same attack method. Although Li Shangtian could capture it, he completely couldn’t dodge. But Su Xiaomo dodged left and right, calm and composed.

“…”

Gu Tianxing narrowed his eyes.

As the two fought amid afterimages and air waves, he saw clearly, surprised that one struck decisively while the other dodged decisively.

In the speed confrontation, neither fell behind.

“Uncle.”

Jun Changxiao said, “This is my Eternal Sect’s core disciple. Whether he’s strong or not, I believe you know in your heart.”

“Boom!”

At this time, while frantically moving and dodging, Su Xiaomo seized a flaw and executed a leaping side kick hitting Lingli’s neck, forcing the opponent to retreat several steps, his gaze flashing with fury.

“Too slow.”

Su Gousheng landed, patting his shoe with his hand, looking as arrogant as could be.

“Swish!”

Lingli tore off his upper garment with one hand, revealing a wolf beast tattoo, his gaze flashing with vicious energy: “You’ve angered me.”

“Whoosh—”

He charged over again.

In great fury, his speed greatly increased!

But Su Xiaomo was a slippery loach—no matter how violently the opponent attacked, he could easily dodge, even seizing tiny flaws to counterattack.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

The two fought for dozens of moves on the battle platform.

Sharp-eyed Gu Tianxing captured that Su Xiaomo had hit Lingli seven or eight times, while the latter hadn’t even touched his clothing.

“Tsk tsk.”

“Your disciple is very crafty.”

From the situation, Su Xiaomo had the advantage, but Gu Tianxing still favored Lingli, because the opponent’s explosive power was stronger—as long as he caught the opponent once, it would definitely be enough to make him suffer.

In reality?

Su Gousheng fought more craftily, more slipperily.

So much so that as both sides tangled on the stage for over ten minutes, Lingli had been beaten no less than dozens of times, his face and chest covered in footprints.

“That’s about enough.”

Ye Xingchen said, “Hurry up and forfeit.”

He was afraid Su Xiaomo would exhaust this kid to complete fatigue. When fighting with himself, if he just lay on the ground unable to get up, that would lose the fun of a cat toying with a mouse.

“Alright.”

Su Xiaomo had also played enough, then directly charged over.

“Die!”

Lingli roared furiously, his right fist fiercely smashing into the void.

This kind of attack he had repeated many times, all resulting in misses, so he didn’t hold much hope. But… Su Xiaomo ran into it himself, then with an “Ah!” cry of agony, fell outside the battle platform with a thud.

Silence!

Still!

Jun Changxiao, who had been smiling all along, suddenly froze in expression.

“Ah ah!”

Su Xiaomo lay on the ground, clutching his chest and crying out: “It hurts so much, it hurts so much!”

In his heart he thought: “Sect Master, did I act well enough!”

“Your damn uncle!” Just then, Jun Changxiao’s nearly roaring voice suddenly exploded in his ear: “He Wudi didn’t act against me, but you’re acting against me!”

Su Xiaomo, who was putting on a performance, was a bit confused.

Wait.

You kept smiling at me, didn’t you want me to cooperate with Junior Brother Ye and hold back?

“Su Big Mouth!” Jun Changxiao roared, “After going back, voluntarily roll yourself to the Discipline Hall!”

“Sect Master…”

Su Xiaomo jumped up, holding his head sadly: “Let me explain!”

“Not listening, not listening! Turtle chanting scriptures!”

—