During the battle at Eternal Peace Temple, Happy had killed Blood Robes and Child's Heart.
While he was in Beijing, he fought against A'da and A'er, who were both Inaction Realm martial artists!
While he was at Mount Song, he killed Zhou Yu with just two moves!
While he was at the pavilion, he struck terror in Class One Hall and caused them to retreat by himself!
Happy's experiences could already be described with the word "legend". Lu Jing had never believed himself to be Happy's opponent since the start, so he had only been thinking about how he could last longer under Happy's hands and allow himself to lose with dignity.
However, Huang Rong's words and the punishment and reward quest she had spontaneously issued to him caused him to be impulsive, and he attacked desperately.
But when martial artists fought against each other, the greatest taboo among them was having an impulsive heart, because surging emotions could affect a person's calmness and judgment. To have concerns and other distracting thoughts was incredibly disadvantageous for them when they fought.
Lu Jing was a typical example of that.
Even though he wanted to perform a little better and force Happy to use Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm, he forgot his initial reasoning due to his rashness.
The moment he attacked, he struck with his fiercest technique—Seventy-two Flute Technique. While he advanced, dazzling flute shadows filled the arena. They formed flickering jade green images that looked like a bamboo forest, and they gave others the feeling that they were attacked by countless enemies. The bamboo forest came charging at Happy with the force of an avalanche.
At the same time, flute sounds that filled the air rose alongside the jade green images. The shrill flute sounds charged violently at Happy like invisible and sharp swords.
But Happy was not affected. He stood on his spot quietly, and qi surged around him to withstand the impact from the sword-shaped charges from all around the place.
Then, when the astonishing bamboo forest came charging at him with the force of an avalanche like a huge tiger which had its jaws wide open, Happy finally took action.
Under the people's shocked gazes, he charged at the bloody mouth of the jade green tiger.
Happy's figure was instantly devoured by the tiger!
But just when Happy was about to be torn to pieces by the countless jade green flute sounds, a peerlessly dazzling sword force pierced the jade green tiger's body. It was instantly torn to countless fine green shadows.
The numerous flute sounds vanished from the arena to reveal the duo's situation.
When the people at the foot of the stage saw the arena clearly, they could not help but suck in sharp breaths.
*****
Drip, drip.
The two people in the arena retained their stances.
Brilliant red blood flowed out in streams. It dyed the hem of Lu Jing's robe before it fell on the stage and gathered into a crimson puddle under his body.
His face was pale, and he stared at the longsword that pierced his chest in disbelief. His expression was numb, and his chest heaved. He stared at his bleeding wound, which was only one inch away from his heart.
He had seen very clearly that if a powerful gust of wind from the foot of the stage had not cut through the air and knocked the longsword slightly to the side, the blade would have very accurately pierced his heart.
It was an extremely quick sword, and it was used in a straightforward thrust.
It had shot toward him when his momentum had been at its strongest, and not only had it completely destroyed his state of mind and disabled his subsequent moves, even his body fortification had not been able to block the tiny silver dragon…
It was just one move!
"You do indeed live up to your name as the top on Famous People Rank. You're amazing… cough!"
As Happy drew his sword, Lu Jing finally coughed up a mouthful of blood. He shuddered and instantly sank to his knees before sitting down powerlessly on the floor.
Happy cast Lu Jing a glance before he sheathed his sword while saying "You lost fair and square. There are plenty of people who were killed instantly by this sword, and I was one of them."
Lu Jing said nothing. A hint of red appeared on his face, and he coughed again while supported by two martial artists down the stage.
Huang Rong stood at the foot of the stage with great solemness on her face. Her gaze was complicated. "I didn't expect that your attainments in the sword would have already reached this degree. It's no wonder then why the leaders of the sects praise you so much!"
Her tone carried some hints of indignation as well.
"Sect Master Huang, you praise me too much," Happy answered humbly before he cast a glance at the man with the goatee at the foot of the stage.
The person who attacked and knocked off his sword had been this man, who looked like a merchant and seemed inconspicuous. However, the attack from his finger was not something that a normal person could do. His timing had been impeccable, and his speed could match Lu Xiaofeng's Perception Finger.
The person had attacked very casually, and he did not attract many people's attention.
The man looked up and cast Happy a glance. Then, he shouted loudly without changing his tone, "Next—"
The book had originally been empty, but now, a person's name appeared on it. "Silken Web Hand Lin Jiang."
"Young brother, what a sharp sword technique you have! Allow me to experience it!"
A person from the crowd jumped high into the air. He tapped a few times against the air and moved like lightning before he landed steadily in front of Happy. He laughed heartily before he took off the black Bamboo Hat that covered his face to reveal a thin face that was not thirty yet.
"Silken Web Hand…" Happy quickly cast a glance at the man's protective gear, which protected his arms, and the silver gloves that exuded a chilling light.
He sized up his opponent.
The person who came clearly had extraordinary palm techniques, and his body movement was also pretty good.
It was no wonder then why he had the courage to come up. He should have the confidence to avoid Happy's sword slash from earlier.
That was as expected of a martial arts tournament. Each NPC was created to counter the attacks a player previously showed, and they would appear specifically to deal with them.
It might be a little difficult for Happy to use sword techniques to get rid of the person! However, he did not intend to use Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm in front of Huang Rong.
He held his Nation Protecting Divine Sword with an icepick grip, and as his gaze darkened, he said, "Please grant me your instruction!"
"Ah!"
Silken Web Hand Lin Jiang did not drag things out. With a tap against the ground, he instantly traveled around thirty feet and closed the distance between them. His silver palm wind was like a silver saber. It sliced through the air in front of Happy, and they split up before converging into one.
It was so fast that the wind turned so cold that it was chilling. If Happy was the slightest bit careless, his skin would have been cut. Sometimes, Lin Jiang intersected his hands, and his palms looked like a flying pair of scissors, which could catch a person off guard.
Fortunately, Happy had ample experience in fighting. Every single time his opponent attacked and got closer, Happy would seal off the spot from which his opponent could exert force at an even faster speed. He used his shoulder to destroy his opponent's balance or his weapon to cut forward before his opponent could attack. He sealed off Silken Web Hand's next attack trajectory, forcing him to change his attack suboptimally or to move back.
They fought for around ten rounds on equal grounds!
"He has good skill!" Huang Rong's eyes shone while she stood at the foot of the stage, and she said sincerely to the Murong Clan Lady, "He predicts his opponent's moves, and this intelligence alone allows Young Swordsman Happy to control the situation. If he used his full strength, Silken Web Hand would find it difficult to even last three moves!"
"... Sect Master Huang, you praise him too much."
The Murong Clan Lady's tone was indifferent.
Huang Rong might be smart, but the Murong Clan Lady was not someone simple either. Her expression was calm, and she did not show even a single hint of joy. She also revealed nothing, causing Huang Rong's attempts at prying information from her to fall flat.
The victor was finally decided at that moment.
Happy relied on his fighting skills and experience to force Silken Web Hand out from the arena.
"Happy won twice. Next challenger, Chen Youliang… of Beggar's Sect!"