This contest couldn't be said to be unexciting, but the anticipated scene of Ouyang Ye overwhelming Chen Huan didn't materialize; instead, it ended in a double loss. Anyone could see that Ouyang Ye had won this time with great difficulty. When Chen Huan fell, Ouyang Ye slowly knelt on the ground, barely supporting his body with his longsword.
Blood, his entire body was covered in blood, and he looked utterly wretched. His heavy breathing caused his chest to heave violently, as if he could faint at any moment.
The rescue team immediately rushed over to treat the two contestants. Chen Huan's signal transmitter had already been activated, but because he was too close to Ouyang Ye, the energy shield wasn't able to successfully block the last attack. Ouyang Ye was even bolder; he hadn't even worn the signal transmitter from the start. This meant that he hadn't even considered what the consequences of losing would be.
The medical staff were astonished. As they lifted him onto a hover stretcher, they sternly lectured him. This scene was magnified on the public holographic screens, causing a stir among the audience. They hadn't expected Ouyang Ye to be so reckless. Probably, before stepping on stage, he had thoughtâwin or die.
This personality was too damn wild, too damn fierce; he was truly audacious! At this moment, the audience clearly realized that the old Ouyang Ye hadn't been talking nonsense. He was indeed unthinking of consequences.
"I've suddenly turned from black to a fan of Young Master Ouyang!" many thought silently.
However, just when the hover stretcher was about to leave the contest stage, a sudden change occurred. Ouyang Ye suddenly began to convulse. Coarse blue veins bulged on the surface of his skin, writhing and twisting like earthworms, a horrifying sight. The medical staff were taken aback and immediately bound him with a safety belt, then measured his blood pressure, heart rate, and other data.
In just a few seconds, his originally bronze-colored skin turned ashen, emitting an ominous aura. The protruding blue veins became thicker and thicker, and their violent pulsations could be vaguely seen, as if they would explode at any moment. This scene was like something out of a horror movie.
A knowledgeable medical staff member immediately cried out, "Not good, this is the precursor to gene collapse syndrome!"
These words, amplified by the speakers, caused a great panic throughout the venue. As medical technology continuously advanced, treatments for many terminal illnesses were found. However, humans were never satisfied. After obtaining healthy bodies, they wanted to possess great strength and eternal life, thus gene modification technology was born. It was predicted early on by biological scientists that this technology was a gift from the devil; the ultimate result could lead to the extinction of humanity.
Unfortunately, this prediction became reality a few hundred years ago when gene collapse syndrome broke out among the Special Types. One after another, the strong died from a complete organ failure, while the ordinary people with lower gene rankings were safer. The onset of this disease was very sudden and wouldn't last long, taking a person's life in a month at most. At the initial stage, the patients' veins would swell, decay, and even rupture, followed by the necrosis of their entire organs.
This process was very painful and very terrifying, exactly like Ouyang Ye's current situation.
The medical staff panicked and immediately carried the howling Ouyang Ye away, sending him into the examination room.
Some worried for Ouyang Ye, some were relieved, and some gloated, saying, "I finally know what those three question marks are about. It wasn't that Ouyang Ye's potential value was too high, but he was dying from a terminal illness, so there was no potential value to speak of! Young Master Yan viewing this short-lived ghost as a genius is truly laughable!"
"Yeah! I thought his eyesight was so good! Looking back, Ouyang Duanhua is obviously more promising." This topic was posted online and quickly spread. It could be foreseen that in tomorrow's match, Ouyang Duanhua would automatically advance, with virtually no suspense in winning the crown.
Yan Bo, who witnessed all this, was in a complex mood. As a Special Type, he understood how painful it was to suffer from gene collapse syndrome, but he was also worried about his childhood friend's reputation. As the next head of the family, one's eyesight and decision-making abilities were equally important. After this incident, the outside world would inevitably form an impression that his eyesight was not accurate, a stain to a degree.
Yan Junyu, however, didn't think much and said solemnly, "Go take a look."
Before the two could approach the medical room, they heard Ouyang Ye's roars. That voice was filled with heart-rending pain, like a dying beast on the brink of death.
"How are you, Ye-er?" Li Yu's choking voice followed.
"I, I'm, fine." Ouyang Ye was still very clear-minded, spitting out a word at a time, then reaching out to Qi Ze, who was standing by the door, and said with difficulty, "Young Master Qi, I hurt! This is fucking too painful!" Because he was wearing a magical robe, he didn't take his life seriously at all, only launching fierce attacks. And Chen Huan's performance hadn't disappointed him. No matter how powerful his wind blades and flames were, they couldn't break through his defense. He pierced through the wall of fire and rushed at him, his eyes full of the indifference of playing with his prey. At that moment, Ouyang Ye finally understood the gap between them.
If he couldn't even defeat Chen Huan, what right did he have to vie with Ouyang Duanhua? Thus, he wildly drew the wind and fire elements from the air, and was nearly blown up because of it. Now, he didn't have to pretend, he was already a dying patient, just as Young Master Qi had predicted earlier. If he could endure it, he would reach paradise; if he couldn't, it would be hell.
The flames of hell were burning in his body, very painful, piercing to the heart, ripping his soul apart, but he had never felt so good. He thought that he was fighting for his life against the heavens, and in the end, he had not only won against himself but also won against fate. From now on, what was Chen Huan? What was Ouyang Duanhua? They were all fucking nothing! No one could stop his footsteps!
Especially with Young Master Qi watching, he couldn't disappoint him.
"Young Master Qi, I hurt!" he called hoarsely.
Yan Bo couldn't bear to listen and said softly, "Even in this state, Qi Ze remains unmoved. He probably thinks Ouyang Ye won't live and plans to distance himself and find another backer? Don't fall for his tricks."
Yan Junyu didn't say anything, stopping at the door as if he didn't intend to go in.
Qi Ze said impatiently, "Don't act like a child with me, I don't fall for that." Although he said so, he stepped forward, took Ouyang Ye's hand covered with black blue veins, and slowly infused a thread of spirit qi, then stuffed the Wind Forest and Fire Sea into his arms and whispered, "Transfer the excess elemental power to the sword, and then draw it back out. This process will purify the spirit qi in your body. I can only help you so much; there might be more dangerous situations in the future, so you'll have to rely on yourself to get through them."
Ouyang Ye, who was missing a Dantian, couldn't store much spirit qi, let alone that it was full of violent impurities. However, the Wind Forest and Fire Sea could become another Dantian for him, compressing and purifying spirit qi while existing as one of the three Dantians. The Wind Forest and Fire Sea complemented Ouyang Ye's body, which was why Qi Ze liked this era. Here, artifact artisans were indispensable and could do great things.
Ouyang Ye followed Young Master Qi's guidance and poured the excess energy into the longsword, and he indeed felt much better. He slowly calmed down, and the blue veins on his body gradually receded, allowing Li Yu to breathe a sigh of relief.
The doctors immediately surrounded him for a check-up, worried, and said, "There is no way to treat gene collapse syndrome. Once symptoms appear, it quickly enters the stage of decline. We have already given him a comprehensive examination, but the results will not come out for three days. In the meantime, I suggest you withdraw from the contest; otherwise, the condition may worsen."
"I'm not sick, I want to compete." Ouyang Ye said decisively, "I would rather die in combat than die in bed like a coward."
Li Yu repeatedly tried to persuade him but couldn't get him to change his mind, revealing a sad expression. As an outsider, the doctor didn't dare to persuade further, giving some instructions before hurriedly leaving.
Outside the ward, Yan Bo sighed, "Ouyang Ye is a man. If not for his illness, he could have a bright future. Just from his character, he would be very suitable for our vanguard force. The vanguard force needs this kind of fearless, daring spirit. What a pity, it's truly a pity."
Yan Junyu pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then reconsidered and put it back.
The father-son duo, Ouyang Tao and Ouyang Duanhua, hurried over but didn't enter the ward to visit, instead grabbing the doctor to ask some questions. Their expressions were solemn, but the relief in their eyes couldn't be concealed. They couldn't wait for Ouyang Ye to die, and upon confirming it was all true, they turned around and left.
Yan Bo sneered, "How unlucky must one be to be born into the Ouyang family? No wonder Ouyang Ye is always fighting against them; he was forced to." At the ward's entrance, he didn't feel too good about mentioning personal webpage matters. Compared to life and reputation, life was more important after all.
Qi Ze, who had comforted Ouyang Ye, only then noticed the two people standing at the door.
"Why didn't you come in?" he stood with his hands in his pockets, relaxed in attitude, forming a stark contrast with Li Yu's red-rimmed eyes and tired appearance. But strangely, Li Yu, who had always been protective of his child, didn't mind at all and even cared about him, saying, "There's nothing wrong here, Qi... Little Qi, you should go back and rest, I'll watch over him."
"No, I want Qi... my darling to stay with me." Ouyang Ye gazed pitifully at the young man.
Yan Junyu walked in and deliberately changed the topic, "Even like this, you're not preparing to withdraw from the competition?"
"Not withdrawing, unless I die right away, I'll crawl onto the contest stage." Ouyang Ye was doing fine now, vaguely touching the threshold of a breakthrough. Competing tomorrow might allow him to advance. He had never expected such a day. What was this? Buying two swords? It was buying a cheat, buying a golden finger!
Of course, his biggest golden finger was still Young Master Qi, a point that couldn't let anyone know, especially Yan Junyu.
Sensing the youth's hostility toward him, Yan Junyu didn't mind and nodded, "Alright, I'll contact the organizers and have them preserve your competition rights. Rest well, I'll be going now." At first, he was very worried, but when he saw Qi Ze in the ward, he became incredibly calm. The two of them, one seriously injured near death, the other at the bedside, the scene was surprisingly familiar. He felt that worrying too much about them was a waste of energy. It was said that a scoundrel would live for a thousand years; based on this, Ouyang Ye could probably still live for a long time.
Ouyang Ye was most worried that the organizers would force him to withdraw. With Yan Junyu's assurance, he felt much better and said sincerely, "Thank you, Instructor."
"No need." Yan Junyu waved his hand, his gaze falling on Qi Ze.
Qi Ze understood and pulled him to the corner at the end of the corridor, laughing lightly, "Just wait and see tomorrow's competition. I told you I wouldn't harm you, and you still don't believe?"
"I believe." Yan Junyu nodded, as if he had something to say, but after a moment of silence, he only managed to squeeze out a dry sentence, "Then see you tomorrow."
"See you." Qi Ze waved his hand and strolled back to the ward with long strides, his attitude incredibly relaxed, showing no indication that his boyfriend was suffering from a terminal illness, preparing to die tomorrow.
Yan Bo stroked his chin and sighed, "He is the coldest-hearted fellow I've ever met, not even bothering to try to persuade Ouyang Ye." He then looked at his friend and accused, "You too, helping him preserve his competition rights. If he dies, the trolls will blame it on you, saying you have bad eyes, stood by, and treated human life as a joke. They could come up with all sorts of nasty things. Don't leave, don't take it lightly. The Star Network is in chaos now, every message you post on your personal webpage could become your black history. Others will deliberate and revise before posting, almost nitpicking in their writing, while you just blurt out, leaving such a big handle. If you return to the Imperial Star, the scum from the Li and Song families will laugh at you to death..."
Yan Junyu patiently listened to him finish and then asked word by word, "If, in this situation, Ouyang Ye wins against Ouyang Duanhua, don't you think the scene would be very interesting?"
"Impossible! He just suffered serious injuries and had a terminal illness break out; there's no way he can win. I suspect he wants to commit suicide by participating in the match." Yan Bo shook his head firmly.
Yan Junyu laughed and said nothingâ
That evening, the organizers publicized the news that Ouyang Ye disagreed with withdrawing from the competition, and even posted the life-and-death agreement signed by him on the front page, attracting a huge wave of netizens to watch. Some sighed, some tried to persuade him, and others said he wanted to commit suicide. In short, no one was optimistic about tomorrow's match.
A captain from the First Army circled Yan Junyu and sarcastically said: Young Master Yan has good eyesight. This was like poking a hornet's nest, leading to a large group of people lining up to mock him, then more followers of Yan Junyu came to fight. In short, because of this incident, the popularity of the match rose significantly. People liked to watch intense fights, but also enjoyed watching one-sided slaughters.
The higher Yan Junyu had raised Ouyang Ye, the more he was belittled now. From overnight fame to overnight disgrace, this was how the world worked.
Qi Ze wasn't idle for a moment. He had previously hired bots to create momentum for Ouyang Ye, and now he had them go to praise Ouyang Duanhua, raising one side while suppressing the other, engaging in a lively battle. Yan Junyu closely monitored his online activities and couldn't help but shake his head and smile. He knew that Qi Ze wasn't as harmless as he appeared on the surface, but he didn't know that he could stir up such trouble. Calculating, in just a few hours, he had collected hundreds of billions in gambling money for the betting companies, and even made three consecutive bets. The first bet was on Ouyang Ye's great victory, the second bet was on Ouyang Ye entering the top three, and the third bet was on Ouyang Ye winning the championship, with a total investment of a few hundred million in principal.
This bet was too big. If all three bets hit, it would instantly rake in billions.
But could Ouyang Ye really fulfill his wishes? Yan Junyu stared at the continuously climbing amount and shook his head with a smile.
The next day, under the watchful eyes of the audience, the two brothers of the Ouyang family finally stood on the ring at the same time. Ouyang Duanhua slowly spoke, "I heard you insisted on participating in the competition; I feel very regretful about this. But I won't hold back; this is my respect for you and also my respect for myself. Soldiers don't need pity, especially on the battlefield."
Ouyang Ye still had some blue veins lingering on the surface of his skin, against his ashen complexion, his appearance was very strange, not like a living person, but like the zombies that humans had long since exterminated. He sneered, "Don't spout such pretentious talk. A soldier's duty is to protect his country, and if you truly value this identity, you wouldn't bully the weak. To kill a helpless carbon-based lifeform, only scum like you could do such a thing!"
The audience, who had initially had a good impression of Ouyang Duanhua because of the previous few sentences, realized something and whispered, "Yeah, even bullying carbon-based lifeforms, that's too indecent. I almost fell for his few words. Being a soldier but slaughtering civilians, he should be ashamed of himself."
Ouyang Duanhua's expression stiffened, forcing him to start the battle early. He finally understood the principle that talking too much could lead to a loss; it was simply boring to get into a verbal duel with Ouyang Ye. The two of them, one freezing the arena, the other engulfed in a fire dragon, the red and white lights colliding together, making a thunderous boom.
The spectators didn't expect Ouyang Ye could still display such a level of strength and couldn't help but exclaim.
In the private box on the third floor, Qi Ze, Yan Junyu, and Yan Bo each took a single sofa and sat down.
"Ouyang Ye is at a disadvantage." Without waiting for the smoke and light to dissipate, Yan Bo made a judgment. The facts were as he predicted; under Ouyang Duanhua's feet was a layer of white frost, occupying three-quarters of the arena, while Ouyang Ye was pushed to the corner, with only a charred sword mark splitting the ice and pointing directly at the opponent, but ultimately dissipating ten meters away.
The audience applauded and cheered, all saying they had already anticipated this outcome.
After each casting a major move as a test, Ouyang Duanhua, while firing ice spikes, approached Ouyang Ye and began close combat. He was a dual-ability Iceman and Wind user, and was good at both long-range and close combat, with incredible speed. Ouyang Ye was the same as him, good at the same fighting style, but slightly inferior in defense.
The two of them, one forming an ice claw with five fingers, the other waving a longsword, quickly exchanged several hundred moves. Ouyang Duanhua's body was covered with a layer of ice, so even if he was hit, only the ice layer would burst, but the skin underneath was unscathed. In contrast, Ouyang Ye looked somewhat ragged, his clothes tattered and his body covered with wounds in a short while. However, he was the type who became even more courageous the more he fought. He feigned an attack on the lower body but feinted, thrusting at Ouyang Duanhua's brow. An ice wall suddenly blocked Ouyang Duanhua, then rapidly climbed up the sword and was about to freeze Ouyang Ye's body along the sword's body. The ice element spread incredibly fast, instantly wrapping the entire longsword; if he wanted to escape, he had to abandon the sword.
Ouyang Ye did indeed let go, but somehow, he pulled out another dark green longsword from the black-red sword, swinging a strong wind blade. Ouyang Duanhua had never expected this to be a sword within a sword; caught off guard, he nearly had his neck sliced off.
The layer of ice on his neck exploded, making a cracking sound; the situation was extremely dangerous. Even as cruel as he was, he couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat, much less the audience in the stands. Cries of alarm came one after another. What they thought was a clear win, only now revealed signs of a reversal.
Yan Bo watched with his eyes wide, speaking incoherently, "This, what weapon is this? How can two swords of the same size and length be fused together, and their attributes are completely different? Have you seen this kind of forging technique? Materials with properties that counteract each other can barely be fused together, but their powers will cancel each other out, making the created weapon a piece of trash. If mutually catalytic properties are fused together, there's only one outcome, and that's immediate explosion! Why hasn't it exploded? Why hasn't it exploded? Huh?"
Yan Bo pulled at his hair, feeling like he was going crazy. There had to be something wrong with this sword!
Yan Junyu looked at Qi Ze but found him propping his cheek with one hand, using his two front teeth to grind an apple. After grinding it finely in a circle, he snorted lightly, as if mocking Yan Bo for his ignorance.
Yan Junyu withdrew his gaze, endured for a moment, and finally pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He had long known that the sword was extraordinary, but he hadn't expected it to be so special. A sword within a sword, and a sword with different properties inside, the Empire indeed didn't have such technology.
In the arena, it was clear that Ouyang Duanhua's heart had been disturbed. He deliberately avoided the blade each time, not daring to meet it directly. But he did have rich practical combat experience and quickly adjusted.
Ouyang Ye's eyes turned red, and a layer of thick blue veins bulged on his body's surface, visible that his condition was not good. He slashed a giant wind blade that nearly penetrated the entire arena but still couldn't severely injure Ouyang Duanhua. His movements slowed down, and a look of endurance appeared on his face. The wind elements he had drawn exceeded his capacity, nearly crushing every meridian and bone. His sword in hand had a sense of this, vibrating and humming.
Seeing this unusual phenomenon, Ouyang Duanhua couldn't help but shiver inwardly. He used all his strength to catch the tip of the sword, then his fingers swept forward, snapping the already severely curled blade, and at the same time, he swung a palm, sealing Ouyang Ye in the ice.
The arena suddenly fell silent, leaving only his heavy breathing. His cheeks, neck, arms, chest, everywhere were wounds caused by Ouyang Ye, with blood dripping down. He had never been so miserable, glancing at the wrist of Ouyang Ye, who still hadn't worn the signal transmitter, and actually harbored a murderous intent, preparing to slash another palm and directly crush both man and ice into pieces.
He had been wanting to do this for a long time, thinking about it for over a dozen years!
Yan Bo cried out in horror, "It's over, the sword actually broke! Why?" Compared to the outcome, he actually cared more about those two swords. Many people shared the same feelings as him, and a chorus of sighs could be heard in the arena.
However, the next second, Ouyang Ye, who was sealed in the ice, looked straight at a certain direction. Ouyang Duanhua suddenly felt something was wrong, and before he could react, his back was penetrated by a whistling black-red longsword that arrived, and the intense fire element instantly burst, causing him to spurt blood and flesh to fly. The signal transmitter was immediately activated, isolating him and Ouyang Ye, but it couldn't isolate the sword stuck in his belly. The explosion continued. In just a few seconds, a shapeless charcoal lay on the ground.
The audience was stunned by this incident, completely unable to understand what had happened.