Chapter 2685: Chapter 2685: Women Are No Less Than Men
"I originally thought Windbreak County would keep Hazel Truman as the ’Trump Card’ this time, but unexpectedly the Trump Card is someone else... her elder brother, Kaison Truman!"
"Since Windbreak County chose Kaison Truman as the ’Trump Card’, it reveals a crucial point: Kaison’s strength surpasses Hazel’s."
"It was truly unexpected that among the younger generation under a hundred years old in Windbreak County, the strongest is not Hazel, but Kaison Truman, who, before the news of the martial arts competition at King Cooper’s mansion spread, was not well known."
"Kaison Truman, hidden so deeply."
...
Many people whispered, their conversations revolving around Windbreak County’s ’Hazel Truman’ and her brother ’Kaison Truman’.
Currently ranked as the temporary ’first’ in the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition, the young strong contender from Windbreak County, ’Hazel Truman’, is a dashing, beautiful woman, her long hair tied into a ponytail flinging behind her, showcasing her exquisite features.
Even Wyatt Barnes, having seen countless beauties on his journey, couldn’t help but be struck by her radiance at this moment.
This Hazel Truman, though a woman, possessed a beauty of strength, completely different from other women Wyatt had encountered, providing a stunning impact.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
...
Accompanied by the swift howls of the wind, nine pure white horses descended from the sky, pulling an open carriage, escorted grandly into the area behind the VIP audience seats.
The curtains in that area timely unfolded and expanded, encompassing them within, vanishing from the view of the crowd around the arena.
"Now, the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition continues... the ’Trump Cards’ from the thirteen counties remaining can choose their targets for a challenge."
High above in the arena, an announcer from King Cooper’s mansion proclaimed loudly.
And almost as soon as his voice faded.
"I, Eli Baker, challenge Hazel Truman!"
Along with a thunderous boom that spread out, from one side of the audience around the arena, a stout figure stepped forward from the void, moving like thunder, as if bringing forth the claps of thunder.
This was a young man in a tight gray outfit, extremely robust, his explosive muscles seemingly twitching constantly, exposed muscles showing the powerful pulsing of his veins.
The young man had an exceptionally sturdy build, but stood just around five feet seven.
Mere moments later, he was already suspended in the air above the arena, his gaze sweeping across those standing in line, ranking temporarily in the top ten of the martial arts competition, finally landing on the lone woman among the ten, his eyes full of battle intent.
"It’s Eli Baker of Rufu County!"
"Eli Baker is the foremost among the younger generation under a hundred years old in Rufu County... He reportedly reached the ’Green Day Golden Immortal’ level several years ago; even if he hasn’t broken through to become a ’Cyan Sun Golden Immortal’, he must be significantly stronger than before."
"Hazel Truman seems to be a Green Day Golden Immortal too... This battle, victory or defeat, remains uncertain."
"With equal cultivation... the difference lies in the Immortal Artifacts they hold and other methods."
"Hazel has a mid-grade Immortal Artifact... As Rufu County’s ’Trump Card’ this time, Eli Baker surely holds a mid-grade Immortal Artifact as well."
"This battle... will be the most intense since the start of the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition, truly exciting."
...
Almost as Eli Baker stepped into the arena, the audience around the arena familiar with him couldn’t help but start discussing animatedly.
Huff!
As the discussions arose among the crowd surrounding the arena, Hazel Truman, named by Eli Baker, was the first to step from the void, standing opposite Eli Baker.
"Rufu County’s ’Eli Baker’... I’ve heard of you."
Hazel Truman glanced at Eli Baker casually and said, "However, you aren’t my match."
"Hmph!"
Being told by a woman, in front of so many people, that he wasn’t her match, Eli Baker naturally couldn’t tolerate it. He snorted coldly, dismissively saying, "Hazel, I know you have decent strength... But compared to me, you’re still lacking!"
From the beginning, he watched each match Hazel participated in.
For this reason, he concluded Hazel’s strength was inferior to his.
Thus, he planned to use his current one chance to challenge any of the top three in the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition on Hazel, and by defeating Hazel, he could replace her as the ’first’ in the competition.
Though only a temporary first place, it was still a great honor.
Especially now that the esteemed King Cooper of the mansion is here, if he could defeat Hazel at this moment and ascend to the ’first’ in the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition, even briefly, he would surely catch the eye of King Cooper.
"Does Eli Baker... really think Hazel Truman’s strength is only as she has shown before? If so, he might end up in trouble."
In the VIP audience section, Wyatt Barnes, draped in a Talisman Master’s robe, narrowed his eyes suddenly, thinking to himself.
He had watched each of Hazel’s battles earlier.
Initially, there wasn’t much to see.
But as time went on, he noticed that Hazel Truman seemed to intentionally hide her strength throughout, even in the final intense battle where she claimed the temporary ’first’ in the Sixteen Counties Martial Arts Competition, she held back to some extent.
"Since you’re so confident... Don’t waste anymore words, make your move!"
Listening to Eli Baker’s dismissive comments, Hazel Truman raised her elegant brows, shouting boldly.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
...
Almost the instant Hazel’s bold shout rang out, Eli Baker made his move again, his figure pulsing as though a colossal mountain was tearing through the sky, causing explosions that deafened everyone’s ears.
The thunderous sound reverberated, causing those with weaker cultivation around the arena to frown.
"Hazel, take my strike!"
As Eli charged out, he suddenly let out an earth-shattering roar, and in his hand appeared an enormous wide saber.
Buzz!!
The saber emitted a glow about thirty feet long, sweeping down towards Hazel.
The strike seemed simple, but once locked onto Hazel, it followed her like a shadow.
Hazel’s figure flickered as she dodged, yet the saber’s glow remained locked on her.
As if it wouldn’t rest until she was cleaved in two!
"Humph!"
With a cold snort, Hazel ceased to dodge. Raising her hand, a seven-foot spear appeared, and with a tremor, it shot out like an angry dragon, fiercely meeting Eli’s saber glow over ten feet long.
In that moment, Hazel fought with her spear, looking as valiant as a female general, exuding heroic flair.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
...
The saber glow pierced the air, shining brilliantly, like crescent moons, splitting the sky as it passed, as if to cleave this world apart.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
...
Wherever the spear’s glow passed, the tip traced like stars, forming a starry net in the void, confronting the crescent moon-like saber glow.
Unnoticed, the crowd around the dueling arena held their breath, silently witnessing the battle before them.
"This Eli... is going to lose."
After several exchanges, Wyatt Barnes could see Eli had lost his advantage and realized his earlier "prophecy" was on the brink of coming true.
At the same time, Wyatt wasn’t the only one to see Eli’s impending defeat...
Even in the VIP audience seats, many high-ranking members from families and sects within the regions governed by King Cooper withdrew their gazes from above the arena.
They retracted their gaze because they felt there was no need to continue watching.
The outcome was decided.
Ultimately, Hazel’s strength was superior!
"This Hazel... had been hiding her strength all along!"
When the local governors under King Cooper discerned Eli’s impending defeat, the governor of Rufu County, where Eli hailed from, also noticed this, his expression turning decidedly grim.
He hadn’t anticipated:
his "Trump Card" Eli would lose the very first battle.
"Governor Truman, your daughter indeed lives up to the rumor, rivaling men!"
Near the Windbreak County group stood another county governor, who looked at Kenzo Truman, the governor of Windbreak County, and exclaimed.
His brows furrowed, clearly tinged with envy.
Such a powerful daughter.
Plus a son regarded as Windbreak County’s "Trump Card," Kenzo Truman indeed had a pair of enviable children.
Kenzo Truman, a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar, appeared very graceful.
Despite his age, his mature and charming face hinted he must have been quite the young gentleman in his youth.
"You’ve flattered me, Governor Ren."
Upon hearing the governor’s words, Kenzo Truman immediately turned to him, offering a modest smile.
"It’s over."
Just as Wyatt inwardly whispered, withdrawing his gaze.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
...
Above the arena, Hazel’s seven-foot spear, a middle-grade Immortal Artifact, seemed to transform into Flood Dragons breaking free, clawing towards Eli, shattering all his attacks, finally hitting Eli, sending him flying.
Eli’s hands tightly gripped the middle-grade Immortal Artifact-level saber, which was promptly blasted away.
"Wow!"
Blasted away and losing the Immortal Artifact, Eli spewed blood and immediately passed out.
The unconscious Eli was about to smash against the side of the arena, looking as if he’d turn into a pulp.
Swish!
A person from King Cooper’s residence, hosting the martial event for the sixteen counties, acted quicker than the Rufu County governor, unleashing invisible force, catching Eli and delivering him to the Rufu County spectating group.
"Thank you, my lord!"
The Rufu County governor immediately thanked the host before checking Eli’s injuries.
After examining Eli’s injuries, the governor of Rufu County breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up at Hazel’s valiant figure in the arena, saying: "Niece Hazel, thank you for showing mercy."
