Chapter 1055: Chapter 1055: The Final Match
"Is that okay?" With Lin Junzhao’s words, Pei Yan felt reassured, but when he recalled the agreement before the competition, he couldn’t help but worry.
"Why wouldn’t it be? I won’t make it too obvious. Bloodfiend has violated the rules so many times, if they use those tactics again, even if I intervene once, the other Lords of the Plane will turn a blind eye. Do you think they want Bloodfiend to win? That would make this competition the biggest joke. However, I can’t go too far, I can only help you at the crucial moment. But are you sure you want to participate in the third match of the round-robin battle?" Lin Junzhao first sneered and then probed.
"Do we have another way out? Not to mention regretting your investment, but for the promised Divine Artifact from Lin Ruxue, I have to grit my teeth and go on. Besides, I really don’t care about these trivial matters." Pei Yan looked down at his hands, feeling the unstoppable battle intent within himself, and the power about to erupt, he said arrogantly.
"Hehehe, good! I knew I didn’t bet wrong! Go on! I am your solid support. Win this victory for yourself and for us!"
With Lin Junzhao’s encouragement, Pei Yan turned towards the arena. Seeing Pei Yan lower his head in contemplation after leaving a sentence, others immediately panicked. Now, Mei Simiao was gathering people in the investigation hall for the next investigation, Elder Lin stayed at the Yirong Pavilion with Xia Yu and Zheng Jia Ru to deal with potential emergencies, Pei Jin also wasn’t present due to a task, and the leader Gu Shenghui was in a coma. The highest-ranking person in the investigation hall was Engineer Li, but he was not a combatant.
With no one to restrain Pei Yan, Wang Wenze, his closest friend, was the first to stand in Pei Yan’s way, saying, "Pei Yan, you are going to the stage to compete? Don’t be impulsive! To win, you must fight three consecutive battles with no time to breathe in this round-robin!"
"It’s not impossible." Before Pei Yan could speak, Ye Ruozai unusually spoke up.
"Old Ye! What are you saying?" Hearing this, Wang Wenze turned to Ye Ruozai with extreme anger, "For victory, you want Pei Yan to take risks? He’s already done enough for the investigation hall, for us, and for this world!"
Ye Ruozai, seeing that Wang Wenze misunderstood his meaning, hurriedly said, "I don’t mean Pei Yan must win. I mean he can fight one match, win against one person, and then announce his withdrawal, so we won’t lose face and can curb their arrogance."
Wang Wenze then realized the meaning of Ye Ruozai’s words, cursing himself inwardly for being blinded by concern. Knowing Pei Yan’s character, letting him give up would only make him more unwilling. Persistently stopping him would be counterproductive. Ye Ruozai’s idea of defeating one opponent to vent his anger might calm Pei Yan’s fury. Thinking of this, Wang Wenze immediately agreed, "Yes, yes, yes! Old Ye is right. Fight one match and beat that Bloodfiend bastard to death, win one match and we’ll withdraw! This way, our anger would be vented and we won’t lose face! Pei Yan, did you hear? Don’t be impulsive!"
Seeing the worried and concerned looks on the faces of those around him, Pei Yan felt warm inside. These were his true friends. At crucial moments, they didn’t care about the outcome of the competition but only about his safety. To soothe their emotions, Pei Yan chuckled and pretended to be relaxed, saying, "I’m not foolish, I won’t be impulsive."
As he spoke, he turned around and continued towards the arena, muttering to himself, "Don’t worry, I promise I’ll only fight one match in this competition, no more!"
Watching Pei Yan’s figure rise as he stepped onto the arena, although he made a promise, everyone in the investigation hall familiar with him felt an ominous tension, like a volcano about to erupt.
As Pei Yan stepped into the circle representing combat, the previously noisy and discussion-filled grandstand fell instantly quiet. All eyes focused on Pei Yan. The final showdown of this highly anticipated competition had arrived, yet everyone knew that the outcome was decided the moment Gu Shenghui fell.
In the Sword Discussion Conference, it was rare but not unheard of to fight three opponents in a row in a round-robin. However, in those rare instances, the successful candidates faced opponents of varying strength, which offered opportunities. In this unprecedented competition, every contestant was a Child of Origin, destined to become top-tier forces of their plane. It’s extremely difficult to win three consecutive matches against such opponents.
So everyone awaited just one result— the result that Pei Yan would announce.
As Pei Yan stepped into the circle representing battle, Ivan, the last battle’s contestant from the Bloodfiend side, also stepped onto the arena. Just as he was about to step forward, a shout suddenly came from the opposite side, "Wait!"
"Oh?" Ivan withdrew his lifted foot, looked at Pei Yan with a smile, and said, "What? Mr. Pei, have you decided to withdraw from the competition? That would be easiest for both of us. I know I’m not your match. If you can’t get over it, I can, after you announce your withdrawal, announce to the entire audience that you didn’t lose to me, Ivan, but to us, Bloodfiend, and that your companions were too weak."
Below the stage, when the conscious Ye Ruozai heard these sarcastic words, he couldn’t help clenching his fists but couldn’t retort. At this moment, accepting this condition to withdraw was the safest option for Pei Yan. He couldn’t provoke Pei Yan’s nerves at this crucial moment.
"No, that’s not what I mean!" Pei Yan nonchalantly dug his ear with his little finger.
"So you still want to go through with the round-robin?" Ivan knew things wouldn’t end so simply and, seeing Pei Yan’s attitude, frowned.
"That’s not what I mean, either!" Finished with one ear, Pei Yan switched to digging the other ear.
"Then what do you mean!" The repeatedly provoked Ivan, who already had a fiery temper, couldn’t suppress his anger and questioned, "Do you mean to deny the competition results and ruthlessly fight? Pei Yan, don’t blame me for not reminding you, today, your Child of Origin fainted, three are absent, and only two can fight. Even if a conflict breaks out, you wouldn’t gain anything! Or are you ready to attack en masse in front of thousands of observers from various planes, disregarding your face!"
"Tsk, tsk! Stop trying to put big labels on me out of paranoia!" Pei Yan flicked the earwax off his fingertip, finally looking Ivan directly in the eye with disdain, "I just promised my friends to only fight one match."
"So it’s for face, is it? To win one match against me, hehehe, it’s not like—"
Ivan’s cold laugh was cut off by Pei Yan’s playful voice.
"Don’t get me wrong, I mean using a round-robin to deal with three losers is too much of a waste of time! Just come at me all at once, and I’ll handle it."
