Chapter 988: Chapter 988

"Next, will the other competitors please take the stage."

After Zhao Tianba and the injured expert from the Dark Group left the stage, Qin Fang spoke again.

"Our Ming Group members have completed the task, done in three seconds."

Fu Renjie smugly looked at Tang Ming and the others: "It’s your turn now, don’t let the results differ too much."

"You talk as if you were the one who defeated the enemy in three seconds. If you have the ability, why don’t you show it on stage?"

Tang Ming gave Fu Renjie a disdainful glance.

"If you have the ability, why don’t you go up?" Fu Renjie looked at Tang Ming and sneered:

"No matter what, Zhao Tianba is someone from our Ming Group faction. His outstanding performance is our glory."

"Heh, is the Ming Group starting to play the unity card now? Unfortunately, even if Zhao Tianba takes first place, the total points still can’t compare to mine."

Tang Ming quirked his mouth in an odd expression and turned to Long Ao and the others: "Which one of you will go first?"

"I’ll go!" Long Ao stretched his muscles and sensibly said, "

The Dark Group faction can’t afford to lose a single match. I’ll definitely strive for a good result."

As soon as he finished speaking, Long Ao walked onto the ring with large strides.

Seeing Long Ao take the stage, Qin Fang immediately ordered Long Ao’s opponent to confront him onstage.

"Brother Long, you must do your best. This round depends on you."

Wu Xiaoyu nervously encouraged him.

"Don’t worry, with Tang Xin here, we won’t lose."

Lin Canghai reassured calmly, although it was unclear where his confidence came from.

"I ask Master Long to show mercy."

A dark-skinned young man with a buzz cut saluted Long Ao with an expressionless face after taking the stage.

"Cut the chatter, let’s start."

Long Ao looked intently at the opponent.

Seeing both parties ready, Qin Fang loudly announced the start of the match and simultaneously started timing.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Long Ao dashed towards the young man with lightning speed.

The buzz cut young man also charged forward, but he didn’t attack Long Ao. He clasped his fists in front of his abdomen.

The next moment, the muscles on the young man’s body swelled to twice their size!

Though just a Seven Stars Martial Artist, his cultivation in cross-training martial arts rendered him with a remarkable defensive power.

Seeing the opponent adopt a defensive posture, Long Ao felt a surge of urgency in his heart.

Facing a Seven Stars Martial Artist without the ability to cultivate was already troublesome, and this opponent was a cross-training martial master with incredible defense, making the battle even more challenging.

Sensing no flaws in the opponent’s front defense, Long Ao abandoned the idea of a frontal attack, as breaking through would usurp too much time.

Just as their bodies were about to collide, Long Ao swiftly twisted his waist, navigating around the young man like a nimble serpent, and swiftly raised his hand to chop at the back of his opponent’s neck.

"Brilliant movement technique."

Tang Ming couldn’t help but praise, admitting that Long Ao had the most agile movement technique among young Seven Stars Martial Masters he had seen.

With this guy’s strength, even against Xin Badao or Chu Batian, he could still win.

A dull thud echoed as the hand chop precisely struck the young man’s nape.

If it were an ordinary person, they’d pass out instantly; however...

The young man, trained in cross-training martial arts, had well-developed neck muscles and, after sustaining Long Ao’s attack, not only didn’t pass out but instead spun around to punch at Long Ao’s body.

Seeing this scene, Wu Xiaoyu sighed dejectedly as if he were a deflated balloon, since the three seconds had already passed.

Zhao Tianba, observing on the sidelines, started laughing triumphantly. If he had hit the opponent’s neck, he would have definitely knocked them out. Unfortunately, Long Ao was not a cross-training martial master, lacking significant strength without his cultivating power.

After the attack failed, Long Ao was forced to defend passively, then relied on his movement technique to continually dodge attacks, desperately seeking an opportunity to focus his power on attacking the opponent’s vulnerable neck area.

Three minutes later, the buzz-cut young man, who had endured numerous strikes, finally passed out, while Long Ao was left gasping for breath, exceedingly pale—a defeat.

"Competitor Long Ao subdued the target in three minutes."

Qin Fang announced the result.

"Hahaha, three minutes can hardly be considered quick in subduing an enemy."

Zhao Tianba laughed heartily and disdainfully said, "In real combat, three minutes is already enough time for the enemy to accomplish many things."

"Indeed, calling it a quick subdual is more like treating a sandbag, truly pathetic."

Fu Renjie immediately chimed in loudly with ridicule.

Hearing their mockery, Long Ao’s expression became exceedingly dark!

But the reality was undeniable, and he had no means to retaliate, only cursing the Ming Group for their cunningly devised competition designed to embarrass the Dark Group.

"Stop calling others pathetic; our part is done, isn’t it time for you to perform on stage?"

Tang Ming frowned, looking at Fu Renjie.

"I’ll go on stage, I’ll go, anyway, our side is sure to win."

Fu Renjie carelessly walked up to the platform, having realized that winning first place in this grand competition was hopeless, but as long as someone from the Ming Group faction won and curbed the Dark Group’s arrogance, he’d be satisfied.

"I tried my best." Long Ao, after stepping off the stage, looked bitterly at Tang Ming and the others.

"It’s alright." Tang Ming smiled, squinting his eyes as he replied,

"After all, this involves the grand competition for the interests of the nine families, so difficulty is to be expected. Normally, subduing a cross-training martial artist without cultivation is already impressive for the same rank martial master."

Long Ao looked at Tang Ming, muttered briefly before gritting his teeth, saying, "Thanks for understanding."

"Damn, this event was practically tailor-made for that big guy, we have no chance of matching him."

Wu Xiaoyu cursed angrily.

"Sigh, that’s the Ming Group’s despicable tactic; even knowing their trickery, all we can do is bear it silently and swallow our pride."

Lin Canghai sighed helplessly.

Tang Ming nodded without commenting, only now truly understanding why the Ming Group could constantly win—it was because they held the power to organize the grand competition, giving them the upper hand. For the Dark Group to win, it’s exceedingly difficult.

After Fu Renjie stepped onstage, he faced a Six-star Cross Training Martial Artist dispatched by the Dark Group.

As the match began, the Dark Group’s martial artist left no room for mercy, exerting his full strength to battle Fu Renjie.

Time ticked away as the sweat-drenched Fu Renjie fought with all his might, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t subdue the target.

The cross-training martial artist’s body was honed with a thousand hammer refining technique, and without cultivation, Fu Renjie truly had no way of breaking through the opponent’s defenses.

Moreover, since Long Ao demonstrated targeting vital points in previous matches, the Dark Group’s expert remained wary, meticulously protecting their weak points.