Chapter 2750: Raging Waves

Lu Ye suddenly admitting defeat not only caused an uproar throughout the arena, but even Jing Guo's leader, Chunyu Gui, looked dumbfounded. He stood up from the spectator seat for a moment, then suddenly sat back down.

This wasn't the occasion for him to speak; anything he said now would be wrong.

The chief referee was still standing on the stage, his raised hand not yet lowered. The voice that was meant to announce the start of the match was swallowed back. There was surprise in his eyes, too, but his gaze, which instantly sharpened like a blade and fell upon Lu Ye, was still very gentle.

Like light.

Lu Ye felt as if he were bathed in light.

Thousands upon thousands of gazes— suspicious, sarcastic, contemptuous, pitiful, hateful... The weight of these gazes, after he said "I admit defeat," was deeply felt by him.

He was only seventeen years old.

No matter how much suffering he had endured, no matter how strong he pretended to be, he was still only this old.

He couldn't bear this weight.

But when Jiang Zhen Jun looked over, he only felt his body suddenly lighten. The sky's light was like water, washing away those difficulties.

He really wanted to shed tears, but he calmly looked ahead.

At this moment, the millions of gazes all retreated, as if only Jiang Zhen Jun were looking at him.

But he knew. It wasn't just...

"Lu Ye, you are a good child, smart, determined, and responsible. You must understand what you are saying. I believe you have also seriously considered it."

Jiang Wang said calmly: "But I still want to remind you that this is the final of the Yellow River Assembly, not a place for jokes. You need to be responsible for every word you say."

His voice was calm, comforting hearts: "If you admit defeat now, your path has been walked in vain, your fists have been thrown in vain. Those people and things that supported you until now have all been let down by you."

These words were so light, yet they fell on Lu Ye's body so heavily. He never wanted to disappoint anyone!

But what could he do?

"I am responsible for what I said." Lu Ye slowly opened his mouth, still saying: "I really admit defeat."

The Yellow River event had progressed to this point. Almost every player on stage had been thoroughly researched.

Lu Ye's background was very clear: he was born in Wei Guo, grew up in Wei Guo, and cultivated in Wei Guo. Coming to Guan He Tai at this age was his first time traveling far.

Because of his connection to dantian martial arts, many people had seen him, and not a few understood him. His fame in the world might not only be because he broke into the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace, but also because of the many contributions he practically demonstrated that were beneficial to dantian martial arts.

A cone in a bag reveals its point. No matter how it was concealed, Wei Huai could not cover up all his glory. As the true creator of dantian martial arts, his every inspired move represented the strange peaks and beautiful mountains of this great path.

Before the Yellow River Assembly even started, many people already expected him to be the next Li Yi, the next Jiang Wang!

When he truly stepped onto Guan He Tai and advanced all the way, unstoppable, people inevitably expected more from his future. The title of champion also seemed within his grasp.

During the competition, the matter of Wei Guo's two counties' cultivators being slaughtered further earned him immense sympathy.

He bore the pressure, directly facing the bomb, and won that stunning spear strike against Ji San Si. At that time, the entire Guan He Tai was buzzing for him. Even Ji San Si himself said the word "服" (fu, surrender/convinced).

Now, stopping here, how could one understand?

Everyone in Wei Guo knew that Lu Ye had carried mountains since he was a child, never complaining of hardship or fatigue. He always only said, "I will do it."

All the way, no matter how difficult or bitter, he never gave up.

But today, having come this far, to the moment of the decisive battle, he actually admitted defeat?

No one would admit defeat on stage, especially before even fighting!

From ancient times until now, counting all previous Yellow River Assemblies, only Lin Zheng Ren, who represented Zhuang Guo that year, created unprecedented history by making the expressionless Jing Tian Zi change his face... And today, only this Lu Ye.

But Lin Zheng Ren's surrender that year was in the face of the champion of that session, Jiang Wang. Although he was severely scolded at the time, in retrospect, it was not unwise.

Even Qin Zhi Zhen lost, unable to turn the tide, and Xiang Bei was even smashed in the face by fireworks...

Lin Zheng Ren, seeing the gap between the two sides clearly before the fight and understanding that he absolutely could not win, wasn't that foresight?

Although he later, as a Zhuang Guo prodigy with a awakened conscience and a righteous man of Wang Jiang City, unfortunately died outside Feng Lin You Xiang. Yet, because of this record-breaking behavior, he is still remembered and discussed by many.

One theory is that he was "the person who believed in Jiang Wang the most," "the first to recognize Jiang Wang as the future sky," and "the first Bole of the Yellow River."

But Lu Ye had already reached this final step, and before the match, it was generally thought that he had an advantage... How could he be timid before the fight?

Unless...

Almost all the spectators' gazes fell on the people of Jing Guo, on Yu Xian Yu on the stage, with playful amusement, with anger, with hatred.

But no one spoke.

No one dared to lift their heads and look towards the central Tian Zi's dharma image on the Six Harmonies Pillar... not even a glance.

Instead, it was Hong Jun Yan.

The Snow Plain Emperor who established the world of Li Guo for the common people of the world.

Sitting in that chair "half on Long Jun's old seat," he turned his head with great movement, looked up, and let out a heavy "tsk!" sound.

The people of the world did not dare to look, but Hong Jun Yan came to look. The people of the world did not dare to "tsk," but Hong Jun Yan came to "tsk." He could be said to carry the hopes of the world and fulfill the expectations of the world.

Of course, the central Tian Zi showed no reaction. The central dragon robe, which hung down a corner like a sky curtain, did not move with the wind. Yu Xian Yu on the stage was also silent for a moment.

None of Lu Ye's fist techniques would have surprised her so much. Only this single word, "admit defeat," bombed her into a state of bewilderment.

She had a mind to speak, but understood that it was best to let the Demon Subduing Heaven Jun handle it.

Jiang Wang heard the noise from the entire arena, heard the buzzing that Lu Ye could not hear. Of course, he also felt Huang She Li's killing intent and saw the serious expressions of his former colleagues.

Originally serious, Ju Kui's face was now completely stiff. It was as if Zhong Xuan had carved the unexpected scene onto his face.

He cut off all outward gazes, focusing his gaze only on Lu Ye.

When he spoke, the entire arena immediately fell silent.

He did not use any divine ability method, just a kind of belief accumulated over the years, one event after another.

People looked at him. In the arena, in the Taixu Huanjing, in various corners of the real world.

Unfair things happening in the Yellow River Assembly scene made people dissatisfied and uneasy. But no one doubted that this unfairness had Jiang Wang's tacit approval and indulgence.

"I am the chief referee of the Dao Calendar 3933 Yellow River Assembly. I am responsible for everything that happens in this session of the Yellow River Assembly," Jiang Wang said.

He looked gently at Lu Ye, but that pair of eyes truly held power: "If you are willing to trust me, just tell me exactly what happened."

"I promise you, I will do my best to protect what you want to protect and solve what you cannot solve."

"You are seventeen years old this year, still a youth, not yet an adult. You should not bear too much responsibility. You have an infinitely beautiful future. You should experience the present. This is your glory. Your struggle for other things should be handed over to adults, handed over to us who have benefited from this era, who have luckily made it here and should give back to this era, not these so-called adults who hold positions without doing anything!"

"Who is he pointing at?" Li Tian Zi stared and laughed.

"He wouldn't be talking about you, would he?" Wei Di also chuckled.

Hong Jun Yan glanced at him, no longer speaking. This new younger brother was really very unrighteous. He would stab a knife without hesitation. In terms of character, he was far worse than Younger Brother Jiang. In today's world, everyone knew the weight of Jiang Wang's promise.

As long as he promised something, he would move mountains and fill seas for it without hesitation.

How could a youth like Lu Ye, who grew up under the glory of Zhen He Zhen Jun, not feel this warm sincerity?

He could face those cruelties and tell himself to be strong.

Yet, in the face of pure goodwill, it was hard to control oneself, and he inevitably stumbled.

"I admit defeat..."

Lu Ye tried to be calm, trying to speak clearly: "My skills are inferior. There is no need to lose this face."

He suddenly closed his eyes, but tears still burst from the corners of his eyes: "Don't force it anymore!!"

He had precisely forced himself to come this far.

It was precisely "must be this way" that he had won until now.

But he had given up.

To make a stubborn person give up their stubbornness, to make a strong person shed tears. This was the cruelest thing in the world.

Qin Zhi Zhen slowly replied to Huang She Li in the Taixu Pavilion members' private chat channel: "Why don't you let today's audience leave? Invite tomorrow's audience in early? Anyway, today's audience has already watched what they bought tickets for, and tomorrow's audience is definitely already waiting at Guan He Tai..."

Huang She Li looked at him in surprise.

She didn't know if she was surprised that he had thought of something she hadn't, or if she was surprised that he would only respond to this matter. How could this person be both dull and sharp?

Qin Zhi Zhen, however, exited the channel, deeply concealing his merit and name, and then stood up tall.

He stood at the edge of the arena, raising his hand and reaching towards Lu Ye. His black clothes were like iron, his five fingers like a cage, matching his cold and resolute expression. He truly had the posture of someone who would kill to vent anger if a word wasn't right. His hand did indeed cross the distance, falling onto Lu Ye's body, entering that space. In the eyes of the fearful crowd... from the void, he took out something.

Drip!

A string of blood drops fell onto the stage. Many people could then see clearly that it was a somewhat withered, blood-dripping broken hand!

"I broke open his storage box space," Qin Zhi Zhen still stood below the stage, his hand reaching into the void, holding the broken hand on the stage, showing it to everyone. He pondered and spoke slowly: "I think this is Wei Huai's hand."

Ju Kui expressionlessly waved his hand, took a drop of blood from the stage, looked at it carefully, and confirmed: "Indeed, it is Wei Huai."

The only figure of the contemporary Wei Guo who had only his hand taken, respected by many as a martial arts master, Wei Huai.

The entire two counties of Wei Guo's superordinary cultivators were slaughtered, and only Wei Huai was missing!

The creator of dantian martial arts, the one who raised Lu Ye.

He was his teacher, his father, the grandfather Lu Ye had called out for seventeen years.

At this moment, everyone understood why Lu Ye admitted defeat.

People were angry!

Taixu Huanjing... Ji Shuang Cheng... Wei Cheng... Meng Du... Yi Ning Cheng... Shang Qiu Cheng... Zhao Guang Cheng... Xin An Cheng...

Angry flames burned in hearts, sweeping across the entire world.

How could this be! How could this be!

This was not just bullying. This was not just trampling on rules.

Indeed, they had long known that Ba Guo was so barbaric and cruel, treating the world like grass. But now, they didn't even try to conceal it slightly? Completely out in the open?

Actually doing such heinous things in the final of the Yellow River Assembly!

Especially since an old piece of news was also exposed at this time.

Originally, in the Dao Calendar 3919 Yellow River Assembly, Mu Guo's participating prodigy Zhao Ru Cheng received the broken finger of his only relative, Deng Yue, before the match.

Seeing this kind of thing, it was a common tactic of Ba Guo!

Of course, this old news selectively ignored that Zhao Ru Cheng had not yet decided to represent Mu Guo at that time, and ignored Zhao Ru Cheng's entanglement with the Qin Guo royal family and his long-term experience of being hunted by the Da Qin Zhen Yu Si.

Past and present matters, crashing together as one matter, so clearly describing the hateful face, the ugly place of the contemporary Ba Guo... The world was indignant!

Hong Jun Yan slapped the armrest, angrily standing up: "I knew some people would play tricks early on, but I didn't expect them to play all the tricks!"

"My Li Guo prodigies repeatedly had bad luck and were blocked outside the final circle. This is fine. I will sit here, and I will sit!"

He stepped for the Li people, his steps like a dragon's walk. He spoke for the world, his voice like a lion's roar: "Kidnapping a person who has contributed to the contemporary era, the creator of dantian martial arts, cutting off the hand he used to practice fist techniques, and using flesh and blood kinship to threaten a seventeen-year-old youth, is this the pattern and responsibility a ruler should have!?"

"Lu Ye! Who bound your grandfather? Say it boldly, and I will make the decision for you! Li Guo's millions of troops are arrayed in the Snow Plain, giving you support!"

"I don't believe that in this world, the word 'reason' cannot be spoken! Even if the night is long, dawn should be seen once!"

Hong Jun Yan returned to the vision of contemporary people through "and the Five Northwestern Countries building Li." He shook his might and roared into the world by killing the great掌教 (zhangjiao, palm leader/head) Zong De Zhen of Yu Jing Mountain with a punch.

Today, he also proclaimed his ideals to the entire world and spread his virtue through this unprecedented grand event.

The old hero is still a hero now!

The Emperor of Li Guo not only brought dawn to the Snow Plain, he also wanted to make decisions for all the people in the world who suffered injustice and oppression.

People did not doubt that no matter which Ba Guo leader was involved in this matter today, Hong Jun Yan would dare to respond with his country. This was truly gathering the world's resentment and alleviating the common people's hatred, releasing a mouthful of stale air for the billions of common people. This was truly a widely appealing move. It could be called a perfect Tian Zi speech.

Even if the Wei Di beside him looked envious, he could not imitate him, or even say, "I am the same," to rub off on his prestige and share his people's hope.

One reason was that Wei Guo's national strength was still insufficient compared to Li Guo, which could truly stand up. The second was... Jing Guo was too close.

Just across a long river, scolding Ji Feng Zhou to his face indeed had a bit of the meaning of thinking life was too long... Being an emperor might not be something to always seek a quick outcome.

Actually, Wei Xuan Che was also somewhat confused now. He wasn't even sure if the matter of Wei Guo, the matter of Wei Huai, was truly done by Jing Guo...

Indeed, with Jing Tian Zi's ambition, he would not have made such a stupid move. But the central empire was so large, Jing Guo was so strong, there were always a few arrogant, presumptuous, self-proclaimed smart individuals.

In the end... it was still Big Brother Hong who was too righteous and strict, too imposing and generous.

He, Wei Xuan Che, was also the Tian Zi of a country, a king whose face changed like the weather and whose grace and might were immeasurable. He actually could not see how much performance there was in this scene.

He initially suspected that it was Big Brother Hong's scheme, shouting "thief" while being the thief, making a card out of nothing to hit hard. But looking at this imposing and unassailable king's face, he actually doubted his own suspicion for a moment...

"Referee adult, may I say something?" Yu Xian Yu spoke at this time.

Jiang Wang looked at her: "Speak without harm."

"I think, since the behind-the-scenes culprit captured Lu Ye's grandfather and cut off his hand as a threat, Lu Ye definitely cannot say more now. If they can cut off one palm, what's difficult about cutting off a head?"

Yu Xian Yu said clearly and logically: "I think this is also the reason why Lu Ye, facing your promise, could only grit his teeth and continue to admit defeat."

"Xian Yu is just an ignorant junior. Originally, I shouldn't say anything about this."

"But I think the criminal is indeed hateful. We also shouldn't seek our own hero and put others' closest relatives in danger."

"Old Master Wei Huai has not yet been found and cannot be confirmed safe. How can we force Lu Ye to say something here, to point out something?"

"Or, what else can Lu Ye know? If I were the criminal, I wouldn't leave him any clue."

"Yes!"

She suddenly raised her voice: "Lu Ye's admission of defeat, I am the biggest beneficiary. I can win without a fight and take this champion title. I am also logically the biggest suspect!"

"Now, to let the world know the truth."

"I, Yu Xian Yu, hereby announce my formal withdrawal from this session of the Yellow River Assembly."

She said to Lu Ye: "You don't need to admit defeat, because in this match, you have no opponent!"