Lu Gongming shook his hand, not expecting to be careless. Small red dots of blood appeared on his palm, and his entire hand felt slightly numb.
"What is this thing!" Lu Gongming panicked for a moment. Although Cang Xue Xiao was ranked fifth, she was not to be underestimated.
"Be careful!"
At this moment, Ji Feiyang shouted sharply. Lu Gongming finally came to his senses and looked up. A palm appeared before him, just about to strike him. Lu Gongming dodged and swept a leg towards Cang Xue Xiao's abdomen.
"General Ji! Such a reminder, isn't it a bit unfair?" The leader of the Ying country's group turned to Ji Feiyang and shouted.
Ye Bufan transmitted his voice, telling Ji Feiyang that when Xiao Cang Xue made the first palm strike, she had used some underhanded methods.
"Is that so? Then Miss Cang Xue Xiao, about that first palm strike earlier, would you like to explain it to me as well?" Ji Feiyang squinted at the other party.
As soon as he said this, the other party began to play dumb and said, "What's wrong with that palm strike? Xiao Cang is a ninja, it's not surprising she knows some tricks. If you were hit, it's because you were not skilled enough."
Ji Feiyang's face darkened, and he didn't want to argue further.
"Hmm?" A streamer broadcasting live heard the conversation between Ji Feiyang and the opposing team leader and turned around.
"General Ji, about that palm strike you just mentioned, what exactly happened? Why did Yamamoto Natsuryu look flustered after hearing your words? Can you explain?" The streamer pointed the camera at Ji Feiyang.
"Wait until Lu Gongming comes down, and you'll see his hand," Ji Feiyang said lazily, not bothering to explain, and sat back in his seat.
The battle on stage continued. Lu Gongming watched as his kick was about to hit Cang Xue Xiao, but the other party disappeared from her spot.
Lu Gongming leaped up, unleashed his power in mid-air, and struck the ground with a palm. He landed on the ground.
But after waiting for a long time, Lu Gongming found that Cang Xue Xiao made no movement. While searching for her trace, he felt a tingling sensation on his head. Looking up, he saw Cang Xue Xiao descending from the sky and striking him with a palm.
The powerful palm force, accompanied by a strong gust of wind, made Lu Gongming feel a sharp pain in both hands just as he was about to channel his inner energy.
Immediately after, Lu Gongming was completely restrained by Cang Xue Xiao's palm strike. He endured the full force of the blow, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Ji Feiyang flew forward and checked Lu Gongming's injuries. He discovered that the latter had fainted, and there were some slightly blackened spots on his palm that were dissipating.
"You actually used poison!" Ji Feiyang roared at Cang Xue Xiao.
"General Ji, I am a ninja, and my martial arts incorporate the use of toxins. You can't blame me for that," Cang Xue Xiao argued slyly. "Besides, I specifically reduced the dosage of this poison for this year's competition. After the match, I just need to expel the toxin."
Ji Feiyang took a deep breath. The entire event was being broadcast live, so he could only carry Lu Gongming off the stage.
"Everyone, quickly look at Lu Gongming's hand. This is where Cang Xue Xiao poisoned him earlier," the male streamer walked forward, aimed the camera at Lu Gongming's hand, and explained to the fans in the live stream.
"This is too despicable, using poison!"
"Yeah, yeah. Who's up next? Let them go beat him up."
"That's right, don't think she's a woman, she's truly ruthless. Don't hold back."
The live stream was buzzing with discussion, and more and more fans were pouring in. Some even tipped the male streamer five carnivals.
"Quick, quick, who on site will make a stand now?" The top fan asked anxiously in the live stream.
The male streamer confirmed in the live stream that Lu Gongming was fine and then turned the camera back to the stage.
Just as everyone's attention was on Lu Gongming, the second-ranked participant, Yu Ying, had already arrived on the martial arts stage.
"Wow, it's the second-ranked Yu Ying." People in the live stream got excited upon seeing Yu Ying go up.
"Yu Ying." Yu Ying clasped his fists, and Cang Xue Xiao nodded. Before the referee could say "start," she struck Yu Ying with a palm.
"Damn! Who gave her the courage to attack early?" People in the live stream were indignant at Cang Xue Xiao's move.
Yu Ying smirked and unleashed a palm strike from a distance. The mere gust of wind sent Cang Xue Xiao flying back several meters.
"As expected of the second-ranked participant in the martial arts competition. If Lu Gongming hadn't been poisoned earlier, he might have been able to do the same!" someone in the live stream analyzed.
Yu Ying disappeared from his spot the next moment and reappeared behind Cang Xue Xiao, striking her back with a punch. After being hit, Cang Xue Xiao vanished from her spot.
"Hmph!" Yu Ying snorted and stomped heavily on the floor, causing the entire martial arts stage to tremble.
"Sonic Wave Skill!" Ye Bufan exclaimed. Sonic Wave Skill was already considered a fusion of ordinary magic and martial arts, using sound vibrations to inflict damage on the opponent, both physically and mentally.
"Pfft—"
Cang Xue Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood and fell from mid-air with a "bang," landing heavily on the floor.
"Whoosh—"
Just when everyone thought it was over, Cang Xue Xiao suddenly sat up from the ground, and a throwing knife flew out.
"How dare you!" Yu Ying was furious. He threw one of his shoes towards the throwing knife. The knife pierced the shoe, spun in mid-air, and Yu Ying leaped high, unleashing a palm strike from a distance.
"Earthquake Fist!" The punch struck the shoe squarely. The throwing knife changed direction in mid-air and shot towards Cang Xue Mei.
"I concede!" Cang Xue Mei shouted. The owner of the Tianxing Martial Arts Hall immediately pushed Cang Xue Xiao out of the martial arts stage. The throwing knife missed and plunged into the ground.
"Great!" The live stream was ignited with excitement.
The top fan, in his excitement, rewarded the streamer with five carnivals.
"Thank you for the tip from the top fan," the male streamer exclaimed excitedly in the live stream.
Beside him, Ji Feiyang and Ye Bufan exchanged glances. This competition felt a bit off.
Subsequently, from the Ying country's side, a man jumped onto the martial arts stage.
"Ying country—Kashiwagi Kaito." The man bowed to Yu Ying. They stared at each other for a few seconds and then moved simultaneously.
"Bang—" They met fist to fist, opting for a direct confrontation.
Yu Ying's expression was grave, while Kashiwagi Kaito appeared much more relaxed.
"Mr. Yu Ying, I'm starting now." Kashiwagi Kaito grinned, retracted his hands, and then intensified his power, unleashing another punch towards Yu Ying.