"Bishop Xu, how do you see the recent battle?"
Lord Lei, observing both sides attending to the wounded, looked up at Xu Muzhi.
"In response, my lord, I believe the individual named Liao Hai displayed commendable skill. His continuous combo attacks, combined with unique techniques, caught his opponent off guard. Unfortunately, he became somewhat impatient towards the end. If he continued accumulating combo points or acted more cautiously, the outcome might have been different." Xu Muzhi replied with a slight bow.
Those with discerning eyes could see that, although the knight came with fierce momentum, Liao Hai maintained control throughout the match. It was only in the inexplicable haste at the end that he suffered a counterattack.
Lord Lei shook his head, "And you, Ms. Liu Feifei?"
Liu Feifei smiled, "My lord, you are putting Feifei in a difficult position. What insights can a weak woman like me offer?"
"No matter, just share some casual thoughts to pass the time."
"Alright," Liu Feifei raised her eyebrows playfully, "then let me share my casual thoughts."
"I think this individual, Sand Wen Cheng, although his level may be lower and his combat technique rough, akin to a farmer wielding a hoe, his combat awareness is outstanding. Coupled with a stroke of luck, he managed to secure victory."
"Oh? How do you define outstanding combat awareness?" Lord Lei, intrigued, turned his attention to Liu Feifei, who gracefully adjusted her posture.
"Firstly, upon realizing that the mount's charge posed no threat to the opponent, he immediately dismounted. This move sacrificed mobility and combat power but deprived Liao Hai of cover, allowing Sand Wen Cheng to defend more effectively."
"A giant crocodile, when facing an agile assassin like Liao Hai, could become the opponent's cover. The arc-light double flash just now occurred because of a delayed realization."
"Secondly, despite uncertainty about the origin of his armor, Sand Wen Cheng, relying on this formidable defense, even in ground combat, would not be vulnerable. He could counterattack during the opponent's attack cooldown. Unfortunately, the opponent's skill and technique overwhelmed him, and he received over a hundred combo hits."
"Realizing this, he promptly adjusted his strategy, feigning surrender in the match to consume Liao Hai's stamina against the wall. Liao Hai became anxious because, with his skill level, consuming too much in a single battle wasn't worth it."
"So," Liu Feifei continued, "when Liao Hai reached what he believed was sufficient combo points for a finishing move, he initiated his ultimate technique. However, Sand Wen Cheng revealed his trump card, a skill that slowed down the opponent's attack speed. Taking advantage of this, he counterattacked successfully. However..."
"However, what?" Lord Lei inquired.
"However, his victory was somewhat fortuitous!" Liu Feifei's expression carried a hint of disdain.
"As Xu mentioned, if Liao Hai had not rushed or had not been overly confident in his finishing move, and if Sand Wen Cheng did not possess that remarkable armor or the skill hindering attacks, victory would have belonged to the knight, Sand Wen Cheng. A win is a win, a loss is a loss. By utilizing one's equipment, skills, and hidden cards judiciously, and accurately gauging the opponent's psychology, he rightfully earned the victory." Lord Lei chuckled.
"Your analysis is accurate. If this were to happen again, the outcome might be uncertain." He nodded and turned his attention to the busy preparation area of the Tian Shi team.
"However, Liao Hai also shows promise. Bishop Xu, could I trouble you to assist him with his injuries?"
Xu Muzhi bowed, "My lord, it is my duty."
During the competition, some unexpected incidents might occur, and for some promising talents from the Holy Silver Church, medical assistance could be provided. However, the cost was that the opposing side would lose their qualification to participate further.
"Also, Priest Liu, I see that Sand Wen Cheng seems to be quite injured. Could you please check on them as well?"
"Yes, my lord!"
After explaining the situation, Night Three breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had taken the initiative to treat Sand Wen Cheng beforehand. Otherwise, if she saw that gruesome wound, she might have grown suspicious.
It was not an injury that a living person could endure. Even the mostly healed wound made Liu Feifei almost exclaim. If she had seen the initial injury...
However, in the end, he agreed to let Liu Feifei provide treatment. Still, this meant that Sand Wen Cheng was deemed to have lost the qualification to continue defending the stage.
"Now, the fourth match is about to begin!"
The rest period ended quickly, and Xu Muzhi announced the continuation of the competition.
"The fourth match, Knight of Lothlan, Gu. Tian Shi team, please select your team member."
Since the last match ended with Sand Wen Cheng's victory, the Tian Shi team had the advantage of choosing their participant after the other side.
"A swordsman? Just him?"
The female swordsman from the Tian Shi team looked at the shaky old man and smirked disdainfully.
"Boss, let me go?"
The old man with the purple staff turned his head to glance at the Lord of Tian Shi. The latter's finger kept tapping on the table, showing a calm demeanor.
Meanwhile, Mo Sanzhi and Liao Hai were whispering, and the others were avoiding eye contact with him.
It was now two versus two, and both times the other side voluntarily forfeited, not achieving a genuine victory. The most crucial aspect was that even Liao Hai had lost, dealing a severe blow to their confidence.
Aren't they all just Black Iron?
How did it end up like this?
The old staff sighed, "Alright, you go. But..."
"Be more ruthless. You understand what I mean?"
The female swordsman was taken aback, then nodded and walked into the arena.
"Tian Shi's swordsman, Qian Qiu Xue, specially here to learn from the senior!"
Drawing her long sword, Qian Qiu Xue charged towards the elderly Gu.
She used a different weapon than the old man's slender single-handed sword—a double-handed giant sword with a width of a palm.
This type of weapon was typically used to counteract clumsy professions like shield warriors. However, to her, the old man appeared far from someone agile, so she treated it as a simple task with one slash.
"Die!"
As the second most powerful individual in the Tian Shi team, just below the old staff, Qian Qiu Xue, while swinging her sword, seemed to have already envisioned the old man being sliced in half and crawling on the ground in pain.
"Humph, go ahead, old man! A sword is not something you can play with..."
Splatter!
Qian Qiu Xue: ???
In Qian Qiu Xue's last moments of consciousness, she saw a silver-haired old man facing away, holding a sword with one hand while slowly hammering her waist with the other.
"Lothlan wins, Gu!"