The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Chapter 49 Spectating the Battle

There were still several matches on several stages that hadn't ended. Li Yuan sat on the sidelines, intently watching their actual combat.

The martial arts exam determines one's future and destiny, so all the participants give their all and fight fiercely.

Besides personally participating and observing masters sparring, one can also benefit greatly.

Some of them terrified Li Yuan.

One after another, participants were forced to leave the competition due to serious injuries.

"Li Yuan".

A familiar voice sounded behind him. Li Yuan turned around and saw that it was Sun Lu.

Today, Sun Lu wore a tight black top that perfectly outlined her curves, with a glimpse of her fair skin around her neck. She paired it with black tight-fitting stretch pants, which accentuated the length of her thighs and the infinitely graceful curves of her legs.

She looked stunning.

She was only half a head shorter than Li Yuan, who was over 1.8 meters tall, and attracted countless eyes as soon as she appeared on the scene.

"Sun Lu," Li Yuan replied.

A fleeting smile crossed Sun Lu's fair face as she walked over and sat down next to Li Yuan, then resumed her carefree demeanor.

"Congratulations! I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Li Yuan, you've basically secured a spot in the top ten!" Sun Lu said with a smile.

"Thank you!" Li Yuan said with a smile.

"Alright, it's my turn!" Sun Lu said, standing up.

"come on!"

The two exchanged a glance, needing no further words.

Sun Luchong and Li Yuanyi raised their chins and turned to walk towards the ring.

Her figure, clad in a black outfit, appeared tall and agile, her steps possessing the elasticity unique to martial artists, attracting the attention of many young martial artists wherever she went.

Her opponent was a skilled fighter from the Iron Palm Clan in the west of the city, named Zhao Kuo, who was famous for his iron palms that could split stone tablets. He also possessed internal strength cultivation, with thick arms and hands that were much larger and thicker than those of ordinary people.

The two stood on the stage and introduced themselves.

"Iron Palm Clan, Monument Slayer, Zhao Kuo."

"Tiger Might Martial Arts School, Sky-Splitting Kick, Sun Lu."

When Zhao Kuo saw that his opponent was a woman, and so young and beautiful, a hint of negligence flashed in his eyes. But since he had made it to the second round, he didn't dare to be too arrogant. He clasped his hands and said, "Miss Sun, please go easy on me."

Sun Lu didn't stand on ceremony with him, simply nodding and saying, "Please."

The referee waved, and the competition began.

Zhao Kuo let out a low shout, stepped forward, and chopped straight down with his right palm. The force was heavy, and there was a faint sound of wind breaking through the edge of his palm. It was indeed a solid and hard-hitting skill.

He intended to finish the fight quickly, and even wanted to show off a little. He used seven-tenths of his strength in this palm strike, and an ordinary opponent would definitely suffer if they took it head-on.

However, Sun Lu did not confront him directly.

She moved with exceptional agility, twisting her body to dodge the palm strike, while simultaneously whipping her left leg silently towards the back of Zhao Kuo's supporting leg.

This was swift and cunning, completely devoid of the delicate femininity commonly seen in women.

Zhao Kuo was startled and quickly stepped back, pressing down with his iron palm to block Sun Lu's leg.

Unexpectedly, Sun Lu's kick was a feint. She suddenly withdrew it halfway through, and using the momentum of her spin, she closed in on Zhao Kuo's center. With her right hand and fingers like a sword, she swiftly struck a vital point under Zhao Kuo's ribs.

Zhao Kuo quickly lowered his elbow to block, but Sun Lu's fingers changed from pointing to brushing, gliding across the numb veins on his elbow.

A sudden tingling and numb sensation came over him, and Zhao Kuo could not use his arm. He was terrified and dared not underestimate him in the slightest. He hurriedly retreated, protected his body with both palms, and switched to a defensive stance.

A low gasp rippled through the audience.

Sun Lu's movements were swift and agile, her footwork and moves were incredibly nimble, making her seem more like a seasoned hunter than a young woman.

Li Yuan observed carefully.

Sun Lu's kung fu style is somewhat similar to his; neither of them relies on brute force but emphasizes footwork, speed, and timing, targeting the opponent's weaknesses and vital points.

However, Sun Lu's movements were more graceful, and her leg techniques were exquisite, clearly showing that she had worked hard on her footwork and leg skills.

Having suffered a minor setback, Zhao Kuo calmed himself down and began to deal with the situation seriously.

His Iron Palm technique was indeed solid. When he swung his palms, the wind howled, protecting his entire body tightly. Occasionally, he would counterattack with a powerful and heavy palm, forcing Sun Lu to stay away.

The two were locked in a fierce struggle.

Sun Lu moved nimbly, circling around Zhao Kuo, her fingers, palms, and legs moving in a continuous stream, specifically targeting the gaps in Zhao Kuo's palm techniques and the places where he was slightly slow to turn due to his large physique.

Zhao Kuo, relying on his powerful palm strikes and solid defense, proceeded cautiously, attempting to wear down Sun Lu with his profound internal strength and physical stamina.

Time passed slowly, and the two had exchanged more than thirty blows.

Sweat beaded on Zhao Kuo's forehead, and his breathing became heavy. Sun Lu's attacks were like a gentle drizzle; though not fatal, they were relentless and penetrating, draining a great deal of his mental and physical strength.

What frustrated him even more was that Sun Lu could always interfere with him at the moment he exerted his strength or changed his moves, so that he could only use 60 or 70% of his strength. The feeling of having strength all over his body but not being able to use it became more and more intense.

"This can't go on!"

Zhao Kuo was anxious. Seeing that Sun Lu had shifted to the side and seemed to be running out of strength, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He endured Sun Lu's finger strike and suddenly pushed out with both palms, one in front and one behind, like two iron gates, blocking Sun Lu's left and right paths and aiming straight for her chest and abdomen.

This is the Iron Palm Clan's killing move, "Iron Palm Horizontal Lock," aiming to achieve victory in one strike.

The audience held their breath.

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Sun Lu remained calm in the face of this fierce combined attack.

As if she had anticipated this, the instant the two palms struck her body, she leaned back in a contortionist-like posture, her back almost touching the ground, narrowly gliding under the two palm strikes.

At the same time, as she fell backward, her right leg bent up like a scorpion's tail, her toes pointed, and she pointed upward with perfect precision, aiming at the vulnerable area between Zhao Kuo's jaw and throat that was exposed due to his full-force palm strike!

This sudden turn of events was incredibly bizarre and cunning!

Zhao Kuo pushed his palms into the air, his center of gravity shifted forward, and it was too late to change his move. He felt a sharp pain below his chin, and a soft, dark force penetrated into him. He immediately felt breathless, his vision went black, and the force he had pushed out instantly dissipated. His massive body staggered forward and fell.

Using the recoil from that kick, Sun Lu gracefully rolled backward and landed steadily, slightly out of breath, but her expression remained calm.

Zhao Kuo collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing violently. His face turned red, and it took him a while to be helped up. His eyes were filled with horror and lingering fear as he looked at Sun Lu.

If that kick had landed properly, or if Sun Lu's internal force had been stronger, he would probably have been seriously injured.

"Tiger Might Martial Arts School, Sun Lusheng!"

The minor official announced loudly.

Applause erupted from the audience, and many people looked at Sun Lu with respect.

Sun Lu won this battle brilliantly, demonstrating not only her superb skills but also her calm mind and precise ability to seize opportunities.

Sun Lu stepped off the stage, her forehead beaded with sweat, but she remained calm.

She sat down next to Li Yuan, picked up his water pouch, and took a sip.

"Impressive. Congratulations on securing a spot in the top ten," Li Yuan praised sincerely.

Sun Lu's final strike just now was brilliantly timed and angled.

"This guy's palm strike is too powerful; a direct confrontation would be disadvantageous, so we can only resort to tricks." Sun Lu wiped her mouth and looked at Li Yuan. "However, it's quite taxing. If we encounter another tough opponent later, it will be difficult."

Li Yuan nodded.

The following matches were equally intense.

On the stage, punches whistled through the air, legs flew, and muffled thuds of colliding internal forces filled the air.

People continued to be seriously injured and carried off the field.

Li Yuan watched with increasing focus, silently memorizing the characteristics of the outstanding performers' moves, their habitual actions, and even their potential weaknesses.

In less than an hour, all the matches on the ten arenas were over.

The winners were all pillars of their respective martial arts schools and academies, and were notorious figures throughout the city.

He could sense that tomorrow's qualifying round would be a real tough battle.