Chapter 128: Smack! Smack! Smack!
Zhou Yishu had recently begun to recapture a bit of his former momentum, although online discussions were far more focused on EternalMoon's match than his. He understood why—EternalMoon had achieved victory by sacrificing his psychic weapon, which naturally garnered more attention than his own straightforward domination.
Let him be proud for now. When the finals come, he'll crash and burn, Zhou Yishu thought to himself. This annoying name would finally disappear from his sight.
"Xiao Shu, have you thoroughly analyzed EternalMoon's combat style?" Father Zhou, cautious by nature, had called Zhou Yishu over for a final pre-match analysis the day before the match, even though virtually every expert had already predicted Zhou Yishu's inevitable victory.
"Yes," Zhou Yishu replied, sitting down next to his father. "He doesn't have enough thought energy reserves."
The television was replaying EternalMoon's match against Gu Thirteen, with Father Zhou meticulously pausing at key moments to dissect the footage for Zhou Yishu's benefit.
"EternalMoon is incredibly fast, and his movements are likely inherited from some Ancient Martial Arts. They are incomparably exquisite."
"Yes, his explosive power is also impressive. Combined with his speed, even a minor mistake could give him an opening." Zhou Yishu nodded in agreement.
"That's why Gu Thirteen's defensive counterattack strategy was absolutely the right choice—it was tailored to counter EternlMoon's fighting style. He came very close to succeeding," Father Zhou said. "Unfortunately, he underestimated EternalMoon's attack power and didn't anticipate that his psychic shield would be destroyed under it."
"It's worked out in my favor. Besides, my thought energy reserves are far greater than Gu Thirteen's."
Father Zhou nodded: "Xiao Shu, it seems you already have a clear plan for the next match."
"Gu Thirteen has already shown me the way. Once I withstand EternalMoon's initial flurry of attacks, the battlefield will belong to me," Zhou Yishu said.
That EternalMoon probably can't even fathom that my thought energy reserves are seven times greater than those of an ordinary martial artist of the same rank. Zhou Yishu smirked. With his Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, how could he lose to a half-baked Martial Artist?
The highly anticipated finals of the rookie group began. Sitting in the chief referee's seat of the judges' booth was once again the silver-and-black masked Junlin.
As Zhou Yishu stepped out from the contestant passage, his eyes immediately fell on the imposing figure of the man whose aura radiated unapproachable authority. Junlin was a living legend among their generation of Martial Artists, a benchmark for countless aspiring Martial Artists to strive toward.
Zhou Yishu was no exception. This was the closest he had ever been to his idol. One day, he vowed, he would stand on equal footing with Junlin.
Zhou Yishu's hands suddenly clenched as he noticed Junlin turn his head slightly to the other side. Following his idol's line of sight, Zhou Yishu caught sight of EternalMoon emerging from the other side of the contestant passage.
It's him again, EternalMoon. After today, you will become nothing more than a stepping stone on my path to the pinnacle of martial arts. After today, Lord Junlin's indifferent gaze will no longer waste a moment on an unremarkable nobody like you. Zhou Yishu thought, his heart surging with battle intent. The nameless spear technique passed down by his teacher suddenly resonated perfectly with his current state of mind.
Nobody, not even Father Zhou, knew that the name EternalMoon had, in fact, already become Zhou Yishu's mental demon. In Zhou Yishu's eyes, EternalMoon had appeared out of nowhere and robbed everything that should have belonged to him—online acclaim, admiration, and even the attention of Lord Junlin. It was all his!
Zhou Yishu was no fool. He also knew that there was something wrong with his state of mind. But it didn't matter. As long as he triumphed in today's battle—under the eyes of countless spectators and, most importantly, under Lord Junlin's gaze—by utterly defeating EternalMoon, he could get rid of this mental demon. For a Martial Artist, defeating a mental demon in one fell swoop was akin to profiting from a disaster as their Martial Arts could be promoted to a higher level.
Today's battle was pivotal for Zhou Yishu's journey in Martial Arts.
Across from him, Lu Heng stood with his expression hidden under the mask and strange totem pattern. Yet, Zhou Yishu's subtle changes in expression and surging aura could not escape his keen observation. As he expected, Zhou Yishu viewed this match as his moment of rebirth—a battle to shatter mental barriers and breakthrough.
Really, that's great. Lu Heng thought, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. Even if Zhou Yiheng's talent couldn't return to its original body, it could not be used by the devious Zhou Yishu. It would be better to thoroughly destroy it.
In the arena, EternalMoon and Zhou Yishu stood face to face.
Zhou Yishu wore a pristine white martial arts uniform, which, combined with his handsome features, gave him the air of a noble warrior.
In stark contrast, EternalMoon was clad in black, his face partially hidden by a white mask, with dark crimson patterns painted across the exposed half of his face.
It was the first time the two appeared together, and the audience noticed with astonishment that their height and build were nearly identical. Standing opposite each other, they looked like light and shadow.
Zhou Yishu flashed his trademark sunny smile: "EternalMoon, I've been looking forward to meeting you for a long time. I've always wanted the chance to spar with you. Today, as evenly matched opponents, let's forget about winning or losing and just enjoy the fight to our hearts' content."
EternalMoon, however, remained silent. He merely clasped his hands in a Martial Artist's salute and then flipped his palms outward, summoning two psychic blades into existence.
Zhou Yishu wasn't offended by the lack of response. Instead, he maintained his genial demeanor and added, "Alright, then. Let's begin."
With that, he turned his palm, and a long spear materialized in his grasp.
In the official live stream chatroom, the moment EternalMoon and Zhou Yishu stepped into the arena, their fans began a fierce verbal sparring match.
"Male God EternalMoon is still as cool and aloof as ever! Ahhh, so handsome!"
"Your male god has no manners. Xiao Shu greeted him so warmly, and he didn't even respond."
"Well, of course. Xiao Shu comes from a prestigious family. Unlike this half-baked unorthodox Martial Artist who lacks basic etiquette."
"Oh, come on! This is a fight, not tea time. Let's see who proves their worth in the ring."
"Hey, don't conveniently forget how your oh-so-courteous Zhou Yishu stepped on my male god to get to the top. Does he still have to smile and greet such a grabber? Ridiculous."
"Na na na-na na! My male god is so genuine and unpretentious. If you don't like it, go hang yourself."
"Tsk! Look at these delusional EternalMoon fans. Let's see who will be hit in the face, hehe."
Meanwhile, in the judges' box.
The referee seated to the left of Gu Lingjun knew him and asked, "Little Martial Uncle Gu, which contestant do you favor?"
To Gu Lingjun's right, Cui Zihang silently rolled his eyes and thought, Is there any need to ask? Of course it's his dear EternalMoon.
"EternalMoon," Gu Lingjun replied.
Called it. Cui Zihang suddenly felt like he'd just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food. He also recalled how he had trembled with fear for days before finally realizing that Gu Lingjun's offhand remark was just him showing off his love.
Cui Zihang, feeling suffocated by the dog food shoved down his throat, couldn't help but interject: "Little Martial Uncle Gu, I got news from the Zhou family that Zhou Yishu supposedly has the rarely-seen Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart. The outcome of this match might not be as certain as you think."
Gu Lingjun turned to look at Cui Zihang: "Bet your apartment. I'll pay you the market price. If I lose, that Earth-tier movement technique is yours."
This was another thing Cui Zihang couldn't figure out. Gu Lingjun had shown interest in buying that apartment shortly after moving into the house. But the place had great amenities and was conveniently close to S University, so Cui Zihang had refused the offer since he planned to save it for his younger brother who was in high school. Anyway, Gu Lingjun didn't come to S City often, so his inquiry seemed like a whim at the time.
"Deal," Cui Zihang agreed instantly. He'd been coveting Gu Lingjun's stash of Earth-tier movement techniques for ages. Only a fool would refuse such a certain lucrative bet.
As their conversation concluded, the match officially began.
Lu Heng didn't hesitate to attack Zhou Yishu. With a powerful push off his right leg, he closed the distance, launching a relentless assault. The psychic blades in his hands weaved a net of light that trapped Zhou Yishu, each strike flowing like waves crashing down without respite.
Zhou Yishu found himself struggling to breathe under the ferocious pressure of the attack. Yet, amidst the storm, his thoughts were sharp: As expected. This EternalMoon is as wildly arrogant as ever, charging in without properly analyzing his opponent's strengths. All brute force, no finesse.
He steadied his long spear, spinning it in a defensive Binding Technique from his spear style. Though unable to counterattack effectively, he managed to fend off his opponent's overwhelming offensive, if only barely.
"True to his pure offensive style, EternalMoon launched into the match with a seamless flurry of blade techniques, catching Zhou Yishu completely off guard. Zhou Yishu looks rather overwhelmed!" Commentator A's voice brimmed with excitement. "If he doesnt change this passively-getting-thrashed situation quickly, we might see him set a record for the fastest match outcome in a rookie finals!"
"Not so fast," Commentator B retorted coolly. "Zhou Yishu might seem unable to retaliate, but look closer—his footwork is steady, and his spear movements are methodical. EternalMoon's relentless opening assault might burn him out in less than ten minutes. When that happens, Zhou Yishu will have his opportunity."
This pair of commentators made for an interesting dynamic. Their well-known rivalry was no secret. Commentator A, with a fiery personality, consistently favored aggressive and high-energy fighters, while the more seasoned Commentator B preferred methodical and technically sound competitors. He always criticized the "dark horse" fighters that burst onto the scene.
The official selection of these two polarizing figures for the finals commentary wasn't accidental. The organizers had clearly chosen them to maximize audience engagement and controversy, ensuring this high-profile match received the attention it deserved.
Sure enough, the chat in the official live stream quickly descended into chaos, with fans of both fighters echoing the commentators' arguments. While the audience and commentators stirred the pot, the two fighters in the arena remained utterly focused, their attention locked on each other as the clash of their weapons echoed through the stadium.
EternalMoon's relentless offensive finally seemed to ease, marking the ten-minute point since the match began. Zhou Yishu felt a burst of joy. His prior analysis suggested that after recondensing his psychic weapon, EternalMoon's thought energy reserves could only sustain such high-intensity attacks for ten minutes.
My analysis was right. Here's my chance, Zhou thought, preparing to shift his spear into an offensive maneuver.
But just as he began to act, Zhou Yishu noticed EternalMoon's lips curl into a faint grin. In the next instant, the illusion of respite shattered like a bubble popping in the air.
EternalMoon's blade flicked upward as he sidestepped closer, his movements now faster and sharper than before.
"Did you think it was over?"
As their weapons clashed, Zhou Yishu heard EternalMoon speaking in his ear. This was the first time he had heard EternalMoon's voice in person, free of the filters of livestreams or the obvious deliberate lowering of tone in the videos. Zhou Yishu felt that the voice was very familiar.
But before he could process it, EternalMoon's series of onslaughts dragged him into a terrible vortex of exhaustion. Zhou felt like he was standing at the heart of a hurricane, teetering on the brink of being torn apart by the crazy attacks.
When will this complete suppression end? Zhou Yishu, who was suppressed to the point of being unable to breathe, had a crack in his confidence in winning.
"EternalMoon's offensive continues! He's using real actions to slap the faces of those who said he's bound to run out of steam, showing no signs of slowing down! Let's check—this intensity of the offensive has lasted... twenty minutes already! Now, who was it again that said he wouldn't last more than ten minutes?" Commentator A's voice was electric, the words tumbling out much faster than usual as he reveled in the spectacle.
Beside him, Commentator B—a member of the We Got Our Slaps Slapped League—fell silent. A veteran of the commentary world, he had seen enough matches to recognize skill. Despite his bias, it was clear that EternalMoon's blade techniques were not weakening. On the contrary, they flowed like an endless tide, showing no signs of fatigue.
Commentator A, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist piling on: "In my personal opinion, the match's outcome is practically decided. What do you think?"
"…Yes," Commentator B reluctantly agreed with his arch-enemy's opinion, resigned to the reality of the one-sided bout.
"Well, well! Finally, you're showing some good judgment for once!" Commentator A smiled broadly, giving Commentator B's shoulder a congratulatory pat with exaggerated camaraderie.
"......"
Zhou Yishu, trapped in the quagmire of EternalMoon's relentless assault, had no room to retaliate. Even his confidence was slowly shattered in the one-sided passive beating. In the competition between Martial Artists, doubting oneself was akin to pulling out the keystone of a towering structure—collapse was inevitable.
Zhou Yishu suffered a crushing defeat.
The final strike loomed as EternalMoon pressed his foot firmly onto the arena ground, leaving an inch deep imprint, and launched himself high into the air. He put his twin scimitars together as he chopped down at Zhou Yishu's head.
Seeing this, Zhou Yishu's nearly crushed spirit rekindled. This half-baked EternalMoon is really still inexperienced! EternalMoon's choice to abandon his advantage of close combat and attack from above was a critical mistake, especially against a spear-wielding opponent.
An inch longer is an inch stronger[1]. It was definitely not wise to attack a Martial Artist using a long weapon from a distance.
Does he think I've completely lost the will to fight? Zhou Yishu smiled to himself, feeling the abundant thought energy still coursing within him. This is my chance for a counterattack!
Crouching low, his body coiled like a spring, Zhou Yishu channeled every ounce of his thought energy into his spear. With a powerful thrust, he aimed directly at EternalMoon's descending form. The spearhead, like a snake spitting out its tongue, glowed brilliantly as his energy coalesced into a lightning-fast strike that streaked straight at his opponent.
Commentator B saw the change in the situation on the field and perked up: "EternalMoon underestimated his opponent! His weapon's attack range is shorter than Zhou Yishu's spear. It seems this time he'll have to dodge and avoid the spear's strike. Once the distance increases, it's hard to say..."
Unexpectedly, before he could finish speaking, he saw EternalMoon neither dodge nor avoid the attack. Instead, he faced the spear attack head-on, his scimitars in both hands.
"Danger!" Commentator B shouted involuntarily. Zhou Yishu was a contestant with extremely deep thought energy, and the aura of his spear carried an unmatched sharpness. The farther the distance, the more powerful the spear's strikes became.
How could EternalMoon directly meet force with force like this? Even if he managed to shatter the spear's energy, his psychic weapon would inevitably sustain damage, and Zhou Yishu's spear would immediately follow up with another attack. At that point, blocked by the spear, EternalMoon would have no way to evade.
Even the assistant referees in the judges' box were tense, ready to step in and save EternalMoon's life at any moment. However, in the center, Junlin remained calm and steady, showing no sign of reacting.
What happened next left everyone completely stunned.
EternalMoon's scimitars first cleaved through the spear's energy with precision, and then, without losing momentum, it sliced directly into the tip of Zhou Yishu's spear. The spear, which had appeared unbreakable, crumbled like paper under the frost-like sharpness of EternalMoon's scimitars. It was cut clean through and dissolved into starlight, scattering into the air.
The remaining force of the blade strike was so overwhelming that Zhou Yishu felt as though he might be split in two. Overcome with an uncontrollable fear, he instinctively shut his eyes. His body, paralyzed by terror, froze in place, leaving him unable to dodge or make any defensive moves.
The scimitars stopped just half an inch from Zhou Yishu's face.
The outcome was clear.
Zhou Yishu had never imagined losing, let alone losing so miserably. He hadn't managed a single effective counterattack and had been utterly overwhelmed, left in a state of disgrace like a beaten stray dog. Even his psychic weapon had been destroyed in a one-sided fashion. Such an event was unprecedented in the history of the National Ancient Martial Arts Exchange Conference finals.
This was entirely different from the semifinals, where both EternalMoon and Gu Thirteen's psychic weapons had been mutually destroyed.
The strength of a psychic weapon directly correlates with the wielder's thought energy. For one psychic weapon to be completely cleaved by another signified a one-sided suppression in terms of thought power strength. Such an overwhelming disparity in thought power shouldn't exist between finalists!
How is this possible? I have a Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart! How can EternalMoon's thought power suppress mine? Impossible!
Yet the reality was undeniable. The match was over. From start to finish, it lasted less than half an hour. As Commentator A had remarked at the beginning: this was the fastest-ending match in the tournament's history.
Even as Junlin stepped onto the field to raise the victor's hand and officially declare the outcome, Zhou Yishu remained in a daze. He still couldn't understand how his peerless, once-in-a-century heavenly talent—the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart—had lost in his strongest field to a half-baked Martial Artist.
"Do you want to know why?"
As they shook hands, Zhou Yishu heard EternalMoon speak. He didn't even have time to consider how EternalMoon had guessed his thoughts. He anxiously asked, "Why?"
EternalMoon let go of his hand and walked toward the contestant passage.
"Because, like you, I also have a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, dear brother."
As they brushed past each other, Zhou Yishu heard EternalMoon leave such a sentence.
Those words struck Zhou Yishu like a bolt of lightning. Zhou Yiheng? His useless older brother? EternalMoon was Zhou Yiheng!
Zhou Yishu stood rooted to the spot, staring at EternalMoon's slowly receding figure. Only then did he realize—this person's silhouette was indeed incredibly familiar.
This sense of familiarity had actually been with Zhou Yishu ever since EternalMoon first appeared. However, he had never connected this powerful Martial Artist to his older brother, because Zhou Yiheng was a trash who couldn't even establish a proper thought energy cycle. How is that possible? How is that possible!
The scene of Zhou Yishu's psychic weapon shattering into nothing as he stood with tightly closed eyes awaiting his fate became the headline news on major websites that day.
Countless professionals who had previously bad-mouthed EternalMoon were now desperate to contact the websites to delete their previously published articles and comments. It was really the most embarrassing black history in their careers.
Losing the final match wasn't in itself a big deal, but losing in such a one-sided fashion, without the slightest resistance, and even standing there dumbly, eyes shut, awaiting defeat—there were few who lost like Zhou Yishu. The humiliation of such an undignified defeat made the fans who had once supported Zhou Yishu furious.
On the official homepage, the trending hashtag #ZhouYishuGetOutOfTheMartialArtsCircle# was rapidly gaining traction, firmly occupying the top spot for trending topics.
[1] The full saying is 一寸长，一寸强；一寸小，一寸巧 i.e. an inch longer, an inch stronger; an inch smaller, an inch more clever. Meaning: size has its own advantages.
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