When Artifact Smiths from other teams were targeted, they could hardly defend themselves, let alone repair Divine Tools, and most were carried out of the venue.
Only Mingyi could not only protect herself but also counterattack while repairing Divine Tools, even breaking one of Mingxin from Sunspire City’s legs. Her masterful Artifact Crafting skills and the bold decisiveness with which she struck truly set hearts racing.
She wasn’t from Star Yearn City, yet she fought so fiercely in the competition—she certainly deserved gratitude.
And gratitude she received. Knowing she loved gold and jewels, the women pulled Golden Hairpins and Jeweled Rings from their hair and stuffed them into her arms. By the time Mingyi landed, her pockets were so heavy they nearly dragged her to the ground.
“I can’t accept these,” she said, torn between laughter and exasperation.
“Take them, you’ve earned them,” several dignified women said cheerfully. “When you return to Star Yearn City, you’ll receive even more rewards. These are just a little extra.”
“That’s right. You’re all alone now—how can you manage without some valuables to rely on?”
Amid their pushing and shoving, they ushered her back to the resting courtyard and even closed the gate behind her, as if afraid she might chase after them to return the gifts.
Mingyi sighed and turned around to find Qin Shangwu standing dazedly in the courtyard, lost in thought.
“Master, what’s wrong?” Her heart tightened as she hurried over. “Has Fan Yao’s condition worsened?”
“No, they’re recovering well.” Taking a deep breath, Qin Shangwu said, “It’s just… it’s been so many, many years since I last heard the words ‘Congratulations to Star Yearn City’ from the main stage.”
Star Yearn City had always been the weakest of the Six Cities, enduring humiliation during tributes and being dismissed at invitations from other major cities. Its people were often looked down upon when traveling elsewhere. Who could have imagined that their team would now win five consecutive days of competition?
Only one day remained. If Bo Zhai could win that final match, they would ascend to the Upper Three Cities—perhaps even claim the championship.
Qin Shangwu trembled with excitement down to his fingertips.
Mingyi watched him, thinking this was the proper reaction to victory. Winning should bring such joy and exhilaration. Yet it had been so long since anyone had smiled at her like this. Because Sunspire City won too often—but never enough—even when she took first place, the people around her remained indifferent, even pointing out her shortcomings.
But the people of Star Yearn City? Just looking at them made her lips curl into a smile.
“Yes, good days are coming,” she said with a laugh.
The final match was far more difficult than the previous ones. Though only one person competed, five additional elders observed the bout. The challenge was to strike ten points on the opponent’s body: four on the limbs, three on the chest and abdomen, one on the back, and two on the front and back of the head. Striking a vital point counted for two points, while limbs were worth one.
If a strike was too fast to determine whether it landed, the elders would judge.
Unlike the earlier team battles, this match purely tested the intensity and endurance of Essence Power, making Ji Bozhai the most eye-catching Fighter even before he stepped onto the field, surrounded by a crowd.
But as Mingyi observed the elders, she frowned and warned Ji Bozhai, “You must keep your composure today.”
Ji Bozhai followed her gaze and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why are they all from the Upper Three Cities?”
“Such are the rules. You’ll have to exert more effort.”The challenge of this match lay not only in the on-field combat but also in the off-field political maneuvering between the cities. In the past, even if Mingyi struck an opponent twenty times, the officials would only count fifteen, as the speed was too fast for the mirrors to capture clearly, leaving no one to verify her claims.
So Mingyi's solution had been to strike as many times as possible. Even if they halved her count, she would still win by points.
But Ji Bozhai... Mingyi felt his temperament was more volatile, prone to anger. If provoked into losing his composure, it would be easy for opponents to exploit his weaknesses. He might not be willing to use her crude method.
Her guess proved right. In the first match, Ji Bozhai faced Li Qing from Moonchase City. He struck Li Qing seventeen times across various points, but the elderly judges below leisurely flipped the scoring board to show only "Seven."
Meng Yangqiu laughed from the stands. "What kind of joke is this? A hundred points would eliminate the opponent, but with their counting, Lord Ji would need two hundred strikes to win?"
"Blind old fools," Luo Jiaoyang spat.
Between superior fighters, landing hits was already difficult. With such blatant manipulation, even if Ji Bozhai won, he'd be too exhausted for the next round.
Mingyi's heart clenched as she watched Ji Bozhai intently.
Li Qing's brute strength made the fight challenging, and the man kept taunting between strikes, glancing at the scoreboard with a sneer. "Only seven points? Looks like we'll be here awhile."
Ji Bozhai followed his gaze, his expression darkening immediately.
"What, are you some green boy? Look at you, getting angry already," Li Qing mocked. "Rules are rules. Even Ming Xian would have to abide by the scoreboard. They say you've only got seven points, so seven it is."
Before he finished speaking, a black surge of Essence Power struck the target point on his head, dazing him into stumbling back speechlessly.
Ji Bozhai smirked, delivering another blow that pierced through Li Qing's Shield straight to his chest.
A crushing force smashed through ribs, hammering directly into the beating heart.
Blood filled Li Qing's throat as he flew backward, landing three zhang away, unable to rise.
Ji Bozhai strode over, locking eyes with the Moonchase City elder, then began methodically punching each target point on Li Qing's body.
A strike to the abdomen forced another mouthful of blood from Li Qing.
The elder on the platform trembled but didn't flip the score.
Ji Bozhai grinned, gathering dark Essence Power into his fist before smashing it between Li Qing's brows.
Li Qing lost consciousness.
The elder, provoked by Ji Bozhai's challenging stare, shook with rage as he reluctantly flipped the board to add two points, then refused to look further.
Unfazed, Ji Bozhai condensed his Essence Power into a blade, aiming straight for Li Qing's heart.
"Hold! The match is decided," Bo Yuankui intervened awkwardly. "Li Qing is incapacitated. We concede."
"My lord!" protested the elder on stage.
"Must you wait for someone to die here before you're satisfied?" Bo Yuankui roared. "Losing to greater skill is no shame—only sore losers bring disgrace!"
He signaled attendants to carry Li Qing away.Ji Bozhai rubbed his wrist and looked at the elders with a faint smile. "Do you all think the outcome of this final match is in your hands?"
The elders glared at him, their eyes filled with both wariness and disdain.
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