Chapter Seventy: I Have an Unbeatable Reason

In the sports square, the audience watched with bated breath as the second round of the competition finally began.

"Watch how I turn you into a sieve!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

As soon as the match started, Gu Yan squeezed the triggers of her twin pistols, the muzzles flashing repeatedly as over a dozen bullets formed from spiritual energy shot forth in a torrent, pouring toward her opponent like a metallic flood.

Wang Yuming charged forward without fear, slashing his spirit blade at high speed, spinning it into a seamless web that cut through the oncoming spiritual bullets.

He darted ahead in an S-shaped path, seizing the moment to swing his blade at Gu Yan.

Gu Yan hadn’t anticipated such speed or that he could intercept her barrage; she was taken aback. With a nimble tip of her shoe, she swiftly retreated, evading several attacks in succession. Then, in a twist of her body, she vanished from Wang Yuming’s line of sight.

In that instant, Gu Yan circled to his side, raised her pistol, and fired at his head.

Sensing danger the moment she disappeared, Wang Yuming instinctively turned his head, and a spiritual bullet whistled past his face—just missing a fatal blow.

That was close—almost a headshot!

With a flash in his eyes, he twisted his blade toward Gu Yan’s waist. At such perilously close range, if she were struck directly, she would be sliced in two.

Gu Yan shifted position, her delicate figure light as a swallow, easily evading the attack while firing relentlessly, spiritual bullets shooting out as if ammunition were endless.

Her superpower was "Infinite Firepower"—until her supernatural energy was exhausted, she could unleash a ceaseless stream of ammunition.

"Unlimited bullets... So that’s your ability? Is that all there is to it?" Wang Yuming belatedly realized her power, a golden gleam flashing in his solemn eyes.

Suddenly, a mysterious gust rose—yellow sand surged forth, whirling and condensing before him to form a sturdy sand-shield.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Like beans sizzling in a pan, the bullets rattled against the sand-shield, which blocked the downpour.

A shield formed of sand?

Gu Yan’s eyes narrowed as she vaguely discerned Wang Yuming’s superpower.

"I see," murmured Cheng Feng, who had been quietly observing from the audience. He frowned, then understood, "So that’s Wang Yuming’s ability."

Luo Ke spoke gravely, "An earth-based power. This is the first time I’ve seen it. This Wang Yuming is indeed a formidable contender in this tournament."

Cheng Feng thought she might be exaggerating. "With Gu Yan’s strength, she shouldn’t be at a disadvantage even against an earth ability."

"That’s hard to say." Luo Ke pondered. "Judging from the current situation, Xiao Yan’s chances are still good—it depends on how far her opponent has developed his ability."

On the stage, the sand-shield easily fended off the barrage, then quivered; after a brief pause, the spiritual bullets reflected back along their original paths.

He can bounce my bullets back?

Gu Yan was secretly startled. As she hurriedly dodged, she reached under her black-and-red skirt, retrieving something concealed there.

A moment later, she pulled out a round, unknown object and hurled it at Wang Yuming.

He thought it was some hidden weapon and casually slashed it open with his blade—only to catch the scent of gunpowder half a second later.

A bomb?!

He was alarmed, but it was too late.

The next instant, a thunderous explosion erupted, the blast resounding through most of the sports square.

The spectators were stunned, and the contestants watching below looked equally shocked.

Only Ye Lin, standing in the corner, remained unmoved, her fingers intertwined as if lost in thought.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cheng Feng noticed the girl in blue—so out of place amid the crowd.

In the VIP stands, seeing the explosion on stage, the three bigwigs remained impassive, except the mayor, who was startled and stared at the stage, afraid that one of the contestants had been killed.

Vice President Su Ting glanced at him and said coolly, "No one’s dead. Don’t worry."

The mayor finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Such a commotion on stage left the examiners exchanging glances—they hadn’t expected the female contestant to be so brazen as to throw a bomb in the ring.

After all, this round forbade the use of any weapon except spiritual tools; violations meant immediate disqualification.

Gu Yan’s spiritual tools were her two uniquely shaped black-and-white pistols, yet she’d just thrown a grenade.

The examiners quickly checked her file and discovered that explosive devices were indeed among her supernatural abilities—so she hadn’t broken any rules.

The true might of "Infinite Firepower" was the ability to manifest a variety of military weapons.

Aside from heavy, large-scale destructive weapons like rocket launchers, most small arms could be summoned at will as long as her supernatural energy lasted.

Such as the explosive grenade she’d just used.

When Wang Yuming was engulfed by the blast, the tremendous shockwave spread, thick smoke nearly covering half the stage.

“Hmph! Victory is mine!” Gu Yan stood with hands on her hips—the explosive grenade’s power had been specially tuned, unlikely to kill, but more than enough to knock out her opponent.

"You’re still far from beating me!" she said smugly.

Just then, a powerful wave of energy swept from the lingering smoke, clearing the haze. From within, a voice rang out, brimming with fighting spirit.

"Sorry... you celebrated too soon."

Wang Yuming stepped forward, holding his spirit blade, Star of Sand. Though slightly wounded, he remained steady. "From this moment, I’ll get serious."

The next instant, his previously dark eyes shifted to a deep gold.

"That’s... Spirit Release!" Luo Ke’s expression changed as she saw Wang Yuming’s eyes. "I didn’t think he could use that skill. This is bad."

Wang Yuming’s ability to use "Spirit Release," a forbidden enhancement technique, meant his strength was close to that of an elite demon hunter.

By employing it, his overall combat abilities would multiply. Other than Cheng Feng, Wang Yuming was now the second contestant present who could use Spirit Release.

With this, Gu Yan’s chance of victory became negligible.

On stage, Wang Yuming fixed his gaze on Gu Yan and asked, "Tell me—why do you truly want to win the championship?"

Gu Yan could clearly sense the surging power emanating from him, but she replied without fear, "For fame, of course!"

"Fame... Just for mere fame? In that case, I must win today!"

Yellow sand swirled around him as Wang Yuming raised his spirit blade, Star of Sand, determination shining in his golden eyes.

"Because... I have a reason I must win!"

ps: Thanks to Black Television, 2017... for the monthly ticket.