A Card In Hand

Chapter 40: Nothing that a Fight Can’t Solve!

As Li Ao recited the seventh name on the challenge list, he paused momentarily.

The newcomers had grown accustomed to Li Ao’s unpredictable actions.

After all, continuing to admire and worship this powerhouse was the right thing to do.

As for the seventh challenger, it wouldn’t surprise anyone anymore.

Is there anything more incredible than having Shuanghan, Qian Nian, Qiqu, Huo Mei, and Cang Yue ranked before Lie Feng?

Thus, everyone was quite composed.

“The seventh and eighth challengers I hope to face are Ling Long from the Donghai Family and Yue Sha from the Shengyong Family. Though their rankings seem lower, I don’t believe their strength is inferior to those before them. With their exceptional talents, climbing to the top three of my challenge list wouldn’t be a problem if they chose to compete!”

As Li Ao mentioned the names of Ling Long and Yue Sha, the assistant referee projected their images onto the crystal wall.

Ling Long made a playful face at Li Ao, scrunching her nose like a mischievous child.

Yue Sha reacted differently. Seeing everyone’s attention turn towards her, she immediately shrank back, hiding in Ling Long’s embrace.

The newcomers were speechless. Could such a timid person really compete in the arena?

Was it really okay for Li Ao to place them before the powerful Man Huang and Tie Zheng?

Dou Guang and Chang Chi shook their heads and smiled bitterly.

Without Li Ao mentioning it, they would never have imagined that this year’s seemingly dim group of newcomers contained so many hidden talents. Who would have thought that girls like Ling Long and Yue Sha could rank before Man Huang and Tie Zheng?

Of course, regardless of how absurd Dou Guang and Chang Chi found it, they wouldn’t deny the authority of Li Ao’s challenge list.

If Li Ao had mentioned just one name, they could assume he was mistaken.

But he had mentioned many names.

Each name could be linked to the respective family and clearly listed in the order of challenge.

What did this indicate?

It showed that Li Ao was well-acquainted with this batch of newcomers, much more than the Trial Temple had information on.

He wouldn’t mess up anyone’s ranking, thus making this seemingly incredible challenge list a reality.

Among this batch of newcomers, there indeed were many super talents hiding their true capabilities!

“The ninth person I want to challenge is Tang Guo from the Weiji Family,” Li Ao continued. Many people recognized Tang Guo. She had a talent that made her opponents dazed and confused with just a sweet smile.

Not to mention the torment her talent could inflict.

Tang Guo’s combat power was also high.

Reaching 848.

Compared to the mischievous Ling Long and the timid Yue Sha, everyone found it easier to accept Tang Guo’s entry into the top ten of the challenge list.

“Really? I made it into the top ten? That’s wonderful!”

Tang Guo, dressed like a cute and charming girl, smiled brightly, instantly mesmerizing numerous newcomers with her talent.

They all showed a blissful expression, as if dying in her smile would be a fine end.

Thankfully, Tang Guo was just acting cute and hadn’t truly activated her talent, or else the less resolute newcomers could become mere puppets under her command.

“Humph!”

Huo Mei was a bit displeased.

Relying on a talent to charm—what skill was that?

If you have the skills, compare your looks and figure with mine!

“So cute!”

Fuxi was so charmed by Tang Guo’s sweet smile that he felt as light as a feather, as if his bones had halved in weight.

“Die, you pighead!”

Ashamed to be associated with him, Cang Yue kicked Fuxi flying with one foot.

On the stage, Li Ao continued to read from his challenge list.

Another unfamiliar name came from his lips: “The tenth person I wish to challenge is Qiu Ye from the Fenghou Family.”

Who was Qiu Ye?

The crystal wall showed Qiu Ye standing right next to Lie Feng.

At this moment, Lie Feng looked at his follower cousin with a face full of shock: “Qiu Ye, you?”

Qiu Ye smiled apologetically at Lie Feng: “I didn’t mean to hide it. Father said you’re too forward and overly conspicuous, which could lead to your downfall. He asked me to keep a low profile and watch over each other in the shadows, saying this was the only way we could go further. Since Li Ao has noticed, I might as well be honest. Cousin, while you have been working hard, I have never given up trying to catch up either!”

“What is your true combat power?”

Lie Feng could never have dreamed that his cousin, who appeared to have ordinary talent, was actually a hidden genius.

“True combat power, 1186,” Qiuye responded honestly.

“What about your war beast?”

Lie Feng persisted.

“I possess a Silver-grade Pursuit Beast, and the Bronze-level Sky Sparrow you saw is actually my pet,” Qiuye’s answer caused Lie Feng to hold his head.

How foolish could he be?

His cousin was a genius, and he had been oblivious until Li Ao publicly pointed it out, making him realize it belatedly.

“Were your talents also a lie?” Lie Feng suddenly thought of this.

“My true talent is ‘Rising with the Wind,’ which allows me to fly freely after awakening. I usually stand on the ground to train my control,” Qiuye casually snapped his fingers, and his demeanor changed instantly.

Lie Feng looked again and saw not the weak cousin he thought he needed to protect but a peer as strong as himself.

A gentle breeze swirled around Qiuye’s body.

He floated up, light as dust.

Standing in mid-air.

Effortlessly graceful.

Qiuye, with a hint of apology, bowed to Lie Feng, “Cousin, I didn’t mean to deceive you! You dislike others standing taller than you, which is why I usually restrain my talent from taking flight. Of course, staying grounded is also one of my unique training methods.”

“Your combat power is 1186, mine is 1235, just a slight difference, yet I’ve underestimated you for years!” Lie Feng thought more and more shamefully.

His cousin had always been his loyal follower.

Wherever he went.

He followed.

He had always been his protector, covering for him.

Because of Qiuye’s modesty, he naturally assumed his cousin lacked strong talents and needed his protection.

Who would have thought that this cousin, whom he had protected for over a decade, was not inferior to himself at all…
Recalling their past life together, Lie Feng almost wanted to slap himself for being fooled by his cousin for so many years.

On the contrary, Li Ao, who had probably only seen Qiuye a few times, had immediately seen through Qiuye’s true strength!

“Qiuye, I admit I was blind before, and I apologize for not really understanding you before!”

Lie Feng said, getting emotional, “I am truly happy to see this new you, and I am not upset, really! How about this, after the trial is over, we find a place to have a fight, and then we can call it even, how about that?”

“Alright!”

Qiuye knew what kind of person his cousin was.

Lie Feng was someone who believed nothing couldn’t be solved with a fight.

If one fight didn’t do it, then two would, always fighting until the problem was resolved!

Man Huang turned to look at Tie Zheng.

He didn’t know how Tie Zheng was feeling, but Man Huang himself was somewhat panicky.

His name wasn’t among the top ten, even though he had been one of the top three contenders in this batch of newcomers, unshakable by anyone except Tie Zheng.

What if his name didn’t appear at all later on?

On the platform.

Li Ao continued announcing the challenge list: “Next, I will name ten more people. I don’t believe those ranked later are much less capable than the first ten; it’s just that this batch has too many talents, hence the long list. I believe this ranking competition is just beginning, and it could change any day, and anyone could rise to the top. Likewise, if I finish the top twenty and haven’t mentioned you, it doesn’t mean your combat power is low or your talent lacking. Many of you have talents that need more time to manifest.”

Man Huang and Tie Zheng tensed up.

If their names didn’t appear in Li Ao’s next ten, it was all over!

Li Ao paused thoughtfully, waiting for all the newcomers to focus on him, then slowly began, “The eleventh person I want to challenge is…”