Chapter 414: How to Lose? (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

"Exquisite! Simply exquisite!" praised the Daoist in purple, seated in the lounge area, clapping his hands in admiration. "These newly joined participants appear to possess formidable strength, do they not?"

The old Daoist in white nodded in agreement. "That red-haired one (Iori Yagami) and that golden-haired one (Benimaru Nikaido) both appear thoroughly extraordinary! Truly imposing!"

"Alright! Since Miss Bi Yao has already entered the fray as a contestant, I shall be taking over as your host for now." The perspective on the massive screen shifted, settling behind "Bi Yao," who was clad in a vibrant dress of cyan and green.

"Random characters! She actually selected random for all three!" An exclamation of surprise from the host, "Xiao Bai," echoed from beyond the screen. "It seems our contestant 'Bi Yao' is brimming with confidence!"

"Now look at our contestant 'Iori Yagami,' sweeping through the opposition and advancing with unstoppable momentum! Every single match is a complete three-character sweep! Every single one!"

On the massive screen, the "Iori Yagami" character had just concluded a bout. Turning around, he ran his fingers through his hair: "Haha... Hahaha... Hahahahaha!"

It was his signature, three-tiered manic laughter.

The commentary in the bullet chat had already erupted.

"Badass!"

"This Iori Yagami is a dead ringer!"

"It is identical to the victory animation!"

"A god-tier recreation!"

"Hahaha, I am definitely voting for this Iori Yagami in the upcoming selection!"

"..."

Seated in the lounge area, the two Mephistos, Mike, the alien, and the others stared at the bullet chat in utter bewilderment: "You can even do that?!"

The scene shifted again, showcasing brief glimpses of several outstanding contestants.

"Contendant Kyo Kusanagi’s performance is also magnificent, boasting a fifteen-match winning streak! Fifteen matches! Good heavens!" The voice of the host, Xiao Bai, continued to echo from the screen. "Contendant Chizuru Kagura has also achieved a nine-match winning streak! Contendant Bi Yao is on an eight-match streak! Oh! What am I witnessing?! At station number ten, two Lu Xueqis have locked horns in a clash of titans! Two Lu Xueqis!"

"For real?!" The crowd in the spectator stands was left entirely dazed. At the console seats, the Lu Xueqi on the left possessed long, flowing hair and white robes, her beautiful face a mask of absolute frost. On the right was another Lu Xueqi, likewise adorned in a plain-colored dress, bearing a sky-blue longsword upon her back.

The voice of the host, Xiao Bai, rang out once more: "The Lu Xueqi on the left has chosen Leona as her opener! The Lu Xueqi on the right has chosen—Iori Yagami!"

"Young Master Xiao, the contestants nowadays seem to be growing stronger by the moment. Deploying Iori Yagami right from the start?" Mu Donglai remarked, his eyes fixed on the screen. "Which Lu Xueqi do you reckon will emerge victorious in this bout?"

Xiao Yulu analyzed smoothly, "The current camera angle places the contestants' backs to us, making it impossible to discern who is operating which character. However, that matters not; let us analyze the maneuvers of the two contestants."

"Iori opens with a short hop, testing the waters with a light punch. Exceedingly cautious, leaving no openings whatsoever," Xiao Yulu explained. "A heavy punch followed by a two-hit Aoi Hana. Though it was blocked, the oppressive rhythm is superb!"

"The distance was insufficient; he failed to land the Kuzukaze!"

"Contendant Leona's reactions are remarkably swift! Seeing Iori Yagami retreat, she presses the advantage immediately—low kick, light punch, Moon Slasher, executing a tidy little combo!"

"Both contestants are playing with extreme caution, trading light kicks—Yami Barai! It hit!" Xiao Yulu explained, "In terms of character strength, Iori Yagami clearly holds the upper hand!"

"In that case, does Young Master Xiao believe the Lu Xueqi on the right has the higher chance of winning?" Mu Donglai inquired.

Hardly had his words left his lips when Xiao Yulu cried out, "Iori Yagami was baited into a counterattack! Oh my! The Lu Xueqi on the left actually linked it into a Desperation Move?!"

"It is decided!" Xiao Yulu shouted, turning to Mu Donglai. "The Lu Xueqi on the left has won!"

Three minutes later.

"The Lu Xueqi on the left achieves a two-character sweep! Her second character, Chizuru Kagura, wins with a full health bar! What?! What is more remarkable is that the Lu Xueqi on the left has achieved a sixteen-match winning streak!"

Xiao Yulu and Mu Donglai stared at the massive screen in dumbfounded silence: "..."

Over in the spectator area belonging to the "Qingyun Sect," one of the Lu Xueqis stomped back to the stands in a fit of rage: "Furious! Absolutely furious! Confounded Lu Xueqi! Garbage Lu Xueqi!"

All the disciples of the Qingyun Sect: "...Is she actually cursing herself?!"

"Have no fear!" Senior Sister Wen Min strode forth from the crowd. "Let Eldest Senior Sister handle this!"

Two minutes later.

"Congratulations to contestant Lu Xueqi on her seventeen-match winning streak!"

In the spectator stands, "Master Shui Yue’s" face turned ashen: "Allow this master to teach this insolent little girl a lesson!"

One minute later.

"Congratulations to contestant Lu Xueqi for defeating Master Shui Yue, securing her eighteenth consecutive victory!"

All the disciples of the Qingyun Sect:

"Betraying the sect and insulting the ancestors!"

"She even dares to beat her own master!"

"Garbage Lu Xueqi!"

"..."

As time marched on, more and more contestants joined the fray, yet a select few continued to advance triumphantly.

"Next, let us congratulate contestant Kyo Kusanagi, contestant Bi Yao, contestant Chizuru Kagura, and contestant Lu Xueqi for making it to the final rounds!" The host's voice resounded from the screen once more. "Now, contestant Kyo Kusanagi faces contestant Bi Yao! Contestant Chizuru Kagura faces contestant Lu Xueqi!"

"Contendant Kyo Kusanagi has absolutely no intention of choosing Kyo Kusanagi; his first pick is Iori Yagami!"

"Let us look at contestant Bi Yao..."

Beside him, Mu Donglai sipped his milk tea. "Young Master Xiao, this round should feature the strongest characters. This time, who do you think..."

Young Master Xiao remained entirely silent.

Mu Donglai: "..."

Ten minutes later.

"Now, we enter the final showdown! Contestant Lu Xueqi versus contestant Bi Yao!"

Mu Donglai turned to Xiao Yulu. "Young Master Xiao?"

Xiao Yulu merely continued popping spiritual fruits into his mouth, maintaining his silence.

"..."

"Bi Yao has selected Iori, Chizuru, and Chang—a highly traditional and powerful composition. Yet the other side has actually chosen Iori, Chizuru, and Ryuji Yamazaki?"

Both sides were clearly masters of the game. Chizuru against Chizuru!

Iori against Iori.

"It appears Lu Xueqi is still one step behind," Mu Donglai remarked, shaking his head. "How could she make such a massive blunder? Contestant Bi Yao's Iori is still at full health. As for this character, Ryuji Yamazaki, he seems rarely seen. Young Master Xiao, have you done any research on this character?"

Young Master Xiao chewed a piece of dried spiritual fruit, remaining utterly composed. "This character—I have seen my aunt use him before. This contestant Lu Xueqi is far too conceited, employing a new character in the heat of battle? Now that she has fallen into a disadvantage, there is no need to watch further."

"Iori intercepts in mid-air! Upon landing, a three-hit Aoi Hana!" Xiao Yulu shook his head. "As I said, this character is useless."

Just then, the opposing Ryuji Yamazaki rose, hopped forward to follow up, and the joystick in "Lu Xueqi's" hand gave a series of subtle, rapid twitches.

"Oh, holy hell! The sand-kicking move connected! Half her health bar gone in an instant?!"

"Does this character really deal that much damage?!"

"Holy crap, she's stunned?!" Xiao Yulu stared, utterly stupefied.

"Lu Xueqi" gripped the joystick with her delicate hand, her character swaggering over to execute a dazzling, bewildering mega-combo.

"She won?"

"That is impossible!" Mu Donglai nearly choked on the milk tea in his throat.

"It seems Lu Xueqi still has a chance?!" the Eldest Princess and the others nearby cried out in astonishment.

"What opportunity?" Mu Donglai shouted, staring at the screen. "That massive hammer, it's hammering competitor Lu Xueqi so hard she can't even fight back!"

"Taking half her health bar down with just one blow, it's the work of a single swing! How can he lose?! Tell me, how can he possibly lose?!"

Sitting right beside him, Boss Fang’s face twitched violently.

"Faking out the cooldown counters?" On the screen, Ryuji's light punches, feints, and spatial spacing flowed seamlessly like drifting clouds and flowing water, as if guided by divine intervention.

"Holy crap, has this Ryuji gone completely mad?!"

"Another combo chained together!"

"Bi Yao is out of health!"

"She's dead, she's dead!"

"Ah...!"

"And so, we offer our grand congratulations to the birth of our champion!"

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