Chapter 38: Who is Ten-Feathers?

The audience around the arena erupted, chanting slogans and cheering for Ye Zhongyin.

Compared to Shiyu, whose background remained a mystery, Ye Zhongyin’s name was already legendary in the Bronze Tier. Having fought nearly two hundred matches, she had accumulated a massive following.

"Victory for Sister Ye!"
"Go, Zhongyin!"

The cheers rose and fell throughout the stands. Ye Zhongyin stood on the arena stage, clutching a silver-white spear. Clad in black-patterned battle armor, she stood tall, her grace underscored by an unyielding, heroic spirit. She slowly settled into her opening stance.

"Come on..."

Ye Zhongyin had watched highlights of Shiyu’s previous fights earlier that day, giving her a preliminary understanding of her opponent. Shiyu’s fighting style was composed; he excelled at waiting for his enemy to attack, only to deliver a fatal counterstrike once he had deciphered their moves.

"He is someone who plans before he acts." A person’s combat habits often reflected their daily character. Martial artists who fought with wide, sweeping strikes were usually bold and forthright, while those with refined, precise techniques tended to have more subtle and intricate minds.

Therefore, Ye Zhongyin decided to let Shiyu strike first. She would do the opposite of expectations. In this match, she only needed to remain undefeated. Her opponent, however, had to secure a win, or his winning streak would come to an abrupt end. She believed that any martial artist who had reached nine consecutive victories would inevitably crave the tenth. It was the most fundamental of human desires.

With her mind made up, Ye Zhongyin moved her spear tip slowly. She had studied many spear techniques, one of which was known as the "Astral Guardian Spear." It was a unique style that integrated defense and counterattack. By rotating the shaft and vibrating the tip, it formed an impenetrable defensive barrier, waiting for the enemy to reveal a flaw before launching a thunderous, overwhelming counter-offensive.

Ye Zhongyin was full of confidence—until she saw the faint, inscrutable smile on Shiyu’s lips.

The tall, muscular Shiyu approached her step by step, holding a black mysterious iron staff. His movements were ordinary, yet to Ye Zhongyin’s senses, it felt as if a lion was strolling through its territory. This lion was closing in, preparing to drive her out without mercy.

Ye Zhongyin gripped her spear tighter, suppressing the inexplicable unease in her heart. Her spear tip, aimed at Shiyu, began to vibrate slightly. It was not from fear, but from the tip tracing tiny circles—a readiness to parry and intercept his attack from any angle.

"He's coming!"

Ye Zhongyin’s gaze sharpened. Shiyu moved with the swiftness of a leopard, his pace suddenly quickening. He broke into a run! On the arena floor, the young man held his staff behind his back and charged!

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Every step landed like a falling star, striking the ground with a force that shook the entire arena.

Ye Zhongyin’s pupils dilated slightly. How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator possess such immense spiritual pressure?! What was his soul level? What kind of cultivation technique was he using?

The boisterous noise from the audience faded, as if they were cowed by the thunderous momentum of Shiyu’s approach. The only sound left in the arena was the heavy, rhythmic thud of his footsteps.

"ROAR!!!"

An earth-shattering roar erupted, sounding like a clap of thunder within the arena! Ye Zhongyin swayed slightly; to her senses, it felt as though a lion was bellowing right in her ear.

Shiyu’s figure vanished from her line of sight! She whipped her head up toward the air. Her senses, sharpened by the urgency of the moment, caused her perception of time to slow down. She saw Shiyu leaping into the air, his long staff slowly drawing out from behind him. Under the arena lights, the black iron staff emitted a chilling, cold glow. The youth in mid-air gripped the staff with both hands, looking as if he were plucking a massive star from the heavens, his presence so overwhelming that one dared not look directly at him.

In that instant, Ye Zhongyin realized she had made a grave mistake. Her defensive strategy had inadvertently given Shiyu ample time to gather his momentum! Throughout his charge, his energy and spirit had surged like a tsunami, wave after wave, until they reached an apex.

Damn it!

"BOOM!!!"

The black staff crashed down from the sky with the force of a falling star, carrying destructive power. Where the tip pointed, the air shrieked. It was impossible to withstand! Ye Zhongyin’s face turned pale; this was far beyond what her Astral Guardian Spear could deflect.

*CRASH!*

With an earth-shaking blast, the entire arena trembled. The massive impact tore the ground asunder, sending countless shards of rock flying and creating a crater five meters deep and ten meters wide. Ye Zhongyin, pale-faced, scrambled to dodge like a small boat caught in a massive storm.

Yet, Shiyu showed no intention of stopping after that earth-shattering blow; he burst from the dust cloud instantly. The follow-up strike came without a gap, giving her no room to breathe. Ye Zhongyin’s vision blurred—the iron staff was already upon her!

Her spear was sent flying by the sheer force. Immediately after, the iron staff thrust deep into her chest with lightning speed. The move was simple and direct, devoid of any unnecessary flourishes.

Shiyu looked at the girl before him. That she had managed to dodge his fully charged first strike showed top-tier martial intuition.

"You are quite good."

He spoke his first words in ten matches. Then, he withdrew his staff from Ye Zhongyin and stood tall.

Ye Zhongyin dissolved into specks of light and vanished from the arena.

[Bronze Tier Ranking Battle, winner: Shiyu!]
[Shiyu, ten consecutive victories!]
[Points increased by 2,570! Total points: 5,106!]

The system’s voice echoed through the arena. The crowd was in an uproar.

"I’ve lived to see it!"
"We actually witnessed history—ten straight wins!"
"Damn, 5,106 points! It actually broke 5,000! I’ve never seen a score this high in the Bronze Tier!"

The Hongmeng System immediately updated its homepage.

[5,106 points! Ten consecutive victories! An Shuangwen pushed to second place!]
[The Bronze Tier Foundation Establishment leaderboard has a new leader—who is Shiyu?]

Qian Mingjie, who had been watching from the sidelines, sighed with emotion. He never expected that this mysterious powerhouse’s first match would have been against him. In that case, he was a participant in this legendary history! Qian Mingjie slapped his forehead and re-edited the video he had previously uploaded, changing the title.

[The First Battle of a History-Maker in the Bronze Tier! Commentary by the Opponent! Rare Footage!]

"Brother Shiyu, my video revenue depends on you!!"

...

Daxia, Donghai City.

Ye Zhongyin logged out, still shaken. She couldn't help but touch her chest.

"That guy is so fierce!"
"Not a shred of chivalry..."

Shiyu’s lion-like impact, his powerful leap, and that terrifying destructive power—it all left a deep impression on her.

"His IP address is in Nanhu Province."
"So he’s a college student in Nanhu..."
"Are there any good universities in Nanhu? I’m not really sure..."
"To be this ferocious just after establishing his foundation—in a year or two, once he reaches the late Foundation Establishment stage, he will definitely reach the King Tier!"

...

On the Hongmeng Network, people began searching for Shiyu’s real-world identity. The only clue was that he was in Nanhu Province. All other personal data was strictly protected by Hongmeng and remained inaccessible.

That night, across all major universities in Nanhu Province, new sophomores on summer break—whether at school or home—were all asked the same question:

"Who on earth is Shiyu?!"