However, for those who were eager to catch a glimpse of Jiang Chen's true strength, this scene was somewhat disappointing. If this Shao Yuan could only manage an even match against Wu You, that was clearly far from sufficient.
Though Wu You was ranked among the Five Young Masters, even the most outstanding of that group was still noticeably below Xiahou Zong. Let alone the fact that Wu You was not even the most exceptional among them.
Sometimes, what you see is not necessarily the truth.
This battle had attracted a tremendous amount of attention — even more than what was being devoted to Xiahou Zong's own fight.
After all, no matter who Xiahou Zong's opponent was, there was absolutely no suspense regarding the outcome of his match. But this clash between Shao Yuan and Wu You was the perfect litmus test. Everyone wanted to see just how much substance this Shao Yuan, who had declared his intention to challenge Xiahou Zong, actually possessed.
Though the various qualities Shao Yuan had displayed were genuinely impressive, by such a standard he was still far from being worthy of challenging Xiahou Zong.
Over at the Xiahou clan, Grand Elder Xiahou Zhen remarked with a cold laugh, "I have to say, the Eternal Sacred Land has certainly been diligent in scouting for talent. This Shao Yuan — given a few years to grow, eight or ten years from now, he might pose a small threat to Xiahou Zong. But as things stand now? He'd best save his breath."
Xiahou Ying snorted. "That brat carries himself with such arrogance, and I thought he must be truly something special. In the end, in front of my brother, he's nothing but a joke."
"Indeed, his strength is nowhere near sufficient to challenge Xiahou Zong. However, I've heard that when this lad first entered the Yan family, he was merely at the Emperor realm. To have progressed so dramatically in just a year or two — that is somewhat unexpected." Xiahou Zhen's tone turned contemplative.
"So what? He'll still end up as one of my brother's defeated opponents. Unless he never crosses paths with my brother, no amount of potential will save him — he'll already be a thing of the past."
Xiahou Zhen smiled faintly, a cold edge to the smile, but said nothing more.
Over at the royal court of the Eternal Empire, His Majesty the Emperor was also watching this battle, with several of the palace's elite guards standing nearby, their attention fixed on the arena.
"Ha — so this is the Sacred Land's prodigious talent. It seems there has been a generational drought in recent years, hasn't there? This Wu You — he's ranked second or third among the Five Young Masters, is he not? His speed does have something to recommend it. But a talent of this caliber, a thousand years ago, would probably have been considered a second-tier genius at best?"
"Your Majesty is wise. The fact that Wu You can rank among the Five Young Masters is proof enough that the Sacred Land's talent pool has indeed thinned considerably. They're in a transitional period now — the old generation has faded and the new one hasn't yet risen." A figure dressed in the attire of a chief palace steward spoke from beside the Emperor.
"A transitional period — yes, that's precisely what it is. But this Shao Yuan — his ascent has truly been rapid." The Emperor murmured thoughtfully.
"Indeed. Shao Yuan has been the single greatest surprise the Eternal Sacred Land has produced in recent years. But in the end, he is still young, lacking in restraint. If he had been willing to bide his time a few more years, keep a low profile and build steadily, given his rate of growth, he might genuinely have been able to challenge Xiahou Zong's position. A pity — the young achieve a little and immediately lose all sense of proportion, flaunting their sharpness for all to see. Now, Xiahou Zong will obviously not tolerate him."
The Emperor smiled faintly. "Perhaps it is the Sacred Land that is simply too eager to cultivate a talent who can stand against Xiahou Zong. Eager to the point of pushing him forward too quickly and too hastily."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Out on the arena, Jiang Chen was perfectly at ease. He paid no attention whatsoever to the various gazes directed at him from below. This battle, as far as he was concerned, could not have been more effortless. To this point, he had barely had to exert himself beyond a certain display of speed.
Wu You, his opponent, was in a completely different state of mind. The battle may have appeared outwardly not to be particularly difficult.
But only he, the one experiencing it firsthand, could appreciate the agony of this fight. He had pushed every single one of his advantages to the absolute limit.
Each exchange brought a fleeting illusion — that one more push, one more effort, and he would finally fell his opponent. Yet every time he truly gave it everything, it still fell just short.
This sensation, repeated over and over, initially ignited his fighting spirit, but by the end, it had begun to erode it.
It was like throwing punch after punch into empty air — that hollow, futile feeling brought Wu You to the very edge of collapse.
By the latter stages of the fight, Wu You had begun to catch on. He sensed that his opponent was deliberately holding back, deliberately giving him room to realize the gap and withdraw on his own.
On several occasions, when his opponent clearly had the opportunity to decisively defeat him, the man seemed to pull back at the very last moment — as if lacking that final fraction of effort.
Was his opponent truly short of that last bit of power? Wu You did not believe so.
After pushing his speed to the maximum again and again, launching full-power attacks and exhaustive probes, Wu You could find no way to break through. His opponent's speed simply could not be overcome.
After a prolonged stalemate with no breakthrough in sight, Wu You's mental composure finally cracked.
Roughly half a shi chen later, Wu You truly felt the weight of exhaustion. His opponent, meanwhile, remained as composed and effortless as ever.
Wu You finally understood — his opponent had been giving him face the entire time.
Wu You was a man who valued his dignity. In a situation like this, to persist in fighting any longer would simply be failing to read the room.
He withdrew his Divine Ability and let out a soft sigh, clasping his fists together. "Fellow Daoist Shao Yuan, I concede this battle. In this fight, I was outmatched. I acknowledge my defeat."
To most outside observers, the battle had appeared evenly matched — Wu You had even seemed to hold the initiative for much of the time.
So why had Wu You suddenly admitted defeat?