“Pfft!” Just as everyone was stunned and puzzled, they saw Sheng Li spit out a large mouthful of blood, his entire spirit wilting.
“What’s happening?” The crowd’s eyes widened. Sheng Li, a contender for first place, hadn’t even made a move and was already spitting blood?
“Illusion technique, you actually know illusion techniques!” Sheng Li’s shocked voice rang out from the platform.
“What, an illusion technique? Li Ren Chou used an illusion technique to directly injure Sheng Li?”
“How is that possible? How could his illusion technique be so powerful that Sheng Li didn’t even have a chance to act?”
“Li Ren Chou’s strongest skill is illusion techniques?”
The crowd was astonished, their faces filled with disbelief.
“Indeed, Brother Sheng Li, you’ve let me win!” Li Ren Chou replied with a smile.
“Impossible. That was a fluke. I fell into your illusion earlier, but now, you won’t trap me again!” Sheng Li roared, his body radiating a powerful aura.
“Then please, continue!” Li Ren Chou said with a smile, his expression calm and composed.
Yet, everyone saw Sheng Li seemingly fall into another illusion. His aura quickly dissipated, and he stood motionless. After dozens of breaths, he spat out another mouthful of blood, his spirit wilting further.
The crowd was dumbfounded, many unable to believe their eyes.
If Sheng Li had been caught off guard by Li Ren Chou’s illusion technique the first time, it was understandable. But this time, Sheng Li was alert and prepared, yet he still fell into the same trap, unable to unleash even a single strike before spitting blood?
Did this mean Sheng Li was about to lose to Li Ren Chou?
Everyone was stunned.
At this moment, Sheng Li regained clarity, looked up at Li Ren Chou, and said, “I’m not reconciled!”
“Then please, continue!” Li Ren Chou gestured with a “please,” his expression serene.
“I…” Sheng Li’s face twitched. With such a powerful illusion technique, even if he tried again, the result would be the same, only worsening his injuries.
One more attempt, and he might collapse entirely on the platform.
“I surrender!” Despite his reluctance, Sheng Li finally conceded.
“How is this possible?”
The crowd’s faces were filled with disbelief, unable to accept the reality before them.
Sheng Li, a Third Martial Lord who could defeat Yin Mu, had surrendered to Li Ren Chou without making a single move.
*Slap!*
Indeed, someone slapped their own face—the youth who had earlier claimed he’d slap himself if Li Ren Chou lasted one move against Sheng Li.
The main reason was disbelief, slapping himself to check if he was dreaming, with credibility being secondary.
Of course, many others were dejected. They had bet on Sheng Li, who didn’t lose to Xing Tian but to Li Ren Chou.
Even those who bet on Xing Tian began to worry.
This Southeast Region Youth Summit was full of surprises. At this stage, another dark horse contending for first place had emerged?
“How does Li Ren Chou know illusion techniques?” Even Emperor Li was stunned, let alone the others.
He knew Li Ren Chou’s background: possessing the Black Heaven Demon Body and Black Demon Phenomenon. But he had never heard that Li Ren Chou also wielded illusion techniques.
And such powerful ones at that.
“No wonder it’s the Youth Summit; any kind of prodigy can emerge. To master such a rare secret technique to this level!” a Martial Emperor praised.
“Another dark horse has appeared. Now, the first place in the preliminary ranking is up in the air,” another Martial Emperor sighed.
At this moment, Lin Xiao was also shocked. He had thought Li Ren Chou would use the Black Heaven Demon Body and Black Demon Phenomenon to counter Sheng Li.
Instead, he used an incredibly terrifying illusion technique, leaving Sheng Li no chance to act.
At the same time, Lin Xiao’s face showed deep wariness. Could he defeat such a powerful illusion technique?
In the illusion realm, he had fought fiercely with Li Ren Chou, yet never saw him use illusion techniques.
Did Li Ren Chou conceal his abilities in the illusion realm?
Or did he gain a great opportunity in the illusion realm, mastering a powerful illusion technique?
That shouldn’t be the case. There were no opportunities in the illusion realm. Lin Xiao had defeated a divine dragon and gained nothing.
Regardless, Li Ren Chou’s strength was terrifying.
Lin Xiao wasn’t even certain he could defeat Li Ren Chou now.
Ling Hu, standing nearby, was stunned. He had thought Lin Xiao exaggerated Li Ren Chou’s strength, but Li Ren Chou defeated Sheng Li without even making a move.
Zi Ling, standing to the side, was equally shocked.
Not far away, Xing Tian’s expression grew solemn, his eyes filled with wariness.
In terms of combat strength, he feared no one, but this unbalanced, eerie attack left him uncertain.
If even Sheng Li was defeated so easily, he might be in great danger.
The difficulty of claiming first place in this preliminary ranking had just increased significantly.
“Li Ren Chou wins. Next match, Wu Shixun draws!” the referee’s voice rang out.
Amid the crowd’s shock, the referee spoke again. Wu Shixun stepped forward, drew a lot, and handed it to the referee.
“Next match, Wu Shixun versus Li Ren Chou!”
The referee announced.
The crowd erupted in discussion again. Li Ren Chou was drawn again?
Would Wu Shixun dare to fight?
“I’m curious about illusion techniques, so I’d like to test myself. Please, Brother Li, go easy on me!” Wu Shixun said, clasping his hands toward Li Ren Chou.
“Please!”
Li Ren Chou gestured, and both leapt onto the platform.
“Brother Wu, please!” Li Ren Chou spoke courteously again, extending a gesture to Wu Shixun.
“Alright!” Wu Shixun nodded, then fell still, standing motionless.
After a dozen breaths, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his spirit greatly diminished.
“Brother Li, I’ve lost!” Wu Shixun said dejectedly.
“You’ve let me win!” Li Ren Chou replied with a smile.
“Indeed, it’s powerful. Defeating Sheng Li was no fluke!”
“Defeating Sheng Li was never a fluke. It’s not just that Li Ren Chou’s cross-tier combat strength is formidable; his illusion techniques are his strongest attack!”
“The Southeast Region Youth Summit is truly a place of hidden talents!”
“This is undoubtedly the biggest dark horse of the summit. He’s highly likely to claim first place in the preliminary ranking. Who would’ve thought such a figure would remain so low-key, unnoticed from the first to the third round?”
Waves of astonished voices rose. Though reluctant, they had to acknowledge Li Ren Chou’s strength.
Li Ren Chou was very likely to seize first place in the preliminary ranking.
This situation likely meant the four major guilds would profit massively. Except for the Li family, no one would have bet on Li Ren Chou.
After defeating Wu Shixun, the next match was Li Ren Chou’s turn to draw. The referee opened the seal and announced, “Next match, Li Ren Chou versus Lin Xiao!”
