Soon, the drawing of lots began. Long Xiao stood aside, letting others draw first. As it turned out, before Long Xiao could act, the reigning champion was drawn.
The champion ascended the stage, and the remaining nine were challengers. Anyone could go up first. As long as no one dared to challenge, the person standing on the stage would be the first.
The champion was a gentle and elegant young man, dressed in a white training suit, exuding an air of immortal grace.
Such competitions did not require referees. The champion stood in the center of the stage, looking spirited, and shouted, "Who's first?"
As soon as the words fell, a young man stood up and walked quickly onto the stage.
"I'll go."
There were no extra words. The two assumed their stances and began to fight.
The young man's punches were swift, accompanied by whooshing sounds. The champion, with his hands behind his back, moved with light steps. Every punch thrown by the young man missed.
Soon, Long Xiao noticed that the champion was using a special footwork. This footwork resembled the Bagua Step, but it was far more complex.
The steps contained Yin and Yang, and the movements were peculiar and strange, making it a very practical footwork. However, compared to the 'Chi Mei Xiao Yao Bu' (魑魅逍遥步), it was still far inferior.
In just a few minutes, the champion kicked the young man off the stage.
"The champion is Mei Xiaotian, from the Jiang Zhe Martial Alliance. He is an outstanding figure among the younger generation of the Martial Alliance. Last time, he was the number one in the southeastern region. Few people his age could fight him for five minutes," Zheng Dongyang whispered.
Long Xiao nodded slightly and said, "His footwork is very exquisite. Let them fight first. I'll see if I can understand his footwork."
A total of five people took to the stage, all of whom were kicked off by Mei Xiaotian.
After kicking down the fifth person, Mei Xiaotian stood in the center of the stage, adopting an invincible posture, and shouted loudly, "Is there anyone else who wants to challenge?"
After several shouts with no one coming up, the referee, who had been sitting on the side, stood up, ready to announce Mei Xiaotian as the winner.
Long Xiao stood up and said, "Wait a moment, I want to challenge the champion."
Long Xiao ambled onto the stage, smiled amiably, and said, "Would you like to rest for a few minutes first?"
Mei Xiaotian shook his head indifferently and said, "No need. After I defeat you, there probably won't be anyone else coming up."
Long Xiao nodded slightly and said, "Then let's begin."
With that, he started. Long Xiao remained in his spot, not moving. Mei Xiaotian asked curiously, "Why aren't you making a move?"
"Why aren't you making a move?" Long Xiao retorted.
"Do I need to make a move? If I make a move, you probably won't have a chance to."
Long Xiao burst into laughter and said, "Great minds think alike. I'm also afraid that if I make a move, you won't have a chance to."
Mei Xiaotian did not expect to encounter someone even more arrogant than himself.
His arrogance was well-founded. His 'Gui Xuan' Step (鬼玄步) had already reached its first level. As long as it wasn't a disciple from a hidden sect, his footwork was practically unbreakable.
"Alright, since I'll be the one to make the first move, I'll fulfill your wish."
Mei Xiaotian stepped forward, his foot landing on the Zhen trigram. His body flashed nimbly in front of Long Xiao, and he threw a hook punch from Long Xiao's right side.
Long Xiao also stepped forward, his foot landing on the Zhen trigram, but he did not attack. He merely dodged Mei Xiaotian's punch.
Their speeds were similar, but their footwork was the same. No matter how fast Mei Xiaotian moved, he could not hit Long Xiao.
Long Xiao continuously analyzed Mei Xiaotian's next move, focusing all his attention on Mei Xiaotian's footwork and trying his best to synchronize with him.
After hundreds of exchanges, Long Xiao became familiar with the 'Gui Xuan' Step and basically understood its basic principles.
Long Xiao's footwork shocked Mei Xiaotian. He never expected Long Xiao to also know the 'Gui Xuan' Step. This footwork was extremely difficult to master. Without guidance and understanding of the Luoshu (洛书), it was impossible to cultivate.
"Who are you? How do you know the 'Gui Xuan' Step? Who taught you?" Mei Xiaotian asked in a low voice as they passed each other.
"My name is Hu Lei, an ordinary person from the East Sea," Long Xiao replied in a low voice.
"Impossible. The 'Gui Xuan' Step is a unique footwork of the Luo family. You couldn't have learned it without someone teaching you," Mei Xiaotian refused to believe Long Xiao's words.
As they spoke and moved, after another hundred or so steps, Long Xiao said, "You've lost. Will you surrender yourself, or shall I kick you off the stage?"
Mei Xiaotian also felt that keeping up with Long Xiao was becoming increasingly difficult, but he didn't want to surrender. Ever since he learned the 'Gui Xuan' Step, he had never lost among the younger generation.
"You haven't even seen the essence of the 'Gui Xuan' Step, so how can you declare me defeated?" Mei Xiaotian said with dissatisfaction.
Long Xiao had initially intended to end the fight, but upon hearing Mei Xiaotian's words, he gave up.
"Alright, then let me see what other skills you have."
Mei Xiaotian suddenly changed his footwork and body movement, pressing directly towards Long Xiao. Long Xiao was caught off guard and had to use the 'Chi Mei Xiao Yao Bu' to dodge Mei Xiaotian's incoming punch.
"That wasn't the 'Gui Xuan' Step you just used," Mei Xiaotian said in surprise.
Long Xiao approached Mei Xiaotian again, executing the same footwork Mei Xiaotian had used earlier, and said, "This time, it's the 'Gui Xuan' Step, isn't it?"
Mei Xiaotian suddenly froze. He never expected Long Xiao to know even the most essential part of the first level of the 'Gui Xuan' Step.
Just as Mei Xiaotian was stunned, Long Xiao took a step forward, appearing to lose his balance and exposing a vulnerability.
Mei Xiaotian raised his leg to kick Long Xiao, intending to send him directly off the stage.
Long Xiao recoiled backward. Mei Xiaotian's leg missed, and he found himself at the edge of the stage.
Long Xiao gently pushed Mei Xiaotian from behind. Mei Xiaotian, who was just regaining his balance, stumbled forward and fell directly off the stage.
The spectators below stared at Mei Xiaotian in shock. Almost no one had seen Long Xiao's subtle movement behind Mei Xiaotian's back.
"A mistake! Senior Brother Mei must have made a mistake. He slipped and fell accidentally," someone shouted.
"Yes, it was a mistake. Xiaotian made a mistake," Mei Xiaotian's master, Zhang Moshen, who was sitting behind Ming Tianya, quickly stood up and said.
Ming Tianya's strength surpassed everyone else's. His attention was solely on Long Xiao, and he clearly saw Long Xiao's subtle action behind Mei Xiaotian's back.
"All of you, shut up! In a martial arts competition, falling off the stage means you lose. Don't be a sore loser."
"But, Xiaotian really made a mistake."
"Don't embarrass yourself. With Mei Xiaotian's skill, how could he possibly make such a mistake on stage?" Ming Tianya said in a low voice.
Although Zhang Moshen was still somewhat dissatisfied, he dared not say more, as it would anger Ming Tianya, that stubborn old man.
Long Xiao, with an innocent expression, looked at Mei Xiaotian below the stage and said, "Mei Xiaotian, how did you fall off? How about we don't count this round and have another match?"
Mei Xiaotian's face turned red. He glanced back at Long Xiao on the stage, snorted, and walked towards the Jiang Zhe spectator area.
Seeing Mei Xiaotian leave, Long Xiao also put his hands behind his back and shouted, "Who else dares to come up and challenge me?"
Everyone believed that Mei Xiaotian had accidentally fallen off the stage. Those who had been hesitant earlier were now eager to try.
The result was a harsh reality. Long Xiao used the same techniques and footwork as Mei Xiaotian. One by one, challengers came up, and within two minutes, they were all kicked off the stage by Long Xiao.
No one dared to step onto the stage anymore. The referee looked at Ming Tianya. Seeing that Ming Tianya said nothing, he walked onto the stage and announced Long Xiao as the first-place winner of this competition.