Capítulo 1273: Chapter 1359: Formidable Opponent

The first match ended with Tao Zui emerging victorious.

Immediately, the second match began. Among the two contestants, surprisingly, there was someone familiar to Chen Nan: Tao Zui’s younger sister, Tao Muxue.

Her opponent was a disciple from another first-level sect. Although Chen Nan didn’t know him, one could tell from a person’s outward appearance their cultivation level, which was definitely no match for Tao Muxue.

Despite being a girl, Tao Muxue’s cultivation was not much inferior to her brother’s. She easily won, sending her opponent off the platform in just two moves.

Yun Chen muttered to herself, “I’ve heard the Tao siblings are exceptionally talented. It seems they really do have some skill.”

Anyone who earned her praise was definitely a top-notch genius.

“What, are you scared?” Chen Nan teased.

Yun Chen sneered, “Honestly, among my peers, there’s truly no one I’ve ever feared.”

Chen Nan laughed, “Alright, enough boasting. It’s your turn to go on stage.”

This wasn’t just Chen Nan speaking; there was indeed a name on the list announced by the Kuang Clan elder for the third match: Kuang Chenyun.

“I’m not deaf.”

Yun Chen turned around and leaped onto the platform gracefully.

As soon as a member of the Kuang Clan appeared, the audience was abuzz. The Kuang Clan is considered an undefeated legend. Would their unbeaten legacy continue at this Genius Conference? Everyone watched with bated breath.

Everyone assumed that Kuang Chenyun’s opponent must be a top genius from a first-level sect.

But no one expected his opponent to be a disciple from Tianyuan Sect, a second-level sect, named Nie Lin.

Tianyuan Sect, surname Nie!

Chen Nan seemed to remember something.

Back during the Xue Zhan in Xuanwu City, when various sects besieged him, he had joked that none of their peers could match him.

At that time, the senior disciple of Tianyuan Sect, Lu Yuanqiao, seemed to have said that if his junior, Nie, were here, he definitely wouldn’t allow Chen Nan’s arrogance. From his tone, this so-called junior Nie must be the most talented among Tianyuan Sect’s younger generation.

Presumably, this was about Nie Lin.

The skills of this Nie were not weak at all. He displayed power at the Completely Eighth Layer Heaven, and the combat strength he unleashed could rival a Heavenly Passage Expert.

Unfortunately for him, his luck was terrible; he encountered the formidable Yun Chen.

Indeed, as the saying goes, “there’s always someone stronger.” Nie Lin’s talent was extraordinary, but ultimately, he wasn’t a top-tier genius. After exchanging over fifty moves with Yun Chen, he was punched off the platform.

The audience gasped; this was the most exciting match since the beginning.

The Tao siblings’ previous opponents were too weak, and their massive skill gap meant they ended the matches in just a few moves.

One has to say that Nie Lin was a bit unlucky; if he had faced someone weaker than Yun Chen, advancing to the next round wouldn’t have been difficult.

Yet, after clashing with Yun Chen, he was eliminated right in the qualifiers.

The spectators from Tianyuan Sect were all exasperated, thinking luck really was against them. Just at the start, and they had to face a genius from the Kuang Clan!

Indeed, as the saying goes, “Man proposes, Heaven disposes.” Some things are beyond our control!

…

The qualifiers had fifty participants, divided into twenty-five pairs. After less than an hour, three matches were already completed.

However, in the subsequent matches, none ended as quickly as the Tao siblings’ did. Most were closely contested, hard to differentiate who would win, and only decided after dozens, even a hundred moves.

Before anyone realized it, the morning was over, with twelve matches completed, and it still wasn’t Chen Nan’s turn.

The order of appearance and opponents were decided by the Kuang Clan elder on the platform, who randomly drew lots. Fifty bamboo slips bearing the names of the fifty participants lay on the table, face down. The elder would draw two slips in public, and the named pair would compete.

The competition resumed promptly in the afternoon, and it was during the sixteenth match that Chen Nan’s turn came.

His opponent was a guy named Shi Fanzhen.

What surprised Chen Nan was that this guy, like him, was also a Martial Artist.

First on the platform, Chen Nan watched as Shi Fanzhen leaped up, landing with a thud that seemed to shake the ground.

This guy was enormous, standing at three meters tall, with a physique like an ox, and muscles bulging all over, giving off an impression of boundless strength, similar to a giant gorilla just by standing there.

He clutched a pair of Copper Hammers as thick as water tanks in his hands, exuding a fearsome aura akin to a wild bull.

“Waaah! I’ve heard your close combat skills are impressive. Today, I shall compete against you!” The giant bellowed, swinging his massive hammers with a resounding crash that nearly deafened everyone.

Chen Nan furrowed his brow, realizing this giant was a formidable foe with very deep power.

Beckoning challengingly with a finger, Chen Nan taunted, “If you’re not afraid of death, come at me.”

Enraged by these words, Shi Fanzhen charged, swinging his hammers like a hurricane towards Chen Nan, ready to smash down with overwhelming force.

Everyone watching widened their eyes.

The two hammers were as large as water tanks, appearing much bigger than Chen Nan himself. Coupled with Shi Fanzhen’s Inner Strength, their full-force impact likely packed a million pounds of force.

Perhaps even more than a million!

Everyone held their breath for Chen Nan, who, although able to easily defeat Long Aotian and eliminate Zhao Zhiquan, appeared frail before Shi Fanzhen and his mighty hammers.

Chen Nan stood immovable as a mountain, silently harnessing the All Word Truth, waiting for Shi Fanzhen’s hammer to strike.

Just half a meter above his head, Chen Nan roared, triggering the All Word Truth for four times his strength while activating the Listed Words True Mantra, with the heavy Residual Stele Illusion manifesting around him, giving him a steadfast aura akin to Mount Tai.

“Hoo…”

His fist whirled, gathering all his strength, and he swung it towards the descending hammer.

The crowd collectively gasped; wasn’t Chen Nan too arrogant, facing such a powerful enemy barehanded rather than wielding a weapon?

“Clang…”

A metallic resonance echoed all around.

Chen Nan’s punch struck the Copper Hammer, the void quivering violently, with ferocious shockwaves surging outward as the ground beneath his feet began to crack.

Seeing his hammer blocked, Shi Fanzhen fumed, swinging the other hammer downwards destructively.