Chapter Thirty-Two: The Whirling Chaos Staff Technique

"Senior Sister, who is he?" Cai Xue asked with a face full of curiosity.

Senior Sister actually knows this person. Cai Xue and He Xiaoqin exchanged glances, their hearts brimming with curiosity. Thinking back to how the principal agreed to let them come out, could it be that the principal knows as well? Looking at the stands, the super-luxurious lineup was striking—two out of the top three experts in Xingfeng City were present. Even though Liang Qiu from Beast Academy hadn’t come, Senior Wang Zhen himself was here, a testament to the event’s importance.

Could it be that Xingfeng City has produced another extraordinary genius?

Moreover, he seems to be quite familiar with Senior Sister...

They knew very well what Senior Sister’s attitude toward men was.

"That's Tang Tian," Han Bingning forced herself to remain calm, struggling to suppress the intense embarrassment sparked by Tang Tian's greeting.

"Ah! He’s Tang Tian?"

"He’s Tang Tian?"

Cai Xue and He Xiaoqin exclaimed in unison, disbelief written all over their faces. The man below turned out to be Tang Tian? The infamous “super-repeater,” the trash who was expelled from the academy? The very Tang Tian who had once been Shangguan Qianhui’s favorite?

Shangguan Qianhui... Could it be...

Cai Xue and He Xiaoqin glanced at each other; they knew well how much Senior Sister idolized Shangguan Qianhui.

Cai Xue hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help but stammer, "Senior Sister, there's nothing wrong with liking Shangguan Qianhui, but liking her man—that seems a bit..."

He Xiaoqin, with her straightforward temper, said bluntly, "Senior Sister, there are plenty of flowers in the world—why pick up someone’s castoff?"

Han Bingning’s lips twitched. She fought hard against the urge to draw her sword and strike them both then and there. Feigning composure, she turned her face toward the two, looking at them solemnly. "You’re overthinking it. Actually, I like women."

Cai Xue and He Xiaoqin’s expressions froze, shock silencing them completely.

Han Bingning turned away, as if nothing had been said.

By now, quite a few people had recognized Tang Tian in the ring.

"That’s Tang Tian? Wasn’t he supposed to be trash?"

"Yeah, failed five years in a row—what else would you call him?"

"Then why are all these bigshots here? Do they have nothing better to do?"

"Well, maybe they really are bored, but nothing better to do? You underestimate them. These bigshots are made of steel, even down there—"

Even though they spoke in hushed voices, with Sima Xiangshan and the others’ extraordinary hearing, every word was crystal clear. The line about “steel down there” made these powerful figures unconsciously press their legs together.

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When the referee entered, he was so stunned by the explosive atmosphere that he almost wondered if he’d come to the wrong place. Those familiar faces in the stands made his heart race and his scalp tingle. Randomly pick any one of them, and their matches would usually be the highlight of the day.

Sima Xiangshan, Han Bingning, Wang Zhen...

As a referee with over five years of experience in the Xingfeng Martial Meet, how could he not recognize them?

Heavens, is this really just a preliminary match?

Fortunately, as the second competitor entered, the referee snapped back to his senses.

A burly figure strode into the arena, his voice tinged with a hint of menace, "Excuse me, is this Arena 3897?"

When the referee got a good look at the contestant before him, he felt a chill.

Bare-chested, wearing only a crude beast-skin shorts, his skin was dark with a metallic sheen. Barefoot, he held a bronze staff in his hand, its ends studded with small raised spikes. But what struck most were his eyes.

Fierce and murderous!

"Huh?" Ming Guang showed a hint of surprise. "This one looks quite strong!"

Wang Zhen let out a sound of interest. "He must have a wealth of combat experience."

Sima Xiangshan straightened slightly, while Shen Yuan’s face was full of astonishment.

Han Bingning narrowed her eyes, and beside her, Cai Xue and He Xiaoqin grew considerably more serious.

The referee had seen all kinds of contenders; at first glance, he knew this barefoot youth with the bronze staff was no pushover.

"Yes," the referee nodded.

The barefoot youth’s gaze shifted to Tang Tian on the other side.

Tang Tian’s eyes lit up, and he waved cheerfully. "Aha, so you’re my opponent?"

The barefoot youth turned to the referee. "Can we start?"

The referee quickly asked Tang Tian, "Are you ready?"

"I’ve been ready," Tang Tian replied carelessly.

No sooner had he spoken than the barefoot youth vanished, and a staff’s gust swept toward the back of Tang Tian’s head.

Startled, Tang Tian hadn’t expected his opponent to attack so suddenly. But his reactions were lightning-fast; he ducked, swinging his left leg backward.

Bang!

The barefoot youth blocked Tang Tian’s sweeping kick with his bronze staff.

Both retreated several steps to regain their distance.

"Daring to launch a sneak attack!" Tang Tian’s smile vanished, and he glared at his opponent, snorting coldly, "You’re done for!"

The barefoot youth’s face remained impassive, as if he hadn’t heard a word.

Tang Tian lowered his stance, arms spread wide, ten fingers locked onto the barefoot youth across from him.

On the stands, Han Bingning’s eyes narrowed. She suddenly recalled the stance Tang Tian had used against the Ironclad Ox that day—it was exactly the same.

In an instant, Tang Tian seemed transformed. His face was utterly devoid of any smile; his eyes were deeply calm, arms spread, every muscle standing out in sharp relief, his lines radiating a masculine energy.

Sima Xiangshan, who had sat up slightly before, now straightened even more, his eyes flickering.

The others also noticed Tang Tian’s change. The previously noisy stands fell into sudden silence.

The barefoot youth also took note, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. The bronze staff in his hands shot out straight, its tip aimed at Tang Tian.

Though the barefoot youth felt a powerful pressure, not a trace of fear showed in his eyes. A cold glint flashed and was gone as he again disappeared from Tang Tian’s view.

Almost simultaneously, Tang Tian’s eyes snapped open. His torso swung like a pendulum; his footwork reversed.

The bronze staff brushed past his body.

Boom!

The staff hadn’t yet struck the ground, but the force split the earth, sending dirt flying.

Tang Tian’s fist shot out without warning from the youth’s right flank.

[Flash Fist]!

The barefoot youth’s skill was formidable. As soon as his staff missed, he seemed to have foreseen Tang Tian’s counterattack. He toppled to the side, dodging the punch, and flicked his staff—its shaft snapped up like a striking viper, lashing at Tang Tian.

Tang Tian slid sideways, his steps light as if gliding on ice, skimming past the staff’s venomous strike.

The barefoot youth spun like a top, toppling toward the opposite direction, dragging the heavy bronze staff up again.

Buzz!

The staff’s sound was deep and resonant, setting hearts pounding.

Tang Tian jumped aside once more.

The barefoot youth’s body, like a roly-poly doll, toppled again, swinging the staff in another sweeping arc.

From the changing pitch of the staff’s hum, Tang Tian could tell that each swing was gaining strength.

Once again, the youth toppled, the bronze staff’s might increasing, the shaft now a blur, the wind it whipped up ever more daunting.

Tang Tian had to dodge yet again.

What a bizarre martial technique!

Tang Tian could already see part of the pattern: the barefoot youth used his own body as an axis to drive the staff. With every topple, the staff’s force grew. Now, the youth was spinning at high speed like a top, and the staff was powerful and terrifying; a single hit would almost certainly end the fight. Though the staff’s movements appeared chaotic, it covered an enormous area.

This much was obvious from Tang Tian’s continual evasions.

What staff technique is this...?

"What staff technique is that?" Ming Guang couldn’t help but ask from the stands. "Very strange way to attack."

"Raging Gale Staff Technique," Wang Zhen said with some surprise. "Very few people practice it."

Ming Guang, hearing the name for the first time, was astonished. "Why? It seems really powerful! I didn’t expect such a strong contestant in the preliminaries!"

"The Raging Gale Staff relies on innate strength; it’s all about overwhelming force," Wang Zhen explained. "The body drives the staff—you see how he spins like a drunk, but every move is fraught with danger. Once the technique gets going, he has the upper hand."

"So isn’t Tang Tian in danger?" Ming Guang frowned.

"The best time to break the Raging Gale Staff is in the first few swings, when the staff’s momentum hasn’t gathered. Now, the force is layered and truly overwhelming," Wang Zhen said.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The heavy bronze staff spun at high speed, filling the arena with its roar. Stones and dirt on the ground were swept up, then crushed to powder by the swirling staff.

The barefoot youth’s figure was entirely shrouded by the staff’s shadow.

It was like a raging tornado, thundering through the small arena.

Tang Tian hadn’t expected his very first opponent to be this formidable.

But he was unaffected by the staff’s aura.

His gaze was focused, all distractions banished. His opponent was like a howling gale, kicking up stones and sand wherever it passed.

That bronze staff must weigh at least sixty pounds, and when it spun, the force was terrifying.

Tang Tian halted, facing his opponent head-on.

The yellow-bronze blur of the staff’s shadow abruptly changed direction, bearing down on Tang Tian with a thunderous sweep.

Tang Tian’s expression stayed calm, eyes fixed ahead, body leaning slightly forward, right fist drawn back at his waist.

That’s...

The crowd in the stands was instantly alarmed. To take such a massive blow head-on—was he seeking death?

Did Tang Tian have a death wish?

Tang Tian’s left foot suddenly slammed into the ground. His calm face twisted into a fierce snarl as he launched himself forward like an arrow.

Every step he took was thunderous, sinking deep into the earth!

To the amazement of all, Tang Tian charged headlong like a raging wild bull, sending clumps of earth flying as he barreled straight into the gale.

Yet, despite his ferocious expression, Tang Tian’s gaze was clear and tranquil. This kind of brute force might be suffocating to most, but to him, it was nothing!

After all, he’d trained with monstrous powerhouses like Fly-Cow! Not to mention Brother Stone—the ultimate human bulldozer! Even any random stonecutter from the quarry, swinging a sledgehammer, could muster a more terrifying force than this!

Boy, you have no idea what kind of trials I’ve been through...