706 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**The Friend of the Best Fighter in the World, Chapter 706: Northern Hare - Web Novel Archive** Unlike the lackluster preliminaries, the main event of the martial arts tournament was a proper and intense combat showdown. Surrounded by spectators, the arena hosted two large duel stages. Two pairs of fighters would clash at a time, with the victors advancing to the next round. It was a simple and convenient arrangement. "Begin." With the referee's low voice, an instant wave of energy surged through the air. "Haah!" "Hmph!" Boom-!! As intense auras collided, a powerful shockwave erupted. Cheers intensified with each impact, growing louder and more fervent. This was a duel of top-tier martial artists, a rarity to behold. The spectators watched in awe, entranced by the sheer speed and power exhibited. "...What an intense start." "Who is that man called the Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind?" The large man wielding a mace moved with fury, but the man with twin swords evaded him gracefully. Even to those unfamiliar with martial arts, his movements seemed effortlessly smooth. "The Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind? That's a nickname I've never heard before." "He's gradually gaining fame in Hubei." Gradually, more eyes turned toward the man wielding the twin swords. "Amazing. To handle the Great Iron Black Tai so effortlessly." The martial artist with the mace was known in Sichuan as a formidable figure, often overpowering opponents with sheer strength. Yet here he was, unable to dominate his opponent, looking rather inadequate in the process. The audience, finding this intriguing, focused their attention on the swordsman. An unfamiliar figure, showcasing unexpected strength. Such surprises made him the favored martial artist among the spectators. "The Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind. I'll have to remember that name." "He seems destined for greatness." The fame of a single martial artist begins to spread. Soon, the prowess of the Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind would be indelibly etched in people's minds. Shing-! A fierce glint flashed from the swords of the Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind. "Grk!" The Great Iron Black Tai hurriedly swung his mace with all his might. "Too late." The Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind had already closed the distance, his sword slashing forward. Thud-! Swish-! The mace failed to reach him. The cold tip of the sword had already touched the Great Iron Black Tai's throat. "...Damn!" Realizing the situation, the giant relaxed his trembling body. Seeing this, the referee raised his hand and declared. "Match over. Number 16 wins." "It was a good fight." "...I'm grateful for the lesson." The duel ended with the victory of the Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind, and the audience expressed their regret. Though the adjacent stage was still hosting a battle, the performance by the Twin Swords was exceptional. "What a pity. I wanted to see more." "He's advanced to the finals, so we'll see even more from him, won't we?" "Exactly. My nephew is an elite warrior, and even he thinks that wasn’t all his strength." No one questioned the relevance of the nephew's prowess in this conversation. "It seems the League put a lot of effort into preparations. To think it would be this captivating from the first day." "I didn’t have high hopes for the first day... But the Twin Swords of the Gentle Wind and the Marine Justice Sword were unexpected finds, weren’t they?" "So many outstanding martial artists." Newcomers previously unknown rising to prominence. Nothing could stir the hearts of the central world’s people like this. Perhaps they were witnessing future candidates for the ten great martial artists of the central world. The history of martial prowess begins anew here. Dreams of this echoed in the focused gaze of all spectators. Then, "Next! Numbers 17 and 18." Two new figures took the stage after the others stepped down. One with a build as massive as the Great Iron Black Tai, and another comparatively smaller, much leaner martial artist. Among them, someone shouted upon seeing the giant. "Ha, it's the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist!" "What?!" "The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist?" Ming Chengse of the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist. A direct disciple of the renowned Guangdong family, now praised as a rising master. A skilled martial artist, said to have reached a mature peak beyond mere mastery before turning forty. Standing nearly eight feet tall, he had rugged handsome features with bronze skin. His wild presence captivated the female spectators. "To think the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist would appear so soon…." "What a windfall." Even the male spectators murmured at the appearance of such a famous master. "So, who’s the opponent? He looks young?" "Young? He looks like just a kid!" "His opponent is… Ah!" The opponent was also a somewhat known figure. "The Little Flame. That young man is the Little Flame." "Little Flame?" At this, people looked at the young man. Barely past his youth, he had fierce eyes. Dressed entirely in black, from hair to shoes. "If it's the Little Flame… Isn't he the child of that heroic man?" "The one involved in the Qinyi Incident..." People spoke quietly but not as loudly as they did for the Wind Forest’s Fierce Fist. This itself was a sign of change from the past. "Isn’t the Little Flame the one who crossed swords with the Flying Sword?" "That’s right. They were said to have exchanged blows." "...An individual barely past his youth facing off with the Flying Sword?" The Flying Sword, one of the hundred great masters. Rumors had spread days ago about his duel with the Little Flame. "Surely the Flying Sword must have gone easy on him." While people concluded it was the Flying Sword who exercised restraint, some had a different view. "Even if he went easy, for a late-stage prodigy to exchange blows means he's proven his skill." "Indeed, just making it to the finals proves his worth." Despite the nickname Little Flame hinting that he's left behind the late-stage prodigy realm, he was still just a young man to others. "Tsk... It’s a shame really. He got here by luck…" "Of all opponents, to face the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist…" His opponent was lauded as soon to reach the harmony state and quickly join the ranks of the hundred great masters. A daunting challenge for a young man barely past youth. "Surely it will be a valuable experience for that young man." "Indeed, sparring with a senior is considered an incredible fortune for juniors. It’ll be a meaningful gift for that young man." No one expected Little Flame to win. Such is public perception. Thus, the two came face to face. "Are you ready?" "Yes." "I'm ready." The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist assumed his stance, while Little Flame nodded confidently. The referee frowned at their demeanor but kept focus; the duel was the priority. "...Then let's begin." His hand extended downward. "Begin the duel." With that declaration, the referee lifted his hand. "Start." The moment those words were uttered— Boom---!!! "...!!" "Ugh!?" An overwhelming aura erupted from the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist. Battle spirit. The dense and fierce presence began to dominate the area. "Urk!?" Those engaged in nearby duels stumbled and faltered. Despite maintaining distance, the influence reached the adjacent duel stage. A tremendous pressure. An overwhelming force that altered even the flow of air. As a fresh crackling energy emanated from him, someone in the audience exclaimed. "It's, it's the Harmony Realm…! The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist is a Harmony Realm martial artist!" Such a cry sent ripples of shock. "Harmony Realm…? But he's supposed to be at a mature peak level…?" "Was he concealing his true strength…?" It was undeniably a force characteristic of the Harmony Realm. While general spectators might not know, experienced martial artists in the audience understood immediately. The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist had hidden his level. And now, in the main event, he had revealed his true strength. "Unbelievable… A new Harmony Realm master is born." "To witness this with our own eyes…!" The dawn of a new era. To reach the Harmony Realm before forty meant a likely future as one of the ten great masters. The worth of the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist skyrocketed instantly. Rumble-! He continued to build his momentum, taking his stance. Then, he spoke to the young man before him. "...I apologize." "Hm?" At his words, Gu Yangcheon, the young man, tilted his head. "What are you apologizing for?" "I’d rather not reveal this, especially in front of a much younger junior. I'm sorry it came to this." He had shown all the strength he'd kept hidden for so long. To ensure the martial world acknowledged him. As a result, everyone was now watching the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist. "Ah." Hearing this, Gu Yangcheon gave a light laugh and replied. "It's fine. No need to apologize for that. Actually, I appreciate it." "..." The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist chuckled quietly at Gu Yangcheon's demeanor. Had the youth already given up upon seeing his power? A tinge of regret filled the seasoned fighter. He had aimed for fame, but here he was, overshadowing a much younger opponent. Embarrassment surged within him. But he had to endure it. 'I'm sorry.' He hoped his brilliance wouldn’t overshadow the young man's future efforts. He hoped not to become a wall for him. Clenching his fists, he prepared. At the very least, 'I must show him my best strike.' He wanted to display the supreme skill he’d attained by overcoming barriers. To guide both the spectators and the young man through this demonstration, offering it as a lesson. The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist began condensing his aura. "Hooo!" Rumble-! Power condensed, shimmering like heat waves around his body. "Such tremendous energy…." "Incredible…." At this rate, the Wind Forest's Fierce Fist was predicted to soon join the ten great masters of the central world. If the Three Sovereigns ruled the heavens, they would command the earth. To martial artists, they were near invincible entities. It was the birth of someone destined for such heights— Thud. Those about to erupt in cheers were frozen in place. "Huh…?" "What…?" For a good reason. He knelt. Despite the overwhelming energy, the Wind Forest’s Fierce Fist suddenly fell to his knees on the platform. But that wasn't all. Swish. Slowly, his massive frame collapsed to the ground. Boom-!!! A loud thud echoed as he hit the ground. "..." "…What… What's happening?" The Wind Forest's Fierce Fist had fallen. The buzz that had filled the spectator stands vanished. The only sound remaining was a solitary one. Tap, tap. Footsteps. Someone walked past the fallen fighter. Gu Yangcheon. The youth who had stood beside him now walked slowly back to his original spot. No one realized it. That Gu Yangcheon had been beside the fallen Wind Forest’s Fierce Fist. Returning to his position, Gu Yangcheon respectfully bowed. "It was an excellent match." He bowed toward the unconscious Wind Forest's Fierce Fist. "..." "..." Nothing but pure silence flowed from the crowd.