Chapter 1072: The Quickest Matches
Chapter 1072: The Quickest Matches
Lan Moqian stood up, her expression blank. Without glancing at Ning Chen'en, she simply turned to walk toward the battlefield, preparing to take flight.
"Wait a moment," Ning Chen'en suddenly called out.
Lan Moqian paused. "What is it?"
Her voice was low, and she didn't turn around.
Ning Chen'en didn't answer her. Instead, he turned to face the Ancestral Court's Council Mountain, bowed deeply, and said, "Your Majesty Celestial Fox, this match is between me and my wife. I cannot bring myself to fight her. I concede."
His words caused an uproar throughout the arena.
Lan Moqian turned around sharply, staring at Ning Chen'en in disbelief.
But after he said the words "I concede," it was as though he had shed a heavy burden. The solemn weight on his face vanished, replaced by his usual warm, gentle smile.
Looking at his wife, he said softly, "You think that I fought so hard against Jin Anguo because I wanted to become an Emperor at all costs, didn't you? That I was willing to do anything to reach that goal… but that's not it. For me, the responsibilities I bear are already heavy enough. Deep down, I know I'm not truly qualified to be an Emperor. I gave everything I had to defeat your cousin not because I wanted to prove myself to others, but to prove to you that you didn't marry the wrong man. That your husband can do more than defend his own life. He can protect you with strength, too. But today, you are my opponent. How could I raise my hand against you? Even though our marriage was arranged, my feelings are real. I love you. I don't want some Battle for the Throne to turn into the reason we can't even share a bed anymore."
Lan Moqian stared at him in a daze, her eyes quickly turning red.
Ning Chen'en opened his arms toward her. "Come on, give me a hug. Ever since your match with that sunflower girl, you haven't even looked at me."
"Ugh, you're so annoying. Look at all the people watching!" Lan Moqian's face turned bright red, but she still walked up and threw herself into her husband's arms.
With Ning Chen'en conceding, his journey in the finals came to an end. With two losses, he was eliminated.
Of the six contestants in the finals, only five remained. Lan Moqian would move on to challenge Jiang Chenchou in the following day's match.
The battle between husband and wife had ended in the most unexpected and harmonious way. Though the spectators had been shocked, seeing the couple's affection left them feeling deeply moved. This was what it meant to be true partners—an unshakable bond, even in the face of a possibility to reach the supreme position in this world. What could be more beautiful than that?
And so the "couple quarrel" drew to a close with harmony. And next… would be the much-anticipated clash in the winners' bracket.
"Jin Miaolin, Xu An'yu, prepare for combat." The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's voice echoed again. Even for a contest as important as the Battle for the Throne, no one would object to a contestant conceding. After all, conceding at this point wasn't simply a sign of weakness; it was most certainly the result of careful consideration of many factors.
Between the two, Ning Chen'en had always been seen as the more likely to advance. But Lan Moqian, as the final representative of the Behemoth clan, would never have voluntarily surrendered. The pressure on her was simply too great. That Ning Chen'en had chosen to concede in such a situation only made it more precious and noble.
Xu An'yu and Tang San both stepped out from their respective rest areas.
Xu An'yu looked at Tang San with a gentle smile. "Brother Jin, I have a proposal. I was actually going to bring this up yesterday, but I was afraid people would accuse us of colluding. So let's just talk about it right here and now."
Tang San was taken aback. "What kind of proposal?"
Xu An'yu smiled and said, "If you're willing to sell me the Holy Dragon Spear, or at least let me study it for three months once the tournament ends, then I'll concede this match."
Tang San looked at him in surprise. "You… what? You'll concede?!"
They both knew how important this match was. A match in the winners' bracket was not the same as one in the losers' bracket.
The top three contestants would ultimately earn Emperor Seats. Mei Gongzi, with the highest points and a win the day before, had practically secured one of them. Tang San and Xu An'yu, on the other hand, still faced a slim yet non-negligible possibility of elimination. Whoever won today's match would advance to the winners' final and practically guarantee themselves a place in the top three. The only remaining question would be their final ranking. Whoever lost would be kicked down. In that sense, this match was as close to a direct contest for an Emperor seat as it got. It was supposed to be one of the fiercest battles of the entire competition.
Yet in such a critical moment, Xu An'yu offered to concede. It meant he had absolute confidence that he could win his way through the losers' bracket and ultimately face Tang San again, and even face Mei Gongzi!
Was the Holy Dragon Spear worth exchanging for a guaranteed victory? In the eyes of most people, it absolutely was. It was practically the same as buying an Emperor's title. If Tang San won this match, he wouldn't need to face Jiang Chenchou. Xu An'yu would instead face the winner of Jiang Chenchou versus Lan Moqian in the losers' bracket.
Tang San, on the other hand, would advance directly to challenge Mei Gongzi.
"Brother Xu, you…" Tang San looked at him in disbelief. This man's confidence was incredible. Was he not worried about getting eliminated in the losers' bracket?
Xu An'yu smiled. "Time waits for no one. Brother Jin, better decide quickly."
Tang San thought for a moment and then said, "All right. I'll lend it to you for three months, but I won't sell it, at least for now. I still need the Holy Dragon Spear myself."
"Deal. That's a promise."
The two of them raised their hands and clapped palms in agreement.
Only then did Xu An'yu turn toward Council Mountain and bow deeply. "I concede this match."
And with that Jin Miaolin, leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan, advanced further in the winners' bracket—securing, alongside Mei Gongzi, a guaranteed spot in the top three and the right to claim an Emperor's seat.
But Jiang Chenchou's expression had already darkened. Even if she managed to defeat Lan Moqian next, what good would it do? Xu An'yu was a mountain she couldn't possibly climb. She had originally hoped that Xu An'yu would defeat Jin Miaolin, allowing her to face the latter instead for a chance at the top three. But Xu An'yu's sudden concession had crushed that hope before it could take root.
Tang San, meanwhile, was also pondering on what was happening. He glanced at Xu An'yu and couldn't help but silently admire him. This man truly deserved to be chosen as the leader of the dragon race. In both strength and character, he was exceptional.
By conceding today, Xu An'yu had placed all the pressure on himself. But that also showed how confident he was. He believed without doubt that he could still earn a seat in the end. And if he defeated Tang San in a rematch, then challenged and beat Mei Gongzi, he'd even have a shot at the first place. And he would have done all that while earning Tang San's immense gratitude and goodwill; after all, helping him become one of the new Emperors was a tremendous help.
With that bond, future collaborations between the Blue Gold Tree clan and Crystal City—whether it be related to the Puppet Dragon Corps, holy energy, or life energy—would happen naturally. Tang San becoming an Emperor would benefit Crystal City far more than Jiang Chenchou ever could. They were both nymphs, yes, but Tang San's clan was neutral, and his life energy was something everyone valued. Xu An'yu had chosen the perfect moment to show favor, and now he had gained public recognition of his friendship with Tang San.
This was as good as announcing to the world the alliance between the dragon race and the Blue Gold Tree clan. His concession had brought him a massive victory on other fronts.
He… seriously won again? Jin Miaolin won again? Is this the power of wealth?
This time, the crowd didn't erupt in confusion, just cheers. Thunderous cheers.