187: Match-fixing?

"Buzz!"

Qu Hongxi's mind instantly went blank.

Just this momentary pause was enough for Lu Ze to seize the opportunity, extend his right hand, and touch Qu Hongxi's forehead.

It was also at this moment that the strange power in Qu Hongxi's mind dissipated.

He looked at Lu Ze's finger, which had first touched his head, and the Spiritual Qi throughout his body instantly vanished.

Qu Hongxi retracted his fist in the bewildered gazes of the crowd, stood straight, his Face flushed red.

Lu Ze withdrew his hand and said, "Thank you for the match."

Qu Hongxi felt even more deeply ashamed.

That momentary daze, although Qu Hongxi didn't understand why, he knew that Lu Ze could have completely seized that instant to deliver a fatal blow!

Even if he couldn't kill Qu Hongxi, he could have injured him!

But Lu Ze did not take advantage of his predicament; instead, he merely raised his hand and gently touched his head.

And he, Qu Hongxi, had relied on being two minor Realms stronger than his opponent, fighting fiercely and ruthlessly with every move.

Today, Qu Hongxi lost, and he lost thoroughly.

Not only did he lose the match, but he also lost his character.

Qu Hongxi's Face was beet red; he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

From the perspective of the onlookers, Lu Ze seemed to have won very strangely. Qu Hongxi clearly had a greater chance of winning, and Lu Ze had even been suppressed by Qu Hongxi throughout, yet at the last moment, Qu Hongxi's movements froze. Lu Ze then took the opportunity to strike and won the match.

"This... are these two really not faking the match?"

"Logically, I should trust the character of the Zhu Lu Qu Family, but seeing it with my own eyes now, I can't say. Qu Hongxi clearly could have won, yet he suddenly stopped his movements. Was he intentionally losing to Lu Ze? But why?"

"What else could it be for? Didn't you see Venerable Cheng standing right there? Even the Zhu Lu Qu Family has to give Venerable Cheng Face, right? They can't let Venerable Cheng's beloved disciple be humiliated in public. Besides, losing one match to gain a good impression from Venerable Cheng, which Family wouldn't want that?"

Everyone deeply agreed.

But these words, falling into Qu Hongxi's ears, were an insult to him, and an slander of the Zhu Lu Qu Family's centuries-old Family honor!

Qu Hongxi stood straight, turned to Face the onlookers, and his full Divine Might instantly erupted, enveloping everyone in the entire square.

The crowd, who had just been whispering, immediately felt immense pressure and all fell silent!

"I, Qu Hongxi, challenged Lu Ze today, and we both used our full strength! There is no such thing as me, Qu Hongxi, intentionally losing to Lu Ze to curry favor with anyone! A loss is a loss! I, Qu Hongxi, accept it!"

Qu Hongxi's voice was powerful and resonant, instantly spreading throughout the square and clearly reaching everyone's ears!

"From today onwards, I, Qu Hongxi, proclaim Lu Ze as the new talent king! If anyone disagrees, they can challenge me or Lu Ze! If you don't have the strength yourself, then shut your mouths! If I hear any more rumors questioning the outcome of today's battle, don't blame me for being merciless!"

After saying that, Qu Hongxi's Spiritual Pressure receded. He raised his hand in a salute to Lu Ze, "Thank you for showing mercy today. This battle, you won! But I won't give up so easily. Once I comprehend the move that caused my momentary daze, I will certainly come back to spar again!"

Lu Ze didn't care about these things; he just looked at Qu Hongqing, who was standing beside Cheng Ran.

Qu Hongxi also understood Lu Ze's meaning and immediately called his sister over, took the beads from her wrist, and handed them to Lu Ze.

"The prize has been given to you. My sister and I will take our leave now."

Qu Hongxi pulled his sister away.

However, Qu Hongqing kept looking back, seemingly very reluctant to part with her beads.

Lu Ze put the beads into his pocket and returned to Cheng Ran's side.

Cheng Ran nodded with satisfaction, "It seems Myriad Things Grow has gradually submitted to you and is obeying your commands."

Perhaps others couldn't see the crucial point of their battle, but who was Cheng Ran?

To be called Venerable Cheng by so many people, her insight was naturally self-evident.

Cheng Ran had long known that Lu Ze had subdued Myriad Things Grow, but Myriad Things Grow had always belonged to the Xuanyuan City Tang Family, and no one had used it for hundreds of years. It could only be seen in records displaying its Divine Might.

However, Cheng Ran had never found the specific Cultivation method. She had even made a special trip to the Heavenly Court in Yanjing to search for it, but she hadn't found many records. She had been worried that Lu Ze wouldn't be able to use this power, but unexpectedly, Lu Ze had already mastered it on his own.

Lu Ze smiled faintly, but did not respond.

Cheng Ran took it as Lu Ze's tacit admission and did not press further.

The rest of the people were just watching the excitement. When the excitement was over, they naturally dispersed.

But Lu Ze's reputation still echoed throughout Shennong City!

...Shennong City Demon Subduing Division.

Xiong Hao sat on a leather sofa, listening to the Little Commander report every word of the battle between Lu Ze and Qu Hongxi.

When his subordinate finished speaking, Xiong Hao's Face turned dark.

"Bang!"

Xiong Hao slammed his palm on the desk, and the entire office shook. The Little Commander shrank his neck even further, not daring to speak. Xiong Hao's Face was as foul as a week-old sweaty sock.

"So, what you're saying is, I mobilized so many people, rushed all night, and finally managed to put Lu Ze in opposition to the other New Talents. Now, not only has Lu Ze's arrogance not been curbed by the other New Talents, but instead, it has created momentum for him, solidifying his reputation as the new talent king among all the New Talents in China?"

The Little Commander secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead and stammered, "It... it seems so..."

Xiong Hao's Face was incredibly dark, and the temperature in the entire room dropped accordingly.

"Get out!"

With Xiong Hao's low growl, the Little Commander felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. He bowed and immediately prepared to leave without stopping.

But after only two steps, Xiong Hao's voice came again, "Wait!"

The Little Commander immediately stopped, turned around, and waited for his superior's instructions.

"I remember, the two from the Fuxi Xuanyuan Family have arrived, haven't they?"

"Yes! Xuan Yuan Daoxuan and Xuan Yuan Dao Yi have both settled in as arranged!"

"Find a way to get the two of them, and the two from the Qu Family, together with Lu Ze in one place. Although Xuan Yuan Dao Yi is indifferent to fame and fortune and doesn't care much for empty titles, Xuan Yuan Daoxuan values her Family's name above all else. Didn't Qu Hongxi want to compete with Xuan Yuan Daoxuan for a long time? At that time, Xuan Yuan Daoxuan will definitely accept the challenge. If Qu Hongxi loses, he will certainly want Lu Ze to help him regain his Face!"

The Little Commander broke out in a sweat just listening. "But Qu Hongxi and Lu Ze just fought a match, didn't they? Would Qu Hongxi ask Lu Ze to help him regain his Face if he lost?"

"He will."

Xiong Hao slowly sat down, his expression already calm. "That kid, Qu Hongxi, how could I not know him? Lu Ze's move today, stopping just short, completely won over Qu Hongxi in both the match and in character. Qu Hongxi admires people like that the most. In his heart, he probably already considers Lu Ze a friend."

"If he loses Face, isn't it normal for him to ask someone he considers a friend to help him regain it? As for whether Lu Ze can be persuaded, with so many good things in the Qu Family, given Lu Ze's opportunistic nature, he will definitely take action."

The Little Commander agreed and slowly exited the room. The moment the door closed, he suddenly realized his back was drenched in sweat.

His direct superior's ability to guess human nature was enough to make one feel afraid.

Lu Ze, being targeted by him, was probably going to suffer a great loss!