On the other side was the head of the Southern Fist School, He Minrui, who remarked with a hint of jealousy, "Chairman Tong really knows how to play his cards. With Zhou You gaining such popularity, you're clearly capitalizing on his fame by showcasing his brother this year. I bet many will vote for him just because of Zhou You."

Tong Liwei responded with pride, "That's not entirely true. Zhou Yichen has long been renowned as a top martial arts prodigy amongst his peers, even before Zhou You came to Yang City. In terms of fame, he's not overshadowed by his brother."

"However famous he may be, he's still just a child. An average martial artist at best. Every year, the participants are elite martial artists. You're just being preferential."

"If your school has a promising candidate, feel free to showcase them. The youth are our future, and there's no rule saying the performance must feature adults."

Wang Mang nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it's a shame that my Qianji Hall doesn't accept such young disciples. A group of stoic, strong men can't compare to the charm of a cute young boy."

They could predict the audience's reaction without even checking; it was like a beauty suddenly appearing amidst a group of wild beasts—so striking.

"Young Master Zhou seems to have grown quite a bit. The last time I saw him, he was just a child. Now he carries the demeanor of a young gentleman."

"I noticed that Zhou Yichen's and Zhou You's eyes are so similar—those enchanting, peach-blossom eyes."

"Such a handsome young man. Though Yueyang Sect's martial arts aren't top-tier, they have an undeniable appeal. Young Master Zhou is both adorable and skilled. I'll definitely vote for him tonight."

"Did you see the sword in his hand? What kind of sword is that? It looks quite powerful."

"Probably just for decoration. Who still uses such a dull-looking sword these days? Must be an antique."

"Antique, indeed. Perhaps it's a collectible from Judge Zhou, now used by his son."

"This sword technique seems impressive. It's strange, I've trained for so long, but why can't I break through? What really separates a commoner from a martial artist?"

He Minrui calmly smiled, "Though our sect may not have such good-looking disciples, those we've chosen this year are the cream of the crop, surely more attractive than yours."

Only when the Nanquan Sect's disciples took the stage did everyone truly see their strategy. To everyone's surprise, Sect Leader He chose a group of female disciples for the performance. Each beautiful in her own right, they outshone the disciples of other sects.

"Haha, Sect Leader He truly outdid himself," Tong Liwei thought dismissively but expressed with a cheerful face.

These female disciples did have an initial appeal, but this is a martial arts demonstration after all. Performance aesthetics might count for 30%, but foundational martial skills make up 70%. Mere beauty is pointless—otherwise, wouldn't a professional dance show next door be even more captivating?

These female disciples demonstrated a set of Thunderbolt Overlord Fist techniques. The name suggests a powerful style, but their execution was limp, failing to highlight its strengths.

Tong Liwei, holding back laughter, praised, "Impressive techniques!"

The live-streaming audience was also frustrated, "Did these female warriors end up at the wrong venue? Shouldn't they be performing at the Spring Festival Gala instead?"

"Haha, the Nanquan Sect, I'll remember them. With their standard and all these female disciples, maybe even I could give it a try."

"A proper martial arts showcase has become mere entertainment. If everyone just seeks attention this way, future martial arts displays will prioritize performance over skill. What's left for commoners like us to watch?"

"So much for the 'Thunderbolt Overlord Fist'. I couldn't see any 'thunderbolt' in it."

"I recall the Nanquan Sect has a masterful senior sister in martial arts. Why didn't she lead the performance this time? With her, the show wouldn't have degraded to this level."

"Haha, rumor has it that the senior sister was sidelined because of her looks. Didn't you notice all the performers were beauties? True female martial arts experts seldom maintain such slender figures."

"While martial artists are formidable, to be fair, the cost of becoming one is immense. They all end up looking like muscle-bound Barbies."

"Hmph, a bunch of commoners, outdated by the times, critique martial artists here. From what moral high ground? Physical evolution is a sign of human progress. Your aesthetics are stuck in the past. It's pitiful." As soon as the martial artist spoke, the comments from the commoners became sharply critical. Every time such discussions arose, both sides would almost always end up in a heated argument.

Arguments aside, even the commoners agreed that this was an unqualified martial arts performance, and they didn't give votes to the Nanquan Sect based on the beauty of their performers.

Tong Liwei checked the news on his phone and saw that the Nanquan Sect's performance had made the trending topics. Annoyed, he clicked on the comments only to find an overwhelming majority of negative feedback, save for a few praising the beauties. Satisfied, he exited and was surprised to see the top trending news was about "Xuanmen Adult Martial Arts School Officially Enrolling".

As the branch president of Yangcheng Martial Arts Association, Tong Liwei was privy to every slight movement within any martial arts school. Yet, he had not heard of any recent activity within the Xuan Sect.

Of course, due to disputes between the internal and external factions, the Xuan Sect has always maintained a discreet and independent presence, rarely participating in association events. But establishing a martial arts school without the association's approval seems implausible. Could it be a false rumor?

He clicked on the entry and studied it closely. The first item was an enrollment announcement, followed by admission criteria posted by a netizen. The requirements seemed quite broad; virtually any able-bodied adult could apply, making it seem even more suspicious.

"Master Tong, have you seen some news regarding the inevitable victory of the Yueyang Sect?" He Minrui, who had just put away his phone, looked gloomily intense.