Given the crowd's size, those thrown weapons were quickly lost to sight, and he thought little of it.

Zhou You wasn't acquainted with Shi Kong, who had a temper and charged aggressively without any preamble, compelling Zhou You to engage wholeheartedly.

"Master Shi Kong's strategy is smart, engaging in close combat and denying Zhou You the chance to launch long-range attacks. He seems inspired by the earlier match."

"I'm not so sure about that."

While Zhou You directly confronted Shi Kong, he swapped his dagger for his curved knives, another set of weapons he hadn't previously revealed.

Weapons aside, just the variety in Zhou You's arsenal stirred envy. All those weapons cost a fortune.

Moreover, from the big screen, it was evident these curved knives were crafted by Master Fan, ensuring another rise to fame for him.

"Watch out! Zhou You's concealed weapons are in play again!"

Shi Kong was fiercely engaged with Zhou You, his aggressive strikes gaining momentum, but the injuries he sustained also brought immense pain.

With his focus so divided, he remained oblivious to his surroundings. From behind, four daggers sliced through the air towards him from different directions.

By the time he sensed the whooshing sound near his ear, it was too late to turn and defend. Four flying daggers hovered dangerously near his temples, neck, and heart. A strike to any of these areas would undoubtedly be fatal.

Zhou You took a step back, bowed with his hands clasped, and said, "Thank you for conceding."

The duel between the two lasted less than ten minutes, leaving the audience wanting more.

"Well…" The host looked at Master Shi Kong, waiting for his admission of defeat.

With a thud, the iron staff hit the ground. Shi Kong's face contorted for a moment. He knew he would lose, but not so swiftly. It was a blow to his pride.

He brought his hands together in a prayer gesture, uttered a Buddhist chant, then asked, "Master Zhou, your inner strength seems unparalleled. Which technique do you practice?"

Zhou You replied with a smile, "I practice the Tai Yi Heart Sutra, a Taoist technique. Master Shi Kong can refer to our scripture library if he wishes."

The cheering and shouting from the audience were deafening. As Zhou You descended from the arena, the host called him back for a victory speech.

A moment of silence ensued, but Zhou You's ears picked up a faint ticking sound. Due to his line of work, he was particularly attuned to such noises and swiftly leaped toward the sound's source.

"What's happening?" The sudden turn of events left the audience bewildered.

Zhou You shouted, "Those at the back, exit in an orderly manner! Those at the front, get down!"

His focus was behind the judges' seats. The judges quickly realized the urgency.

Master Qingfeng and Han Xi grabbed Shao Qi by the arms, pulling him onto the arena, while others scattered in different directions, soon causing several large holes in the gymnasium's walls.

Although the audience was clueless about the specifics, they sensed danger and scrambled for the nearest exits.

The crowd's panic and noise drowned out the ticking Zhou You had heard, leaving him to search based on memory.

Chapter 241: The Dissipation of Dark Clouds (Final Chapter)

Zhou You lifted a row of seats, revealing a black satchel beneath. As he cautiously approached and was about to open it, a massive explosion resounded.

The remaining audience screamed in terror, chaos ensued, and everyone rushed for the exits.

"Zhou You!" Shao Qi bellowed, and through the smoky aftermath, he saw Zhou You emerge unscathed. The explosion had left a massive crater around the seat.

"There can't be just one! Get the riot squad in!" Shao Qi commanded into his walkie-talkie, as Zhou You leapt onto the arena, surveying the vast gymnasium.

Master Qingfeng asked with concern, "Every entrance has security checks. How did they smuggle the bombs inside?"

Ash still clung to Zhou You's face, and shrapnel had grazed several parts of his body, but luckily, these were just minor injuries.

"Modern security equipment focuses on detecting new-age explosives. The bomb just now was a homemade one, hence only a timed device. Had it been remote-controlled, I wouldn't have had the chance to discover it."

He closed his eyes, extending his spiritual senses to cover the entire stadium. The exhaustion from overexertion finally hit him, especially after two consecutive matches, he wasn't entirely without wear.

"Section C, row ten, seat five... Section E, row two, seat eleven..." Eventually, he identified nine suspicious spots, although he couldn't be certain whether these were bombs or items left by the audience.

Shao Qi relayed these locations to the authorities. The riot police had entered, and while some stampeding occurred among the audience, many martial artists present helped maintain order, greatly easing the security pressure.

Two more bombs detonated, and the riot squad successfully defused five other explosives. The once-pristine stadium now lay in shambles.

"It won't end this easily," Shao Qi murmured.

Holding a megaphone, he addressed the martial artists in the venue, "Evacuate first. Once outside, please help ensure the safety of the general public and don't linger here."

"Marshal Shao, we should stay," Cheng Suyan declared, clutching his chest and raising his sword.

Shao Qi glanced at him and retorted, "First, ensure your own safety. Master Cheng can stay."

Master Cheng laughed and scolded, "You brat, get out! This isn't a place for the younger generation. Go and tend to your injuries!"

In the end, only the previous judges and Zhou You remained. After the riot police installed anti-explosion devices, they departed too, as warfare wasn't their forte.

The sound of vehicles approached from all directions, making it hard to distinguish friend from foe.

Zhou You understood why Shao Qi stayed: the moment he exited the stadium, any remaining audience members outside would be endangered. The enemy would surely target wherever he was.

Shao Qi told the leaders present, "From here on, it's a military matter. Esteemed seniors can also leave. If you were to get harmed here, that would be a significant loss."