Beaten to Death

Li Minggui wasted no words and got straight to the point.

The moment he said this, excitement appeared on every spectator's face.

This was exactly what they had come for—the conflict between the Death Fist Society and Dragon Gate Martial Hall.

"This match will be held under a no-referee, no-rules, no-restrictions format, agreed upon by both sides. Both parties have voluntarily signed liability waivers and will fight on the ring until death!"

As he spoke, two Death Fist Society members stepped out from behind Li Minggui, holding up two liability waivers for the audience to see.

Demon Mountain and Su Ti also stepped forward and signed the waivers in full view of everyone.

However, while signing, Demon Mountain stared at Su Ti with a savage grin, bit open his finger, and smeared his blood onto the waiver. Fierceness radiated from him. Afterward, he even drew a finger across his throat in blatant provocation.

Su Ti, on the other hand, used an ink pad. After pressing his fingerprint down, he gave Demon Mountain a mild smile, leaving Demon Mountain briefly stunned.

Although the fight had not officially begun, a faint uproar had already risen from below.

After all, the difference in size between Demon Mountain and Su Ti was enormous. One stood over two meters tall, while the other was only 1.74 meters. It was practically an adult facing a child. Even people who knew nothing about martial arts or fighting could see the vast gap between them.

Many people were even puzzled. How had Dragon Gate Martial Hall agreed to such a one-sided match?

On Long Yuanzheng's side, the atmosphere was grave. The master and his three disciples all remained silent, watching Su Ti.

Li Zong's side was entirely different. Though Li Zong tried to remain calm, expectation and delight shone in his eyes. Only Li Mingsheng wore a gloomy expression, clearly dissatisfied.

The simultaneous challenge from him and Li Minggui had been Li Minggui's idea. Li Mingsheng had felt that something was wrong at the time, but he had no better solution and could only agree to let the brothers "compete fairly."

As expected, Su Ti had accepted only Li Minggui's fighter challenge and abandoned his. If Su Ti died at Demon Mountain's hands, the credit would naturally go to Li Minggui. When the time came to take over Li Zong's Death Fist Society, only Li Minggui would remain.

Still, although Li Mingsheng was unwilling, there was nothing he could do.

Meanwhile, after Su Ti and Demon Mountain signed their waivers and passed the pre-match inspection, confirming that neither carried hidden weapons, metal objects, or anything similar, they walked toward the ring together.

As the octagonal cage was shut and locked, the match entered its final preparations.

Su Ti rolled his neck, ankles, and wrists, lightly loosening up as he looked at Demon Mountain across from him.

This was not his first time entering this death cage. He had entered it once shortly after crossing into this world, but that time he had been forced in. This time, he had asked to enter himself.

Demon Mountain revealed a ferocious grin as well. He suddenly tore off his shirt, exposing a body of knotted muscles.

His muscles were massive and dense, carrying a faint yellowish-brown hue that made him look like he had been carved from boulders.

Demon Mountain was extremely confident in his chances. Besides his exceptional natural talent, he had used plenty of muscle-enhancing drugs. He had also trained the external technique Giant Rock Body, reaching the Minor Mastery Realm!

This technique required one to strike one's body against hard mountain rock every day while using special medicinal washes. Over time, the skin became rough and the flesh thick, granting extraordinary resistance to blows. After reaching Minor Mastery, ordinary punches and kicks could barely injure him, and he would possess considerable resistance even against weapons such as blades, swords, clubs, and staves.

"I remember you saying last time that even some stray cat or dog thought they were worthy of challenging you. Heh, little chick, I'll make you regret those words today."

Having torn off his shirt, Demon Mountain stared at Su Ti with a cruel smile. As Li Minggui's trusted subordinate, he had killed countless people in underground fighting rings. Since entering the profession, this was the first time anyone had provoked him so openly. Naturally, he bore a deep grudge.

Faced with Demon Mountain's provocation, Su Ti simply continued warming up without answering.

Just then, the one-minute warm-up period ended. The gong sounded, and the duel officially began.

The instant the bronze gong rang, Demon Mountain charged forward like a colossal beast!

With his two-meter-tall frame and weight of more than three hundred pounds, he looked like a humanoid monster when he ran.

The fierce wind he stirred up made nearby spectators pale. They had no idea how someone as small as Su Ti could withstand him.

Other than dodging, there seemed to be no second choice!

Yet to everyone's surprise, Su Ti did not dodge. Instead, he rushed forward head-on and threw a punch at Demon Mountain!

As the punch flew out, Su Ti's bones moved like a great dragon, layer upon layer of force stacking together before surging out through his right hand!

Forward Stance Straight Punch!

Seeing Su Ti's punch, Demon Mountain did not even bother to evade. He spread his arms for a grapple, clearly intending to tank the blow and forcibly lock Su Ti in place.

Given the difference in their physiques, Su Ti would be dead for certain if he was caught.

However.

A cold gleam flashed through Su Ti's eyes. He had guessed that Demon Mountain would underestimate his attack and rely on his physique and hard-body technique rather than dodge, so he had not used his full strength.

Only now, when Demon Mountain assumed the grappling posture, did Su Ti suddenly unleash the Golden Python Four Forms!

King Python Hand!

A vast amount of blood and qi churned and surged wildly into his right arm. In an instant, Su Ti's right hand nearly doubled in size and turned crimson!

The punch exploded outward, and the air boomed like a firecracker detonating. Demon Mountain's expression changed drastically, but it was already too late.

The fist slammed solidly into Demon Mountain's chest!

Boom!

Demon Mountain had been trying to grapple Su Ti one second earlier. The next, both his feet left the ground as he was actually blasted flying by a single punch!

The scene was incomparably shocking. A giant two meters tall had been sent flying by someone barely over 1.7 meters tall. It was like a child had punched an adult into the air, leaving the audience dumbfounded.

But it was not over yet. After knocking Demon Mountain away, Su Ti pressed the advantage. He crossed his hands over his shoulders, assumed a stance to gather force, then leaped into the air and shot forward!

Demon Mountain had taken the King Python Fist to the chest and was still short of breath when his vision suddenly darkened. Su Ti had leaped like an eagle, blocking the overhead lights.

Though he could not see his opponent's movements clearly, battle-hardened Demon Mountain felt an intense aura of death rushing toward him. Instinctively, he raised both arms to protect his head.

The next second!

Whoosh! Crack!

Two black afterimages lashed heavily across Demon Mountain's arms, producing a piercing sonic boom!

Demon Mountain grunted. His arms were not only bruised purple but torn open, with wounds several centimeters deep ripped into them! It was as if he had been viciously lashed by two barbed iron whips!

It was impossible to imagine what would have happened if he had not blocked them. If those two strikes had landed on his face or neck instead...

An uproar broke out beneath the ring. Li Zong, who had originally been waiting to enjoy the show, widened his eyes as well.

"This is... Dragon Gate's combat technique! The Golden Python Four Forms!"

Not only him—Li Minggui, Li Mingsheng, Su Ti's three senior disciples, and even Long Yuanzheng all revealed shocked expressions.

Li Mingsheng's eyes widened. He had inherited Li Zong's martial arts talent and possessed extremely high attainments himself, so he immediately saw how extraordinary Su Ti's burst of power was.

"A combat technique with this kind of power can never be used at the Tongli Stage!"

"Could it be that this kid entered the Inner Refinement Stage in only seven days?!"

Li Minggui cried out as well.

The father and two sons exchanged glances, each seeing disbelief in the others' eyes.

But the facts were right before them. Judging from the power of his combat technique, Su Ti truly was at the Inner Refinement Stage now!

"The Inner Refinement Stage... He's actually at the Inner Refinement Stage."

Long Yuanzheng slowly loosened his grip on the chair. He found it just as unbelievable, but if Su Ti was at the Inner Refinement Stage, then he had a chance of winning.

Inside the octagonal cage, Su Ti slowly drew back his hands.

Both his arms were engorged with blood, but they had not swollen much. Instead, they seemed to stretch longer like iron chains, even hanging down to his calves.

This was the unique blood and qi technique of the Double Python Whip: dislocating every joint in both arms, relaxing the muscles, and stretching the bones until his arms became as hard and flexible as iron whips.

Then, after gathering force by crossing his arms over his shoulders, he would swing them out violently. The resulting power was greater than a strike from an iron whip! The center of the impact was especially vicious, as though it had been caught in a massive pair of shears!

The drawback, however, was that after each use, he had to reset his arm joints. There was a brief opening, and if he missed, he could easily fall into a disadvantageous position.

With a series of cracks, Su Ti reset his arm joints. Demon Mountain had also recovered his breath and climbed to his feet while clutching his chest.

Demon Mountain's arms were purple and bruised, with blood flowing down them. Those were the wounds inflicted by Su Ti's Double Python Whip.

"I never expected you to enter the Inner Refinement Stage and master an Inner Refinement Stage combat technique."

Demon Mountain panted slightly, his expression turning serious.

"I underestimated you. Next, I'll use my full strength."

"You talk too much. Take this punch!"

Su Ti snorted coldly and unleashed another King Python Hand.

His arm swelled like a giant python. His hand clenched into a fist, and the wind from the punch howled. One could easily imagine the power behind it!

Facing that punch, Demon Mountain roared and struck out with all his strength.

Black Fiend Palm!

As his palm shot forward, Demon Mountain's forearm swelled by a full circle, and his broad palm turned faintly black!

Boom!

Fist and palm collided, generating an explosive burst of air between them. Both men retreated half a step!

The savage scene drew cries from the spectators!

But someone was even more shocked than the audience.

"How is this possible?!"

Demon Mountain's expression changed after exchanging that palm strike. With his physique, even if they were at the same realm, how could he possibly be evenly matched with Su Ti?

At the same realm, the larger man should have greater strength and more powerful techniques!

Yet the truth was that he had gained no advantage whatsoever in their clash of power.

Li Zong, Long Yuanzheng, and the others were stunned as well. Could Su Ti also possess innate divine strength?

As Su Ti's master, Long Yuanzheng considered even more possibilities. There truly were people in this world who possessed tremendous strength that did not show easily in their builds. Could it be that after breaking through to the Inner Refinement Stage, Su Ti's talent for strength had also been awakened?

In truth, everyone's guesses were wrong. There was only one reason they had been evenly matched.

Looking at the astonished Demon Mountain before him, Su Ti's gaze turned icy.

Sorry, but my realm is higher than yours.

Su Ti did not say those words aloud. He simply gave his opponent no time to breathe and threw another punch!

Demon Mountain was only at the first layer of Inner Refinement, while Su Ti had already reached the Inner Refinement Second Layer. His combat techniques had also reached Minor Mastery, so naturally, his moves were more powerful than Demon Mountain's, whose techniques had not yet broken through to Minor Mastery.

Furthermore, Demon Mountain's arms had been injured by Su Ti before the fight truly began. Naturally, their direct clash had ended evenly.

Facing Su Ti's punch, Demon Mountain could only grit his teeth and block it with Black Fiend Palm.

Boom!

Fist and palm collided, and a visible ring of compressed air burst out. Both men retreated again.

However, Su Ti was completely unharmed, while Demon Mountain's forearm was drenched in blood.

Though neither had gained an advantage in raw power, the wounds that Su Ti's Double Python Whip had left on Demon Mountain's arms were being shaken apart and widened by every collision.

Not only that, Demon Mountain had previously taken a King Python Fist to the chest and had now blocked two more punches. A dull ache was beginning to spread through his chest.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Su Ti had noticed this long ago. Now, he pressed the advantage even harder, throwing punch after punch!

Upon reaching the Inner Refinement Stage and mastering blood and qi combat techniques, the fighting style of Ancient Martial Arts practitioners actually became simpler.

A blood and qi technique came at you—could you withstand it? If not, you died!

Dodge? Attacks from someone at the same Inner Refinement Stage were not so easily avoided. Besides, Demon Mountain was a strength-focused fighter, not an agile one, so it was even harder for him to dodge!

Unable to avoid them, he could only block Su Ti's strikes with the blood and qi technique Black Fiend Palm!

Thus, the two continued exchanging blows without any flashy tricks.

One or two punches were manageable.

But three, four, five, six, seven, eight!

By the time they had exchanged more than ten punches, Demon Mountain could not take it anymore.

Blood poured from both his arms. The wounds on them had split open like infants' mouths, blood gushing freely from them.

The internal injuries in his chest were also worsening with every clash, making it difficult for him to draw breath. As a result, his strength and stamina were rapidly fading.

This can't continue.

The heavy blood loss and his difficulty breathing had pushed Demon Mountain's massive body to the brink of collapse. He could fail at any moment.

Thus, a vicious glint appeared in Demon Mountain's eyes as he made a decision.

Su Ti threw another punch. This time, Demon Mountain neither dodged nor evaded. He desperately circulated the Giant Rock Skill and, at the cost of his chest caving in slightly, blocked the blow!

Then he spread his arms and lunged at Su Ti, locking both Su Ti's hands and waist in a crushing grapple!

"Die!"

Demon Mountain's eyes turned red as he roared desperately, both hands squeezing with all his strength to crush Su Ti.

He possessed natural divine strength and had further enhanced himself with drugs. Though he was only at the first layer of Inner Refinement, his absolute strength was greater than Su Ti's.

With his hands trapped and unable to exert force or unleash a blood and qi combat technique, Su Ti could not match him in raw strength.

Cracking sounds rang from Su Ti's arms and waist as though Demon Mountain was about to snap him in half. Then—

Su Ti suddenly opened his eyes, revealing an incomparably vicious look.

"Scaled Python Armor."

Boom!

In an instant, every muscle and tendon across Su Ti's body bulged wildly, thrashing as though he had gone berserk!

In that instant, Demon Mountain felt as though he was no longer holding a person.

He was holding a burlap sack wrapped in steel wire, filled with countless giant pythons writhing madly inside!

The ceaselessly twisting, rampaging force made it impossible for him to maintain his hold, creating a gap.

Seizing the opportunity, Su Ti instantly erupted with tremendous force throughout his entire body and forcibly pried Demon Mountain's hands apart.

As Demon Mountain's hands spread wide, Su Ti's arms shot out with a whoosh, transforming into two King Python Hands.

Every one of his nails was sharp as a blade. They dug viciously into Demon Mountain's shoulders with such force that half his fingers sank in!

Then he dragged both hands downward. His ten fingers became razors, slicing straight down!

Whoosh!

From Demon Mountain's shoulders all the way to his forearms, ten deep bloody gashes appeared, deep enough to expose bone. Every muscle and blood vessel along the path had been severed!

Demon Mountain's hands had been crippled. He let out a scream, only for it to cut off abruptly. After crippling his hands, Su Ti had not stopped. A forward palm strike from King Python Hand slammed into his jaw!

The immense force shattered Demon Mountain's jaw, sending teeth and blood spraying through the air!

The jaw was where the body's nerves converged. After suffering the heavy blow, Demon Mountain's consciousness blurred, and he instinctively staggered backward, trying to fall.

But Su Ti did not even give him the chance to hit the ground. A forward charging punch from King Python Hand smashed into Demon Mountain's liver, blasting him off the ground and into the air before he crashed against the wall of the octagonal cage.

Then Su Ti leaped forward, spread his arms, and unleashed King Python Fist after King Python Fist into Demon Mountain's chest like a machine gun!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Demon Mountain's massive body was battered so violently by the surging barrage of fist force that it stuck to the cage wall and could not even fall down!

His ribs snapped one after another. Blood sprayed from Demon Mountain's mouth like water from a faucet, splattering Su Ti's face and body. Yet Su Ti did not even blink, punching madly as though possessed!

One punch, then another!

The steel bars behind Demon Mountain began to bend and deform, the distortion growing larger and larger beneath Su Ti's relentless strikes!

At last, they could bear no more and snapped apart with a thunderous crash!

Demon Mountain's massive body flew out through the cage. His chest had been beaten into a mangled pulp, and he had long since stopped breathing.

Covered in blood, Su Ti stepped out through the broken cage wall. Blood dripped continuously from his hands. Facing the many stunned spectators, his gaze was ice-cold as he suddenly swung his hand with force.

A spray of blood shot out, splashing viciously before Li Zong and his two sons. Several drops even landed on the spotless white leather shoes of Li Zong, who stood at the front.