Seeing Gu Ding's stats, quite a few spectators in the stands shook their heads and silently mourned for him.
"Poor kid, he had no idea how strong his opponent was, did he?"
"Maybe he saw the previous match, got nervous for a moment, and accidentally hit the button."
"Was that guy going to twist his head off and use it as a ball?"
Almost no one in the spectator stands thought highly of Gu Ding. The comments were unanimously pessimistic.
To avoid affecting the battle, the arena was soundproofed from the spectator area. Gu Ding could not hear what the people outside were discussing. Even if he had heard them, he would not have cared.
In the beginner arena, everyone's Cell Comprehensive Index was set by the system to 100 points, while all physical attributes were proportionally allocated according to each person's actual condition. If someone's Cell Comprehensive Index was 10, their cell strength was 2, and their cell vitality was 3, then in the arena, their Cell Comprehensive Index would be 100, their cell strength would be raised to points, and their cell vitality would also be raised to 30 points.
A Cell Comprehensive Index of 100 points was the limit a Third-Order Gene Body could reach under normal circumstances. Only Third-Order Gene Bodies and those below them could participate in the beginner arena. A Cell Comprehensive Index of 100 points was enough to allow combatants to maximize the power of their moves and refine their fighting techniques. The proportional distribution of attributes also allowed everyone to retain their own fighting style and characteristics.
The moment Gu Ding stepped onto the arena, he felt strength flooding every inch of his body. That sensation made all his muscles tremble with excitement. Although this body was only virtual, it perfectly simulated the feedback of a real human body. But Gu Ding did not know that, in the eyes of the spectators and his opponent, his trembling looked like fear and nervousness.
"Hehe, kid, you're trembling with fear already. Don't worry, I won't let you die that quickly." Bald Head wore a cruel smile. "First, I'll tear off your arms. Then I'll break your legs. Finally, I'll twist off your head."
"That sounded pretty scary, but did you have the strength to back it up?" Gu Ding grinned.
Seeing the seemingly mocking smile on Gu Ding's face, Bald Head's expression darkened in anger. His massive body leaped into the air as he drew back his thick right arm and threw a charged punch.
Gu Ding's expression turned slightly serious. He stood where he was and assumed the stance of the Limitless Body Technique. Only when Bald Head drew close did he throw his fist. "Steel Fist!"
His slender fist collided violently with Bald Head's enormous fist.
With a boom, an explosive sound rang out. It did not sound like two fists colliding at all, but more like artillery fire. Then, moments later, something even more unbelievable happened. Bald Head's burly body was sent flying backward, his right hand completely gone. Starting from his right arm, his entire body shattered apart, and before long, he vanished from the arena.
Bald Head reformed beneath the arena, his face still full of shock. He looked up at Gu Ding on the stage and saw that Gu Ding was completely unharmed. Only then did he understand the gap between them, and he lowered his head in dejection.
Gu Ding remained on the arena with no intention of stepping down. That strike had actually produced an artillery-like effect with Steel Fist, giving him a deeper understanding of the Limitless Body Technique. The main reason he could not fully unleash the power of these moves right now was still his insufficient physical strength. Here in the arena, his virtual body's Cell Comprehensive Index had reached 100 points. Not only could he become proficient with the moves he had already learned, but he could also practice the advanced moves he had been unable to train because of his body's limitations.
"Looks like contestant This Killer Isn't Afraid of the Cold wasn't planning to stop after pulling off one upset. Did anyone else dare accept his challenge?" The commentator's voice rang out again, carrying an openly provocative edge.
"The power was pretty impressive..." Gu Ding lowered his head and looked at his fist. He had not expected to defeat his opponent in a single blow. He had originally thought there would be a tough fight.
Just as Gu Ding was slightly distracted, another person teleported onto the arena. He looked to be in his twenties, with an ordinary face and an ill-fitting white formal suit. But his ID was "Wakes Up Every Day Because He's Too Handsome."
Gu Ding checked his opponent's ranking. 11,809—lower than Bald Head's.
"You got lucky just now, but when you faced me, you could only become my stepping stone." The contestant in white struck what he believed was a handsome pose and pointed at Gu Ding.
Gu Ding grinned. "Then give it a try."
The contestant in white took a step forward, leaving behind a string of afterimages.
Gu Ding raised an eyebrow and used Shadow Step, appearing before him even faster. Another Steel Fist blasted out. The man in white was sent flying and slammed hard into the protective barrier. His body quickly shattered as well, reforming outside the arena.
"Looks like this guy not only possessed terrifying strength, but also speed beyond that of ordinary people. He really was troublesome." Beneath the arena, some of those who had not taken Gu Ding seriously began to pay attention to his performance.
Another challenger soon appeared on the arena.
Ranked 1,089,911, killed in one blow.
Ranked 1,054,231, killed in one blow.
Ranked 1,011,379, killed in one blow.
Ranked 996,504, killed in one blow.
By then, Gu Ding had won six consecutive matches, and his ranking had risen into the top million. His rapid climb in rank also caught the attention of the arena's internal staff.
A woman with short golden hair rested her black knee-high leather boots on the monitoring console and pulled up Gu Ding's battle footage to watch several times. After a while, she took a small compact mirror from her red handbag. As she examined herself in the mirror, she spoke to someone beside her. "Check who around rank 500,000 is free. Arrange a match between them and this little fellow."
"Understood!" A tall man in a suit nodded respectfully, then waved over a staff member nearby and gave a few instructions.
Pasher found it rather baffling. The staff had arranged for him to fight someone ranked 990,000. He himself was currently ranked 500,137, only a little short of entering the top 500,000. But the conditions offered by the arena were too tempting to refuse. As long as he won, he would receive a bottle of E-rank Good Quality Gene Enhancement Potion. Since he was still a Second-Order Gene Body, that bottle of Gene Serum might allow him to advance to a Third-Order Gene Body. So he agreed without hesitation.
When Pasher appeared on the arena, many people in the stands cried out in surprise. It was not that fighters ranked around 500,000 were rare, but because fighters at that level generally would not voluntarily challenge opponents ranked below 600,000.
Gu Ding was also stunned when he saw his opponent's ranking.
"Hehe, looks like your performance caught the attention of some important figures. They specifically picked a more challenging opponent for you." Sea Emperor's laughter reached Gu Ding's ears without the slightest attempt at concealment.
The corners of Gu Ding's mouth curled up, his gaze like that of a beast that had fixed its eyes on prey. After several matches, he had begun to reveal his edge, and his eyes were filled with fierce fighting intent.
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