Fist-to-Fist Battle

Gu Ding was quickly teleported onto the arena. His opponent had already been waiting there—a tall, skinny man whose ID was "Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo."

"Why did they send me to intercept a kid ranked over eighty thousand?" Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo could not quite understand it. Still, he had intercepted newcomers once or twice before. Usually, it was because a newcomer had accumulated too many consecutive wins and earned too many points at once. Seeing that Gu Ding had only ten straight wins, he became curious whether Gu Ding had offended someone high up in the arena.

Players ranked within the top ten thousand of the beginner arena were basically all Third-Order Gene Bodies. Not only had they awakened abilities, but many had even undergone a second enhancement, and a select few had awakened two abilities.

Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo's ability was called "Iron Block." It was not particularly rare. Once activated, it multiplied his body's defensive power, making his muscles as hard as iron. He was ranked around ten thousand. He had not lost many matches, but he had drawn quite a few. Most draws happened because his opponents could not break through his defense, while he could not defeat them either.

After activating Iron Block, Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo's defense could rival that of a Fourth Order Gene Body. In a place like the beginner arena, where the Cell Comprehensive Index was capped at 100 points, his defensive power was comparable to someone with a Cell Comprehensive Index of nearly 300. Under such circumstances, very few people could break through his defense.

"This guy's defense is extremely strong. He has a special ability called Iron Block. Once activated, his body becomes as hard as iron." Sea Emperor quickly pulled up information on the opponent. The opponent before them was formidable enough that he had to warn Gu Ding. Though only a few seconds had passed, it was enough for him to retrieve all of Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo's data, including video records. "He has fought more than five thousand matches and lost fewer than two hundred. He has drawn over a thousand times. His score is low only because he has too many draws."

"Strong defense?" Gu Ding grinned. "Perfect. I can use him to test a move."

Gu Ding used Shadow Step, his figure flickering several times as he closed in on his opponent.

"What speed!" Seeing Gu Ding's footwork, Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo was startled. He immediately discarded any thoughts of underestimating him and activated his ability—Iron Block. My ability heavily counters close-combat fighters of the same level. I refuse to believe a fifteen-year-old brat can break through my defense.

At that moment, Gu Ding's Steel Fist slammed fiercely into his opponent's chest. The chest was one of the most heavily defended areas of the human body, protected by the rib cage. Gu Ding had deliberately chosen that target to test just how powerful his opponent's defense truly was.

With a clang, like a Giant Hammer striking a great bell, the sound of metal colliding rang out. Gu Ding felt as though his fist had struck a solid block of iron. Not only was it impossible to destroy, but it also sent a forceful recoil through his arm.

He hurriedly retreated, his right hand trembling slightly from the backlash.

"Give up struggling. You can't break through my defense!" Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo shouted at Gu Ding. Yet inwardly, he was somewhat shaken. He had clearly felt the destructive force contained in Gu Ding's punch. Although it had not broken through his defense, Gu Ding had struck his chest, the strongest point of his defense. If activating Iron Block had not also increased his weight, he would probably have been sent flying. A dull ache had also spread through his chest, proving that Gu Ding's attack had not been entirely ineffective. If he had been hit in a vital spot, he might very well have been injured.

Gu Ding remained silent. His opponent's formidable defense was indeed troublesome. That probing strike had already told him that it would be difficult for his attacks to break through the man's defense. Besides, his opponent would not simply stand there and let him attack.

Up in the spectator stands, someone finally recognized Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo.

"That guy's defense seems ridiculously strong. I've watched his matches before."

"I've seen him too. Once, he stood there and let an opponent attack him for three hours without moving a single step. In the end, the opponent ran out of mental power and could only surrender."

"This assassin is just a kid, isn't he? He looks underage. Why is the arena bullying him like this? Someone ranked over eighty thousand got matched against someone ranked around ten thousand?" Some who had not watched Gu Ding's earlier matches began to speak up for him.

"You haven't seen his earlier matches. Don't be fooled by how thin and small he looks—he basically insta-killed every opponent in the previous fights," someone beside them who had watched Gu Ding's matches explained.

On the arena, Gu Ding moved again, fully unleashing the third level of the Limitless Body Technique's Steel Fist. After thinking for a while, he decided to use his opponent to achieve a breakthrough. Since the attack power of the third level of his Limitless Body Technique was not enough to shatter the man's defense, he would try his best to advance to the fourth level. Although it would be difficult with a Cell Comprehensive Index of only one hundred points, it was not entirely impossible. This body should be able to endure short-term overload without much trouble.

Seeing Gu Ding charge at him with even greater ferocity, Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo no longer dared let him attack at will and rushed forward as well.

Fist against fist!

With a clang, both men retreated several steps.

Gu Ding drove off the ground with both legs and charged forward again.

Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo felt bitter inside. His combat skills could only be considered proficient. Against a true fighting expert, he was usually left with no choice but to take a beating. Though his opponent was young, his combat techniques were astonishing.

What followed was easy to imagine. Gu Ding unleashed one move after another, overwhelmingly suppressing Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo. Most of the time, Ge Gao Bu Shi Wo De Cuo could only use his arms to shield his vital areas. The occasional attacks he launched did little more than scratch Gu Ding.

"This kid is so fierce?!" someone in the stands could not help exclaiming.

In the monitoring room, the short-haired woman from before had dyed her hair red. Her leather jacket hung open, revealing a thin black patterned bra beneath it. She wore a short black leather skirt that exposed her long legs, along with the same black knee-high leather boots. A lollipop rested between her lips as she sat in a swivel chair and watched the live broadcast of Gu Ding's battle.

"That tall, skinny guy is going to lose." The short-haired woman quickly reached her conclusion. "Switch in someone ranked around five thousand. Preferably someone with a more unusual ability, like invisibility or something. I want to see how he handles it."

"Young Miss, if you want him to lose, it would be much easier to send in someone with a natural-element ability," the tall man in a black suit beside her suggested.

"Who said I want him to lose? I just want to see how far he can push that strange body technique, and maybe pick up a few moves myself." The short-haired woman smiled smugly. "I secretly watched Dad practice the Limitless Body Technique before. This kid's moves look a lot like Dad's, but there are many differences too. I suspect it might be another version of the Limitless Body Technique."

"Young Miss, the Limitless Body Technique cannot be practiced," the tall man said with a slight frown.

"I'm only studying it. Why are you getting so worked up?" The short-haired woman pouted. "Don't forget that I'm also an Interstellar Pirate. If I run into Hunters from the Federal Government, I need to know a little of the Limitless Body Technique so I won't be taken out so easily."

"Young Miss, the master used to be the chief captain of the Hunters. They are wary of him and would not lay a hand on you," the tall man tried to persuade her.

"That is only in the Long Teng Universe Country. The Long Teng Universe Country is merely a two-star Universe Country. Dad once said that any Hunter in a four-star Universe Country would be no weaker than him, let alone a five-star Universe Country. One day, I will leave Dad's protection. He can protect me for a time, but not for my entire life. So I want to carve out a greater world for myself. One day, I hope that I can protect Dad too." The short-haired woman's words left the tall man completely silent.