A Fist, a Palm (Signing Bonus Chapter)

Xu Xiaoshou stood on the arena stage, his presence utterly overwhelming.

He looked wildly arrogant, bare-chested, his entire body crimson as heat rose from him. He was the very image of a war god.

"Where is Zhang Fu? Come up and fight me!"

Xu Xiaoshou shouted, partly to provoke Zhang Fu into attacking him; on the other hand, he hoped Xiao Qixiu would see the brutal scene about to unfold and step in to save him.

Of course, the most important thing was getting rid of that "Emberlight Fire Seed" inside him.

In the waiting area.

Zhang Fu and his friends wore worried expressions.

"I think you should just forfeit. He's Xu Xiaoshou—the most famous dark horse after the two Innates. There's no shame in it!"

Zhang Fu hesitated. "But..."

"Look at him! This guy really did take drugs! Didn't you see what he was like when he killed Wen Chong?"

"He wasn't anywhere near this unhinged then! If you go up there, at best you'll be torn apart by five horses; at worst, smashed into ten thousand pieces!"

Zhang Fu shuddered. His friend's words made far too much sense.

But...

He raised his hand and looked at the tooth marks on it, frowning. "But I only finished badmouthing him yesterday. If I forfeit the moment I run into him today, wouldn't that be rather humiliating?"

"Is losing face more important than losing your life?"

After thinking it over, Zhang Fu still shook his head. "He might not be able to break through my defenses!"

He shook off his friend's hand, which was trying to pull him back, and leaped onto the arena stage.

"Ah, what a fool..." A desolate sigh sounded behind him.

"You're Zhang Fu?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the tall, burly man. His fists were as big as sandbags.

Excellent. Getting beaten by those would definitely be a horrific sight.

That was exactly the effect he wanted!

He smugly glanced at Xiao Qixiu. When the audience began questioning things, surely this referee could not just stand by and watch him die!

As long as Xiao Qixiu saved him, could that rotten thing inside his body possibly keep ignoring it? Zhang Fu cupped his fists. "Greetings, Senior Brother Xu. I cultivate a technique called the 'Great Golden Copper Body.' Its physical defense is exceptional. I hope Senior Brother will not hesitate to enlighten me."

Great Golden Copper Body?

Xu Xiaoshou staggered. Wasn't that a defensive spiritual technique?

You were supposed to be someone who was going to beat me up! How could you cultivate something like that? What a waste of that fine physique.

Xiao Qixiu immediately laughed. How could he not know what Xu Xiaoshou was plotting? With a wave of his hand, he said, "The match begins!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt this would not do. He absolutely had to force the other party to attack, or his first plan would go down the drain! He provocatively crooked a finger at Zhang Fu, lowered himself into a slight horse stance, and indicated: if the enemy did not move, neither would he.

Zhang Fu smiled faintly, gave a low shout, and likewise sank into a horse stance. Spiritual energy surged around him, and his skin turned a golden-bronze color.

For a time, the scene fell into a stalemate.

The audience burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, I admit it, these two are something else. This is supposed to be a match—what the hell are they doing?"

"Zhang Fu's 'Great Golden Copper Technique' only has a counterattack in its final move, right? What is Xu Xiaoshou doing? Doesn't he have offensive skills? Go on, attack!"

"Attack? You clearly don't know what Xu Sandbag means. My Xu Xiaoshou has only ever been on the receiving end of beatings. If he goes one day without getting beaten, his whole body starts itching!"

"Haha, I can't take it anymore. I could watch them hold horse stances until dark!"

Xiao Qixiu's face had gone black. Over an entire year, he had probably not scowled as many times as he had today.

What were these people doing? This was a match! "Contestants, please note that the match time limit is only two quarters of an hour!"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned. Zhang Fu had quite the composure. It seemed he had no intention of attacking. Was his first plan really going to die without even starting? Did he really have to vent the scorching energy within him by dealing damage? He could attack, but he was afraid this guy would not be able to endure it!

Xu Xiaoshou turned to look at Xiao Qixiu. "You really won't save me?"

"Hehe!" Xiao Qixiu answered with a hehe.

"If I attack, do you believe he'll die?" Xu Xiaoshou pointed at Zhang Fu.

Zhang Fu's face turned green. His legs went numb, and he forcibly held back the urge to jump off the stage.

You two lovebirds can settle your grudges yourselves. What kind of hero drags me into it?

Xiao Qixiu's gaze turned cold. This brat dared threaten him?

"Go ahead and attack. If Zhang Fu dies, I lose!"

Zhang Fu felt his legs trembling. Damn it, I'm not a bargaining chip—I'm a living, breathing person!

Everyone at the referee seats backstage was stunned.

"Boss Xiao is angry?!"

"Damn, Xu Xiaoshou is something else. He actually got Boss Xiao to talk like that. I'm impressed!"

"Hehe, I told you Xu Xiaoshou was capable, didn't I? Though now I'm rather worried about that kid over there."

"Ninth Realm... he should be able to take it... right?"

On the arena stage, Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow slightly at Xiao Qixiu's words. There was not even a trace of Zhang Fu in his eyes as he stared straight at Xiao Qixiu.

"Are you sure?"

He activated the aura of the "Emberlight Fire Seed" within him and slammed a fist into the ground.

Bang! A huge crater burst open in the arena, and scorching energy exploded outward, burning the ground within several yards black.

"I really did take drugs. No one can withstand it!" Xu Xiaoshou flexed his arm, displaying his muscles.

Just that?

Xiao Qixiu was utterly disdainful.

Zhang Fu was exhausted. He saw how casually Xu Xiaoshou had done it, and he saw Xiao Qixiu's disdain—but more than anything, he saw his own bleak, freezing future!

Help! Should I keep stubbornly holding on or not?

Xu Xiaoshou's punch had scared him half to death, and it made the audience's eyelids twitch as well.

"My heavens, that destructive power..."

"Poor Zhang Fu. He won three straight matches while defending the stage in the breakout round, yet facing Xu Xiaoshou, he doesn't have a shred of presence."

"Please, look at Zhang Fu before you talk! His legs are shaking!"

Zhang Fu's legs really did tremble. Not only his legs—his voice shook too. "Senior Brother Xu, please show mercy. Don't take my earlier words about 'not hesitating to enlighten me' seriously. A few moves will be enough."

He pleaded in a low voice, "Give me some face..."

The audience immediately erupted with laughter. Seeing Xiao Qixiu say nothing, Xu Xiaoshou charged forward. "Enjoy the final moments of your life!"

Xiao Qixiu stared at him intently. Though he felt the brat was joking, what if he himself took it seriously? Boom! Xu Xiaoshou punched Zhang Fu in the chest, driving a surging wave of scorching energy into him. He felt the exhilarating pleasure of release.

Sizzle—

Zhang Fu's hair curled, and even his clothes were somewhat scorched black, yet he did not budge an inch.

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised. He had actually taken a punch carrying fifty percent of his strength? Not bad!

Since venting it truly worked, and the other party's defense was so strong, there was no need to save himself anymore. Save Zhang Fu instead!

"Huff!"

He took a deep breath, sank his qi into his dantian, and for the first time, drew upon spiritual energy while attacking.

Terrifying, visible scorching power gathered in his left hand, as though an invisible fire were burning there. The space above it twisted slightly.

Zhang Fu's pupils contracted.

Hold on. I have to hold on!

Once I take this palm strike, I'll forfeit. It absolutely won't be embarrassing!

Xu Xiaoshou spoke calmly. "A fist, a palm!"

Zhang Fu panicked and immediately changed his words. "I forfei—"

Boom! A streak of light flashed as Xu Xiaoshou smashed a fist into his chest. The air exploded, visible heat waves burst forth, and the stones on the arena stage instantly shattered and flipped over, blackened beyond belief.

With that palm strike, surging spiritual energy was like a giant swatting a mosquito, sending Zhang Fu flying with a single slap.

The man did not even finish speaking before he was knocked unconscious and hurled off the arena. After crashing onto the ground, he was dragged through it, gouging out a long trench.

Puff! Puff!

The instant his body came to a stop, sparks flew everywhere, and Zhang Fu's entire body burst into flames.

"Save him!" Xiao Qixiu roared.

The white-clad healers did not even need his command. The instant Zhang Fu flew away, they had already moved. Some put out the flames, while others treated his injuries, each performing their duty.

"Ah, that felt good!"

Xu Xiaoshou took out a Red-Gold Pill and sniffed it, groaning comfortably.

That palm strike had blasted away nearly half the scorching power within his body. Though he was still in pain, at least he had vented his fury!

He glanced at Chief Referee Xiao, who could only glare at him, his eyes full of innocence. "I already held back. Otherwise, he'd be dead."

Xiao Qixiu: "..."

The audience: "..."