Courage and Martial Valor

Houzi was beaten so badly that the No. 9 Middle School Martial Arts Team members were all frightened.

They trained martial arts for a better life. The Martial Arts Team offered generous benefits, but it was not worth risking their lives for.

The second deputy to take the stage was Wang Tiesong. He practiced the Golden Bull Fist, which gave him both strength and endurance. Though he was not as large as Bai Xiang, the difference was not too great.

Wang Tiesong was clearly frightened. He fought timidly, still hoping to circle around Bai Xiang and wear him down.

Despite his massive weight, Bai Xiang was remarkably explosive. He drove Wang Tiesong into a corner and unleashed a savage combination. One hook smashed into Wang Tiesong's jaw, sending his mouthguard flying.

Wang Tiesong slowly slumped into a heap against the glass wall and passed out.

The No. 9 Middle School students had still been cheering for their team, but that punch reduced them to dead silence.

The medical staff hurried onto the stage, and Gao Wu naturally went up to help. Wang Tiesong was such a huge man, completely limp where he lay; lifting him was no easy task, and they truly needed help.

Gao Wu even helped wipe the blood from Wang Tiesong's mouth, conveniently casting an Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation on him as well.

Bai Xiang's punches were too heavy. The poor kid's jaw had been shattered, and Gao Wu could not help sighing inwardly.

At the end of the day, even if they had no friendship, they had no deep grudge either. At most, they simply disliked the sight of each other.

The human body was both precious and fragile. Every time it suffered a devastating blow, even if it healed, it would consume a great deal of one's vitality.

With injuries as severe as Wang Tiesong's, even a full recovery would greatly drain his vitality. To put it bluntly, Wang Tiesong's path in martial arts would most likely end here.

The large-scale training of Martial Artists was meant to combat Strange Beasts. The path of a Martial Artist had always been this cruel.

Martial arts leagues were an important part of the Martial Artist training system. The Middle School League was relatively mild, however, and consecutive serious injuries like this were extremely rare.

The No. 9 Middle School Martial Arts Team members all lowered their heads. No one dared look at their coach, Huang Hai.

Two people had been seriously injured in a row. They had truly been scared stiff. Now, they were terrified that the coach would call their names.

Huang Hai's face darkened. His students were such cowards—it was utterly humiliating.

His gaze swept over Gao Wu. He found that this kid showed no fear at all; instead, his face was full of eagerness to try.

Then he looked at Huang Long, who sat there with his head hanging low. Though he was a big fellow, he had hunched his shoulders and bent his back, nearly curling himself into a ball.

Huang Hai had originally intended to send his nephew up to show his face, at least to let everyone at No. 9 Middle School see Huang Long's courage. But in Huang Long's current state, going up would only bring disgrace.

If he were truly beaten into a serious injury, that would be troublesome too.

Gao Wu, on the other hand, had a touch of true martial courage that made Huang Hai see him in a new light.

After considering it for a moment, Huang Hai said to Gao Wu, "Today, you'll be the lead fighter. Go on. Don't disgrace No. 9 Middle School."

"Thank you, Coach, for giving me this chance. I'll do everything I can to win!" Gao Wu did not dare claim he could definitely beat Bai Xiang, but he was more than willing to go up and trade blows with that savage fellow.

Huang Hai did not want Gao Wu to lose too badly. At this point, his own dignity mattered more. Seeing Gao Wu so proactive and completely fearless also pleased him.

He patiently analyzed Bai Xiang's condition for Gao Wu. "Bai Xiang's eyes are bloodshot. He may have injected Red Dragon Serum, which can increase muscle strength by around thirty percent for a short time. This drug is effective, but it consumes an enormous amount of energy. With Bai Xiang's massive body, he won't be able to keep it up for long.

"Bai Xiang is being so brutal because he's deliberately establishing his dominance, making people afraid to fight him to the death. That way, he can defeat five opponents in the shortest possible time."

As he spoke, he glanced at Bai Xiang inside the ring, assessed the other man's approximate condition, and only then continued, "Your strengths are your resistance to blows and your endurance. Once you're up there, pay attention to your footwork. Don't give Bai Xiang a chance to grab and throw you.

"If you can hold on until the third round, you'll have a chance to win."

"Coach, I understand."

That was what Gao Wu had been thinking as well. He simply had not known the effects of Red Dragon Serum. With Huang Hai's explanation, he had a clearer picture now.

Greater body weight and bigger muscles were huge advantages, but they also meant enormous expenditure.

A three-minute round did not sound long, but if one kept punching and moving nonstop, the physical drain was astonishing.

Especially since Bai Xiang had injected a drug, his stamina consumption would be at least doubled.

Huang Hai lowered his voice and said to Gao Wu, "I have a Neural Overclocking Agent here, commonly known as Flying Squirrel Drug. After injection, it can heighten your five senses, enhance the speed of your neural responses, and bring your concentration to an extraordinary level."

"Flying Squirrel Drug lasts for about an hour and does not consume much. It can also improve your neural response afterward. There's a huge gap between you and Bai Xiang. If you want to win, you have to be ruthless with yourself."

Gao Wu was tempted, but he truly did not trust Huang Hai.

This sort of combat drug acted directly on the central nervous system. It could easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier and damage brain tissue, making its side effects even worse.

The Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation could resolve injuries to the body and internal organs, but it might not be able to heal the damage caused by this kind of neural drug.

With the Boundless Merit Book, he could advance steadily. There was no need to take radical risks, much less care too much about the outcome of a single match.

"Thank you, Coach. The drug is too expensive—I can't bear to use it," Gao Wu said. "Let me try first."

"Suit yourself." Huang Hai did not force him. The league did not prohibit drug injections, but neither did it encourage them.

How to weigh the choice was entirely up to the Martial Artist. Forcing students to inject drugs was a serious crime.

Gao Wu tied on his black headband, performed a few warm-up movements, then stepped lightly into the ring.

The middle-aged referee came over and carefully checked his headband, fingerless gloves, and shoes. The headband was made from special materials and could effectively protect the Taiyang Acupoint and the back of the head.

The fingerless gloves were also a form of protection for both competitors.

The competition shoes looked like cloth shoes, but were actually designed like sock covers. Their material held its shape well while remaining extremely soft.

First, they protected the toes; second, they looked good.

The league had been held for decades, and its various rules were highly refined.

The martial arts uniforms and shoes used in competition were all standardized, with requirements that they be dignified and attractive. There were also certain standards for the image of Martial Artists.

Overall, the goal was to display the good spirit of Martial Artists and convey positive values to the public.

Gao Wu wore a loose gray-white martial arts uniform, its snowy-white inner collar and cuffs visible beneath it. Standing at the center of the ring, he was tall and straight, presenting an excellent appearance.

In particular, Gao Wu's brows and eyes carried a surging, soaring fighting spirit, far surpassing the two youths before him.

The giant screen at the venue clearly displayed the subtle expressions on Gao Wu's face.

The No. 9 Middle School students, who had been stifled for so long, could not help applauding and cheering for Gao Wu.

Many people had come specifically for Gao Wu. Seeing him enter, they were all extremely excited. Some even shouted Gao Wu's nickname: "Gao Sheng will win! Gao Sheng will win!"

Not many people actually knew this niche nickname. Yet when it suddenly rang out at this moment, it prompted many others to join in on their own.

No one liked failure. As students of No. 9 Middle School, at this moment they all desperately wanted victory. They wanted Gao Wu to ruthlessly defeat the fierce Bai Xiang.

The likes and dislikes of youths were simply this plain and straightforward.

Many others even thought Gao Sheng was Gao Wu's name, and they shouted along with them.

The cries of "Gao Sheng will win" quickly became a unified chant, echoing and surging through the enormous Martial Arts Arena as though it might lift off the arena's ceiling.

Every other sound was swallowed by the thunderous roar of thousands.

Even Song Mingyue, watching the match before her tablet, could feel the fervent atmosphere at the scene.

She paid no attention to any of it, merely watching Gao Wu intently as he cupped his fists toward the four directions in salute.

The lofty fighting spirit shining between the youth's brows was, at this moment, firmer and more powerful than the thunderous cries around him.

Shen Yue, seated in the back row of the Martial Arts Team, was recording this scene on his phone. He had already decided to make a series of videos with Gao Wu as the protagonist.

At this moment, he involuntarily joined the crowd in shouting, "Gao Sheng, victory!"

No matter how loudly he shouted, his hand holding the phone remained steady. He had to record this—record the journey of a youth's passionate growth! Even if Gao Wu failed, such a story would still possess heart-stirring power.

At the center of the ring, Bai Xiang looked down at Gao Wu. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You're that guy who saved someone. Heh..."

A contemptuous smile hung on Bai Xiang's broad, fleshy face. He wagged a finger at Gao Wu. "This is a ring, not a place for internet celebrities to put on a show!"

Gao Wu bared his teeth in a smile and warmly pointed at Bai Xiang's big face. "Classmate, wipe your face."

He paused before slowly adding, "Wipe it clean. In a moment, I'm going to show all over your face."

"You little..." Bai Xiang was already irritable from the injection, and he instantly flew into a rage. His large face flushed crimson, and even his neck turned bright red.

Bai Xiang, burning red with rage, was not laughable at all. Instead, he resembled a furious beast, every inch of him radiating a ferocious presence that inspired fear.

Many students watching the giant screen were frightened by Bai Xiang's savage appearance, and even the unified chants grew somewhat scattered...