Glory Belongs to the Victor

With a dull bang, Gao Wu's powerful sweeping kick was caught by Bai Xiang's face.

Bai Xiang's head jolted violently, blood and sweat bursting from his head and face. Yet he still took the kick head-on with his hard skull and thick trapezius muscles.

He even had the strength to counterattack. The instant the heavy kick struck him, he exerted both arms and clamped tightly around Gao Wu's leg.

Gao Wu had not expected Bai Xiang to be so hard to put down. His leg had gone numb from the kick, and when he tried to pull it back and retreat, he was just a moment too slow.

Bai Xiang had risked everything for this opportunity. How could he let Gao Wu escape so easily?

His huge hands gripped Gao Wu's calf. He suddenly bent at the waist and hurled backward with all his strength. He himself crashed heavily to the ground, while Gao Wu traced a great arc over his arms and was violently slammed away.

This was essentially a shoulder throw, only used in reverse. The throw made full use of his own body as a lever, wringing every bit of force from it.

Flung into the air, Gao Wu had no way to resist. He could only curl up to protect his head while turning his body as much as possible, slamming into the rubber floor on his side.

Another tremendous dull crash rang out. Gao Wu's impact visibly deformed the rubber flooring.

The many No. 9 Middle School students had been thrilled, certain Gao Wu was about to win. But Bai Xiang suddenly turned the tables, and it looked as though Gao Wu was about to be thrown to death!

Gasps and cries rose from the crowd in wave after wave!

The referee in charge of the match narrowed his eyes as well. With such enormous force behind that impact, the No. 9 Middle School contestant was likely in serious trouble.

In a low-level competition like the Middle School Martial Arts League, if a contestant were beaten to death on the spot, the referee would bear a certain degree of responsibility.

The referee had intended to stop the match immediately, but he saw that Gao Wu, who had nearly been smashed into a meat patty, still had bright eyes, steady breathing, and a calm expression.

Even Gao Wu's posture maintained a stable frame without being rigid, which meant he had not only remained conscious, but could still control his body.

The referee was astonished, but also relieved. As long as no one was dead, it was fine.

Gao Wu's entire body had gone numb from the throw. Fortunately, he had adjusted his body beforehand and assumed a defensive posture. Together with his formidable physique, he had somehow endured the blow.

Bai Xiang rolled over and sprang up. He clasped his hands together, leaped into the air, and smashed them fiercely toward Gao Wu's face.

Having suffered a major setback once, Bai Xiang did not dare let his guard down again. Now that he had seized the chance, he intended to finish Gao Wu in one strike.

His three-hundred-plus-pound body soared high into the air. Gao Wu's vision went dark as the massive man completely enveloped him. He hurriedly rolled sideways, and Bai Xiang's crushing fists slammed down almost brushing his ears.

Another wave of cries erupted throughout the arena.

After putting everything into that punch and smashing it into the ground, Bai Xiang's face twisted slightly. He had not expected Gao Wu to still have the strength to resist. Rolling back up, he chased Gao Wu and unleashed a barrage of punches.

This time, Gao Wu could only raise both arms to block and evade. Bai Xiang's fists were incredibly heavy, battering Gao Wu's arms numb and sore, forcing him to retreat again and again to bleed off the force.

After raining down dozens of punches like a violent storm, Bai Xiang still failed to knock Gao Wu down. He had not even truly injured him.

Instead, Bai Xiang had exhausted a great deal of stamina in his frenzied assault, and his breathing had become ragged and unsteady.

The Sixth Middle School coach at one corner of the ring shouted, "Steady! Stay steady..."

Bai Xiang ignored the coach, though he did calm down somewhat. He gathered his strength and punched again. A straight punch precisely shot through the gap between Gao Wu's arms. Gao Wu leaned his head back to evade, missing Bai Xiang's fist by a hair's breadth.

That precise command of distance drew considerable admiration from several experts present.

At that moment, however, Bai Xiang's four fingers suddenly sprang out like switchblades and jabbed straight at Gao Wu's eye.

The strike was sudden and vicious. Bai Xiang's fingers were not only blade-sharp, but carried the explosive variation of inch-force. Even over a distance of only a few inches, they could erupt with terrifying power.

Fortunately, Gao Wu shut his eyes and lowered his head, avoiding having his eye gouged out on the spot. Still, his eyelid was torn open, and his brow bone was pierced clean through. Blood immediately began to flow.

The No. 9 Middle School students erupted in furious curses.

"Foul!"

"Despicable..."

The Martial Arts League rules were simple: strikes to the back of the head and the eyes were forbidden. Bai Xiang had clearly violated the rules.

No matter how much the No. 9 Middle School Martial Arts Team members disliked Gao Wu, they now shared a common enemy and cursed loudly together. Some even shouted for the referee to stop the match.

After hesitating briefly, the referee ignored them.

Bai Xiang paid no attention to the shouting outside the ring. The moment his strike landed, he stepped forward to pursue without hesitation. Though one of Gao Wu's eyes had been jabbed, leaving his vision dark and pain shooting through him in waves, his mind remained exceptionally calm.

Gao Wu caught Bai Xiang's movements with his remaining eye and had already made his judgment. As Bai Xiang stepped in, Gao Wu's thigh shifted slightly, and his lower leg cracked out like a whip, striking Bai Xiang squarely in the groin.

Even with underwear made of special protective material, Bai Xiang could not withstand such a vicious whip kick. The agonizing pain immediately slowed his movements.

Gao Wu slipped beneath Bai Xiang's armpit and circled around like a nimble snake coiling around a tree, arriving behind Bai Xiang. He locked both arms around Bai Xiang's exceptionally thick neck, hooked his legs onto Bai Xiang's legs, and completed a rear naked choke.

A rear naked choke did not cut off a person's breathing. It compressed the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck, cutting off the blood supply and oxygen to the brain.

Even if Bai Xiang had been injected with drugs, as long as he could not circulate source power, the rear naked choke would be enough to subdue him within ten seconds.

Bai Xiang immediately realized things were going badly. He repeatedly drove his elbows backward at Gao Wu's ribs, but the angle gave him no room to generate force, and the attacks posed no real threat to Gao Wu.

The spectators in the stands grew excited. Even the most inexperienced among them knew that, at this level of combat, securing a rear naked choke meant victory!

The Sixth Middle School coach panicked as well, shouting, "Jump! Smash him to death! Smash him to death!"

Bai Xiang circled around the ring several times and found no way to deal with Gao Wu. He then strode toward the glass wall.

With his terrifying explosive strength, Bai Xiang charged up the glass wall, taking two steps against it before reaching a height of over four meters. Only then did he arch backward and plunge violently toward the ring.

Every spectator stared wide-eyed at the sight. Bai Xiang crashed down from four meters high with Gao Wu on his back.

With Bai Xiang's three-hundred-plus-pound weight, falling from that height, even if it did not kill Gao Wu, it would be enough to knock him unconscious!

The Sixth Middle School coach was overjoyed. "This time, Gao Wu definitely won't be able to take it..."

This was different from Bai Xiang's previous throwing technique. Back then, Gao Wu had been able to adjust his posture and bleed off the force. Now, he was riding on Bai Xiang's back; no matter how he adjusted, his spine would take the impact.

That blow might even break Gao Wu's spine... If Gao Wu were smart, he would let go in midair and protect himself.

To everyone's surprise, Gao Wu did not let go. Instead, he locked even more tightly around Bai Xiang's neck. His one open eye was filled with unshakable determination.

Another dull crash rang out as Bai Xiang smashed Gao Wu brutally into the ground. The violent shock even sent the surrounding steel-framed glass walls trembling.

To everyone's surprise, Gao Wu was still conscious, his arms locked tightly around Bai Xiang's neck.

Gao Wu looked like a giant python, wrapped tightly around Bai Xiang and relentlessly constricting him.

The enormous impact had made Gao Wu vomit blood in great mouthfuls, dyeing Bai Xiang's neck a vivid red.

Bai Xiang had not given up either. He continued to roll and struggle with all his might, but he could not shake off Gao Wu, who clung to him like a huge python.

The entire audience rose tensely to watch. The most critical moment had arrived; it all depended on which side could hold on longer.

What had seemed like an unremarkable Middle School Martial Arts League match had everyone's blood boiling beyond control.

The fighting spirit, tenacity, and endurance displayed by both combatants moved everyone deeply.

As Bai Xiang rolled about, he gradually lost his strength. Yet Gao Wu encouraged him by his ear, "Come on, hold on. If you go soft like this, I really am going to show you up..."

Bai Xiang's mind had gone completely hazy. He could no longer hear what Gao Wu was saying, much less spare the energy to feel angry or enraged.

Before Gao Wu could finish speaking, Bai Xiang's body went limp, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out completely.

After checking Bai Xiang's condition, the referee hurriedly pried Gao Wu's arms away. "That's enough. You won."

Gao Wu slowly sat up. Looking at the unconscious Bai Xiang, he kindly reminded him, "Wake up. This ain't how you sleep..."

Gao Wu had deliberately imitated the Yunling accent, and there was a touch of comedy beneath its plain, honest sound.

Bai Xiang did not respond, and the Sixth Middle School Martial Arts Team members rushing forward did not find it amusing at all. They all glared furiously at Gao Wu.

At that moment, cheers like a mountain avalanche and a tsunami erupted throughout the arena.

The emotions that No. 9 Middle School's teachers and students had suppressed for so long burst forth all at once. Quite a few girls even cried in excitement at the sight of Gao Wu's bloodied face on the screen.

Though the combat level of both sides had been low, the battle had twisted and turned again and again. Their courage, resilience, and resourcefulness left a profound impression.

Song Mingyue, watching the livestream online, remained calm. The outcome of this battle had been within her expectations.

In a dormitory at Anjing University, thousands of miles away, Shang Qingjun was also watching the livestream. Yet she was not excited. Her bright eyes were full of worry for Gao Wu.

Others only cared about victory and defeat. She cared more about Gao Wu's safety.

Gao Wu got to his feet and walked around the ring, raising his arms in acknowledgment in all directions. His face was smeared with blood, one eye socket split open and his eyelid bruised purple. He looked rather bedraggled, yet it could not conceal his radiant smile.

The roaring cheers surged like waves, so fervent and impassioned that they filled him with excitement and emotion. Compared to saving people a few days ago, this was the glory he had won through his own hard-earned skill!

At that moment, he felt like the king of this place, crowned in boundless glory. The feeling was so wonderful that he could not help but delight in it and lose himself in its intoxication...

Only then did Shang Qingjun breathe a sigh of relief.

Yet she also felt a little sorry for Gao Wu. This victory had come at a terrible cost. She wondered whether Xiao Wu had suffered any internal injuries...

The beauty beside her clicked her tongue in admiration. "Our little brother is seriously ruthless. I love it, I love it!"

On the ring, Gao Wu was actually looking at his Boundless Merit Book. Large amounts of Merit +1... emerged across its blank pages. Clearly, this Merit came from the spectators on site...

(The new book's ranking has dropped so much. Please keep reading and send monthly votes~ Charge, everyone~)