Standing and letting you hit, would you be broken?

The time for one incense stick to burn passed quickly.

On the training grounds, the battles on the three arenas began simultaneously.

"Second round, first match, Zhang Meng versus Wang Wu!"

As the steward announced, Zhang Meng, last year's fifth-place finisher in the grand competition, who was as imposing as an iron tower, and another gang expert ascended the central arena.

The fight started fast and ended even faster.

Facing the powerfully strong Zhang Meng, the gang member named Wang Wu lasted less than ten moves.

Zhang Meng seized an opening and landed a Savage Bull Fist strike on Wang Wu's chest.

Wang Wu flew out of the arena like a cannonball, crashing to the ground with a caved-in chest. He looked like he wouldn't survive.

Zhang Meng's dominant advancement made the atmosphere below the stage even more somber.

The following few matches were also mostly one-sided.

Those who could stand out from the hundred-person free-for-all were not weak, but the gap in strength was still obvious.

Soon, it was Lu Chen's turn.

"Tenth group, Lu Chen, versus Zhang San!"

When the steward called out these two names, the area below the arena on the south side was instantly surrounded by gang members who came to watch.

Compared to the previous few matches with no suspense, this one was more worth watching.

On one side was the newcomer "Lu Iron Skin," who had just made a name for himself in the free-for-all, known for his strength and defense.

On the other side was a long-established fierce general of the War Hall, "Mad Dog" Zhang San.

Everyone wanted to see if the newcomer's skin was harder, or if the mad dog's teeth were sharper.

"Kid, I heard you can take a beating? I hope your bones are harder than my saber!"

Zhang San, carrying a Ring-pommel Saber, jumped onto the arena first.

His build was lean and his muscles were solid. His eyes were bloodshot, exuding a crazy aura.

Lu Chen said nothing, silently walked onto the arena, and stood opposite Zhang San.

He still didn't draw his saber, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, adopting a defenseless posture.

"You're courting death!"

Zhang San, seeing this, became furious.

Lu Chen's posture was a naked display of contempt towards him.

"Kill!"

Without any superfluous nonsense, Zhang San roared, stomped his feet, and shot towards Lu Chen.

The Ring-pommel Saber in his hand drew an arc through the air.

It didn't aim for Lu Chen's vital points, but instead, at a tricky angle, slashed towards Lu Chen's groin.

A vicious move, disregarding consequences.

This was Zhang San's fighting style, appearing insane and lawless, each move a life-for-life gamble, aiming to crush the opponent's psychological defense with his own momentum.

Facing this insidious blade, Lu Chen's eyes remained calm.

He didn't choose to clash head-on, merely shifted his foot half a step, tilted his body slightly, and evaded the strike.

Failing to hit his mark, Zhang San's offense became even more ferocious.

The Ring-pommel Saber in his hand transformed into a curtain of blades, chopping, hacking, slashing, and thrusting, each move targeting Lu Chen's vital areas.

His saber technique was utterly without pattern, relying entirely on sheer ferocity to hack and slash wildly.

Lu Chen's response, however, surprised everyone.

He gave up.

He gave up all thoughts of counter-attacking.

Facing Zhang San's storm-like assault, he simply kept dodging and blocking on the Arena.

When he could dodge, he did so with the smallest possible movement.

When he couldn't dodge, he used his arms, shoulders, and back, the parts with the thickest muscle, to take the hits directly.

Clang! Bang! Clang!

The dull thuds of impact echoed endlessly.

Zhang San's Ring-pommel Saber struck Lu Chen's body again and again.

The result, however, made Zhang San himself feel alarmed.

Each strike felt like hacking into tough leather.

The immense recoil vibrated up his arm, making his wrist go numb.

And Lu Chen, apart from his clothes being slashed open, revealing his bronze skin underneath, was completely unharmed.

The chops, strong enough to Split Stone and Crack Stele, only left fleeting White Marks on him.

"Is... is this even human?"

The spectators below stared, mouths agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

They had seen impressive Body Cultivation before, but never to this extent.

To withstand the full force of a same-level Martial Artist's cleave with one's bare body was simply unheard of.

"I don't believe it! Break for me!"

Zhang San was truly enraged, his eyes turning blood red.

He poured all his strength into the blade in his hands, unleashing a frenzy of attacks on Lu Chen's body.

Chops, punches, kicks, headbutts...

He used every method at his disposal, sticking close to Lu Chen.

No matter how he attacked, Lu Chen remained like a reef, unmoving.

On the contrary, Zhang San himself, under the intense assault, began to breathe heavily, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

The speed and power of his swings visibly declined.

His arms grew numb and sore from the recoil.

His tiger's mouth was even cracked, oozing blood.

"Are you... out of strength?"

Lu Chen, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

His voice was calm, yet it struck Zhang San's heart like a heavy hammer.

Zhang San's movements faltered, and he looked at Lu Chen.

Though Lu Chen appeared somewhat disheveled, his breathing was steady, his eyes clear, showing no sign of exhaustion at all.

He was playing.

He had been toying with him from the very beginning.

A wave of immense humiliation and powerlessness washed over Zhang San, drowning his reason.

"Aaaargh! I'll fight you to the death!"

Zhang San roared, using his last ounce of strength. He gripped the blade with both hands, leaped high, and with all his weight, brought the sword down in a powerful cleave towards Lu Chen's crown.

This was his final strike, gambling everything.

Facing this desperate blade, Lu Chen slowly raised his right arm.

He didn't use any technique, just a simple block.

Clang!!!

A piercing clash of metal exploded.

Zhang San's Ring-pommel Saber landed squarely on Lu Chen's forearm.

Sparks flew.

The edge of the Ring-pommel Saber, due to the immense impact, chipped and broke open a gap.

Yet, on Lu Chen's arm, there was only a White Mark.

Zhang San froze.

Looking at his chipped saber, then at the unharmed Lu Chen, the madness in his eyes receded, replaced by endless fear and despair.

All his pride, all his reliance, had become a joke before this opponent.

His mental defenses shattered completely in that moment.

Now.

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes as he seized the instant Zhang San was exhausted and dazed.

He flipped his blocking arm, his fingers like iron pincers, clamping down hard on Zhang San's wrist holding the saber.

Then, his left hand balled into a fist, his waist and back generating power, a simple, unadorned straight punch, carrying immense force, slammed heavily into Zhang San's chest.

Bang!!!

A deafening sound.

Zhang San's body was hit head-on like by a battering ram, his chest caving in visibly.

Without even a scream, he was sent flying backward in a parabola, crashing heavily below the Arena, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The entire venue fell into dead silence.

Everyone was stunned into speechlessness by the shocking scene before them.

A fierce warrior from the War Hall, known for his frenzied fighting style, had been worn down and broken by the most pure, most primal method, then punched off the Arena.

This was no longer just a victory.

This is a crushing.

It was a blow delivered under absolute strength and absolute defense.

On the arena.

Lu Chen slowly retracted his fist, glanced at Zhang San, who had fainted below the stage, then looked at the white mark on his arm and blew on it lightly.

Then, he raised his head, his calm gaze sweeping over the stunned audience below.

All those who met his gaze involuntarily lowered their heads.

At this moment, no one dared to treat him as an ordinary newcomer anymore.

On the high viewing platform, Zhao Tieshan looked at the figure on the arena, which was not burly but as steady as a mountain, his eyes filled with admiration.

But mixed within this admiration was a hint of deep doubt.

This level of body cultivation had already surpassed the scope that Stone Crushing Palm could achieve.

What other secrets was this kid named Lu Chen hiding?