"How is this turtle shell so tough? Is this really only a second-tier armor?"
Wang Lie watched from below the arena, his brows knitting. He had thought that a powerhouse like Li Mang could overcome all skill with sheer strength and split the Zhang Family fighter in two with just a few swings of his axe.
He hadn't expected the very first match to end up at a stalemate.
On the arena, Li Mang was growing more and more alarmed as the fight went on.
It felt less like he was chopping at a man and more like he was hacking at a chunk of indestructible refined iron.
Every time his giant axe rebounded, the shock numbed his tiger's mouth.
The Spiritual Power in his body was also draining rapidly under such intense bursts of strength.
By contrast, Zhang Tieshan had been dodging and defending the whole time, yet his breathing remained steady.
That Mother-Child Blade was even like a poisonous snake, striking him with sudden attacks whenever it got the chance.
If this dragged on, he'd be exhausted to death!
"No! I have to end this quickly!"
A vicious glint flashed in Li Mang's eyes. During a brief opening after their weapons clashed, he reached into his robe.
He quickly pulled out a crimson pill and swallowed it.
The Blood Burning Demonic Pill!
Boom—!
The moment the pill entered his stomach, Li Mang's already burly frame swelled another size.
His skin turned blood-red, and veins bulged all over his body like earthworms.
His eyes grew bloodshot, and a bestial roar burst from his throat.
"Die, you bastard!!"
His speed and strength instantly surged to more than twice what they had been.
Even the giant axe in his hands burst into blood-red flames.
He stepped forward, making the arena tremble, and appeared before Zhang Tieshan in an instant.
His giant axe swept out, trailing a shrill whistle through the air.
It was too fast!
Zhang Tieshan had no time to dodge. He could only raise the shield in his hands before his chest.
At the same time, he activated every defensive formation on his battle armor.
Boom!!
The crash sounded like thunder exploding on a clear day.
Zhang Tieshan and his shield were sent flying by the blow.
He slammed into the defensive barrier at the edge of the arena, then fell to the ground.
"Pfft!"
Zhang Tieshan spat out a mouthful of blood. A crack had appeared in the shield in his hands.
If he hadn't been protected by his top-grade battle armor, that blow would have shattered his internal organs.
"Hahaha! Come on, then! Why aren't you running anymore?!"
Laughing wildly, Li Mang advanced step by step, dragging his giant axe behind him.
The Zhang Family members below the arena erupted in an uproar. Zhang Yunshan gripped the armrest so tightly his hand clenched around it.
"Taking pills?"
Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes, a cold smile touching his lips. "A wicked drug that burns through your life. The burst of power is impressive, but it won't last long."
On the arena, Zhang Tieshan struggled to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He looked at Li Mang, who was advancing with overwhelming momentum, but there was no fear in his eyes.
Just as Li Mang raised his giant axe again, preparing to attack once more, Zhang Tieshan moved.
But he didn't choose to defend, nor did he try to flee.
Instead, he charged straight at the giant axe crashing down toward him!
"Looking to die!"
Li Mang was delighted and put even more strength into his swing.
Just as the axe blade was about to touch the top of Zhang Tieshan's head, Zhang Tieshan's figure suddenly blurred.
It wasn't teleportation. In that instant, he had detonated the "Thunder Shadow Array" on his battle armor.
His speed reached its absolute peak in a flash.
Whoosh!
He became a purple afterimage, skimming just above the ground.
He slid into Li Mang's arms, so close that he nearly brushed the axe blade.
"What?!"
Li Mang was horrified and tried to pull back, but his massive frame and heavy weapon had become a burden.
"Thud!"
A muffled sound rang out as a sharp blade sank into flesh.
The Mother Blade in Zhang Tieshan's hand plunged deep into Li Mang's lower abdomen.
But instead of pulling it out, he immediately channeled his Spiritual Power.
He detonated the Thunder Fire Array engraved inside the blade.
"Explode!"
Boom—!
A mass of purple-red flames erupted in Li Mang's abdomen.
Even Li Mang, raging in his frenzied state, couldn't endure the agony.
He howled, and the giant axe slipped from his hands.
But it wasn't over.
Zhang Tieshan released the Mother Blade, turned, and circled behind Li Mang. The Child Blade, which had already flown free and spun through the air, seemed to answer his call. It stabbed into Li Mang's neck from behind.
Blood gushed out like a fountain.
Li Mang's massive body stiffened, and a "gurgle, gurgle" sound came from his throat.
His blood-red eyes were filled with unwillingness and disbelief.
Then, as if all the strength had been drained from him, he crashed to the ground.
The entire arena fell silent.
Only the sea wind continued to howl.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the Zhang Family man on the arena, drenched in blood.
Yet he still stood tall.
He'd won?
That Zhang Family cultivator, who'd seemed to be at an absolute disadvantage, had actually turned the tables in dire straits and killed the pill-enhanced Li Mang?!
"We won! We won!"
After a brief silence, the Zhang Family erupted into deafening cheers.
Zhang Tieshan pulled out the Mother-Child Blades, picked up the shield from the ground, and grinned toward Zhang Chen.
His smile was somewhat grim, but it brimmed with pride.
"Useless bastard! Damn it!"
On the Wang Family's viewing platform, Wang Lie watched what had happened.
He was so furious that he smashed the teacup in his hand against the ground.
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