"Ah!"
Though the medicine had dulled some of the pain, such a grievous injury still drew a shriek from Xiong Wu like a ghost's wail. The tremendous force slamming into his side sent his massive body staggering helplessly to the right. His center was wide open, leaving his throat completely exposed.
Chen Yue pressed his advantage, his steps following like a shadow. He moved half a step forward, twisted at the waist, and drove his shoulder through. His left fist shot from his hip like a dragon bursting from its cave, like an iron awl, and slammed into the throat Xiong Wu had exposed as pain threw his head back.
"Pfft!"
Another dull impact that made the teeth ache, mingled with the faint crack of cartilage. Chen Yue's fist sank deep beneath Xiong Wu's Adam's apple.
Xiong Wu's shrill howl was cut off as if by a blade, ending abruptly.
His eyes bulged, the bloodshot pupils filled with disbelieving terror and endless agony. His hands clawed uselessly at his throat, but he could make no sound. Only a wet, "Hrrk, hrrk," escaped as blood bubbled up.
His neck bent backward at a grotesque angle. His cervical vertebrae had clearly been broken by that punch.
The fight wasn't over!
Chen Yue knew that in a fight to the death, he couldn't give his opponent the slightest chance to catch his breath or strike back—especially not a desperate man who had taken some strange drug.
The force of the left punch that had crushed Xiong Wu's throat had not yet run its course when Chen Yue was already twisting with the momentum.
The power from his waist and hips surged into his right leg. It swung like a giant axe cleaving the heavens, slicing upward in a sharp arc with a shriek that tore through the air, and smashed into Xiong Wu's head as it hung limp from his broken neck.
"BANG!!!"
The impact was so dull and heavy it seemed to shake the world. Under the terrifying whip of Chen Yue's leg, Xiong Wu's enormous head visibly caved in and warped. The sound of his skull cracking rang clear.
A mixture of red and white sprayed from his ears, nose, mouth, and eyes.
The blow lifted Xiong Wu's massive body off the ground. He flew through the air like a battered sack, turning half a circle before crashing down with a "boom" at the edge of the arena, three zhang away. His limbs twitched a few times, then fell still.
His bloodshot eyes remained bulging and wide open, staring at the murky gray sky, but all life had left them. Only boundless deathly silence remained.
On the arena, Chen Yue slowly lowered his leg and straightened. His chest rose and fell slightly, his breathing a little ragged, but his gaze remained sharp as a blade.
He glanced at Xiong Wu's mangled corpse, making sure there was no life left in him. Then Chen Yue slowly turned around, his icy gaze passing over the silent arena and settling on Tang Qizheng, whose face had turned ashen in the Sea Shark Gang's seats.
On the Life-Death Arena, the victor lived, and the defeated died.
Chen Yue had won!
"Good!"
After a brief, deathly silence, Ma Jun's cheer, so excited his voice nearly cracked, shattered the suffocating stillness on the training grounds. It seemed to rouse all the spectators who had been stunned by what they had just witnessed.
A roar of noise erupted. Talk, gasps of astonishment, and cheers blended together, threatening to lift the roof off Nantong Martial Hall.
Everyone's eyes were now fixed on the young man at the center of the arena as he slowly relaxed his stance.
"Is Xiong Wu really dead?"
"Those last few moves... too fast, too brutal! He didn't give him a chance!"
"Chen Yue... He's not only skilled with his fists and feet. His grasp of the moment and his ruthless decisiveness under pressure are almost unbelievable in someone so young!"
"The Sea Shark Gang has taken a real hit this time! Tang Qizheng must be about to burst a blood vessel!"
"Iron Mountain Hall has really struck gold! A disciple with such decisive killing power and extraordinary talent has limitless potential!"
On the arena, Chen Yue paid no heed to the surrounding clamor. He slowly turned his head toward Gu Huaizhang, who stood on the high platform as the official witness.
Gu Huaizhang met his eyes and smiled. He gathered his inner force and raised his voice above the din. "The winner of the Life-Death Arena match is Chen Yue!"
With the announcement, the matter was settled.
Chen Yue cupped his fist toward Gu Huaizhang from afar, then turned and walked steadily down the bloodstained wooden steps. He headed for the Iron Mountain Hall group.
Zhou Jingfeng strode over to meet him, unable to suppress the broad smile on his face. He gave Chen Yue a hard pat on the shoulder, the force betraying his excitement. "Well done! Clean and decisive!"
Before the fight, Zhou Jingfeng had believed in Chen Yue's talent, but he couldn't help worrying.
Chen Yue's performance on the arena had far exceeded his expectations. It had been more than a display of strength—it was a complete victory of wit, resilience, and combat intelligence.
What more could one ask for in a disciple?
"Little Junior Brother, you were amazing!"
"That felt great! Let's see those bastards swagger around now!"
Yu Kan and Ma Jun rushed over as well, their faces alight with excitement. They pounded Chen Yue on the back and shoulders, their blows no lighter than Zhou Jingfeng's—a celebration, and a release of their pride and excitement.
On the other side, it was only now that Father Chen and Mother Chen finally felt their nerves, stretched taut to the breaking point, loosen all at once.
Father Chen let out a long breath, as if a thousand-jin burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His back even stooped a little, but a complicated, relieved smile appeared on his face.
Mother Chen could no longer hold back. Tears poured down her face like a burst dam, yet she made no sound as she smiled.
While the Iron Mountain Hall group celebrated their victory, the Sea Shark Gang members had already hurriedly wrapped Xiong Wu's body in a straw mat.
Led by Tang Qizheng, dozens of gang members approached with grim faces. The crowd parted automatically before them, and the noise quieted as they passed.
Tang Qizheng stopped a few paces in front of the Iron Mountain Hall group. His narrow eyes lingered on Chen Yue's face for several breaths. Only then did he turn to Zhou Jingfeng. His expression gave nothing away, and his voice revealed no emotion.
"Hall Master Zhou, congratulations. What happened today was because Xiong Wu lacked skill and died in the arena. No one else can be blamed. Let's put the matter between our two sides to rest here. What do you say?"
His words seemed to concede defeat, but anyone could hear that with so many eyes upon them and the Life-Death Contract in place, he had no choice but to accept the outcome.
Zhou Jingfeng met Tang Qizheng's gaze with a calm expression and gave a slight nod. "Gang Leader Tang, you speak plainly. Now that the grievance has been settled, I hope our two sides can keep to our own paths and live in peace from now on."
He didn't fear the Sea Shark Gang, but Iron Mountain Hall had few people to call its own, and he had family to protect. Unless necessary, he didn't want to make an irreconcilable enemy of such a local power.
Since Tang Qizheng had publicly agreed to put the matter to rest, Zhou Jingfeng was happy to let it go as well. Of course, he would be no less wary of the Sea Shark Gang.
After hearing Zhou Jingfeng's words, Tang Qizheng gave no answer. He merely tugged at the corner of his mouth, then looked at Chen Yue once more. This time, a smile of indescribable meaning spread across his face.
But in the end, he said nothing. He only swept his sleeve, turned, and strode out of Nantong Martial Hall with his men, without looking back.
Before you continue