Battle Against Jackie Chun

With the preliminaries settled, the World Martial Arts Tournament's quarterfinals began amid the eager anticipation of the masses.

After the rain, the air on Papaya Island was exceptionally fresh.

The open-air arena glimmered beneath the sunlight. The stands were packed with people, and the cheers rose higher and higher like crashing tidal waves.

There was not much suspense in the first few quarterfinal matches.

Although Yamcha was still a tragic figure, he was slightly stronger than in the original story. Unfortunately, his opponent was that mysterious old man—Jackie Chun.

After unleashing a flashy Wolf Fang Fist, Yamcha was effortlessly toyed with by Jackie Chun's Afterimage Technique before being pushed off the arena with a single palm strike.

Next, Krillin relied on his physical trait of "having no nose, so he wasn't afraid of bad smells" to narrowly defeat the foul-smelling Bacterian.

Son Goku was as fierce as ever as he faced the Indian ascetic named Nam.

The two put on a spectacular aerial battle. In the end, Goku claimed victory with his superior ability to remain airborne and his stronger physique.

Soon, the semifinal matchups appeared on the big screen.

First match: Sun Wuxiu VS Jackie Chun.

Second match: Son Goku VS Krillin.

"Has it finally come?"

In the contestants' resting area, Sun Wuxiu stood and adjusted his orange martial arts uniform.

"That old grandpa is really strong, big brother. Be careful!"

Son Goku warned him from the side, his eyes gleaming with a beast-like instinct.

"His ki is very similar to Grandpa's. They're both unfathomably deep."

"Don't worry."

Sun Wuxiu rubbed Goku's head, then turned and walked toward the arena.

At the same time, the silver-haired old man in a black Zhongshan suit slowly stepped onto the arena as well.

The two stood in the center of the ring, facing each other from ten meters apart.

"Young man, your kung fu is quite good. I noticed you during the preliminaries."

Jackie Chun clasped his hands behind his back, perfectly playing the role of an aloof master.

"However, on the path of martial arts, one must avoid impatience and rashness. Today, this old man shall test your true caliber."

Sun Wuxiu looked at the teacher putting on such an act before him, and a helpless smile curled across his lips.

He did not expose the other man's identity. Instead, he respectfully cupped his fist and bowed.

"Please enlighten me, Senior."

"The match begins!" the sunglasses-wearing referee shouted, slashing his arm downward.

Whoosh!

There was no imagined fierce collision.

They moved almost simultaneously, yet neither was particularly fast. To ordinary spectators, they even seemed somewhat "slow."

Jackie Chun threw a punch straight down the middle.

Sun Wuxiu neither dodged nor retreated. With one hand, he drew a circle and gently rested it against Jackie Chun's wrist, guiding it aside with an exceedingly soft force.

"Deflecting force?" A sharp glint flashed through Jackie Chun's eyes. He smoothly changed moves, turning his fist into a claw and reaching for Sun Wuxiu's shoulder.

Sun Wuxiu's shoulder sank slightly, and his footwork shifted. His entire body slipped away from the grab like a loach, while his backhand struck toward Jackie Chun's ribs in a chopping motion.

"Good lad!"

Jackie Chun praised him as he raised his knee to block.

Bang!

A dull thud rang out.

The two separated the instant they made contact.

But this was only the beginning.

Over the next few minutes, they staged a pure technical duel on the arena.

There were no earth-shattering ki blasts, no afterimages too fast to see.

There were only counters, changing moves, blocks, and counterattacks.

Every punch and every kick contained the essence of the Turtle Hermit Style.

"Is this... real martial arts?"

Yamcha stared wide-eyed from below the arena, cold sweat streaming down his face.

"Every move is perfectly timed, without a single shred of wasted strength... These two are monsters!"

On the arena.

Jackie Chun grew more alarmed the longer they fought.

Originally, he had intended to use this match to find flaws in Sun Wuxiu's techniques, offer him some guidance, and then defeat him so he would understand that there was always someone stronger.

But...

There were no flaws!

There were absolutely no flaws!

Sun Wuxiu's defense was like an impenetrable wall. No matter how tricky Jackie Chun's angle of attack was, he could effortlessly neutralize it.

And although Sun Wuxiu's counterattacks did not appear to use his full strength, every one of them targeted a weak point in Jackie Chun's defense, forcing him to defend himself.

"This kid's fundamentals... are actually this solid?"

Stormy waves surged through Jackie Chun's heart.

"Only four years... Not only has he learned every technique, but in terms of 'intent,' he's already close to catching up to me?"

He had thought he was holding back and feeding his opponent moves.

But as they continued fighting, he realized that the other side had been feeding him moves too!

Sun Wuxiu was like a patient sparring partner, matching his rhythm and allowing him to fully display everything he had learned in his life.

"So I've been underestimated..."

Jackie Chun gave a bitter smile, then his gaze sharpened.

"If that is the case, then don't blame this old man for showing no mercy! Thunder Shock Surprise!!"

Jackie Chun suddenly leaped back and pressed his palms together. His aura surged dramatically as blue currents gathered in his palms, transforming into a massive electric net that descended upon Sun Wuxiu!

This was Master Roshi's ultimate technique, and also an extremely difficult control move to defend against!

"He actually forced him to use that move?"

Krillin cried out in surprise from below the arena.

Yet faced with the lightning filling the sky, Sun Wuxiu merely shook his head.

"Teacher, this move won't work on me."

He neither dodged nor countered with a ki blast.

Just as the electric net was about to touch him.

[Rabbit Talisman: Instant Motion].

Sun Wuxiu's figure vanished into thin air.

It was not an afterimage produced through speed, but a true disappearance, like Instant Transmission.

"What?!" Jackie Chun's pupils contracted sharply. Before he could react, a chill had already pressed against the back of his neck.

"Excuse me, Senior."

It was Sun Wuxiu's voice, calm and carrying a trace of apology.

Bang!

A hand chop struck the major artery at the back of Jackie Chun's neck—fast, precise, and ruthless.

He had not used much force, but his precise understanding of the human body allowed the strike's effect to reach its peak.

Jackie Chun's vision went dark. The ki throughout his body instantly dispersed, and he collapsed limply.

The entire venue fell silent.

One second.

Two seconds.

"C-Contestant Jackie Chun has fallen!!" the referee shouted excitedly. "The count begins! 1! 2!... 10!!"

"The winner—Sun Wuxiu!!!"

Roar—!!!

The stands instantly erupted.

That mysterious, powerful old man had actually been instantly defeated in a single strike? Just how strong was this boy called Sun Wuxiu?!

Sun Wuxiu ignored the cheers. He bent down and gently helped the unconscious Jackie Chun to the edge of the arena, handing him over to the staff.

"Rest well, Teacher."

As he watched the old man being carried away, he silently said in his heart.

Your era will end with me. And the future will begin with me.