"Big brother, you're going to fight that big guy?"
Su Xiaoqing was just as worried, afraid Su Hao would get hurt.
Su Hao didn't waste any time. He headed toward the Martial Practice Arena, where dozens of people had already gathered outside the Su Family's arena.
The Su Family Fort wasn't very big. One was Su Hao, who had earned a place at the Martial Academy; the other was Su Hu, one of the more outstanding young members of the Su Family. Naturally, the news that they were going to spar drew plenty of people hoping to watch the excitement.
"I heard Su Hu challenged Su Hao over the Martial Academy spot, to prove he was more qualified to get it."
"Su Hao only got that spot because his father made so many contributions to the Su Family. Now that Uncle Su Yu has just gone missing... Su Hu's taking advantage of the situation to steal the spot. That's shameless! Why doesn't he go after Su Ye or Su Zhengfeng's spots? Because he's a coward who picks on the weak!"
The Su Family disciples spoke in low voices. Some were simply there for the spectacle, while others thought Su Hao's family was already having a hard enough time, and that Su Hu was shamelessly kicking them while they were down.
On the broad arena, Su Hu was already waiting. He pretended not to hear the discussions around him, twisting his waist and flexing his wrists as he warmed up. When Su Hao arrived, he grinned. "Su Hao, let's see who's better at our fist technique!"
Su Hao leapt onto the platform and faced Su Hu from across the ring. "Come on. Let's settle this quickly. I still have to go home for dinner."
"Then... watch out!"
Su Hu didn't waste words either. He let out a low shout and took the initiative to attack.
"Roar!"
Su Hu's muscles tensed all over, and his tendons and bones instantly burst out in a crisp series of cracking sounds. He lunged forward, his blood surging. In that single pounce, he was like a ferocious tiger breaking out of its cage. His furious roar rang out above them, shaking the heart; his sheer presence alone was enough to fill people with fear!
As he lunged, Su Hu used his momentum to drive a fierce right punch forward. His fist tore through the air with a sharp, explosive hiss, and a faint glow of blood flickered around it!
"Blood Energy... Su Hu's mastered the Heavy Mountain Fist!"
The Su Family disciples all watched with grave expressions, their eyes filled with amazement and envy. They knew the immense gulf between a martial artist who had cultivated Blood Energy and one who hadn't.
Most people could practice the Heavy Mountain Fist for decades without ever cultivating Blood Energy. Su Hu, however, had reached that stage at just seventeen. His talent and natural aptitude truly made him one of the best among the Su Family's younger generation.
Su Hu had only cultivated Blood Energy two months ago. That was exactly why he now had the confidence to challenge Su Hao.
Su Hu's punch hadn't even landed, yet a gust of force was already rushing toward Su Hao's face.
"So this is the Blood Energy produced by the Heavy Mountain Fist? Then I'll control my strength and speed to match his and face him with the Heavy Mountain Fist. I'll get a feel for the martial arts of this world."
Rather than feeling intimidated by the pressure, Su Hao was delighted. With the strength of a thousand pounds in his arms, he could match a First Refinement Martial Artist. If he unleashed his full strength, his raw physical power alone would easily crush Su Hu, like an adult beating a child.
But Su Hao wanted to see what made Blood Energy special, so he deliberately held back, using only five or six tenths of his strength.
Su Hao used the Heavy Mountain Fist. This set of fist techniques circulated the blood and moved with the weight of mountains: simple, solid, and unadorned. At a high level, it could produce dense, heavy Blood Energy. In this life, Su Hao had learned the Heavy Mountain Fist from his father from a young age, and had developed a solid foundation in it!
Su Hao set his blood surging, and his body's capabilities rose in an instant. A force welled up from the soles of his feet, traveled through his legs and spine, and gathered in his right fist. He drove out a heavy punch, unleashing a vast, weighty force. It was the Heavy Mountain Fist!
Bang!
Their heavy fists collided without a hint of flashiness.
Crack! Crack!
For an instant, everything seemed to fall silent. Then the two forces, alike in nature, clashed without yielding, colliding head-on and raising a gust of wind. A visible ring of ripples spread through the air where their fists met, accompanied by a rapid string of explosive cracks like firecrackers.
"Has he cultivated Blood Energy too?"
Feeling the same fierce force travel through his fist, Su Hu's expression changed. Su Hao was two or three years younger than him, yet he had already cultivated Blood Energy!
Of course, Su Hao hadn't actually cultivated Blood Energy. He was using the technique of releasing "explosive force" to make the same amount of strength more destructive and damaging. That let him hold his own against Su Hu, who was driving his Blood Energy.
"Again!"
Though startled, Su Hu didn't stop. A wild roar burst from his throat, and another heavy blow followed, three parts more powerful than the last!
The Heavy Mountain Fist emphasized flowing techniques and overlapping force. Its punches were like one mountain range piled on another, one endless peak after the next, with each punch heavier than the one before it.
Su Hao had barely practiced the Heavy Mountain Fist in recent months, but the principles behind martial arts were connected. He drove his blood into motion and sent out his left fist with an even heavier force than before!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They clashed again and again. Each collision sent force flying and whipped up gusts of wind. They shifted between fists and palms as they pleased, each strike heavier than the last.
"So this is what changes when a martial artist cultivates Blood Energy? Driving it while fighting makes their blows so destructive that ordinary flesh and blood can't withstand them!"
Every Su Family disciple watched the battle without blinking, afraid of missing a single detail. The two fighters were like human-shaped tigers tearing into each other.
"Su Hu's two or three years older than Su Hao, and he has good natural aptitude. He's taller and more muscular, too. If this goes on, Su Hao may be at a disadvantage..."
The person most concerned about the outcome was undoubtedly Su Lie. He was sweating for Su Hao.
The two were about equal in their understanding of the Heavy Mountain Fist, both having reached the level of Blood Energy. That meant the deciding factors would be their stamina and their ability to adapt in battle. In Su Lie's eyes, the taller, more muscular Su Hu had the advantage!
The two exchanged more than ten blows in quick succession, neither gaining the upper hand.
"I'm the one who'll win!"
Su Hu grew bolder as the fight went on. With his excellent natural aptitude and burly build, he knew his physique gave him an advantage in battle. His blood was surging, and he was confident he'd win if they kept this up.
But suddenly, Su Hu's expression changed. He struck first, driving a heavy punch infused with Blood Energy toward Su Hao's chest. This time, however, Su Hao didn't meet him head-on as he had before. Instead, he guided and deflected the blow with his palm, using a light, nimble force to pull Su Hu's punch off course!
"Not good!"
Su Hu was startled and hurriedly tried to retreat, but it was too late. Su Hao planted his right foot and kicked hard with his left, striking Su Hu in the stomach.
Thud, thud, thud!
Su Hu's stomach immediately cramped with pain, which swept through his entire body. He staggered back several steps, cold sweat dripping from his forehead as agony twisted his gut.
"Blood Energy... It's an energy born from the blood that can push the body's explosive power to its limits. Compared with the force of internal martial arts, it's something tangible. The difference is like that between energy and the physical realm. But Su Hu's combat experience is still immature, and he's too constrained by his techniques. I changed my move just a little, and he fell for it."
Su Hao shook his head to himself. He had more or less understood the characteristics of Blood Energy, and he also thought Su Hu was far too inexperienced. Even though he was doing his best to keep his strength at the same level, he couldn't make Su Hu feel the slightest pressure.
"Is that the stance work of the Heavy Mountain Fist? But there's a trace of lightness beneath all that solidity, like a crane about to take flight!"
Watching Su Hao's posture, Su Lie's eyes lit up.
The foundation of every martial art was its stance work. A solid stance allowed one to bring the techniques together; without it, the movements were no more than fancy tricks. From Su Hao's stance alone, Su Lie could tell that his foundation was extremely solid. Though he didn't quite understand why Su Hao's stance and lower body differed from those of the Heavy Mountain Fist, he could see that Su Hao was still and yet ready to move—not a rigid post, but a living stance!
This showed that Su Hao's foundation was far better than Su Hu's. The outcome of the fight was already decided.
"You've lost."
Su Hao looked at Su Hu and spoke calmly. He had held back with that kick; otherwise, striking Su Hu in the stomach would have been enough to seriously injure him.
But Su Hu was too fired up to think clearly. With all eyes on him, he let out a low growl. "Lost? I'm still standing, so I haven't lost! Again!"
"Roar!"
After speaking, Su Hu sucked in a deep breath and bellowed. His muscles bulged, his skin took on a faint red hue, and his aura suddenly turned violent.
"Su Hu... have you gone mad? You're unleashing your Blood Energy?"
Su Lie was startled by the sight and shouted at him.
Unleashing Blood Energy meant pushing it to its absolute limit and forcing the body to function beyond capacity. It allowed the body to surpass its limits for a short time, but it was a desperate measure that greatly depleted one's Blood Energy. By unleashing his Blood Energy, Su Hu would inevitably damage his vital energy and need at least half a month to recover.
Su Lie had wanted to stop them, worried that someone might be seriously injured right under his nose. But when he saw that Su Hao remained perfectly calm in the face of Su Hu's unleashed Blood Energy, he forced himself to stay put, wanting to see how Su Hao would respond.
Su Hu pushed his body beyond its limits and charged again. He didn't throw a punch. Instead, using the explosive power of his unleashed Blood Energy, he shot out both hands as fast as lightning, trying to overpower Su Hao and seize his shoulders to pin him down!
"Got him!"
Su Hu was delighted. His attack seemed so fast that Su Hao hadn't had time to react—he'd grabbed him cleanly!
But the moment his hands seized Su Hao's shoulders, Su Hu's expression changed.
Su Hao's body gave a sudden, slight shiver, like a crane shaking and smoothing its feathers. A springing force burst out, jolting Su Hu's hands loose and leaving his center wide open!
The "Crane Cry Force" cultivated through the Crane Form Fist was characterized by a springing, snapping force—a short-range power that could unleash a powerful killing move over the smallest distance!
Whoosh!
With Su Hu's center wide open, Su Hao pressed the fingers of his right hand together into the shape of a beak. His hand darted out like lightning and pecked at Su Hu's chest before he drew it back and stood at ease. His movement was so fast that the eye could barely follow it; it was as if he had never moved at all.
"Cough... cough, cough..."
But Su Hu broke into violent coughing. A deep, bone-piercing pain spread from his chest through his body. Unable to bear it any longer, his body convulsed as though all his strength had been drained away, and he collapsed to the ground!
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