The Finals Begin

Zhang Wutian and Son Wukong chatted as if no one else were around, until the host in the black suit and sunglasses bluntly interrupted them.

"Um... Contestant Zhang Wutian, the final is about to begin. Could you please take the stage?"

Zhang Wutian looked up and realized his final opponent, Mary Sue, was already standing on the ring, watching him with a beaming smile.

Having just had an endless stream of things to say to Son Wukong, Zhang Wutian suddenly choked on his words, only to realize he was still holding her... in full view of everyone.

Son Wukong didn't seem to notice anything unusual. Once Zhang Wutian let her go, she stretched her limbs and said to him, "Since you beat me, go ahead and win it all in one go."

"That's the plan." Zhang Wutian looked at his opponent on the ring and said, "Though she seems quite strong."

"You're strong too," Son Wukong replied.

"That's right, I am strong." After patting Son Wukong on the head, Zhang Wutian turned and leaped onto the ring.

Only after Zhang Wutian had left did Krillin sidle over.

"Wukong, is that guy really your husband?"

"Yeah, that's right," Son Wukong said, oblivious.

Krillin felt a pang of sourness in his heart. Clearly, this complex little monk had feelings for his fellow disciple (in his own mind), but at this moment, everything dissolved into a pool of melancholy.

"Finished talking with your little wife? You can keep chatting if you like; I don't mind waiting a while longer," Mary Sue said to Zhang Wutian on the stage.

"She's more like a daughter to me," Zhang Wutian corrected.

"You let your daughter call you husband? What a perverted hobby."

"Are all women going through menopause this unreasonable? Or are you just trying to shake me with words?"

"Heh, you've touched upon a taboo that women must never be confronted with, kid."

"Taboo? What's that? I don't know it. Could you teach me, Auntie?"

"I was planning to teach you gently, but I've changed my mind. I'm going to make you suffer a little."

"I look forward to your guidance, old senior."

The atmosphere between the two turned sinister within a few sentences. The host felt that if he didn't announce the start of the match, these two would likely start fighting right then and there.

"The final of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, begin!!" With that, the host used his authority without hesitation.

The next moment, the two figures confronting each other on the ring vanished from their spots simultaneously.

They appeared and disappeared, flashing back and forth, trading punches and kicks, yet not a single blow landed or was received. Despite being locked in close-quarters combat, they moved as if they were transparent, unable to touch each other's bodies.

"So fast! Over here? No, is it over there?" Krillin's eyes could no longer keep up with their movements. He felt dizzy, as if several pairs of figures were appearing at once, blending together in a way he couldn't distinguish.

"Is this Zhang Wutian's true ability? Was he not using his full strength before?!"

They fought from the ground to the air, then back to the earth, finally returning to their original positions as if they had never moved at all.

The audience below was stunned. Although they couldn't see anything clearly, that didn't stop them from grasping the prowess of these two martial artists. At that moment, applause thundered all around.

"How was the warm-up? Do you need me to keep you company a bit longer?" Zhang Wutian said, looking at his opponent.

"No, that's quite enough. Let's move on to the main course," Mary Sue replied.

The next moment, Zhang Wutian clearly felt the pressure radiating from his opponent.

Has her Ki increased? Damn it, I still haven't learned how to detect an opponent's Ki. I have to rely on crude experience and intuition to judge their strength. How inconvenient.

Staring at his opponent, Zhang Wutian also began to raise his own Ki.

The air seemed to solidify. Even ordinary people without any combat power could instinctively feel the heavy pressure emanating from the two on the ring.

"Was that just a warm-up? You've got to be kidding me!" Krillin looked astonished.

Son Wukong remained silent, merely clenching her fists as she watched the two on the ring.

"As expected, you still had some in reserve. You're worthy of being the young man I've taken a liking to."

"I don't want to be liked by an old auntie."

"Do you prefer young girls?"

"In any case, it won't be an old person like you!!"

Zhang Wutian finally made his move. It wasn't so much that he was provoked by her words, but he had grown impatient with Mary Sue's endless nagging, so he launched the first attack.

"Well played!!" Having achieved her goal of baiting him into attacking, a sly grin appeared on Mary Sue's face. She extended her hands, making contact with her opponent for the first time in this final.

Mary Sue caught Zhang Wutian's incoming punch with both hands, pulled back to neutralize his force with the momentum, and then twisted and turned.

"Heaven-Earth Reversal Style!"

"What?"

Zhang Wutian felt the world spin. By all rights, his punch shouldn't have been so easy to catch, but Mary Sue had clearly planned this for a long time. From the start, she had maintained a purely defensive stance; all her previous provocations seemed to be for this very moment. This seemingly simple defense contained a wealth of technique—calling it a finishing move would not be an exaggeration. With this, Zhang Wutian finally lost his footing.

He was flipped in mid-air, losing his balance. Mary Sue, naturally, would not miss such a golden opportunity. The next moment, her shoulder slammed into Zhang Wutian's chest.

Zhang Wutian was sent flying by the immense force, but Mary Sue wasn't satisfied with that result. She reached out, grabbed his clothes, yanked him back, and delivered a punch to the bridge of his nose.

As Zhang Wutian reeled back, Mary Sue pulled him in once more, driving her knee into his abdomen.

With a beautiful flying knee, Zhang Wutian was finally sent hurtling outward like a cannonball.

Behind Zhang Wutian lay the edge of the ring; according to the rules of the match, if he fell off, he would be the loser.

Seeing victory within her grasp, Mary Sue smiled and raised her right hand in a V-sign.

However, in the very next moment, the sent-flying Zhang Wutian performed a backflip and landed steadily on his feet within the ring.

Clutching his abdomen with one hand and his bleeding nose with the other, Zhang Wutian wore a pained expression as he glared resentfully at his opponent.

But it was Mary Sue who was even more astonished.

"I hit you with my full strength!"

Judging by Zhang Wutian's previous fighting style, Mary Sue had once thought this opponent should be quite fragile, but at this moment, Zhang Wutian's sturdiness completely overturned that impression.

"Was that move called the Heaven-Earth Reversal Style? It hurt like hell!"

Wiping away his nosebleed, Zhang Wutian said.

"If that's the case, then just go down obediently. Don't push yourself any further."

"Pushing myself?"

Back when he was still an ordinary person, he was often sent flying by Son Wukong. Furthermore, according to the inherent ability Zhang Wutian possessed—[As long as one battles the strong, regardless of victory or defeat, one will grow stronger]—taking a beating was always an essential part of challenging someone stronger than himself. Zhang Wutian indicated that he had already grown accustomed to it; getting beaten had almost become a top-tier skill of his.

Releasing his grip on his stomach, Zhang Wutian clenched his fists and assumed a stance.

"Whether I'm pushing myself or not, you'll find out soon enough."

"Ha, then come on, little one. A real fight isn't some game you play with a little girl. Let me properly teach you that!"

Mary Sue made up her mind to hold her ground; clearly, as soon as Zhang Wutian launched an attack, that hard turtle shell would be waiting for him once again.

Now, Zhang Wutian was starting to believe that Mary Sue really was Master Roshi. After all, besides the Turtle Hermit School, what other school was so adept at defense?