The First Clash

Jiang Che still looked as laid-back as ever, hands in his pockets and not a ripple on his face.

He tilted his head, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused smile. He looked like a bystander watching a show, completely unfazed by Vegeta's killing intent.

The evening breeze swept by, ruffling his hair and making his clothes flutter lightly.

Honestly, to Vegeta, that nonchalance was pure provocation—arrogant and laced with unmistakable contempt.

"You're asking to die!" Vegeta roared, his voice already so hoarse it sounded like a beast's.

He stomped down hard. The ground exploded beneath him, sending rubble flying, and he shot toward Jiang Che like a golden lightning bolt.

He moved so fast that his figure left a streak of light in the air. The wind split apart with a sharp, tearing sound.

His right fist was already clenched tight, knuckles white, and came crashing straight toward Jiang Che's face.

He was much faster than before. His fist wind cut like a blade, scorching Jiang Che's face.

Jiang Che's gaze sharpened, his pupils contracting.

He didn't have time to think. His body reacted on instinct, twisting at the waist as he leaned slightly to the left.

The fist grazed past his face with a howl of wind. He could feel its heat on his cheek, and a few strands of hair were sliced off and drifted away.

But Vegeta didn't stop. His knee was already following through.

The move was crisp and decisive. That punch had been nothing but a feint; the real killing blow was all in the knee.

His knee slammed toward Jiang Che's abdomen with the force of thunder, a golden afterimage flashing so quickly it was almost impossible to follow.

Jiang Che had no time to think. He instinctively crossed his arms in front of his chest, and a dull thud followed.

The impact sent him flying backward. His feet traced an arc through the air, his arms went numb, and his chest shuddered as if a sledgehammer had smashed into his insides.

He slid more than ten meters across the ground, tearing up the grass and spraying dirt, before managing to dig in and stop.

Jiang Che crouched halfway down, both hands still trembling, his fingertips pale.

He shook out his hands and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Vegeta licked his lips and looked at him with a hint of approval, but far more savage excitement.

"Not bad reflexes," he chuckled, his tone bloodthirsty. "But you've still got a long way to go!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Vegeta pushed off hard. The ground exploded again, and he vanished in an instant.

Only a golden afterimage remained, streaking across the night sky like a meteor.

The next second, Vegeta was already above Jiang Che.

He raised his right leg high, muscles taut, then brought it crashing down!

The kick came down like a battle-axe, ripping through the air with a piercing shriek as it struck straight at Jiang Che's head.

Jiang Che looked up just in time to see the mass of golden energy, as if it could slice through space itself.

There was no time to think. He raised both arms and crossed them overhead.

With a bang, the ground caved in. Stones and clods of earth sprayed out like a torrential downpour, slamming into the surrounding trees with a series of sharp cracks.

The grassland collapsed completely, leaving a crater five meters across, with cracks spreading in every direction.

Jiang Che's legs sank deep into the earth, and his knees bent dangerously under the strain. His bones felt like they were about to give way.

Vegeta hovered in midair, looking down at him as golden energy billowed behind him. He looked like a god.

The corner of his mouth lifted, his smile full of mockery.

"How's that? Do you understand the difference now?" Vegeta's voice was cold, tinged with the taunting implication that Jiang Che couldn't hold out much longer.

Jiang Che shook out his numb arms, trying to dispel the tingling sensation as quickly as possible.

He slowly stood and shook the dirt and grass off his hands.

His chest heaved and his breathing was heavy, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

That was it. This was the feeling.

His blood was boiling. The desire to fight made his whole body burn.

The energy inside him was like fuel igniting, surging wildly through his meridians. Every muscle roared, eager for an even fiercer clash.

"The difference?" Jiang Che chuckled, his voice full of meaning. "This is only the beginning."

Before the words had even left his mouth, he suddenly crouched low, bending his knees to the limit before exploding upward.

The dirt beneath his feet burst apart. He shot into the sky like a cannonball, leaving a long afterimage behind him as a ring of air rushed outward.

Vegeta's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively crossed his arms over his chest.

"Bang!" Their fists collided head-on. A layer of air burst apart, and a shock wave swept outward. The trees rattled, leaves filled the sky, and even the distant fountain's water jet broke apart.

The two of them battled back and forth in midair, moving faster and faster as their afterimages overlapped.

Fist met fist, knee met knee, and every thunderous collision threatened to burst their eardrums.

The clouds overhead burst apart from the force of their clashes. Moonlight spilled down, illuminating both figures clearly.

To be honest, Jiang Che's combat experience was no match for Vegeta's. His blocks were occasionally a little slow, and his attacks weren't quite as tricky.

But his physical abilities were absurdly powerful. A casual punch could shatter rock, and with his control over his energy growing more and more refined, he actually managed to go toe-to-toe with Vegeta.

They collided once more, then each retreated several meters, opening up some distance in midair.

Jiang Che's breathing grew heavier, and sweat beaded on his forehead, but his eyes grew sharper, gleaming with excitement.

Vegeta was breathing heavily too, his chest no longer rising and falling steadily. His gaze had turned serious.

"This kid..." Vegeta dropped his contempt and grew cautious.

He licked his dry, cracked lips, keeping his eyes fixed on Jiang Che. He had to admit that Jiang Che's talent was downright frightening.

This was their first time fighting, yet in just over a dozen exchanges, Jiang Che had already figured out his patterns and gradually shifted from taking hits to counterattacking.

His speed of adaptation and pace of learning were like a sponge's—one touch, and he evolved a little further.

He was growing far too fast. It was absurd!

But Vegeta had no intention of holding back. He took a deep breath, and the energy within him surged. His golden aura shone brighter, and even his hair stood straight up.

His eyes blazed with fervent battle lust.

"Come on! Let's see how long you can hold out!" he roared, charging forward. Moonlight illuminated his entire body as he streaked toward Jiang Che like a beam of light set on tearing through the night.