Li Xing returned to his spot.
The next match didn't begin right away.
The audience, the referee, and even the participating fighters were all confused.
In the ring.
After the air pressure dropped, a dazzling light suddenly erupted.
Before they could fully register what was happening, Jackie Chun fell out of the ring.
Li Xing was then declared the winner.
What was that?
After making the announcement, the referee didn't immediately call the next match.
He cautiously approached Jackie Chun.
"Um, old sir, could you please
tell us what exactly happened?
We're, well, very curious."
The referee was extremely cautious.
These were all martial artists.
Asking Jackie Chun a question right now was like dancing on the edge of a knife.
One wrong move, and the fighter might explode and punch him.
Jackie Chun dusted off his pants and looked toward the entrance to the back rooms.
"The waves behind push the waves ahead."
"Huh?"
The referee stared blankly at the scene.
"Goku, did you see what happened?"
Sun Wukong shook his head with a grave expression, then nodded.
"Huh?"
Sun Wukong spoke seriously.
"I didn't see exactly how Li Xing defeated Jackie Chun.
But I sensed something."
"What do you mean?"
Sun Wukong was serious and focused.
"Power erupted from Li Xing, transforming into a dazzling beam of light."
"Right, right. And then?"
Jackie Chun looked grave.
"I used my special move, too. Li Xing actually got caught in it.
Once you're caught in my move, you can't move."
Jackie Chun's explanation left all the spectators dumbfounded.
"Huh?"
"That can't be."
"Yeah."
"If Li Xing couldn't move, how did Jackie Chun end up losing?"
"Exactly, Goku. Why?"
Sun Wukong glanced at Li Xing, his expression complicated.
"Because Li Xing unleashed even more powerful energy, breaking free of Jackie Chun's Thunder Chain. At the same time, an even more terrifying force of suction seemed to erupt around him.
He charged straight at Jackie Chun, with thunder crashing around him."
"Couldn't he have dodged?"
Krillin looked bewildered.
Sun Wukong shook his head and stared at Jackie Chun in the ring. "I don't know, either."
Jackie Chun's expression was complicated.
"I'd used up too much of my strength. That boy charged at me like a human beast. I couldn't get out of the way."
Jackie Chun closed his eyes. Memories crossed his face, tangled with fear.
"That young man is incredibly strong, several times stronger than me.
I'm certain no one will be able to beat him from here on out."
After speaking, Jackie Chun dusted himself off and left the ring with a carefree air.
The referee was left standing there, completely bewildered.
"Huh?"
"Referee, let's get on with the next match."
"Yeah!
The crowd didn't care.
They'd just watched an intense match, and everyone was fired up.
They only hoped they could see an even more exciting fight as soon as possible.
In the back, Yamcha wore an inexplicably confident smile.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
"Uh!"
Krillin stared at Yamcha as if he were an idiot.
He'd trained with Sun Wukong, so he had at least some idea of how strong Sun Wukong was.
Sun Wukong had been able to fight Yamcha before, so it was obvious how strong Yamcha was.
Strong, but only to a limited extent.
Sun Wukong had improved tremendously over the past eight months.
Even so, Sun Wukong still had no chance against Li Xing.
You'll take care of it?
You'll take care of it by getting yourself killed?
Who do you think you are, acting like you don't know your own limits?
Krillin was plenty conceited himself, but he'd never expected anyone to be even more conceited than him.
"Goku, can you beat Li Xing?"
Sun Wukong shook his head.
"No. I can't beat Li Xing. There's a lot of energy inside him.
I'm still a long way behind him."
Sun Wukong lowered his eyes, his expression grave.
He clenched both fists tightly.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Sun Wukong, I'm the only one who gets to be your opponent."
"Mm!"
Yamcha strode off with confidence.
Krillin watched Yamcha's retreating back as if he were an idiot.
"What the hell? Where did this moron come from?"
At that point, Krillin knew nothing about Yamcha.
From what he'd seen today, the guy was an idiot.
Krillin decided then and there that after this, he'd better keep his distance from him.
He'd only end up embarrassed.
Krillin had no idea that after this, whether Yamcha would ever show up again was another matter entirely—even if they used Shenron to grant a wish.
Yamcha soon faced his opponent in the ring.
Amid the crowd's increasingly excited cheers, the match quickly drew to a close.
Yamcha swiftly defeated his opponent and stood in the ring, basking in adulation even louder than Li Xing had received.
Yamcha was delighted, turning in circles to face the audience.
In the back, Krillin and Sun Wukong watched Yamcha coldly.
That guy hadn't noticed what was really going on.
The fight between Li Xing and Jackie Chun had stirred the crowd's emotions. Yamcha's match hadn't come close to it.
It was just exciting enough for the audience to enjoy without pushing them beyond what they could accept.
That was why Yamcha's victory earned everyone's cheers, and why the applause was so loud.
Li Xing opened his eyes slightly, an amused smile in them.
He was close to death. He might as well go wild for a bit.
Sun Wukong frowned. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't figure out what.
He stared at Li Xing in confusion.
"What's wrong, Goku?"
Sun Wukong shook his head solemnly.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Mm. Krillin, if you run into that guy, be extra careful."
Krillin followed Sun Wukong's gaze. He was startled at first, then smiled.
"How could that be, Goku? Even though I really want to beat you, I know that's impossible.
You're the one who'll face him, right?"
Sun Wukong was startled too, then smiled.
The atmosphere around them eased at once.
Only Li Xing closed his eyes again.
He hadn't fully recovered yet. He needed a little more time.
After killing Yamcha, he'd need to run, so he had to save enough strength.
Soon, the final two matches were over, and it was time for the semifinal.
Li Xing's expression was calm, showing no sign of anything unusual.
Yamcha stared at Li Xing with a sneer, taunting him repeatedly.
Sun Wukong watched, his heart tightening.
He opened his mouth several times, but couldn't bring himself to warn him.
Li Xing sneered inwardly.
Wasn't this exactly how he completed the mission in the system?
He was getting further and further down the road of a great villain.
Taking the Four-Star Dragon Ball had been the prelude. Maybe this was the true beginning.
Next...
With that thought, Li Xing quickly stepped into the ring.
"Begin!"
A cold glint flashed in Li Xing's eyes.
The temperature of the air around them suddenly plummeted.
Sun Wukong finally realized what was wrong and shouted toward the ring.
"Yamcha, watch out!"
But it was too late.
Li Xing didn't merely overpower Yamcha. It was like crushing an ant or blowing away a speck of dust.
Li Xing had waited so long for this very moment.
He cast aside the ways of a great villain.
His strength erupted.
Boom!
Like a speeding train, a tremendous force slammed into Yamcha.
That wasn't all.
A flash of light flared.
Boom!
Yamcha turned into a cloud of blood, leaving no bones behind.
Even if Shenron came, there'd be nothing he could do.
A cold smile touched Li Xing's lips. He rose into the air, flew over the spectators, and sped off into the distance.
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