Life-and-Death Arena

After the broadcast ended, Xiao Wang launched an attack on his own before Luo Zhiguo could make a move.

The bead's color was growing darker and darker, meaning it could absorb less and less damage.

But it also meant it could convert more and more damage. It had already been proven that combat could transform damage into cultivation and insights into martial arts.

Xiao Wang dashed forward and reached Luo Zhiguo in the span of a breath. He raised his knee and drove it straight at his opponent's vital area.

Luo Zhiguo: ???

"Kid, that's dirty."

Fortunately, Luo Zhiguo reacted quickly. He immediately clamped his legs together and blocked with both hands. Otherwise, something would definitely have gotten smashed.

This is underground boxing. If you don't use dirty tricks, what kind of underground boxing is it?

With a curl of his lips, Xiao Wang followed up with an uppercut that struck Luo Zhiguo squarely on the chin.

Luo Zhiguo's attention was still focused below, leaving him no time to defend.

Xiao Wang had never intended to attack below in the first place. He had merely used a feint to disrupt his opponent's defenses.

Sure enough, Luo Zhiguo had no time to defend at all.

Xiao Wang's fist landed cleanly.

Luo Zhiguo's entire head snapped back. Then Xiao Wang spun around in a whirlwind and planted a solid kick into Luo Zhiguo's chest.

Once again, Luo Zhiguo slammed heavily into the ground.

The entire ring trembled a few times under his massive weight.

Yet Xiao Wang's assault did not stop. Just as Luo Zhiguo had done after knocking him down earlier, Xiao Wang closed in, his fists raining down viciously on Luo Zhiguo's head.

Luo Zhiguo could only shield himself desperately with both hands, but the punches still broke through his defense, smashing into his face again and again. Blood flowed everywhere.

A few scattered cheers rose from the crowd, but everyone else remained silent.

In the second-floor room, Fish Brother looked at You Feng again. "Put another ten thousand Federal Credits on Luo Zhiguo."

"Fish Brother, I'm afraid he'll have a hard time turning this around no matter how much we add."

"Not necessarily."

"Alright."

After speaking, You Feng picked up the phone again and made the arrangements.

In the ring, just as Xiao Wang continued to pound him with blow after blow, the broadcast sounded again.

"If Luo Zhiguo wins, he will receive an additional ten thousand Federal Credits."

Xiao Wang froze for a moment upon hearing the announcement.

"They're trying to make Luo Zhiguo risk his life."

He no longer felt excited over the prospect of receiving more Federal Credits from the increased bet. Instead, he felt somewhat disgusted.

Sure enough, after hearing about the extra ten thousand Federal Credits, Luo Zhiguo seemed to gain a tremendous burst of energy and began struggling desperately.

At the same time, he removed his hands from his defense, allowing Xiao Wang's fists to strike his face and head.

All his focus was on breaking free from Xiao Wang's restraint, hoping to launch another fatal counterattack.

But Xiao Wang gave him no such chance and continued to hold him down firmly.

"Brother, surrender. It's only a boxing match. Why risk your life?"

Xiao Wang spoke in a low voice as he attacked, quietly enough that almost only he and Luo Zhiguo could hear.

But Luo Zhiguo did not stop resisting. Instead, his strength grew greater and greater. He practically ignored Xiao Wang's punches, even though his face had already been beaten beyond recognition, swollen and bruised.

At last, he gathered all the strength in his body and violently twisted, actually breaking free from Xiao Wang's restraint.

"I told you he hadn't reached his limit yet." Fish Brother cheered from the second floor.

The spectators who had bet on Luo Zhiguo erupted into cheers when they saw him get up, shouting his name in unison.

Xiao Wang, meanwhile, took two steps back.

"Then don't blame me."

Watching Luo Zhiguo charge at him with blood smeared all over his face, Xiao Wang shifted his footing and threw a punch. Carrying a faint, intangible air of "divinity," it struck Luo Zhiguo's temple from the side.

As he punched, the knuckle of his middle finger protruded half an inch and drove directly into Luo Zhiguo's temple.

Luo Zhiguo merely opened his mouth. Before he could even cry out, his vision went black, and he collapsed unconscious.

The crowd fell utterly silent.

A moment later.

Three people began dancing wildly and screaming Xiao Wang's name.

"Xiao Wang! Xiao Wang! Xiao Wang..."

Xiao Wang stepped forward and checked Luo Zhiguo. He was still breathing.

The reason the fight had lasted so long was because Xiao Wang had intended to hold something back. In a place like this, revealing his trump card the moment he arrived would not have been wise.

That was why he had not used the Form level of the Tiger Guard Fist from the outset.

But after considering it carefully, ending the fight quickly was perhaps the wiser choice. Besides, the bead in his mind was growing darker and darker, so he could not drag this out for too long.

After confirming that Luo Zhiguo was still alive, Xiao Wang stepped down from the ring and collected his ten thousand Federal Credits from the betting counter.

Five thousand as the base fee, plus an additional five thousand.

Holding the money, Xiao Wang glanced toward the second floor before heading upstairs.

In the second-floor room, You Feng watched Xiao Wang and said to Fish Brother, "This kid's martial arts attainments are far from ordinary."

He had seen the faint divine aura in Xiao Wang's final punch as well.

"They really aren't ordinary. This kid had been hiding his abilities from the start. If I hadn't raised the bet on Luo Zhiguo twice, we wouldn't have known he had this kind of skill."

"Should we choose him for the Life-and-Death Arena, then?"

"No rush. Observe him first."

As the two spoke, Xiao Wang knocked on the door outside.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."

Xiao Wang pushed open the door, entered the room, and walked over to Fish Brother. With a slight bow, he asked, "Fish Brother, do I meet the requirements?"

Fish Brother immediately stood with a smile, walked over to Xiao Wang, and patted his arm. "Of course you do. I never expected you to be such an impressive fighter, little brother. You're one of our fighters now. Come anytime you want to fight."

"Thank you, Fish Brother. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."

"Go ahead, brother."

After giving another slight bow, Xiao Wang left the room, descended from the second floor, and headed toward the boxing gym's entrance.

Fish Brother watched Xiao Wang's departing figure, excitement glinting in his eyes.

"Has Luo Zhiguo woken up?"

"He's already awake."

"Bring him up."

"Yes."

You Feng made a call. Before long, Luo Zhiguo, his face still covered in blood, appeared in the room.

"Fish Brother." Luo Zhiguo bowed respectfully.

Fish Brother looked at Luo Zhiguo. "I'm informing you that you're no longer involved in the Life-and-Death Arena."

The moment Luo Zhiguo heard that, anxiety appeared on his face. Ignoring the pain in his mouth, he said, "Fish Brother, did I do something wrong? I've performed quite well during this time. Please give me a chance."

"Haven't I already given you chances?"

Upon hearing that, Luo Zhiguo quickly realized something. "Fish Brother, are you planning to send that kid from earlier into the Life-and-Death Arena? He can't do it, Fish Brother. He can't."

"Why can't he? Didn't that match just now prove enough?"

"Because he doesn't have the resolve to die, nor does he have the resolve to kill his opponent."

Fish Brother's interest was slightly piqued. "Oh? How do you know he doesn't? Aren't all boxers here to make money? Since he wants money, why would he pass up an opportunity like the Life-and-Death Arena, where he can make a fortune?"

Luo Zhiguo paused before saying, "Because before throwing his final punch, he told me to admit defeat and surrender, to end the match there. He had no killing intent. Without killing intent, he can't fight in the Life-and-Death Arena."

After hearing this, Fish Brother exchanged a look with You Feng.

"I understand. Go back down first."

After pleading twice more, Luo Zhiguo withdrew.

"What do you think?" Fish Brother asked You Feng after Luo Zhiguo left.

"He was probably telling the truth. But whether that kid can fight in the Life-and-Death Arena or not, we should first tell him what the Life-and-Death Arena is."