Facing an Opponent in Battle

The fight on the arena was about to reach its conclusion.

One of the martial artists on the stage launched his killing move first, gathering all his true qi into his right fist before throwing it out with a thunderous blow.

But it played right into his opponent's hands.

The martial artist opposite him sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike, though the force of the fist cut a bloody mark across his cheek. Then he unleashed the punch he had been holding in reserve.

Having used his killing move and left his center wide open, the martial artist had no way to defend himself. He was struck by the punch, swallowing blood and teeth as the tremendous force sent him flying off the arena.

He landed in the open space between the arena and the stands and did not get back up, clearly having been knocked unconscious.

The surrounding audience seemed to ignite all at once, erupting into cheers like mountains roaring and seas crashing.

The unconscious martial artist who had fallen from the arena was carried away by several burly men from the fighting ring.

After the match ended, Chen Wu was led by the burly man who had opened the door to a cramped changing room.

The burly man recited the rules coldly. "Kid, I don't care why you came here. It doesn't matter. As long as you step onto the arena, you get paid. Win a match, and you get ten thousand. Lose a match, and if you're lucky enough not to die, you get one thousand."

"Once a match is over, whether you win or lose, are injured or dead, it has nothing to do with us. If you regret it now, leave immediately. Don't hold up our business."

Zhu Wu replied mildly, "Mm."

The burly man was somewhat surprised by Zhu Wu's calmness. "Your nerves are pretty good. I hope you'll be as calm on the arena later as you are now. What name do you plan to use?"

"Zhu Huang."

Zhu Wu gave the name he had prepared long ago.

"Zhu Huang?"

Hearing that name, the burly man could not help but sneer. "I've worked here for five years. Every month, no fewer than a hundred people come here wanting to call themselves kings and emperors. Most of them end up either dead or crippled. Kid, I hope your title lasts a little longer here. Otherwise, you'll understand that the guy you just saw got off easy enough to burn incense in thanks. Stay here and wait for word from outside. Take Passage One yourself."

With that, the burly man left without looking back, leaving Zhu Wu alone in the crude, narrow changing room.

Zhu Wu gave the room a quick glance. A few simple lockers stood inside, while a metal clothing rack beside them held quite a few garments.

He did not know whether they had been left behind by previous defeated martial artists or placed there by the underground fighting ring's owner.

Zhu Wu casually picked out a black wooden mask. Only after putting it on did he remove his face mask, then sit on a mottled wooden stool that had likely not been painted in ages and wait.

After waiting for a while, he heard the host outside begin calling his name.

With only his flamboyant crimson hair exposed, Zhu Wu followed Passage One and stepped onto the arena.

Across from him stood a heavily built martial artist with flesh spilling across his face. Seeing that his opponent was a black-clad, masked man slightly taller than himself, he sneered. "Brat, you've only just entered the ninth rank and you're already so impatient to throw your life away. Good. Your grandpa will teach you what a fight between martial artists is."

Zhu Wu remained silent, his expression completely hidden beneath the black mask.

The referee, who also served as host, introduced them to the audience. "On my left is Black Crocodile, who has claimed three consecutive victories on this stage. On my right is newcomer Zhu Huang. Today is his first match."

"Will veteran ninth-rank martial artist Black Crocodile maintain his winning streak, or will newcomer Zhu Huang strike gold on his first try?"

"The coming match will reveal the answer for us."

"Now, I declare the match... begin!"

The instant the host shouted "begin," Black Crocodile moved. His hands formed claws, true qi flooding into them as he lunged forward with his broad frame.

Zhu Wu used the Trace-Hiding Step, nimbly evading Black Crocodile's attack from the right and causing both claws to strike empty air as he arrived behind him.

"Little bastard, let's see where you can dodge to now."

Black Crocodile had deliberately exposed an opening. He spun around and clawed at Zhu Wu, intending to exploit his young age and lack of combat experience.

But Zhu Wu had already been prepared. With the divine art supplying his true qi, he used his left palm in a loose-hand technique to block his opponent's wrist from the outside of the arm, while his right fist smashed out heavily.

Bang!

Black Crocodile had underestimated Zhu Wu and took a heavy punch to the head, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

Before he could recover, another heavy punch struck his chest, sending him flying. Fortunately, his own weight kept him from falling off the arena.

Zhu Wu said mildly, "Is this the fight between martial artists you spoke of?"

Before Black Crocodile could regain his senses, his rage exploded as he spewed obscenities, "XXXXXXXX"

His two claws formed a pincer-like killing formation, seeking to seize and kill Zhu Wu.

Without haste or panic, Zhu Wu drew upon a thread of origin-seed true qi from the qi sea in his dantian. Both palms struck fiercely at Black Crocodile's elbows, shattering his true qi.

Then his palms swept toward Black Crocodile's head in a Double Ghosts Knocking at the Gate stance, followed immediately by a heavy knee strike.

With his claws broken, Black Crocodile's head was once again struck hard by Zhu Wu's palms, and the heavy knee smashed into his face. He immediately fainted dead away.

"One, two, three, four... ten! I declare the winner of this match to be Zhu Huang!"

The host's announcement of Zhu Wu's victory instantly set the entire venue ablaze.

Quite a few spectators below the stage cursed loudly, clearly having bet on Black Crocodile.

The host then looked at Zhu Wu and asked, "Zhu Huang, will you continue the challenge?"

Zhu Wu remained as calm as before. "Continue."

"Then I declare the second duel to begin. Please welcome contestant Flying Ghost!"

A pitch-black shadow, swift beyond compare, flashed over and leapt onto the arena.

Zhu Wu focused his gaze and saw a short young man.

Judging from the display he had made when mounting the stage, he was clearly a ninth-rank martial artist who specialized in movement techniques.

"Begin!"

The instant the host declared the match started, Flying Ghost moved, his speed incredibly fast.

Before Zhu Wu could react, Flying Ghost had already closed in and attacked at point-blank range.

Flying Ghost's methods were vicious. His palm formed into a tricky claw, darting straight for Zhu Wu's left eye, intending to blind him in one eye.

Zhu Wu narrowly evaded the tricky strike, then threw a true-qi-wreathed punch. Flying Ghost nimbly avoided it with his movement technique and took advantage of the missed punch to circle behind him for a surprise attack.

The tricky claw slipped beneath Zhu Wu's right armpit and came for his eye once more.

Zhu Wu adapted instantly. His left arm suddenly tightened, restraining Flying Ghost's attack and preventing him from bringing his prized speed into play.

"You're finished!"

With a cold smile, Zhu Wu unleashed a blasting punch. Its force pierced through Flying Ghost's heart and spleen, making the short young martial artist taste sweetness in his throat. His body flew away like a cannonball, only barely stopping at the edge of the arena and avoiding the fate of falling off.

Not only did Zhu Wu refrain from pressing his advantage, he instead stood with his hands behind his back and watched Flying Ghost recover.

After regulating his qi for a while, Flying Ghost regained his ability to move. He gritted his teeth and said, "No matter why you didn't pursue me, you will surely regret it because of this."

Zhu Wu said mildly, "Is that so?"

That casual attitude instead enraged Flying Ghost.