I Choose... to Keep Fighting!

When Yu Xuerou conceded of her own accord, the crowd below the stage fell so silent you could have heard a pin drop.

No way.

Yu Xuerou had conceded?

Yu Xuerou, second on the Strength Rankings and a Ninth Rank Martial Master, had just given up?

After a long moment, Liu Ming was the first to shout.

"Senior Li Yao! You're incredible!"

"Li Yao! Li Yao! Number one in the world!"

His shout set off a chain reaction. Cheers rose from the crowd, one after another.

"Li Yao! Li Yao!"

"Li Yao is unstoppable!"

"Holy shit, Li Yao is the real deal! He just broke through and already beat Yu Xuerou!"

"I'm sold. Completely sold!"

The noise seemed loud enough to lift the roof off the Martial Arts Arena.

Li Yao stood on the stage, listening to the cheers, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

Not bad. I finally have fans.

They used to call me a simp all the time. Now I'm finally getting some respect.

Only after a while did Shi Jian speak up.

"All right, quiet!"

The noisy crowd instantly fell silent, everyone straining to hear Shi Jian.

Shi Jian cleared his throat. "Ahem. Yu Xuerou is provisionally ranked third, Li Yao second, and Ye Xiao first. Any objections?"

Silence. Complete silence.

As far as everyone was concerned, the rankings were beyond dispute.

Even though Li Yao had beaten Yu Xuerou, it was obvious that his chances of defeating Ye Xiao were close to zero.

Who was Ye Xiao?

He was number one on Imperial Capital University's Strength Rankings. He had never lost since enrolling, and even Yu Xuerou couldn't force him to use his full strength.

Li Yao had been impressive today, but he was still a step behind Ye Xiao.

So naturally, no one saw a problem with the rankings.

Seeing that no one spoke, Shi Jian nodded.

"Good! Then I'll announce—"

"Wait!"

A rustle swept through the crowd.

Everyone turned to look.

Li Yao had just lowered his raised hand.

"I want to test Senior Ye Xiao's strength."

That was all he said.

Yet those few words sent the entire arena into an uproar.

"I knew it! Li Yao isn't the kind of guy to stop halfway!"

"Of course he won't stop now."

"Holy shit, he's going straight for Ye Xiao? Is he that bold?"

"That move? Absolutely incredible!"

"Li Yao's going for two in a row!"

"But seriously, can Li Yao beat Ye Xiao?"

"I doubt it. Ye Xiao's strength is ridiculous."

"Li Yao hasn't been bad today, though. He beat Yu Xuerou right after breaking through."

"That's not the same thing. Yu Xuerou and Ye Xiao aren't even on the same level."

Shi Jian narrowed his eyes, his admiration for Li Yao growing.

He knows the odds and still steps forward. He's got courage. A promising talent.

Shi Jian made up his mind. Even if Li Yao lost, he would do everything he could to secure him a place in the Special Operations Bureau.

A flicker passed through Ye Xiao's usually unruffled eyes.

"Interesting."

The corners of his mouth curved into a rare smile.

This Li Yao is something else.

Seeing that Shi Jian did not object, Li Yao understood his stance and immediately turned toward the stage.

He walked slowly, but every step was steady.

The crowd held its breath as it watched him approach, step by step.

"You can do it, Senior Li Yao!"

Liu Ming took the lead in shouting again.

"Go, Li Yao!"

"Take down Ye Xiao!"

"Show Imperial Capital University who's really number one!"

Li Yao stepped onto the stage and faced Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao stood with his hands behind his back. His expression was calm, but there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to challenge me?"

Ye Xiao did not speak loudly, but everyone heard him clearly.

"I'm sure."

Li Yao nodded. His tone was quiet but firm.

"I like that."

Ye Xiao smiled, and it suited him.

"Then come on. Show me what you can do."

Li Yao took a deep breath, and the Nine-Turn Profound Art began circulating within him.

He could feel his blood boiling.

He knew he had to give this fight everything he had!

Win or lose, he would fight!

"System, is the Qi-Explosion Pill ready?"

Ding! The Qi-Explosion Pill is ready. Host may use it at any time.

Good. Then I'll show you just how strong I am!

Li Yao clenched his fists and fixed his eyes on Ye Xiao.

"Senior Ye Xiao, here I come!"

The moment he finished speaking, he became a blur and charged straight at Ye Xiao.

"So fast!"

Someone below the stage cried out.

Ye Xiao did not budge. He merely raised his right hand and flicked it aside.

Smack! Li Yao's fist was deflected.

But Li Yao did not give up. He threw another punch.

"Heaven-Breaking Fist!"

Li Yao went all out from the start, using the first form of the Nine-Turn Profound Art: Heaven-Breaking Fist!

His fist tore through the air, driving a fierce gust straight toward Ye Xiao's face.

Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow, surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Not bad."

He raised his hand and answered with a punch of his own.

Boom!

Their fists collided with a muffled thud.

Li Yao stumbled back three steps. Ye Xiao did not move an inch.

Ye Xiao smiled.

"Done warming up?"

Li Yao gritted his teeth and said nothing.

He knew Ye Xiao was far stronger than he had imagined.

This guy's a monster!

At this rate, there's no way I can beat him.

Li Yao weighed his options.

Should I use the Qi-Explosion Pill?

But on second thought, it was still too early.

He had to wait for Ye Xiao to show an opening, then end it with one decisive blow!

"Again!"

Li Yao attacked once more. This time, he held nothing back, unleashing the Nine-Turn Profound Art at full strength.

His fists became a flurry of shadows, Spiritual Power surged outward, and the entire stage shook. The spectators stared in disbelief.

"Holy shit, Li Yao really is fierce!"

"He's actually taking Ye Xiao head-on!"

"That fist technique is insane!"

"But Ye Xiao doesn't seem to be using his full strength yet."

"Yeah, he still looks completely at ease."

Ye Xiao studied Li Yao as he parried his attacks. The more he saw, the more startled he became.

Li Yao was only at the early stage of Ninth Rank Martial Master, yet the density of his Spiritual Power was on par with someone at the advanced stage.

And his technique was definitely Heaven Tier!

He's been hiding quite a lot.

Ye Xiao considered that for a moment.

But it's still not enough.

He decided to stop holding back.

"Li Yao, you're good. But not good enough."

As soon as Ye Xiao finished speaking, Spiritual Power erupted from within him.

A powerful aura instantly engulfed the entire stage.

A crushing pressure bore down on Li Yao, nearly stealing his breath.

Holy shit, this guy...

Alarm shot through Li Yao.

Is this his true strength?

Ye Xiao raised his hand and threw a punch.

It was impossibly fast. Li Yao did not even have time to react.

Boom!

The punch sent Li Yao flying. He crashed hard onto the stage.

"Holy shit!"

"Li Yao got knocked down that fast?"

"The gap's way too big!"

Li Yao struggled to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Damn it. This guy's a freak.

He took a deep breath and called out silently.

System, get the Qi-Explosion Pill ready!

Ding! The Qi-Explosion Pill is ready. Does the host wish to use it?

Not yet.

Li Yao gritted his teeth and stared at Ye Xiao across the stage.

I'll wait for his next move, then finish him in one strike!

Ye Xiao looked at Li Yao, surprise flashing in his eyes.

"You can still stand? Not bad."

He attacked again, faster and with greater force this time.

"It's over!"

Ye Xiao drove a punch straight toward Li Yao's chest.

A fierce look flashed in Li Yao's eyes.

Now!

System, use the Qi-Explosion Pill!

Ding! Qi-Explosion Pill used successfully!

A tremendous surge of power flooded into Li Yao's body.

His Spiritual Power surged, and his aura climbed higher and higher.

"Nine-Turn Profound Art—Heaven-Breaking Fist!"

Li Yao threw a punch. It was more than ten times as powerful as his last!

Boom!

The two fists collided with a thunderous crash.

The entire arena shook, and dust billowed into the air.

"Holy shit!"

"What just happened?"

"How did Li Yao's Spiritual Power suddenly shoot up?"

"That kind of power has to rival a Martial Venerable, right?"

When the dust cleared, everyone froze.

Li Yao and Ye Xiao were both still on their feet in the arena.

But a trace of blood stained the corner of Ye Xiao's mouth.

Li Yao, meanwhile, was down on one knee, gasping for breath.

"This..."

"Li Yao actually hurt Ye Xiao?"

"Holy shit, seriously?"

Ye Xiao wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at Li Yao, a flicker of shock in his eyes.

"You..." He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again.

Li Yao raised his head, looked at Ye Xiao, and grinned.

"Senior Ye Xiao, what did you think of that move?"