"Boom!"
The thunder and lightning came utterly without warning, catching them even more off guard.
Both men looked as though they had been struck by lightning. A visible cloud of white smoke rose from one, while the fine hairs all over the other curled, giving off a faint scorched smell. Almost simultaneously, both spat out scalding blood.
Yet that same strike seemed to give them both some inexplicable stimulus.
Every muscle and tendon in Xue Hen's body tightened, somehow producing another reserve of strength.
The same was true of Lian Youming. The open pores on his arms contracted again, containing his escaping vital energy and stabilizing his body and spirit once more. Their eyes met, and at the sight of each other's ravaged state, both suddenly laughed.
One laughed savagely; the other bared his teeth in wild laughter.
Sworn rivals.
Neither had expected the battle to reach this point.
All for a single outcome.
This final breath...
Even as they laughed, both raised their fists again, their killing intent surging.
One of Xue Hen's hands gripped the muscles over Lian Youming's heart, his five fingers almost wedged into the gaps between the bones, his fingertips sunk deep. Yet now they could advance no farther. Lian Youming managed to draw a breath. His internal breath swelled, his muscles bulged outward, and a tiger's roar, almost a whimper, burst from his chest and abdomen.
"Roar!"
With that roar, blood spilled from all seven of his facial orifices. The world turned crimson in his eyes, hot blood flooded his ears, and blood seeped uncontrollably between his teeth. Almost completely drenched in blood, he used his inner strength to force Xue Hen's clawing fingers away.
Xue Hen was already punching. His Crushing Fist shot like an arrow straight at Lian Youming's chest, his twisted,