Chapter 23

Xiao Shou stood on the stage, his aura intimidating.

He looked wild, his chest bare, his body blood-red, and steam rising from him, a living image of a war god.

"Where is Zhang Fu? Come up and fight me!"

Xiao Shou shouted, partly to provoke Zhang Fu into attacking him, and partly hoping that Xiao Qixiu would see the impending gruesome scene and come to his rescue.

Of course, the most important thing was to get rid of the "Ash Fire Seed" inside him.

In the waiting area.

Zhang Fu and his friends looked worried.

"I think you should just admit defeat. He is Xiao Shou, now one of the two most prominent dark horses after the two innate talents, no shame in it!"

Zhang Fu hesitated: "But..."

"Look at him, he's really on something. Didn't you see how he killed Wen Chong?"

"He's far more aggressive now. If you go up there, you'll be torn apart at best, and at worst, you'll be shredded into pieces!"

Zhang Fu shivered, feeling his friend had a point.

But...

He raised his hand and looked at the bite marks, frowning: "But I just blackened him yesterday. If I admit defeat today, won't it be embarrassing?"

"Is losing face more important than losing your life?"

Zhang Fu thought for a moment and shook his head: "He might not be able to break through my defense!"

He shook off his friend's hand and leaped onto the stage.

"Ah, what a fool!" came a desolate sigh from behind.

...

"Are you Zhang Fu?"

Xiao Shou looked at the tall, muscular man with fists the size of sandbags.

Perfect, this will be a brutal beating.

That's exactly what I want!

He glanced smugly at Xiao Qixiu, thinking that when the audience questions it, the referee can't just stand by and watch, right?

As soon as he saves me, he can't ignore that thing inside me, can he?

Zhang Fu bowed: "Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao. I have cultivated the 'Great Golden Copper Body,' which provides excellent physical defense. I hope Senior Brother will not hesitate to instruct me."

Great Golden Copper Body?

Xiao Shou stumbled. Isn't that a defensive spiritual technique?

You're the one who's going to beat me, how can you cultivate something like that? What a waste of your good physique.

Xiao Qixiu laughed. He knew exactly what Xiao Shou was up to.

He waved his hand: "The match begins!"

Xiao Shou felt it still wasn't enough. He had to force the opponent to attack, or his first plan would fail.

He provocatively beckoned to Zhang Fu, slightly lowering his stance, indicating that he wouldn't move unless the opponent did.

Zhang Fu smiled lightly, let out a low shout, and also lowered his stance. Spiritual energy surged around him, turning his skin a golden-copper color.

The scene became deadlocked.

The audience laughed hysterically.

"Ha ha ha, these two are something else. What the hell are they doing in a match?"

"Zhang Fu's 'Great Golden Copper Body' only has a counterattack in the final move. What's Xiao Shou doing? Doesn't he have offensive moves? Go for it!"

"Go? You must not know what 'Xiao Sandbag' means. I, Xiao Shou, have always been the one getting hit. If I don't get beaten, I feel itchy all over!"

"Ha ha, I can't take it. I can watch them lower their stances until nightfall!"

Xiao Qixiu's face turned dark. He hadn't been this serious all year.

What are these guys doing?

It's a match!

"Please note, the match time is only two quarters!"

Xiao Shou frowned. Zhang Fu had good self-control. It seemed he wasn't planning to attack. Was his first plan really going to fail?

Could he really rely on losing to vent the burning energy inside him?

He could fight, but he was afraid this guy couldn't take it!

Xiao Shou turned to Xiao Qixiu: "Aren't you going to save me?"

"Ha ha!" Xiao Qixiu replied with a laugh.

"Do you believe me if I say I'll kill him if I attack?" Xiao Shou pointed at Zhang Fu.

Zhang Fu's face turned green. He felt his legs go numb, barely resisting the urge to jump off the stage.

You two have your own grudges, why drag me into it?

Xiao Qixiu's eyes turned cold. This kid, daring to threaten me?

"Go ahead, if Zhang Fu dies, I'll admit defeat!"

Zhang Fu's legs trembled. Damn it, I'm not a bet, I'm a living person!

Everyone in the back judge's area was shocked.

"Is Xiao Qixiu angry?!"

"Wow, this Xiao Shou is something. He actually made Xiao Qixiu speak like that, I'm impressed!"

"Hehe, I told you Xiao Shou is something. But now I'm worried about the other guy."

"Nine realms... should be able to handle it..."

On the stage, Xiao Shou raised an eyebrow at Xiao Qixiu's words. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Qixiu, ignoring Zhang Fu.

"Are you sure?"

He activated the "Ash Fire Seed" inside him and punched the ground with all his might.

Bang!

A large pit appeared on the stage, the burning energy instantly exploding, scorching the surrounding area black.

"I'm really on something, no one can handle it!" Xiao Shou flexed his muscles.

Is that it?

Xiao Qixiu showed disdain.

Zhang Fu was exhausted. He saw Xiao Shou's casualness, Xiao Qixiu's disdain, and his own bleak future.

Help, should I keep holding on?

Xiao Shou's punch scared him half to death and made the audience's eyes widen.

"My God, that destructive power..."

"Poor Zhang Fu, he's been undefeated in three consecutive matches, but he's completely overshadowed by Xiao Shou."

"Please look at Zhang Fu before you speak, his legs are shaking!"

Zhang Fu's legs indeed trembled, and his voice quivered: "Senior Brother Xiao, please go easy on me. When I said 'not hesitate to instruct me,' I didn't mean it. Just a few moves will do."

He pleaded: "Give me some face..."

The audience burst into laughter. Seeing Xiao Qixiu's silence, Xiao Shou charged forward, "Enjoy your last moments!"

Xiao Qixiu's eyes locked onto him. Although he felt the kid was joking, what if he was serious?

Bang!

Xiao Shou punched Zhang Fu's chest, the burning energy surging out, giving him a sense of release.

Sizzle—

Zhang Fu's hair curled, his clothes scorched, but he didn't budge.

Xiao Shou was surprised. He could withstand a punch with five-tenths of his strength?

Impressive!

Since venting was effective and the opponent's defense was so strong, he didn't need to be saved. Save Zhang Fu instead!

"Phew!"

He took a deep breath, sinking his energy to his dantian, using spiritual energy for the first time in an attack.

His left hand gathered visible burning energy, like an invisible fire, slightly distorting the space around it.

Zhang Fu's pupils contracted.

Hold on, I must hold on!

After this palm, I'll admit defeat, no shame in it!

Xiao Shou said calmly: "One punch, one palm!"

Zhang Fu panicked and immediately changed his words: "I admit—"

Bang!

A flash of light, Xiao Shou's punch hit Zhang Fu's chest, a loud explosion in the air, visible heat waves exploded, the stones on the stage instantly shattered, scorched black.

The palm sent Zhang Fu flying, the powerful spiritual energy like a giant swatting a fly, sending him flying off the stage, landing and dragging a trench on the ground.

Puff puff!

The moment he stopped, sparks flew, and Zhang Fu burst into flames.

"Save him!" Xiao Qixiu shouted.

The white-clad angels didn't need to be told, moving the moment Zhang Fu flew off, extinguishing the fire and treating the injuries, each doing their part.

"Awesome!"

Xiao Shou took out a red-gold pill, sniffing it and moaning in comfort.

That palm had released a small part of the burning energy inside him. Although he was still in pain, it felt good to vent!

Looking at the judge Xiao Qixiu, who was staring at him, he said innocently: "I held back, or he would have died."

Xiao Qixiu: "..."

Audience: "..."