Chapter 51: The So-Called Mixed Studies
Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The So-Called Mixed Studies
"Feng Yuxiu! Finish him!"
"Show him what a real fist is!"
Frenzied cheers immediately erupted from the sidelines, mostly in support of Fang Chen. Of course, there were also voices expressing dissatisfaction with Sea Dog:
"Get off the stage, Sea Dog!"
"You slippery coward! Can’t you just fight already?"
"Damn it, I came to watch a fight, not a game of hide-and-seek!"
The fluttering banknotes from tips mostly landed on Fang Chen’s half of the ring. Although the denominations were small, mostly ranging from a few to a dozen bucks, they clearly represented the audience’s attitude.
After the referee gave a brief introduction of both sides, he swung his arm down sharply. "Begin!"
Before his voice even faded, the burly Sea Dog tapped the ground with his feet and retreated three steps back without any hesitation, instantly putting distance between them!
"Booooo—!"
A massive chorus of boos erupted from the crowd, clearly used to his opening act.
Fang Chen had no intention of being dragged into a draw. If he could beat this seasoned veteran worth fifty thousand, he would instantly raise his own value to thirty thousand! He pushed off the ground and charged forward, rapidly closing the gap like a shadow.
However, just as Fang Chen closed in within two meters of him, his punch primed but unreleased, Sea Dog’s obese frame displayed a level of agility completely unfitting for his size! His feet seemed to tread on clouds, his footwork erratic and elusive. His speed abruptly increased as he slid backward and to the side like a slippery loach, widening the distance once more!
"Hmm? Cloud Smoke Step?" Fang Chen’s gaze sharpened, immediately recognizing this Body Technique.
He had seen it at the Martial Arts Association. It was a True Martial Level Body Technique characterized by movements as elusive as smoke, making the user hard to track. It excelled at dodging and weaving within a confined space. He had even borrowed some of its ingenious variations to enhance his own Phantom Illusion Step and Gale Step Technique.
"Interesting. It looks like his Cloud Smoke Step has reached Minor Achievement," Fang Chen’s thoughts raced. "Trying to stall with a Body Technique?"
He held back no longer. True Qi circulated within his body as he activated his Great Success Level Phantom Illusion Step!
SWISH!
His speed skyrocketed, leaving a few faint afterimages trailing behind him as he instantly closed in on Sea Dog again!
A genuine glint of surprise finally flashed through Sea Dog’s perpetually squinted eyes. He hadn’t expected his opponent’s speed to reach such a level that even his Cloud Smoke Step couldn’t shake him off!
The moment Fang Chen caught up to him, his right fist shot out like a cannonball!
Eight Sounds Rock-Breaking Fist!
Faced with this unmatched, ferocious punch, Sea Dog remained unpanicked. He inhaled sharply, causing his round belly to bulge slightly. Crossing his arms in front of him, the fat on his arms rippled weirdly like waves. As if completely boneless, his arms met Fang Chen’s fist.
Cotton Bone Force Release Technique!
THUD! A muffled sound echoed, like striking worn leather.
Fang Chen felt as though his fist had struck an incredibly thick and elastic layer of grease. The condensed Dark Force of his Rock-Breaking Fist was actually mostly neutralized by the bizarre rippling and softness between the opponent’s arms and chest! The remaining Piercing force sank into his thick layer of fat like a stone dropping into the ocean, failing to make him retreat even half a step!
Having neutralized the punch, Sea Dog activated his Cloud Smoke Step again and pulled away. Fang Chen pulled back his fist, his eyes turning serious.
"Cotton Bone Force Release Technique. Another True Martial Level Martial Skill," he thought.
Seeing this, Fang Chen pushed off the ground, pursuing him relentlessly. Using both Fists and Feet, his kicks snapped like whips, and he unleashed a barrage of Rock-Breaking Fists!
However, Sea Dog utilized both the Cloud Smoke Step and the Cotton Bone Force Release Technique to their absolute limits. Amidst Fang Chen’s stormy assault, his obese body was like a small boat in raging waves. Though it looked perilous, he always managed to avoid vital hits by a hair’s breadth. Alternatively, he would neutralize the majestic force layer by layer, redirecting it into the ground beneath his feet or even into the air.
There were even a few times when Fang Chen overextended his moves and was almost caught and grappled by his opponent’s arms. Once grabbed, given Sea Dog’s strength and weight, it would inevitably turn into an even more troublesome wrestling match.
"It seems this guy’s core tactic relies on these two moves: one for escaping, one for neutralizing," he deduced rapidly. "He has practically given up on attacking proactively, purely aiming to stall and exhaust his opponent, grinding down their stamina and patience to force a draw."
Right at that moment, as Sea Dog maneuvered around, he rapidly muttered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Brother, why go to such lengths? Fighting to the death is so exhausting. Isn’t a draw great? The club pays us anyway, and we save our energy. Isn’t it better to just make an easy living? We should slack off while we can..."
Hearing this, Fang Chen chuckled out of sheer exasperation. Slowing his offensive slightly, he looked at Sea Dog, who still maintained a vigilant stance, and said loudly, "Alright! Since you put it that way, Sea Dog, I’ll give you a chance. If you can neutralize my next three punches like you did before, I’ll slack off with you today. How about it?"
Sea Dog’s small eyes lit up, but his vigilance didn’t wane. He replied, "Sounds like a plan!" Yet, his Cloud Smoke Step didn’t pause for a moment. He continued to circle around, having absolutely no intention of standing still to take the hits head-on.
Fang Chen wasted no more words. Pushing off the ground, he pushed his Transcendence Realm Gale Step Technique to its absolute limit!
Extreme Speed!
Fast! Pure, ultimate speed! This was the true essence comprehended by training the Gale Step Technique to Transcendence. Like a bolt of lightning tearing through space, in the brief moment it took the audience to blink, he aggressively surged in front of Sea Dog at a speed far surpassing before!
Sea Dog’s pupils shrank drastically. This speed was at least thirty percent faster than he had anticipated! With no time to think, he instinctively activated the Cotton Bone Force Release Technique to its maximum. Crossing his arms, his fat rippled as he prepared to tank the blow!
At that very moment, Fang Chen’s right fist moved!
Ten Sounds Mountain-Shattering Fist!
This very punch had once crushed Luo Wu’s Iron Wall Strike, and now, with his increased Qi and Blood Value and the metamorphosis of his Dantian, its power was forty percent greater than before. If this move didn’t work, he would have to use the Mountain-Shattering Sound. And if that still failed, he would resort to his current strongest Combat Skill, the Thousand Waves Mountain-Shattering Sound.
Fang Chen was determined to win. A victory would yield thirty thousand, while a draw only meant ten thousand. He couldn’t possibly give up that extra twenty grand.
BOOM!!!
As the fist shot out, there was no longer a series of explosions, but rather a terrifying roar, like a sudden clap of thunder, resulting from being compressed to the absolute extreme! Where the fist passed, the air was forcefully displaced, emitting an ear-piercing screech!
Sea Dog’s Cotton Bone Force Release Technique instantly made contact with this terrifying punching force!
POP!
That bizarre rippling and softness appeared once again, attempting to neutralize the power. But the ease on Sea Dog’s face vanished instantly, morphing into sheer horror!
"No! What is this...?!"
He felt as if his defense had been smashed by an indestructible sledgehammer, instantly torn apart and pierced through!
STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP!
He was completely unable to neutralize this incomparably domineering force. His burly frame stumbled backward uncontrollably. Having completely lost his center of gravity, he was on the verge of falling flat on his back!
Meanwhile, right as he threw the punch, Fang Chen activated Extreme Speed once again!
As if predicting Sea Dog’s retreating trajectory, his figure moved like a ghost, instantly circling behind him! A hand, as if waiting there all along, reached out silently and accurately gripped Sea Dog’s thick neck!
BAM! A heavy thud echoed!
Fang Chen exerted force in his arm, leveraging Sea Dog’s own backward momentum to viciously slam him into the ground! His other fist was already raised high, poised to smash down onto his face!
"I surrender!!! I surrender!!!"