Free Web NovelChapter 196: Chapter 130: Turning the Tide
In the center of the ring, Lei Chongming wore a mocking expression, his arms crossed to block the way.
’Just a wild dog that only knows how to bark.’
’If he can’t even handle a group attack like this, he’s not worthy of my attention.’
Besides, he looked away, turning his gaze toward Luo Yan of Jinshi Boxing Hall.
’The Elite Level fighter is my real opponent today. In a moment...’
DONG!
SWOOSH!!
A muffled explosion erupted. A figure flew backward, stirring up a gust of wind as it brushed past him and crashed into the crowd of martial artists watching from the sidelines.
Lei Chongming’s thoughts were instantly cut short, his eyelid twitching.
Off to the side, Zheng Wu and the others stared with wide, astonished eyes.
In their line of sight, Lu Chao was still walking, continuing his advance toward the ring.
Faced with the surrounding attackers, he was unhurried, neither dodging nor evading, meeting every blow head-on.
BANG!!
He threw a punch. A figure bent like a shrimp, his chest caving in. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and flew backward, slamming into the concrete wall with a reverberating thud.
A sweeping whip kick, like a spear imbued with power, struck one man in the head. Blood-stained teeth flew as his body slid back and crashed into the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall’s seating area, knocking over several disciples who tried to catch him and sending up a chorus of pained cries.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!!
In just a few breaths, he unleashed one killing move after another from the Golden Stone Fighting Skill—earth-shaking strikes, a rapid volley of stone-hard blows, and attacks that flew through the air.
The Professional Level disciples from Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall looked on in shock and anger. They had specifically trained to find and exploit the weaknesses in the first two levels of the Golden Stone Fighting Skill in order to crush its users.
But what was with this utterly savage power? This terrifying, unmatched explosiveness?
BOOM!!
As they pondered, another punch landed.
The last attacker, a Peak Professional Level fighter, was lifted off his feet and sent smashing into the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall’s seats.
With no one left to block his path, Lu Chao casually took a step forward.
THUD!
It seemed like a single step, but in an instant, he crossed more than ten meters to arrive at the center of the concrete training ground’s ring.
"So fast!"
Lei Chongming’s pupils contracted, and goosebumps broke out across his skin.
But there was no fear in him. Instead, the corner of his mouth curled into a bloodthirsty, excited grin.
"Interesting!"
BOOM!!
His Martial Arts Power erupted wildly as he activated a deadly Martial Skill.
More than a ton of force gathered, making the air tremble and hum incessantly.
The muscles on his right arm, taut like a javelin, bulged against the sleeve of his blue martial arts uniform. It whipped up a gale as it shot straight for Lu Chao’s face.
In that brief moment, everyone’s eyes snapped toward the action.
BANG!!
A muffled boom exploded outwards. A wisp of a white vapor ring expanded, drifting away on the air.
Lu Chao’s left palm was held up before him, firmly catching the fist.
His skin was flushed with a healthy color; he hadn’t even used his Rock Hide.
The sight left everyone stunned. Lei Chongming also frowned, sensing something was wrong.
"Have you not eaten?"
Lu Chao asked calmly, looking his opponent straight in the eye. "Aren’t you supposed to know Thunder Fist?"
"What’s wrong? Can’t use it anymore?"
His gaze was level, almost condescending.
Lei Chongming’s expression turned cold, and he once again erupted with all his power.
ZZZT! ZZZT!
The power swirling around his arm rapidly transformed, shifting from formless to tangible, like wisps of silver-blue lightning.
In the blink of an eye, his left fist, which had been gathering power at his waist, shot forward, trailing a silver-blue glow.
"Let’s see you block this!"
BOOM!!
The sound of thunder rumbled as the air crackled.
His left arm seemed to channel lightning, bringing an arc of crackling blue energy down toward Lu Chao’s heart.
Ring after ring of white vapor exploded from beneath his fist. The terrifying force sucked all the air from in front of Lu Chao, pressing down with heavenly might.
The onlookers had varied expressions. Those from Flying Eagle and Cangyun Boxing Hall sneered, while the members of Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall stared intently at Lu Chao, their eyes vicious, as if they could already see the outcome.
"This..."
In contrast, Zheng Wu and the others watched with worried eyes. Luo Yan’s brow furrowed, and he was about to dash onto the stage to save him.
But...
BOOM!!
...an even faster punch shattered the heavenly might and tore through the pressure.
The muscles on Lu Chao’s right fist bunched up. Wielding perfectly controlled power and a single layer of Stacked Force, his punch, though thrown second, arrived first, smashing into Lei Chongming’s fist.
BANG!!
CRACK!
A dull thud echoed as Lei Chongming’s eyes went wide.
He watched as the silver-blue lightning gathered in his left fist instantly disintegrated. Then, an immense force, like a coiling flood dragon, surged toward him, violently shattering his arm and pulverizing the bone.
Piercing pain shot through him. He let out a muffled groan, his face turned pale, and his body staggered, losing its balance.
But before he could retreat and dodge, and before the members of Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall could even react...
BANG!!
Another Fist Seal slammed into his chest.
Lu Chao’s left hand, like a vice, gripped the fist of Lei Chongming’s initial attack, holding his body in place.
His right fist was like a battering ram, striking again and again, all over his opponent’s body.
BANG! BANG! BANG!!
Shoulders, elbows, chest, kidneys...
Each blow was exquisitely controlled—not to kill, but to inflict grievous injury.
In a mere instant, mists of blood erupted from Lei Chongming’s body as he spat out mouthful after mouthful of blood.
Within moments, he was completely drenched in his own blood, the whites of his eyes showing as he passed out.
All the injuries Zheng Wu had suffered now appeared on him, only far more severe. He was all but crippled.
CRACK!
Lei Wanjun’s eyes turned cold. The wooden armrest in his left hand was now covered in cracks.
But before he could move, a pair of eyes met his.
The white-haired Luo Qianshan seemed to lock gazes with him, as if he could read his mind.
At the same time, one of the masters from a smaller martial arts hall noticed the truth. He crushed the armrests of his chair, staring intently at Lu Chao’s upright figure.
"Elite Level..."
His pupils contracted, his face filled with disbelief.
’This disciple from Jinshi Boxing Hall... he’s actually broken through to the Elite Level?’
One gasp and shocked thought followed another. The members of the Flying Eagle and Cangyun Martial Arts Halls were all aghast, finding it impossible to believe.
Even the disciples of Jinshi Boxing Hall were stunned.
Their once downcast eyes now shone with astonishment and excitement. Their faces flushed red as they clenched their fists.
’Senior Brother Lu is already at the Elite Level?’
Zheng Wu’s eyes were wide. Beside him, Luo Yan’s eyes blazed, his face flushed with excitement.
’Junior Brother Lu actually broke through to the Elite Level!!’
"This..."
Watching this scene, Lin Qingxue, who had previously lost all will to fight, felt her face flush then pale. A wave of frustration and other complex, indescribable emotions washed over her.
’The junior brother I once dismissed... actually broke through before me?’
"Impossible!"
Suddenly, an enraged roar came from the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall’s seats.
A Fighting Level disciple was pale, as if refusing to accept reality.
’Senior Brother Lei, the one they all looked up to, was defeated? Grievously injured and nearly crippled in a single exchange?’
’How is this possible?’
WHOOSH!!
The next instant, Lu Chao kicked the blood-soaked Lei Chongming, sending him flying. Carried by immense force and a howling gale, his body shot toward the Thunder Extreme crowd.
The faces of the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall disciples changed. The oncoming pressure felt like a knife scraping their faces, chilling them to the bone, and they didn’t know how to react.
At the critical moment, Zhan Diao, who had been restraining himself the entire time, could no longer hold back.
"How dare you!" he barked out, immediately stepping forward.
He extended his arms, like a man trying to scoop the moon from the sea, and caught Lei Chongming’s body.
CRACK!
The concrete floor beneath his feet cracked as he absorbed the impact from the blow.
"Oh?"
Lu Chao’s eyelids lifted slightly as he looked over at him.
Their eyes met.
"You have no respect for your superiors, and your methods are vicious."
Zhan Diao’s face was ice-cold. His tall, burly frame was nearly six-foot-one, and his blue martial arts uniform was stretched taut over his muscles.
"Today, I’d like to see how many of my moves you can take."
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The concrete beneath his feet shattered again, the cracks spreading for several meters.
As he handed Lei Chongming to a junior brother behind him, he vanished, crossing more than ten meters in an instant to appear on the ring.
In a flash, before Lu Chao could even answer, he planted his left foot, stamping a deep footprint into the concrete.
Using the explosive burst of power, he spun and kicked, raising a rushing wind as his leg shot straight for Lu Chao’s neck.
