The second move! The third!

Three moves had passed. Though Zhang Xiankun was not yet defeated, under Zhao Xuanqi’s assault, he no longer had any chance to counterattack!

Suppression! Suppression! Suppression!

Zhao Xuanqi’s claws struck in a continuous chain. His Body Technique, skill, and experience—compounded by the heightened instincts and intuition from his Forged Skin—meant that Zhang Xiankun was no longer worthy of the three-move handicap he’d been given.

One mistake, and every step after was a mistake!

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed endlessly. Below the stage, the crowd fell silent, watching the bizarre scene unfold.

Zhang Xiankun, built like a towering Vajra Rakshasa, was actually being forced to retreat relentlessly under Zhao Xuanqi’s continuous assault!

One step! Two! Three!

Gradually, he was forced back to the very edge of the fighting stage.

’I can’t retreat any further!’

ROAR!

Zhang Xiankun bellowed. His body coiled into a ball once more as he put explosive force into his legs. Ignoring Zhao Xuanqi’s strikes, he pinpointed the exact moment Zhao Xuanqi launched an attack and violently rammed into him.

Advancing Cannon!

He would trade injury for injury; he had to break through this encirclement!

But at that very moment, the ferocity of Zhao Xuanqi’s assault suddenly shifted. His entire body went supple, his arms moving like long snakes. This Transformation of Hard and Soft created an incredibly unsettling, contradictory feeling in Zhang Xiankun.

Zhao Xuanqi used the Transformation of Hard and Soft to evade the Advancing Cannon, and in the blink of an eye, he was behind Zhang Xiankun.

CLICK!

Two arms wrapped around Zhang Xiankun’s thick waist. Compared to Zhang Xiankun’s now-bulging physique, those arms seemed almost frail.

But in the next instant!

WHOOM!

The two seemingly frail arms instantly swelled to nearly twice their size.

Blood Essence Power Generation!

Zhao Xuanqi twisted at the waist, his arms erupting with sudden force.

Before Zhang Xiankun could even react, he suddenly felt his massive frame become incredibly light.

He was flying.

The world spun around him. The horrified faces of the crowd below were seared into his mind.

His limbs flailed instinctively, trying to find purchase, but no matter how strong he was, he was powerless once he left the ground.

All he could do was watch helplessly as his body soared over the edge of the stage, flying farther and farther away.

THUMP!

His massive body plummeted from the three-meter-high stage, crashing heavily onto the ground. Even the surrounding crowd felt the earth tremble from the impact.

Momentum sent Zhang Xiankun tumbling several times before he regained his balance. With a twist of his waist, he sprang back to his feet. The three-meter drop seemed to have no effect on him; he looked as vigorous as ever.

In reality, while Zhao Xuanqi’s attacks had consistently forced him back, they hadn’t managed to inflict any substantial damage.

The man’s Cross-Training had fortified his body to an incredible degree.

’Just like my second senior brother,’ Zhao Xuanqi thought. ’A real brown bear of a man.’

Zhao Xuanqi took in the scene, feeling a bit frustrated. Even at his current level, it was exceedingly difficult to seriously injure an expert with such a powerful physique and solid fighting style with his bare hands.

Fortunately, this was a ring match.

You didn’t have to grievously injure your opponent to win.

Off the stage, Zhang Xiankun stood and looked around. He then looked up at Zhao Xuanqi, who was gazing down at him from the platform. A series of emotions flickered across his face.

"Zhang, I thank you for the match," Zhao Xuanqi said to Zhang Xiankun, cupping his fist in a gesture of respect.

"We’re leaving."

Zhang Xiankun took a deep breath. He had been outmatched in front of everyone; there was nothing more to say.

His Qi and Blood subsided, the Qi Surge vanishing. With a grim expression, he waved to the disciples of Hengchang Martial Arts Hall and walked away into the crowd without a backward glance.

Only after Zhang Xiankun and the disciples from Hengchang Martial Arts Hall had completely vanished did the silent crowd erupt into a clamor of discussion.

And standing atop the high platform, under the blazing sun, Zhao Xuanqi was the most dazzling star of the moment.

With that, Hengchang Martial Arts Hall withdrew from Mingyu Street. As per their wager, all of its businesses and properties on the street were transferred to the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall at an eighty percent valuation. They were all placed under the direct control of Zhao Qi, greatly increasing his command over Mingyu Street overnight.

News of this Street Arena spread like wildfire, causing a huge stir throughout Celestial Sea Prefecture.

The various major powers began to re-evaluate Zhao Xuanqi’s strength and potential.

Inside Weng Xiaolin’s study at the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall.

"That kid... not only did he win, but it seems he won easily? He suppressed Zhang Xiankun head-on in the ring? I know Zhang Xiankun was arrogant and gave him the first three moves, but Chang Feng, even you couldn’t have done that, could you?"

Weng Xiaolin was just as astonished when he received the news.

He had originally agreed to Zhao Xuanqi’s audacious request simply to let him try. After all, when a young man wants to make a name for himself, fight for a fortune, and contribute to the Martial Arts Hall, there’s no reason to hold him back. Doing so would only breed resentment among the other disciples.

But he never expected Zhao Xuanqi to take control of Mingyu Street so easily.

Hengchang Martial Arts Hall sent their second-strongest True Inheritance disciple, and he was defeated in the Street Arena. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

This meant, at the very least, that Zhao Xuanqi’s strength was beginning to rival Liu Changfeng’s.

"I never expected it either. Junior Brother Zhao’s progress in the Martial Dao is... it’s not just fast, it’s astonishing. I’ve always felt he was hiding something. The stronger he gets, the less he seems to conceal it. Junior Brother Zhao’s background is definitely not as simple as it seems," Liu Changfeng said in a low voice.

Although he could be credited with discovering Zhao Xuanqi, he could never have imagined the man’s progress would be so miraculous. In such a short time, he had very likely caught up to the strength Liu Changfeng had built over ten years of training.

It was simply unbelievable, defying all common sense.

"He follows the rules of the Martial Arts Hall. Even when he wants to make a name for himself, he goes out and fights for it, without touching any of our interests in the Upper River District. The Hall has treated him well, and he’s willing to contribute in return. That’s enough."

"However, given the potential he’s showing, our Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall is becoming too small for him. He deserves a bigger stage. At the next Guangdong Martial Arts Conference, I’ll find a good placement for him, secure him a better future. Then I’ll have truly earned the right to be called his master."

Weng Xiaolin continued, speaking to Liu Changfeng, "A tree that juts out from the forest is the first to be struck by the wind. It’s not always a good thing. Tell him to be careful these days. Also, he just took over Mingyu Street. I imagine turning a profit won’t be easy. I’ll give him one of my shipping line contracts to manage. Consider it a gift from me, his master."

"Yes, Master."

Liu Changfeng nodded.

But how could Zhao Xuanqi possibly lay low now? The fact was, he was running out of the Rare Beast Materials and Hundred Beasts Sect Secret Medicine he had on hand.

How could a single street possibly satisfy his appetite?