Under the moonlight, a hazy glow gradually illuminated the darkness of streets both large and small. On rooftops, in rooms, at alley entrances, on awnings, atop ornate streetlights... the dim light reflected in dozens of pairs of eyes. Whether near or far, their focus was equally intense, their gazes almost identical.

In an instant, expressions turned to shock, mouths agape. Countless people couldn't believe their eyes—all except for one child, peeking out with a look of pure admiration.

...

"You have no chance, you cheap kind. I admit you have indeed caused the Royal Martial Arts Academy a lot of trouble, but in the end, you're just an insect, capable only of disgusting people," Li Shiji said, his expression indifferent, completely unaffected by Wang Zhan's words.

His figure flickered and seemed to quietly elongate, like a bamboo pole.

Then, a slender afterimage detached from the bamboo pole-like form, striking straight for Wang Zhan's neck, intending to turn him into a mischievous monkey in his palm, suppressed under the Five Finger Mountain.

Unless a Martial King intervened, not even a Grandmaster could save Wang Zhan from his grasp. Li Shiji suddenly felt that Wang Zhan was increasingly pitiful and pathetic; he was just a powerless rat, his only recourse to accept fate's decree.

But however infuriating Li Shiji's expression was, no matter how terrifying his actions seemed, not only did Wang Zhan show not the slightest fear in his heart, he even felt an urge to grin. Truthfully, he really wanted to thank Li Shiji. Without him, how could he have been oppressed by an external force that slightly disrupted the Essence Energy within his body, allowing him to find an opportunity for a breakthrough?

Therefore, to repay him, Wang Zhan decided to give him the best treatment. Even if he couldn't beat him to death, he would beat him until his own mother couldn't recognize him.

Thus, as the Blood Essence Pill rapidly dissolved, bringing a violent surge of Essence Energy, an intense burning within his meridians, and unbearable pain throughout his body, Wang Zhan furiously slammed his palm onto the ground, roaring as he leveraged the force to spring up. In the split second before Li Shiji could react, all the Essence Energy and mental energy in Wang Zhan's body converged in the joints he could use for attack. His body became like a mountain range, his fists like swords and sabers.

"Eight Extremes Fist——Military Killing Fist Variation!"

"Supreme Clear Thunder——Golden Lightning Refinement!"

BANG! A heavy boom resounded from beneath Wang Zhan's feet, stomping out a shallow pit and shattering a few bricks.

Faint golden specks gradually appeared on him, transforming into lines. The lines became a net, and the Golden Net formed an armor covering his entire body, making him resemble a celestial deity.

He was a hero in golden armor—majestic, spirited, and fearlessly advancing, like a wildly rolling boulder or a blood-soaked, roaring beast.

Li Shiji's expression darkened as he stared intently at Wang Zhan.

Does he really think he can defeat me with this martial art cobbled together from who knows what? Wang Zhan's current bizarre appearance clearly stemmed from a reckless mishmash of folk martial arts, unintegrated and devoid of proper form. Such a concoction would diminish power, not enhance it.

Knowing this well, Li Shiji instantly decided to meet Wang Zhan head-on. No matter what fighting style Wang Zhan used, that little insect was someone the Royal Martial Arts Academy could dispose of at will. Therefore, he stomped heavily, shattering the green bricks and cratering the ground. Then, he leaped up, his hands moving swiftly and ferociously, his fists straight.

Carrying an endless might and the true clap of thunder, he was determined to achieve victory with this single strike, aiming to thoroughly smash Wang Zhan's head and leave him with skin split and flesh torn.

Little did he know that from the moment he decided to meet force with force, he had already lost half the battle.

Wang Zhan, rushing forward at high speed, wore a strange, almost deranged smile, revealing his white teeth. It seemed both maniacal and mocking. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he tucked his head low, like a charging, foolish camel, yet he slammed into the Ninth-Level Grandmaster Li Shiji's chest with colossal force.

"PRESS! MOUNTAIN! LEAN!"

BOOM! A massive sound erupted, as if a meteor had crashed onto a planet, or a water droplet had returned to the ocean.

Both their movements were incomparably swift, yet the battle reached an unprecedented stalemate, the two remaining locked together for a long time. A strange rhythm filled the interplay of motion and stillness.

Only, a new change occurred within Wang Zhan's body. His old strength was spent, and new strength gradually arose. His stance was like a sturdy pine, firmly rooted to the spot.

'Strength +30'

'Agility +27'

'Physique +35'

...

「For a long while.」

SPURT...

With this soft sound, the pin-drop silence of the street finally welcomed a moment of change.

A mouthful of crimson, frothy blood gushed from Li Shiji's mouth like a small spring. It formed a red arc against the pale moon, becoming alluringly eerie, like the eternal slumber reflected in an Asura's eyes.

Dead silence.

"You... What... what martial art is this?" Li Shiji asked with difficulty, his eyes somewhat vacant. How could he have been defeated by this clumsy, haphazardly assembled martial art that lacked any discernible technique?

This was more painful and unbelievable to him than death itself!

Wang Zhan, facing the surrounding gazes that were stunned into a collective daze, whispered in Li Shiji's ear.

"What kind of martial art is this? Just something randomly thrown together. Haven't you ever heard of the Bastard Fist used by street thugs?"

Bastard Fist?

A smile flickered on Li Shiji's lips, first furious, then shifting to one of dejection and bleakness.

But he was, after all, a genius mentor of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, an almost guaranteed future Martial King! His Grandmaster Physique was inherently resilient; how could he be so easily defeated by Wang Zhan's techniques?!

At this thought, even though his body was increasingly hunched over, the unbearable pain forcing him to his knees, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his resolve hardened. Such is the way of victory and defeat. So what if Wang Zhan could humiliate him now? As long as he didn't die, Wang Zhan would eventually fall into his hands, and then he would repay this humiliation twofold!

So, even in excruciating pain, he still said coldly, his tone grim.

"Very good, Bastard Fist… Rest assured… Sooner or later… I will return it to you!"

In truth, it was unknown whether Wang Zhan had gotten lucky or stumbled upon it by accident, but he had struck Li Shiji's vital weak point. This left Li Shiji in a state where his Essence Energy was scattered and couldn't be reconsolidated in the short term.

Otherwise, how could a mere pipsqueak like Wang Zhan be his opponent!

Wang Zhan just smiled, a brilliant, carefree smile.

Of course, he knew he couldn't kill Li Shiji. Even if he broke Li Shiji's arms and legs, they would be like a snapped lotus root, still connected by fibers. Not even his Fatal One Slash could sever them cleanly. This was the unique resilience of a Grandmaster's Physique, almost on par with that of a beast. Otherwise, how could Grandmasters engage in such lively, back-and-forth battles with beasts?

However, this didn't mean Wang Zhan was out of options.

He casually took out four Blood Essence Pills, tossing them all into his mouth and saving one for backup.

Then, with a sudden kick, he struck Li Shiji squarely on the head. THUD! Li Shiji, who had been kneeling with a stooped back and lowered head, was sent sprawling to the ground.

Unfortunately, Wang Zhan's Essence Energy and mental energy were now utterly depleted. An immense wave of hunger made his vision blur. After kicking Li Shiji down, he himself nearly fainted, staggering and almost collapsing.

Li Shiji chuckled hoarsely.

"HA... HA... Haven't you eaten? Put some strength into it! You dare humiliate me like this? Just wait for the Royal Martial Arts Academy's revenge!"

"Damn your mother!"

Wang Zhan, towering over him, viciously kicked Li Shiji in the abdomen again. Li Shiji, without Essence Energy, still possessed a formidable Physique, but at most, he was like an ordinary beast—and one that was half-dead and immobile at that.

Fortunately, Wang Zhan had Blood Essence Pills.

Under the revitalizing surge of the Blood Essence Pills, while Wang Zhan's mental power and mental energy weren't inexhaustible, he never had to worry about his stamina failing. At worst, he could just spend a moment to swallow a pill.

So, this kick left a deep-to-shallow footprint on the ground, its target Li Shiji, who had been kicked into mid-air by Wang Zhan like a soccer ball.

Wang Zhan mocked, his voice laced with boundless contempt.

"It's trash like you, hogging the Federation's resources, only to bully your own people and act atrociously! You beat the junior, and the senior shows up. In my opinion, you shouldn't call yourselves the damn Royal Martial Arts Academy anymore. From now on, you should be called the Shameless Martial Arts Academy!"

...

And in that instant Li Shiji was kicked into mid-air, the drastically changing battle situation finally registered with the Grandmaster teams from the Royal Martial Arts Academy.

"Wang Zhan, you're courting death! How dare you humiliate our Royal Martial Arts Academy! We are destined to fight you to the death!"

They hadn't reacted earlier truly because the battle had changed too quickly. Amidst the dazzling and bewildering turn of events, they simply couldn't process how Wang Zhan had managed to completely suppress Li Shiji so suddenly.

That was a Ninth-Level Grandmaster!

Even in the Federation, he was a renowned figure! But now, before Wang Zhan, he was worse than a snarling dog, reduced to a mere punching bag for Wang Zhan to vent his anger on.

When had their Royal Martial Arts Academy ever suffered such humiliation!

"Team leader…"

"Wang Zhan, you cheap kind, die for me!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Today, our Royal Martial Arts Academy will unleash a slaughter! Everyone who humiliates the Royal Martial Arts Academy must die!..."

The Royal Martial Arts Academy team went completely berserk, their eyes practically splitting with rage.

Whether it was Xu Xiu's nearby two-man team or the four-man team that had been driving off other Grandmasters from the surroundings, they all rushed over, intending to besiege and kill Wang Zhan today.

Just as Li Shiji landed heavily on the ground, six powerful and swift figures had already materialized around Wang Zhan, forming what seemed like a heaven and earth net.

WHIZ! WHIZ! WHIZ...

In an instant, countless attacks were about to rain down on Wang Zhan's head, body, limbs, and vital organs. It was clear that the conflict William had instigated between the Royal Martial Arts Academy and Wang Zhan had turned a new, darker page. This wasn't a case of letting bygones be bygones; rather, fuel had been poured on the fire, escalating to a feud that would only end in death!

But Wang Zhan just laughed heartily, completely unfazed, as if possessing the heroic spirit to face down warlords from all eight directions. He didn't even glance at their disgusting faces or their fierce attacks, simply declaring with soaring heroism:

"If you have the guts, then come on! Otherwise, if you lose, you'll just go crying to your grandpas and grandmas. It's disgusting."

"KILL!!..."

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