Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Zhai Zidu
This single punch concentrated all his Qi and Blood and spirit. It was the strongest strike he had unleashed since becoming a Martial Artist.
He wanted to see just how wide the gap was between himself and a true top-tier genius.
Xu Wuyi watched the two incoming bolts of thunderous fist energy, his gaze calm.
He raised his left hand, fingers spread, and pressed lightly into the air before him.
"Suppress."
He uttered a single word.
A formless will descended.
The two rampaging bolts of thunderous fist energy abruptly froze, three meters in front of Xu Wuyi!
As if they had slammed into an unseen wall, the lightning flickered violently, but they couldn’t advance another inch.
Chen Tao’s expression changed. Gritting his teeth, he surged his Qi and Blood, causing the fist projections to swell with power and the roar of thunder to intensify.
But the next second—
Xu Wuyi gently clenched his left fist.
BOOM!
The formless wall suddenly contracted, morphing into a massive, unseen hand that viciously crushed the two bolts of thunderous fist energy!
The fist projections shattered, sending lightning sparking in all directions.
Chen Tao let out a muffled grunt and stumbled back seven steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
He looked up, his gaze fixed on Xu Wuyi, filled with utter shock.
He hadn’t drawn his spear, hadn’t even used his Qi and Blood. Just a crushing display of Spiritual Will alone was enough to shatter his full-power "Thunderstorm"!
’The gap... it’s just too vast.’
"Your Fist Technique has plenty of brute force, but the fusion of your Spirit and Qi and Blood is lacking," Xu Wuyi said slowly. "The Thunder Realm emphasizes the union of Intention and Momentum. Your thunder has form, but no spirit."
Chen Tao was silent for a moment, then slowly lowered his fists.
He knew Xu Wuyi was right.
He had practiced his "Thundering Fist" for a long time, and while its power was considerable, he was indeed a step behind in his comprehension of its Mental Realm.
He was easily countered when facing opponents with powerful Spirit.
"I concede," Chen Tao said, taking a deep breath and cupping his fist.
Xu Wuyi nodded.
[VICTORY! ADVANCING TO THE TOP 16!]
...
The battles that followed held no suspense.
In the round of 16, his opponent was a Level 35.1 Sword Dao genius from Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy. Xu Wuyi shattered his sword with one spear strike. Victory.
In the quarterfinals, his opponent was a Level 34.9 ice-type Martial Artist from Black Stone Academy. Xu Yi shattered the ice with one spear strike. Victory.
When the final roster for the quarterfinals was announced, the spectator channels for the youth tournament erupted.
Xu Wuyi remained undefeated, having taken down every opponent in a single move.
His opponents, every one of them an elite of their generation, had a minimum Life Energy Level of 34.5.
This string of crushing victories was beyond anyone’s comprehension.
"A monster... a true monster..."
"He made it to the top 8! The semifinals are next!"
"Who do you think can force him to use a second spear strike?"
"I doubt it... unless it’s Chu Shanhe or Zhai Zidu."
"Zhai Zidu is in the top 8! He’s fighting Xu Wuyi next!"
"It’s happening, it’s happening! It’s finally happening!"
...
「On the eve of the quarterfinals, in Black Stone Academy’s exclusive lounge.」
Zhai Zidu sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, a frigid aura swirling around him that caused the temperature in the entire room to drop by several degrees.
On the screen before him, recordings of all of Xu Wuyi’s battles played on a loop.
One move, one move, and still one move.
No matter the opponent, no matter the Martial Arts they used, Xu Wuyi always used just one spear strike.
Simple. Direct. Dominating.
Huuu...
Zhai Zidu slowly exhaled a puff of white air and opened his eyes.
His gaze was calm. There was no nervousness, no fear—only a near-frigid clarity.
’He knew he couldn’t win.’
’Back in the Red Star challenge space, when facing the Illusion of Xu Wuyi from over half a year ago, he had only been able to fight to a stalemate.’
’And an Illusion was inherently weaker than the original person.’
’What’s more, that was the Xu Wuyi of over half a year ago.’
’Just how strong was the current Xu Wuyi?’
Zhai Zidu didn’t know.
But he wanted to find out.
Even knowing defeat was certain, he wanted to see with his own eyes just how wide the gap was between himself and a true top-tier genius.
He wanted to know where his own limits lay.
"Zidu." The door to the lounge was pushed open, and Fu Yun walked in.
"Senior Brother Fu." Zhai Zidu rose to his feet.
Fu Yun looked at Zhai Zidu, paused for a moment, then clapped him on the shoulder. "Just do your best in tomorrow’s match. That kid, Xu Wuyi... he’s already beyond being measured by the standards of his peers."
Zhai Zidu nodded. "I know."
"However," Fu Yun said with a smile, "don’t sell yourself short, either. Your progress on Red Star has been plain for all to see. Your Ice Soul True Intention is approaching Minor Achievement, and it’s about time you showed your trump card."
A cold glint flashed in Zhai Zidu’s eyes. "I will."
...
「The next day. The semifinals.」
In the enormous Circular Plaza, the spectator stands were packed to capacity.
Everyone held their breath in anticipation, waiting for the first match to begin.
"Semifinals, Match One!" the system’s voice announced. "Will competitors Xu Wuyi of Star Martial University and Zhai Zidu of Black Stone Academy please enter the main arena!"
As the voice faded, two figures materialized simultaneously in the center of the arena.
Xu Wuyi was dressed in his usual dark gray training uniform, standing with his spear, his aura completely contained.
Zhai Zidu wore a black combat suit, his posture ramrod straight. A chilling mist radiated from his body, and his gaze was as sharp as a blade.
As the two faced each other, the very air in the arena seemed to freeze.
"Black Stone Academy, Zhai Zidu," Zhai Zidu said slowly, his voice calm.
"Star Martial University, Xu Wuyi," Xu Wuyi replied with a nod.
There was no further pleasantry.
Zhai Zidu took a deep breath, and the frigid aura around him suddenly erupted!
A pale blue frost spread out from under his feet, instantly covering the ground in a ten-meter radius. Moisture in the air condensed into tiny ice crystals as the arena’s temperature plummeted.
His Ice Soul Skills activated at full power!
An ice-blue light coalesced over his fists, forming a pair of translucent, crystalline ice Gloves.
"Xu Wuyi," Zhai Zidu said, looking at his opponent and enunciating each word, "I know I cannot win."
"Back on Red Star, when facing your Illusion from over half a year ago, the best I could manage was a stalemate."
"An Illusion is weaker than the original, and more than half a year has passed since then... I can’t see through you at all now."
He paused, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "But I still want to try."
"I want to see just how wide the gap is between me and a true monster like you."
"So, in this battle, I will use every trump card I have."
"Please... don’t hold back."
Xu Wuyi looked at Zhai Zidu, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes.
’To demand a fight despite knowing defeat is certain.’
’Such a mindset, such determination... Truly worthy of a genius from the Northern Lands.’
"Alright." Xu Wuyi nodded slowly. "I will take this seriously."
The moment his words fell, Zhai Zidu moved.
He didn’t charge forward like the other opponents. Instead, his hands formed a seal, and the frigid energy around him began to gather frantically!
"Ice Soul True Intention... Activate!"
With a low roar, Zhai Zidu’s eyes turned completely ice-blue, and tiny ice crystals formed on his hair, eyebrows, and even his eyelashes.
His aura surged at that moment!
Level 34.8... 35.0... 35.5!
In just a few seconds, his Life Energy Level had temporarily broken through to 35.5!
Even more terrifying, the frigid energy around him began to solidify, forming a Domain of pale blue ice mist that enveloped the entire arena.
