Chapter 287

"What the fuck? Lei Di actually agreed? What's going on?"

"Ah, this…"

As Xu Jingming spoke, the audience members who had just been certain he wouldn't accept were instantly stunned.

Zou Taizhi, having advanced to the top four of the solo tournament, was naturally no weakling.

He possessed the Enhancement-type A-rank ability "Giant Power Demon Ape," and when activated, his physical strength would surge dramatically!

Especially his arms, which seemed to possess divine might!

Combined with his exquisite fist techniques, it was like adding wings to a tiger, allowing him to unleash his immense physique to its fullest.

To compete in fist techniques against such a powerhouse.

Isn't that abandoning your strengths and using your weaknesses to fight?

"You agreed?"

Like many spectators, Zou Taizhi on the arena was also taken aback.

His previous words were merely a tentative remark—he never expected Xu Jingming to accept.

But fate is often so dramatic: the other party actually agreed!

"You're not fooling me, are you?" Zou Taizhi asked suspiciously.

Once the match began, he'd approach carelessly.

Then Xu Jingming would stab him with a spear—it would be the end of him.

"Believe me or not, it's up to you." Xu Jingming clasped his fists, offering no further explanation.

His fist techniques had already been leveled to Master rank, only slightly inferior to his spear skills.

Fighting Wang Qi with fists might still carry risk, but against fourth-rank mid-tier Zou Taizhi, there was virtually no chance of failure.

Even if he did fail, he could always switch back to the spear.

"Fine, I'll believe you once."

Zou Taizhi narrowed his eyes, but inside he was already ecstatic.

He had trained fists since age seven—fifteen full years now!

His fist techniques were nearly touching Master rank!

To challenge him in fist techniques? Isn't that like brandishing a big knife before Guan Gong?

"Dean Yang, your school's Xu Jingming seems quite confident in his fist techniques."

In the arena seating, Jingda's coach Liu An shook his head:

"But if this arrogance costs him a spot in the finals…"

"Turning the solo tournament into a Jingda internal fight—where would Mo Da's face be then?"

Liu An's words sounded concerned, but everyone could hear the sarcasm in his tone.

Yang Zhentian naturally didn't indulge him; he lifted his eyelids slightly, expressionless:

"No need for you to worry, Liu Dean. Xu Jingming won't lose."

For the past decade-plus, Mo Da's training squad had always been under his command.

And Jingda's side was the same—always Liu An in charge of training.

The two universities were rivals.

Over so many university league tournaments, even if they were old friends, enough wins and losses would have turned them hostile.

Besides, they weren't even friends.

Over time, it evolved into this.

Calling them mortal enemies isn't quite right—they both serve their own schools.

But on the battlefield, clashing heads was inevitable.

"Is that so? Then let's wait and see…"

Not getting the furious reaction he expected, Liu An narrowed his eyes and fell silent.

He simply redirected his gaze back to the arena.

"Both competitors, prepare yourselves—the first semifinal match is about to begin!"

After the 30-second preparation time, host Feng Le began the final countdown:

"3… 2… 1… Start!"

Zou Taizhi was a fourth-rank mid-tier Enhancement-type adept, swift in movement and blazing in charge speed.

Against him, ranged attacks like "Lei Yu" or "Lei Mao" were hard to land—and would only expose openings.

Only close combat was truly safe.

So as soon as the match began, Xu Jingming immediately entered Lei Jitai.

Wild thunder surged over his body as he transformed into a golden phantom, charging toward Zou Taizhi.

"Come on! Giant Power Demon Ape!"

With a wild grin, Zou Taizhi activated his ability.

Thick black fur erupted from his pores, his body swelling by a full circle.

His original height of around 1.8 meters shot up to two meters!

Though still shorter than Xu Jingming's 2.2 meters, his arms were unusually long!

They hung straight down to his knees.

From afar, Zou Taizhi looked less like a human and more like a long-armed ape!

This appearance was even terrifying enough to be a villain in a horror film!

"Come on, come on! Let me see how strong your fist techniques really are!"

Facing the charging Xu Jingming, Zou Taizhi showed not the slightest fear.

Instead, he laughed loudly and charged straight forward, plunging himself into the 50-meter-wide thunderstorm zone that had spread out from Xu Jingming's entry into Lei Ting state!

Crackling~~~~

Golden lightning arcs struck his body, and even after being doubly weakened by his Class-A battle suit and hair defenses, they still stung!

'Is this really an SS-class ability? It's this powerful?'

This surprised Zou Taizhi, who was fighting Xu Jingming for the first time.

In terms of rank, he was a Fourth-Rank Mid-Level, far surpassing Xu Jingming's Third-Rank Upper-Level.

Now, with the dual protection of his battle suit and ability, in his judgment,

a casual burst of ability alone should not cause him any harm.

Yet he still felt this stinging pain—his strength had already been slightly affected!

If he stayed inside this zone for long, even without Xu Jingming attacking, the lightning alone would be enough to kill him!

'What kind of monster is this? He's only a Third-Rank Upper-Level...'

He cursed inwardly, but of course didn't back down, sneering:

'Xu Jingming, it seems your SS-class ability isn't so impressive.'

'Is that so?'

Golden Lei Guang flashed—Xu Jingming's tall, slender body suddenly appeared right before him.

'Huh? So fast?!'

Zou Taizhi's expression changed slightly, but his reaction was no slower: 'Explosive Fist!'

His gloved right hand, wrapped in crimson blood qi, unleashed with explosive force several times the speed of sound, striking straight at Xu Jingming!

Explosive Fist!

A Class-A combat technique, famed for its blazing speed and devastating power!

One punch could pierce through C-class alloy as thick as ten centimeters!

Although Zou Taizhi possessed S-class fist-based combat techniques, he never believed Xu Jingming would dare fight him with fists.

That's why he'd only used this Class-A technique as a probe.

'Strong explosive power, but your speed is lacking.'

Under the boost of Lei Ting state, Xu Jingming's neural reaction speed had skyrocketed.

He merely shifted his footstep—and effortlessly dodged the blow.

'Let me show you what a truly powerful fist looks like!'

Without activating any combat technique, Xu Jingming merely condensed a layer of liquid lightning into a gauntlet around his right fist.

Then, he twisted his hips, driving his right arm forward with full force!

The entire sand-pot-sized golden fist seemed to transform into a miniature sun.

Leaving a trail of afterimage, it screamed through the sound barrier as it slammed toward Zou Taizhi!

Boom!

Though Zou Taizhi had desperately dodged, the sharp punch wind still grazed his chest!

And even just the punch wind delivered an impact force of several tons!

Yet as a Fourth-Rank Mid-Level enhancement-type ability user,

this several-ton impact only forced him back half a step—he suffered no serious injury.

What followed was Zou Taizhi's ecstatic grin:

'You really dare to compete with me in fist techniques? Xu Jingming, you're asking for death!'

Xu Jingming had just thrown a punch—now he was in a power gap!

Even if he wanted to activate a lightning-based combat technique, he'd need at least a fraction of a second to begin.

But his S-class fist technique could be unleashed in just 0.1 seconds.

That meant the next punch would almost certainly land on Xu Jingming!

It would knock him into serious injury!

Then, the rest of the battle would become far simpler.

He had a strong chance to defeat Xu Jingming and advance to the finals!

Thinking of this, his joy deepened further.

Blood qi rapidly gathered,

Just as he prepared to unleash his S-class fist technique, a golden fist shadow suddenly struck from before him!

Caught completely off guard, he had no defense.

The massive fist, like a cannonball, slammed into his chest with a loud 'Boom!'

Under the overwhelming impact, Zou Taizhi spat out a mouthful of blood and was blasted backward five or six meters!

What just happened?

Does Xu Jingming have a third hand?

Standing steady at a distance, Zou Taizhi's face twisted in shock.

Only then did he notice—sometime earlier, a golden lightning shadow, like a silhouette, had appeared behind Xu Jingming!

This sight left Zou Taizhi, still dazed from the previous punch, utterly stunned:

'That just now... was Xu Jingming's shadow punching me?'

PS: There's an extra chapter tonight—begging for gifts and electric love!!