Chapter 287: Xu Jingming

"What the fuck? The 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 competition, was naturally no weakling.

He possessed the Enhancement-type A-rank ability "Giant Power Demon Monkey," which, when activated, drastically increased his physical strength.

Especially his arms, which seemed to wield boundless divine power!

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

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 Shitanxingfayan; he never expected Xu Jingming to accept.

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

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

Once the match begins, I'll move in close without guard.

Then Xu Jingming stabs me with his spear—that would be the end of me.

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

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

Using fist techniques against Wang Qi might still carry risk, but against Zou Taizhi, a mid-level fourth-rank fighter, there was virtually no chance of failure.

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

"Fine, I'll believe you once."

Zou Taizhi narrowed his eyes, but inside he was overjoyed.

He had trained in fist techniques since age seven—fifteen full years now!

His fist technique was nearly touching Master rank!

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

"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 keeps him from even reaching the finals..."

"Turning the solo competition into a Jingda internal fight—where would Moda's face be then?"

Liu An's words sounded concerned, but anyone 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, Moda'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, repeated wins and losses had long since turned them hostile.

Besides, they were never friends to begin with.

Over time, it evolved into this state.

Calling them mortal enemies might be too strong—they both served their own schools.

But on the battlefield, confrontation was inevitable.

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

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

He simply turned his gaze back to the arena.

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

After thirty seconds of preparation, host Feng Le began the final countdown:

"Three... two... one... Start!"

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

Against him, ranged attacks like "Thunder Prison" or "Thunder Spear" were hard to land—and risked exposing openings.

Only close combat was truly safe.

So as soon as the match began, Xu Jingming immediately entered Thunder Extreme State.

His body swarmed with violent lightning, transforming into a golden phantom as he charged toward Zou Taizhi.

"Come on! Giant Power Demon Monkey!"

With a wild grin, Zou Taizhi activated his ability.

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

His original height of around 1. meters shot up to two meters!

Though still shorter than Xu Jingming's 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 alone could easily serve as a horror movie villain!

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

Facing Xu Jingming's charge, Zou Taizhi showed no fear.

Instead, he laughed loudly and charged straight into the fifty-meter-wide thunderstorm zone generated by Xu Jingming's Thunder Extreme State.

Crackling—crackling—crackling~~~~

Golden lightning arcs struck him; even after being weakened by his A-rank battle armor and fur, they still stung!

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

This surprised Zou Taizhi, who had never fought Xu Jingming before.

In rank, he was mid-level fourth-rank—far surpassing Xu Jingming's upper-level third-rank.

With both armor and ability protecting him, he'd assumed:

Even random bursts of ability shouldn't cause him harm.

Yet he still felt that sting—and his strength was already slightly impaired!

If he stayed here long enough, even without Xu Jingming attacking, the lightning alone could kill him!

'What kind of monster is this? He's only upper-level third-rank...'

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

"Xu Jingming, your SS-rank ability doesn't seem so impressive."

"Is that so?"

A flash of golden lightning—Xu Jingming's tall, slender figure suddenly appeared before him.

"Huh? So fast?!"

Zou Taizhi's expression changed, but his reaction was swift: "Explosive Fist!"

His gloved right hand, wrapped in crimson blood qi, unleashed a punch at over several times the speed of sound!

Explosive Fist!

An A-rank combat technique, famed for its blistering speed and crushing force!

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

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

So he only used this A-rank technique as a probe.

"Good explosive power, but your speed is lacking."

Under Thunder Extreme State, Xu Jingming's neural reaction speed was greatly enhanced.

He merely shifted his foot slightly, effortlessly dodging the blow.

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

He didn't activate any combat technique—only 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!

His sandal-sized golden fist became like a miniature sun.

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

Boom!

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

Even just the wind pressure felt like tons of force striking him!

Yet as a mid-level fourth-rank Enhancement-type adept,

this tonnage of impact only pushed him back half a step—he suffered no serious injury.

What followed was Zou Taizhi's ecstatic grin:

"You really dare fight me in fist techniques? Xu Jingming, you're asking for death!"

Xu Jingming had just thrown a punch—his power was momentarily spent!

Even to release a lightning-based combat technique, at least a fraction of a second is needed to initiate.

But his S-rank fist technique required only 0. seconds to unleash.

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

Knock him straight into serious injury!

With that, the rest of the battle would become far simpler.

He had a strong chance of defeating Xu Jingming and advancing to the finals!

Thinking of this, his facial expression grew even more delighted.

His blood qi rapidly gathered,

Just as he was about to unleash his S-rank fist technique, a golden fist shadow suddenly struck toward him!

Caught off guard, he had no defense whatsoever.

The massive fist, like a cannonball, slammed hard against his chest with a loud thud!

Under the force of the 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?

Zou Taizhi, now standing at a distance, wore an expression of shock.

Only then did he realize that, at some point, a golden thunderous 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 love-powered electricity!!