In the arena.
Fang Ping took a leap and went into the arena. Opposite him, Yao Chengjun took one step at a time instead, walking up the stairs. The entire arena seemed to be swaying in rhythm with his steps.
Mentality filled the void, stirring the air as if there was a storm. A whistling wind blew over the arena.
...
Offstage.
The Rank-6 commentator seemed rather lost on how he was supposed to explain this.
At this moment, Peak Rank-6 Old Fu strode over, motioned the other party, and took a seat. He said loud and clear, “Before the competition, Yao Chengjun has challenged all kinds of powerhouses everywhere. Although he is only ranked third on the Rank-4 ranking list, he has already accumulated his strength up to the maximum limit. Instructor Zhou Tan, second in Rank-4, was honest in saying that he may not be Yao Chengjun’s match.”
“Yao Chengjun’s ability to expel Mentality is comparable to a Peak Rank-6 martial artist. He has already accumulated enough at Peak Rank-4 and can already breakthrough Rank-5 a long time ago.
“However, there are still many people in the present age who are also extraordinary prodigies. Today, they’re also Peak Rank-4.
“Everyone fought for first place in the world of arts, no one settled for second. Yao Chengjun did not choose to breakthrough. Instead, he chose to stay in Peak Rank-4. I’m afraid MCMAU Fang Ping is one of the key reasons for this.”
“Among the few present age prodigy martial artists, MCMAU Fang Ping is one of the last to achieve Peak Rank-4. However, coming in a little slower doesn’t mean that he is weak.
“Fang Ping’s Mentality has also reached the extent to which he can expel it. He used to make a clean sweep over all Rank-3 peers, achieving Rank-4 as an invincible Rank-3.
“However, Fang Ping and the others have not fought each other before. This championship is also the first time in which the four prodigies of this generation will confront each other in martial arts...”
“Both of their Mentalities have reached the stage in which they can expel them. This is something that even some Peak Rank-6 powerhouses cannot do.”
“Yao Chengjun honed his bones thrice when he was still an aspiring martial artist. Today, his Vitality and physique are extremely strong. His Vitality Force is not lower than 2500cal...
“Although Yao Chengjun is young, he has fought in hundreds of battles. After achieving Rank-4, he has even slaughtered many Rank-5s, including a Middle-stage Rank-5 powerhouse.”
“As for Fang Ping, although he took only a while to achieve Rank-4, with his battle experience inadequate compared to Yao Chengjun, he has also killed a Rank-5 martial artist as a Rank-4...”
Old Fu introduced both of them smoothly.
Only then did many people grasp a clearer understanding of the two.
Both of them had reached the stage in which they could expel their Mentalities. They were both thrice-honed and had gone over their ranks to kill Rank-5 powerhouses before.
Even though both of them were young, some of the Rank-5 and 6 senior martial artists present there dared not underestimate the duo either.
...
In the arena, Yao Chengjun’s pace was slow. Finally, he stepped into the arena.
Fang Ping looked breezy and relaxed. Yao Chengjun’s force and Mentality united, unleashing a mighty power and influence, suppressing a few Rank-3 and 4 martial artists nearby to the extent of suffocation. On the contrary, it did not affect Fang Ping in any way.
Fang Ping had yet to open his mouth when Yao Chengjun initiated, “Fang Ping, I’ve been wanting to have a match with you a long time ago, actually! When I first heard that your Mentality is strong, that you can even expel it, I’ve thought of fighting you!
“Among the Rank-4 martial artists, only you and I can expel Mentality.
“It’s a pity, my rank was higher than you back then. Although that was my intention, I did not want to fight you as a higher rank, winning with an unfair advantage!
“Today, you stepped into Peak Rank-4, the same rank as I am. Hence, I have none of those concerns anymore. Now, I can fight you with all I’ve got!”
Fang Ping chuckled. “Me too. I’ve been waiting for you a long time ago. I’ve said it earlier, no matter how high you accumulated your prestige through challenges, you’re merely paving the way for me. It’s my gain. It also saves my energy to challenge others all over the place.
Yao Chengjun said no more.
Only after both of them were done talking did the Peak Rank-6 referee let out a deep roar.
“Begin!”
Boom!
As soon as the words fell the referee’s lips, both of them were already fighting with each other although they were seven to eight meters apart.
Fang Ping and Yao Chengjun employed their Mentality to attack simultaneously!
The invisible waves collided with each other midway, the airflow exploded instantly. Strong winds whipped across the arena. The alloy arena was fine, but the ground outside of the arena surged up a wave of soil and rocks.
Some of the spectators around the arena retreated one after another. Even some of the Rank-5 martial artists did not stay put at this moment.
The explosion in the air blasted again and again!
Colors drained from Yao Chengjun’s face as he was forced back. Fang Ping also staggered slightly, taking a few steps back uncontrollably.
Both their legs stepped firmly on the ground, the A-class alloy ground started creaking from their weight. The combat boots scraped the ground, igniting sparks.
In the blink of an eye, they had just ended their Mentality combat with each other when both their figures flashed like thunder, springing toward each other and launching an attack at the same time.
Bang!
A loud crash was suddenly heard, the air around them turning fiery red. A spear and a saber collided in an instant. There were no sparks, but an intense Vitality Force blasted off, splattering all over the place!
“Go back!”
A powerhouse growled, yanking the spectators, who had already retreated considerably, to a much further distance away.
Dong!
The splattering Vitality Force once again blasted the ground outside the arena, blowing up hole after hole. Watching this had many people palpitating nonstop.
Both of them were insanely powerful!
As the spectators offstage were still in shock from the aftermath, Fang Ping and Yao Chengjun had already launched more than ten attacks at each other. From the ground, they took the fight midair; then, from midair, they took it back to the arena. Thundering crashes reverberated throughout the gym.
After launching tens of moves consecutively, the spectators could gradually make out the shadowy figures in front of their eyes. Fang Ping stepped his feet on the arena and was slammed forcefully tens of meters to the back. His combat boots and changdao scraped the arena, creating ear-piercing friction and plenty of sparks.
At this moment, Fang Ping looked grave, though not dispirited for temporarily losing the upper hand.
In front of him, Yao Chengjun’s complexion turned pale, taking a few steps back slightly. However, he was not pushed back like Fang Ping was.
“I’ve underestimated you!”
Fang Ping spat out some blood. Indeed, he had slightly underestimated Yao Chengjun.
All the time, he thought that his strength was great because of his Vitality. That he was the most powerful among all Rank-4s.
Yet, it did not cross his mind that even though Yao Chengjun’s strength could not compare to his, he had cultivated his Combat Techniques more profoundly, his penetrating force much stronger. His outbursts were much more powerful, pushing him back forcefully.
“Me too!”
Yao Chengjun had just finished saying those words when he stretched his waist and his back, wielding his spear and bolted over to attack. The tip of his spear pierced the void, penetrating Fang Ping’s throat in an instant!
The spectators around exclaimed in alarm!
The powerhouses remained unmoved. As expected, Yao Chengjun’s spear seemed to have pierced through air bubbles, which dissolved into shadow fragments. In the next moment, Fang Ping’s figure emerged midair, raised his saber and hacked!
The saber landed in a split second. Yao Chengjun had come back to his senses a long time ago. Wiggling his long spear, the spear tip clashed tens of times with the changdao continuously.
Ding, ding, dang, dang. The sounds lingered on incessantly, grating the spectators’ eardrums like they were about to explode.
Weng!
A thundering blast was heard. Fang Ping no longer launched any attacks. Instead, he employed the Flight Step, surging straight for the sky. The sound came from the explosion in the airflow.
Yao Chengjun made no attempt to go after him. Instead, he wielded his spear and stood his ground on the arena. His eyes were grave.
Midair, Fang Ping swelled up a series of airflows around him. Around his body, a few tiny crimson vortexes appeared.
In the blink of an eye, the red dots formed seven to eight clumps of fist-sized crimson-colored jade-like objects.
“Drop!”
Fang Ping let out a guttural roar. The Vitality balls condensed by Vitality Force split through the air, crashing down in an instant!
In the arena, Yao Chengjun looked solemn. Slamming his feet on the ground, he left the spot. Midair, Fang Ping landed swiftly, controlling the Vitality balls with his Mentality to chase after him.
Making Vitality balls explode was not something that could not be controlled. In fact, his Mentality could perform manipulation.
Yao Chengjun’s complexion remained the same, but he did not continue retreating. The spear tip gleamed a blinding glow, stabbing outward, poking a few Vitality balls consecutively.
Bang, bang, bang!
Explosion after explosion was heard, the air igniting. At this moment, even the spectator area could sense a suffocating pressure. The exploding Vitality balls and the turbulent airflow caused clouds of dust to rise, and tens of meters of the ground seemed to have sunken considerably out of nowhere.
Amidst smoke and dust, Yao Chengjun was not injured. Although his complexion looked slightly pale, he wielded his spear in an instant and stabbed at Fang Ping, not giving Fang Ping a chance to display his ability.
Fang Ping’s eyes looked grave, letting out an infuriated growl. In rhythm with his growl, he unleashed complete outburst, condensing his Mentality into invisible needles, piercing at Yao Chengjun’s skull.
Yao Chengjun looked unaffected. A crimson-colored airflow emerged from the top of his head, mixing up with his own Mentality, wrapping up Fang Ping’s invisible needles immediately.
At the same time, Yao Chengjun’s long spear expelled Qi tens of meters away, unleashing a glow, attacking toward Fang Ping unexpectedly.
“Explode!”
Fang Ping let out another guttural growl. The crimson airflow shattered without warning. Yao Chengjun turned pale unexpectedly, even the spear glow that he launched turned considerably weak. Then, with a hack, Fang Ping shattered it!
...
“Nonsense!”
At this moment, on the grandstand, a middle-aged man clad in military uniform roared in a low voice, concern flashing across his eyes.
Huang Jing and the rest looked gravely solemn.
Both of them, especially Fang Ping, might look like he was employing simple fighting techniques, but in fact, they were playing with fire.
Just earlier, Fang Ping allowed his Mentality to detonate, nearly tearing Yao Chengjun’s Mentality apart.
Fighting with Mentalities was the most dangerous of all. If Fang Ping was slightly careless in blasting off his own Mentality, he might put himself at risk of becoming brain-dead.
Typically, Combat Techniques like this were employed by Grandmasters or Peak Rank-6 powerhouses during a life-or-death situation.
This was the technique used by MCMAU old vice-chancellor and the rest when they were fighting a life-risking battle in the Catacombs last time. Integrating energy in the body, uniting Mentality and Vitality Force as one, blasting off straight away, shattering the enemy’s Mentality—this was a fighting technique aimed to perish together with the enemy!
After observing for a moment, Huang Jing breathed a sigh of relief. “Not a complete explosion. Luckily.”
Fang Ping did not blow up his own Mentality completely, but only a part of it. Part-explosion could still be recovered from. Moreover, although an incomplete one had also injured Yao Chengjun, it did not reach the extent of fatality.
Even so, FMS’ Grandmaster powerhouses were still laden with anxiety.
An injured Mentality, what grave injury would that be!
...
In the arena.
At this moment, Fang Ping stopped the attack, panting slightly. “I have to admit, you’re strong. However, you shouldn’t engage in a Mentality fight with me. I really don’t want to critically injure you. Yao Chengjun, just admit defeat!”
Yao Chengjun’s complexion was as pale as a ghost, yet he made no reply. He collected his slightly damaged Mentality back into his body, then, proceeded to wield his spear and pierced toward Fang Ping.
Fang Ping said no more after seeing this. The saber body unleashed an intense Vitality glow.
In the next moment, both saber and spear crashed into each other. Yao Chengjun took a few steps back, while Fang Ping was sent flying. The blood in his mouth spurted and gushed out.
...
“Yao Chengjun’s Soaring Dragon Nine Strikes has been cultivated up to the maximum limit. If we compare Combat Techniques, Fang Ping is slightly weaker,” Old Fu explained.
The Rank-6 commentator echoed and asked, “So, based on Elder Fu’s observation, what will their chances of winning be like?”
“I’m afraid Yao Chengjun is about to lose.”
Old Fu shook his head slightly, sighing, “Fang Ping... other than slightly lacking in terms of Combat Techniques, he beats him at nearly everything. Yao Chengjun may have better combat experience compared to Fang Ping. However, he’s slightly restricted now in terms of his display of strength. Fang Ping’s way of fighting is to crush relentlessly. In this case, experience doesn’t really help...”
Yao Chengjun was extremely strong, but Fang Ping’s Mentality was stronger than his, his physique robust, his Vitality rich. Most importantly, he can also recover very quickly.
When encountering an opponent like this, employing a slash would not injure him critically. Fang Ping could bounce back in no time.
If Fang Ping was to be described with a metaphor, he would be—a sticky candy.
This was too difficult to fight!
Moreover, this was not a true life or death fight. In a true life or death fight, judging from the situation earlier, Fang Ping might be able to kill Yao Chengjun in no time.
Provided that Fang Ping’s Mentality could truly recover ceaselessly.
Of course, if Yao Chengjun did not employ Mentality to fight with Fang Ping, Fang Ping might not get the opportunity to do that.
...
Midair.
Yao Chengjun was not someone who would give up easily. After giving up on fighting with Mentality, Yao Chengjun, who had mastered his spear techniques to perfection, was basically just bearing down on Fang Ping while hitting him.
Looking at the situation, Fang Ping was at a disadvantage.
However, anyone with discerning eyes could tell that Yao Chengjun was already exhausted. Although his Combat Techniques were strong, it was not that strong as to be able to seckill Fang Ping. Fang Ping spat blood constantly, but he persevered, returning the attack whenever he had a chance.
Every slash that Fang Ping employed was a full outburst. Unlike Yao Chengjun, laying heavy strikes to no avail. Gradually, his offense weakened.
The tables began to turn. It went from Yao Chengjun launching attacks and holding Fang Ping down, to the other way around, whereby Fang Ping was now bearing down on Yao Chengjun and going on the offensive.
Both of their bodies were full of wounds, bathing in blood. Fang Ping, though, started fighting with greater vigor while Yao Chengjun was already presenting a declining force.
A loud crash, smashing into the ground from the sky, then taking it up midair once again from the ground.
Although most people could not trace both figures clearly, that did not hamper the spectators’ excitement.
They did not look at other things to determine whether they were strong or not. They only looked at the aftermath.
At this moment, the ground around the arena had already sunk into a deep pit from the aftermath of their combat. From the arena, intense sparks shot out from time to time as well. The entire arena was swaying.
...
More than ten minutes later.
Midair, a human shadow landed outside the arena. Yao Chengjun stabbed his spear firmly into the ground. There was a tremor across the ground.
With much difficulty in holding his form, Yao Chengjun panted vigorously, his face deathly pale. Even the military uniform on him was also terribly tattered. Thick blood dripped ceaselessly, spilling into the ground.
After a while, Fang Ping landed as well. Even though he was covered in wounds, his eyes were sharp as he chuckled. “Do you still want to continue?”
Yao Chengjun did not utter a word. After a while, with a slightly hoarse voice, he cried, “Take my final slash!”
“Okay!”
Before the words left his lips, the long spear that was planted firmly into the ground tore apart the surrounding ground, instantly forming a dazzling glow that was headed for Fang Ping.
Fang Ping let out a guttural roar, changdao crashing down like thunder!
Bang!
Bang!
...
One slash after another, outsiders could not even make out how many slashes had Fang Ping employed. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Fang Ping pulled his saber back, standing up stoically.
Yao Chengjun shook his head slightly, not saying a word.
Even now, Fang Ping could still unleash full outburst. Although his final slash was extremely powerful, after employing it on Fang Ping, the spear glow attack was still shattered after tens of slashes from Fang Ping.
At this time and moment, Yao Chengjun still maintained a fair amount of combat strength. Although his Vitality consumption skyrocketed, the strength of his physique alone, one that had attained the peak through the cultivation of Bodybuilding Techniques, was enough to effortlessly tear a typical Rank-4 martial artist apart.
However, when fighting with Fang Ping, to persist was only to invite humiliation.
“I’ve lost.”
Yao Chengjun exhaled a mouthful of air gently, turned and walked toward his team. He lost.
The moment he turned his back, Fang Ping swallowed the blood in his mouth forcefully. One must win with style. Yao Chengjun’s countless outbursts had also injured his internal organs considerably.
Although Fang Ping could still fight at this moment, his internal organs were too critically injured. Even consuming pills would not heal it so easily.
After letting out a gentle cough, taking care that none of the outsiders were watching, Fang Ping covered his mouth with his hand, and swallowed a Resurrection Pill. Only after a while did he stop feeling the burning sensation in his internal organs.
“Fang Ping wins!”
The referee announced the result, landing on the ground. He looked at Fang Ping and asked, “Do you still want to continue?”
“Of course!”
Fang Ping laughed nonchalantly, as if unscathed. It was as if some of the injuries on his body did not belong to him.
The referee took a good look at him. ‘You just took a Resurrection Pill, kid. Stop pretending.’
However, if Fang Ping wished to continue, he would not say anything. Very soon, he announced the start of the second round.
In the second round, Bai Xu was the one to represent FMS.
In the match against Bai Xu, Fang Ping seemed to be fighting even more ferociously than before. Every slash unleashing an intense saber glow. This made the guys at FMS completely helpless. It was like Yao Chengjun did not injure Fang Ping at all.
No matter how badly Fang Ping cultivated his Royal Decapitation, it would not be worse than Bai Xu. Paired with his strong Vitality Force, he was bearing down on the other party and striking him from start to finish, slashing tens of slashes consecutively. Bai Xu had nowhere to run, flying out of the arena after a slash by Fang Ping, bleeding profusely.
“Continue!”
...
The third and fourth person who encountered Fang Ping were almost finished off within three strikes.
After the fifth person went into the arena, Fang Ping’s Mentality, which he no longer employed earlier, achieved an outburst once again, intimidating the other party to the point of making him space out for a moment. With one strike from Fang Ping, he flew out, crashing to the ground and could not stand up.
“MCMAU wins!”
The referee announced loudly. Other than the prolonged combat between Fang Ping and Yao Chengjun, the remaining ones at the back ended extremely fast.
With a smile, Fang Ping inclined his head in all directions, walking down the arena breezily.
Taking down First Military School alone, defeating the third place in the Rank-4 ranking list. Right now, would anyone still question Fang Ping’s ability to be undeserving of being the first in Rank-4?
...
On the grandstand.
Wang Jinyang, Li Hansong and the rest looked solemn. If they encountered Fang Ping, it would be a struggling fight.
This fellow... could really take the hit!