Chapter 779: Foster Son Disciple

"Tell me," Xu Yang suddenly announced, "are there no formidable fighters in this competition? If all of you are of this caliber, then I truly regret coming to compete. Can it be that the entire Changle County doesn't even have a few top-tier masters worthy of the stage?" His words were clearly designed to provoke public outrage and draw animosity.

Yet, his strength was undeniable. No matter how arrogant he acted, no one dared to step forward and challenge him. Wasn't that infuriating?

As expected, Xu Yang aimed to draw even fiercer opposition by acting this way.

Shortly after Xu Yang's provocative statement, the Third Elder appeared keen to assert his authority, and also to temper Yun San's confidence. After all, the Elder had just proposed that Xu Yang be transferred to the Enforcement Hall's jurisdiction, a suggestion Yun San had promptly rejected.

Feeling he had lost face, the Third Elder subtly signaled to the burly guard beside him.

The burly guard didn't possess a contestant number himself, but given the Enforcement Hall's influence and his position, he knew that a mere shout would compel most of the finalists to cede their spots to him.

In short order, he secured a number that pitted him against Xu Yang, then leaped onto the opposite side of the fighting stage.

The giant of a man stood over two meters tall, his powerfully built physique exuding an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

"Hahaha, Lord San," the Third Elder chuckled, "I wonder about the prowess of my adopted son here. Since everyone's here for entertainment, I'll let him come up and get some exercise. Let's see if my adopted son is more formidable, or if your new guard commander's martial arts are superior. You wouldn't object, would you?"

Yun San naturally shook his head. "Third Elder, what are you saying? Let them spar and find out," he replied. "I'm also curious to see how much genuine skill this fellow possesses. Is he merely here to freeload, or does he have true substance? If he wins this fight, I will entrust him with more duties in the future, even allowing him to inherit my position. But if he loses, I'll have to re-evaluate his standing in my estimation. A-Yang, you must give it your absolute all; don't hold back in the slightest. Likewise, I'm confident that this warrior, being the Third Elder's adopted son, undoubtedly possesses exceptional skills. Both of you, just fight with everything you've got!"

In fact, the Third Elder had absolute confidence in his adopted son. He had even worried that if his disciple crippled A-Yang on the spot, he might not have a dignified way out.

However, Lord San's recent remarks had dispelled all his reservations. Covertly, he shot a cold glance at his disciple from below the stage.

The disciple understood immediately. He suddenly raised his two fist-sized hands and violently pounded his chest, letting out deep, resonant roars. It was clear he was ready to fight seriously.

"Heh heh heh, brother," Xu Yang said, "allow me to offer a piece of advice: never make movements like that before a fight. Otherwise, people will truly mock you. There's an animal called a gorilla that enjoys doing the very same thing."

As the massive man in front of him pounded his chest, Xu Yang instinctively recalled his brother, Tarzan. If that old gorilla were present, he could likely send this giant flying out of Changle County with a single finger.

"Brat, are you attempting to provoke and offend me?" the burly man growled. "Excellent. I won't mind crippling you shortly, then personally escorting you back to your residence."

His declaration seemed to seal his fate in front of Xu Yang.

"Crippled, you say? If that's the outcome you desire, I shall grant your wish."

The moment Xu Yang's words ceased, he wasted no more breath on the burly man. With a powerful stomp of his foot, he blurred into an afterimage, instantly appearing before the giant. He seized the man's neck and hoisted him directly into the air.

The sheer strength quickly caused the burly man to feel suffocated.

The man frantically pounded Xu Yang's arm, which, despite not appearing particularly thick, seemed to contain an inexhaustible, iron-like strength, leaving the burly man feeling profoundly helpless.

"You'd better unleash all your abilities," Xu Yang's voice was a mere whisper, yet it seemed to penetrate the man's very soul, "otherwise, I'm afraid that if I accidentally let go, you won't even have a chance to demonstrate your true skill."

Prompted by Xu Yang's warning, the burly man no longer hesitated. He immediately unleashed the immensely powerful inherent energy within his body, a unique technique exclusive to the Qi Cultivation martial artists of the Yingzhou lineage.

Suddenly, a formidable aura surged forth from every fiber of his being.

While Xu Yang remained unfazed by this aura, he nonetheless played along with his opponent's display, adopting a passive, retreating stance and allowing the man to move freely.

As anticipated, a smile reappeared on the Third Elder's face. From his vantage point, he undoubtedly concluded that Xu Yang was unable to withstand his disciple's sudden surge of violent *qi*, which had forced them apart.

Little did he know that Xu Yang was merely playing along to make the fight more engaging, and more importantly, to conceal his true capabilities.

If Xu Yang were to effortlessly defeat this opponent in an instant, he would undoubtedly become a public target, potentially even causing the entire Enforcement Hall to regard him as a major threat.

Xu Yang's objective in this fight was to establish his reputation and authority, not to invite trouble. He couldn't allow his opponent to be inadvertently defeated too quickly.

What ensued was a protracted exchange of blows, spanning hundreds of rounds. Each time the burly man in front increased the intensity of his attack, Xu Yang immediately countered with an equal measure of force.

This approach not only subtly emphasized the opponent's formidable strength but also allowed the battle to continue indefinitely.

"A-Hu," the Third Elder called out, "your opponent is very strong. You no longer need to hold anything back. Use all your might to defeat him!"

"Yes, adopted father!"

The Third Elder directly instructed A-Hu on the stage, implicitly conveying that he should show no quarter, even if it meant outright killing his opponent; victory was the only acceptable outcome for this match.

Upon hearing these words, A-Hu, as if suddenly energized, clenched his right fist and frantically pounded his chest three times in rapid succession!

In that instant, his already fierce, tiger-like eyes grew even more savage. Now, they blazed with a sudden, bloodthirsty light. Simultaneously, he let out a hysterical roar from his wide-open mouth, charging at Xu Yang like a rampaging tiger.

"My heavens," someone exclaimed, "isn't that the legendary Bursting Body Qi, long lost to the martial world? Legend says that every form of Bursting Body Qi evolved from the primal martial instincts of ancient, malevolent creatures! In recent years, Bursting Body Qi has been almost entirely lost! To think that the Third Elder's adopted son still possesses such potent Bursting Body Qi, and specifically the most powerful variant, Tiger's Might Qi! Now, Lord San's commander is surely in grave danger!"