Chapter 72: Bathe in Blood and Fight

Battles could take their time; Lian Tianji was in no hurry. Although Zhang Yu compensated for much of the gap in physical strength with his powerful techniques, Lian Tianji still had enough confidence to defeat him. He was willing to spend more time fighting his opponent, engaging in combat to learn Zhang Yu's formidable techniques firsthand. After all, martial arts competitions weren't real battles. For Lian Tianji, absorbing insights during a fight and growing stronger was equally important.

However, since the advertiser required him to quickly dispatch his opponent to demonstrate the effectiveness of the combat potion, he could no longer delay. While both learning through combat and earning money through advertisements could make him stronger, the power of money was ultimately more important.

"Sorry, Zhang Yu," Lian Tianji said. "Though I'd like to spar with you longer, I can't ignore the advertiser's demands."

With that, Lian Tianji activated the combat spiritual root he had rented. As the spiritual energy in the air stirred, it began to converge on his hands. The combat spiritual root — Surging Flow. Spiritual energy would continuously surge into his body, actively participating in the flow of magic during combat to amplify the power of his martial arts. When combined with his Exploding Wave Fist, it produced even more remarkable effects.

At that moment, he unleashed another punch towards Zhang Yu, a surging force of energy rushing forward. This strike detonated the spiritual energy around his fist, creating a powerful shockwave that slammed into Zhang Yu. This approach not only increased the might of the Exploding Wave Fist but also expanded its attack range severalfold. This meant that Lian Tianji's fist didn't need to physically touch Zhang Yu or the Formless Cloud Aura in Zhang Yu's hands; the explosive shockwave could strike Zhang Yu from a distance.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Punch after punch, Lian Tianji seemed to transform into a human cannon, continuously barraging Zhang Yu. Surging waves of energy instantly engulfed Zhang Yu.

Just as Lian Tianji believed this flurry of attacks would be enough to defeat Zhang Yu, to his astonishment, Zhang Yu, already covered in blood from the explosions, suddenly shattered the shockwaves and charged fiercely towards him, his hands trailing layers of white mist.

"He's clearly so heavily injured, yet he's still fighting?" Lian Tianji thought. "Aren't you afraid of going bankrupt?"

Though he didn't understand Zhang Yu's choice, Lian Tianji, mindful of the advertisement, was filled with soaring fighting spirit and held nothing back in front of the cameras. Thus, the two unyielding combatants collided violently. Fist winds and palm shadows devoured each other. Amidst the rumbling explosions, Lian Tianji felt his fists strike Zhang Yu's body repeatedly, while Zhang Yu's hands, imbued with the Formless Cloud Aura, struck him in return again and again.

This left Lian Tianji even more perplexed. "Has he run out of mental energy to maintain his techniques?" he wondered. "Why would he choose to trade blows with me in a close-quarters brawl?"

*Crack!* *Crack!*

Watching Zhang Yu's skin tear and blood gush under his Exploding Wave Fist, Lian Tianji anticipated his opponent wouldn't last much longer. But after 10 seconds... Zhang Yu was still exchanging blows with him. After 20 seconds... Zhang Yu still showed no signs of stopping.

"How is this possible!" Lian Tianji stared at Zhang Yu, who, despite being covered in blood, was still bursting with vitality. Conversely, Lian Tianji himself was getting hit more and more, and his injuries were gradually distorting his fist movements. At that moment, Lian Tianji found it unbelievable. "What kind of stimulant did he take?"

Meanwhile, within Zhang Yu's body, the Aura surged like a mighty river, flowing throughout him. After his Limitless Cloud Hand reached Level 10, Zhang Yu could generate the Formless Cloud Aura from any part of his body. This meant he could circulate the Formless Cloud Aura to various parts of his body without causing any harm to himself. So, after deciding to conceal his Level 10 Limitless Cloud Hand, he devised a new tactic, which he called "Subdermal Aura." He circulated the Formless Aura to all parts of his body, yet kept it hidden beneath his skin, preventing it from erupting outwardly. At this moment, the Formless Aura was like an armor worn beneath his skin, absorbing various damages that penetrated his flesh. This made Zhang Yu appear to be covered in blood from head to toe, but his injuries were merely superficial, not truly damaging his muscles or bones.

Conversely, as Lian Tianji exchanged blows with Zhang Yu, he was repeatedly subjected to the counter-shock of the Formless Cloud Aura, his own power rebounding against him. Specifically, the more impatient, forceful, and fierce he became, the more surging and overwhelming the power that rebounded from Zhang Yu. Only the painkiller suppressed these sensations, allowing him to continue fighting at full strength. But after continuous accumulation of injuries... Lian Tianji suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling his body tremble slightly.

"My strength, speed, and stamina are clearly superior to his," he thought. "How can I be losing to him in close combat?" Looking at Zhang Yu, who was covered in blood and clearly more injured than himself, Lian Tianji couldn't understand why he hadn't fallen yet. "What's the point of winning like this? Can you even afford the medical bills?"

Just then, a person from Ziyun High School below the stage called out, "Master Lian Tianji, the advertiser is very displeased. If you can't defeat Zhang Yu within the next 30 seconds, they're pulling the advertisement and canceling all future collaborations..."

Pulling the ad? Canceling collaborations?

Hearing this, Lian Tianji's fighting spirit instantly surged, like a startled beast. New waves of power immediately radiated throughout his body. "I must! Now! Immediately! Defeat! Zhang Yu!"

Exploding Wave Fist! Self-Destruct Mode! This technique was propelled by the explosion of spiritual energy and magic. It sought the ultimate power at the cost of severe arm injuries. At this moment, Lian Tianji unleashed his strongest power. His right arm visibly swelled as spiritual energy and magic surged into it. As Lian Tianji stomped his foot, the entire arena trembled violently. The next moment, Lian Tianji's right arm, trailing a mist of blood, struck fiercely towards Zhang Yu with transcendent power!

Facing this formidable punch, Zhang Yu dared not be careless. The Aura surged within him, and both the Limitless Cloud Hand and the Indestructible Dharma Seal activated simultaneously. The crimson Formless Cloud Aura, stained with his own blood, actively met Lian Tianji's attack head-on. The next instant, their fists and palms collided, and a violent explosion erupted from the stage, echoing like a muffled string of thunder across the entire arena and capturing the attention of countless spectators.

Zhang Yu's entire body was once again marked with fresh crimson from the blast. The force, like a raging tide, pushed him towards the edge of the stage. *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* Yet, after taking four steps back, he stood firm under Lian Tianji's disappointed gaze.

"You actually managed to neutralize even that punch? Your martial arts..."

Zhang Yu smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for the pressure you put on me in this fight. It finally allowed my Limitless Cloud Hand to break through its limits and reach Level 4."

Hearing that Zhang Yu had broken through during the fight, Lian Tianji gave a wry smile and finally sank to the ground. At this point, Lian Tianji's right arm was severely injured, and his other wounds had also flared up, leaving him completely unable to continue fighting.

Lian Tianji said, "It's probably not just the Limitless Cloud Hand, is it? That technique alone couldn't have blocked me for so long."

Zhang Yu nodded and recited his prepared explanation: "I also practiced the Indestructible Seal Technique, which draws on magic, and a body-hardening martial art." Pretending to have practiced a body-hardening martial art to conceal the effect of his Subdermal Aura—that was Zhang Yu's plan.

Lian Tianji nodded understandingly, then looked at Zhang Yu with an incredibly complex expression. "Given Songyang High's resources, you managed to master three such martial arts within half a year of starting your first year, even closing the gap in physical strength between us... Your talent in martial arts makes me envious."

The paramedics quickly rushed onto the stage, lifted Lian Tianji onto a stretcher, and took him aside for treatment. Zhang Yu, covered in blood, was also being carried away, but as soon as he saw the emergency doctor approach, he quickly raised a hand to stop him, shouting, "Wait! How much will it cost to treat these injuries? And how much will insurance cover?" Zhang Yu was genuinely afraid of winning on stage only to go bankrupt and have to withdraw from the competition afterward due to medical bills.

The emergency doctor frowned. "You're this injured and you're still worrying about that?" To the emergency doctor, Zhang Yu, covered in blood, wasn't just bleeding; he was bleeding money. Such severe injuries? Wouldn't it take a million or two to treat him and justify his medical license? The emergency doctor continued his examination, saying, "Such severe injuries, if not treated promptly..." He suddenly paused. "Huh? It doesn't look like there are any major injuries?"

Protected by his Subdermal Aura and operating with extreme precision in a state of full concentration, Zhang Yu continuously avoided attacks to vital areas and prevented certain spots from being repeatedly struck. This made his injuries far less severe than they appeared.

"They're just superficial wounds?" the emergency doctor said in surprise. "5,000 for examination, 15,000 for treatment, and 10,000 for medication. These are all standard procedures, and insurance will cover them. Shall we begin?"

Hearing the quote, Zhang Yu was stunned. "That expensive?"

The emergency doctor said impatiently, "If you don't get treated properly, how will you participate in the upcoming matches? It's all covered by insurance anyway, what are you afraid of?"

"Alright, alright, go ahead and treat me." Zhang Yu sighed to himself, "Ugh, my insurance premiums are going to go up now."

In the waiting area of White Dragon High School.

"This Lian Tianji has some skill."

"His physical strength must be around 2.3, right?"

"His fist technique is very powerful, and combined with his combat spiritual root, his overall combat effectiveness at Ziyun High should be second only to Le Mulan..."

"That student from Songyang High is completely suppressed; he's probably going to lose..."

But moments later, to the shock of the White Dragon High School competitors, it was Lian Tianji who ultimately lay on the stage while Zhang Yu stood, greatly exceeding their expectations.

"Lian Tianji lost?"

"Zhang Yu actually compensated for so much of the gap with his martial arts..."

"And medicine! He must have taken a powerful combat potion to last until the end."

"In that case, it's not so unreasonable that old Chu lost to this Zhang Yu."

On the stretcher, Chu Qiuhe, who had been feigning unconsciousness, heard the exclamations of the crowd. His eyelids twitched slightly, and he thought to himself, "Go, Zhang Yu, go!" At that moment, Chu Qiuhe desperately wished Zhang Yu would keep winning. Although he knew it was impossible, he couldn't help but hope Zhang Yu would blast even Song Hailong off the stage and simply win the championship. He felt he was likely the person in the entire arena who most wanted Zhang Yu to win. After all, it concerned his campus reputation and status at White Dragon High for the next two and a half years. After all, losing to someone from Songyang? Wouldn't that make him a complete loser? But losing to the champion of the martial arts competition? That would truly mean the opponent was too strong, not a fault of his own.