Chapter 23 – The Competition Begins: Combo Attacks Subdue the Enemy (Part One)

Tie Feng watched as the scene gradually achieved the desired effect before tearing through the martial arena’s dome with a booming voice: “Let the competition begin! All outstanding talents, please step onto the stage one by one and randomly select your opponents.”

The format of this tournament was as follows:

First, the great waves wash away the sand—more than half would be eliminated before the finals!

Second, the top hundred would compete for the championship throne!

The rule: Utilize your own advantages solely to defeat your opponent and achieve victory… Exercise restraint to avoid serious injury!

Although Ye Kuang was still somewhat unfamiliar with these rules, he could easily grasp one thing: he must use his own martial arts skills to defeat all opponents.

Ma Xiu reminded him, “I must warn you—don’t get overly entangled. If you can defeat your opponent in one move, do it. Now go up!”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang nodded slightly. Once on the stage, he directly pressed the random selection button.

Ye Kuang versus Li Yan!

Across the twenty arenas, crowds gradually gathered as thirty-eight participants emerged one after another.

Ye Kuang stood alone in his arena, calmly awaiting his opponent.

At this moment, claiming he wasn’t nervous would be a lie.

After all, this was only Ye Kuang’s second time engaging in combat with others!

Before long, Li Yan came into view, surrounded by a crowd, strikingly giving off the illusion of being the center of attention.

Li Yan’s hair bun was somewhat wild, fluttering in the wind, looking very much like a peacock spreading its tail.

His pair of large, bell-like eyes shone with intensity, occasionally gleaming with sharp light, making him resemble a jackal ready to hunt.

“Senior Brother Li Yan, this guy looks completely incompetent. Knock him out with one punch, and we’ll throw a grand feast in your honor!”

Ye Kuang overheard this from a distance, causing a sharp glint to flash in his eyes.

He immediately released a startling aura and launched a strike forward.

Roar!

Li Yan, standing directly ahead, naturally bore the brunt of it.

“Hmm?” Li Yan’s steps suddenly halted as he inevitably looked up toward the arena.

Their eyes met, and the corners of their mouths curled identically into cold sneers.

At that moment, the crowd surrounding Li Yan noticed their senior brother freezing on the spot and couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Senior Brother Li, what’s wrong?”

Stirred by the voices, Li Yan walked forward while laughing, “Interesting, truly interesting. I never expected my first opponent to bring me such a surprise.”

As he spoke, Li Yan stepped onto the arena.

Seeing this, Ye Kuang glanced to his side.

The referee announced, “No taking lives! Begin!”

Ye Kuang moved at the sound, without the slightest hesitation, decisively choosing to strike first.

His leg strike carried the force of a divine dragon’s tail, sharp and overwhelmingly powerful.

Seeing the attack coming, Li Yan immediately assumed a bow stance, standing as firm and unmoving as a stone pillar.

In truth, Li Yan had also intended to seize the initiative.

But as it turned out, the idea was beautiful, while reality was harsh.

Bang!

Ye Kuang’s leg fiercely slammed into Li Yan’s hastily raised arms, momentarily stirring up a sound like muffled thunder.

Yet, Li Yan’s feet didn’t shift an inch, giving off an aura of profound mystery.

This scene prompted his followers to burst into scornful laughter, all of them jeering.

“It’s here! Senior Brother Li’s signature skill, Absolute Defense! That kid really is all show and no substance!”

“Hahaha…”

As Ye Kuang heard the waves of mocking laughter again, his gaze turned as cold as a skinning blade.He then tapped the ground with his toes, but his entire body abruptly drifted backward.

Seizing this opportunity, Li Yan would not let it slip. With ferocious intensity, he stepped forward.

His speed was so swift it was as if he had shrunk the distance to nothing.

In that instant, Ye Kuang’s eyes sharpened. There was no time to think—he could only shield his vital points with both arms, swaying left and right while continuously dodging and shifting sideways.

This was precisely the Swaying Evasion Method mentioned in the textbooks!

Using his left arm to guard his head not only blocked a punch but also allowed him to counter with a right hook.

It could be said that Ye Kuang’s abilities were now far beyond what they once were.

At this moment, his mindset was pure: to win through combat skill.

But to the onlookers, their thoughts ran wild.

Li Yan’s feet stirred like wind and thunder as he closed in, his knee bared like a tiger’s fangs ready to strike.

In his haste, Ye Kuang could only press his palms together and forcefully push downward.

Bang!

A heavy impact followed, resonating like the burst of a heavenly drum.

Though he blocked the strike, he had underestimated his opponent’s real-time combat experience.

Li Yan leveraged the advantage of his arms, not only locking Ye Kuang’s neck but also delivering a relentless barrage of knee strikes.

The scene was one of extreme savagery, as ferocious as it could get.

Under this relentless assault, Ye Kuang was caught off guard by his opponent’s aggressive tactics.

Only now did he realize just how fierce these competitors were.

For victory, they held nothing back!

Unbeknownst to him, Man Lang watched this and cursed inwardly, “Why is this kid so careless? He wasn’t this lenient when sparring with me… Or am I weaker than that guy Li Yan?”

Ma Xiu remarked, “This… perhaps he has his reasons?”

Hearing this, Man Lang grew even more furious. “Reasons, my ass! Damn… What is that kid trying to do?”

In the blink of an eye!

It was then noticed that, just as Li Yan’s knee descended, Ye Kuang suddenly drew his fists back like a fully drawn bow and unleashed a rapid flurry of blows.

Bang, bang, bang…

His punches were as swift as a dragon’s strike, so much so that even Man Lang and the others below the stage couldn’t help but gasp.

In a single breath, Ye Kuang had thrown dozens of punches, seemingly shattering the limits of human capability!

The cumulative force of his explosive strikes proved too much even for someone as strong as Li Yan.

As Li Yan grunted in pain, he suddenly released his grip, clutching his abdomen as he staggered backward step by step.

Freed from the restraint, Ye Kuang shook his arms and pressed forward with a fierce assault.

He abandoned his leg techniques, instead relying solely on his fists to deliver powerful, direct blows.

His speed was like lightning—so fast it left his opponent no room to catch his breath.

With just one punch from Ye Kuang—

Gag!

Li Yan, struck in the abdomen, immediately vomited acidic fluid, even spitting out his mouthguard.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Ye Kuang’s fists then poured down like a torrential storm.

Li Yan’s lower abdomen, two inches, three inches, then four inches upward—each area was relentlessly pummeled!

In an instant, the punches were so rapid that even the referee failed to react in time.

By then, Li Yan was already sprawled on the ground!

Only then did the referee snap back to attention, grabbing Ye Kuang and shouting, “Stop!”

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five…

Hearing the count, Ye Kuang couldn’t contain his excitement.

After all, this was the first time he had personally knocked a competitor to the ground, and he couldn’t help but feel exhilarated.

But who would have thought that Li Yan would suddenly surge up and throw a punch.When Ye Kuang realized it, it was already too late.

A fierce blow struck his abdomen, the dull pain akin to a thousand-pound hammer strike, fueling his raging fury.

Having gained the upper hand, Li Yan showed no mercy.

His fists rained down like a torrential storm—left hooks, right hooks—each strike vicious and unrelenting.

Ye Kuang took three more punches, finally jolting him awake.

This opponent was utterly cunning. Pretending to be knocked down after taking several hits was merely a ploy to lure him into lowering his guard, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.

At this realization, Ye Kuang’s anger erupted.

He blocked a right hook with one arm while his own right fist shot out with equal ferocity.

Seeing the counterattack, Li Yan was momentarily stunned, but his right fist responded just as swiftly, launching a Cannon Blast.

Boom!!!

The collision of their fists echoed like a thunderous drum.

Ye Kuang staggered back a step, spat out his mouthguard, and roared, “If you land another punch on me, I’ll admit defeat right here and now!”

His words seethed with fury.

He had entered this match expecting a straightforward brawl, never anticipating such deceitful tricks.

This was beyond intolerable!

For a novice like Ye Kuang, the blow was especially harsh.

Driven to the edge, he abandoned all defense, determined to pummel his opponent into submission with wild, unrestrained strikes!

Ye Kuang: “Raaaaah!!!”

He lunged forward, disregarding any notion of evasion.

Every one of his fists aimed directly at intercepting Li Yan’s attacks.

Witnessing this, Ma Xiu couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “When did he ever act so childishly? This is utterly ridiculous.”

Man Lang, however, burst into laughter: “Why not? As long as he wins, who cares how he fights? Besides, this was a necessary lesson for him.”

In the Arena.

Li Yan sneered at the provocation: “Learn from your mistakes! I’m teaching you what real competition means!”

Grrr!

Ye Kuang grew even more enraged.

He had no desire to waste words—this despicable opponent clearly saw him as a novice.

Though he was indeed inexperienced, such a deceitful scoundrel had no right to lecture him.

Seeing Ye Kuang’s recklessness, Li Yan threw his own punches in response.

Bam!

Bam!

Four fists collided in pairs, intensifying the ferocity of the bout.

The referee was forced to dodge repeatedly, not daring to underestimate Ye Kuang in his frenzied state.

Meanwhile, Li Yan proved increasingly cunning, using the referee as a shield while taunting Ye Kuang relentlessly.

This pushed Ye Kuang past his limits—he nearly struck the referee in his blind rage!!!