"The girl is truly finished this time. Erol has been focusing on Body strength this whole time and cultivated the Coal Mountain Body after he entered the 2nd stage. He might not have learned other skills, but his body is more than enough to break weapons below mortal realm." An eliminated guy spouted out loud.
Luo Si's second opponent had a very muscular body and was even a head higher than her albeit his face only looked around 13-years old.
"Keke, I would have let you surrender if it was not for Pi She." He kicked the ground as he came closer to Luo Si. Just from the kick alone Luo SI determined his Level to be in the early 4th stage.
"Why should I surrender when you are of use to me." She countered.
"Arrogant." Erol threw a fist at her.
"Hah!" Luo Si retaliated with a fist as well.
Peng* Crack*
Luo Si slid back 5 steps before she stabilized herself. The bones inside her hands were splitting under the sheer difference in power. Min Erol on the other end remained stationary without a scratch.
'Fighting against Martial Artists is totally unlike fighting Martial Learners. It's not something this undeveloped body can easily handle.' She thought while looking at her fist, slowly healing in sync to her breathing.
"Come again."
Peng* Crack*
Peng* Crack*
…
Clashes happened over and over. The results unwavering as Luo Si lost every exchange. The exchange of fists felt different compared to her previous fights. It was difficult for her to make use of the others energy. As if her authority over the naturel spiritual energy was partially deprived.
"Erol seems to have reached the major threshold of the 'coal mountain' body technique."
"Briquette hardness? That's amazing."
"En. It looks like his strength has closened in halfway to the Martial Artist stage."
The judges watched the matches attentively, regularly exchanging thought with one another.
But the loss was not without. Luo Si could feel the second cup reaching its limit and energy inside her rampaging.
"Heh, give up already. Your strength is not closely enough to even move me. I am slightly impressed that you can take 20 of my fists, but if that's all there is, prepare to be finished."
"Indeed, this strength is not enough. This gap, let me fix it in one breath." Hong Luo Si took a deep breath. Her cultivation base had reached its limit long ago. But only a catalyst like Min Erol could move her to reach new heights.
A slight suctional force appeared out of nowhere as Luo Si crazily attracted worldly energy.
"Tse, do you think you can just break through on the spot? Something like that can only be achieved with years' worth of hard training."
The wind stopped. Min Erol knocked his knuckles. "See reality as it is. Your progress is destined to end here."
'HAH!' Luo Si deflated her lungs the next instance.
Boom*
A mighty shockwave traveled the ground, whirling up some dust. The platform shook under Luo Si's loud exhale, attracting everyone's attention.
"No way, did she just breakthrough in the middle of the battle?"
"She must be the first player to reach the third stage. My god, only a couple of weeks passed. The majority can't even leave the cell, yet she just reached the 3rd stage in a single breath?"
"Dude, she must be cheating." The players were in a frenzy.
Crunch*
Pi She and John Cage grinded their teeth. They wanted to be the uprising stars. As highly celebrated Olympia gold winner and dotted on genius of the village both wanted to leave a deep impression in the tournament.
Yet an unknown Asian girl was attracting everybody's attention, making their footprint pale in comparison. Well, it was not right to say unknown. But saying that someone with a bad image was doing better than them, how could the stand in her shoes.
Although, the most hateful gaze came from another direction. Ignited at the very moment Luo Si took her first breath when advancing.
The village chief's face darkened. His son should be this tournaments star, yet someone else stole his stage light.
"This lass is full of surprises." Fu Hantian stroke the tip of his beard in delight. Since her first step out of the cage, he had been no longer able to see through her like other juniors. A box of unknown secrets and riches enclosed in front of his eyes, raising the curiosity of his merchants' heart to the fullest.
"Hmph, I don't know why everyone is getting so hyped up. Although she broke through, it seems like she is not very gifted." One of the younger overseers harumphed.
"Now that you say it." Another one mouthed his knowledge. "Normally a break through comes with a popping sound of opened Meridians. Hearing only one point…"
The jury's conversation eased Min Song's heart. A slither of bad premonition still lingered in his mind, nonetheless.
The main judge had a rather good impression of Luo Si, yet he could only utter in disappointment. "Hay, one should not rush in cultivation. A firm base and talent is needed to go far."
The most hateful gaze, however, came from another direction. Ignited at the very moment Luo Si took her first breath when advancing.
"Enough with your show. I will put an end to this." Erol dashed aggravated at his opponent. He had played enough with Luo Si and did not want to waste any more time.
Bang*
Two fists collided again.
The massive teenager looked at the judge. "Just end this already."
Although he did not intend to cripple his opponent, he had to put in all of his might to be sure to finish off the headstrong girl. The judge already had the arm halfway through, knowing that no 2nd stage martial learner could handle the powerful punch.
However, a sudden fist came out of Min Erol's blind spot.
Bam*
"What-!"
Pah*
A kick came right after and hit the exact same spot.
Erol staggered a couple of steps before he caught himself. He held onto the side of his stomach. It was hit 2 consecutive times, leaving a metallic aftertaste in his mouth.
"You little…" He was obviously surprised by the sudden turn of events. Looking at Luo Si, who steadily retracted her foot, his eyes widened.
He could not believe two painful hits were executed by the same person, that had not been able to even leave a scratch on his skin.
"Does it hurt now?" Luo Si stood still. Her looks had not changed, but the vibe was different. The swollen fist she used to deflect the punch was visibly healing up.
Her previous fights with stronger opponents on top of the forest training were enough to thoroughly stabilize her state. Yet only a massively disadvantageous fight with someone like Min Erol could make her break through.
"No way, did she just breakthrough in the middle of the battle?"
"She must be the first player to reach the third stage. My god, only a couple of weeks passed. The majority can't even leave the cell, yet she just reached the 3rd stage in a single breath?"
"Dude, she must be cheating." The players were in a frenzy.
Crunch*
Pi She and John Cage grinded their teeth. They wanted to be the uprising stars. As highly celebrated Olympia gold winner and dotted on genius of the village both wanted to leave a deep impression in the tournament.
Yet an unknown Asian girl was attracting everybody's attention, making their footprint pale in comparison.
Although, the most hateful gaze came from another direction. Ignited at the very moment Luo Si took her first breath when advancing.
"Hmph." Min Erol swallowed down the little pain. "So, what, if you broke through. The outcome will still be the same." Driving the coal mountain technique to the limit. Ashen smoke left his body as his strength soared.
The fight began anew. Luo Si slowly punched forward, with both hands simultaneously.
"Ha, don't get ahead of yourself." He sent one of his fists as well.
Peng*
Two fists met again and Min Erol dominatingly pushed back his opponent's attack. The strength difference of more than 300 kg was just too much to be equalized with a simple break through.
Min Erol was puzzled though, when he saw a smile on his opponent.
Bang*
Luo Si's second fist continued on its way and landed a solid hit on Min Erol's stomach.
"Urgh!" Min Erol cotched up a mouth full of blood, being send 2 meters back. "Impossible. That's the strength of a Martial Artist. You cannot have such power."
"I know, it's yours." Hong Luo Si had run her qigong and transferred most of her opponents' force back to him.
Her special cultivation physic had allowed her to barely withstand normal cultivator of the 4th stage. But against a body cultivator like Min Erol, she could only go against after forming the 3rd cup.
"My turn." Now that the balance of strength evened out it was Luo Si's turn to take the initaitive, sliding to Min Erol in an instant and barraging him in attacks.
"The winner is 213!" Three hits later the main judge announced the victor.
Luo Si went back to the emptied 5th stage, licking her wounds secretly in joy. So far the tournament had only been childsplay for her, even while restricting herself.
Fights among the elites were truly on another level. The battles were more savage and the result bloodier as nobody held back until their opponent either gave up or were beaten down.