Ye Chen jumped at the sudden shout.
In a flash, he opened the simulation space, instantly drawn to the shimmering [Crit Copy] progress bar pulsating in the center.
Li Zhengyong Jiu-Jitsu? What's that all about?
But there wasn't time for questions. Li Zhenglong was still out cold, being whisked away on a stretcher by anxious medical staff.
A wave of concern washed over Ye Chen. He wanted to take down Li Zhengyong, but not to the point of putting him in danger.
He let out a sigh of relief, realizing that his earlier punch had been slightly off-target—thankfully, it hadn't been enough to send him over the edge.
The atmosphere was electric, a thrilling excitement rippling through the crowd.
Daxia had scored a spectacular victory, stunning everyone who had underestimated them. How could they possibly contain their exhilaration?
Memories flooded back of Daxia fighters who had fallen victim to Li Zhengyong in mere seconds, each of them weighed down by despair: thirty seconds... forty seconds...
"That was brilliant! Ye Chen truly showcased the spirit of Daxia with that punch."
"Revenge served hot! One shot sent them flying."
"How can someone so slim pack such a powerful punch? It's terrifying!"
"Wow... Ye Chen is amazing!"
"But what's up with Li Zhengyong? He looks like he's been knocked out cold..."
"It really does seem that way. I hope he's all right. It's not sympathy for him, but I fear this might haunt Ye Chen's career. After all, if he accidentally kills someone in the ring on his debut, who knows?"
"Seems like Bangzi has lost his swagger now, haha. He should be called Zhen Yadong; one sparring partner took him down!"
"Ye Chen's so cool. I've always believed in his potential."
"Come on, don't get ahead of yourself. Weren't you the one saying Ye Chen only had to survive the first round?"
…
Meanwhile, Dana was glued to the return interviews, the intensity of his breath reflecting a flush creeping over his cheeks.
"Wow, just wow…"
This was a heavyweight clash, a true showdown.
He glanced at the barrage of comments flooding the international livestream.
There was an avalanche of excitement. Ye Chen hadn't just defeated Li Zhengyong; he had taken on the entire spinach company, leaving a trail of stunned gamblers in his wake.
In the comments, it was a chorus of "Wow, just wow..."
The host launched into the results.
The referee raised Ye Chen's hand high above his head.
"What a spectacular match, fast and furious! The winner is Ye Chen from Daxia!" Buffer's booming voice reverberated throughout the arena.
As the referee celebrated, DC stepped onto the stage, his expression almost sheepish.
This seasoned gambler must have lost a hefty sum.
On the other side, Logan approached Dana with an air of urgency.
"Dana, what do you think of this Daxia fighter?"
Dana's face broke into a wide grin. "Absolutely powerful! What a performance!"
It was challenging to gauge Ye Chen's real strength with the match ending so swiftly; he hadn't even unveiled all his skills yet.
Just one defensive kick and one devastating uppercut had done the trick.
Yet one thing was clear: Ye Chen's breathtaking display had captivated the audience.
"What do you say? Should we consider signing him?"
"Let's review the marketing team's assessment. Ye Chen definitely has potential."
Dana recognized the talent, but being part of a large organization meant decisions required careful consideration; there were protocols to follow.
Logan sighed. "We need to move fast. If someone else snatches up Ye Chen, it would be a blow to us. Remember, ONE has been aggressive in recruiting talent lately."
Dana's face went pale as he pulled out his phone.
…
Meanwhile, DC shook Ye Chen's hand onstage, his praise brightened by genuine admiration.
Witnessing the light-heavyweight champion in person was daunting for Ye Chen. Although he appeared shorter, the sheer mass radiating from him was intimidating.
This man was no doubt a powerhouse; one glance revealed an intimidating strength lurking beneath his bulk.
Ye Chen still recalled the moment that massive man had lifted him with ease; it was both thrilling and alarming.
"Ye Chen, you dominated your first match with that incredible punch. What are your thoughts?"
Ye Chen leaned into the microphone, his voice booming. "I said I would put him to sleep in thirty seconds—and I did!"
With a triumphant stride, he made his way to Dana at the cage, excitement surging through him.
"Dana, if I can get a contract with the UFC, let your lightweight contenders know that Daxia's Ye Chen is coming for the belt!"
He spoke in English first, then repeated it in Daxia's dialect.
The crowd erupted again, enthusiasm rekindled beyond what anyone could contain.
Ye Chen had the crowd-pleasing flair down; he'd crafted his acceptance speech perfectly in advance.
First, he'd demanded a contract, and next, he'd issued a bold challenge.
Dana watched Ye Chen, grinning widely and spreading his hands in delight.
This was a rare moment; in his experience, seeing a newcomer so naturally charismatic in the spotlight was a true treasure.
Ye Chen pressed on, "I have more fights in me. I need a true challenge, not just some warm-up! Arrange a new opponent for me ASAP; I'm ready to decimate anyone in my way."
[Li Zhengyong's Jiu-Jitsu copy successfully acquired.]
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In that moment, Ye Chen felt a surge as if a hidden muscle memory had awakened, and he instinctively absorbed the array of submission techniques flooding his mind.