"How is this possible? What material is Zhao Shen's pot made of? The power boost at level ten in the simulation should be enough to dent thin iron with a single punch! Yet, his pot remains completely unscathed!" exclaimed the slender man beside him in astonishment.
Nonetheless, that force propelled Zhao Shen into the air once more; being able to defend did not imply he was unharmed. This marked the second time Dayu had knocked him to the ground.
...
With a face covered in dust and dirt, Zhao Shen managed to rise from the ground. Before he could regain his footing, Dayu surged forward again, his aura erupting fiercely like a tempest. He unleashed a powerful mountain-splitting palm, a skill worthy of his level ten prowess, striking the surface of the pot Zhao Shen held aloft! The impact resonated with a loud bang.
"Crack!"
Zhao Shen had no means of evasion and was forcefully sent crashing to the ground, his left wrist, gripped tightly around the iron pot, snapped with a sharp crack.
Dayu kicked Zhao Shen away, sending him sailing through the air in a parabolic arc before crashing heavily to the ground. He had no intention of swiftly dispatching Zhao Shen; instead, he sought to savor the torment, relishing the sight of his opponent devoid of any means to retaliate.
With his back turned to Dayu, Zhao Shen swiftly retrieved a handful of Dragon Spices, consuming them eagerly, activating the skill **Culinary Master State**, and instantly tripling his attack power.
This was his solitary chance at redemption, and everything that had transpired thus far was merely preparation for the impending strike.
"Ha! It is already an honor for you that I'm employing my level ten ultimate skill against a mere level three trash like you," Dayu boasted arrogantly, causing the onlookers to grow increasingly concerned for Zhao Shen. Alas, the duel state could not be interrupted by external factors.
Dayu approached Zhao Shen and turned him over.
...
Yet, Zhao Shen's expression remained eerily calm, devoid of any sign of change; even his initial anger had vanished, seemingly unfazed by Dayu's haughty demeanor.
This infuriated Dayu, for despite having broken Zhao Shen's left hand and having knocked him down before a crowd, Zhao Shen still appeared unperturbed. Dayu felt a sense of futility in using his most powerful technique on someone so seemingly insignificant. He longed to see Zhao Shen cower, begging for mercy; it would justify the display of his might.
"Do you even realize how much I detest that arrogant expression of yours? That air of effortless confidence, as if everything is within your grasp! Who do you think you are? I am going to grind you beneath my heel!" Dayu squatted down, looking at Zhao Shen, his disdain unmistakable.
"Is that so? Yet I maintain that today, it is you who will meet your end," Zhao Shen replied coolly, tightening his grip on the Culinary Master's blade behind him, beads of sweat beginning to form in his palm.
There was only one opportunity; this was his singular chance to slay the level ten Dayu with his level three character, and he had to seize it.
Dayu trembled with fury at Zhao Shen's words, heat rising within him since the beginning of the skirmish, now reaching a boiling point, causing beads of sweat to appear on his forehead.
He extended both hands toward Zhao Shen's left arm, resting them upon his shoulder with a mocking expression. The veins in his hands bulged as they exerted pressure, followed by a sickening crack as Zhao Shen emitted a stifled grunt, his arm dislocating just an inch from his shoulder.
But that was not the end. Dayu raised a foot and stomped down violently on Zhao Shen's knee, shattering it like an egg against a stone.
...
Dayu's face glowed with triumph as he leaned closer, seemingly eager to witness the pain etched upon Zhao Shen's visage, laughing boisterously.
"Now's the moment!"
Though Zhao Shen's expression was one of pain, he bit down on his tongue, forcing himself to achieve clarity amid the torment. The veins on his forehead pulsated ominously. In Dayu's grandiose laughter, he failed to notice Zhao Shen's subtle transformation.
Suddenly, Dayu's eyes widened as a blinding white light shot past him with astonishing speed. He felt a heat rise in his eyes, followed by a chilling sensation on his neck as a razor-sharp edge sliced through the air. Before he could comprehend, his instinct propelled him to evade.
Severe pain erupted instantly, illustrating just how swift the attack had been. Dayu's body remained poised as he grasped Zhao Shen's left shoulder, yet the ground was drawing alarmingly close to his eyes. Darkness enveloped him.
"Bang!"
Dust erupted as Dayu's head detached from his body, his neck severed cleanly as if by a single, precise strike. Blood gushed from the wound, splattering onto Zhao Shen's face, transforming him into a macabre figure.
Only a few, including Mu Yichun, perceived the swift actions that had unfolded. What they initially perceived as a bright flash was, in reality, four rapid strikes coalescing into a singular, blinding motion. Everything occurred in the blink of an eye.
70
140
210
280
It was Zhao Shen's **Culinary Master Knife Technique**. The Dragon Spices now boosted his attack by 15 points, and under the effects of **Culinary Master State**, his attack power tripled. Thus, the calculation was 45 + 10 base attack + 15 points of strength attack, yielding a total of 70 attack power.
The critical strike to the throat bypassed all defenses, and the repeated damage rendered his injuries exponentially more devastating.
Four strikes, and Dayu's head was severed from his shoulders.
In that moment, every spectator instinctively touched their own necks, their hairs standing on end. The scene was gruesomely visceral, as if the bloodshed had befallen them directly.
Zhao Shen stumbled to his feet, his left arm entirely numb and immobile, his knee shattered, forcing him to balance precariously on one leg. His movements were awkward, yet no one dared to laugh; a Zhao Shen drenched in blood, akin to a demon emerging from hell, was almost unrecognizable as the once-kind vendor. The contrast was staggering—one moment he had been in paradise, and the next he found himself in the depths of hell.
As he gazed at Dayu's headless corpse, Zhao Shen once more closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight. He was, after all, a genuinely kind man.
...
The simulation had enabled Dayu to experience the hellish grip of death; the memory of his severed head lingered vividly. Upon resurrecting from the altar, he instinctively touched his neck, relieved that his demise had been swift and devoid of prolonged suffering.
Yet, witnessing his own head part from his body was a terror that few could endure.
At the same time, the simulation's resistance provided a degree of immunity to climate extremes. With heightened resistance, one could withstand both bitter cold and scorching heat—a privilege reserved for the higher echelons. Dayu had prematurely tasted this benefit.
His +50 ice resistance dulled his perception of the cold, but the +50 fire resistance rendered his existence unbearable.
Upon his revival, the fire resistance reached its breaking point. Still trapped in the shadows of death, Dayu found himself ensnared in the adverse effects of the Ming Leng Ku Cang Bun, tearing at his clothes with frenzied desperation until he was completely stripped bare, sweat pouring from him profusely.
"You…give me…what did you…eat? I…I will kill…you," Dayu gasped weakly, his hatred for Zhao Shen reaching a boiling crescendo.