The days after the competition passed quickly. Xiao Shao felt a clear change in himself. Every movement of his body felt more efficient, more coordinated. The techniques that had once felt complicated were now part of him. Even so, he knew that it was not enough. His strength was still far from perfect, and the world was full of challenges that awaited.
After a few weeks, Xiao Shao began to accept greater challenges. Word of his abilities spread, and many people wanted to test his strength. Some of them came with serious intentions, others just to prove that Xiao Shao was no ordinary person.
One afternoon, while Xiao Shao was training in the dojo, a young man approached him. The man was tall, muscular, and had a strong aura of confidence. From the way he moved, Xiao Shao could sense that this man had quite a lot of fighting experience.
"Xiao Shao, right?" the man asked in a firm voice.
Xiao Shao nodded. "Yes, what is it?"
The man smiled broadly. "I've heard a lot about you. I want to test you. There's a match tonight, I hope you'll come."
Without waiting for a response, the man turned and walked away, leaving Xiao Shao with a puzzled mind. Although he didn't know who the man was, he knew that this was another opportunity to test his limits.
---
That night, Xiao Shao arrived at the match venue. The arena was larger than he had imagined, filled with people watching the fight. There were fighters from various dojos, some of whom looked very experienced. However, Xiao Shao was not intimidated. He knew that if he wanted to reach the top, he would have to continue facing stronger opponents.
In the crowd, Xiao Shao saw the man who had challenged him earlier. He was standing with two of his comrades, looking at him with a challenging expression. The man waved his hand, motioning for Xiao Shao to come over.
Xiao Shao walked towards them, feeling the tension rising in the air. He studied his opponent—the man was bigger and more muscular, seemingly possessing far superior fighting skills.
The man looked at Xiao Shao with a sinister smile. "Ready to fight?" he asked.
"Always," Xiao Shao replied, his eyes focused.
The match began. The man immediately launched a swift attack, a flurry of powerful punches. However, Xiao Shao was ready. He dodged nimbly, twisting to avoid the blows, and looking for an opening to retaliate.
His opponent's first move was powerful, but also unexpected. Xiao Shao knew that to defeat this opponent, he would have to be patient and wait for the right moment. After a few minutes of dodging, he saw his opportunity.
With quick, coordinated movements, Xiao Shao launched a counterattack. A powerful kick slammed into his opponent's stomach, sending the man staggering back. The audience was shocked, seeing Xiao Shao's newly emerging strength.
However, his opponent quickly got up and continued the attack. He became more aggressive, using more complex fighting techniques. His moves were harder to dodge, but Xiao Shao remained calm. He knew that physical strength would not be the only thing that would win this fight. He would have to rely on skill and cunning.
As the man launched a flurry of kicks, Xiao Shao took advantage of his opponent's sluggishness after the kick. With a swift movement, he managed to take down his opponent with a precise lock. The man fell and could not get up again.
Xiao Shao stood tall above his opponent, his breathing steady, his body slightly exhausted, but his expression showed satisfaction. He knew that every victory taught him more lessons.
The audience around the arena erupted in cheers. They did not expect Xiao Shao to defeat a man who looked much stronger than him.
---
After the match, Xiao Shao sat on the sidelines, contemplating. Victory was not only about strength, but also self-control and understanding of the opponent. Every move he made had a purpose, every decision he made was a step towards deeper understanding.
However, he knew that this was far from enough. The world was full of stronger fighters, and he had to continue to improve. He had to go further, dig deeper. If this world did not give him strength through qi, then he would create it himself.
---
That night, after the match ended, Xiao Shao returned to his apartment and continued his training routine. Although he had won several fights, he knew that true strength did not come easily. He had to keep practicing, keep finding ways to push the limits of his body and mind even further.
Gazing up at the night sky, he promised himself. "This is just the beginning.I will continue to fight, continue to grow, and in the end, no one can stop me."
With a stronger determination, Xiao Shao stepped further on his journey to true strength. This world might not give him what he wanted, but he would not give up. He would find a way, no matter what.