Time went by, and Xiao Shao felt a great change in himself. Every day, he trained harder, deepening every aspect of his body and mind. However, even though his training was getting more intense, he felt that there was something he had to prove. This world would not reward him for just hard work. He had to prove that his strength was not just empty talk.
One day, at the dojo, an announcement caught Xiao Shao's attention. An inter-dojo competition was about to be held. This was the perfect opportunity to test how far his abilities had grown. Not only that, but it would also give him a chance to show the world that he was not to be underestimated.
After registering, Xiao Shao prepared himself for the big match. He knew that this was not just about winning or losing. This was a true test of himself—were the techniques he had learned truly effective? Would he be able to defeat opponents who might be more experienced?
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The day of the match arrived. The arena was packed with enthusiastic spectators. There, Xiao Shao stood in the middle of the ring, dressed in simple training clothes, but his eyes were filled with determination. He knew that his first opponent would be a young fighter from a renowned dojo, someone with extensive fighting experience.
The fighter, a young man named Zhen Kai, stepped confidently into the center of the arena. He was tall and muscular, with a sharp gaze that showed undeniable mental strength. He was a difficult opponent, even for more experienced fighters.
Xiao Shao and Zhen Kai faced each other in the center of the arena. The crowd cheered loudly, encouraging each fighter.
"Ready?" asked the referee, making sure that both were ready to fight.
Zhen Kai nodded, his eyes never leaving Xiao Shao. "I won't give you a chance," he said with a faint smile.
Xiao Shao merely smiled faintly. "Try it."
The referee blew his whistle, and the match began.
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Zhen Kai immediately launched the first attack, aiming a powerful punch at Xiao Shao's face. Xiao Shao dodged quickly, his body moving as agile as the wind, a speed he had only discovered after months of training. Zhen Kai did not give up, launching a flurry of attacks, each blow highly coordinated and powerful. However, Xiao Shao remained calm, dodging and blocking with minimal but effective movements.
Xiao Shao knew that if he tried to match Zhen Kai's power head-on, he would run out of steam much faster. Instead, he relied on the precision, speed, and technique he had learned in his training.
Zhen Kai soon began to show signs of frustration. Every punch he had missed, and he began to feel that his opponent was too unpredictable. Suddenly, Xiao Shao lifted his leg and kicked Zhen Kai in the stomach with incredible force. The blow sent Zhen Kai staggering back, nearly falling.
The crowd was silent for a moment, in disbelief at how quickly Zhen Kai had been pushed back. However, Zhen Kai quickly regained his position, his breath a little labored, but his face still determined. "You're pretty strong," he said, wiping at his bleeding mouth. "But this is just the beginning."
Zhen Kai switched to a faster, more brutal technique. He launched an attack with a combination of punches and kicks that were so fast, forcing Xiao Shao to move even faster to dodge. Each strike felt like a storm, as if Zhen Kai was trying to destroy everything within reach.
However, Xiao Shao did not simply dodge this time. With fluid movements, he began to adjust his timing and movements, opening up gaps in his opponent's attacks. As Zhen Kai launched a fierce kick, Xiao Shao used the momentum to leap to the side and slam his elbow into Zhen Kai's ribs.
Zhen Kai staggered back, feeling a sharp pain. Xiao Shao did not give him a chance to get up. With incredible agility, he moved forward, slamming his knee into Zhen Kai's chest, sending his opponent crashing to the floor. Zhen Kai gasped, unable to move.
The referee approached and stopped the match, raising Xiao Shao's hand as the winner. The crowd cheered, but Xiao Shao remained calm, only nodding slightly in respect to his opponent.
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After the first match, Xiao Shao felt something different about himself. Although he had won, he knew that physical strength alone was not enough. He had to continue to improve. The next matches in this tournament would be even tougher, and he had to continue to dig deep into his inner strength.
That night, after the match, Xiao Shao returned to the dojo and trained even harder. His body felt tired, but his mind remained alert.He focused on the techniques he had just used. Speed, precision, and self-control—all of these were things that needed to be continuously honed.
However, as he pondered, the door to the dojo suddenly opened. An elderly man who appeared to be very experienced entered the dojo. The man was dressed in a black robe and walked calmly toward Xiao Shao.
"Young man, you displayed extraordinary skills in the match just now," the man said in a deep voice. "But it's still not enough."
Xiao Shao looked at the man, curious. "What do you mean?"
The man smiled. "I see great potential in you. However, in a true battle, you must learn more than just dodging and attacking. There is something more important that you have yet to master."
The man then extended his hand, handing him an old scroll that looked extremely valuable. "This is a long-lost technique, one that only a few people know. If you truly want to become the strongest, you must learn it."
Xiao Shao took the scroll carefully, his eyes gleaming. "Thank you," he said, unable to hide the curiosity and excitement that burned within him.
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Once the man had left, Xiao Shao opened the scroll. Inside was a fighting technique unlike any he had ever learned. It involved a deeper control of the body, and was more than just striking—it was the art of manipulating the body's energy so that every movement could be a deadly strike.
Xiao Shao knew that the journey to mastering this technique would not be easy. However, he was ready for the next challenge. The fire of determination burned brightly within him. He would train hard, for he knew that true strength came only to those who never gave up.
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With this new technique, Xiao Shao was ready to face the next test in the tournament—and the wider world that awaited him.