Boom!
Xiao Jiu pushed off the ground with both hands, his body springing up suddenly. In an instant, his aura grew even stronger.
His eyes locked onto Ye Qiu.
Xiao Jiu didn’t draw his blade.
Swish!
He tore off his military overcoat, even discarding the war blade.
At the same time, Xiao Jiu’s gaze became razor-sharp, brimming with aggression.
“Warm-up’s over. Now it begins for real.”
His words stunned the crowd.
“What? He was just warming up?”
“I knew the Champion Marquis wouldn’t go down so easily.”
“Now that kid Ye Qiu’s done for, right?”
Xiao Jiu stood tall, like a javelin, striding towards Ye Qiu.
“Ye Qiu, be careful.”
As his words fell, Xiao Jiu’s body shot forward like a bolt of thunder, his fist swinging out.
Whoosh!
His fist stirred a powerful gust, accompanied by a sound like wind and thunder, hurtling towards Ye Qiu’s head like a meteor.
This punch, still direct and straightforward.
No fancy moves.
The onlookers, seeing this, cursed Xiao Jiu in frustration.
“Didn’t he say the warm-up was over? Why’s he using the same move?”
“He spat blood twice before with this exact move.”
“I bet Xiao Jiu’s deliberately holding back.”
Yet, Ye Qiu’s expression was grave.
Though Xiao Jiu still used his fist, the same move, even the same trajectory without any change.
His power and speed had transformed.
His strength had increased tenfold, if not more.
His speed had surged tenfold, if not more.
Xiao Jiu’s fist carried an unmatched dominance, perhaps tied to his unyielding character.
When Xiao Jiu’s fist was half a metre from Ye Qiu, he felt a powerful gust.
This gust stung Ye Qiu’s cheeks, as if sharp blades were scraping his skin.
Closer and closer.
Half a metre.
Thirty centimetres.
Ten centimetres.
Suddenly, Ye Qiu clenched his right fist and struck out.
Boom!
A fierce collision.
As their fists met, both felt a terrifying force from the other.
Step, step, step!
Ye Qiu kept retreating, his shoes scraping the floor with a piercing sound.
He retreated a full fifteen metres.
Only then did Ye Qiu stop.
Shock filled his eyes.
Though he hadn’t used his full strength, that punch still carried thousands of pounds of force, yet Xiao Jiu had pushed him back.
Unbelievable!
Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Jiu was even more shocked.
That punch was his maximum strength, yet it didn’t injure Ye Qiu, only forcing him to retreat.
Xiao Jiu realised Ye Qiu hadn’t used his full power.
“What a monster.”
Xiao Jiu muttered to himself, then charged again.
When he was five metres from Ye Qiu, Xiao Jiu leapt, kicking towards Ye Qiu’s throat in mid-air.
Ye Qiu returned a lightning-fast kick.
Bang!
A fierce clash.
They fought ferociously, trading blows with increasing intensity, the sound of impacts echoing constantly.
The onlookers felt their adrenaline surge, eyes wide.
So thrilling!
This was a true clash of masters!
“I must say, Xiao Jiu’s impressive. If I fought him, I’d lose for sure,” Ye Wudi exclaimed.
Dragon Lady said: “No surprise there. Xiao Jiu’s the top master on the Dragon List, and your name isn’t even on it.”
Ye Wudi: “…”
Ye Wuwei chimed in: “Though Third Brother isn’t on the Dragon List, his strength isn’t far off from Xiao Jiu’s.”
Dragon Lady smirked: “Still, his name’s not on the list.”
Ye Wudi: “…”
Moments later.
The two figures locked in combat swiftly parted.
“Pfft!”
Xiao Jiu spat out a mouthful of blood, his handsome face now pale.
“You’ve lost,” Ye Qiu said, his voice tinged with regret.
“Yes, I’ve lost,” Xiao Jiu admitted frankly.
“You still have a chance. You can draw your blade,” Ye Qiu said.
Xiao Jiu shook his head: “I never draw my blade against a friend.”
Ye Qiu was touched, yet felt pity.
Xiao Jiu was too loyal, too righteous, still seeking to fulfil his duty even now.
“Ye Qiu, am I your friend?” Xiao Jiu asked.
“No,” Ye Qiu answered bluntly.
Xiao Jiu’s eyes dimmed.
Ye Qiu added: “Last time in the Northern Border, we faced life and death together. In my heart, you’re already my brother.”
Brother?
Xiao Jiu froze, then laughed heartily: “Ye Qiu, with those words, my life hasn’t been in vain.”
“But even if I’ve lost, I want to lose more thoroughly.”
“Ye Qiu, you understand, right?”
Ye Qiu’s gaze was complex as he nodded slightly: “I understand.”
Xiao Jiu smiled, then charged at Ye Qiu again, fists clenched.
Knowing he was outmatched, he pressed on.
Xiao Jiu wanted to use his life to fulfil his loyalty and filial piety, while preserving the dignity of the Champion Marquis title.
The battle that followed was brutal to watch.
Xiao Jiu charged at Ye Qiu time and again, only to be knocked back each time.
He charged.
He was sent flying.
It was pure carnage.
Ye Qiu lost count of how many punches he threw.
Fifty?
A hundred?
Xiao Jiu was covered in wounds, yet he kept rising, charging at Ye Qiu.
The fight was no longer about winning or losing.
Everyone could see Xiao Jiu was seeking death.
“Big Brother, should we intervene to save him?” Long Er urged: “After all, Xiao Jiu is your disciple.”
“Proving loyalty with his life? What a fool,” Long Yi said coldly. “Besides, what’s the point of saving a useless pawn?”
On the other side.
Old Master Ye sighed: “Such a pity. Xiao Jiu, a hero of his generation, wouldn’t have stopped here if not for loyalty and filial piety.”
“Ye Qiu is fulfilling Xiao Jiu’s wish,” the War God said. “Though Xiao Jiu lost, and lost badly.”
“Yet, being knocked down time and again, only to rise each time, his spirit is worthy of respect.”
“Xiao Jiu is a hero.”
Xiao Qingdi sat in his chair, shouting desperately: “Brother, stop fighting.”
“Ye Qiu, I beg you, spare my brother.”
“I’m begging you, sob, sob…”
At this moment, Xiao Jiu lay on the ground, blood streaming from his mouth, countless bones broken, looking utterly wretched.
Yet he held no resentment, still smiling.
After struggling, Xiao Jiu slowly rose, striving to keep his back straight.
The scene was silent.
Ye Qiu felt heavy-hearted and asked: “Xiao Jiu, any last words?”
Xiao Jiu adjusted his tattered clothes, bowed to Ye Qiu, and said with a smile: “Ye Qiu, thank you for fulfilling my wish. Farewell forever!”
With that, Xiao Jiu clenched his fists and charged at Ye Qiu once more.
