Xu Qing was ecstatic.
At the same time, a vast amount of knowledge and information about Baji Fist flooded Xu Qing's mind, along with the various mysteries of 'Ming Jin'. He immediately began practicing in the stone room.
BAM!
As he finished the Fist Technique,
Xu Qing threw a punch. Combined with his physical condition, it actually created a sonic boom.
If Fan Yanbin and the others saw this, they would undoubtedly be aghast and utterly shocked. To achieve such a level of power just by practicing combat forms made him a one-in-ten-thousand Martial Arts prodigy.
'I have to keep going.'
Xu Qing wiped the smile from his face. 'I don't know how strong Pang De is, so my only option is to improve my own strength as much as possible. I need to become powerful enough to face any strong enemy and handle all impending dangers.'
「Three hours later.」
"Hoo..."
Xu Qing finished his practice again, exhaling a breath of turbid air.
[Baji Fist Level 2: 20/20 (Upgradeable!)]
"Upgrade,"
Xu Qing said.
DING!
Upgrade successful.
[Baji Fist Level 3: 0/40 (Originally an ordinary short-range fist technique with fierce, simple, and unadorned movements and explosive power, capable of strengthening the body. However, after innovation, it has transformed. It now contains the essence of a Training Technique, allowing the user to condense the power of their entire body's muscles and bones into a stream of 'Ming Jin'.)]
It had leveled up again.
The stats for Baji Fist hadn't changed much.
However,
Xu Qing could clearly feel the Ming Jin within his body growing stronger.
'I can't train anymore.'
Xu Qing shook his head. 'It's already very late, and I'm starting to get hungry again. If I keep practicing, my body won't be able to take it.'
'Also,'
'I have my match with Pang De tomorrow. I have to rest up and be in peak condition. If I keep training, even if I raise the Level of Baji Fist, my body won't hold up, and my mental state will be poor. That would be a huge disadvantage for tomorrow's fight.'
So,
Xu Qing lay down on his bed to rest.
「The next day.」
In the morning, after getting enough rest, Xu Qing immediately went to the cafeteria to eat. After stuffing himself, he returned to his room, full and satisfied.
Originally,
Xu Qing had wanted to practice his fist technique a bit to see if he could level up Baji Fist again, but before he could even start, Yu Chen showed up at his door. The match was about to begin.
"So soon?"
Xu Qing was taken aback.
"Yeah."
Yu Chen shrugged, glanced at Xu Qing, and said, "Pang De is a renowned fighter in the underground circuit. You're obviously no match for him, so of course the fight starts whenever he wants it to start. You have to accommodate him, not the other way around."
"Makes sense."
Xu Qing pursed his lips.
"By the way, how's your Baji Fist practice coming along?"
Yu Chen asked.
"It's alright,"
Xu Qing said.
"What's that supposed to mean, 'It's alright'?"
Yu Chen was a little speechless. "Forget it, forget it. You'd better just pray for yourself, kid. I'm not asking you to win, just try not to die in the ring."
"Can you do me a favor?"
Xu Qing asked.
"What favor?"
Yu Chen asked.
"Place a bet for me."
Xu Qing grinned, took out his remaining three taels of silver, and handed them to Yu Chen. "Three taels of silver. Bet it all on me to win."
"You..."
Yu Chen was stunned.
"What are the odds on me?"
Xu Qing asked.
"Ten to one,"
Yu Chen said.
"And for Pang De?"
Xu Qing asked again.
"The payout is only ten percent,"
Yu Chen replied.
"That big a difference,"
Xu Qing said in surprise.
"No matter how big the difference, it's still a sure bet!"
Yu Chen couldn't help but roll his eyes. "The house is probably going to lose everything it made yesterday on this betting pool. If we had a choice, we really wouldn't have opened betting on this fight."
As they spoke,
the match was about to begin.
「The scene changes.」
In the underground fighting ring.
"Pang De! Pang De! Pang De!"
...
The surrounding area was already packed with spectators. Every one of them held a betting slip, waving their hands and shouting at the top of their lungs.
This feeling...
It gave Xu Qing the sense of being at a pop star's concert.
"Hoo..."
Xu Qing took a deep breath. He was already on the stage. Before him stood a burly, middle-aged man. He was two meters tall, with bulging muscles, a powerful build, and a shaved head. A savage grin spread across his face, and a scar ran down his left cheek like a centipede clinging to his skin.
"So it really is a little beggar."
Pang De's voice was incredibly loud.
Indeed,
even now,
Xu Qing hadn't had the time to properly clean himself up.
At this very moment,
Xu Qing and Pang De were the center of everyone's attention. Some of the spectators' eyes were bloodshot, revealing a morbid frenzy.
They were anticipating, they were craving, they were waiting for Pang De to tear Xu Qing to shreds.
They wanted to see blood and madness.
This was underground fighting.
"How long do you think Xu Qing can last?"
Lv Wei asked.
"Three punches!"
Fan Yanbin said, "With Pang De's power, this beggar can take three punches at most. After three punches, if he's not dead, he'll be on the ground, severely injured."
"Hmph!"
Yu Chen snorted coldly. "The match hasn't even started yet."
"Is there even any point in watching?"
Fan Yanbin shrugged.
DONG!!!
The next moment,
the bell for the match rang out.
BAM!
Pang De attacked without hesitation. With a roar, he pushed off, his legs making the stage floor tremble. He was like an utterly ferocious wild bear, pouncing toward Xu Qing.
"Kill him!!!"
"Tear the little beggar to pieces!!"
"Hahaha..."
The crowd laughed wildly.
However,
Xu Qing's fighting style was completely different from yesterday. Facing Pang De, who was pouncing like a wild bear, he took a deep breath, slid his right foot back slightly, bent his left leg forward, and slowly raised his hands.
He had assumed the stance of Baji Fist.
HUM!
Faintly,
an aura seemed to form around Xu Qing.
"What's this?"
"This beggar knows Martial Arts?"
"What the hell?!"
The crowd was stunned.
"Bear Pounce Hand!"
Pang De roared. His hands, like two bear paws, swiped at Xu Qing's head, carrying a gust of wind. His speed was not slow.
If that blow landed, his skull would shatter on the spot.
"Baji Fist! Boom!"
BAM!
Xu Qing also gave a soft shout. The Fist Force of his Baji Fist began to circulate, gathering all the power in his body into a stream of Ming Jin.
The two clashed.
In the instant before they were about to collide, Xu Qing suddenly ducked slightly, narrowly avoiding Pang De's Bear Pounce Hand.
"What?!"
Pang De was utterly astonished.
But,
it wasn't over yet.
Because,
Xu Qing had already thrown his punches, generating a powerful Bengjin. The Ming Jin in his body twisted into a single force and erupted with his full power.
"AHHH!!!"
A shrill scream rang out.
Xu Qing's fists struck Pang De's chest. The immense power broke several of Pang De's ribs and sent his two-meter-tall, burly frame flying back two meters.
PTHOO!!!
Pang De spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot and collapsed. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated. As he lay on the ground, blood gushed from his mouth, and his limbs twitched convulsively.
One punch!
Just one punch!
The renowned underground fighter Pang De had been defeated by Xu Qing. And with a single punch that left him severely injured.
At that moment,
the entire underground fighting arena fell silent.
Everyone had shut their mouths.
They were, in a word, dumbfounded.