The cheering sections on the stage fell silent instantly, their gazes filled with worry for their champions. Then, another Martial Artist of the Seven-Star rank, possessing championship potential, suddenly appeared. The final victor of the championship had become even more unpredictable.

Xue Tian sat down heavily beside Qin Fen, his Iai resting across his lap, his arms crossed over his chest as he absorbed the astonished stares of the crowd.

On the massive projection screen, new names flashed quickly: Du Peng VS Mark.

The momentarily hushed grandstands erupted with a roar even louder than before.

Those who had watched the previous matches remembered that both Du Peng and Zeus Mark had only needed a single strike to knock out their opponents, clearly holding back significant power.

Among the participating new forces from various continents, a small stir began to ripple. This was one of the main events of today's Martial Arts Tournament, and they were already featured in the second match.

Many turned their curious eyes toward the new American contingent, watching as Zeus, who had sat with his eyes consistently closed since taking his seat, suddenly opened them. Blue sparks flickered within his irises. His massive, sturdy frame slowly rose from his seat.

In the sunlight, Zeus tilted his head back to look at the dazzling sun, revealing a face as fierce as a bear's and a head shining with a glossy sheen.

He stripped off his upper combat uniform, exposing muscles as hard as iron blocks. Seen from the side, he resembled a solid wall. The blue tattoo shaped like a lightning bolt on his back made it momentarily impossible to tell if it was the electric Jing of the Blue Lightning Force pulsing, or the sheer artistry of the tattooist—it was so lifelike it could create an illusion.

"Oh! Zeus Mark is standing up!" the commentator shouted excitedly. "The Rookie Tournament has always belonged to the Americas. In this competition, they’ve suffered successive defeats, and it’s even rumored that their Mobile Armor and Air Force units have withdrawn from the competition, apparently after suffering some serious blow. It seems the title of Rookie Martial King is something he is determined to claim, according to rumors."

"I heard a bit of gossip too. It seems the withdrawal of the American Mobile Armor and Air Force combat units is related to the East Asian rookie units. If that’s true, isn't this matchup an instance of enemies meeting on a narrow road? The East Asian rookies might be in for a loss this time."

"Oh, the East Asian rookies are rising too."

Du Peng slowly rose, his hands resting on the armrests of his chair. The bones in his chest expanded slightly, and the light in his eyes shifted from initial tranquility to sharp intensity.

For the past two days, he had not spoken a word, spending all his time meditating in his assigned room, ensuring his Qi and body were in peak condition to face Zeus Mark, one of the American rookie Big Three.

"Du Peng."

A light call. Du Peng slowly turned to look at the rising Xing Wuyi, the man he had shared close quarters with recently yet rarely spoken to—the man who used to utter vicious words and blatantly trample on his dignity.

The two locked eyes. A complex gaze became entangled between them. The resentment of the past, the hatred of yesteryear, at this moment, all melted away in the intensity of their look.

A warmth flooded Du Peng’s chest. Looking at the tall and handsome Wuyi, he had a sudden illusion: the person standing before him was not Xing Wuyi, but... but... Du Zhanpeng.

Xing Wuyi took a deep breath, squeezing out a smile—the signature smile of the old Du Zhanpeng. His voice, now slightly deeper and filled with concern, asked, "Fight well."

Du Peng’s eyes moistened slightly. He nodded his head and simply said, "I know, Brother."

One word: Brother. Silence settled between them.

Xing Wuyi slowly nodded, returning to his seat to watch the receding figure of Du Peng walking toward the arena. He murmured softly, "The little fellow has grown up. His back back then was so childish; now it carries the bearing of a true man."

"Mark."

A crisp voice cut through the air. Mark turned back to see the source of the sound. Yang Lie, the Water Dragon King, pointed toward a corner of the massive projection screen. "Did you see who advanced? Although I don't like you, I hope the name I face in the semifinals is yours, not someone else's."

"Ha." The murderous aura on Mark’s face instantly transformed into a brilliant smile. He replied in his rough voice, "Little Dragon King, I don't like you either, but... I thank you anyway."

All the American rookies participating stood up simultaneously, walking over to Mark’s side and extending their hands, stacking them on top of each other.

Brooks, with his military cap obscuring most of his face and his perpetually sleepy eyes, said faintly, "Though this ritual is unusual, I still decided to use this method."

Joyful laughter crinkled the corners of Mark's eyes. His powerful physique trembled slightly, adding a touch more untamed heroism to his presence. He pressed his large hand onto the pile of others.

"America—!"

The stacked hands shook up and down. The voices from their throats seemed ready to tear apart, filled with fighting spirit, soaring straight into the heavens.

"Go! Go! Go—!"

The hands slammed down heavily. Mark turned without looking back and strode toward the arena.

In the massive combat ring, the two figures who should have appeared relatively small were, in the eyes of the audience, imperceptibly growing taller. Many people even gave up watching the big screen, taking out their binoculars to witness the confrontation live.

The American rookies and the East Asian rookies stared tensely at the stage. This match was the true highlight of the day; no one dared claim a one-hundred-percent certainty of victory.

"I heard Du Zhanpeng was very strong, holding the title of the strongest among the East Asian rookies," Zeus said, using his size advantage to look down upon Peng. "I always wanted to fight him. Alas, he is dead. I hear you are his younger brother?"

"Yes." A wave of pride flashed in Du Peng's eyes. The ambiguity of being Du Zhanpeng's brother in the past had now transformed into his glory.

"Then I hope you won't disappoint me." Zeus’s shoulders twitched slightly, and the lightning tattoos on his shoulders immediately began to pulse with visible blue arcs of electricity.

[Blue Lightning Force]

The sound of electricity being generated signified the Thunder Soul realm, equivalent to the Ancient Martial World’s standard.

The commentators were momentarily stunned, staring at Zeus on the stage. This young expert of the New Martial Arts, who unleashed Seven-Star power from his first move, had actually reached the Thunder Soul realm—theoretically stronger than the previous two Seven-Star martial artists. This was a realm signifying a new level of understanding regarding the Martial Way.

"Disappoint you? You absolutely will not be disappointed," Du Peng said, tilting his chin up, his ten fingers slowly forming fists. "I carry my brother's blood in my veins. His glory, I will naturally defend. Come on, let me show you the power of the strongest among the East Asian rookies."

The moment his words fell, Du Peng moved first.

As Du Peng moved, his Seven-Star power surged instantly. Aided by the surrounding microphones, his momentum grew even more immense. He stomped his foot, and fragments of reinforced concrete scattered like bullets fired from a cannon, whistling "jū jū" as they pierced the air. The sound of his feet striking the ground resonated like the war horses of an army spanning thousands of miles on an ancient battlefield.

When Du Peng launched his initial attack, his fierce aura surged, overwhelming Zeus's presence. He spread his arms wide, as if gripping a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, giving the impression of a general charging forth on horseback across a battlefield. Then, as his palms flipped, they brought forth gusts of wind, making one feel as though they were truly on an ancient battlefield. No—he was like the Hegemon of Western Chu, surrounded by an ambush on all ten sides, yet still laughing as he slew generals and captured flags.

The spectators and rookies at the sidelines, though not physically on the arena floor, felt transported to an ancient battlefield the moment Du Peng shifted his shoulders and unleashed the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Technique.

A single saber strike taking the head of the commanding general amidst ten thousand troops.

This was the fierce momentum of the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Technique’s raw power. This initial move was even more domineering than the strongest punch of the Extreme True Profound One—slaughtering enemies, reigning supreme.

Although the fight had just begun, Du Peng displayed extraordinary strength. From dozens of meters away, his shift of shoulders and stomping of feet brought him to Zeus in the blink of an eye. His single hand, trailing behind him, suddenly struck out—a palm shadow like a hurricane, filling all the space between them as it bore down on Zeus.

[Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge]

The instant Du Peng reached Zeus, a rapid succession of sounds, like thunder shaking the crowd's hearts, was transmitted to everyone's ears via the loudspeakers.

His sleeves seemed to conceal firecrackers celebrating a festival, popping with "pā pā pā" sounds that hurt the eardrums with the help of the amplification.

Most of the rookie contestants felt the same sensation upon witnessing this attack: If it were them, just seeing this ferocious assault, they would concede defeat without even engaging in combat; they wouldn't be able to resist it.

At this moment, Xing Wuyi experienced a momentary illusion: it wasn't Du Peng advancing, but the fierce strike launched by Du Zhanpeng himself.

Qin Fen's pupils constricted. Du Peng's move, the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge, was more perfect than Du Zhanpeng’s execution in the past. The two divine skills were fused perfectly; the overbearing strength and attack range of this move surpassed even Du Zhanpeng's previous display.

The blue electricity in Zeus’s pupils snapped violently. Facing this strike from Du Peng—a blow capable of deforming a household appliance—he showed no fear. He sank his hips, crossed his arms, and flipped them outwards, meeting Du Peng’s palm strike with a large scissor motion imbued with twisting force.

"Ancient Martial Arts, Dragon Claw Hand: Twin Dragons Coiled Around a Pillar."

The commentator cried out in surprise. Zeus, built on the foundation of the New Martial Arts, was employing the Ancient Martial Arts Dragon Claw Hand for his hand-to-hand combat, rather than a New Martial Arts technique coordinated with the Blue Lightning Force.

The audience collectively gasped in astonishment. Zeus’s Blue Lightning Force carried a paralyzing effect, and when combined with the pressure-point shocking ability of the Dragon Claw Hand, it could twist even the metal bars of a prison cell into pretzels. If Du Zhanpeng’s palm were subjected to this electric shock and pressure-point manipulation, how much power could he exert? It seemed likely that upon collision, his hands would be completely snapped by Zeus Mark.

Without time for further thought, the ultimate techniques of both fighters collided head-on. Du Peng’s uniform sleeves twisted rapidly at the instant of contact. The forces entangled and interwoven; instantaneously, the sleeves burst open like snowflakes between the two men.

Blue electrical light violently erupted from both arms, forming a nearly visible electric net. Even raw meat placed there would instantly be cooked through. The fine hairs on Du Peng’s arms stood on end, his hair even flickered, and his arms endured searing pain, as if being crushed by a massive hydraulic press.

As Du Peng's Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge’s five fingers slightly grazed Zeus's arms while encircling them, he rapidly tapped and struck Zeus's forearms, much like a piano master playing a beautiful melody on the keyboard.

[Seven Star Immortal Thunder Void Finger Strike]

When Zeus slammed his arms together, he felt a tingling numbness that reached his bones, significantly weakening the power of the Twin Dragons Coiled Around a Pillar. He was instantly shocked. How is this possible? Usually, the Blue Lightning Force only shocks others; why do I feel counter-electrified today?

In an instant, the flesh of Zeus's arms began to swell uncontrollably, and the blood within surged more forcefully, like a rushing stream.

The bones and muscles of their arms clashed, emitting sounds of grinding impact. The clothing on Du Peng's arms was instantly torn to shreds, revealing skin up to his shoulders.

Zeus quickly pressed his fingers into Du Peng’s hand and hastily withdrew, driving his right knee upward fiercely, using his height advantage to aim for Du Peng’s jaw.

The massive kneecap, resembling a washbasin, whistled as it cut through the air. Du Peng’s combat uniform rustled incessantly, as if the mere wind generated by this knee strike could blow him away.

Du Peng shook his arms, sending a numbing electric current shooting up his arm to his shoulder, then toward his heart. Electrocution during a heartbeat can stop a quiescent heart; for a constantly beating heart, the current causes paralysis, damaging cardiac function, reducing oxygen supply, and leaving the body fatigued.

Zeus's fingers became like blades, instantly leaving ten red dots on Du Peng’s arm—the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge was pushing forward. He leaned his body forward, retracted his slicing palm, and delivered an elbow jab toward the washbasin-sized knee.

Bang. The elbow and knee collided with a muffled thundering explosion like bone meeting bone. Du Peng used the force to withdraw a distance of seven or eight meters. The instant his feet touched down, he surged back toward Zeus like a cannonball. He swayed his shoulders to shrug off some damage, allowing the second strike of the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge, whistling as it cleaved the air, to strike again.

Zeus's right knee strike had barely landed when the reinforced concrete beneath his foot not only scattered shards but also developed several cracks beneath the surface. The lingering numbness in his knee had not yet dissipated, and seeing Du Peng rush at him again, he was inwardly startled.

So fast? Zeus shifted his ankle, channeling the Blue Lightning Force into his knee, displaying the Dragon Claw Hand’s Twin Dragons Coiled Around a Pillar once more.

Bang.

The two separated like lightning. Zeus's vision went dark for a moment. Seeing Du Zhanpeng retreat after three consecutive uses of the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge, he was constantly astonished. Doesn't this person fear electricity? Is his body not paralyzed at all? Why are my arms so numb? My very flesh and blood feel disobedient?

The third confrontation between the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Charge and the Twin Dragons Coiled Around a Pillar. The surprise in Zeus's eyes diminished slightly. The power of this third Seven Star Immortal Thunder Cavalry Charge was noticeably weaker than the previous two.

Zeus raised his arms to block the Cavalry Charge but didn't attempt to crush it as before. He stepped forward with his left foot, twisting his waist violently. His massive body moved like a high-speed tank, accompanied by the rumbling sound of his feet striking the ground, sending countless small stones and fragments flying like shrapnel as he barreled toward Du Peng's chest.

[Ancient Martial Arts Fist Style: Eight Extremes Fist: Iron Mountain Lean]

Xing Wuyi’s eyes suddenly blazed. An opening! The Water Bird Circling the Neck from the Formless Bird Skill! Even if he can’t sever Zeus’s head, he can sever the artery in his neck.

What? Xing Wuyi was momentarily stunned. Du Peng, instead of using the Formless Water Bird Skill, shifted his body to the left using a single-point pivot with his right foot. His left hand darted out with two fingers, like a great spear from an ancient battlefield, aiming directly for Zeus’s ear.

[Seven Star Immortal Thunder Thrust]

The ear is one of the hardest areas to train on the human body and a key intersection for several acupoints. With a whistling sound, Zeus’s descending left elbow twisted, transforming into a spear as thick as a bowl, aiming to intercept Du Peng's two fingers.

Again, the Seven Star Immortal Thunder Technique? Xing Wuyi raised his eyebrows. He’s willing to give up such a good opportunity and not use the Water Bird Circling the Neck? Du Peng is too fixated.

In a flash of lightning and flint, the two met. Du Peng used two seemingly fragile fingers to collide head-on with Zeus's iron elbow. The two men surged past each other, instantly ending up back-to-back.

Zeus acted without thinking, retreating like a donkey exhausted of its tricks, launching a kick toward Du Peng’s back.

His massive, strong leg descended like the legendary Mjolnir, the military trousers making a sharp, muffled thunder sound against the air.

Bang.

As Zeus kicked, Du Peng did the same thing. Under the massive opposing forces, they were transformed into two cannonballs launched from their barrels, instantly creating a distance of thirty to forty meters between them.

The impact from their feet landing prevented them from fully decelerating the inertia, causing them to stumble another three steps before their footing stabilized completely.

The audience was utterly stunned by this swift, thunderous exchange. Was this merely a match for the top 16 from the top 32? How could the level of combat be so much higher than the finals of previous Rookie Tournaments? Were they truly just rookies?

Before the crowd could react, Zeus’s robust physique suddenly swayed. Immediately afterward, his back, chest, massive arms, and strong legs instantly ruptured in over a dozen small, finger-sized wounds. Blood spurted outward under immense pressure, splashing out like mist.

What is this? Tens of thousands of spectators were momentarily bewildered. Du Peng hadn't struck these areas on Zeus's body just now. How did he sustain these injuries?

In an instant, Zeus’s strong body looked like a man bathed in blood, appearing to have suffered a massive, critical injury. Most of the American rookies clenched their fists worriedly, staring fixedly at Zeus’s fierce face, which was slowly breaking into a smile.

The audience frowned in confusion, looking at Zeus's happy smile on the screen. How could this man be smiling despite being so heavily wounded? It looked as if he had won.

That was close, Zeus wiped the sweat from his brow. Such a strange Ancient Martial Art. I clearly struck at one point, but the power erupted from a different acupoint. If I hadn't managed to force this power out in time—even a thousandth of a second later—hundreds of points across my body might have ruptured simultaneously. That would have meant a true, crippling injury.

...

Du Peng opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of mist. A drop of blood slowly dripped from between his two fingers. His remaining eight fingers twitched slightly, and faint blue electrical arcs sparked between them.

PS: My apologies. It seems whenever I mention an 'outbreak' [of writing], one incident after another finds me. I truly don't know if I’ve been cursed by the 'outbreak.' This morning, I received a call from my best friend. His father-in-law's car broke down, and coincidentally, it was near where I live.

He asked if I could find a tow truck to haul it. I agreed. I borrowed a vehicle from my old company and towed the car to the repair shop. Then I found out his father-in-law had to travel to Qingzhou—apparently, a relative had passed away. Facing an elder, Gao Lou had no choice but to drive the borrowed van from Bo City to Qingzhou City and then drive the car back. This trip took up a huge amount of my time, including a trip back to the repair shop to pick up the fixed car. I truly apologize to everyone. Although I promised to release more chapters, I will certainly try to find a way to write more in the next few days. There will be another chapter tonight; please be patient. It might be a little late, as Gao Lou hasn't even had dinner yet. I'm going to grab some noodles first and then get back to work.