As the wave of cheers and applause within the auditorium gradually subsided, the dazzlingly dressed hostess stepped onto the stage.

"Esteemed guests," the hostess announced, her voice laced with a tantalizing allure, "we now arrive at the pinnacle of tonight's exchange meeting! Student Huang Yifei from the Tiannan University Martial Arts Club will engage in a live sparring demonstration with Student Li Yundong from the Taekwondo Club!"

Immediately afterward, she repeated the announcement in English, causing the foreigners in the audience to erupt with excitement and loud cheers.

The university students filling the hall had only ever witnessed such sparring sessions in movies; seeing it live was unprecedented. Consequently, they too began shouting, their excitement making the atmosphere even more boisterous and vibrant than before!

Teacher Ma, backstage managing the program schedule, secretly rejoiced. It was fortuitous that this act was placed last; otherwise, following it with songs and dances would have severely diminished the impact.

Although Zhuang Hui felt a pang of resentment, she held a strong admiration for the masculine Li Yundong. After seeing his earlier performance backstage, her eyes had sparkled, and hearing about the live combat demonstration made her clap and cheer even more ecstatically.

Her dance partners standing nearby rolled their eyes in unison, shaking their heads privately: Such is the way of infatuation trumping friendship!

Following the hostess's introduction, Huang Yifei moved to the edge of the stage, executed a stepping advance, and sprung upward, clearing the meter-high stage in a swift motion.

This feat immediately drew whistles and admiration from the foreigners present, who held a deep yearning and curiosity for Chinese martial arts.

A blonde foreigner applauding from his seat turned to the woman next to him, who had long golden hair. "Chris, didn't you say you were an expert on China? Can you tell what style this person practices?"

Though Chris possessed flowing, wavy golden locks, her features were delicate and exquisitely proportioned, fitting an aesthetic often admired in the East. With deep-set eyes, a high-bridged nose, and skin as white as snow, she exuded an exotic allure that drew the gaze of many young men.

Chris, seemingly accustomed to such attention, continued to clap while replying to her companion. "Tom, you're the one who practices combat sports, why ask me? Are you testing me? Fine. Look at the iron rings he wears on his arms! That indicates he practices Iron Wire Fist!"

Tom questioned, "Iron Wire Fist? Never heard of it!"

Chris teased, "And you call yourself a fight enthusiast? To win the gold belt at the Penn State Combat Games for nothing! Iron Wire Fist is a style popular in Guangdong, China. You know Hung Kuen, right?"

Tom gasped, "Hung Kuen? The style taught by Master Al Ji Ling? My God, he practices Hung Kuen? Heavens, why isn't I the one facing him?"

The tailor shop owner who practiced Iron Wire Fist in the film Ip Man was none other than Al Ji Ling, a figure once mentioned in the same breath as Bruce Lee in American martial arts circles. Al Ji Ling taught Hung Kuen extensively in the States, and his fame was ubiquitous within the American martial arts community.

Chris knew her companion was a die-hard combat fanatic who adored all forms of fighting sports globally and loved testing his skills against practitioners of various lineages.

His name hadn't even been on the roster for this exchange conference in China, but upon hearing it was in China, he had clamored incessantly to come, eager to witness Chinese Kung Fu firsthand. It was because Tiannan University somehow caught wind of this enthusiasm that they specially approved the live sparring demonstration between Li Yundong and Huang Yifei.

Chris shook her head. "Iron Wire Fist is the highest form within Hung Kuen, considered one of the 'Three Treasures' alongside Gong Zi Fu Hu Quan and Tiger-Crane Double Form. You might not be his match."

Tom shrugged dismissively. "That's not certain. But Chris, you truly deserve the title of China expert; knowing such details is incredible! Having a grandmother of Chinese descent is certainly beneficial!"

Chris offered no comment, her gaze fixed on the stage. "Tom, you're the expert. Who do you think will win?"

Tom didn't hesitate. "The one practicing Iron Wire Fist!"

A faint smile touched Chris's lips; Tom's prediction matched her own. She asked, "Why?"

Tom explained, "Look at the Iron Wire Fist practitioner—his deltoids are hugely defined, and his arm muscles look like steel cables. Good heavens, that’s pure sinewy strength, indicating terrifying explosive power! Bruce Lee had exactly that kind of physique! Plus, those iron rings on his arms—if one of those connects, it must hurt like hell!"

Tom discreetly pointed toward Li Yundong and continued, "Look at the guy opposite him. While his earlier moves were impressive, everything except that final kick was ornamental—looks good, but lacks utility. And this fellow lacks any genuine killing intent in his eyes; clearly, he hasn't seen real combat. I predict he will lose."

Chris privately agreed with Tom’s assessment, but she said with a smile, "Perhaps the Chinese have already decided the outcome of this match; let’s not speculate wildly."

Tom grumbled, "You were speculating just a moment ago, and now you claim we shouldn't. Being the Student Union President grants you quite the privilege!"

Hearing his complaint, Chris only smiled, saying nothing, merely shifting her focus back to the stage.

Onstage, Huang Yifei took his stance immediately—feet positioned neither parallel nor fully turned out. He dropped his left leg, bent his right knee, formed his right hand into a fist, and held his left hand open, palm facing the sky, raised to his right chest near the armpit, before bringing both hands together in an arching salute.

This was the "Greeting Bridge Hand" stance from Iron Wire Fist. The salute signified the opening of the fist with respect, while the lifted leg symbolized a bow of deference. It appeared to be a formal, courteous posture, but in reality, this stance offered both offense and defense, serving as one of Hung Kuen's powerful moves combining deflection and strike.

Li Yundong, unaware of the technique's true depth, mirrored Huang Yifei's courteous bow.

However, as Li Yundong bent over, Huang Yifei’s eyes snapped open. He stamped his right foot down with a sharp pa, exploding into motion. He hooked his left leg up and drove a kick toward Li Yundong’s head.

Given Li Yundong’s previous "surprise attack" experience, the audience assumed this too was staged. No one showed concern; instead, they applauded vigorously for Huang Yifei’s agile technique.

Li Yundong, possessing vast internal energy, instantly heard the rushing air. Instinctively, he stamped backward and retreated rapidly.

Knowing Li Yundong's formidable strength, Huang Yifei pressed his advantage mercilessly. He retracted his hands, transforming them into fists while barking, "Ha!" Both fists immediately shot upward, targeting Li Yundong’s chest and head.

This was the "Two Tigers Concealed Path" from Iron Wire Fist!

As his fists moved, the iron rings on his forearms rattled, perfectly synchronized with his shout. The attack was undeniably fierce, and the momentum astonishing!

Li Yundong, though lacking formal training, possessed the Golden Core Qi within him. He had previously fought off a group of thugs armed with long knives. But those thugs were untrained; Li Yundong, operating with some level of skill then, was essentially sparring against human targets.

Sparring against Huang Yifei, however, was a vastly different proposition.

Li Yundong immediately sensed the intense killing aura emanating from Huang Yifei, coupled with his aggressive momentum. Compared to this presence, Zhao Yujian from before seemed as gentle as a maiden.

Unsure how to counter such ferocious moves, Li Yundong could only stamp his foot again and retreat quickly.

Huang Yifei’s two punches missed their mark. He instantly pulled his fists back, stepping forward to close the distance. Then, his fists swept up from below his ribs to his chest and armpits. His palms faced each other, fingers relaxed, then snapped together into a chopping palm, sharp as a blade, aimed at Li Yundong’s shoulders, accompanied by a drawn-out, loud exhalation: "Hoo!"

"Double Swords Cut Bridge!"

Huang Yifei's powerful shouts were so loud they nearly drowned out the applause and cheers from the entire hall. Spectators felt he was like an ancient pine when still, and a fierce tiger when moving—truly possessing the bearing of a martial arts master.

These university students, sheltered in their ivory tower, had never truly witnessed such skill. They became uncontrollably excited, shouting and cheering wildly, oblivious that what unfolded on stage was a genuine, life-or-death confrontation!

Tom, being an insider, could discern the true nature of the exchange. Huang Yifei’s two moves made his heart pound, and he repeatedly exclaimed, "Incredible! Truly incredible!"

Backstage and in the audience, those fond of Li Yundong—Zhou Qin, Feng Na, and Zhuang Hui—involuntarily clenched their fists, terrified that one of Huang Yifei’s ferocious strikes might land on him.

Even Su Chan, who had been relatively nonchalant, grew instantly alert. She had assumed Li Yundong could handle this opponent easily. But now she observed that although Huang Yifei wasn't a cultivator, his strikes contained a hidden softness within their hardness. A single solid connection would allow the yielding force, mixed with the crushing power, to penetrate Li Yundong's body, disrupting his meridians and organs, causing severe internal injury.

Cultivators were not invincible. Before achieving a Golden Body state, if they allowed a martial arts master’s strikes to land on vital points, they would be incapacitated or even killed just like anyone else. This was no different than a master being instantly felled by a blow to the back of the head from a fragile woman wielding nothing more than a brick.

Su Chan watched the fight intently for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "Yundong, fight back!"

Li Yundong, pressed back by Huang Yifei's relentless attack and being forced toward the backstage area, managed to call out, "How do I fight back?"

Su Chan yelled loudly, "One continuous flow, direct penetration!"

A flicker of realization dawned in Li Yundong’s mind. He recalled the sensation when Su Chan helped him practice Qi circulation—the feeling of the energy flowing uninterrupted throughout his body!

At this moment, Huang Yifei had pursued Li Yundong through several rapid sequences: "Old Monk Carries the Load," "Startled Swan Wing," "Left and Right Inch Bridge," "Great Immortal Salutes," "Qin Qiong Offers His Mace"—a relentless barrage of lethal close-range short-force techniques. If any one connected, Li Yundong would suffer internal trauma!

However, though Li Yundong didn't know how to counter these specific moves, he maintained his backward retreat. As long as he kept moving back, even the most ferocious killing moves would fail to connect.

Huang Yifei missed several attacks and began to feel anxious. He clearly overheard the exchange between Li Yundong and Su Chan, causing him to hesitate, realizing he needed to force Li Yundong into a direct engagement quickly.

But just then, Li Yundong abruptly stopped retreating. Huang Yifei was overjoyed. He stabilized his stance using the rooted 'Er Zi Qin Yang Ma,' swept both palms downward from above, drawing them back beside his ears, palms angled slightly downward. He then segmented his hands into three sections to form fists and drove one out with a fierce roar.

This roar was truly like a tiger’s cry, and combined with the metallic clashing sound from the Vajra Iron Rings on his forearms, it resonated like a distant dragon’s chant!

"What a move—'Tiger Howl, Dragon Roar'!" The Chinese expert Chris couldn't help but exclaim with a flash of appreciation.

Huang Yifei's attack carried such astonishing momentum that nearly everyone expected Li Yundong to retreat once more, unable to block it.

But at that instant, Li Yundong took a deep breath. The Qi within him surged upward from his lower Dantian, the warm, rolling energy passing through his middle Dantian (the heart), reaching his upper Dantian (the brain). All three Dantians ignited and boiled; the energy achieved complete, uninterrupted flow!

It felt as if every Qi pathway in Li Yundong’s body was suddenly activated, leaping and surging. Li Yundong suddenly felt an inexhaustible reservoir of strength. Even if faced with mountains of blades and seas of fire, he could deliver this punch with direct thrust, seizing the enemy commander's head from amid ten thousand soldiers, as easily as taking something from his own pocket!

"Hoo!"

As Li Yundong threw his punch, his immense, boundless aura instantly surged into his upper arm, then his forearm, and finally to his fist. Three distinct pa-pa-pa sounds echoed from within his body and arm, like the successive popping of firecrackers achieving continuity. Finally, this wave of energy coalesced into a powerful current of air that roared out from Li Yundong's fist, hurtling toward Huang Yifei, who was standing more than a meter away.

One continuous flow, direct penetration!

Huang Yifei felt a fierce wave of energy strike his face. Instinctively, he raised both fists to block, and then his entire body was sent flying sideways.

The previously roaring, lively auditorium fell into absolute silence.