Continue the Second Match!

Luo Feng was somewhat cautious. "Don’t let your guard down. There probably aren’t any simple characters in Coach Lin’s circle. We need to work out some basic strategies."

After discussing it for a while, the four decided to adapt flexibly based on their opponents while trying to use the newly learned "Four-Phase Resonance" technique whenever possible.

After lunch, they took a hovercar to Star Martial Hall. When they arrived, they found that the Martial Arts Hall was different from usual—the main training ground had been specially cleared and expanded, with spectator stands set up around it. Quite a few people were already seated. Apparently, news of this sparring match had spread, drawing many spectators.

"You’re here," Lin Qi said as he came forward. He had changed into a formal martial arts uniform today. "My friends are waiting in the preparation room. This sparring match has attracted quite a bit of attention, and many martial arts enthusiasts from the Imperial City have come to watch. I hope you don’t mind."

Luo Wen looked around and smiled faintly. "Not at all. It’s a good chance to let more people witness the prowess of Earth’s Martial Artists."

Lin Qi led the four to the contestants’ waiting area and explained the rules. "There will be four one-on-one matches, using an elimination format. The match ends when one side concedes or can no longer continue fighting. For safety reasons, techniques capable of causing fatal injuries are prohibited. There are Energy Barriers around the arena to protect the spectators from being caught in the crossfire."

The four nodded in understanding. At that moment, four figures emerged from a passageway on the other side. Even from a distance, the four could sense the powerful auras radiating from them.

The first was a burly lion-faced man. His head resembled that of a male lion, golden mane surrounding his sharply defined features, his eyes sharp as blades. He stood nearly two and a half meters tall, his muscles bulging. Simply standing there, he exuded the crushing pressure of a mountain.

The second was an agile blue-skinned woman covered in pale-blue scales. She moved with the grace of flowing water. Her eyes were the blue of the deep sea, and her fingers were long and slender. She did not look like someone who specialized in strength-based combat.

The third was an elderly human man who appeared to be around sixty. His hair was completely white, but his posture remained straight, and his gaze was calm and profound. He wore a simple gray robe and held an ordinary-looking wooden staff.

The last was a mechanically augmented man. Most of his body had been replaced by metal and mechanical components, with only a small portion of his face retaining biological features. His movements were precise and efficient, every step carefully calculated.

"Let me introduce them," Lin Qi said, gesturing toward the four visitors. "Hulk, Bella, Old Mo, and the Mechanic. They were all comrades from my time in the Imperial Army. They’ve retired now, but their strength is still not to be underestimated."

The four visitors nodded amicably at Luo Wen and the others, though their eyes all glimmered with the fire of battle.

"Pleased to meet you, Martial Artists of Earth," said the lion-faced Hulk in a low, powerful voice like thunder. "I’ve always been interested in the combat techniques of low-level civilization planets. I hope you won’t disappoint me."

Luo Wen and the others returned the greeting with martial artists’ etiquette. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Qi announced that the first sparring match was about to begin.

"First match: Hulk versus Hong!" Lin Qi’s voice echoed through the training ground.

Hulk and Hong walked to the center of the arena. Hulk was clearly much larger than Hong, and from appearances alone, the match seemed grossly unfair. But those who knew Hong understood that his strength should never be judged by his appearance.

"Go easy on me." Hulk grinned, baring sharp fangs. "I don’t want to send my opponent to a medical pod in the first match."

Hong smiled slightly, maintaining a relaxed stance. "Likewise."

The two stood facing each other in the center of the arena. At Lin Qi’s command, the match began!

Hulk attacked almost the instant the match started. His speed was unbelievable. His huge body left an afterimage in the air as his right fist shot toward Hong’s face with a howling gust of wind. Ordinary spectators could not even make out his movements before a deafening crash rang out and dust flew everywhere.

When their vision cleared, everyone was stunned to discover that Hong had somehow sidestepped the blow. Hulk’s fist had slammed into the ground, leaving behind a deep crater.

"Not bad reflexes," Hulk praised. He swiftly adjusted his stance and attacked again.

This time, he did not rely solely on brute force. Instead, he used a strange combat technique. His fists traced complex paths through the air, every strike carrying force from a different direction and forming an attack net that was nearly impossible to defend against.

Hong no longer dodged, choosing instead to meet him head-on. His hands moved as nimbly as butterflies, precisely intercepting and defusing every attack. Their fists and kicks crossed in midair, producing a string of crisp impacts as shockwaves spread in all directions and sent dust billowing up.

"That’s the Imperial Army’s Lion King Fist?" someone in the stands recognized Hulk’s technique. "They say only elite warriors of the lion race can master it. Every blow contains power comparable to a small energy cannon."

Hong’s response was equally eye-catching. His movements seemed simple, even plain, yet every one of them precisely neutralized the most dangerous attacks while keeping him in the best possible position to counterattack.

"Earth martial arts!" another spectator exclaimed. "Look at that defensive stance—isn’t that Earth’s Tai Chi? I never expected the techniques of a low-level civilization to be useful in combat at this level."

The battle in the arena grew increasingly fierce. Hulk seemed to have been provoked. His attacks became even more savage as he began releasing energy to strengthen them. A pale golden energy field surrounded his fists, and every strike came with an ear-splitting Blast.

Hong also stopped defending exclusively and began weaving in his own offensive rhythm. His counterattacks looked gentle, but each one landed precisely on Hulk’s joints and muscle connections, disrupting his strength output and bodily balance.

"I see it," Luo Feng whispered to Luo Wen from below the arena. "Hong is using the techniques Coach Lin taught us. He’s using the least amount of force to interfere with his opponent’s energy flow. It’s an application of Three-Point Imbalance."

Luo Wen nodded. "Not just that. He’s also guiding Hulk into attacking at a specific rhythm, draining his stamina and energy. That’s the strategy of Lure Deep."

The battle had already lasted nearly ten minutes. Hulk’s attacks were still ferocious, but they had clearly become somewhat disordered. Several obvious openings had even appeared, allowing Hong to seize the opportunity for precise counterattacks.

"Impossible!" Hulk roared. His body suddenly expanded, his muscles becoming even more exaggerated as a metallic sheen spread across his skin. "I won’t be defeated so easily!"

He activated some kind of special combat form, and his energy levels instantly surged. Then he pressed his fists together before violently pulling them apart, sending a golden energy shockwave hurtling toward Hong.

"That’s the lion race’s secret technique, Lion King’s Roar!" The audience erupted in commotion. "This technique is normally only used in life-or-death battles. Its energy output is comparable to the main cannon of a small warship!"

Faced with such an attack, Hong did not dodge. Instead, he stepped forward to meet it. A faint blue glow began to emanate from his body as a special energy field enveloped him. Just as the golden shockwave was about to hit him, he pushed both hands forward in a seemingly simple Pushing Palms motion.

A miraculous scene unfolded—the powerful energy shockwave seemed to strike an invisible barrier. It was diverted, redirected, and ultimately dissipated into nothingness. Not only that, a counterforce rebounded along the shockwave’s path and struck Hulk squarely in the chest.

Hulk had never expected his secret technique to be neutralized so completely. With no time to defend himself, he was struck by the returning force. His enormous body was actually knocked to the ground, sliding several meters across the arena before coming to a stop.

The training ground fell silent. Every spectator stared in shock at the scene. A Martial Artist from a low-level civilization planet had used a seemingly simple technique to neutralize the powerful attack of an elite Imperial Army warrior—and had even reflected the force back at him. It completely overturned everything they thought they knew.

Hulk struggled to his feet. The fur on his chest had been scorched black, but there was no anger in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with excitement. "How fascinating! Is this the essence of Earth martial arts? Using softness to overcome hardness, borrowing force to strike back?"

Hong nodded modestly. "It is only a basic application of Tai Chi, combined with a few energy-control techniques. Your attack was extremely powerful. I merely found the nodes in its energy flow and redirected it slightly."

Hulk burst into laughter, his voice rumbling like thunder. "In hundreds of years, this is the first time I’ve encountered an opponent who could reflect my Lion King’s Roar back at me. I concede this match!"

He walked toward Hong and extended his enormous hand. Hong reached out as well, and the two clasped hands. Their grips were firm, and both their eyes were filled with respect for a powerful opponent.

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the stands. This spectacular match had far exceeded everyone’s expectations, especially the astonishing technique Hong displayed at the end, which left a deep impression on them all.

"An excellent match." Lin Qi stepped into the arena and announced loudly, "First match: Hong wins!"

Hong and Hulk left the arena together and returned to their respective rest areas. Though Hulk looked somewhat battered, he was full of energy and even took the initiative to ask Hong about the secrets of that Pushing Palms technique.

"That reflection technique was truly incredible," Hulk said excitedly. "I’ve never seen such exquisite energy guidance."

Hong explained with a smile, "It is the Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds principle in Earth Tai Chi. The core is understanding the path of the opponent’s energy flow, then using the smallest amount of force to alter its direction. Of course, accomplishing that requires extremely precise judgment and control."

Hulk listened attentively and nodded from time to time. "Earth martial arts truly contain profound wisdom. No wonder you were able to make it so far in the Challenge Tournament."

Luo Wen, Luo Feng, and Thor came over to congratulate Hong on his performance.

"Did you only comprehend that reflection technique over the past two weeks?" Luo Feng asked curiously.

Hong shook his head. "I understood the basic principle long ago, but being able to precisely reflect an energy attack of that level was indeed something I achieved only under Coach Lin’s guidance. The key lies in microscopic control over energy flow, which is exactly what we repeatedly practiced in training."

Lin Qi walked over with a gratified smile. "Well done, Hong. You perfectly demonstrated the results of our training. Hulk is an exceptionally powerful warrior. Defeating him proves that your strength has reached a new level."

Then he turned to the other three. "Are you ready? The upcoming matches will be even more difficult. Bella, Old Mo, and the Mechanic each have their own strengths. None of them will be easy opponents."

Luo Wen, Luo Feng, and Thor exchanged smiles, battle intent glinting in their eyes. Victory in the first match had given them tremendous confidence while also stirring their fighting spirit.

"We’re ready," Luo Wen said firmly. "Let the next match begin."

Lin Qi nodded and returned to the center of the arena. By now, even more spectators had gathered outside. Clearly, news of the spectacular first match had spread through various channels, drawing more interested viewers.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lin Qi’s voice echoed through the venue, "thank you for your enthusiastic participation. The first match has shown us the unique charm of Earth martial arts. Now, let us continue with the second match!"

Warm applause and cheers erupted from the stands. In this city, accustomed to high-energy, high-tech combat, a fighting style like Hong’s—one built on exquisite technique and profound understanding—felt fresh and shocking instead.

The match between Hulk and Hong had undoubtedly been a perfect beginning, leaving everyone full of anticipation for the matches to come.

At the same time, in a corner of the spectator stands, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man in plain clothes was intently observing everything on and off the arena. His sharp, profound gaze stood in stark contrast to the enthusiastic audience around him.

"Earth’s Martial Artists are interesting," he murmured, his eyes never leaving Luo Wen and the other three. "It seems this Challenge Tournament will be more interesting than I expected."

Back in the contestants’ rest area, Hulk took the initiative to extend his right hand to Hong. "Today’s match was the most enjoyable one I’ve had in recent years. Your technique and understanding were impressive. If you don’t mind, I would very much like to further discuss the mysteries of Earth martial arts with you."

Hong clasped Hulk’s hand, sensing the lion warrior’s sincerity. "It would be my honor to exchange ideas with someone as strong as you. Although Earth martial arts may be inferior to advanced civilizations’ combat systems in terms of energy application, they do have unique strengths in biomechanics and energy guidance."

Hulk nodded, a thirst for knowledge shining in his eyes. "That unique way of thinking is exactly what attracts me. Most combat systems in the universe rely too heavily on raw energy output while neglecting the subtler, more precise use of force. Your performance today showed me an entirely new possibility."