Starry Sky Professional

Although his entire body seemed to have turned into steel, the King of Armor's speed was astonishing, like a gentle breeze, drifting before Iron Hand in the blink of an eye.

At that moment, his right leg swept horizontally, moving so quickly it was as if it vanished.

Grade B Martial Arts—Shadowless Kick!

Witnessing this spectacle, a cold sweat dripped down Fang Xing's forehead.

He knew that if the King of Armor used this move against him, he would be utterly defenseless.

The opponent’s leg was too fast, too forceful... even the entire thigh seemed to lack bones.

Bang! Bang!

Faced with the King of Armor’s leg technique that seemed to merge into the wind, Iron Hand made a very ordinary maneuver—he blocked!

He positioned his mechanical right arm in front of himself.

Thud!

The next moment, it was as if an iron whip had struck a shield, and the harsh clang of a metallic collision resounded across the arena.

The piercing sonic boom made every spectator’s ears ache.

Fang Xing focused intensely, watching as the two figures continuously changed positions on the platform.

Crunch!

Powerful blasts of wind radiated outward, causing thin cracks to appear at the arena's edges.

"These two Gemstone Martial Artists, could they be the top among their kind? Maybe they can challenge some weaker fighters of the next level?"

A sudden thought crossed his mind.

"I'm tired of seeing your leg techniques."

In the next instant, the mechanical martial artist Iron Hand, seemingly cornered into a defensive position, revealed a sinister expression.

Sssss!

From the center of his mechanical right palm, a blade suddenly emerged.

With a flash of cold light, it made contact with the King of Armor’s leg, sparking a trail of flames!

The King of Armor immediately leapt back, watching Iron Hand with caution.

"It’s here, Iron Hand's blade!"

The emcee shouted in excitement.

“Is this fighting tournament even legitimate? Allowing one side to directly brandish weapons? How is that fair?”

Hao Chi, the blonde-haired spectator, waved his betting ticket around, his eyes almost bloodshot with frustration.

He had wagered heavily on the King of Armor!

“Idiot... the King of Armor is a superhuman too, with steel-like skin; his whole body counts as a weapon. Do you think he should be disqualified?”

A female office worker nearby sneered, “There's never been such a thing as absolute fairness in this world...”

Hao Chi initially appeared at a loss for words, but upon glimpsing the betting ticket in the woman's hand, he snapped, “You bet on Iron Hand! Don't talk to me...”

Inside the fighting cage.

Iron Hand raised the blade from his right hand, “Kill!”

In an instant, Fang Xing saw a flash of the blade!

The blade's gleam was cold, pure... and seemed to carry a mysterious aura!

Even if it was just a simulated aura, it was enough to captivate every spectator!

“Is this the ‘Ghostly Blade,’ where ‘with one slash, even gods and demons falter’?”

Fang Xing's eyes sparkled.

Wasn't this exactly why he came to watch the blood cage fight?

“Indeed... it's not just about the slaughter... if you say anything, it's more akin to ‘confidence,’ yet it includes slaughter...”

Silently feeling this aura, Fang Xing suddenly had some insights on entering the realm of the ‘Ghostly Blade.’

“Truly, martial arts require a good teacher. If there were a master skilled in the Ghostly Blade demonstrating it personally, the effect would certainly be more profound...”

Although he grasped some of the combat's aura, Fang Xing knew it was not enough to truly enter through it!

At this moment, his gaze was locked on the dazzling and frenzied blade light.

Even as a bystander, he was utterly entranced. So how much more overwhelmed must the King of Armor be, directly facing this blade light?

In the next moment, Fang Xing saw it.

The King of Armor, wreathed in the blade light, laughed grimly, “I’ve known for a long time, Iron Hand, that your trump card is the Ghostly Blade... But as it happens, my own ability has just evolved to the second stage, I can withstand it... but can you endure my ‘Apocalyptic Leg’?”

Almost simultaneously as he spoke, the King of Armor’s skin, which was originally of a steely hue, began to change!

Underneath the skin, diamond-shaped scales emerged, like a suit of scaled armor, possessing unparalleled defense.

Moreover, the King of Armor himself moved like a venomous dragon, soaring within the blade light, his legs akin to a dragon's fangs, descending with frenzied intent.

A presence as overwhelming as the Phantom Blade emerged, carrying the aura of utter annihilation, sweeping across the ring!

A-level martial art—Heaven's Annihilating Leg!

“Oh no, Iron Hand is going to lose!”

The woman in business attire let out a wail, angrily tearing up her bet ticket.

“Haha… Go King of Armor!”

Hao Chi, the blonde, excitedly shouted at the sight.

And then…

Fang Xing saw a flash of a blade.

This flash wasn't particularly dazzling, but it was incredibly pure, cleaving through countless leg shadows, heavily striking the chest of the King of Armor.

“Impossible!”

The King of Armor roared, the black iron scales on his body seemingly gathering at his chest, forming layer upon layer of protective mirrors.

But it was futile!

No matter how many iron scales there were, they were all ultimately cut through by that single blade flash.

The blade was piercing cold, slicing through flesh, causing blood to flow, leaving a bone-deep wound on the King of Armor's chest.

“The way of the blade is to be unstoppable!”

Iron Hand stood before the fallen King of Armor, his expression resolute, speaking calmly.

The audience erupted into frenzied screams, and the woman in business attire was almost in tears: “Iron Hand, you donkey… you may have won, but I’ve already torn up my bet ticket!”

Beside her, Hao Chi suddenly felt much better and found the woman in business attire rather pleasing to the eye.

He stepped forward, wanting to say something more, only to be pulled into a deep kiss by her.

‘Well, in this atmosphere, venting this way indeed makes sense…’

Fang Xing sensed the growing chaos around him, with some even grabbing the nearby bunny girls.

He glanced at the arena again, seeing someone carrying the King of Armor off, with doctors treating him.

‘Evidently, at this level of expertise, the arena wouldn’t deliberately waste talent and leave life-and-death decisions to the audience… at the least, only the truly “distinguished guests” would have that privilege…’

Fang Xing watched it all, suddenly feeling disenchanted, and left the arena to board the bus while waiting for departure.

He didn’t yet have the ability to leave the black market on his own at night!

“Did you enjoy yourself, guest?”

A sudden voice came from the side.

Turning his head, Fang Xing saw Zhang Jiarui, known as "Bun," dressed in her usual bunny girl attire, her deep purple eyes captivating.

“What? Aren’t you supposed to be attending to the guests?”

He pointed towards the now lively fighting arena.

“I'm serving guests in my own way...”

Zhang Jiarui licked her lips with a short, pink tongue, exuding an inexplicable allure.

“Uh, no need, thank you.”

Fang Xing waved his hand dismissively. Until reaching his destination, he had no intention of leaving the bus.

“What a pity. I hope Iron Hand's performance tonight will satisfy you.”

With that, Zhang Jiarui got off the bus and headed towards the arena.

Fang Xing watched her retreating figure, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

A security guard in a black suit greeted Zhang Jiarui at the arena entrance with a slight bow, displaying utmost respect.

Fang Xing recognized the guard—it was the same customer manager who had been overseeing the transport!

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Zhang Jiarui glanced back, a playful smile on her lips.

‘It seems Bun has some complex background... but she's playing the role of an unassuming hostess perfectly.’

Fang Xing closed his eyes, dismissing the thought.

After all, the Blood Cage Arena's power was evident; it was unwise to provoke it carelessly.

Tonight was a rare chance to witness the "Blade of the Spirit"—something he needed to seize fully.

“An A-rank martial art that, through meditation and hypnosis, allows even three-level warriors to simulate its presence!”

“With the blade in hand, even spirits and deities are cut down?”

“First, meditate, then hypnotize oneself to edge closer to this state... Once a rough form appears, the Blade of the Spirit is barely unlocked. Only then can one consider proceeding to the stages of ghost slaying and confronting deities...”

“Without a skilled teacher, I'd have to learn through observing matches; mastering it solo would be a tough start...”

Fang Xing sighed inwardly.

As he pondered the meditation techniques of the "Blade of the Spirit," passengers began to fill the bus, all spectators of the arena.

After the fights, they'd be returned to the station, then homeward, only to resume their mundane lives as workers tomorrow.

Fang Xing surveyed his surroundings and noticed that many people were missing.

It was clear that these individuals, spurred on by tonight's fighting, were eager to continue their adventures in the black market.

After all, the entertainment here offered an excitement beyond imagination.

'I wonder how many will still be alive by dawn?'

With merely a glance, Fang Xing dismissed the thought and turned his attention to the scenery outside the window.

Boom!

Eventually, the car engine roared to life, and the bus slowly departed from the location.

...

Qinglin Marketplace.

Sheltered hut number fifty-seven in the Ding District.

In the basement.

Fang Xing sat cross-legged, forming a peculiar hand seal with both hands.

According to the meditation theory, the ten fingers of one's hands are seen as the keys to unlocking the mind, and thus, various hand seals often have different effects.

At this moment, forming the seal aided his meditation.

“Without thought, without mind, without form or idea…”

Gradually, Fang Xing's mind deepened into a tranquil state, leaving consciousness clear and empty.

Then he began to visualize the 'Iron Hand' slicing through the air with a single strike!

One strike to behold, with gods and demons not spared!

Drip!

Suddenly, ripples disturbed the calm 'lake of his mind,' turning its once clear waters jet black as countless distracting thoughts surged forth!

“No, it won’t work...”

Fang Xing opened his eyes, one of which had turned blood-red.

Forcing himself to calm, he shook his head, “Without mastering the presence of the 'Demonic Blade' to restrain its malevolence, this first barrier overwhelms me with inner demons, making it impossible to surpass…”

He glanced at the attribute panel, noting that there were no new categories, leaving him dejected.

If reaching the attribute panel is unattainable and the health bar remains undrawn, then there's truly no way to grind endlessly…

]

(End of Chapter)