Chapter 4: Duel

The six people nodded simultaneously, which made me feel somewhat uneasy. After a long pause, I quietly asked, "To be honest, how long have you been betting? I won't be angry if you tell the truth."

Truly, he is the legendary Lion King, possessing not only immense strength but also rapid strikes and swift movements. I could not discern his actions at all, let alone defend against them. In the blink of an eye, I had lost count of how many blows I had received, but the excruciating pain throughout my body made it clear that this Heavenly Fire Lion was indeed extraordinarily formidable

Well... alright, but don't push yourself too hard. If you can't hold on, just let me know. Husband, seeing you like this makes me feel so heartbroken.

Do not worry, my dear. Hehe, call me husband and let me hear it; I will immediately be filled with strength

The underground fighting arena in Chila Jiao serves as a venue for prisoners to settle personal grievances. Following Jing Yu's appointment, fighting among prisoners was strictly prohibited, unless both parties signed a death warrant, allowing for one-on-one duels under the watchful eye of the guards. Eventually, these duels became one of the few forms of entertainment on the island, drawing the attention of the entire island community with each match.

On July 15th, I woke up very early. Today is the day I have a duel with the Fire Lion, so I am particularly anxious. I haven't slept soundly for the past two days; even when I do fall asleep, I wake up easily.

Melancholy, it's too complicated, let's put it simply! The Fire Lion has begun to exhibit beastly traits, its crimson eyes devoid of any human emotion, and its hands are slowly transforming into a pair of lion's claws

The Heavenly Fire Lion has made its move

I also bet for three days!" Chu Ye Liu Xiang and the three of them spoke simultaneously

Wind, I love you

I detest being deceived by others. Although I am a prisoner, I still possess dignity. I will not allow them to look down on me; even in death, I will die with a sense of resolution.

The flame claws of the shattered corpse surged through my body with a power capable of cutting through metal and iron, instantly severing all the meridians within me. However, having been transformed by Youyou, I possessed a recovery ability akin to that of a celestial being. The severed meridians restored themselves in an instant, and the repaired meridians became even more resilient.

I turned my head to glance at Jingyu, and saw that his expression was very calm as he slightly nodded at the Tianhuo Lion. In an instant, a feeling of being deceived surged in my heart, and I stared at Jingyu, speechless for a long time.

Well, two days ago there were eighteen, but last night, under the full moon, he successfully opened the nineteenth seal, so you, sigh, take care of yourself! Jingyu did not continue speaking, but the meaning of those words was already clearly conveyed.

My heart suddenly became flustered. The shattered corpse claws could still be countered, but that flame was truly terrifying! Although I could block the damage to my body from the flame, I could not endure the scorching high temperature

Wind, for my sake, you must win. Do not forget that we are one!

The Fire Lion wiped the blood from his ear and glared at me with anger. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, pointing at me and saying, "Kid, I like your rogue style! Referee, the first round is over, let him take a break." After saying this, he turned and sat down quietly to meditate.

With both hands forming a gesture I had never known before, I faced his claw and, uncontrollably, threw a punch. As the punch was unleashed, an immense and unyielding force suddenly surged from my body.

In an instant, my escape route was completely sealed off, and the deadly claw of the Fire Lion struck out mysteriously amidst the flickering flames. The lion's claw appeared slow, yet it enveloped my body and trapped me within the range of its attack.

The Flame Claw of the Shattered Corpse! The face of the Celestial Fire Lion twisted into a more terrifying visage, its dual claws enveloped in searing flames, dancing in the void. The flames formed an impenetrable net of fire, and the shadow of its claws completely enveloped my body.

Then he is now ... ...

Isn't it eighteen? I asked in surprise

What to endure

I want to kill you! The fiery lion's beastly eyes stared at me, letting out a low growl

I chuckled softly, just about to speak, when suddenly the damned referee's voice rang in my ears: "Round Two, begin!"

With a low shout from Youyou, my body suddenly ceased to be under my control, rising into the air from the ground. After evading the fiery lion's claw, my body twisted in a strange manner in mid-air, dodging amidst the myriad shadows of fists. The fist winds of the Heavenly Fire Lion were like blades, slicing through the skin of my cheeks, each punch narrowly slipping past me. Although I was fully aware that my body had already been controlled by the Buddhist sect's master, Yidao, I still felt an inexplicable sense of fear.

Gloomy, rest assured, I have already figured out his fighting style, hehe, in the next round, I will counterattack, I know his weakness

Prior to this, he had been gradually unlocking the energy meridians, slowly merging his power. However, now, with three energy meridian points being opened simultaneously, the released power is overwhelmingly intense, rendering him unable to control it

The body of the Fire Lion remained still, yet the beastly face revealed a serene smile, startling me in my heart

The underground fighting arena is built on a protruding rock to the west of Chila Jiao, measuring one hundred meters in length and width. This rock is the flattest area on the island, with its black surface smoothed and polished by the waves, faint traces of blood visible on the stone.

The referee suddenly announced, "... ... Start!"

Alright, Tianfeng, let me see how you will defeat me in three rounds

Yōu yōu remained silent for a long time, and suddenly spoke up.

He actually called Jingyu by his name directly

In simple terms, he has now become obsessed

"Feng, this is not going to work; you won't make it through the second round!" The voice, tinged with concern, expressed a sense of unease.

From the very beginning, this has been a game

In the midst of speaking, a surge of immense power instantly filled my body. Before I could react, all the meridians in my body had been completely broken through by that powerful force

What is this? I stood there in a daze, staring at the person in front of me, dressed in a white shirt and wearing white gloves, unable to figure out for a long time what his background was.

I suddenly moved, performing a somersault in mid-air, and grabbed his arm. I had caught him! Enduring the pain, I twisted his arm in mid-air and pounced onto him, biting his ear.

The Fire Lion Clan excels in the use of the fire element. Water strengthens fire, while ice from the Blade of Ease was originally its nemesis. However, without the power of the water element, you are entirely unable to suppress his heavenly fire.

"What are you talking about? You are our brother, of course we are betting on your victory. Xiao Hei, muster some strength; I have staked three days' worth of rations on you," the Demon Wolf said angrily.

At a distance of several dozen meters, I could already feel that the immense power emanating from his fist and that lion's claw was completely beyond my ability to evade or withstand

Upon hearing this sentence, my body trembled inexplicably. I had forgotten this phrase for a long time; even when I was reaching a climax with Youyou, I had never heard her say it. Yet now, it is precisely this sentence from Youyou that fills my heart with confidence

"Wind, I truly worship you!" A melancholic voice suddenly echoed in my mind

"What should we do about the melancholy? Aren't you the Creator God? Surely you have a way, right?" I said anxiously, retreating repeatedly as I watched the Heavenly Fire Lion slowly approach.

Before I could finish my question, Youyou softly exclaimed, "Yidao, the Buddhist Sect's Demon-Breaking Fist!"

In that fleeting moment, his fist hesitated slightly. I had been waiting for this opportunity, and without hesitation, I leaped into his embrace, my right fist suddenly unleashing an unparalleled force. The transformation that Youyou had instilled in me over the past month erupted at this moment. I was unaware of the magnitude of this punch, which combined Jingyu's mountain-piercing strength and Youyou's formless celestial power. The collarbone of the Heavenly Fire Lion emitted a cracking sound, and its body was sent flying backward, landing on the ground and remaining motionless for a long time

"Foul, foul!" the referee shouted loudly, but I remained deaf to his words, continuing to bite down hard on the ear of the Heavenly Fire Lion

"Very good, continue!" The referee exclaimed loudly upon seeing that I could stand up by myself

I stand proudly on the stage, my entire body now devoid of sensation. However, I can faintly hear the voices of the demon wolves nearby

Yōu yōu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said softly, "Husband, please bear with it for a while."

I did not expect this old fellow to be so generous; I immediately embraced him. However, before I could express my gratitude, Chu Ye Liu Xiang, whom I had already despised countless times in my heart, suddenly spoke up: "Old fellow, it seems you have staked all your possessions on the Tianhuo Lion, haven't you"

The Fire Lion stared at me in a daze, and after a while, it also began to laugh.

"You are truly such good friends! Thank you for your trust!" A wave of excitement surged within me, and tears nearly flowed down my cheeks

Roar!

I no longer speak, taking a gentle step back, my fists tightly clenched. I aim to strike with precision, and although Jingyu is playing with me, I believe he will not deceive me

Jingyu gave me hope, only to cruelly erase that hope. In his eyes, I was nothing but a damned prisoner, a trivial character. I glared fiercely at Jingyu, ignoring the Tianhuo Lion, and leaped onto the rock, coming to a stop on the slippery surface.

July 15, clear, no wind

Alas, that would mean certain death

Taking the opportunity to turn my head, the six cunning individuals scurried over to the left camp, instantly being engulfed by the crowd. I had no mood to pay attention to these six despicable scoundrels and turned to Jingyu, saying, "Good morning, sir"

Yōu yōu fell silent for a moment, then shyly called out to me, instantly bringing a smile to my face, completely disregarding the referee's strange gaze.

That is my brother, hehe, impressive, right? Even the Skyfire Lion is no match for him; he took care of it with a single punch

The Fire Lion finally launched an attack against me. The fully beastified version of him was entirely different from just moments ago; it was not merely a difference in speed and strength, but also in the manner of his attacks. His dual claws were enveloped in strands and wisps of flame, moving in the air in a bizarre manner, forming a flame claw that seemed almost tangible, striking towards me in a swift motion. The Fire Lion followed closely behind the flaming claw, his fists striking in a continuous, heavy rhythm.

I endured the pain, took a deep breath, turned over, and stood up again in front of the Heavenly Fire Lion. Gritting my teeth, I looked at him. No, I couldn't keep up with his speed at all, so I had to...

"Tianfeng, I want you dead"

Ignoring my grim and twisted face, Jingyu remained cold and indifferent, stating in a deep voice: "I am holding you because you are my disciple, and I must do this in accordance with the situation. However, in principle, I certainly have high hopes for Tianhuo Lion, after all, he has opened nineteen meridian points, and his strength is far beyond what you can compare to"

She is still a stutterer

With a loud bang, both the Heavenly Fire Lion and I simultaneously moved apart to the sides

"What!" Upon hearing this, I was instantly enraged, glaring fiercely at the self-satisfied individual, gritting my teeth as I said, "They truly look down on people too much; no matter what, I must hold on for three rounds!"

The prisoners beneath the rock had long since abandoned the matter, hiding a hundred zhang away, nervously watching from that distance. Only the self-satisfied individual and the three from the Yuezhi, along with Jingyu and the guards, remained there.

At the moment of my anxious concern, Youyou once again whispered, "Husband, be careful behind you"

Damn, is he a monster? He opened another one in just two days? I stood there in a daze, a sense of fear I had never experienced before rising in my heart

Additionally, place fifty taels on the body of the Heavenly Fire Lion

"Husband, you are truly amazing!" The voice of Youyou echoed once more. I smiled and proudly said to the referee, "I won"

"Commander!" I exclaimed in a low voice, my head spinning with anger.

"Judge, I concede, I forfeit!" I shouted immediately, but only after I finished shouting did I realize that the damned stuttering referee had already run off to who knows where

Husband, I can't stop!

As he spoke, the body of the Fire Lion began to undergo a strange transformation. The red light resembled a blazing flame, emanating an overwhelming heat. Beneath his feet, the rocks began to liquefy, and in an instant, his eyes turned a fiery red.

The wind, I feel something is amiss

The explanation of melancholy made me suddenly understand; in other words, what I am facing now is a fierce beast devoid of any rationality

"Tianfeng, do not be surprised. I have known Jingyu for over twenty years; I met him when he was still a child." The voice of Tianhuo Lion reached my ears, calm yet stirring boundless waves in my heart

"Xiao Hei, you still don't know? Because of your match, the entire Chila Corner is betting on whether you will be killed by the Fire Lion in just one round!"

I have faced death before, but never have I confronted it as I do now. My opponent is a terrifying half-orc, a murderer, and although I have been transformed by the shadows, I possess no combat experience whatsoever; we are not even on the same level.

It was not until then that I realized how many mistakes I had made that day

Just as I was poised to strike, a figure suddenly rushed into the arena, standing between me and the Fire Lion, and shouted, "Pause!"

Before his words had finished, the Heavenly Fire Lion, seated cross-legged on the rocky surface, suddenly rose up, still in a meditative posture, as if lifted by some unseen force. This time, his strikes were even more ferocious, and his punches more ruthless. In the blink of an eye, I had lost count of how many times I had been knocked down. Driven by a certain belief, I got back up time and again, only to fall again. Gradually, I began to grasp a hint of understanding.

A simple sentence stirred my heart profoundly, and I was moved to tears as I softly said, "Thank you for your trust, sir"

Suddenly, the crowd became agitated. The imposing and majestic figure of the Fire Lion appeared before my eyes. He was bare-chested, and his bulging muscles were terrifying. Describing his physique as that of a tiger's back and a bear's waist would likely be insufficient; his body, combined with his face and long hair, resembled a beast poised to pounce.

Jingyu no longer paid attention to me, but instead turned and walked towards the large chair at hetushucom.com, with the guards behind him following closely and sitting neatly on a row of benches

Upon seeing me approach, the whispers abruptly ceased, and in an instant, I became the focal point of everyone's attention. Confused, I turned to the self-important individual beside me and asked, "What are they doing? There is such a large space on the right with no one sitting there; why has everyone gathered on the left?"

The military appearance remained as orderly as ever. Although it was July, Jingyu's uniform was still tightly fastened. Not only he, but even the guards following him were equally well-groomed. Upon seeing me salute him, Jingyu nodded and turned to the guard behind him, saying, "Go, place a bet of ten taels of silver on Tianfeng."

"Gloom, cease!"

It was only at this moment that I remembered I still had Youyou; she would not deceive me! In an instant, a warm current surged in my heart, and I whispered, "Youyou, for you, I will definitely not fail; this battle, I fight for you!"

"Damn, what competition? Refund, refund!" The prisoners were unwilling, especially one who couldn't last a round against me, shouting loudly.

Yet at this moment, I could not stop; my body surged forward suddenly, and I struck out with a punch. The Demon-Breaking Fist, infused with the ethereal power of melancholy and the Buddhist demon-slaying force of the Easy Blade, emitted a sound akin to a deep thunder.

"Lion, lion, good morning, brother lion!" My tongue began to roll, and I started to stutter while speaking

"Hehe, if you call me Master, then you are my disciple. If I don't bet on you, should I bet on outsiders?" Jingyu said淡淡的, but his following words nearly made me faint on the spot

It was easy to separate me from the Fire Lion. The referee was loudly reprimanding me, but I did not hear a word. This guy's ears are so tough that my teeth hurt from biting down.

A few years later, I came across a passage in an old almanac regarding the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the fourth year of the New Era: it is suitable for sacrifices and weddings; it is not advisable to take office or travel. The zodiac clashes with the tiger, and the inauspicious direction is to the west.

Husband, how about I release the soul of Yi Dao, okay?

"Melancholy!" I shouted silently in my heart

I, I, I am the referee of this match. You all must obey my commands. This match is divided into three rounds, each lasting three minutes. When I say stop, you must immediately separate...

"Easy blade, out!"

The entire venue was in an uproar

The Heavenly Fire Lion lunged forward, delivering a powerful punch. Suddenly, I fell down, collapsing into the embrace of the Heavenly Fire Lion

Just past 8 o'clock, accompanied by Zizuo Congming and the others, I arrived at the arena. This small place had already gathered a large crowd; the prisoners on the island had come early to the arena, sitting together in a circle. They sat in a peculiar manner, as there was a large empty space on the right, yet not a single person occupied it, while two hundred people huddled together in a narrow space on the left, whispering among themselves. Under the sunshade directly below the arena, there was a large chair in front and a row of long benches behind.

The footsteps of the Fire Lion suddenly came to a halt, and the ferocity on its face diminished significantly, with the red light in its eyes beginning to fade.

The Fire Lion opened its eyes, and the sharp brilliance within swept across the stage below, instantly rendering the audience silent.

The blinding red light enveloped the majestic body of the Fire Lion, as he slowly rose from the rocky surface. An overwhelming aura of killing intent emanated from him, pressing towards me as if it were a tangible force. Within this killing intent was a strange sense of tranquility. The Fire Lion gazed at me and let out a soul-stirring low roar

"Husband, there's no need to look!" Youyou said softly, "www.hetushu.com.com your punch indeed struck at his vital point, but that vital point is where his meridian seal is located. If I am not mistaken, three meridian points have been sealed above his right chest, and your punch effectively released all three of his meridian points."

Do prisoners need a referee for a duel? This is the first time I have heard of such a thing. Clearly, both the Fire Lion and I were somewhat impatiently listening to his intermittent ramblings, and I could distinctly see the muscles in his face twitching.

Indeed, I am one with the Shadow of Sorrow; I shall never lose my life! Suddenly, I laughed, and the Fire Lion, which had leaped onto the rock, was taken aback.

Within me surges a power that is both peaceful and just, yet also tyrannical and unyielding. My right fist subtly radiates with a spectrum of colors, and the sound of sacred chants softly resonates, instilling a sense of tranquility in all who hear it. However, at this moment, my body trembles incessantly due to the intense pain coursing through me, with faint golden blood seeping from my seven orifices. This pain is unlike anything I have ever encountered in my life.

"Heavenly Fire Lion, I will defeat you in three rounds!" I said coldly

......

The Fire Lion glanced at me, and suddenly a smile appeared on that iceberg-like face. "Tianfeng, good morning. I heard that you have been training under Jingyu these days. How is your preparation going?"

Before the words had left my mouth, a powerful punch struck me from behind. That force was all too familiar; it was Jingyu's penetrating strength! My vision darkened, and my body was suddenly lifted into the air. Just before I lost consciousness, a loud bang echoed in my ears.

"Sky Wind!" Just as my anger was about to erupt, Jingyu's voice suddenly echoed in my ear

"Well, not bad, you have staked for three days, but it seems you have wagered the rations for the other days of this month all on the Fire Lion!" he said smugly and coldly. Then he turned to me with a smile and said, "Little Black, I am different; I have staked all my rations for this month on you."

"Who said that? Our duel has only just begun!" Suddenly, the entire venue fell silent. I turned my head in the direction of the voice and was instantly stunned.

No, Youyou, I want you to see how your husband defeats his opponents with his own strength

......

The corner of my eye was split open, and blood flowed down my cheek. I lay on the rocky surface, silently assessing my injuries. My cheekbone was shattered, two ribs were broken, and a piece of rib was lodged in my trachea, causing indescribable pain with every breath.

I spat! Without hesitation, I forcefully pushed the self-righteousness away, glaring at the six individuals and fiercely said, "You heartless bunch!"

The entire venue was in an uproar, yet I heard nothing; all I could hear was the thunderous roar of the Heavenly Fire Lion

"One, two, three..." The referee has begun the count

"Heavenly Fire Lion, let us begin!" I said coldly

Before the words had left my mouth, I saw a massive fist appear before my eyes, followed by the sound of my cheekbone shattering and a wave of excruciating pain.

"Melancholy, this easy blade is not impressive at all!" I said, my voice trembling as I watched the Heavenly Fire Lion rise from the ground in the distance

The Skyfire Lion glanced at me, gently shook its head, and swiftly lunged at me once more. It was as swift as ever; my body was lifted into the air, and I felt the rain-like punches striking down upon me again. I gritted my teeth and endured, waiting! I had lost count of how many punches had landed, when the Skyfire Lion's fist struck my right arm.

What is going on? Wasn't it said that if I struck his vital point, he would be unable to move? The astonishment within me is beyond description, and I turned to look at Jingyu, who had already risen from the ground, his face bearing a serious expression.