Chapter 190: A Daring Wager
Chapter 190: A Daring Wager
Ji Xinghuo's tone was casual, yet his calm and indifferent demeanor exuded extreme confidence, as if victory was within easy reach and the upcoming battle was merely a formality.
A sense of arrogant bravado filled the Imperial Star Club.
Shi Daoyuan coldly huffed.
His daughter, Shi Buzhi, finally tore her attention away from Zhao Cangming's face and turned to Ji Xinghuo, revealing a hint of interest. In a soft voice, she said, "It's been a long time since I've seen someone as arrogant as you. I hope you're not all talk and no action."
Ji Xinghuo glanced at her but didn't bother to reply.
"How bold!"
Shi Renzhong, however, didn't seem the least bit offended.
He surveyed the room and said loudly, "I appreciate Brother Ji's directness. This was meant to be a friendly spar with no ulterior motives, so let's not take it too seriously."
His statement earned the approval of the crowd.
If it weren't for Zhao Manying, Ji Xinghuo might have almost believed him.
Shi Renzhong continued, "There's no need for a deathmatch. Brother Ji and I have no grudges. Sparring with the restrictions of martial arts limits us too much and doesn't allow us to fight with our full strength. So, I propose..."
After feigning thoughtful consideration, he suggested, "Brother Ji, let's simulate a battle in the starry realm. Let's fight with real weapons until one of us surrenders or loses their ability to fight, but we must ensure there's no risk to our lives. What do you think?"
Ji Xinghuo immediately saw through his intentions.
By simulating a starry realm battle, he wouldn't be able to use his Purple Electric Sword, and firearms would be useless as well. On the surface, he also didn't have any bows and arrows, inadvertently weakening his strength.
However, Ji Xinghuo didn't mind.
"Agreed."
Shi Renzhong added, "I know Brother Ji has a powerful battle pet, and you can bring it along. I will also use my strongest weapon and equipment, giving it my all. I hope to learn from Brother Ji and understand the gap between myself and the very best."
His expression was sincere, open, and frank.
Ji Xinghuo nodded.
However, he didn't plan to let Qinghong join the fight. He would handle this himself and didn't want to expose Qinghong to too many people.
At that moment, a club staff member brought Shi Renzhong's weapons and equipment.
The most eye-catching item was a long spear.
The spear was about 7.2 feet long and as thick as an arm. It was a deep emerald color with scale-like anti-slip patterns, resembling a coiled python. The spearhead was about half a meter long and wide enough to cover a palm. It had blades on both sides, and a faint red glow seemed to flow within, as if stained with blood. The entire spear resembled a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey.
"Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear, Superpower Three-Star," Shi Renzhong introduced as he picked up the spear. "A gift from my father for my eighteenth birthday, it's one of the world's finest weapons and ranks third on the Spear Rankings of the Divine Armament Index."
In addition to the Heavenly Ladder, ADC also featured the Arsenal Compendium, which listed renowned weapons and equipment from around the globe.
The Weapon Codex was further divided into various weapon categories, each with its own sub-rankings.
Ranking third on the Spear Ranking made the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear one of the top Superpower Three-Star weapons, second only to the Apocalypse weapons, which were far beyond the reach of ordinary superhumans.
Ji Xinghuo carefully examined the spear.
Noticing his interest, Shi Renzhong threw the spear to him, inviting him to inspect it closely.
Ji Xinghuo caught the spear, feeling its substantial weight.
Weighing about 265 pounds, the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear felt excellent in the hand, with its center of gravity perfectly balanced in the middle of the shaft. Upon infusing a strand of starlight into it, Ji Xinghuo immediately understood the spear's additional abilities and couldn't help but exclaim, "What a spear!"
It possessed six supernatural effects.
The first two were basic abilities: Blood Boil and Adrenaline. The latter two were high-quality abilities: Heart of Fire and Rampage. While their grades weren't exceptionally high, the four abilities had similar effects—they ignited rage and amplified strength, and their mechanisms didn't interfere with each other, resulting in their effects stacking! The "Heavenly Fury" in the spear's name originated from this combination, creating an effect comparable to the stellar meteor ability "Endless Rage," causing the wielder's strength to surge, fearless and invincible.
The fifth ability was "Giant Elephant's Power," an extremely rare super-limit ability.
When triggered, it doubled the superhuman's strength!
Lastly, there was "Blood Rainbow Absorption," another super-limit ability. Anyone pierced by the spear would have their life force sucked away if they had blood, healing the wielder's injuries, restoring their stamina, and replenishing the blood consumed by the activation of Heavenly Fury.
Holding the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear could multiply a superhuman's strength several times over. It was indeed worthy of its third-place ranking.
This was no longer a weapon that money could buy.
"What a spear!" Ji Xinghuo praised.
Hearing the admiration in Ji Xinghuo's voice, Shi Renzhong looked pleased. "To receive Brother Ji's recognition, this spear truly lives up to its illustrious name."
Seeing Shi Renzhong's affected modesty, Ji Xinghuo suddenly laughed.
"If this is just a casual spar, it's not very interesting, and I can't muster much enthusiasm." Stroking the spear in his hand, he proposed, "Why don't we raise the stakes? If you lose, this Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear will be mine..."
Upon hearing this, the people of the Imperial Star Club burst into an uproar.
Shi Renzhong's face also underwent a subtle change.
One of the assistant coaches immediately spoke up loudly, "Do you know how much the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear is worth? It's just a spar, and you're trying to extort our boss? You're dreaming!"
The others in the club shared similar thoughts but remained silent due to Zhao Manying's presence.
Shi Renzhong said, "Brother Ji, this spear is too valuable to me, and it holds special significance. However..." He glanced at the Purple Electric Sword on Ji Xinghuo's back and smiled. "If Brother Ji is willing to wager that electric flying sword, then I accept."
Everyone present turned their gazes towards him.
No one expected that besides the electric flying sword, the other sword Ji Xinghuo had strapped to his back was also a Superpower Three-Star.
Shi Renzhong caught the Magic Sound and appraised it for a moment, his eyes lighting up.
"Let Coach Wang take a look."
He passed the sword to the team's head coach, Wang Chaogeng, the only Legendary powerhouse present, a slender middle-aged man. Wang Chaogeng held the sword in his hand and observed it for a few seconds before suddenly swinging it towards an empty area in the arena, unleashing a sonic boom.
A white wave-like supersonic sword qi howled past, slicing the air within dozens of meters into countless fragments, as if setting off a towering wave.
Everyone's breath caught in their throats.
The way they looked at Ji Xinghuo changed, wondering how he had obtained such a powerful weapon. Some were aware of Ji Xinghuo's background, knowing that he had gained fame by participating in the killing of a Legendary Great Kun man, but it wasn't appropriate to bring that up at the moment.
"I'm in."
Shi Renzhong nodded in agreement, his expression turning solemn.
With the enormous stakes on the line, the nature of this battle had changed, and he now had an additional reason that he couldn't afford to lose.
Both sides returned their weapons.
Shi Renzhong put on another arm guard, the same model as Zhao Manying's, a chromium gold arm guard with multiple protective effects and functions.
He also wore a necklace amulet and a medal, but didn't explain their functions.
"I'm ready."
Shi Renzhong walked to the center of the arena and waited.
Ji Xinghuo handed the Purple Electric Sword and the iron hammer to Zhao Manying, and Qinghong crawled out of his pocket, coiling around Zhao Manying's hand like a green bracelet.
He thought for a moment and also took off the Magic Sound, leaving himself with only the Lightning War Blade.
Zhao Manying whispered, "Isn't that too risky?"
Zhao Cangming beside her was equally worried.
"One blade is enough." Ji Xinghuo smiled at the siblings, and they both felt his strong confidence.
As he stepped into the center of the arena, Shi Renzhong saw that he only had the Lightning Blade with him and looked at him with a puzzled expression, but didn't ask.
"The superconducting shield is about to be activated."
The arena's broadcast sounded a reminder, and the spectators on the sidelines took a few steps back.
After a few seconds.
A small transparent shield rose up, enclosing the inner field of the arena, separating the two combatants from the outside audience.
Ji Xinghuo and Shi Renzhong stood twenty meters apart, with a screen projected between them, starting a countdown.
10, 9, 8...
During the countdown, Shi Renzhong activated the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear in his hand, his eyes turning crimson, but he maintained his composure and rationality. His skin reflected a metallic luster, his whole body appearing as if it were forged from steel, and a faint golden light floated outside his body, protecting him.
Ji Xinghuo looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
As a globally renowned competition anomaly, Shi Renzhong's abilities were no longer a secret.
Zhao Manying had also privately revealed a lot about him.
Shi Renzhong was a "Horizontal Martial Artist", an advanced form of the Iron Guard and Martial Artist, possessing the strengths of both professional templates. With the super-limit ability "Steel Body", he replaced the ordinary Iron Guard's "Iron Bones", "Copper Skin", and "Metal Internal Organs", saving him two fusion species evolutions.
The Steel Body, combined with the Mercury Blood, gave him formidable defensive capabilities, along with "Steel Will", making him indestructible both physically and mentally.
Additionally, he had a series of Martial Artist template abilities, including "Star Force", "Discerning Eye", "Extreme Power", and "Muscle Memory".
Beyond the advanced template, Shi Renzhong had also fused with a unique species.
Shi Renzhong was a Master in the Martial Arts ranking, proficient in multiple Star Forces and had cultivated the "Vajra Force". This was a fierce and unyielding Star Force that not only enhanced his attacks but also took his defensive capabilities to the next level.
The combination of the Vajra Force and Steel Body formed the famous "Golden Bell Cover"! The Horizontal Martial Artist was invincible in defense.
Furthermore, Shi Renzhong far surpassed an ordinary Horizontal Martial Artist. His entire being resembled an iron turtle, and on the battlefield, he often charged into the enemy formation alone, wreaking havoc and causing massive casualties while remaining unscathed himself.
Although he couldn't use the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear in competitions, his attacking power was slightly lacking.
However, in reality, the Heavenly Fury Green Blood Spear made up for this shortcoming.
He was flawless in both offense and defense!
As the countdown reached zero, both sides moved simultaneously.
Shi Renzhong held the long spear with both hands and charged forward, the spear tip flashing with bloody cold light. He took swift and powerful steps, rushing madly towards Ji Xinghuo.
Clap!
A peal of thunder.
Ji Xinghuo raised his hand and released a Bolt of Thunder that he had been charging for a few seconds. The thick and dazzling lightning instantly struck towards Shi Renzhong. He sidestepped to the left, but just as the lightning was about to miss, it suddenly changed direction, as if the long spear in his hand was attracting the lightning.
Boom! Shi Renzhong's figure was engulfed by the lightning.
However, Ji Xinghuo showed no signs of satisfaction.
In the next second, Shi Renzhong burst out of the lightning, unscathed. Not only was his speed unaffected, but it had also increased by a third.
In half a breath's time, the distance between them was reduced to less than ten meters.
Ji Xinghuo could feel the terrifying aura emanating from him, and the ground of the arena shook violently, pounding sounds echoing as if a fully armed heavy knight was charging at him madly!
(End of Chapter)
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