As soon as the Human Emperor Banner came out, I became the Lord of the Old Ones

Chapter 194 The Beasts Unleashed
Hou Zhijian took a deep breath and gradually calmed down.

After several rounds of competition, he gradually became accustomed to the glaring lights, the deafening shouts, and the slightly soft, sandy feel of the arena, stained with blood and glory.

Even if someone in the audience shouts his name, he will no longer be as flustered as he was when he first appeared on stage.

Today, however, his empty wrist still made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Having played the role of the "imaginary enemy" too many times, using single-card and multi-card strategies to fight against my teammates, I suddenly felt a little uncomfortable switching back to the most traditional no-card strategy.

Hou Zhijian rubbed his bare wrist.

Completely oblivious to the contemptuous, surprised, and suspicious look in the eyes of the opponent opposite him, the one he had once admired, looked up to, hated, and feared.

His emotions were still preoccupied with the question Xiong Tieshan had asked him last night.

"Ah Jian, tell your master, do you still prefer the no-card playstyle?"

of course.

How can you not like it?
Like most poor children from slums, he was so poor that his family couldn't afford proper meals and had to eat dried earthworms every few days. His parents had to be very frugal when buying black iron civilian cards for work, and often preferred to work overtime with their own blood and sweat rather than over-consume their precious guardian spirit.

Not to mention, having your own child with their own special card.

However, unlike other poor children who do not have their own guardian spirit.

He did not inherit his parents' burly physique and immense strength.

Growing up in a wild environment, they often became targets of bullying by other children.

Every time he threw a punch in retaliation, he couldn't get the hang of it and was often knocked to the ground with just a few punches and kicks. Then came round after round of relentless attacks.

It was the cardless flow that gave him the power to resist.

It was Xiong Tieshan who taught him that as a human being, no matter how weak or poor, one has the right to defend something called "dignity".

While his short-tempered parents were toiling day and night for a few dried earthworms, Kuang Tie Martial Arts School brought him a warmth he had never experienced before, like that of a family.

Therefore, he loves the no-card streaming mode.

I am willing to do anything for Xiong Tieshan, Kuang Tie Martial Arts School, and Wukaliu.

This includes discovering that he didn't have the talent to learn the no-card style, going to other clubs to learn the single-card style and multi-card style, and then coming back to be a sparring partner, a hypothetical opponent, and a stepping stone. He used his resilience, honed from being beaten up since childhood, to carry forward the no-card style.

However, compared to a prodigy like Chu Zhifeng...

I am really terrible.

He was even incompetent in playing the role of a hypothetical enemy, failing to unleash even 50% of Chu Zhifeng's potential. Perhaps it was precisely because he was so inadequate that Chu Zhifeng betrayed his master and left the Kuang Tie Club?
"A-Jian, please don't think like that. You are your master's most outstanding disciple. Over the years, it has always been your master who has wronged you!"

When Hou Zhijian felt ashamed again, Xiong Tieshan's words from the previous night came to mind once more.

“All along, your master underestimated your potential and did not teach you in the right way. It was only when Xu Yan reminded me that I suddenly realized my mistake and regretted it deeply.”

Xiong Tieshan said with a face full of frustration, "Your potential is far greater than your master and you yourself imagined, and you are even more worthy of cultivation than Chu Zhifeng. Unfortunately, your master has always treated you as an unintelligent brick and tile, and moved you around at will for his own purposes. One moment he made you learn the single card style, and the next he made you learn the multi-card style. In fact, in different styles, he even made you simulate different fighting styles, sometimes playing the role of 'Iron Man' Wei Fang, and sometimes playing the role of 'Golden Boy' Carlos."

"Even the most talented practitioner could not perfectly simulate so many schools of thought and play so many completely different roles."

"But Master overlooked this point and still made you fight against your fellow disciples under such difficult conditions and endure their fiercest attacks."

"While these fellow disciples have certainly made great progress, the master did not realize that you have lost your confidence and even your 'self' in the process of acting as a sparring partner day after day!"
"It wasn't until the Kuangtie Club faced an unprecedented crisis and Xu Yan brought a brand-new tactic, putting you on the real stage, that your master realized that his most neglected disciple had unknowingly grown to this extent!"

"Don't underestimate yourself, and don't take your master's words as insincere comfort."

"Think about it, how many people can be like you, who have thoroughly studied and practiced the no-card, single-card, and multi-card builds, and deeply understand the characteristics and weaknesses of each build?"

"How many people can be like you, enduring the pain of mental links and signing contracts with so many guardian spirits in order to perfectly play different roles when the Kuangtie team is short of personnel?"

"As the only sparring partner in the Kuangtie team, your task is the heaviest. Others can rest after playing a game with you, but you often don't even have time to catch your breath before facing the next opponent and the next round of blows."

"And in such a brutal sparring career, you have honed a level of resilience that surpasses everyone else, as well as a perfect will that transcends the body."

"This kind of willpower is the true essence that we, the cardless streamers, pursue!"

“Ah Jian, with such willpower, you have come this far step by step, fought your way through ‘Devil’s Day,’ and now stand upright in front of Chu Zhifeng. Your master is already very satisfied and even pleasantly surprised.”

"You have perfectly fulfilled your responsibilities. Now, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy the game in your favorite way."

"If you truly love the no-card strategy, then discard all sealed cards and so-called tactics, and use the most traditional, classic, and beloved no-card strategy to face your next opponent, whether it's Chu Zhifeng or some other monster!"
Don't be afraid of failure.

Falling down in the ring is not a defeat.

"Refusing to believe in yourself, being afraid to take a step on the road of life, and surrendering without a fight in the face of seemingly powerful opponents—that is true failure!"
"Go ahead, show Chu Zhifeng and everyone else what true cardless gameplay is in your own way!"

Hou Zhijian had heard his master's words countless times.

But every time he thinks about it, he can't help but smile.

"Ding!"

The coin that the referee had sent flying high landed on the ground.

Amidst the gasps of thousands, Hou Zhijian, like a tiger unleashed from its cage, charged towards Chu Zhifeng first!
(End of this chapter)