Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 77 The Last Chance
"I surrender!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Yu didn't even dare to look at Li Mengchao again. He turned around and walked off the stage, his steps somewhat flustered.

Li Mengchao stared intently at his back, her hands clenched into fists, her chest heaving violently.

He wanted nothing more than to chase after Qin Yu and tear him to pieces, but the other party had clearly announced his defeat. There were rules in the training ground test: once someone had admitted defeat, they could not be pursued.

The resentment and murderous intent stuck in his chest, almost suffocating him, and finally he could only let out a low roar, which made the wooden planks of the arena vibrate.

The audience was deathly silent; everyone could see just how intense Li Mengchao's anger was.

Although Qin Yu lost the match, he thoroughly enraged this top expert with his almost insidious moves, and the trouble that followed was probably just beginning.

The deathly silence on the training ground had not yet dissipated even after Qin Yu's figure disappeared at the edge of the arena.

All eyes were focused on the ring.

Li Mengchao clutched the wound on his inner thigh, the murderous aura emanating from him almost solidifying, while the deep, flesh-revealing wound continued to bleed, a constant reminder of the terrifying scene that had just unfolded.

The silver-armored captain stood below the stage, his mouth slightly open, clearly also quite shocked by Qin Yu's insidious move.

He presided over the military examinations many times and also participated in the Jintai Prefecture examination. He had seen ruthless moves, but rarely had he seen such a ruthless and aggressive fighting style.

After a moment of stunned silence, he took a deep breath and stepped onto the ring.

"Li Mengchao wins."

The silver-armored captain's voice carried a hint of strangeness that was barely perceptible. When his gaze swept over Li Mengchao's wounds, he also sighed with relief.

He gave the soldiers beside him a look, signaling them to take Li Mengchao away to treat his injuries and check him over. He didn't want the eldest son of the Li family to suffer any serious problems that could wipe out the family line. After making the arrangements, he turned to the audience and announced, "Next match, Zhou Zhiqiang versus Zhou Tong, come to the stage!"

The announcement broke the silence in the arena, and a low murmur arose from the audience. The topic, however, remained the same: the thrilling scene from just moments before. Many people looked in the direction where Qin Yu and Li Mengchao had left, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Inside the fence, Zhou Zhiqiang and Zhou Tong stood up almost simultaneously.

Zhou Zhiqiang's face was still pale from being shaken by the Vajra Handprint, but his eyes were sharp. He straightened his clothes and walked towards the arena.

Zhou Tong stretched his shoulders. The injuries he sustained from fighting Qin Yu that morning made his movements a little stiff, but he had mostly recovered by noon. His steps were steady, and each step was firm.

The two stepped onto the ring one after the other.

Zhou Zhiqiang stood on the east side, his fists slightly clenched, his knuckles turning white, clearly indicating that he had already gathered his internal strength.

Zhou Tong stood on the west side, his back straight and his body taut. His bronze arms were bulging with muscles, and the aura of his hard skills quietly unfolded, as if his whole body was shrouded in an invisible armor.

Sunlight shone through the clouds onto the arena, casting long shadows of the two fighters.

Zhou Zhiqiang looked at Zhou Tong opposite him, and his expression grew increasingly serious as he recalled the other man's incredible skill in splitting stone tablets.

Zhou Tong also looked at Zhou Zhiqiang, knowing that this man's heavy punches were unparalleled in their ferocity, and dared not be careless in the slightest.

At this point, no one is weak anymore.

Even someone as strong as Li Mengchao almost lost his life on the spot, so who would dare to be careless now?

The silver-armored captain retreated to the edge of the arena, his gaze sweeping over the two men. Seeing that they were both ready, he slightly raised his arm and said in a deep voice, "Begin!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Zhou Zhiqiang shot out like an arrow, his right fist whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Zhou Tong's face.

Zhou Tong neither dodged nor evaded, but slightly lowered his left shoulder and took the punch head-on.

With a muffled thud, Zhou Zhiqiang felt as if his fist had hit an iron plate, making his arm go numb. Zhou Tong, on the other hand, only swayed slightly, showing no sign of pain.

"What impressive skill!"

Zhou Zhiqiang was secretly alarmed, but his offensive did not stop. He threw out his fists like a storm, each move aimed at Zhou Tong's vital points.

Zhou Tong stood still like an iron tower, resisting the opponent's fierce punches with only hard skills, occasionally raising his hand to block. Each collision produced a dull thud, causing the arena to tremble slightly.

All eyes on the training ground refocused on the arena. The commotion caused by Qin Yu's underhanded tactics gradually subsided, and everyone held their breath, watching this head-on clash.

One is a master known for his powerful punches, and the other is a tough guy who has honed his hard skills to the extreme. This match is destined to be full of the most primal and direct clash of power.

"interesting."

Zhou Tong grinned, revealing a hint of ferocity. His bronze skin gleamed in the sunlight, and his hard skills were pushed to their limit, making him appear as if he had become a piece of refined iron.

He took a step forward and swept his right fist horizontally, aiming straight for Zhou Zhiqiang's ribs with the force of splitting stone and shattering monuments. He was actually counterattacking with a head-on clash.

Zhou Zhiqiang's eyes narrowed. Instead of retreating, he advanced, using his left fist to parry the opponent's attack, and then used his right fist to unleash another punch, the force of which was three times stronger than before.

The two instantly clashed, their fists flashing and each collision producing a dull thud that made the wooden planks of the arena creak and splinter.

Zhou Zhiqiang's punches are as fast as shooting stars, and every move is fierce and powerful.

Zhou Tong's physical strength was as solid as a rock, allowing him to withstand most of the opponent's attacks, and his occasional counterattacks were also filled with terrifying force.

At first, after about a hundred moves, the two exchanged blows, evenly matched, with neither gaining a clear advantage.

The audience was thrilled; this pure clash of strength was truly exhilarating.

"Zhou Tong's martial arts skills are truly solid! He took so many punches and he's still unharmed!"

"Zhou Zhiqiang's punches are no joke either; the force could probably kill a strong ox!"

"Let alone a strong ox, we could kill a tiger!"

Amidst the discussions, the situation on the arena had already subtly changed.

Although Zhou Tong possessed formidable physical strength, he could not withstand Zhou Zhiqiang's relentless barrage of heavy punches.

Each punch, seemingly received head-on, actually caused his internal energy to vibrate, and over time, his blood and qi would inevitably surge.

After fifty moves, Zhou Tong's breathing became increasingly heavy, his face flushed an abnormal red, and his body began to sway slightly when he took the punches head-on.

Zhou Zhiqiang keenly noticed this change, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his offensive suddenly accelerated.

He no longer aimed for a single, devastating punch, but instead threw punches at a faster pace, feinting with his left fist while focusing his right punch on Zhou Tong's left arm.

That was the old wound Zhou Tong had sustained when he fought Qin Yu that morning.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

After three consecutive punches landed on the same spot, Zhou Tong let out a muffled groan, his left arm visibly weakening, revealing a slight flaw in his hard-skill aura.

"It's now!"

Zhou Zhiqiang let out a low shout, gathering all his internal energy into his right fist. The fist wind carried a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, striking Zhou Tong's left shoulder like a heavy hammer!
This punch concentrated all his strength, precisely targeting the gap between his opponent's old injuries and the lack of new strength.

Zhou Tong hurriedly tried to raise his arm to block, but it was too late.

"Click"

With a crisp sound, a fist slammed solidly into Zhou Tong's left shoulder. Zhou Tong felt a piercing pain, his left arm instantly went numb, and his body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the arena.

He struggled to land, staggered a few steps before regaining his balance, and his left shoulder swelled up at a visible speed, clearly indicating a serious bone injury.

Looking at Zhou Zhiqiang's still composed figure, and then at his own drooping left arm, Zhou Tong knew that the situation was hopeless. If he continued fighting, his left arm would probably be completely ruined.

"I surrender."

Zhou Tong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice hoarse but revealing a tough man's decisiveness.

After saying that, he clutched his shoulder and staggered off the stage without any hesitation.

Zhou Zhiqiang stood there, his chest heaving slightly, watching Zhou Tong's departing figure with a complex expression. This victory had not come easily; Zhou Tong's physical strength far exceeded his expectations.

As soon as Zhou Tong's figure disappeared at the edge of the arena, the silver-armored captain stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Zhiqiang on the stage and the bloodstains on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Zhou Zhiqiang wins."

A burst of cheers and applause erupted from the stands. Although this head-to-head contest was not as thrilling as the one between Li Mengchao and Qin Yu, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable fight.

The silver-armored captain paused, then said, "The two matches are over. We'll rest for half an hour before the final two duels."

As he spoke, he took out a book from his pocket and read aloud the schedule for the remaining matches: "The top spot is now set, with Li Mengchao in first place. In the remaining two matches, the first match will be between Qin Yu and Zhou Zhiqiang to determine the second and third place winners; the second match will be between Zhou Tong and Yang Jing to determine the fourth and fifth place winners."

As soon as he finished speaking, the gazes on the training ground immediately split into several groups.

Some people looked in the direction where Qin Yu was resting, some focused on Zhou Zhiqiang, and others' eyes fell on Yang Jing and Zhou Tong who had just stepped off the stage.

Yang Jing stood inside the fence, his lips slightly pursed when he heard his name called.

He had already calmed down and felt that getting fifth place in this year's school exam was already a pleasant surprise, and there was no need to strive for a higher ranking. However, when his gaze swept over Zhou Tong's back, his heart beat a beat faster for no reason.

Zhou Tong had just stepped off the stage, his left arm hanging unnaturally, his sleeve soaked in blood, and he walked with a furrowed brow, clearly seriously injured.

Zhou Zhiqiang's punch not only injured his bones, but also seemed to have aggravated an old injury he sustained when he fought Qin Yu that morning. His entire arm had lost its strength, and he couldn't even lift it.

"His left arm..."

Yang Jing muttered to himself, his gaze falling on Zhou Tong's almost immobile left arm.

Masters of hard kung fu emphasize the unity of the whole body. A serious injury to his left arm means that Zhou Tong's defense will have a huge flaw, and he will even have difficulty fully executing ordinary punches.

This discovery was like a pebble thrown into Yang Jing's calm lake of heart, creating ripples in circles.

He had already decided that he would treat his fight with Zhou Tong as a friendly exchange, and if things went wrong, he would immediately admit defeat and never force himself to fight.

But looking at Zhou Tong's disheveled appearance, a thought quietly popped into her head.

Perhaps, there really is a chance to move up one position?
Although fourth and fifth place seem to be only one place apart, moving up one place is not only a matter of honor, but more importantly, if you can rank fourth, you are guaranteed to be on the list of candidates for the school examination this year. Fifth place is just a better chance, but not a sure thing.

Moreover, Zhou Tong's injuries are an obvious weakness; if we can seize this opportunity...

Yang Jing took a deep breath, his fingertips tightening slightly.

The path of martial arts should be to follow the natural course of events. Since the opponent has revealed a weakness, there is no reason to let it go.

This is not taking advantage of someone's misfortune, but a fleeting opportunity.

Yang Jing slowly clenched his fist, his inner energy flowing quietly through his meridians. Perhaps, he should seriously prepare for the upcoming competition.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The half-hour rest passed in the blink of an eye.

The silver-armored captain once again stepped onto the main arena, and the training ground gradually quieted down.

He glanced at the people inside the fence, then announced loudly, "Next up is the second and third place match, Qin Yu versus Zhou Zhiqiang, come to the stage!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion broke out in the audience.

The contest between Qin Yu's ruthlessness and Zhou Zhiqiang's fierceness is highly anticipated, especially after the thrilling scene in the morning. No one knows what tricky moves Qin Yu might make next.

Qin Yu stood up from the rest area, his face calm and revealing little emotion. However, his eyes remained sharp as an eagle's, and his fingertips gently rubbed against his side, as if he was preparing the attack of the Heavenly Eagle Claw.

He walked slowly toward the ring, his steps light, yet carrying an invisible sense of pressure.

Zhou Zhiqiang also stood up, took a deep breath, and moved his wrists.

His face was no longer relaxed; instead, it was filled with solemnity, and even a hint of barely perceptible tension.

On his way to the ring, his eyes kept glancing at Qin Yu out of the corner of his eye. The image of Qin Yu's vicious claw attack kept replaying in his mind. Even Li Mengchao had almost fallen victim to that move. What if he were targeted by such a move...

Zhou Zhiqiang subconsciously squeezed his legs together, feeling a chill creeping down his groin. He became extremely alert, determined to protect his vitals no matter what.

The two stepped onto the ring one after the other and stood on either side.

Qin Yu slightly bent over, his hands forming claws, his fingertips gleaming with a cold white light. The aura of the Heavenly Eagle Claw quietly spread out, his gaze locked on Zhou Zhiqiang's entire body, searching for the best moment to strike.

Zhou Zhiqiang lowered his waist and assumed a horse stance, clenched his fists, and bulged his muscles, channeling his internal energy to its limit. He stared intently at Qin Yu's hands, even softening his breathing, afraid of missing any subtle movement from his opponent.

"Begin!" the silver-armored captain commanded, then turned and stepped off the arena, handing it over to the two men.

Qin Yu made the first move, his figure darting out like a ghost, his right claw whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Zhou Zhiqiang's face, the claw wind fierce.

Zhou Zhiqiang dared not be careless. He blocked with his left arm and simultaneously threw out his right fist, which carried a powerful internal force, forcing Qin Yu to parry with his claws.

"Oh!"

Fists and claws clashed, sending shockwaves scattering in all directions.

Zhou Zhiqiang felt his arm go numb and his body stagger slightly. Qin Yu was also shaken and took a half step back, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This week, Zhiqiang's punches were even more powerful and forceful than he had expected.

The two instantly engaged in battle.

Qin Yu's Sky Eagle Claw is agile and ruthless, moving like a serpent, targeting weaknesses. His figure is unpredictable on the arena, always able to launch attacks from unbelievable angles.

Zhou Zhiqiang's heavy punches were fierce and unparalleled, each punch carrying the force to shatter stone and split rocks, the wind howling as he tried to use brute force to overcome skill and force Qin Yu into a head-on confrontation.

In the first few dozen moves, the two exchanged blows, their strength evenly matched.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang remained on edge, always worried that Qin Yu might suddenly resort to underhanded tactics. As a result, he was inevitably constrained in his movements, and his defensive efforts even exceeded his offensive ones.

Especially when Qin Yu's claw shadows approached his lower body, he would subconsciously withdraw his attack and return to defense, missing several good opportunities to counterattack.

Qin Yu was incredibly perceptive and immediately noticed Zhou Zhiqiang's concerns, a subtle smile curving his lips.

He moved with increasing agility, his claws frequently feinting at Zhou Zhiqiang's vital points. In particular, he deliberately directed his attacks towards the lower body several times, forcing Zhou Zhiqiang to retreat repeatedly and gradually lose his composure.

Twenty moves later, Qin Yu seized the opportunity when Zhou Zhiqiang was defending, and his left claw shot out like lightning.

With a "ripping" sound, Zhou Zhiqiang's sleeve was torn open, and the claw tip left three deep, bone-revealing bloody marks on his right arm.

Zhou Zhiqiang grunted and took two steps back, his face growing increasingly grim as he looked at the wound on his arm.

He knew he was at a disadvantage, and what made him even more anxious was that Qin Yu's gaze was growing colder and colder, as if he was weighing where to start.

If the fight continues, there's no guarantee that the opponent won't resort to their old tricks and use dirty tactics against us...

Zhou Zhiqiang gritted his teeth. The third place was already firmly ahead of the fifth place, so there was no need to take the risk.

"I concede!" Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly took several steps back and shouted, his voice unusually decisive.

As soon as he finished speaking, he stopped looking at Qin Yu, turned around and quickly walked off the stage. The wound on his right arm was still bleeding, staining half of his sleeve bright red.

Qin Yu retracted his claws and stood up, watching Zhou Zhiqiang's departing figure. A trace of emotion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

When the silver-armored captain stepped onto the arena, he glanced at Qin Yu, shook his head slightly, and then announced loudly, "Qin Yu wins, ranking second in this training ground test; Zhou Zhiqiang ranks third."

A round of applause erupted from the audience. Although some had reservations about Qin Yu's moves, they didn't have much objection to the result.

The captain paused, then turned his gaze to Yang Jing and Zhou Tong inside the enclosure, and announced loudly, "The final match is between Yang Jing and Zhou Tong. Come up on stage! We'll determine the fourth and fifth place winners!"

　I originally intended to finish this part of the story quickly, but after reviewing it, I realized that ending it too quickly would be illogical. So, while keeping the plot tight, I also tried to have a beginning and an end, which resulted in two extra chapters. However, tonight's chapter has already covered the training ground test part of the story.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)