At the sound of the bell, both parties rushed at each other, instantly exchanging punches and kicks. They separated with Di Tang staggering a little.
"You managed to hit me on your first move. I'm starting to like you a bit more," Di Tang said as he took a deep breath. An intimidating demeanor emerged.
Meng Xuan hurriedly dodged a punch aimed at his head, but in the next moment, he couldn't see or predict Di Tang's next attack. Then he felt a surging, violent force coming at him.
He almost couldn't dodge the attack as he staggered backward, his eyes flashing with surprise.
"Exert full concentration. That's the only way to defeat him!" Fiendmonk shouted.
He had trained with Fiendmonk, constantly battling against the holographic imitation of himself. His martial arts could be said to have made a significant leap.
Meng Xuan calmed his nerves, analyzing the situation more carefully. He just needed to wait for the next attack.
No wonder students always gave up amidst fights.
He turned around and avoided the incoming strike. While he missed his attack, Meng Xuan sent a powerful palm strike. Di Tang was forced to defend this time around as he blocked with his wrists, crossed together in the form of an X.
They began a new round of battle, with Meng Xuan fully attacking and defending at the same time. He had now grasped the situation.
He displayed fully all he had learned as he parried with Di Tang on the same foot. They both launched attacks on themselves. The battle spirit in Di Tang's eyes increased as he lunged forward, a faint smile breaking on his face.
"What's happening? This isn't what we expected!"
The students were all left astonished by the current fight.
"It's as if two legendary martial artists were fighting."
"I still believe Di Tang is holding back!"
The two in the arena couldn't even predict the winner or loser in this kind of stalemate.
Meng Xuan repeatedly attacked as if his hand had become a part of a sword. Di Tang also didn't hesitate, his movement speed increasing, countering back as fast as Meng Xuan's precise strikes.
Meng Xuan could have been at a disadvantage since Di Tang increased speed, but he knew when to strike—very fast or slow—and when to defend. His careful observation naturally compensated for his shortcomings.
At the very least, they would each take the attacks head-on, looking at one another as if willing to deliver another fatal blow at the same time.
The bell rang suddenly for the end of the weekly tournament.
Teacher Bai stepped forward, and both parties separated from each other.
Blood trickled down from Di Tang's nose. Meng Xuan was also injured, but he had the demon self-healing abilities,so his injuries were light.
They were both maniacs fighting like madman. One who is likely a sadist,the other who had the flaw of blood thirstiness.
Teacher Bai began, "The weekly tournament has ended. Since there's no winner or loser and their points are the same, I can only say the fight ended in a draw. Teacher Bai announced, his calm voice echoing across the arena.
The students' eyes widened in shock. Even though they had seen it with their own eyes, it was still hard to believe. They could only accept the result silently, blaming it on the fact that Meng Xuan had been undergoing harsh and rigid training.
Since the match was declared a draw, the reward would naturally be shared between the two.
"Wait…" Di Tang suddenly spoke up, breaking the tense silence.
"Is there anything you want me to do?" Teacher Bai asked, turning toward him with a frown.
"I admit defeat. I believe Meng Xuan was holding back in our fight," Di Tang declared slowly, his tone firm yet carrying a trace of helplessness.
His words struck the crowd like thunder. The students stared with mouths agape. They had been ready to accept the draw, especially since Meng Xuan's training had been evident. But now Di Tang himself was admitting defeat?
How could this be? Meng Xuan holding back? Shouldn't it have been the other way around?
"Are you certain you've thought this through? You'll forfeit the reward if you admit defeat," Teacher Bai warned, his brows knitting together. Even he was puzzled—why would Di Tang willingly throw away his prize?
"Yes, I just have one request for Meng Xuan."
He walked toward Meng Xuan, holding out his hand.
"Are you willing to fight me again, friend?
I promise, for every time you spar with me, two hundred spirit shards will be yours."
He quickly added the last line to raise the chance of acceptance.
Lately, he had been bored and decided to try the weekly tournament. He wasn't aiming for the reward but for an interesting opponent worth fighting again—and Meng Xuan just happened to be the one he was looking for.
He had already grown tired of fighting the rest, giving up amidst dull battles.
To him, Meng Xuan's martial bouts were a little raw, yet they looked like an enhanced version of the martial arts taught in school. Exactly what he had been seeking—something new.
The students were left astonished again and again by the chain of events happening before their eyes.
"Since there's cash in it for me, count me in," Meng Xuan said casually.
"Why did you say Mengxuan was holding back."
Teacher Bai's sudden question made the students more curious. They really wanted to know how a wastrel like Mengxuan could have been holding back. They perked their ears up, waiting for Ditang's reply.
All eyes turned to Mengxuan.
"His attacks were novel and lethal, precisely aiming for my vitals,"Di tang paused. "But he seems to be holding back,not daring to cause me any grave injuries" he finally said.
"The credit should go to my late mother," Mengxuan quickly added. "The martial artist who taught me."
He didn't want them to have the notion that he was related to a demon.
"Your must be a great figure" Di Tang casually complimented.
"I'm eagerly waiting for our next fight, friend."
"Since Di Tang openly acknowledged Mengxuan as a friend, no one would dare find trouble with him again."
A guy spoke up, "We should try to make friends with Meng Xuan. Being on his bad side now might not be a good thin
The reward for the winner was supposed to be a free pass card into the academy demonic zone and 20 spirit shards but since the last incident in the abyssal demonic zone, it was unaccessible until further notice.The reward was then converted to 10 spirit shards.
Out of the numerous, countless keys to open demonic zones in the world, Jade City Hunter Bureau seemed to have a tiny percent of them.
These keys would be dispatched to hunters to hunt demonic beasts, from which they would gain demonic cores and items. The demon cores, after being refined, could be exchanged for money or used as cultivation resources.
There are two main things every hunter bureau must have: a sanctifying purity where all demonic cores must be refined, and a transporting room for the keys to be used.
Jade City's Hunter Bureau building stood tall among other buildings like chickens surrounding a large tall crane, its apex almost grazing the heavens.
Inside the bureau, Mengxuan with a cold white mask stood in front of a woman in a white uniform. She stared at Mengxuan suspiciously.
"You said you want to solo in an upper demonic zone. May I ask where's your hunter pass card?" the woman asked with a little bit of anger. She could easily deduce from Mengxuan's stature that he was a teenager, and here he came wanting to solo hunt in an upper-tier demonic zone!
Mengxuan brought out the fake hunter card he had just gotten from Shangbiyu's underground night market.
She studied the card, and when she raised her head up, her eyes were already gentler.
"So you're at the choosen stage… Sorry for the disturbance," her tone became more respectful.
Mengxuan wasn't surprised at the sudden change. Choosen stage cultivators were always respected. Reaching the choosen stage was like stepping into another realm of cultivation entirely. To this stage, all stages below it were just like ordinary mortals.
He had actually spent a lot of money to gain the card.
He just nodded his head. Anyone could have mistaken him for an ordinary disciple stage cultivator.
"Do you want a random key, or do you already have a specific one in mind?" she asked.
"Yeah," Mengxuan said.
"Hell Hound Demonic Zone."