NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Begging for a Loss
"Stay your hand!"
Shi Chengtian's figure flashed and stopped in front of Dugu Xiong. He once again slammed a punch that resembled a meteor. A terrifying thunder rumble could be heard, and the punch blasted Bo Ri back several steps.
Although he had managed to knock his opponent back several steps, Shi Chengtian's eyes were not as relaxed as before but had become even more cautious.
One had to admit that Dugu Xiong's strength was not as great as what most people thought it was.
Although the sword move just now seemed superb and exuded brilliance like a rainbow, its threat level was actually not as high as it seemed. It was just that Sword Sage Ye Qingcheng's sword dao inheritance was too intricate and would project a very strong sword intent.
Dugu Xiong had only managed to grasp the rough idea, but had yet to fully digest and execute the intricacies and essence of the inheritance.
Therefore, Dugu Xiong's current level could only be regarded as that of an ordinary grade-9 great grandmaster.
However, Shi Chengtian still didn't understand.
When Dugu Xiong was grade-8, he had already managed to kill the Six Blue Wave Demons, which showed that his strength back then could already be compared to that of a grade-9 great grandmaster and that he was a peerless talent in the path of the sword dao.
But why was his strength still roughly the same after he had broken through to become a grade-9 great grandmaster?
In actual fact.
What the people in the Jianghu didn't know was that when Dugu Xiong (barely) managed to kill all the Six Blue Wave Demons, there was an element of luck involved.
When Dugu Xiong had challenged the Six Blue Wave Demons, they had looked down upon the unknown Dugu Xiong and thus sent their youngest brother and the third brother to fight first.
This resulted in them getting killed by Dugu Xiong.
The remaining four people could now no longer form their combined attack formation. Without the two, the Six Blue Wave Demons were not really considered the true Six Blue Wave Demons. They had become much weaker and had many weaknesses exposed, resulting in them being defeated by Dugu Xiong one by one.
Of course.
Dugu Xiong was defeated in one move by Bo Ri because he was not as powerful as everyone thought.
However, this did not mean that Bo Ri was weak!
At least, in Shi Chengtian's view, the three grade-9 great grandmasters of the Demon Gate he faced back then were not even as strong as the current Bo Ri!
No matter what, Dugu Xiong was a full-fledged grade-9 great grandmaster.
How could Bo Ri not even have the slightest bit of injury after receiving an all-out sword attack by Dugu Xiong?!
It was only now that he had realized that Bo Ri did not have any natural divine power nor innate tough skin. It was clear that he had cultivated a superb body protection technique that was already at the level of grade-9 great grandmaster!
Kacha…
Bo Ri moved his muscles and bones, looked at Shi Chengtian who blocked him, and said excitedly. "Alright, I will beat you up first before I beat you two to death!"
After he finished his words, Bo Ri took a deep breath. His already sturdy body swelled a little bit. His muscles swelled up like rocks, looking like a giant walking mountain moving towards Shi Chengtian.
Shi Chengtian snorted coldly. He neither dodged nor avoided him. How could he, who was known as the "Invincible Iron Fist", be afraid of confronting others?
With a sudden low shout and an exhalation from his lungs, both his fists were thrown out, and dozens of fist shadows appeared in the air immediately, constantly colliding with Bo Ri.
Every time there was a collision between his fist and Bo Ri, there would be a booming sound as if an explosive had been ignited.
The duo's confrontation was as if metal was clashing against each other! Not only were the tables, chairs, and benches blown away by the aftermath, but the entire Xiangmanlou was also almost torn down!
Even the roof had almost been broken through!
"Good, good!" Bo Ri laughed. Shi Chengtian's every punch made his internal organs shake, and his meridians felt like they were being pricked by needles.
However, this kind of pain not only did not make Bo Ri feel afraid, but it had rather made him feel more excited.
He needed such an opponent!
He was a natural fighting machine.
If an average person was severely knocked back, his motivation might have been greatly reduced, and he might even grow a heart demon, making it difficult for him to improve his cultivation in the future. However, Bo Ri was different. He needed real failure to trigger his potential!
Just like six years ago, when he was defeated by the guest elder of the imperial family, Yan Bugui, in the capital.
After returning to the north, not only did he not get discouraged, but after recovering from his injury, he even soon broke through the shackles of grade-8 and entered grade-9!
His purpose for coming to the capital this time was not to take revenge nor to show off his might.
Instead, he wanted to meet someone who could beat him again! He was begging for a loss!
In the past six years, he had raised his realm and strength to a bottleneck and hadn't improved for a long time.
He could feel that if he wanted to continue to grow his strength quickly, he needed to lose again.
Hong! Hong! Hong!
In the huge Xiangmanlou, under the constant collision, all the obstructions around them were finally removed, and the battle between the two was exposed to the sight of the nearby onlookers.
"This is— Senior Shi Chengtian and Bo Ri are fighting?"
"Oh! Senior Shi Chengtian has the upper hand! The barbarian is just getting beaten continuously and is at a complete disadvantage!"
"Good fight! It's time to destroy these barbarians and let them know how powerful we are!"
There were fervent discussions in the crowd.
Shi Chengtian did have the upper hand, but he didn't feel much joy in his heart.
Although Bo Ri was currently at a disadvantage, his moves were becoming fiercer and fiercer. It could be said that relying just on his physical strength, Bo Ri had completely given up on defense and was using all possible means to attack him.
He was using his palms, elbows, shoulders, legs, feet, and even his head to attack.
Although his iron fists could be said to be invincible, the rest of his body was not as invulnerable as Bo Ri. If he was hit, he would suffer an injury.
If it was other times, he would directly give up his concerns and exchange injuries to take down Bo Ri in a short time.
But now his opponent was not only Bo Ri. There was also his even more unfathomable senior brother, Moragu.
Therefore, he had to try his best to ensure that he was not injured and that his combat power was not impaired. Otherwise, it would be dangerous later.
After the time it took for an incense to burn, Bo Ri's injuries had become extremely serious even with his body protection technique. Even his nose, mouth, and eyes began to overflow with blood.
Bo Ri suddenly drew back, retreated to his senior brother, Moragu, bowed to Shi Chengtian, and said, "As expected, Shi Chengtian the Invincible Iron Fist, you are really powerful! I have been defeated today, and I am convinced that I can't match up to you today. Neither can I kill you today! However, the next time I have a chance, I will definitely kill you."
Shi Chengtian snorted coldly and put his fists away.
He was not like these barbarians. Since the other party had voluntarily surrendered, he had no plan to kill him at all.
Moreover, he couldn't kill these two people either.
Both of these two had a high status among the northern barbarians. They had come to Grand Xia's capital as envoys. If they died here, the barbarian army would avenge them.
At that time, the Grand Xia Dynasty would be in great danger.
But Bo Ri was indeed a weird person.
When fighting against someone else, he would be desperate to the point that he would use the most ferocious of moves, even if it meant that he would die. However, when he knew that he had no hope of victory and that his injuries would not allow him to continue the battle, he would resolutely give in without hesitation, without any psychological burden.
And after losing, there was no discouragement, only a little regret.
This was not the same for Dugu Xiong.
At this time, Dugu Xiong had already stood up from the ground, his face ugly to the extreme, not only because of his injury but also because of anger.