Chapter 296: The Final Battle!
A sense of mortal danger washed over him.
What the hell is this thing?
Zhao Dong's vision blurred. The green light was suddenly right in front of him—it was a sleeve-dart, its tip coated in a sinister green poison!
A cold sweat broke out across Zhao Dong's body as he watched the sleeve-dart close in. In the space of a single breath, it was upon him, a mere second from piercing his heart! However, in that instant, Zhao Dong's instincts took over, and he threw his body to the side! The sleeve-dart, no bigger than his palm, grazed past his clothes in a flash, instantly tearing his robes!
Zhao Dong landed on the ground, gasping for breath. He glared fiercely at Kou Hongmin and croaked, "You bastard, fighting dirty!"
Kou Hongmin smiled faintly. "Did anyone say it wasn't allowed? Besides, any move that can kill is a good one. There's no such thing as dirty."
"You really deserve to die!" Zhao Dong roared, his fighting spirit surging to its peak as his body moved like a thunderbolt. Within moments, he was upon Kou Hongmin, engaging him in close-quarters combat!
"Dragon-breaking Fist!" Zhao Dong growled, his fists carrying the roar of a dragon as they descended upon Kou Hongmin like a furious storm!
At first, Kou Hongmin managed to parry the blows, but he gradually lost ground. Zhao Dong's fist connected, sending a surge of qi and blood through Kou Hongmin's body. He tasted sweetness in his throat and fought back the urge to spit blood, immediately countering with a palm strike aimed at Zhao Dong's heart!
Caught up in the heat of battle, Zhao Dong was completely oblivious to Kou Hongmin's palm and took the hit directly! He coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward. He smashed heavily onto the arena floor, his clothes tearing as several of his bones broke, and spat out another mouthful of crimson blood.
Tang Yuntian and the others shot to their feet in shock.
Kou Hongmin sneered maliciously, "Little beast, do you see the gap between you and me now?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his figure flashed like lightning, launching another relentless assault. "Die!"
Zhao Dong's expression changed. Enduring the intense pain, he slapped the ground with his right hand and executed a perfect kip-up, simultaneously popping a Healing Pill into his mouth.
"Old fool, you're the one who's going to die!"
Zhao Dong no longer dared to hold back. He channeled Spiritual Energy into his legs and shot backward in an instant, causing Kou Hongmin's attack to miss! Gritting his teeth and taking advantage of Kou Hongmin's momentary stun, Zhao Dong gathered Spiritual Energy in his right leg and smashed it toward him!
BANG!
Kou Hongmin blocked the kick with his forearm, but a faint cracking sound was heard! The bone had fractured!
Kou Hongmin's face turned pale. Zhao Dong suddenly grit his teeth, dropped to the ground, and swung his other leg viciously toward Kou Hongmin's groin! Enraged but with no other choice, Kou Hongmin hurriedly dodged!
"Yes! A good strike!" Tang Yuntian and the others leaped up, cheering.
Now it was Hong Wu's turn to grow nervous. His expression became increasingly grave and filled with disbelief. How could Zhao Dong, who was nothing but trash in the beginning, be capable of fighting Kou Hongmin on these terms? He clearly remembered the battle between Zhao Dong and Xiao Hongtian two months ago, where Zhao Dong had been nearly beaten to death. Back then, Xiao Hongtian was in the Inner Strength Stage, which meant Zhao Dong must have been as well. How much time had passed since then? How had Zhao Dong become so strong? This boy cannot be allowed to live!
A murderous glint filled Hong Wu's eyes!
On the arena stage, the two continued their relentless battle. Their flurry of dazzling moves was almost enough to make the spectators dizzy. They unleashed their ultimate techniques one after another, filling the air with a dizzying array of skills. In a moment, three hundred moves had been exchanged.
"Holy crap! Zhao Dong is actually fighting Kou Hongmin to a draw? This is unbelievable!"
"This Zhao Dong is a true prodigy!"
"He's only in his twenties! If he reaches Kou Hongmin's age, wouldn't he be able to kill him with ease?"
"A shame. Kou Hongmin has roamed the martial world for years; he must have an ace up his sleeve. I'm afraid this young genius is destined for an early grave!"
The onlookers were stunned, watching the scene unfold with incredulity. They had all expected Zhao Dong to be easily slaughtered, but he was trading blow for blow with Kou Hongmin! It was simply astonishing!
Just then, Zhao Dong and Kou Hongmin simultaneously landed a palm strike on each other! Both men were thrown back at the same time, each spitting out a mouthful of blood!
Kou Hongmin clutched his chest, his blood roiling and his face pale. He said sinisterly, "Kid, you've truly surprised me. But if this is all you have, then it's time for you to die!" With a great roar, Kou Hongmin bellowed, "Blood Explosion Technique!"
Following his roar, his skin instantly turned crimson as a violent power of qi and blood surged from within his body.
"You're burning your own life force?" Zhao Dong's face fell. He never imagined that Kou Hongmin would go so far as to burn his life force to fight him!
"Body Transformation Technique!"
Zhao Dong immediately recalled the Body Transformation Technique Ling Feng had given him the day before and activated it without hesitation! The next moment, a similarly ferocious power of qi and blood spread across Zhao Dong's skin. Golden blood flowed throughout his body.
From a distance, the two looked like orbs wrapped in a bloody aura before they charged violently at each other. Having fought to this point, both had nearly exhausted their Spiritual Energy. Flashy moves were useless against either of them. Thus, simple, brutal exchanges of fists became the most effective method!
A terrifying scene unfolded.
With their bodies enhanced, each punch they threw was powerful enough to make the ground tremble. Yet neither was sent flying by the other's blow. Kou Hongmin grabbed Zhao Dong's shoulder, and Zhao Dong, refusing to yield, grabbed Kou Hongmin's shoulder in return. They squeezed each other's shoulders with a fierce grip!
SQUELCH! SQUELCH!
Two sprays of blood mist erupted as both of their shoulders were crushed into a mangled mess!
"I refuse to accept this!" Kou Hongmin roared through the searing pain, his eyes bloodshot, as he swung a leg at Zhao Dong!
Zhao Dong instantly countered with a kick of his own!
BOOM!
A terrifying shockwave spread out. The leg bones of both men shattered completely! Neither could overpower the other!
The entire audience was dumbfounded. Hong Wu's eyes were wide, his body trembling slightly!
Xu Yafei's eyes filled with tears, her heart twisting in agony as she watched Zhao Dong sustain such grievous injuries! Lin Qingyun, Jiang Nianyu, Tang Yuntian, and Xu Qingyue were all sweating with anxiety for Zhao Dong! Lin Qingyun and Jiang Nianyu's eyes welled with tears as they silently prayed for him.
On the stage, the two combatants' eyes were completely red as they fought with frenzied madness! In the next instant, they simultaneously drew back their other fists and slammed them into each other's chests!
THUD! THUD!
Two horrifying impacts echoed as their chests burst into a bloody mist, their ribs shattering completely! Zhao Dong and Kou Hongmin both spat out a mouthful of blood, now utterly consumed by battle madness!
"Damn! What kind of fighting is this? It hurts just watching!"
"This is insane! But Zhao Dong is incredible, actually fighting Kou Hongmin to a standstill! He's our age, yet he can challenge an expert like this! He's amazing!"
"Go, Zhao Dong! You're the hero of our generation! Go!"
Some spectators were moved to tears, shouting with raw emotion!
The two raised their fists again, smashing them into each other's faces! Their faces were nearly unrecognizable, features obscured by blood, looking less than human!
Although the Body Transformation Technique was ferocious, it was still inferior to Kou Hongmin burning his own lifeblood.
In the end, after another exchange of punches, Zhao Dong was sent flying. He crashed heavily to the ground, his face twisted and deformed, his sternum shattered, his entire body covered in blood and wounds. Thick gouts of fresh blood poured from his mouth.
Across from him, Kou Hongmin remained standing, but his face was just as distorted, with blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
"Zhao Dong, in the end, you still have to die!" Kou Hongmin's features were grotesque and terrifying, his eyes radiating a thick killing intent. He leaped into the air, his body like a falling meteor, aiming to crush Zhao Dong beneath him!
At this sight, everyone held their breath. Who could have imagined that a fight expected to be a one-sided slaughter would turn out to be so thrilling?
Enduring the agony, Zhao Dong took out the Dragon Blood Pill from his robes and tossed it into his mouth.
RUMBLE!
An immense pressure descended from the heavens!
"No! Wh-what kind of pill is that!?" Kou Hongmin was scared witless! He saw that after taking the pill, the fluctuations of Zhao Dong's cultivation instantly surged several times over!
"Go ask King Yan!" Zhao Dong roared, flipping to his feet. His right hand shot out and grabbed Kou Hongmin's ankle, and with a vicious swing, he hurled him away.
Kou Hongmin's vision blurred as an irresistible force swept him off his feet. Zhao Dong instantly closed the distance, unleashing a storm of punches and kicks on him. His fists rained down on Kou Hongmin's body and face! The sound of breaking bones immediately rang out, followed by his horrifying screams!
"You forced my hand! You old beast! I had no grudge against you, yet you tried to kill me again and again! You will die! Hong Wu will die, too! All of you will die!" Zhao Dong was completely consumed by rage, his eyes blood-red, looking like a demon god!
"Blood Explosion Technique, full power!"
BOOM!
A massive shockwave blasted Zhao Dong away. Kou Hongmin staggered to his feet, his entire body glowing as red as blood!
"You... You burned half your remaining lifespan? Are you insane!?" Zhao Dong's pupils constricted.
"You forced me to do this! You deserve to die! Die!"
Kou Hongmin transformed into a red meteor and unleashed his strongest attack. Zhao Dong immediately swallowed more Healing Pills and braced himself with all his might, but he was still struck by a punch to his lower abdomen!
The immense impact sent Zhao Dong flying like a kite with a broken string. He tumbled for more than a dozen rotations on the ground before finally coming to a stop. His eyes were shut tight, and there was no sign of breath left in him. The massive, horrifying crater in his chest was a testament to the blow's power!
Kou Hongmin was in no better shape. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and instantly seemed to have aged by several decades.
At that moment, the arena fell deathly silent. Everyone felt their scalps tingle, a profound respect for Zhao Dong rising within them. No one could have predicted that Zhao Dong would be able to push Kou Hongmin to such an extent!
In the stands, tears were already streaming down the faces of Lin Qingyun, Xu Yafei, and Jiang Nianyu.
Lin Qingyun sobbed, murmuring, "Zhao Dong... it's all my fault... It's all because of me... If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have clashed with Xiao Hongtian, and you wouldn't have clashed with Hong Wu... It was all me..."
Beside her, Xu Yafei also wept with guilt. "Zhao Dong, I'm the one who harmed you... If it wasn't for me, Hong Wu would never have come after you... It's all my fault..."
On the stage, silence reigned.
Utterly crazed, Kou Hongmin staggered over to Zhao Dong. He looked down at the lifeless body, a grim smile twisting his lips. "Zhao Dong, you... you were truly impressive..."
With that said, Kou Hongmin stumbled and collapsed. He deactivated the Blood Explosion Technique and was about to sit cross-legged to meditate when Zhao Dong's eyes suddenly snapped open!
He bit down hard on something, and his aura began to skyrocket, recovering to its peak in an instant!
"No! You..."
THUD!
Kou Hongmin's words were cut short as he felt an immense pressure on his chest.
He looked down.