Volume One, Chapter 17: One Punch

“T-Rex, no mercy! Beat him to death, death, death!”

“Wah wah wah, so cruel! I love it!”

“Everyone, how many seconds do you think Xingtian can hold out?”

The stands were packed, the crowd roaring with excitement, all supporters of T-Rex.

The atmosphere was intense, the entire arena saturated with an uncontrollable violent energy.

“To ensure fairness, as per tradition, we will measure the realm levels of both fighters before the match. Contestants, please step forward.”

The referee produced a device and first measured T-Rex.

Martial Disciple, Level Seven—just as the records indicated.

Then it was Ye Cheng’s turn, and the reading showed Martial Disciple, Level Four.

“Hahaha, what a huge gap!”

“Xingtian, don’t hold back, charge in and die bravely!”

The crowd delighted in the spectacle, booing Ye Cheng loudly.

Chang Huan shook his head. “Such a prodigal son, refusing to heed the advice of elders and falling into defeat. You will pay the price for your recklessness.”

Chang Xi snapped, “Shut up!”

“Before the match begins, I’ll go over the basic rules!”

The referee called T-Rex and Ye Cheng to the center of the ring, having them clasp hands.

Before the fight, the customary round of pointless announcements.

“No spitting, no biting ears, no insulting the audience, no—”

“You can gouge eyes, choke, hit heads, and—”

T-Rex, a seasoned fighter, had no patience for the referee’s rambling.

With eyes as big as copper coins, he sneered at Ye Cheng, “Little chick! I heard this is your first match. Heh heh heh, so unlucky to run into me!”

“Wait, I’ll twist your head off and shove it up your backside. Then I’ll stomp on your head and guts until they’re smashed!”

“If you don’t want to die, better whip out your undies and admit defeat. Then lick every one of grandfather’s toes clean.”

“Wahaha!”

T-Rex’s pre-fight taunts reignited the crowd’s fervor.

They screamed “T-Rex” madly, cheers crashing like tidal waves, turning the entire arena into his home ground.

Chang Xi dared not utter a word, fearing a beating.

“Yeah!”

T-Rex grew even more smug, flashing a peace sign to accept the applause.

“System, I don’t want to reveal my identity. Can you gift me a barehanded martial art?”

Given the complex environment, with fighters as desperate outlaws and the organizers mysterious and powerful, Ye Cheng preferred to keep his identity hidden to avoid trouble.

Wearing a mask and disguising himself was for that reason.

His plan was to use the Greatsword Technique openly for most fights, while switching to other martial arts on different occasions.

When in trouble, he would rely on the system—a habit of someone who had transmigrated.

[Received!]

[Though your request is outside the system’s usual services, adhering to the principle of prioritizing the host, the system can make an exception and grant a martial art.]

[However, the highest it can provide is an ultimate-level martial art.]

“Ultimate-level martial art? How generous, system!”

Ye Cheng was thrilled; an ultimate-level martial art was the pinnacle on Blue Star.

[Granting host the Martial Art: Ten-Thousand-Force Fist. Shall I instill mastery to the ultimate proficiency level?]

“Instill!”

In an instant, the profound secrets of the Ten-Thousand-Force Fist deeply imprinted in his mind.

[Ten-Thousand-Force Fist]

[Description: A strength-based fist style emphasizing power equivalent to ten thousand catties, capable of defeating an enemy with a single punch.]

Still sticking to the power route.

At this moment, T-Rex was still flaunting his strength arrogantly. Suddenly, Ye Cheng said, “One punch!”

T-Rex: ???

“What did you say? I can’t hear you…”

Just then, the referee finished reciting the rules and shouted, “Fight!”

He released their hands and leapt back with all his might.

At the same time, Ye Cheng pressed his lips tightly, clenching his right fist.

Vigorous blood surged from the sea of blood, power gathering in his fist.

Whoosh—

His fist sliced through the air with a sonic boom, cutting through the fading silhouette of the referee, crashing towards T-Rex’s right ribs.

“So fast?”

The referee was stunned.

He had just finished speaking when Ye Cheng already struck.

Ye Cheng’s timing was absolutely perfect.

In contrast, T-Rex was still lost in the crowd’s adulation, utterly distracted.

Their attitudes towards combat were worlds apart—an unforgivable mistake in a fistfight!

Crack!

The fist struck directly on T-Rex’s ribs, breaking them, leaving a deep indentation.

The essence of the Ten-Thousand-Force Fist was to concentrate all power into one punch and hit decisively.

Even if T-Rex had been fully alert, he could not have dodged Ye Cheng’s punch.

“Wang!!”

One second later, the pain registered in T-Rex’s central nervous system.

He howled in agony like a dog, his already ugly features contorting grotesquely beyond recognition.

Clutching his ribs like a boiled prawn, he slowly collapsed to one side.

Only then did he understand what Ye Cheng meant by “one punch.”

One punch had knocked him down!

“You lost!”

Ye Cheng’s cold gaze locked on T-Rex as he retracted his fist.

“I… lost??”

“Shhah, sshah—”

Sweating profusely, T-Rex gasped for air desperately, but every breath deepened the pain in his ribs.

Finally, his vision darkened and he fainted.

What?!

The entire arena fell silent.

The spectators gaped, unable to utter a sound.

Such a formidable T-Rex had been defeated by Ye Cheng’s single punch.

What was going on?

“T-Rex can’t lose, they must be throwing the fight!”

“Right, throwing the fight! Refunds, refunds!”

Moments later, some began protesting loudly.

Others retorted, “Throwing a fight? Did you see how Xingtian struck? It was unbelievably fast.”

“Not even the Giant Cannon could take that hit. He’s the real winner!”

“Exactly! Look at how sore the losers sound. T-Rex’s ribs were broken, piercing his lungs and impairing his breathing. One wrong move could’ve cost him his life. Would you bet your life to throw a fight?”

“Idiot!”

The scene was chaotic with all kinds of opinions.

“Bring a stretcher, carry this useless guy away!”

The referee snapped out of his shock, signaling for a stretcher to remove T-Rex.

Then he gave Ye Cheng a deep look, grasped his wrist, raised it high, and loudly declared:

“The winner of this match: Xingtian!”

With the referee’s pronouncement, all dissatisfaction and doubts fell silent.

The host’s authority was unmistakable; who dared to question?

The referee’s decision was final—no appeals or complaints allowed.

“Shh—”

The crowd could only express their displeasure with boos, paper scraps flying everywhere.

Mostly from those who lost money.

Yet a few clapped and cheered, hoping Ye Cheng would fight again.

Though thrilling, the match was short.

No one had their fill.

Who would be satisfied paying to watch a fight that ended in a single second?

“Is this the power of the Ten-Thousand-Force Fist?”

Ye Cheng looked at his fist, surprised.

He had not even used full strength in that punch, yet it was so powerful.

If he unleashed his full power, would he not shatter the entire arena?

The martial art gifted by the system was truly extraordinary!

“Old Deng, we won money! Hahaha!”

Chang Xi hugged his father, kissing and fondling excitedly like a lustful dog.

But his father, Chang Huan, looked like an exhausted old man who had just fought a three-hundred-round battle with a beauty. His whole body was limp, face sour.

“I… I bet fifty thousand on Ye Cheng and lost.”

“What!?”

Chang Xi froze, then jumped up and grabbed his father’s neck.

“Damn you, Old Deng! How could you do such a heartless thing behind my back?”

“I’ll strangle you!”

“Help! There’s patricide here! You brat, let go or I’ll go vegetarian!”

The two argued as usual.