’How did he do that? To cause such terrifying damage with just his fingers... It could even threaten my life.’

Feeling the pain in his chest, Zhou Ze’s expression darkened. He had thought he was in complete control of the situation, but the ability Zhao Xuanqi had just displayed made him feel like he was losing his grip.

Zhao Qi possessed the strength to threaten him!

The Tiger Claw Technique!

This was the technique Zhao Xuanqi had specially prepared for the Three Halls Tournament!

He was keenly aware of his own weakness.

Namely, when unarmed, his ability to threaten an opponent was severely lacking!

With a blade in hand, he could ignore factors like strength and defense to pose a lethal threat to his opponent. Only then could he negate the advantage of a higher weight class and put both fighters on equal footing.

But without a blade, his threat was insufficient. Just moments ago, when he had struck at Zhou Ze’s chest with his claw hand, Zhou Ze hadn’t even planned to dodge, intending to take the hit and end the fight right there.

But the Finger Technique could solve this problem.

Piercing a surface from a single point! The body’s killing power would be magnified. His ten fingers would replace a blade, becoming his most powerful weapon!

Over the past half a month, he had channeled the Qi and Blood from his Pile Skill to his fingertips, focusing on nourishing the muscles in his fingers, palms, and forearms. This made his fingers stronger, sturdier, and more flexible. He also spent a great deal of time practicing the control of Force for his Finger Technique, ultimately allowing Zhao Qi’s body to successfully unlock this ability.

In truth, this was also thanks to the Six-Flavor Blood Melting Powder he had concocted. As a Secret Medicine of the Hundred Beasts Sect, its properties were highly compatible with his Pile Skill, allowing him to more easily manipulate his Qi and Blood to nourish his extremities. Otherwise, relying solely on this body’s own control to perform the Pile Skill, it would have been far too difficult to strengthen his fingers in just half a month.

"So you dodged it?"

Zhao Xuanqi and Zhou Ze faced each other again. With a calm expression, Zhao Xuanqi flexed his fingers, the bloodstains lingering on his fingertips looking somewhat gruesome.

His original plan had been to feign weakness, then catch his opponent off guard and win the fight in a single move with his Finger Technique. But he hadn’t expected Zhou Ze’s intuition to be so sharp, allowing him to evade the brunt of the attack at the critical moment.

Honestly, for a novice who had only been practicing martial arts for half a year, Zhou Ze’s ability was impressive. Zhao Xuanqi believed he had considerable talent and could make a name for himself in the Martial Arts Realm in the future. However, since he had put in the work, Zhao Xuanqi would not yield the position of True Inheritance.

"You’re very good. It’s a shame."

Zhao Xuanqi looked at Zhou Ze and shook his head slightly. There was only one spot for a True Inheritance, and it was fated not to be Zhou Ze’s.

Such is fate.

"A shame? You only got the better of me by one move. I haven’t lost yet. Besides, your trump card is exposed now. I won’t give you another chance."

Zhou Ze’s expression calmed as he quickly came to terms with the current situation.

’It’s just a minor injury. I really did underestimate him and let my guard down. As long as I’m more careful from now on, I still have the absolute advantage!’

’Trump card?’

Zhao Xuanqi chuckled at his words. Since he could no longer win with a single surprise attack, there was no need to hide anymore.

He assumed his fighting stance again. The sinister and vicious feeling of the Black Tiger Style stance radiated from him once more, but this time it was different.

There was no longer any restraint or concealment. His brutal ferocity was on full display, like a savage tiger that had cornered its prey and bared its bloodstained fangs.

’This guy...’

Standing opposite Zhao Xuanqi, Zhou Ze felt a chill run down his spine—a feeling he had never experienced, not even from the most desperate, ferocious, and crazed death row inmates.

It was the resolve to cast aside humanity for the sole purpose of killing one’s prey!

SWOOSH!!

This time, Zhao Xuanqi didn’t wait for Zhou Ze to attack. He took the initiative and charged forward!

Since he couldn’t end the fight the easy way, he would use the most vicious way!

The philosophy of the Hundred Beasts Fist was identical to the law of the hunt: always seek the optimal strategy to defeat the enemy!

’He’s attacking first?!’

Zhou Ze took a deep breath, a fierce light instantly erupting in his eyes as well.

CRACK!!

His bones suddenly released Force, and explosive cracks echoed from all over his body as he threw a palm strike at Zhao Xuanqi.

However, as if he could see the future, Zhao Xuanqi’s feet tapped the ground. In the middle of his rapid charge, his body suddenly tilted and changed direction, displaying incredible agility. He dodged Zhou Ze’s attack by a hair’s breadth and, in turn, clawed at his side.

CRACK!!

Evil Tiger Tail Cutting!

Zhou Ze’s pupils contracted. He twisted his body abruptly to block with his back. In an instant, the cloth on his back tore, and five bloody lines appeared, blood flowing freely.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!!

He spun around and unleashed a continuous barrage of Sound Force strikes at Zhao Xuanqi. But it was no use. Zhao Xuanqi seemed to have seen through all his techniques. While constantly dodging with his Stepping Technique, he also managed to disrupt Zhou Ze’s own footwork.

The battle had completely fallen into Zhao Xuanqi’s rhythm.

What followed was all Zhao Xuanqi’s offense!

He unleashed a flurry of Sound Force attacks, using all ten fingers. The angle of each attack was incredibly tricky and difficult to defend against. He combined and flexibly applied the Nine Tiger Forms to their utmost limit. Even though Zhou Ze had spent the last two months thoroughly studying the Nine Tiger Forms, he couldn’t predict the position of Zhao Xuanqi’s attacks at all.

RIP! RIP!

Bloody gashes appeared all over Zhou Ze’s body—his back, his upper arms, his legs...

Although none were fatal, the force of the Finger Technique penetrated deep. Beyond the wounds themselves, the muscle tissue beneath was also damaged, restricting his movement and Power Generation.

No matter how much of a genius Zhou Ze was, he had only been involved in the Martial Dao for a little over half a year. The moment Zhao Xuanqi gained the ability to threaten him, bringing their battle back to a level playing field, it meant Zhou Ze had no chance of turning the tables.

’How is this possible... Am I going to lose?!’

Sharp pains shot through his body, and a sense of powerlessness began to spread. Facing Zhao Xuanqi, who darted and weaved like a ferocious beast, the feeling that he was unbeatable grew stronger and stronger.

The spot as representative for the Three Halls Tournament, the chance to claim the position of the Martial Arts Hall’s fourth True Inheritance, was slipping away from him, being forcibly snatched from his grasp by another.

Honor, status, wealth...

He couldn’t accept it!!

ROAR!!

Zhou Ze let out a sudden roar. He abandoned his fighting stance completely and lunged at Zhao Xuanqi with open arms, trying to stop his evasive movements with this desperate gambit.

’Still a rookie, after all?’

Zhao Xuanqi’s figure flickered, and he vanished from right in front of Zhou Ze. With a wide-ranging dodge and roll, he appeared directly behind him.

CRACK!!

A Sound Force strike, a sharp Hand Blade, slammed into the back of Zhou Ze’s neck.

Zhou Ze’s eyes immediately rolled back. The scene before him blurred as he collapsed to the ground.

Zhao Xuanqi stood his ground, watching Zhou Ze’s tall figure lying on the floor. His eyes held neither joy nor sorrow, and he felt no sense of accomplishment from defeating his opponent.

He had no personal opinion, hatred, or grudge against Zhou Ze. In fact, he felt a bit of pity. If he hadn’t been reincarnated as Zhao Qi, then with Zhou Ze’s aptitude, even if he failed to secure the champion’s spot in the Three Halls Tournament, he would have had a high chance of gaining Weng Xiaolin’s recognition and becoming the Martial Arts Hall’s fourth True Inheritance.

However, his appearance had changed everything. But while he felt a twinge of pity, he felt no guilt whatsoever.

He was simply using his own power, doing everything he could to obtain what he wanted.

In this world, the law of the jungle had never changed.

It was simply the strong preying on the weak.