Confront Head-On

"Xiao Mu, don't push yourself too hard. If you can't win, you can just admit defeat."

"Brother Mu, Sister Xu is right. It's already unfair for us to compete against the top disciples of the five major sects."

...

Xu Mu smiled and waved at Xu Ningbing and Meng Wanyue, then walked toward the arena.

In the distance, Shi Yao had also arrived on the field.

Xu Mu observed the man. He had a buzz cut, a bit of stubble, and looked like a righteous person.

He was about 1.9 meters tall and in his early thirties.

However, he didn't look overly muscular; instead, he belonged to the lean and sinewy type.

"Xu Mu! You happen to be a body cultivator as well. Today, let's have a match between the two of us to see whose physique is stronger."

Shi Yao raised his hand and waved it, causing a booming sound in the air.

Xu Mu sized up Shi Yao in front of him and used the Eye of God to check the other party's detailed information.

Realm: Early Shedding Mortality Stage

Physique: 1190

Spirit: 300

Seeing this data, Xu Mu revealed a faint smile. He had to admit, this person was indeed very strong.

He remembered that Tong Guoguo, with the enhancement of Wang Hun's surgery, had reached a physique of over 1,300.

As for Fu Jinyu, a member of a race with extreme combat prowess not inferior to the Jiuli tribe, her physique was only 999 when she was in the mid-stage of the Shedding Mortality realm.

Yet this Shi Yao, at the early stage of Shedding Mortality, had a physique nearly two hundred points higher than Fu Jinyu's.

As expected of an expert from the Power Faction. Xu Mu's current physique was exactly twice his.

"Bring it on!"

Xu Mu smiled at Shi Yao.

Shi Yao quickly charged toward Xu Mu. As he ran, the ground beneath his feet shook violently like an earthquake.

Xu Mu rolled his wrists, getting ready to feel the impact.

Boom!

Their fists collided, and the ground beneath their feet suddenly collapsed, revealing the marks of array runes.

Xu Mu felt the terrifying pressure rushing at his face, and his body immediately flew backward.

He only had a stronger physique, which didn't mean his strength could overpower Shi Yao. After all, the opponent's realm was higher.

Seeing Xu Mu flying backward, the audience outside the arena all started talking at once.

"Second Senior Sister, you don't need to worry. How could Eldest Senior Brother lose to Xu Mu, who is only at the Grandmaster realm?"

Huang Dazhuang looked at Ning Mei next to him and said.

Ning Mei nodded slightly. As a genius of the Power Faction, Shi Yao was fully capable of fighting above his level.

Facing the weaker Xu Mu, it should be a crushing defeat. But why did Xu Mu's expression show no sign of panic?

Xu Mu clenched his fists a few times, then smiled at Shi Yao, "I'm a person who likes head-on confrontations. Do you dare to clash with me head-on?"

"Of course I dare! But I will use my full strength. Our Power Faction has never won the championship in the Martial Arts Tournament, so I can't possibly lower my realm to fight you."

Shi Yao spread his hands and said.

This time, their sect master had specifically instructed them not to show mercy to anyone.

They had to bring out their full strength.

"Of course I want you to use your full strength, otherwise my victory would feel unearned."

Xu Mu pointed to the ground and stood there. "From now on, I won't dodge any of your attacks. I hope you do the same."

"This kid is crazy!"

Above the white clouds, Ning Kai couldn't help but say, "With a gap of an entire major realm, he still wants to clash head-on with our Power Faction?"

"Maybe he already knows he's going to lose."

Wang Chi said as he sat to the side.

Jiang Sheng also didn't know what exactly Xu Mu was trying to do. Did he really want to compete in physique with Shi Yao?

But it was completely unfair for the two of them. Shi Yao had a higher realm and greater strength.

Even if Xu Mu's physique was not inferior to Shi Yao's, the opponent's attack was higher, and ultimately Xu Mu would be the one to lose.

On the field, Xu Mu smiled.

He admitted that Shi Yao's strength was greater, but Xu Mu's physique far surpassed Shi Yao's.

Xu Mu could withstand the opponent's attacks, but Shi Yao could not withstand Xu Mu's attacks.

After all, Xu Mu's physique was comprehensive. It wasn't just his defense that was twice that of Shi Yao's.

Strength, speed, endurance, and so on, all were twice as high as the opponent's.

It was just that Shi Yao's realm was higher, and his strength combined with the Qi in his body gave him a destructive power that exceeded Xu Mu's.

However, Xu Mu was currently at the peak of the Grandmaster realm, so the gap wasn't that massive.

"Alright!"

Shi Yao stood directly opposite Xu Mu.

He had roughly guessed in his heart that Xu Mu had already decided to admit defeat and surrender, which was why he planned to clash head-on with him.

Shi Yao also didn't want to waste time. He wanted to end the battle early, rest for a while, and prepare for the next match.

At this moment, the two stood face-to-face, only a meter apart.

Boom!

Both sides erupted with power simultaneously, then swung their fists.

Bang, bang, bang...

Phantoms appeared on both of their arms, as if each of them had over a dozen arms.

This was even more than the phantoms created when Jiang Cisui swung his sword earlier.

Rumble...

The Qi energy of both sides also erupted at this moment. The sound of fists hitting flesh was like muffled thunder, causing the air to vibrate.

This caused many people outside the arena to experience ringing in their ears.

The ground beneath their feet continuously collapsed, eventually revealing the patterns of the array.

Shi Yao's fists rained down like a downpour, but he was shocked to find that most of his attacks were blocked by Xu Mu's fists.

Only a small number of punches landed on Xu Mu's body.

However, his overall strength was still greater, and Xu Mu's body was forced backward uncontrollably.

Trenches appeared on the ground as he slid back.

Compared to Shi Yao, Xu Mu's attacks were faster and fiercer; Shi Yao could block a third of them at most.

Boom, boom, boom...

Countless fists mixed with Qi energy bombarded Shi Yao's entire body.

Blood began to seep from his face, and bruises appeared on his nose and the corners of his mouth.

Even though Xu Mu was the one retreating, the injuries on Shi Yao's body were actually much heavier.

"Ah!"

Shi Yao suddenly roared in anger. The yellow Qi energy around his body acted like a shockwave, swallowing everything around him.

The collapsing ground was no longer just beneath their feet; it spread to nearly a hundred meters away.

Seeing this, Xu Mu also executed a Heaven-grade technique, the Heaven-Burning Sword Qi.

Blood-red flames, mixed with black, appeared on his body.

Rumble...

The shockwaves generated by every punch from the two covered the entire arena.

And their fists fell like raindrops.

Shi Yao couldn't believe it. Even after using a Heaven-grade technique, his defenses were still pierced by Xu Mu's fists.

Actually, relying on his own speed, he could have chosen to retreat and temporarily avoid the brunt of the attack.

But since he had just agreed, if he went back on his word now, he would definitely become a laughingstock.

He could only continue to meet the attacks head-on. Even as blood sprayed outward, he didn't stop.

Yet Shi Yao could feel his consciousness gradually blurring; his entire body was in agony.

But he didn't want to give up!

"Ahhh..."

Bang!

With a loud crash, Shi Yao felt as if his power had been cut off.

He collapsed to the ground on the spot, unconscious.

The continuous rumbling sounds of the arena also ceased.

Xu Mu put one hand in his pocket, turned around, and walked toward the outside of the arena.

He gently patted his chest; it hurt a little, and he felt that a few more bruises had appeared.

However, his face was relatively clean because he had mainly defended his head.

The surrounding audience was dead silent. For a long time, no one even cheered.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Was this still a human?

In a head-on battle, someone at the Grandmaster level actually knocked out Shi Yao, who was at the Shedding Mortality realm.

"Awooo!"

Finally, the surrounding crowd reacted and erupted into endless cheers.

This Xu Mu was just too fierce!

Just what kind of sect was So Righteous It's Evil?

"How is this possible?"

Ning Mei stared at the arena in absolute disbelief. She couldn't fathom that Shi Yao had actually been beaten to the ground.

Seeing this, Huang Dazhuang actually felt a twinge of joy.

Even their Eldest Senior Brother had been defeated. Losing to Xu Mu was no longer a disgrace for him.

Above the white clouds, everyone wore a solemn expression.

Since Xu Mu had defeated Shi Yao in a head-on clash, it meant he had the ability to defeat every single one of them.

"This Xu Mu... my Strength Court is definitely claiming him!"

Ning Kai clenched his fists. He was determined to get his hands on this man at all costs.

The next match commenced.

Bai Qingyuan versus Wang Fugui.