Chapter Sixty-Nine: Earning the Qualification for Advancement

After taking a few intense breaths, Qin Xiaochuan looked at Xiu sprawled on the ground and began to laugh with excitement. That radiant smile was not a mocking gesture toward his fallen opponent, but rather an affirmation of Xiu’s courage in daring to confront him head-on: “…huff…huff…heh, what a troublesome fellow, even his trump card is the same as mine…huff…huff…”

Confirming that Xiu had collapsed, Miss Lingling, the referee, hurried onto the stage to count seconds over Xiu, performing her official duties.

“…1…2…3…4…5…6…”

As soon as the referee began counting, everyone in the stands held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The match on the field was terrifying; both fighters’ ultimate moves to decide victory turned out to be a head-butting contest. Seeing Xiu smash the ground and crack it even in defeat, everyone was stunned by Qin Xiaochuan’s iron head. How could that be a human’s head? It was a diamond forged of steel, able to knock out even Xiu, whose head was so formidable. What a monster! Would Xiu ever be able to get up again after that blow?

“…7…8…9…10!” When Lingling’s count reached ten, Xiu was still lying on the ground, eyes rolled back, apparently knocked out by Qin Xiaochuan’s final headbutt. Seeing Xiu remain motionless, Lingling waved toward Qin Xiaochuan and loudly announced, “Qin Xiaochuan wins!”

It was no wonder. During their blade-to-blade showdown, Xiu had exhausted all his demonic energy and most of his strength. In that condition, with the last contest of blades, he was completely spent. For Qin Xiaochuan, however, utter exhaustion was the best moment to unleash hidden potential and decide victory, just as Master Jinghai had said—the basic principle behind the use of the Spiritual Wave Fist.

Under nearly two months of Jinghai’s brutal training, Qin Xiaochuan had trained daily to unlock potential after physical depletion. Compared to Xiu, he was far more familiar and adept at fighting when drained.

Perhaps Xiu was simply too strong. None of his previous opponents had pushed him to his limits as Qin Xiaochuan had; most bouts ended in just a few moves. Fighting Qin Xiaochuan to such extremes was a first. So, after spending all his demonic power and physical strength, Xiu’s headbutt lacked the follow-through that Qin Xiaochuan still possessed.

“According to the results, the Qin Xiaochuan team triumphs over the Six Wanderers Monster Team with a score of 3 to 1 and advances to the next round!”

“Fantastic!” Zhang Yang clenched his fists in excitement upon hearing Lingling announce the result. Although he had lost the first match, thanks to Bai Ying, Feiyan, and Qin Xiaochuan’s desperate efforts, they had finally defeated their opponents and advanced. Witnessing Feiyan’s Black Dragon Flame Strike and Qin Xiaochuan’s extraordinary strength, Zhang Yang felt even more confident about the upcoming matches.

Hearing Lingling announce the end of the match, Lingju rushed onto the arena to check Xiu’s condition. Even though he and his team had lost their chance to advance, Xiu was truly his closest companion. Xiu loved to drink, and when drunk, he would act wildly, but his personality was as pure and simple as a child’s, with no malice. He was passionate about what he liked, and ruthless toward what he didn’t, even willing to kill. Their temperaments were quite alike, so privately, they shared a close bond. Even though Xiu had lost, Lingju immediately rushed to the stage to check his injuries.

“Xiu! Wake up!” Lingju jumped onto the arena and nudged Xiu’s head, finding him face down, eyes rolled back, seemingly out cold for a while. “Oh, truly…knocked out! To think someone could defeat him in a hand-to-hand fight is unbelievable. Xiu’s iron head can shatter boulders! Xiu, wake up, wake up!” Lingju moved beside Xiu’s iron head and began shaking it vigorously with his small hands.

Qin Xiaochuan, still on the stage, saw Lingju shaking Xiu and called out, “Hey! Kid!” Startled, Lingju fell to the ground. He had witnessed Qin Xiaochuan’s prowess in the battle with Xiu—even their strongest had been toppled. If Qin Xiaochuan struck him, he wouldn’t even withstand a punch. If this guy went berserk, Lingju might not even be able to outrun him.

Watching Lingju sit frightened on the ground, Qin Xiaochuan smiled gently, then raised his thumb. “When Xiu wakes up, tell him—let’s have a proper rematch next time!”

“Alright…okay.” Lingju nodded quickly, still nervous. Another fight? Seeing the battered yet fiercely spirited human before him, this wasn’t just a battle maniac—it was a fighting lunatic. Even after such a beating, he wasn’t satisfied. Xiu had finally met his match. What would Xiu think when he awoke and heard this?

“Damn Six Wanderers Monster Team! All talk, no action!”

“A bunch of losers! We cheered for you for nothing!”

With the last member of the Six Wanderers Monster Team defeated, the monsters in the audience grew restless. At first, small groups whispered, but under someone’s instigation, all the monsters in the stands began loudly insulting the remaining team members.

“Kill him! Useless trash! Go die!”

“What Six Wanderers Monster Team? Don’t make me laugh!”

“Kill him!”

“Slaughter them!”

“Give me back my wager, you bastards!”

“Slaughter Lingju and Xiu!”

“Go die!”

“Keep fighting until they’re dead!”

“Useless fools, die! Let us deliver the final blow!”

“Kill them!”

“Let’s all attack! Kill them!”

“Go back to where you came from!”

“A bunch of losers!”

“Go die, Lingju! Go die, Xiu!”

…

Hearing the monsters’ cries from the stands, Zhang Yang grew furious. These people had been cheering loudly for the Six Wanderers Monster Team moments ago, but as soon as Qin Xiaochuan’s team won, they began cursing their own favorites. Worse than fair-weather fans—whichever side was stronger, they flocked to, changing sides in an instant!

“Hmph! Bark all you want!” Lingju carried Xiu to the edge of their team’s stand. Hearing the frenzied shouts from the audience, Lingju quietly muttered, “Cowards! Not brave enough to come down, yet they shout so loudly! Shameful!”

“What are you yelling about?!” Qin Xiaochuan could not tolerate hearing someone curse Xiu from the stands. He roared at the crowd, his voice booming above all the noise. The packed arena instantly quieted. He glared at the monsters around the ring, casually picked up his shirt and slung it over his shoulder. At his shout, Bai Ying, Feiyan, Zhang Yang, and the masked contestant stood up, their eyes cold and menacing. If Qin Xiaochuan started a fight with the audience, they would join without hesitation.

“Enough with your whining!” Qin Xiaochuan pointed at the ground. “If you’ve got the guts, come down and fight me. Let’s see if I can’t beat you to a pulp!”

“Mmm…mmm…”

His roar echoed through the arena. The monsters, cowed by Qin Xiaochuan’s fury, fell silent, their voices stuck in their throats, unable to speak. The arena grew quiet.

Lingju finished propping up Xiu and looked at Qin Xiaochuan with gratitude. Growing up in the slums, he had never had a true friend. In the world of monsters, there was only survival of the fittest. Even among humans, the same rules applied—victory meant everything.

To avoid being bullied, Lingju poured all his effort into strengthening his demonic power, eventually joining the Six Wanderers Monster Team and entering this tournament of elites. Yet in this life-and-death battle, seeing Qin Xiaochuan defend Xiu against the entire audience was astonishing. He’d never met such a human; most people avoided trouble at all costs. Qin Xiaochuan, however, honored heroes, standing up for Xiu before countless monsters. It was the mark of a true man.

A duel of blades, fearlessly facing the masses. If the opportunity arises, Lingju swore to introduce himself and Xiu to Qin Xiaochuan. Making such a friend would be a privilege. He wondered if Xiu, unconscious, had heard Qin Xiaochuan rallying for him against the crowd. This friend, Lingju had chosen.

“…Arrogant human, you’ve only delayed the next round of combat!” At that moment, standing at the entrance to the arena on the first level of the audience, a long-haired, delicate man in a strange mask was beside the Sikong Lang brothers. Hearing Qin Xiaochuan’s furious roar silence the monsters, the masked man’s expression turned grim.