A slight stir went through the audience when the proposal was made, but it quickly subsided.
The crowd looked at the two people involved. It was reasonable for the one with the higher Life Energy Level to be ranked ahead. It was just that this would make Hu Haobo lose face.
Xu Wuyi's expression remained unchanged; he had no objection to the adjustment.
The resources and benefits for the top three were the same. The rankings mainly determined the order of challenges.
For example, if Liu Jing were to issue a challenge now, she would undoubtedly have a better chance against Hu Haobo. But if she won, it would push Xu Wuyi down to fourth place.
Xu Wuyi would certainly not accept that outcome and would have to challenge his way back up. It was better to just adjust the order from the start.
Hu Haobo crossed his arms, the muscles in his face tensing for a moment as a flicker of conflict crossed his eyes.
Of course, he was unwilling to accept it. It wasn't about being ranked behind Xu Wuyi, but about being moved down because of a 0.1 difference in Energy Level without even a proper duel.
He took a deep breath as if he had made up his mind, then stepped forward. He looked Teacher Zhou and Wang Wenhai straight in the eye. "Teacher Zhou, Teacher Wang, I have no objection to adjusting the ranks."
He paused, his tone shifting as his sharp gaze fell on Xu Wuyi. "However, I would like to challenge Xu Wuyi to a virtual sparring match."
"We won't use our real-world physical data. We'll use the standard mode on the Battle Network's Junior Stage, with our Life Energy Levels both set to 10.0. Win or lose this fight, I will accept third place."
His voice carried a suppressed fighting spirit. "I just want to see if my *Stone Splitting Palm* can break through your defense under equal conditions!"
At these words, everyone's interest was piqued.
In a real-world challenge, almost no one thought Hu Haobo could win due to the difference in their Life Energy Levels, so it would have lacked any suspense.
But if they used standardized Energy Levels, leveling the playing field in terms of physical stats, it would become a pure contest of Martial Arts Techniques and on-the-spot performance. This was undoubtedly the best way to test their true combat strength!
Even Zeng Bonan showed a look of interest. He also wanted to know who was stronger under equal conditions: Xu Wuyi's mountain-steady defense or Hu Haobo's ferocious, explosive offense.
Teacher Zhou and Wang Wenhai exchanged a glance, each seeing the tacit approval in the other's eyes. This kind of healthy competition was exactly what the intensive training class encouraged.
"Xu Wuyi, what do you think?" Wang Wenhai asked.
Xu Wuyi met Hu Haobo's gaze, which was filled with fighting spirit, and smiled. "No problem. I'm always up for a spar like this."
"Excellent!" Teacher Zhou decided on the spot. "Connect to the Battle Network. Junior Stage, standard mode!"
...
The familiar square stage of the Star Martial Battle Network.
The figures of Xu Wuyi and Hu Haobo materialized at the same time.
The system adjusted both their Life Energy Levels to the standard 10.0, and their IDs were clearly visible above their heads.
There were even more students watching from around the stage than before. Not only were all the members of the intensive training class present, but there were also some Martial Arts Students from other classes who had rushed over after hearing the news.
Zeng Bonan and Liu Jing stood at the very front, their expressions focused.
Hu Haobo flexed his wrists, feeling the familiar sense of power from a Level 10.0 virtual body.
His gaze was as sharp as a knife, locked tightly onto Xu Wuyi. A fierce and blazing aura began to emanate from him.
Xu Wuyi, however, remained calm. He silently activated his *Mountain Shifting Technique*, his Heart and Spirit tranquil as he assumed a defensive stance from the *Basic Body Refining Technique*. The aura of mountain-like stability naturally radiated from him.
"Begin!"
The moment the system's prompt faded, Hu Haobo moved!
He didn't waste any time with probing attacks; he went all out from the very beginning!
He stomped hard on the virtual floor, his body shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow. He slightly curled the fingers of his right hand, the edge of his palm cutting through the air with a piercing whistle as it chopped straight for Xu Wuyi's face!
A C-level Martial Art, *Stone Splitting Palm*—Mountain Opening Form!
The force of the palm was sharp and its momentum unstoppable. Compared to half a month ago, his Palm Force seemed more condensed, and its ferocity had only grown.
Xu Wuyi's eyes narrowed. His feet rooted to the ground as he raised his left arm, the muscles of his forearm tensing as he met the blow with a standard block.
THUD!
The collision of palm and arm produced a heavy, loud thud.
Xu Wuyi's body trembled slightly. The force transmitted through his arm was far more tyrannical and focused than that of his previous opponents!
This was the power of a C-level Martial Art—specialized in a single point, its destructive force was immense.
Pressing his advantage, Hu Haobo didn't let up. As one palm was blocked, the other shot out from under his ribs like a phantom, thrusting straight for Xu Wuyi's abdomen!
The speed of his transition and the treacherous angle of the attack drew gasps from the audience below.
Xu Wuyi engaged his core, his body twisting slightly like a solid rock to narrowly avoid the vicious thrust. At the same time, his right fist swung like a hammer toward Hu Haobo's elbow.
Hu Haobo snorted coldly. His arm retracted like a nimble snake, dodging the incoming fist. He immediately followed up with a continuous barrage of palm strikes, a flurry of afterimages enveloping Xu Wuyi's upper body and vital points.
The *Stone Splitting Palm* was already known for its fierce power and speed. In Hu Haobo's hands, it gained an extra layer of relentless, death-defying ruthlessness.
The wind from his palms howled, his presence overwhelming.
Xu Wuyi once again settled into his familiar defensive rhythm.
His movements were still simple, yet they were like the most precise machinery, neutralizing Hu Haobo's stormy barrage of attacks one by one.
Blocking, dodging, deflecting... Every action was perfectly executed, as if he had already calculated all of his opponent's attack patterns.
On the stage, all anyone could see for a moment was Hu Haobo attacking like a crazed tiger, his palm afterimages like a mountain, while Xu Wuyi stood like a reef in a raging current—unmoved by the battering wind and waves.
"He really can't break through his defense..." someone in the crowd sighed softly.
"Hu Haobo's Palm Technique is more vicious than before, but Xu Wuyi's defense seems even more solid."
"At this rate, it'll probably be another draw, or Hu Haobo will overextend and reveal an opening..."
Zeng Bonan watched the situation on the stage, his brow slightly furrowed.
He felt that although Xu Wuyi's defense was as solid as ever, it seemed... to be missing a certain purity it had before.
'It's as if he's distracted, thinking about something else.'
Hu Haobo also noticed something was off.
'My attacks aren't landing, but his counterattacks seem fewer and slower than when he fought Liu Jing...?'
Unable to break through after such a long assault, the ruthlessness in Hu Haobo's heart was completely unleashed.
'I refuse to believe that at the same Level, my proudest offense can't even make him take a single step back!'
"Stone Splitting Collapse!"
He suddenly roared, the Qi and Blood in his body surging at an unprecedented rate. His right palm abruptly glowed with a faint, grayish-white light, as if it had truly transformed into a colossal palm capable of splitting mountains and shattering stone, and he slammed it fiercely toward Xu Wuyi's chest!
This palm strike condensed nearly all of his Spirit, Qi and Blood, and strength. It was the most powerful attack he could currently muster!
The air whined as if overburdened where the palm passed.
The crowd below held their breath. Even the expressions of Teacher Zhou and Wang Wenhai grew solemn.
Facing this earth-shattering palm, the calm in Xu Wuyi's eyes finally broke, replaced by a strange light.