Time quietly passed amidst the fierce offense and defense.
After the initial phase, Xu Wuyi fought with increasing stability, gradually reaching a stalemate with his opponent.
Above the virtual stage, a massive ten-minute countdown timer had already ticked down to [00:08].
On the Junior Stage, a match was limited to ten minutes. If no winner was decided, it was automatically declared a draw. This was to discourage Martial Artists from winning by avoiding combat.
'Time's almost up. Looks like it's going to be a draw,' the thought flashed through Zeng Bonan's mind, and he felt a little resigned.
He had already discovered that his opponent's fundamentals were incredibly solid. His mastery of the Basic Body Refining Technique was likely on par with his own.
His caution at the start of the fight had cost him his best chance to win.
However, he wasn't disappointed. He could tell his opponent's early struggles were purely due to his unfamiliarity with virtual combat.
Winning with an early blitz wouldn't have just been dishonorable; it would have been a waste of a good opportunity for combat practice.
The whole point of fighting in a virtual arena was to hone one's combat skills. Winning or losing was secondary.
As for Xu Wuyi, Zeng Bonan felt a great deal of admiration. Having an opponent like him in the intensive program was a source of motivation for him as well.
Countdown: [00:02].
Zeng Bonan's fighting spirit began to fade, and his assault slowed. Attacking consumed more stamina, after all, and he knew he could no longer launch another fierce offensive.
However, in the exact instant his concentration lapsed and his rhythm changed...
The eyes of Xu Wuyi, who had been focused solely on defense, suddenly sharpened!
His Spiritual Perception, refined by the Mountain Shifting Technique, allowed him to seize the fleeting opportunity!
After waiting for a full ten minutes, his entire being as taut as a bowstring, Xu Wuyi didn't hesitate for a second.
His core suddenly engaged, and his body coiled inward like a spring, dodging the now-powerless feint.
At the same time, he took half a step forward with his left foot. It wasn't an attack, but a firm plant on the ground, instantly converting his defensive posture into the foundation for a charge.
The entire sequence of movements was seamless, as if rehearsed countless times. It was the Iron Plate Bridge from the Basic Body Refining Technique, a technique for absorbing impact—simple, unadorned, but highly effective.
Zeng Bonan was just about to pull back when astonishment flashed in his eyes. He had never expected Xu Wuyi to launch such a decisive counterattack at the very last second.
'He still has stamina?'
But Xu Wuyi's fist was already upon him!
His right fist was already coiled and ready. Power surged from the soles of his feet, twisted through his waist and hips, shot up his spine segment by segment, and finally converged in his fist.
This punch contained the entire foundation of his relentless training, along with all the power and frustration he had accumulated over ten minutes of passive defense!
In that moment, Xu Wuyi's mind, Qi and Blood, and movements fused into one. It was the most satisfying punch he had ever thrown since he began his Martial Arts training!
The punch concentrated all his power and will into a single point. As his fist cut through the air, it created a low, explosive boom.
The moment he threw the punch, Xu Wuyi knew with absolute certainty that it would hit its mark.
'Is this the "Intention" that Teacher Wang was talking about?' A sudden understanding dawned on him.
Zeng Bonan's expression changed. In his haste, he could only raise his arm to block on pure instinct.
BOOM!
As fist met forearm, Zeng Bonan felt an immense, surging power wash over him. His hasty block was completely unable to diffuse the force. His arm was violently knocked aside, leaving his entire center exposed!
With unstoppable momentum, Xu Wuyi's fist slammed squarely into the center of his chest!
THUMP!
As the feedback of his virtual body taking critical damage washed over him, Zeng Bonan was sent flying backward. He crashed into the Energy Shield at the edge of the stage before sliding to the ground.
His virtual avatar instantly blurred and turned transparent before gradually dissipating.
[You have died!]
[Winner: Xu Wuyi!]
At almost the same instant the system notification sounded, the countdown hit zero: [00:00].
The Energy Shield surrounding the stage vanished.
Xu Wuyi slowly withdrew his fist and stood his ground. His chest heaved violently, and sweat trickled down the temple of his virtual avatar.
That punch, which had concentrated all of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, had been immensely draining and had completely exhausted his body. Yet, his eyes shone with a brilliant light.
He didn't choose to leave the stage. Doing so would have instantly reset his virtual body's fatigue, but he wanted to savor this exhaustion, to bask in the lingering sensation of that final punch.
Xu Wuyi was almost certain that his last punch had carried the True Intention of Martial Arts. He just didn't know if it was still in a rudimentary form.
However, the Martial Arts Diligence Record hadn't issued any notification. Xu Wuyi suspected it was because he was still inside the virtual machine.
Zeng Bonan's figure re-materialized a short distance away. He hadn't left the stage either; the Battle Network allowed opponents to communicate after a match.
He rubbed his chest, which still felt tight. There was no resentment or frustration on his face, only a wry smile and profound astonishment.
He walked over to Xu Wuyi and stopped a few steps away. Looking at Xu Wuyi with a serious gaze, he said, "Incredible."
He paused, then continued, "I didn't expect you to be able to land a punch like that under those conditions. I thought time was up... I let my guard down. It seems you can never underestimate your opponent."
Xu Wuyi took a deep breath to calm his churning Qi and Blood. He smiled and nodded at Zeng Bonan. "Thank you for the match. I was just lucky. If we were to fight again, I'm not sure what the outcome would be."
He was telling the truth. If they fought again, he had no confidence that he could reach that state of perfect unity between mind and will.
If it had been an ordinary punch, it would have only injured Zeng Bonan at most. A one-hit kill would have been impossible, and the match would have ended in a draw.
Zeng Bonan smiled as well, his expression filled with the excitement of having met his match. "I'm sure your Life Energy Level will catch up quickly. Let's have another good fight next time."
"Alright," Xu Wuyi replied simply, feeling a measure of admiration for Zeng Bonan in his heart.
'We're walking the same path,' he thought. 'Yet he doesn't have the help of the Martial Arts Diligence Record, and his fundamentals are just as solid. He must have put in an unimaginable amount of effort.'
Zeng Bonan said no more. His figure dissolved into a stream of light and vanished, exiting the stage space.
...
「In the real world, the access pod slowly opened.」
Xu Wuyi sat up, rubbing his throbbing temples.
Virtual combat really took a toll on one's spirit. His final punch in particular, which had nearly manifested the True Intention of Martial Arts, had been especially draining on his Spiritual Power.
But the rewards had been immense. Instead of going home, Xu Wuyi immediately went to the school's training room and began to practice.
He practiced the final punch from the virtual stage over and over, attempting to replicate it and let his physical body grow accustomed to the feeling.
But that "Intention" refused to appear. Just as a frustrated Xu Wuyi was about to give up and go home to study it further, he had a sudden flash of inspiration.
He raised his fists once more. In his mind, he performed a Visualization of a great mountain, and a profound, towering aura instantly enveloped him.
When he threw his next punch, a notification finally appeared in the Martial Arts Diligence Record:
[Slightly comprehended the True Intention of Martial Arts: 'Mountain'. Cultivation efficiency temporarily +100%, Insight temporarily +50%]