In the center of the ring, Zhou Ze and Zhao Xuanqi stood facing each other.
"Zhao Qi, to be honest, I never expected you to be the one standing here challenging me. But I won't be holding back. You'd better be careful."
Zhou Ze said calmly, looking at Zhao Qi.
"I won't be holding back either. You should be careful too."
Zhao Xuanqi replied, his expression just as calm.
They both raised their hands in a fist-and-palm salute, then simultaneously fell into the Tiger Form Boxing Stance.
Though they assumed the same stance, the two men exuded completely different auras.
Zhou Ze was tall and powerfully built. As he settled into his stance, his body naturally expanded. His formidable physique and abundant Qi and Blood filled his eyes with confidence, ferocity, and a hint of cruelty.
Zhao Xuanqi, on the other hand, was noticeably smaller than Zhou Ze. As he took his stance, his body didn't expand at all. Instead, he tucked his elbows to his ribs, arched his back and chest, and coiled his body inward. Yet, there was no sense of timidity. The eyes peering from between his clawed fingers held a sinister, vicious light. The three observers, including Weng Xiaolin, could clearly sense the restrained danger emanating from him.
The moment they assumed their stances, it was as if they had transformed. Their auras were suddenly on the same level.
"Interesting..."
Luo Moyou's playful, nonchalant expression vanished, replaced by a serious one.
'Hong Hu and Black Tiger?'
Weng Xiaolin murmured to himself, watching the two men with their completely different auras.
In truth, the Tiger Form Fist had always had two branches of fighting style.
They were "Hong Hu" and "Black Tiger."
The so-called "Hong Hu" style follows a path of grand, sweeping movements. It emphasizes subduing opponents with overwhelming power, exuding a majestic aura like a fierce tiger standing on a mountaintop, roaring over the forest.
The "Black Tiger" style, on the other hand, focuses on technique. Its methods are vicious and sinister, its aura restrained, and it targets an enemy's weaknesses—like a fierce tiger hiding in the woods, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Neither style is inherently stronger than the other. However, the "Black Tiger" path is much harder to master. Typically, only a Martial Artist who has been immersed in the style for many years can use it proficiently. To grasp the essence of this style at the Sound Force stage was exceedingly difficult.
It involved multiple factors, including body control, Force Release, familiarity with human anatomy, sharp eyes, and more.
'I wonder if this kid just has the stance of a 'Black Tiger,' or if he's actually mastered its essence...'
Weng Xiaolin thought to himself.
HAAH!!
At that moment, Zhou Ze let out a sudden explosive shout and moved first, officially starting the match.
He didn't use Sound Force, opting instead to test the waters with a normal attack.
Fierce Tiger Inquiry!
WHOOSH!!
Yet even as a normal attack, powered by his now robust body, it still stirred up a fierce wind, nearly producing a 'sound'.
The foundation of the Martial Dao is the Nine Sounds, but that doesn't mean a Martial Artist can only produce nine 'sounds' before reaching the Cross-Training realm.
Depending on their physique and natural aptitude, a person's stamina and strength will differ. This is especially true at the peak of the Nine Sounds, when one accumulates Qi and Blood to advance toward Cross-Training. As their Physical Ability continually increases, the number of consecutive Sound Force strikes they can execute can exceed nine.
Furthermore, even among those at the Nine Sounds level, the power of attacks varies greatly depending on physique and aptitude.
And Zhou Ze could already be considered one of the best below the Cross-Training realm.
He crossed the five-meter distance in a single pounce, arriving right in front of Zhao Xuanqi.
Zhao Xuanqi kept his body coiled, making no attempt to face Zhou Ze head-on. Instead, he dodged sideways with a nimble leap, evading the powerful assault.
But in the next instant, Zhou Ze, having missed, fiercely twisted his waist to turn around. He stomped his foot, making the ground tremble slightly, and his tall frame spun to pursue Zhao Xuanqi relentlessly.
Black Tiger's Return!
CRACK!!
With a crisp crack, Zhou Ze used Sound Force this time. The speed and power of his attack instantly rose by a level, aimed straight at Zhao Xuanqi's back.
This was where the limitations of a ring fight became apparent.
The ten-meter-wide ring seemed large, but an expert could cross it in a single flash, making the space extremely limited.
If this were an open field or a street fight, Zhao Xuanqi could have easily created enough distance with a single dodge. He could then use the terrain to wear Zhou Ze down and find an opportunity to finish him with a single, deadly blow from a sharp weapon.
But here, if his dodge was too wide, he would immediately go out of bounds and be declared the loser. If his dodge was too small, Zhou Ze's instant counter-attack would catch up to him.
Thus, in a ring match, weight class was always the top priority—a gap that was difficult to overcome.
Zhou Ze unleashed a Sound Force strike, and Zhao Xuanqi immediately dodged again. This time, however, his room to maneuver was further compressed, making his next dodge even more difficult.
Weng Xiaolin and the other two observers saw this and shook their heads slightly.
In an unarmed ring fight, the advantage of physique and strength was simply too obvious.
If Zhao Xuanqi had a sharp weapon in his hand right now, the situation would likely be different.
To put it bluntly, the gap in weight class created an imbalance in the threat they posed to each other. If this disadvantage couldn't be overcome, there was no hope of victory.
Zhou Ze clearly understood this as well. After Zhao Xuanqi dodged his Black Tiger's Return again, his expression remained unchanged as he unleashed another Sound Force strike and attacked.
His goal was crystal clear: use his superior Physical Ability, stamina, and other advantages to force Zhao Xuanqi into a corner with nowhere left to retreat. He would have no choice but to face him head-on, at which point he would be utterly defeated.
'I'm superior in strength, speed, defense, and stamina. In a situation like this, how could I possibly lose!'
Zhou Ze grew more and more confident, his fighting style becoming increasingly expansive and powerful. It perfectly embodied the true essence of the Hong Hu style: overwhelming the opponent with grand, sweeping movements and sheer momentum!
Just as Zhao Xuanqi was forced into a desperate situation with seemingly nowhere left to dodge, he finally launched his first attack!
He bent his fingers into a claw and his body shot forward. His waist, back, hand, and claw formed a straight line as power flowed through him link by link. Using the agility granted by his smaller frame, he found an opening and slipped straight through Zhou Ze's attack, clawing for his heart on the left side of his chest!
Black Tiger Heart Stealing!!
CRACK!!
Sound Force erupted!
'He's finally fighting back?'
A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Ze's eyes. 'With my physique, what can you do to me even if I take one of your blows head-on?'
He took a sharp breath, puffing up his muscles, intending to take Zhao Xuanqi's strike with his sheer physical bulk. Then, he would seize the opening and end the fight.
However, just as Zhao Xuanqi's claw was about to touch his chest, the hair on his body suddenly stood on end. An intense sense of crisis forced him to abandon the idea of taking the hit, and he abruptly dodged to the side.
RRRIP!!
Zhao Xuanqi's claw struck down. The Force was both sharp and penetrating. The black Martial Arts Uniform on Zhou Ze's chest was instantly torn apart. A searing pain shot through his chest, and even his heart seemed to skip a beat.
'This is... Finger Technique?!'
Seeing this, Weng Xiaolin's eyes narrowed instantly.
The essence of the Black Tiger style was none other than its Finger Technique. And the reason it was so difficult to master was precisely because of this Finger Technique.
The human body has countless muscles and fascia. Muscles like those in the thighs, back, and upper arms are the strongest and most powerful. Therefore, attacks with the fist, foot, and palm carry the greatest force and destructive power.
In contrast, the muscles in the forearms and hands, which are related to gripping strength, are relatively weak.
This is an immutable characteristic of the human body.
Therefore, making a Finger Technique lethal is exceptionally difficult. It's not just a matter of training the corresponding muscles; it's also deeply related to the overall technique of Power Generation.
Fist Techniques emphasize that power originates from the feet, flows through the body link by link, and reaches the tips of the limbs.
But to even get the final Force Release to reach the fists and palms is already incredibly difficult. To be able to channel the combined power of the entire body to the fingertips requires even more demanding body control and Fist Technique skills.
This was also why the Black Tiger style was more suited for seasoned veterans who had been immersed in Fist Techniques for many years.
But now, Zhao Xuanqi had mastered this skill. And how long had he been training?
Even Weng Xiaolin had never seen such talent for a fighting style.
'This just got interesting. By mastering the fighting techniques that form the essence of the Black Tiger style, Zhao Qi now truly possesses the ability to threaten Zhou Ze in the ring!'
Meanwhile, Zhou Ze, having suffered a hidden loss from Zhao Xuanqi's Finger Technique attack, saw his expression change. He retreated abruptly, putting distance between himself and Zhao Xuanqi again, and looked down at his chest.
Five finger marks were torn into the front of his black Martial Arts Uniform. On his chest were five deep, bloody gashes, with blood streaming down. The pain shot straight to his brain, and the Force from those five fingers was so penetrating that it even made his heart feel uncomfortable, causing palpitations and a tightness in his chest.
He couldn't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't dodged that last attack.