The sudden gust of gravitational wind, coupled with the opponent's raised iron fist, as large as a millstone, and that wildly grinning face, all testified to Wang Zhong's own immaturity and inexperience!
Yes, he had thought too naively, truly believing the opponent would take three of his punches and then surrender upon realizing the strength gap. He hadn't expected that Mad Bear was merely feigning an attack, his goal being to lure him within the range of his soul skill to restrict Wang Zhong's speed.
"Little fellow, pay the price for your naivete with a crushing defeat!"
Mad Bear roared with laughter, his iron fist descending like a rolling boulder, a collapsing mountain peak, the surging momentum blowing Wang Zhong's clothes wildly.
"Actually, it doesn't have to be this troublesome."
"I won't run, and there's no need to run!"
Wang Zhong whispered softly, his gaze fixed on the millstone-like fist hurtling towards him, his expression calm and unruffled. He clenched his right fist, tensed his muscles, and from bottom to top, met the blow with a punch.
One fist the size of a millstone, its mere appearance inspiring fear and dread; one fist ordinary, even a little small. Yet, this small fist met the onslaught with the tragic grandeur of a moth flying into a flame.
"Alas, Wood Man, still too inexperienced, tricked by Mad Bear."
"Indeed, who would have thought that guy would be so despicable."
"Despicable! All's fair in war. It's Wood Man's own naivete; how can he blame others."
"On the stage, there is only victory or defeat! There is no such thing as nobility or baseness."
All the spectators were convinced at this moment that Wang Zhong was destined to lose.
The palpable difference in strength between the two was evident just from their physiques. The outcome was already decided the moment Wang Zhong threw his punch.
However, the reality that unfolded left everyone stunned.
As the small fist met Mad Bear's massive one, a terrifying force jolted the entire arena. This was followed by a surge of violent shockwaves that forced everyone in the stands to instinctively shield their faces with their arms, blocking the ferocious wind.
In mid-air, the two vastly different fists collided fiercely. The stark contrast between the small and the large delivered an unparalleled visual impact.
Mad Bear gritted his teeth, his arm, as thick as Wang Zhong's waist, trembling with exertion. But no matter how hard he strained, he couldn't budge the small fist even a millimeter.
"Your strength is truly too weak, more than double that of Zhang Shuai!"
The Iron-Clawed Giant Ape was not just a name that sounded cool and imposing; it was a truly top-tier, ferocious mutated martial soul. Its power, pushed to its limit, could move mountains and shatter peaks.
Zhang Shuai was assigned to Class A partly due to the Iron-Clawed Giant Ape martial soul, and the other half was due to his unique physique; Zhang Shuai possessed innate divine strength!
With both combined, he was capable of truly shaking mountains!
As everyone watched with wide eyes, Wang Zhong's punch repelled Mad Bear's arm. He then lunged forward, moving swiftly beneath the opponent's door-sized body.
He clenched his right fist again, spun his body halfway, and delivered a heavy punch without holding back, channeling all his strength into Mad Bear's abdomen.
Accompanied by a dull thud, Mad Bear's eyes bulged, his mouth agape. Veins bulged on his forehead and neck, his face instantly turning a flushed purple.
Wang Zhong retracted his fist and stepped out from behind the man's impossibly sturdy frame. Because he wore a mask, the spectators couldn't see his face, but his pair of emerald eyes remained as calm and clear as a spring pool.
Without Wang Zhong's fist supporting it, Mad Bear's body, still in the posture of a punch, slowly knelt. Wang Zhong's punch had dispersed all the strength within him. The pain radiating from his abdomen throughout his body left him with no residual power to control himself.
His colossal, towering body knelt on the stage, his hands covering his trembling abdomen. Wang Zhong's small figure stood tall and straight before the mountain-like body, standing silently.
The entire venue fell silent.
Everyone's mouths hung open, staring at the scene before them, unable to recover for a long time.
Mad Bear, who held an absolute physical advantage, was rendered completely defenseless after just two exchanges. And the small figure, which should have been defeated in one blow, stood intact, like an undefeated god of war, erect and steadfast.
Amidst the silence, Wang Zhong walked off the stage. The figure in the black uniform on the screen, at this moment, appeared so mysterious and powerful.
Only after Wang Zhong's figure disappeared did the host slowly regain his senses, announcing with a trembling, roaring voice.
"Wood Man, wins!"
"Even the battle-hardened Mad Bear could not force our Wood Man contestant to exert his full strength!"
"Esteemed audience! Who can make this young-looking individual truly go all out!"
"Let us eagerly anticipate the next breathtaking match brought to us by Wood Man!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, the spectators erupted in a tidal wave of cheers, loudly chanting the same name.
"Wood Man!"
"Wood Man!"
"Wood Man!"
...
The sound was fervent and fierce, as if witnessing the birth of something extraordinary.
What was the face beneath the wooden mask?
What further power lay hidden within the body clad in black, not yet revealed?
Was that figure inherently small, or was he truly just a child?
Each question, under the power displayed by Wang Zhong, became a captivating vortex that drew everyone's attention.
"Your Holiness the Pope, that little fellow truly possesses a maddening charisma!"
"If I hadn't known everything beforehand, even I would have been unable to tear my eyes away from this scene."
In the VIP box on the third floor, Ghost, Moon Guan, and Ling Yuan stood behind the sofa, watching the roaring crowd below the stage, their hearts stirred.
The one who spoke was Moon Guan.
On the sofa, a figure as beautiful as a celestial maiden, wearing a crown, leaned gracefully on one hand, her slender body supporting her jade-like face. A smile played on her lips, a smile from the heart, breathtakingly beautiful.
This figure could be no other than Bibi Dong.
The disciple she had chosen was naturally outstanding, unrivaled in the world!
"Wang Zhong winning, I am not surprised. If he had lost, then I would have been astonished!"
"However, he still has shortcomings. Ghost, you must pay close attention to this aspect!"
Though her lips curved into a smile, Bibi Dong's words remained stern and solemn.
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope."
"Wang Zhong's naivete, I will do my utmost to correct it within these six months."
Ghost placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head in assent.
Yes, naivete, or perhaps foolishness. Wars among soul masters were inherently cruel, yet Wang Zhong had foolishly believed Mad Bear's almost idiotic words.
If Wang Zhong's strength hadn't been so great, he could have been severely injured by that blow! And when walking the path of a soul master, this was a life-threatening issue!