Who could have expected that after Wang Zhan had tangled with them for so long, with the arena floor shockingly scarred, both sides had merely been feigning, holding back their true strength to stage such a grand spectacle?

Wang Zhan sensed the shift in their auras—a touch of grim resolve, the scent of blood, and a profound weight that settled in his heart. How similar this was to his friends from the Eastern Battlefield, the ones who had lost limbs in the fighting. Even when facing death, even when their survival was uncertain, even when the future was unknown, even with so much reluctance, they could not retreat a single step. There was only death, only to die fighting!

Wang Zhan's back slowly straightened. He gradually closed his eyes and ears, and the smile on his face vanished completely, his expression turning solemn and merciless.

Suddenly, he scanned his surroundings, his gaze falling upon the seven fine young men of the Yu State Military Martial Academy team, and then he roared.

"Humans will never be slaves!"

Wang Ping also roared, "Humans will never be slaves!"

"Humans will never be slaves!"

"Humans will never be slaves! ..."

It was not the voice of one person, but of seven, then seventy, then what sounded like seven thousand.

At this moment, everyone in the Temporary Stadium truly understood the meaning of a life-and-death battle on the stage. It wasn't that they wouldn't die, but that they *could* die; no one could guarantee their own survival.

To obtain a piece of Martial King Equipment, one had to risk their fragile life. Only with great sacrifice could there be great reward.

If their previous exchanges had been mere sparring, filled with playful taunts and flashes of anger, then from this moment on, it was a true confrontation, with no possibility of retreat, not even half a step!

Therefore, upon the stage where roars of defiance boiled and the will to fight to the death burned fiercely, Wang Zhan was finally the first to act.

He charged forward without reservation, relentlessly. If the Yu State Military Martial Academy team didn't want to die, they could only fall by his hand. That was the only way he could show mercy; otherwise, he would be the one to die.

"KILL!"

He didn't want to die, and he wouldn't. Therefore, the Yu State Military Martial Academy team had to.

"Military Killing Fist!" Wang Zhan bellowed, decisively breaking the prohibition Yun Tianyi had established.

Since it was a battle to the death, what did methods, rules, or restrictions matter? Any fist that could kill was a good fist. The Military Killing Fist was the Military Department's sharpest, most lethal technique!

"KILL!"

Wang Ping refused to be outdone. Almost simultaneously, the auras of the seven erupted, their intent becoming murderous and decisive, all pretense of mercy gone.

Three Warriors took the lead, forming the vanguard to block Wang Zhan's charge, fearless of death.

Behind them, four other Warriors began to maneuver, their chain-hammers linking together. If Wang Zhan was contained, it would be manageable. But if he truly broke through their formation, this web of chains would be the heaven and earth net to intercept him and drag him back into the deadly embrace of the battlefield.

At this moment, the roars continued to surge. The stadium throbbed with adrenaline, passion, and the unyielding resolve to face death.

Even Yuan Mengru and Lin Xiaoyin, the two women, were shouting at the top of their lungs, their voices unwavering, words tumbling from their lips, their hearts pounding relentlessly.

"Humans will never be slaves!"

"Humans will never be slaves! ..."

On the stage, life and death hung in the balance; from the sidelines, a battle hymn arose.

Even the reporter, no longer caring that he had snuck in, openly took out his recording device, placed it before everyone, and declaimed in a resonant voice,

"Do you gentlemen still remember! Seventy-two brave men of the Human Race, slaughtering on the Green Stone Platform!

"Do you gentlemen still remember! Eighteen heroes of the Human Race, meeting their deaths in Jing State!

"Do you gentlemen still remember! Twenty-eight leaders of the Human Race, fallen in battle beyond the stars!

"Today, we shall witness it again: the young sons of the Human Race, fighting for victory on the battlefield! No retreat, no surrender, only death or glory!..."

This is the Human Race! What does dissent matter? They do not retreat unless they die in battle!

You harbor treachery? I offer my life! Either you will reap the turbulent mortal world, or the Human Race will send you to your grave!

Those of the Human Race who die on the battlefield, those who slay beasts, those who bravely meet their end, those whose spines stand tall and unbent.

Their numbers are greater than the grains of sand in the Ganges River!

"KILL! KILL! KILL!"

The three closed in, neither evading nor retreating.

Wang Ping and his team had no attention to spare for the commotion offstage, and neither did Wang Zhan.

His gaze was firm, cold, and merciless. His fists were like azure dragons, his feet like soaring flood dragons. Heedless of anything else, he advanced step by step, trampling the green grass, determined to cut down the enemy before him.

"DIE!"

Wang Zhan roared, his Military Killing Fist striking out like a dragon, smashing directly onto a flying hammer. He paid no heed to his own flesh and blood, sending the hammer flying, its wielder unable to hold on.

Wang Ping knew Wang Zhan was formidable, but he had never imagined he could be so ferocious as to send a Warrior's weapon flying with a single punch. Seeing the torn flesh and seeping blood on Wang Zhan's fist, Wang Ping's heart clenched. He shouted sharply, "Abandon the encirclement! Everyone forward! Don't give him any room to maneuver!"

Previously, when Wang Zhan hadn't been fighting with true ferocity, they could handle him with ease, like a cornered beast. But now that Wang Zhan was serious, the Yu State Military Martial Academy's formation could no longer contain him!

Despite seven flying hammers whirling through the air, Wang Zhan still managed to seize the initiative, forcing one of their main fighters into a mere supporting role, only able to harass him. Who could guarantee Wang Zhan wouldn't consolidate his gains even faster?

In fact, Wang Zhan did just that. Even with the hammers dancing in the air, he fixed his gaze on one, ignoring the wound on his palm, and snatched at it.

He said coldly, "Give it to me!"

BANG.

A Martial Artist was dragged stumbling forward by Wang Zhan, yet he stubbornly refused to let go of his weapon. But Wang Zhan, seemingly possessed and utterly heedless, used the captured flying hammer to ensnare the others. With a hard tug, he roared with laughter.

"You can't stop me! It's time for this to end!"

Yes, it's time for this to end! If this drags on, someone will surely die!

Because, with Wang Zhan's sudden explosive burst of speed, the heaven and earth net formed by the flying hammers was rendered useless. That Martial Artist was dragged right to his side, and then Wang Zhan kicked him viciously in his soft abdomen.

THUMP. A figure was sent flying. There were no screams, only the warrior's face, contorted in agony.

"Release!"

Seeing the situation, Wang Ping knew Wang Zhan had seized the advantage too quickly, disabling the flying hammers. Without hesitation, he made a decisive choice and let go. Then, he charged forward once more, aiming for close combat while Wang Zhan was momentarily disengaging from the hammers.

One charged out, while six others closed in, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

"KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!"

Would they lose? Of course, they would. Wang Zhan still had so many trump cards. Since he had forcibly broken Yun Tianyi's rules, the life-and-death duel had become a no-holds-barred fight. So, if they continued, someone might die. And Wang Ping hoped it would be him.

Wang Zhan swiftly surveyed his surroundings. They were closing in from all directions—three Martial Artists, three Warriors, each one brave, fighting to the death without retreat.

The tangled mess of flying hammers in his hand was now ignored by everyone. Wang Zhan let it drop without a care and shouted, "Military Killing Fist!"

The focus of the attack was Wang Zhan himself, as if it were soldier against soldier, general against general.

A sinking feeling struck Wang Ping. A brilliant azure armor materialized around him. His face set with determination, he roared, "Seven Wolves Fist!"

Like bared fangs, like striking claws—the so-called Seven Wolves Fist was a technique meant to kill, a fist that decided life and death. And Wang Ping launched it with no thought for his own defense. If I'm going to die, I'll take you down with me!

Finally, with a deafening BOOM, a flurry of fists rained down on Wang Zhan's body and back, each landing with a sickening thud.

The arena, moments before filled with roaring sound, fell into a deathly silence.

POP.

In a corner only Wang Zhan could hear, the System's interface flickered and changed.

Strength: 3,301

Agility: 3,301

Physique: 3,301

Charm: 240

Wisdom: 100

Mental Power: 9,600

Wang Zhan had completely shattered the level 9 boundary.

This time, he hadn't relied on the System. Instead, he was growing stronger through combat, achieving success in this one battle.

When he opened his eyes again, barely a breath later, they shone as brightly as guiding beacons.

Wang Ping, who was right before him, was the first to notice the change in Wang Zhan. Wang Zhan's aura has changed again! He's getting stronger! What we saw before wasn't his full power! He was about to roar a warning, to tell everyone to fall back.

But he had no time. The only response was a dull, heavy impact.

"You lose! Your realm is too weak. You could only be defeated by me!"

One of Wang Ping's core teammates, a student at the Warrior realm, was sent flying by Wang Zhan's savage kick to the stomach. Utterly unable to resist, he was thrown backward, the tremendous force of the blow dragging him across the green grass, leaving a shallow trench. His face was deathly pale.

"You!" Wang Ping roared, understanding dawning. When Wang Zhan exchanged blows with me, he was using a feint! I wasn't his target—the others were!

However, Wang Zhan merely offered a faint, chilling smile, his movements never pausing. He clapped a hand on Wang Ping, brutally hauled him up, and used him to sweep across the arena.

"Admit defeat!"

"KILL! FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!" Wang Ping bellowed.

Who could have imagined that in a mere instant, Wang Zhan could completely turn the tables? His aura is even stronger now; he's advanced again!

Unfortunately, Wang Ping had no more chances.

Even as his teammates, their faces grim, resolved to fight to the death and surged forward to rescue him.

With Wang Zhan wielding him like a club, his teammates were broken one by one. Like soccer balls, they were kicked far away. Against Wang Zhan's speed, which was akin to a bloodline talent, they were powerless to resist.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG! ...

Excluding Wang Ping and two other unlucky souls still in Wang Zhan's grasp, four sickening thuds echoed, each one tightening the nerves of everyone present, both in and out of the arena.

"A hopeless fight to the death is just foolish," Wang Zhan said coldly.

This small step he had taken instantly widened the gap between him and all his peers in the arena by a massive stride.

Wang Ping looked at his teammates. Their faces were pale; some had even fainted, their conditions unknown.

A sudden, stark realization hit him. They had truly lost. Lost to Wang Zhan.

I had a premonition, but how can I accept this?!

And yet, could they still win? I'm the only one left. Who here is a match for Wang Zhan?

Silent, utterly silent, Wang Ping finally lowered his head, allowing Wang Zhan to do as he pleased.

"Yu State Military Martial Academy… admits defeat!"

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