Infinite Fighting

Soaking in a bathtub full of medicinal powder, Zhang Ji was talking with Kratos.

"Large-caliber firearms and modern weapons are hard to find here," Kratos listed off. "The civilian exoskeletons are more than a dozen generations obsolete, let alone the military-grade ones. There isn’t much that can help you..."

"Can I drive a construction vehicle in there and run them over?" Zhang Ji asked suddenly.

He wasn’t kidding.

In the no-holds-barred fighting competitions he knew of, there were actually people who fought using planes and tanks.

"How would that be possible? The entrance to the arena in Blue City is so small that getting a motorcycle in is the absolute limit."

Kratos had a strange expression on his face, wondering how Zhang Ji could ask such an absurd question.

"Can we get a jetpack? Or a small cargo drone? Wouldn’t it be easier to fly up high and drop bombs on them?" Zhang Ji inquired.

"This is a martial arts tournament, not a war. Besides, it has a dome. You’ve seen it—it’s only ten meters high. If you fly, you’ll just be a target, and it’ll mess with your aim," Kratos said with a raised eyebrow.

Zhang Ji glanced at Kratos. ’His thinking is a bit old-fashioned.’

’They call it a no-holds-barred competition. Is it so hard to imagine someone showing up to a fight wearing a jetpack?’

"Are you just going to train here?" Kratos asked doubtfully. "Is the secret medicine for Iron Shirt still effective for you?"

"It is," Zhang Ji said. "The gains from training are greater than the benefits of finding a couple more guns."

If he could cultivate another Iron Shirt combat skill crystal, his defense would be significantly enhanced.

Right now, small-caliber bullets felt no different to him than little plastic pellets. If his defense was strengthened further, the amount of damage he could withstand would undergo a qualitative change.

Considering Zhang Ji’s current level of skill, Kratos had no rebuttal.

"It’s a shame. When the Vajra Sect was destroyed, I was just an ordinary disciple who had recently joined. I never had the chance to learn its profound martial arts. Otherwise, with your talent, you might have been able to master the Vajra Sect’s Vajra Indestructible Body," Kratos lamented.

"The Vajra Indestructible Body?"

Zhang Ji raised an eyebrow. He had seen players demonstrate that thing in online videos.

It was a blue-rarity (Excellent) grade combat skill.

Once mastered, it allowed one to withstand the direct impact of ordinary artillery shells, and even low-yield missiles wouldn’t cause much damage.

The player who posted the video had intentionally gotten a wanted level, fought the responding army, and then left completely unscathed.

At B-rank strength, one could already ignore most modern firearms.

"You know about it?" Kratos asked.

"I’ve heard of it. They say at full mastery, it can block artillery shells," Zhang Ji said. "You’re from the Vajra Sect? How was it destroyed?"

"That was twenty-one years ago. The Vajra Sect had a feud with the Blazing Saber Sect. The conflict escalated, and they held a sect-level deathmatch tournament," Kratos said.

"So the Vajra Sect lost?" Zhang Ji asked.

"No, the Vajra Sect won," Kratos said. "But it was a Pyrrhic victory. Afterwards, the remaining disciples of the Vajra Sect were purged by the Eastern Extreme Country. Those who had done the sect’s dirty work didn’t escape. Even newcomers like me, who were confirmed not to have received the sect’s legacy, were thrown onto Shanli Island."

"Too much of a coincidence," Zhang Ji said, shaking his head.

"It is quite the coincidence. But the Eastern Extreme Country today wants social stability. They no longer want Martial Artists and sects. All who practice martial arts must be regulated, registered as official fighters. It’s the way things are going," Kratos sighed.

Zhang Ji’s gaze was profound.

’The Eastern Extreme Country is right to regulate and restrain fighters, but their methods are wrong.’

’Their very premise—not wanting too many people to possess powerful individual martial strength—is flawed from the start.’

’This method of restricting the development of combat arts, a crude approach that kills everything indiscriminately, will put them at a complete disadvantage in the coming age of great conflict.’

’The sects were already paragons of isolated development, yet the country is destroying them one by one, confiscating all martial legacies and preventing their dissemination and evolution. It’s equivalent to completely locking the Eastern Extreme Country’s combat arts tech tree.’

’Of course, locking the combat arts of the [True Self Stream] isn’t a dead end.’

’After all, within the [Profound Heart Stream], there’s also the [Technologist] playstyle, where fighters rely entirely on external equipment to arm themselves, and they’re no weaker than other streams.’

’Unfortunately, the speed of technological development in the Eastern Extreme Country is falling slightly behind the rate at which fighters in the outside world are improving their strength.’

Zhang Ji didn’t dwell on it for too long. He had to get through this current challenge before he could even consider the future.

...

In twenty-eight days, Zhang Ji cultivated a new Iron Shirt combat skill crystal.

His natural talent was improving.

As he continued to cultivate new combat skill essences, the "bottle" representing his potential also grew larger.

At this rate, sooner or later, he would be able to acquire one Iron Shirt combat skill essence per day.

Furthermore, he felt his body’s need for medicinal aids was decreasing.

His self-Recovery abilities and so on were much stronger than before.

In the future, he might be able to train normally without the support of these secret medicines.

With a thought, he equipped all three Iron Shirt combat skill crystals from his Limited Space.

Zhang Ji’s muscles tensed, and his skin took on a faint, weak sheen, like metal or perhaps jade.

After a moment of adjustment, Zhang Ji took out a pistol and aimed it at his own chest.

BANG!

CLANG! THUD-THUD!

The bullet struck his chest, actually letting out a sound like metal striking metal. Then, part of the kinetic energy was dispersed and absorbed by his skin and muscles, and the bullet was directly deflected to the side, where it pierced through the mattress.

Previously, his Iron Shirt only dispersed and absorbed kinetic energy; it didn’t have a ricochet effect.

But now, at thirty percent mastery, it seemed to have gained some kind of rebound effect.

It had gained a certain rigidity.

Moreover, Zhang Ji had a vague feeling that as he circulated his Breathing Skill, this rebounding force could become even stronger, but it would require a more powerful blow to be activated.

With another slight thought, Zhang Ji also equipped the Raccoon Claw Skill essence from his Limited Space.

The ten fingers on both his hands changed once again.

They grew longer, and the tips of his nails became somewhat sharp.

Although his Raccoon Claw Skill was only at the entry level, a mere ten percent mastery...

...with the thirty percent mastery of Iron Shirt as a foundation, these claws shouldn’t break easily. With strength alone, he could probably pierce deep into bone.

Zhang Ji extended four fingers and casually jabbed at the wall.

THWIP!

It was like plunging them into sand; he felt no resistance at all.

He easily sank half his palm into it.

It was mostly thanks to his Iron Shirt, but the effect of the Raccoon Claw Skill was also very apparent. The two skills complemented each other.

Zhang Ji pulled his hand out, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He was quite satisfied with this result.

At this point, there was only one day left until the martial arts tournament in the Blue City District.

Zhang Ji didn’t plan on training anymore.

After training, the body needed a period of Recovery and couldn’t maintain its peak condition.

What he needed to do today was rest well, relax his mind and body, and recuperate.

Wu Chen had somehow found him a game console, and Zhang Ji found a few fighting games on it. He and Kratos happily played all day long.

The two of them seemed to have no awareness that they were about to face a life-or-death tournament, appearing completely relaxed.

Halfway through their game, Kratos suddenly said, "How about... I go instead."

"I have to fight," Zhang Ji said.

He knew Kratos was afraid he would die and was thinking of taking his place, figuring it wouldn’t matter if he himself died.

But that wasn’t how Zhang Ji saw it.

’I have to seize this opportunity. I have to fight for victory, for the Five Elements Sect’s resources and the status of an official disciple. I have to leave Shanli Island with my head held high.’

’If you don’t fight, you get nothing. If you fight, you can get everything you want.’

It was a principle Kratos himself had taught him.

He had savored that bowl of roasted duck rice. If he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second to kill that dog to claim the food.

Kratos watched Zhang Ji, feeling quite emotional.

’Once upon a time, I had that same kind of spirit!’

But alas, life was unpredictable, and his own spirit had been worn down until there was little left.

"Let’s keep going. This time I’ll pick the one who can shoot fireballs!" Kratos said.

"It’s no use. You’ll lose even if you play cheap," Zhang Ji said.

...

...

「Blue City District.」

After arriving, Zhang Ji, Kratos, and the others made their way to the spectator area of the arena.

The arena was quite large, big enough for a game of soccer.

It was flanked by seven-meter-high walls, with only two narrow entrances below. Once someone entered, iron gates would fall, completely cutting off any retreat. Only the living could leave.

The previous ruler of the Blue City District used to hold irregular fighting competitions, which is why this arena was built.

Of course, they were the bloody, no-rules kind of fighting competitions.

Most of the time, only one person made it out alive.

This type of event attracted a large audience.

After all, entertainment was truly scarce in this place.

When Zhang Ji arrived, other bosses had already gotten there ahead of him.

These bosses were all equipped with various weapons and wore modified, full-body armor.

Wang Quan was also here, and next to him stood a long-haired young man.

The young man was over 1.9 meters tall, a bit taller than Zhang Ji’s 1.85-meter frame and comparable to Kratos.

Zhang Ji noticed that Wang Quan was positioned slightly behind the young man.

This meant the young man was the one truly in charge here.

On the other side of the spectator area, there was another group of people.

They were also bosses from Shanli Island.

However, their leader was an old man with long, white hair.

The old man sat calmly on a chair, flanked by two beautiful young women who were massaging his shoulders and legs.

"Elder, is everyone here?" Li Long asked Wang Quan.

"They’re all here," Wang Quan said with a nod.

"Then let’s begin," Li Long said.

Wang Quan nodded and gave a hand signal.

Immediately, someone brought over two lottery boxes.

The people from the other side walked up to one of the boxes and began to draw lots.

The people on Zhang Ji’s side were also signaled to go and draw.

In his hand, Zhang Ji felt a ball with the number three.

"You will enter the arena according to the number you’ve drawn," Master Quan said. "If you win, you can leave. You can also choose to stay and continue fighting. Win one match, and you’ll earn the status of an official disciple of the Five Elements Sect and can leave Shanli Island. After you get out, the Five Elements Sect will also gift you a business property worth ten million. Even after leaving here, you’ll still be a cut above the rest. Win two matches, and you’ll get an additional ten million."

"And if I win more?" Zhang Ji asked suddenly.

Master Quan was about to speak, but Li Long looked over and said, "There’s no upper limit. Win three matches, you get thirty million. Win four, you get forty million..."

"What if I want a higher status within the Five Elements Sect?" Zhang Ji asked, looking directly at Li Long.

He had already learned Li Long’s identity from Kratos.

He was the current Daoist of the Five Elements Sect, equivalent to the next successor.

If he could get his permission, what Zhang Ji could obtain would be far more than just money.

Li Long sized up Zhang Ji, his gaze lingering on his ten fingers for a couple of seconds. Then he smiled. "Fine. If you can win five matches, I’ll make you my direct disciple."

A direct disciple of the Daoist. This was not a low position in the Five Elements Sect; it was equivalent to being part of the core group of elders being cultivated by the next Sect Leader.

Wang Quan was a little surprised by Li Long’s promise but didn’t interfere.

In his view, if someone from Zhang Ji’s side could truly achieve such a record, they would indeed deserve that status.