Stronger with More Jobs

...

On the second day of the knockout rounds, Central Arena.

On the huge light screen, the leaderboard still bore the two shining names: Thunder God, Bail Huo!

As Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei each stepped onto their respective arenas, the audience erupted in a wave of applause and cheers.

However, this time, the situation was different.

Fang Qingyu’s opponent.

Was already standing on the arena.

The person was shrouded in a large black robe, face covered by a blank white mask. His aura was cold and foreboding, like a ghost that had crawled out of a grave.

He stood there quietly, showing no reaction to the audience’s passionate chants of "Thunder God".

Unlike previous opponents, he didn’t concede outright.

Fang Qingyu’s melted-gold vertical pupils narrowed slightly under his mask.

Interesting.

In an inconspicuous corner of the audience.

A woman dressed in an elegant gown, with a gentle and graceful demeanor, sat quietly.

Her gaze, as precise as the finest lens, was fixed on Fang Qingyu on the arena.

Seeing the black-robed masked man launch a fierce attack, her lips curved into a playful, expectant smile.

She raised her hand slowly, bringing a small phone close to her lips, her voice as soft as a lover’s whisper:

"President...now, you can admire this genius."

The echo of the referee announcing the start of the match was still vibrating in the air.

When Fang Qingyu suddenly burst out with blinding golden Shenxiao Thunder.

Boom——!!!

Furious currents coiled and surged like a raging dragon.

Instantly transforming him into a Thunder God descended upon the mortal world.

Golden arcs of electricity crackled on his body, emitting a destructive aura.

The audience erupted into a deafening frenzy:

"Thunder God! Thunder God! Thunder God!"

"Here it is! Finally making a move!"

"Finish him in seconds!!"

However, in stark contrast to the fervent audience was the serene, dark-robed masked man on the other end of the arena.

Confronted with the overwhelming divine power that would terrify an ordinary Tier Three Martial Saint.

The black-robed figure stood still as a statue, the featureless white mask facing Fang Qingyu’s direction, with not a hint of breath movement nor any sign of retreat.

The broad black robe remained unmoved, as if the fierce thunder were no more than a gentle breeze brushing past.

Fang Qingyu’s melted-gold vertical pupils instantly locked onto the opponent under the glow of thunder.

At the moment when their gazes met...

The black-robed figure moved.

His silhouette vanished from the spot in an instant.

The next moment, an icy killing intent clung to Fang Qingyu’s left side ribcage like a deadly parasite, erupting into existence.

A short, entirely black, and oddly shaped dagger aimed straight for Fang Qingyu’s vital heart.

The air was compressed to the extreme as the blade passed.

Emitting a shrill screech that made teeth ache.

When Fang Qingyu saw the opponent’s title and realized he was dealing with a Martial Saint, he had already prepared in advance.

The fingers of his left hand spread wide, wrapped in golden thunder.

Grabbing at the incoming blade with unparalleled precision.

Zzzzzz——!!!

The grating sound of metal friction exploded.

Fang Qingyu, with his hand covered in Shenxiao, firmly grasped the body of the black dagger.

The wild golden thunder found an outlet and surged madly up the blade!

Zap! Zap! Zap!

The blinding golden electric serpents instantly crawled up the black-robed figure’s right arm holding the blade, and then, like greedy vines, quickly engulfed his entire upper body.

Golden lightning danced and exploded on his wide black robe.

Emitting a scalp-tingling blast, a burnt flesh scent spread in the air.

According to reason, even a Peak of Third Tier Martial Saint.

Faced with such a ferocious Shenxiao Thunder invasion would be instantly paralyzed and rigid, if not severely injured and incapacitated.

However...

The body of the black-robed man under the golden Thunder Net merely trembled slightly, with a movement so minute it was almost imperceptible.

No screams, no convulsions.

Not even the slightest delay due to pain or paralysis.

His pale mask remained fixed on Fang Qingyu.

As if the Shenxiao Thunder was no more than harmless static electricity.

In the moment when Fang Qingyu was momentarily stunned.

The black-robed figure made a move that caused the entire audience to gasp.

He completely ignored the right arm and dagger fiercely gripped by Fang Qingyu, as well as the Shenxiao Thunder wreaking havoc all over his body.

The left fist!

Covered with protective qi blood condensed to the extreme, presenting a dark, murky hue, and carrying a terrifying power capable of cracking stones, it struck Fang Qingyu’s temple without any flourish.

The punch’s wind tore through the air, emitting a dull explosion.

This was a tactic of trading injury for injury, even life for life.

More unsettlingly, he seemed entirely numb to the pain of the thunder coursing through him.

Fang Qingyu’s brow furrowed slightly.

"This isn’t right!"

The paralyzing and destructive effects of Shenxiao Thunder were authority-level powers, not something that could be completely negated by mere physical strength.

Unless the opponent was a Tier Four existence, it was impossible for them to be so unaffected.

In a split second, Fang Qingyu chose the most secure strategy.

He didn’t try to meet the strange punch head-on but swiftly twisted his waist, bending his neck backward at an extremely awkward angle, narrowly avoiding the fearsome punch that grazed his temple.

At the same time——

Boom!!!

A blinding golden Thunderstorm exploded beneath his feet.

Propelled by the wild impact mixed with Shenxiao’s speed, Fang Qingyu’s figure instantly turned into a ripping golden electric arc, retreating dozens of meters.

He landed steadily on the other side of the arena.

Creating plenty of distance from the black-robed figure.

The entire sequence was seamless, from blocking, dodging the punch, to retreating, performed in one fluid motion.

"Hiss——!!!"

The audience erupted in a chorus of gasps, followed by an even more fervent tide of discussions.

"He blocked it?! That guy took Thunder God’s lightning?!!"

"Heaven! He’s okay?! He can still counterattack?!"

"What kind of monstrous body is that?! Even Shenxiao can’t paralyze him?!"

"Did you see? Thunder God backed away! For the first time!!"

"This is exciting! This is a true battle of dragons and tigers!!"

"Who is the black-robed figure?! Which faction?!!"

Everyone’s eyes were glued to the arena, hearts in their throats.

No one expected that on the second day of the knockout rounds, such a formidable figure could stand up to Thunder God’s power without falling.

The black-robed figure’s eerie strangeness and strength.

Instantly ignited the deeply suppressed anticipation of the entire audience.

On the arena, the air seemed to freeze.

Fang Qingyu’s melted-gold vertical pupils narrowed slightly, observing the black-robed figure still entwined in golden electric serpents from a distance of dozens of meters.

The Shenxiao Thunder continued to rage across him, emitting a crackling roar, the black robe charred and torn in many places, revealing the underlying equally burnt but still functioning limbs.

But beneath that stark white mask.

There were still no signs of pain or wavering.

The black-robed figure slowly raised his thunder-singed left hand, gently brushing it over the still crackling right arm.

This action carried a non-human rigidness.

He didn’t immediately pursue, instead behaving like a beast evaluating its prey, commencing a slow, steady pacing across the arena.

The pale mask was always fixed in Fang Qingyu’s direction.

Fang Qingyu’s brow remained tightly knitted, the doubts within him growing heavier.

Unmoved by Shenxiao’s paralysis, inhuman endurance, or lack of sensation?

A stiff yet precise movement...

Everything pointed to a very familiar and unpleasant answer.

Fang Qingyu stared at the pacing black-robed figure, puppet-like in its movements.

Expressionless, he murmured softly:

"He Manhe?"