"Bang!"
Another clash of fists sent a massive shockwave rippling through the air.
This time, however, Xu Taiping stood unshaken, while Fan Qi staggered back several steps from the impact of the punch.
"Boom!"
Before Fan Qi could regain his footing, Xu Taiping's next punch was already on its way.
Fan Qi's right foot stomped the ground fiercely, gathering his inner strength to meet the punch head-on.
"Bang!"
Amidst the thunderous noise, Fan Qi was once again forced back by Xu Taiping's fist, showing signs of being overpowered.
In contrast, Xu Taiping's punches grew fiercer. Two consecutive Charging Bull Formation strikes, with the momentum of splitting mountains, forced Fan Qi back several steps to the center of the ring before he could steady himself.
The sudden turnaround on the ring sent a wave of astonishment through the spectators.
The Sixth Princess, whose heart had almost leapt to her throat, let out a long sigh of relief.
"In such a short time, he actually managed to integrate the essence of his punches. Truly a martial arts prodigy."
Below the ring, Huang Que couldn't help but applaud, recognizing the key to Xu Taiping's reversal over Fan Qi.
"Boom!"
As the sound of an air explosion echoed, Huang Que's gaze returned to the ring.
"How can your pretentious punch compare to the raging fury in my chest?"
After being hammered back by Xu Taiping, Fan Qi suddenly roared.
His tangible anger and killing intent merged on his fist, turning into a torrential punch that he hurled at Xu Taiping.
"Bang!"
Another loud crash, and both Xu Taiping and Fan Qi were knocked back.
This punch, containing all of Fan Qi's strength, allowed him to regain some dignity.
"Boom!"
But immediately, they both righted themselves and exchanged punches once more.
Each subsequent punch was met with tacit understanding; neither dodged the other's fist.
It was as if they were engaged in a contest of strength, determined to break the other's fist with their own.
"Young man, do you know how much I've sacrificed to forge this killing intent and rage? It's for my family, my wife and daughter, my unreachable homeland, and the lives of a million people!" Fan Qi roared as he desperately threw another punch.
"Bang!"
The impact sent Xu Taiping back two steps, his punch's essence momentarily suppressed.
However, Xu Taiping quickly steadied himself and, with resolute eyes, swung his fist towards Fan Qi once more.
"In my view, your so-called furious punch is no match for the valiant spirit of those lone heroes."
As he spoke, he threw his own punch.
Unlike Fan Qi's punch, filled with anger and killing intent, Xu Taiping's punch was pure and unyielding, like the hearts of those Mortal Bones who refused to compromise even in the face of death.
"Bang!"
Once again, their fists collided, and both were knocked back, only to abruptly right themselves and launch another attack.
The cycle repeated.
Yet, the seemingly simple exchange of punches generated an impressive force.
Each collision stirred up a fierce gale that swept across the entire arena, and the resulting crashes were as deafening as splitting rocks, filled with a brutal, destructive force that seemed to pulverize anything caught within.
At this moment, the two combatants on the ring appeared to the audience like ancient beasts locked in relentless combat.
Even Huang Que dared not underestimate either of them at this point.
"Boom!"
Then, they exchanged another punch.
This time, Fan Qi's furious punch seemed to reach a new level of intensity.
But even so, it still couldn't completely suppress Xu Taiping's punch.
"The punch born from the courage of a commoner with Mortal Bones actually withstood Fan Qi's fury, forged from a million corpses and countless betrayals. Xu Taiping, you truly impress me."
Watching the scene unfold, Huang Que noted that Xu Taiping's punch, though seemingly simple, was incredibly resilient, much like those Mortal Bones who refused to back down despite being outmatched.
"Bang!"
Xu Taiping and Fan Qi exchanged another punch.
This time, Fan Qi was pushed back several steps, while Xu Taiping remained immovable.
The long-standing stalemate between them was suddenly broken.
"Ren Tu Fan Qi has lost in the contest of punch essence."
Some knowledgeable spectators showed shock on their faces.
Fan Qi on the ring also realized this, but he was not willing to admit defeat.
He lashed out with another furious punch, trying to overpower Xu Taiping's momentum.
But soon, he found that his rage and killing intent were fading, like a river running dry.
"Bang!"
With another collision, Fan Qi was sent reeling back by Xu Taiping's punch.
As he prepared to raise his fist for another strike, he suddenly found that the punch essence he had gathered with great difficulty was shattered by Xu Taiping's blow.
"Bang!"
After crushing Fan Qi's punch, Xu Taiping's fist landed heavily on Fan Qi's abdomen.
The tremendous force lifted him off the ground, and it took him great effort to regain his footing.
But immediately, Xu Taiping's fist was upon him again.
This time, Xu Taiping unleashed the Charging Bull Formation.
Fan Qi, however, did not give up. Relying on his body, tough as bronze and iron, he withstood Xu Taiping's punches and seized the opportunity to strike back.
At this point, Xu Taiping also stopped blocking Fan Qi's punches, choosing instead to meet them head-on.
The arena was filled with the sounds of flesh and bone colliding and bones cracking.
In a short while, both Xu Taiping and Fan Qi were drenched in blood.
At this moment, their contest was no longer about technique, inner strength, or physical endurance, but about the willpower sustaining their punch essence and momentum.
Fan Qi's conviction was his overwhelming killing intent and rage.
Xu Taiping's conviction was the unyielding spirit of a Mortal Bones.
They were fighting for a single breath.
"Bang!"
Moments later, after another exchange of punches, Fan Qi spat out a mouthful of blood, and his punch collapsed.
Taiping, on the other hand, not only maintained his punch but burned even brighter, as if it would never extinguish.
Clearly, the struggle was nearing its end.
"Boom!"
At that moment, Xu Taiping's final punch of the Charging Bull Formation reached its peak.
"Blinding, truly blinding…"
Struggling to rise from the ground, Fan Qi squinted at Xu Taiping, who was readying his punch, his bloodied mouth twitching.
Unlike the others, Xu Taiping's punch essence shone like the midday sun in Fan Qi's eyes, dazzling enough to blind.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas