84: Chapter 84 On the Scene of the Match: Zhang Hao's Powerful Punch

Section 1: Steel Confrontation Under the Spotlights

The arena's dome hung with a hundred spotlights, illuminating the central ring like broad daylight. As Chen Wu stepped onto the ring along a trail of cyan-gold Qi Energy, a wave of people suddenly rose in the stands—members of the Mutant Mutual Aid Association held glowing posters of "Baji Collapse," forming a sharp contrast with Zhang Hao's fan club. Lin Mo's tactical tablet hovered beside the referee's seat, with thirty-six miniature cameras capturing every detail of the ring. The data stream pulsing on the virtual screen showed: Zhang Hao's alloy arm had undergone three modifications, with punch force breaking through 1,200 kilograms, a 40% increase from their last encounter.

"He secretly swapped for a 'Titan Alloy' skeleton," the Chief of the Execution Division's voice came through the earpiece. In the holographic projection, Zhang Hao's training video was playing in slow motion, with a ring of black patterns added to the joints of the alloy arm. "The Technical Department detected the signal of Grey Shadow's 'Explosive Power Chip,' which can boost explosive power by 100% within three punches but will damage the nerves." She suddenly pushed Zhang Hao's physical examination report onto the virtual screen, where the electromyogram inside a red circle showed abnormal fluctuations: "He can last five rounds at most; a flaw will inevitably appear after the fifth punch."

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe made a muffled thud on the front row of the audience seats. The old man wore a deep blue magua left by his grandfather, his pipe pointing at the Tomb-Guarding Beast totem in the center of the ring: "This kid used all the Vitality Energy you left last time to strengthen his Hard Energy." His Qi Energy flowed through the pipe into the ring, forming a spiral protective layer at Chen Wu's feet. "Remember your Great-grandfather's words: steel breaks when it meets softness. Let him have three punches first."

In the Flower Girl's basket, the leaves of the inheritance grass suddenly tightened like bowstrings. Dewdrops rolled on the leaf surfaces, reflecting Zhang Hao's alloy arm—the black patterns were glowing, clearly a sign that the Explosive Power Chip had been activated. The young girl mixed the sap of the ming jin orchid and the Iron Tree Flower, and the pale gold "Qi-Protecting Dew" traveled along the leaf veins: "Elder Zhou said this is 'Force-Dissipating Light,'" she said, holding the leaf toward the ring. "It can form a buffer layer on your body's surface, absorbing 30% of the impact."

Officer Zhang's body camera was pointed at the first aid station on the side of the ring. The old policeman's knuckles turned white from the force of his grip. In the lens, Zhang Hao's coach was applying a black ointment to his alloy arm—it perfectly matched the composition of Grey Shadow's "Bone-Eroding Agent." "His father used this trick in 1987 too," the body camera suddenly switched to a recording from thirty years ago. After the young Zhangs Father applied the ointment in the ring, his opponent's arm rotted on the spot. "Use 'Silk-Reeling Power' to protect your body when you make contact later; absolutely do not let the ointment touch your skin."

When the referee rang the bell for the first round, Zhang Hao's alloy arm suddenly erupted with a piercing red light. Under the spotlights, his punch path was even more fierce than their last encounter, abandoning all defensive Moves. The first punch smashed toward Chen Wu's chest with the sound of breaking air—it was an improved version of "Iron Fist Mountain Breaker," and the black Qi Energy rising from the alloy fist's surface was more concentrated than the Spirit-Devourer powder from last time.

When Chen Wu started his "Baji Collapse," the cyan-gold Qi Energy suddenly split into two layers. The outer Hard Energy condensed into a shield, while the inner Soft Energy turned into a spiral, suddenly sinking at the moment of contact with the alloy fist. The spotlights captured a shocking image: Zhang Hao's fist fell into a Qi Energy vortex, and the force that was originally a straight-line impact was diverted diagonally downward, smashing a bowl-sized dent into the floor of the ring.

"First punch dissipated 70% of the force!" Lin Mo's exclamation carried a tremor. The pressure distribution map on the virtual screen showed Chen Wu's Qi Energy buffer layer glowing, as the Qi-Protecting Dew resonated with the Soft Energy of Baji Collapse. But a second ring of patterns suddenly lit up on Zhang Hao's alloy arm, and the Explosive Power Chip's output rose to 60%: "He's going for a combination!"

Section 2: Suffocating Suppression of Three Stone-Cracking Punches

When the second punch followed immediately, Chen Wu's Qi Energy protective layer suddenly vibrated. Zhang Hao's alloy fist abandoned the straight-line impact, opting for a tricky hook angle, with black Qi Energy condensing into barbs on the fist's surface—that was the "Armor-Breaking Power" newly developed by Grey Shadow, specifically targeting Qi Energy defenses. The stress sensor on the side of the ring emitted a piercing alarm. When the value jumped to 980 kilograms, a cyan-gold light suddenly lit up under Chen Wu's feet. The Qi Energy of the "Cross Stance" flowed through his legs into the ground, channeling the impact into the ring's foundation.

"This is the 'Rooting' of 'Baji Fist'!" the commentator's voice carried excitement. The slow-motion footage showed Chen Wu's knees bending 37 degrees at the moment of contact, perfectly matching the mechanical buffer angle, while the spiral power of "Baji Collapse" traveled along the alloy arm, attempting to invade the Explosive Power Chip's circuitry. But Zhang Hao suddenly gave a violent shout, the third ring of patterns on the alloy arm lit up, and his punch force instantly soared to 1,200 kilograms—Chen Wu's Qi Energy protective layer suddenly cracked, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Zhangs Father suddenly stood up in the stands. The old man's cane slammed heavily against the ground, and the body camera captured his mouth movements: "Stop!" But Zhang Hao's alloy arm had already thrown the third punch, this time aiming at Chen Wu's left shoulder—the site of an old injury from their last encounter. Black Qi Energy formed a miniature vortex on the fist's surface, clearly incorporating the spiral principle of "Baji Collapse" but completely discarding the Soft Energy buffer.

Chen Wu's peace lock suddenly erupted with a burning light. At the moment of contact, his body suddenly spun like a top, perfectly fusing the "Silk-Reeling Press" of "Baji Collapse" with the "Spinning Body" of the "Thirteen Styles of Tomb Suppression"—the cyan-gold Qi Energy vortex diverted the alloy fist to the side, and the two figures intertwined into an afterimage under the spotlights. When Zhang Hao's punch hit empty air, the ring's ropes suddenly tightened like bowstrings, and black Qi Energy spread along the ropes, burning a scorched mark into the floor.

"All three punches hit, but the defense didn't break!" A global bullet chat suddenly popped up on Lin Mo's tablet, with the exclamation marks sent by 8 billion viewers simultaneously forming a wall on the virtual screen. But a sharp pain suddenly came from Chen Wu's left shoulder, and the light of the peace lock dimmed a bit—the Qi Energy at the old injury site became disordered, as Zhang Hao's Armor-Breaking Power had still invaded his Meridians.

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe suddenly blew a puff of blue smoke toward the ring. The cyan-gold smoke condensed into a phantom of a Tomb-Guarding Beast above Chen Wu's head, and the old man's voice came through the Qi Energy: "Counterattack with 'Mountain-Drilling Lean'! His elbow joint is still the same old flaw!" The pipe pointed at the connection point of Zhang Hao's alloy arm, where the black patterns were flickering abnormally, clearly a sign that the Explosive Power Chip was overloading.

Zhang Hao's fourth punch came with a frenzied roar. The Explosive Power Chip's output was pushed to 100%, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of the alloy arm, and black Qi Energy no longer controlledly leaked out. Chen Wu's "Baji Collapse" suddenly changed Moves; the Hard Energy turned into an arrow, and the Soft Energy condensed into a spiral, suddenly drilling into the cracks of the alloy arm at the moment of contact. The ring's sonar System captured a piercing friction sound, and Zhang Hao's alloy arm suddenly stalled for 0.5 seconds, with white smoke rising from the joint.

"The chip is overheating!" the Chief of the Execution Division's voice carried excitement. In the holographic projection, Zhang Hao's electromyogram was completely disordered, with red alarms flashing wildly: "The next punch will inevitably have a 0.3-second delay; this is the best time to counterattack!"

Section 3: Vitality Counterattack Amidst the Steel Cracks

When the bell for the fifth round rang, Zhang Hao's alloy arm had already taken on an unnatural black hue. The side effects of the Explosive Power Chip began to manifest, as his right arm twitched uncontrollably, yet he still gritted his teeth and threw the fifth punch—this time the punch path showed a clear deviation, as the fist originally aimed at the chest grazed Chen Wu's shoulder, leaving a black mark on the protective gear.

"A flaw!" Grandpa Wang suddenly stood up in the stands. Chen Wu's "Baji Collapse" followed like a shadow, with cyan-gold Qi Energy invading along Zhang Hao's punch path. The Hard Energy struck the alloy arm's elbow joint directly, while the Soft Energy turned into countless Qi Energy threads, penetrating the chip's circuitry along the cracks. The slow-motion footage showed Zhang Hao's alloy arm twisting 90 degrees at the moment of contact, and the black patterns suddenly extinguished—the Explosive Power Chip was forcibly shut down.

"Why didn't you dodge?" Zhang Hao's roar carried disbelief. His alloy arm suddenly emitted a piercing alarm, as the self-destruct program was activated by the Qi Energy intrusion. Chen Wu's left hand suddenly pressed down on his shoulder, and Vitality Energy poured in through the contact point, forcing the neurotoxins out of his body: "Your grandfather told my grandfather back then that a Martial Artist can admit defeat, but cannot be a coward."

A cyan-gold light suddenly erupted in the center of the ring. Chen Wu's peace lock resonated with Zhang Hao's alloy arm, and the black Explosive Power Chip melted in the Vitality Energy, revealing the original skin color underneath—there was a pale cyan mark there, precisely the Tomb-Guarding Beast totem left from their last encounter. Zhang Hao's body suddenly jolted as memory fragments rushed in like a tide: as a youth in the police academy, his grandfather held his right hand and said, "Hard Energy must have a soft heart to be worthy of being called an Iron Fist."

"I lost." Zhang Hao's voice carried a sense of relief. He suddenly ripped out the alloy arm's connection wires, revealing his right arm covered in needle marks underneath—the skin there was regaining its color under the effect of the Vitality Energy. When the referee raised Chen Wu's left hand, a synchronized cheer suddenly erupted from the stands, as Zhang Hao's fan club members one after another held up "Baji Collapse" posters, merging with the members of the Mutant Mutual Aid Association into a cyan-gold ocean.

Lin Mo's tablet suddenly connected to the headlines of the Global Martial Arts System. On the virtual screen, Zhang Hao's training log was made public—the last page read: "Chen Wu's Vitality Energy can purify the chip's toxins; if I win, I must beg him to save my father." The youth's fingertips slid across the screen, where A-Mings younger sister's virtual avatar was clapping in the hospital room. The gene sequence curve on the monitor fluctuated due to excitement, yet it was much steadier than last time.

Section 4: The Legacy Light of Laying Down the Iron Fist

As the medical staff carried Zhang Hao away from the ring, he suddenly broke free from the stretcher and knelt on one knee before Chen Wu. The wreckage of the alloy arm traced an arc on the ground, forming an incomplete character for "Martial": "Please take me as your disciple," Zhang Hao's voice carried a sob, "I want to learn true harmony of hard and soft to heal my father's old injuries."

Chen Wu's peace lock lightly touched his forehead. Cyan-gold Qi Energy poured in through the Baihui Point, forming a rotating taiji diagram inside Zhang Hao's body—that was the introductory Mind-Cultivation Technique for "Baji Collapse." "Your grandfather's 'Iron Arm Fist' was originally meant to be fused with Baji Collapse," he said, helping Zhang Hao up as the Tomb-Guarding Beast totem in the center of the ring suddenly lit up. "Starting next week, come to the training hall."

In the Flower Girl's basket, the leaves of the inheritance grass suddenly unfurled like green butterflies. Dewdrops rolled on the leaf surfaces, reflecting the scene in the ring—the wreckage of Zhang Hao's alloy arm was melting, and the cyan-gold Qi Energy and black toxins battled under the spotlights, eventually turning into a sky full of light specks. The young girl sprinkled Qi-Protecting Dew into the air, and the pale gold light intertwined with the specks, forming a giant character for "Fusion" on the arena's dome.

Grandpa Wang's dry tobacco pipe tapped out a light rhythm in the audience seats. The old man pulled a cloth bundle from his magua pocket, which contained a photo of his grandfather and Zhangs Father when they were young—the two were shaking hands after a Tomb Guardian competition, with the Tomb-Guarding Beast totems on their boxing gloves glowing. "Your Great-grandfather was right," the pipe pointed at the young men in the photo, "the true Legacy is making your opponent your partner."

When Chen Wu walked out of the fighting arena, the billboard at the alley entrance was playing a post-match interview. Zhang Hao showed his right arm's new skin to the camera: "It was 'Baji Collapse' that saved me, and saved my father too." The screen suddenly cut to Zhangs Father's hospital room, where the old injury site was glowing with cyan-gold light, and the previously rotted skin was healing.

When the System's final prompt popped up, A-Mings younger sister's video call suddenly connected. The young girl held up a newly drawn family portrait, which included Chen Wu, Zhang Hao, and a blurry phantom of a Tomb-Guarding Beast. Outside the hospital window, the moonlight stretched their shadows very long, like a ceaselessly flowing river—cyan-gold light specks floated on the river's surface, which were countless Hard and Soft Energys in the process of Fusion, writing a new chapter of Legacy.

The homepage of the Global Martial Arts System was replaced with a new image: the figures of Chen Wu and Zhang Hao stood side by side in virtual space, with the cyan-gold Qi Energy of "Baji Collapse" and the silver-white light of "Iron Arm Fist" intertwining, drawing a spiral trajectory on the projection of the Earth. Synchronized text suddenly flooded the bullet chat: "When the iron fist is laid down, only then is the true martial Dao seen." This comment was lit up by 8 billion viewers simultaneously, like a light spanning mountains and seas, illuminating the new journey of traditional martial arts Fusion.