Chapter Forty-Five: Little Exploding Fist vs. Linear Cannon Fist
When the other stepped out, Tang Tian recognized him instantly: "Wang Zhen!"
Wang Zhen from the Beast Academy!
A glimmer flashed in Wang Zhen’s eyes. "Tang Tian, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you."
As Wang Zhen stepped out of the light shield, the four shields and the cave vanished in an instant. Above their heads, a white shield appeared, exposing a single cave.
Seeing Tang Tian’s bewildered expression, Wang Zhen calmly explained, "No need to look around. This is the deepest level of the Maze of Souls. The cave above you leads to the upper level. Inside, there’s a Soul Key for the second layer. Only the one who obtains the Soul Key can proceed. It’s destined—only one of us will enter the second layer."
"What a strange place!" Tang Tian scratched his head. "How do you know all this?"
"Mazes of Souls differ, but the Star Language Soul Stone favors the strong," Wang Zhen replied coolly. "Come, let me see what you’re truly capable of."
"Do we really have to fight?" Tang Tian actually had a good impression of Wang Zhen.
"Whoever gets the Soul Key moves on. The loser will be sent out of the maze," Wang Zhen said.
"Alright." Tang Tian sighed, a bit helpless. "Then let’s fight!"
The moment he finished speaking, Tang Tian seemed to transform. His aura grew sharp and fierce as he fixed his gaze on Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen nodded. "Good, you’ve improved again."
Before he finished, Wang Zhen stepped forward. Tang Tian’s vision flickered—Wang Zhen vanished from sight, and at the same instant, a fist shot out before him.
Flash Fist!
Tang Tian’s pupils contracted. Around Wang Zhen’s fist, faint ripples shimmered. Tang Tian realized the danger—Wang Zhen’s fist was vibrating violently in the air, creating those ripples.
He took a deep breath, swiftly retreated three steps, stomped his right foot to halt, and, using the momentum, twisted his waist and threw a punch.
Flash Fist!
Bang!
The two fists collided hard. Tang Tian felt his right hand go numb.
Such power!
It wasn’t brute force, but the explosive energy from intense vibration. To produce such force in such a small vibration—Wang Zhen had mastered it to perfection.
"Pure power," Wang Zhen’s eyes, previously calm, seemed to ignite. He stepped forward again, body flashing forward, launching another Flash Fist!
Tang Tian roared, advancing instead of retreating, matching him with his own Flash Fist.
The fists clashed again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Their fists rained down, colliding in mid-air, energy bursting everywhere. Soon, Tang Tian realized something was wrong—each punch left his hand numb. After dozens of exchanges, his fists were nearly completely desensitized.
Vibration could be used like this!
Tang Tian was astonished. Wang Zhen’s Flash Fist vibrated less intensely than Tang Tian’s Small Collapse Fist, the force was less, but the speed was much greater. Wang Zhen had integrated it into his own unique Flash Fist.
"Tang Tian, is this all your Flash Fist can do?" Wang Zhen took half a step back, opening the distance, and suddenly spoke.
Tang Tian’s hands clenched as he heard this, retorting, "So you’ve seen through me! Let me show you my Flash Fist’s killing move!"
"A killing move..." Wang Zhen was surprised, his eyes lighting up.
Tang Tian lunged forward with his left leg, his right fist poised, then suddenly struck!
A dazzling silver lightning streak tore through the air.
Wang Zhen’s vision flashed bright, startled, he raised both arms just in time. The fist landed, an astonishing power crashed against his defense.
Bang!
His hastily raised arms collapsed, and Wang Zhen staggered back five steps before stopping.
Tang Tian’s gaze locked onto Wang Zhen—this was his Lightning Kill, and it was the first time someone had blocked it head-on. Lightning Kill was the ultimate speed, so fast Tang Tian himself could barely see it, yet Wang Zhen managed to stop it.
Wang Zhen let out a long, heavy breath.
"A formidable killing move. What’s it called?" Wang Zhen’s eyes were filled with admiration.
"Lightning Kill!" Tang Tian looked at Wang Zhen with equal respect—his strength was incredible.
"You’ve surpassed me in Flash Fist. My own killing move isn’t yet perfected," Wang Zhen admitted without reservation. "But this isn’t a mere contest. Prepare yourself—I’ll be going all out."
Wang Zhen’s aura suddenly surged.
A powerful pressure swept over Tang Tian like a storm.
So strong!
Tang Tian felt a chill, but instead of fear, he was filled with fighting spirit. Deep in his eyes, a flame seemed to flicker. "I never thought I’d fight you, but I’m glad to meet such a strong senior!"
Tang Tian’s true power surged throughout his body. He faced Wang Zhen without fear, head held high.
Wang Zhen’s eyes flashed with appreciation. He spoke in a deep voice, "I am of the Fire element. My fist technique is called ‘Straight Cannon Fist,’ Third Tier—forceful and fierce. Be careful."
Tang Tian replied just as seriously, "My elements are balanced. My fist technique is ‘Small Collapse Fist,’ Third Tier. You be careful as well!"
Tang Tian took a deep breath, his crane form relaxing and tensing, his inner world unusually calm. He settled his waist and legs, assuming his stance.
Seeing Tang Tian’s poised form, Wang Zhen cheered inwardly. All those people underestimated this seemingly careless youth! Wang Zhen’s fighting spirit soared—meeting a strong opponent was exhilarating.
Fire True Power spun at astonishing speed. Wang Zhen’s posture was peculiar, his arms hanging straight down, joints rigid.
Fire patterns spiraled from his shoulders, compressing toward his fists. Wang Zhen’s arms glowed bright red, like cannon barrels.
What a peculiar fist technique!
Tang Tian grew more excited. He’d never seen such a style. He inhaled deeply, True Power circulating, crane form gathering force.
A red light flashed in Wang Zhen’s eyes. His glowing right arm lifted like a cannon, pointing straight at Tang Tian, shoulder as pivot, suddenly sinking backward.
Boom!
A low, drum-like sound erupted.
A blazing red cannon-fist imprint, like a shell fired from a barrel, shrieked as it shot toward Tang Tian.
Tang Tian’s excitement peaked. He let out a long howl, planted his left foot, his body snaking low across the ground, and with his right fist, met the whistling red imprint head-on!
Crane Power—Small Collapse Fist!
Sharp as a blade, the Crane Power, and the mountain-shattering Small Collapse Fist!
Bang!
The fiery red imprint shattered instantly into countless dazzling red sparks, like fireworks.
Tang Tian’s body shook, his fist trembled. The power of the red imprint was greater than he’d imagined—it felt like striking a flying iron hammer!
Boom!
No time to catch his breath, another explosive sound shook his heart. Another fiery cannon-fist streaked toward him.
Without thinking, Tang Tian swung his left fist!
A million punches—Small Collapse Fist was the martial art Tang Tian had practiced most. Each strike was instinctive, requiring no thought.
Bang!
The red fist imprint shattered, sparks flying everywhere.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Low, heart-shaking explosions echoed nonstop. Wang Zhen’s Straight Cannon Fist attacked at an astonishing frequency, each blow powerful and heavy.
Tang Tian had no time to think. He could only use Small Collapse Fist to continually smash the fiery imprints.
After twenty punches, Tang Tian sensed trouble—his fists were growing numb again!
Wang Zhen had integrated Flash Fist’s power into Straight Cannon Fist!
Amazing!
Wang Zhen’s attacks were astonishingly consistent. He was like a heavy cannon turret anchored in rock, his glowing arms sinking and resetting alternately. Wang Zhen’s gaze was calm, his attack frequency unwavering from start to finish.
Wang Zhen’s Straight Cannon Fist was not an academy technique, but a family secret. Few knew the Wang family was an ancient martial clan, long fallen but still possessing some skill. Though only Third Tier, in Wang Zhen’s hands, the technique shone. He had repaired many flaws, incorporating techniques learned at the academy, greatly perfecting Straight Cannon Fist.
Wang Zhen’s father had high hopes for him, believing the Straight Cannon Fist might be elevated to Fourth Tier in Wang Zhen’s hands!
Even now, traces of Fourth Tier martial arts could be seen in the technique.
Tang Tian was gradually suppressed. Wang Zhen’s attacks were upright and unstoppable. The dense fist imprints fell like rain, and though he didn’t reach Tang Tian’s twelve punches per second, their force completely blocked Tang Tian’s path. Tang Tian could only rely on Empty Pile Steps and Small Collapse Fist to dodge and defend.
Fiery fist imprints struck the cave walls, blasting deep craters in the iron-hard rock, sending shards flying. Tang Tian had to guard against these stones—if he was careless, a shard to the face would surely leave a bloody mark.
This won’t do!
He needed to change angles to find an opening.
Tang Tian gritted his teeth, pushed off hard, shrank and rolled to the cave wall, pressed his back to the rock, and sprinted along the edge.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fiery fist imprints rained down, chasing him relentlessly. Wherever Tang Tian passed, a row of deep craters followed.
Wang Zhen quickly reacted.
Several fist imprints appeared ahead of Tang Tian.
Tang Tian dodged nimbly, weaving irregularly along the wall.
Wang Zhen’s expression was cold as steel, his eyes flashing red.
Suddenly, the attacks stopped. Tang Tian was delighted—maybe Wang Zhen’s True Power was depleted. But when he looked, he gasped, his face changing.
Both glowing arms lifted, pointing straight at Tang Tian.
Like two blazing cannon barrels, brimming with murderous intent, they aimed at him.
This is bad!
Tang Tian’s heart jolted.
Boom!
An even deeper, more resonant roar made Tang Tian’s ears tingle.
Two enormous, solid fist imprints shot toward him like shells.
Facing the powerful threat, Tang Tian’s hair stood on end. He took a deep, hissing breath, the air stabbing his lungs like needles.
Tang Tian narrowed his eyes, lowered his waist, steadied himself, and channeled all his True Power into his fists.
Within, his crane power seemed ready to burst...