Watching the two Curved Blades cut through the air like a whirlwind, coming in for the kill.
One-Eyed Man let out a disdainful smirk as he gently tapped his right foot on the ground, and the large blade on his back flew out.
This was a wide blade, about half a meter in width, with two grooves on the blade, resembling gears.
Unlike Mu Zhoubai’s technique, his movements were broad and powerful, exuding the momentum of one man holding the pass against ten thousand.
Blade clashed against blade, sending sparks flying in all directions.
Mu Zhoubai’s face changed slightly as he felt the force transmitted from the opponent’s broad blade, which was even stronger than his own.
He quickly stabilized his posture, dodging continuously, and launched a tight, impenetrable attack.
"Junior Brother Mu’s attacks are more flexible and varied, but lacking in power," Liu Rufeng commented.
"However, although the opponent is stronger, he is not skilled at speed and techniques. It’s still too early to discuss victory or defeat."
The two on the Combat Stage each moved fiercely, aggressive in every gesture.
As time passed, One-Eyed Man started to grow anxious.
Mu Zhoubai was as slippery as an eel; not to mention landing a hit, One-Eyed Man couldn’t even touch him. Meanwhile, under the sharp offensive of his blades, One-Eyed Man had already sustained minor injuries, with several cuts on his body.
"Is dodging all you can do?" One-Eyed Man said angrily.
"Cross Fury Blade," Mu Zhoubai sneered upon noticing a lapse in One-Eyed Man’s defense.
Then, his two Curved Blades crossed over each other, forming a cross pattern.
His figure seemed to merge with the void around him, and the whole world was left with nothing but the cross-shaped blade as his form vanished from sight.
Before One-Eyed Man could react, there was a thunderous "boom" as the Cross Blade struck his chest with incredible speed.
Then came the scattering of blood as the Cross Blade pierced his chest, appearing out the back.
Mu Zhoubai also emerged behind, holding the Cross Blades, coldly watching him.
"How could this," One-Eyed Man looked down at the wound in his chest, then his body fell to the ground, his body being split into pieces.
"Victory to Mu Zhoubai, fight number one hundred," the referee stated blandly.
As the judge here, he had grown accustomed to life and death.
Countless people died here every day, both locals and outsiders. Life here was the cheapest commodity.
As the guards dragged One-Eyed Man’s body away, the referee looked at Mu Zhoubai and asked, "You have now won eighty Fusion Stones from him, will you continue?"
"Why not?" Mu Zhoubai said with a light smile.
At this moment, next to the Combat Stage, there stood a particularly grand and luxurious tavern.
The name of the tavern was Qunying Building, which had six floors.
The first four floors were accessible to anyone with money, the fifth required some status, and the sixth was reserved for true heroes.
It was said that only those who had won a hundred consecutive battles on the Combat Stage were worthy of the sixth floor in Qunying Building.
At this moment, on the fifth floor of the Qunying Building, there were a number of private rooms.
With the tavern being near the Combat Stage, one could see the entire Combat Stage clearly from above.
It was also a rare spot with a beautiful view.
"Young Master, they have all gone to the combat area," Nu Yang reported while sipping his wine in one of the private rooms.
"Did he win?" Nu Yang asked, approaching the window.
"He won one fight. They are at the bracket for a hundred Fusion Stones," the servant replied respectfully.
"Send Old Withered Wood for the next match," Nu Yang said indifferently.
"Young Master, that might not be appropriate. We rarely interfere with fights on the Combat Stage," the servant hesitated before tentatively explaining.
"Fu, are my words also not heeded?" Nu Yang turned his head, smiling lightly as he spoke.
"How could that be, I’ll make the arrangements immediately," upon seeing Nu Yang smile, the servant nodded hurriedly and complied.
On the Combat Stage, Mu Zhoubai had been waiting for quite some time.
Just as he was becoming a little impatient, the large gate below was opened, and an old man walked out from within.
When the old man emerged, the surrounding audience members were all momentarily stunned.
"Old Withered Wood, isn’t this guy usually in the ten thousand bouts? How come he’s also in these hundred bouts?" someone asked incredulously.
"Could it be someone has offended him?" another person by his side speculated.
"I don’t know, but that kid across is done for."
"What’s there to be sorry about? Just surrender to Old Withered Wood directly, and you’ll only lose some Fusion Stones."
The surrounding crowd was buzzing with discussion; evidently, Old Withered Wood had a significant reputation.
He generally competed in the ten thousand bouts because winning one match there meant ten thousand Fusion Stones, and he wouldn’t even spare a glance for anything less.
Old Withered Wood was dressed in a voluminous black robe that enveloped his entire body.
As he walked, a "creak-creak" sound that was particularly grating to the ears could be heard.
"Surrender, this person is somewhat dangerous," Huangfu Xianyue said solemnly from below the stage.
"But based on Junior Brother Mu’s character, he probably won’t surrender that easily, right?" Fang Xiang remarked.
Mu Zhoubai raised his head to look at the old man in front of him, noticing him slowly drawing the pair of blades from behind his back.
Holding them tightly in both hands, his aura was gradually increasing.
With a "boom," his right foot took half a step back, and he lunged forward.
Craze began to form on the floor beneath his feet.
As Mu Zhoubai charged over, Old Withered Wood still lowered his head, showing no sign of movement.
The distance between them closed, and in the next moment, Old Withered Wood suddenly lifted his head.
His face, which had been hidden under the black robe, became clear, revealing nothing but pale skin tightly stretched over bones, devoid of any flesh.
What was more terrifying was that he had no eyes—where his eyes should have been, there were two pale blue flames.
When Mu Zhoubai saw those two flames, his entire body froze as if struck by lightning, and he stood rooted to the spot.
"Not good, it’s a spiritual attack," Liu Rufeng quickly stood up from below.
Old Withered Wood smiled cruelly. He extended his right hand with his palm facing up and his index finger slightly curling upward.
With a "boom," the solid Combat Stage shattered, and a giant white bone speared up from beneath Mu Zhoubai.
It pierced straight through his back, pinning him to the Combat Stage on the towering bone.
Blood sprayed into the air, and Mu Zhoubai hung limply over the bone, his life or death unclear.
The blood-stained bone was a sight to behold, and Huangfu Xianyue and others fixated their gazes.
"This guy is not on the same level," Fang Xiang remarked.
"I think we made a mistake," Xu Zimei said.
"Among the young generation, you are indeed the strongest disciples, even seemingly without peers in your age group.
But on this Combat Stage, age is not a factor, and those older than you can also defeat you with ease."
Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Liu Rufeng took a deep breath and headed straight for the Combat Stage.