Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

The original opponent's greatest concern when facing the young master was his use of joint weaknesses, but now, after some time to get accustomed, targeting those commonly used joint weaknesses had become less effective. The opponent could now successfully extricate himself from the young master's clutches during those occasional entanglements.

This meant that he was no longer so passive when facing the young master's attacks.

In previous battles, this opponent of the young master had never shown such familiarity with joint techniques.

"Is he hiding his skill, or is he learning?"

If it is learning...

The two exchanged a glance, both with a hint of shock in their eyes.

"It doesn't matter; even if he's not that passive, he will never be able to win against the young master."

...

The attacks were always interrupted before they could land, and the rare counterstrikes could hardly be executed with perfect force. This frustrating feeling was enough to make one want to spit blood.

After becoming accustomed to Mad Lion's most troublesome joint techniques and not being so timid, Bai E could now manage the occasional counterattack.

But the feeling during the counterattacks was not much different from being suppressed, if not more uncomfortable.

This Mad Lion had a special technique for interrupting attacks.

But it doesn't matter, I can fight with you for a whole day!

What is yours will be mine.

[You have spent 370 points of combat experience in learning...] (Stacked)

[Martial Mastery (Level 3): Strike Power +6%, Evasion +3%, Blocking +3%, Combo (Special) +3, Enhanced Defense (Special) +100%, Opportunism (Special) +4%, Joint Techniques (Special) +40%, Intercepting (Special) +5%.]

...

"The young master's attack has been blocked as well..."

"It doesn't matter, the young master still has..."

...

[You have spent 350 points of combat experience in learning...] (Stacked)

[Martial Mastery (Level 3): Strike Power +6%, Evasion +3%, Blocking +3%, Combo (Special) +3, Enhanced Defense (Special) +100%, Opportunism (Special) +4%, Joint Techniques (Special) +40%, Intercepting (Special) +5%, Inch Power (Special) +17%.]

...

"It doesn't matter..."

...

[You have spent 290 points of combat experience in learning...] (Stacked)

[Martial Mastery (Level 3): Strike Power +6%, Evasion +3%, Blocking +3%, Combo (Special) +3, Enhanced Defense (Special) +100%, Opportunism (Special) +4%, Joint Techniques (Special) +40%, Intercepting (Special) +5%, Acupoint Striking (Special) +1%, Whip Tail (Special) +1.]

...

"...the master still has."

...

"I quit!" Mad Lion Paul, looking as if he had been fished out of the water, lay on the ground like a dead dog, too lazy to even move a finger, "I give up! I quit!"

"Ah?" Bai E was slightly taken aback, "That's it?"

He was just getting into the swing of secretly learning.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He had finally understood a saying, whatever doesn't defeat you makes you stronger.

With the player template, as long as he had enough combat experience, he could rapidly increase his strength by spending experience in various ways.

[In the battle, you have perceived your opponent's attack intentions and quickly reacted to counter, Reflex +0.1.]

[Current Martial Mastery Experience 434/1000, at 1000 points you can master "Level 4 Martial Mastery".]

[Your fighting ability has formed a strong personal style, integrating all your learning, and you are in the process of acquiring a unique personal combat system, current integration progress 33%...]

Martial Mastery, compared to other types of mastery, is indeed slightly different, with a dazzling array of special attribute bonuses.

And it seems that once a certain amount of special attributes is reached, one can develop a unique combat style or specialization of their own.

Is this the reward mentioned in the sparring mission—Underground Fighting?

The enhancement he had obtained in the pursuit of results, similar to the Overlimit Drive acquired before, had become another unexpected gain.

The consumption of experience was also massive, even more so...

Of course, Bai E did not regret it.

Physical combat abilities didn't just determine one's strength when unarmed; they were also crucially important for training the overall quality of the body and every other action requiring bodily coordination.

The body is the foundation of everything. By honing his unarmed combat abilities to the limit, Bai E felt that it would always serve a greater purpose in the future, since according to official statements—the personal martial power of this era was so formidable that it could even contend with starships alone.

As insubstantial as duckweed, gazing up at the starry sky...

Lying on the ground in defeat, Dead Lion Robby tilted his head to look at the figure still standing, his eyes filled with incomprehension, "Don't you ever get tired?"

Bai E remembered the persona he had crafted for himself, his face gently lifting, lips curling slightly, "You were close to taking me down... too bad, you'll never have that chance again."

Seeing the other approaching, Paul, weakened in body, felt a flutter of nerves, his throat worked, and he swallowed.

He knew what it meant to be defeated here, but he had already called "surrender" in advance.

His gaze involuntarily shifted toward the sidelines—where were the enforcers? Save me, enforcers!

The enforcers, realizing the potential danger, ran towards this side while calling out, "The match is over, no injuring the contestants!"

"Whew~"

The afterimage of a palm swung before his eyes, and Paul closed them instinctively.

After he waited a moment without feeling the blow, he opened his eyes to find a hand firmly stopped in front of him.

On the other side of the half-mask, it seemed as if the opponent was puzzled by his reaction, head tilted slightly and staring at him quizzically.

Using the provided support to rise to his feet, Paul, a bit bashfully, expressed his gratitude, "Thank... thank you."

Enjoy new tales from empire

"It is I who should thank you."

Bai E waved his hand and walked towards the passage to his rest area.

The announcer's delayed voice rang out behind him, "After a fierce struggle, our newcomer, the Ghostly White, has emerged victorious from this intense battle! With the vigor of a mighty beast, perhaps after this fight, it's time to prepare another title more suitable for the Ghostly White!"

Paul, his steps a bit unsteady, looked at the initially cocky yet now dominantly striding silhouette, a hint of longing in his eyes.

Such a carefree and unrestrained life was exactly what he aspired to.

[Perhaps next time we could ask if he's willing to join our battle gang...]

["Lucky Strike" energy recharge +1.]

...

Staring at the figure slowly leaving the arena on the monitor, the arena manager narrowed his eyes and contemplated for a moment before instructing his subordinates through the voice-command, "Ask him if he would like to join tonight's battle against the Blood God."

"Yes!"

...

Having stepped into the shadows of the passage, Bai E's figure paused, and he looked over his shoulder.

The golden figure on the field seemed to still be foolishly staring at his departing back.

Was the energy recharge provided by that guy?

It seemed out of place in this arena.

If everyone else doesn't participate and only you do, that definitely suggests a problem...

But the outside world's issues were temporarily unrelated to him. As a player without a strong foundation, it was fine to play the enigma in front of inexperienced players, but for the native inhabitants with myriad eyes and ears, there was no basis for contact or cooperation...

Upon returning to the rest room, staff members already waiting approached and asked, "Lord Ghostly White, what are your plans next...?"

"I'm not fighting anymore," Bai E declared firmly.

He meant what he had said to Mad Lion; if the other had persisted a little longer, he really would have exhausted his reserves of mobility.

After fighting tirelessly through three consecutive matches and using Overlimit Drive both to burst and maintain his physical state, he had pushed his mobility reserves to the limit, leaving almost nothing left.

If he faced a formidable enemy next and invested his combat experience in the fight, only to be defeated before he could master the special attributes, wouldn't that be a major loss?

Definitely not an option.

The staff member, recalling the instructions of their superior, asked again with some persistence, "There is an opportunity to fight the Blood God tonight... You do know who the Blood God is, right?"