Chapter nineteen: Combat and Abilities

"I can sense your spirit…"

Faced with such an opponent, Fang Xing couldn't help but express his respect. He then brought his fingers together, his body bending like a bow, and with a single leap, he crossed several meters, positioning himself in the path where Phoenix was about to land. "But if spirit were enough, what need would there be for substance?"

Boom!

A thunderous roar filled the air.

**Bow Stance Cannon Fist!**

A shot that cannot be bought with gold!

Once Fang Xing began to take things seriously, Phoenix was sent flying back with a speed even greater than before.

This time, she fell directly onto the stage, unconscious.

"Wow, Fang Xing from Class Two isn't human! He actually knocked out Phoenix…"

"I'll remember you. We'll meet again on the stage!"

As a beautiful girl, Phoenix had quite a few admirers, instantly causing an uproar.

Fang Xing paid no attention to the buzzing of these "flies."

"Hmph, if it weren't for my decisive victory, given her personality, she would have injured herself even more in pursuit of victory…"

He coldly snorted in his heart as he stepped down from the stage.

At this moment, an even greater commotion arose from the adjacent stage.

"How ruthless!"

"Is that… complete skin refinement? Not just any ordinary skin, but a bronze-skinned warrior?"

"It must be Cole from Class Two! Class Two is really lucky to have such strong martial artists!"

…

"Hm?"

As Fang Xing approached the nearby stage, he saw Cole roaring with his fists raised, standing over a classmate who lay unconscious at his feet.

The sight of this classmate was simply pitiful, as if he had been run over by a steamroller.

Listening to the exchanges around him, Fang Xing realized that Cole had displayed terrifying strength in his battle, remaining completely unfazed by his opponent's attacks.

Such defense was undoubtedly complete skin refinement, and certainly not just any ordinary skin!

What was even more frightening was that after gaining a crushing advantage, Cole fought viciously!

"Roar!"

Cole raised his fists, howling like a beast.

His slightly bloodshot eyes shifted to Fang Xing, and he immediately grinned wickedly, making a throat-cutting gesture.

"Really… arrogant."

Fang Xing crossed his arms, his expression cold, showing no sign of provocation.

To him, Cole was no different from an ant on the roadside.

People don't argue with ants; they simply step on them without a second thought!

Soon, he faced his second opponent, a classmate named Qianxun.

Qianxun, dressed in training clothes, still sported her pumpkin head hairstyle. "Fang, please go easy on me!"

Clearly, she knew how much Xia Long valued Fang Xing and recognized that she was no match for him.

Nevertheless, she still wanted to challenge her own limits.

"Please!"

Fang Xing slightly raised his hand, and Qianxun jumped up, executing a series of rapid kicks, part of the military boxing routine known as 'Double Snake Leg'!

He slightly adjusted his hands, and with a firm grasp, caught her ankle.

With a gentle flick, he threw Qianxun off the stage.

"You…"

Qianxun's face flushed slightly, followed by a look of surprise. "You've reached complete skin refinement?!"

Only such a level of defense could allow him to handle her attack effortlessly.

"Cole's an idiot, and he's already at complete skin refinement. It's only natural for me to reach this level too," Fang Xing replied with a smile.

"Well, you might not know this, but Cole's family has taken out loans to support his martial training…"

Qianxun got up and brushed the dust off her clothes, replying with a smile.

"Don't tell me his mom quit her job to take care of him and took out loans for a house…"

Fang Xing's expression turned a bit strange.

These two scenarios, combined with their obsession with pushing their kids to excel, were sure signs of middle-class pitfalls in his past life.

"Of course not! Louise was a full-time housewife at first, but she had to go back to work because Cole's training costs were too high…"

Qianxun clearly didn't catch Fang Xing's drift and replied earnestly.

"That's a real shame."

Fang Xing shook his head, but then a voice cut through his thoughts, and his expression suddenly changed.

"Number 9 stage, Liu Wei vs. Cole!"

"Hm?"

He hurried to the edge of the stage and saw Liu Wei stepping up, while opposite him stood Cole, wearing only a tight vest, looking considerably bulkier.

"Liu Wei… Just right, you're Fang Xing's close friend, right?"

Cole casually cracked his knuckles, the sound grating. "Perfect, I'll take you out first, then go after him!"

"Fang was too lenient on you when he didn't leave you crippled back then…"

Liu Wei's eyes flashed with a cold light.

"Ahem… you two may begin," a nearby teacher in charge of the arena coughed, clearly unimpressed.

Just high school students, and their bravado was beyond belief! Did they think these martial arts teachers were pushovers?

Though he understood the importance of momentum in martial encounters, it should still be moderated!

"Die for me!"

Cole charged forward, like a tank or a raging bear.

His footwork and punches clearly indicated that he had learned a different combat style, one that was ruthlessly aggressive!

With his complete skin refinement level, he was certainly vying for the top spot at Yucai High School's first-year rankings!

"Hm? This Cole is pretty good!"

A martial arts teacher adjusted his glasses. "Complete skin refinement and learned the 'Black Snake Combat Technique'—he'd definitely secure the top spot in last year's practical combat!"

"Hmph…"

Xia Long's ears perked up, catching the faint whispers from afar, and he said disdainfully, "As far as I know, Cole has taken 'Black Man Essence.' Though not officially banned, it's close enough… Looks like his coach is short-sighted, only focusing on immediate results while neglecting long-term potential and development…"

While the two teachers were discussing, on stage, Liu Wei had already engaged Cole, both pulling back their arms before simultaneously launching punches!

Cole's fist had a rough texture, faintly exhibiting a bluish-black hue, akin to a hammer.

Before their fists even reached each other, a vicious wind surged.

Liu Wei's fist, similarly aligned, shot out!

Yet, as he struck, the muscles in his right arm seemed to come alive, writhing and swelling…

Bang!

A loud explosion resonated!

Cole let out a scream, his right arm breaking into several segments!

Moreover, his entire body was propelled backward, like a cannonball, off the stage.

"Hm?"

Fang Xing watched in astonishment. "Liu Wei actually defeated Cole?"

Though they hadn't kept in touch recently, was this progress not a bit too terrifying?

Whoosh!

Several figures rushed to the stage at blinding speed to assess Cole's injuries.

"His arm is broken, ribs too… he's seriously injured, but he'll recover," a female teacher stated after examining Cole.

Xia Long stared at Liu Wei's arm, where the muscles moved like living things, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "An ability user? Liu Wei… you've awakened an ability?"

"Yes, it's a strength-oriented one—'Muscle Activation!'" Liu Wei replied calmly.

"Not bad! This ability, though limited in potential, can unleash most of your strength… Additionally, it offers significant advantages in refining your flesh… Given your level, you should be close to complete skin refinement, right?"

Xia Long generously praised him. "Keep it up… finally, there's a student in my class with the potential to get into college."

Clearly, in Xia Long's eyes, the previously hidden Fang Xing might not yet meet that standard.

But Liu Wei, who had awakened the 'Muscle Activation' ability, definitely did!

"Rest assured, teacher. I will work hard," Liu Wei said with newfound determination, slowly stepping down from the stage, casting a glance toward Fang Xing.

"What an idiot, saying he'd teach me a lesson, and now he's the one who got eliminated," Fang Xing remarked, glancing at his next opponent—Ouyang Qianqian.

He was unlucky to draw a classmate for the third round, leading to an internal battle.

"Fang, please give me guidance!" Ouyang Qianqian looked energetic, evidently having undergone rigorous training. Her strikes were refined and full of fluidity, displaying significant improvement.

"Qianqian, you've made great progress…" Fang Xing remarked, directly dropping his defenses to absorb her eighteen-finger strikes.

Clang!

The force that could have severed tendons landed on him, yet was blocked by an extremely resilient energy.

Fang Xing felt as if someone were massaging him, the spots where she struck tingling pleasantly.

"Hm? Is this the unique effect of 'Jade Skin'? Dispersing force?"

Generally speaking, with cowhide or bronze skin, while they could take Ouyang Qianqian's strikes, they would inevitably suffer some penetrating injuries and rebound effects.

But Fang Xing felt his skin tremble slightly, dispersing the concentrated energy from her attacks.

Ouyang Qianqian's killing moves came and went without success as she stared at Fang Xing like he was a monster. "Despite my efforts, it feels like I'm only falling further behind you…"

She felt a tinge of sadness within.

Whether it was Fang Xing or Liu Wei, both had made leaps in