Chapter 112: Listen to the Dragon’s Roar

The crushing defeat at White Emperor Mountain left Bai Yushuang looking solemn.

Barely three months had passed since the Snow Wave Cup, yet how had Gao Wu’s progress been so astronomical? How did he do it? Could it be that Gao Wu had already advanced to the rank of Martial Warrior?

Bai Yushuang’s heart was filled with suspicion. No matter how much a martial artist tempered their body, there was always a human limit. Only by inhaling source energy could one continuously strengthen the body and spirit to transcend those limits.

She turned her head to look at Yuan Qiansheng beside her. “Are you confident?”

A flicker of contempt crossed Yuan Qiansheng’s deep eyes. “White Emperor Mountain has quite a reputation, yet they were smashed to pieces by sheer brute force. What a waste.”

Bai Yushuang’s expression darkened. Although White Emperor Mountain was a branch of the Bai family, they were still Bai family members. However, she and Yuan Qiansheng were teammates, and the most crucial task right now was winning the Kirin Cup championship. There was no need to dwell on other trivial matters.

“Just don’t engage him in a head-on collision. Use the agility of your White Ape Fist combined with the speed of your source energy bursts to wear down his sharpness…”

The coach of Anjing No. 1 High School noticed Bai Yushuang’s lack of confidence; she seemed intimidated by the ferocity Gao Wu had displayed. He, however, was unimpressed.

To defeat a Martial Warrior head-on while still at the martial artist level—Gao Wu’s physical strength was indeed astonishing. But White Emperor Mountain had clearly been careless, failing to prepare for a hard confrontation. Such brute force was ultimately simple in its application, lacking nuance. If Bai Yushuang prepared beforehand, she could tailor her tactics to Gao Wu’s weaknesses. Winning would be no problem.

To reassure her, the coach pointed out Gao Wu’s flaws, such as his simplistic fist techniques and his crude fighting style. Next, No. 1 High School would face No. 3 High School, whose Wang Zixuan was also a Martial Warrior and not to be underestimated. The coach spoke a few more words about Gao Wu before shifting the topic to No. 3 High School. Though feeling stifled, Bai Yushuang had no choice but to force herself to focus on the coach’s tactical arrangements.

The live broadcast camera swept over her, capturing her distracted expression and beaming it to platforms across the network. As the most important tournament in the Northern Province, the Kirin Cup drew immense attention. At this moment, at least thirty million viewers were watching the semifinals. As the tournament’s most popular contestant, Bai Yushuang was always a focal point.

Her appeal was largely due to her image. While there were many beautiful female martial artists, one as stunning as Bai Yushuang was rare. She was young, yet already a Martial Warrior—possessing both strength and beauty. Moreover, as a member of the Anjing Bai family, she was a true local. This had made her an overnight sensation in the tournament, ensuring the cameras were always on her.

The people of Anjing had already assumed she would win. No. 1 High School was a powerhouse, and with both Bai Yushuang and Yuan Qiansheng as teenage Martial Warriors, they were expected to steamroll the competition. They had expected White Emperor Mountain to lead the way into the finals, but Gao Wu’s victory over them had led many Anjing locals to flood the live stream comments, calling them trash. Seeing Bai Yushuang’s poor state on screen only fueled the vitriol.

“Your daughter has quite a following,” Shen An, Vice President of the Hunter Association, said with a chuckle as he watched the sea of comments.

Bai Yan shook his head. “She’s still young and hasn’t settled yet. She can’t keep her composure. Her heart is wavering; she needs more training!”

As Bai Yushuang’s father, Bai Yan had handsome features, a sun-kissed complexion, and flowing shoulder-length hair. Clad in a leather jacket covered in metal studs, his style was avant-garde and unrestrained. Though only a few years younger than Shen An, the two looked like different generations. Their styles were worlds apart: Shen An resembled a slick bureaucrat, while Bai Yan looked like a rock star. Looking at him, no one would guess he was a Martial Arts Grandmaster and the Vice President of the Northern Province Hunter Association.

“She’s only eighteen. Your standards are too high,” Shen An remarked.

“Gao Wu is also eighteen, yet he managed to kill Wan Cangsong and foiled the cultists’ plot to save the students.” Bai Yan sighed. Considering Gao Wu’s background and the resources he had, his daughter lagged far behind. He didn’t particularly enjoy disciplining his children, but Bai Yushuang was the only one with talent worth nurturing.

“You could warn her that Gao Wu has reached the level of Martial Warrior so she can prepare,” Shen An suggested.

“If they need a reminder to win, they don’t deserve the victory,” Bai Yan said dismissively. In a formal arena with standard rules and home-field advantage, if they needed him to tip them off, the win would be meaningless.

He had no interest in discussing children’s games. Changing the subject, he said, “After two days of interrogation, it’s confirmed that the two Martial Warriors entered the Dragon Claw Peak Mystic Realm through other channels.”

The Dragon Claw Peak Mystic Realm was only six hundred kilometers from Anjing, posing a severe threat. If not for the high cost of relocating the capital, Anjing would have moved long ago. To monitor the realm, the Supervision Department, Security Department, General Staff, Hunter Association, and Capital Defense Force had each set up checkpoints. Only by bribing officials across all five departments could someone enter undetected. But with so many hands involved, keeping a secret was impossible. After the incident, the management of all five departments had been investigated, but nothing was found. The identities of the two warriors were clear—they were hunters from Changling City with clean records. How they became cultists remained a mystery.

“It’s almost certain that there is another secret passage within the Dragon Claw Peak Mystic Realm,” Bai Yan concluded. “We just don’t know where it’s hidden.”

Mystic realms were regions where reality intersected with other worlds, usually forming stable, semi-closed spaces. Occasionally, however, they connected to others. The Dragon Claw Peak realm was vast; if the passage was deep underground, it would be difficult to locate quickly.

Shen An sighed. “The concentration of source energy is rising rapidly, making the realms unstable. I fear such incidents will only increase.”

“Source energy mutations can be solved, but the corruption of the human heart is the real disaster. The situation in the cities of the Northern Province is grim.” Even the usually carefree Bai Yan turned serious. “Wan Canglong was an upright, capable man ten years ago. It’s terrifying to see how much he has rotted. If Gao Wu hadn’t blown the lid off this, we would still be in the dark.”

Wan Canglong had once been close to Bai Yan—in some circles, even considered one of his own. It was baffling that a Martial Master would choose to worship a dark god.

“It’s not just Wan Canglong,” Shen An said. “Yunling is rotten to the core. That’s the most difficult part.”

With no way to distinguish friend from foe, they couldn’t risk alerting the enemy, which made the investigation progress slowly. With the Dragon Claw Peak issue added to the mix, both Grandmasters felt the strain.

“The higher-ups say we can’t let Yunling go; it might be linked to the cultists at Dragon Claw Peak. We must resolve the Yunling issue by July,” Bai Yan said.

“Time is tight,” Shen An frowned.

On the projection, Bai Yushuang was dueling Wang Zixuan. Both were cautious. Bai Yushuang’s White Ape Fist was fluid and agile as she took the offensive. Trading dozens of blows with source energy, she eventually retreated to create space. She was merely wearing him down; there was no need for a reckless clash. If she were injured, she might miss the evening finals.

Watching this, Bai Yan felt stifled. He clicked the remote, turning off the projection. “Being so cautious in a tournament… the child has been coddled too much.” He turned to Shen An. “Even without using his spiritual power, Gao Wu is destined to win this year.”

Shen An nodded, agreeing. As Grandmasters, they could see Gao Wu’s astonishing physical talent. Having opened his meridians and condensed source energy, he held an overwhelming advantage over the other teenagers. On the Kirin Cup stage, neither Bai Yushuang nor Yuan Qiansheng could defeat him.

“Why don’t you take Gao Wu as your personal disciple?” Bai Yan asked suddenly. “His martial talent may be lacking, but his physical and spiritual potential is boundless!”

“Our paths don’t align,” Shen An shook his head. He admired Gao Wu, but he practiced the Heavenly Tiger Scripture, while Gao Wu’s foundation was the Dragon-Form Nine Styles. It would be a waste not to be able to pass on his own ultimate techniques to a direct student. “An Ziru also told me she wants Gao Wu to attempt the trial of the Nine Heavenly Limits. If he passes, he could enter Grandmaster Lu’s school… I cannot block the child’s path.”

“The Nine Heavenly Limits… that’s difficult,” Bai Yan noted. He didn’t think Gao Wu could pass.

“One must try. If he succeeds, he’ll soar. With luck, he might even become a Martial Arts Grandmaster!”

Bai Yan smiled, unconvinced. He felt Gao Wu’s talent was too low; reaching the level of Martial Master was likely his peak. A Grandmaster? Impossible. But there was no need to say such dampening words.

No. 1 High School defeated No. 3 High School, marching proudly into the finals. Because of the dark horse Gao Wu, ratings soared. By 8:00 PM, when the finals began, online viewers reached nearly fifty million. Including television, nearly one hundred million people—a third of the Northern Province—were watching. The organizers, Northern Province University, were thrilled, and the advertisers were ecstatic.

The match, however, was one-sided. Yu Rulong, Song Minglin, and Yang Ru were all defeated by No. 1 High School’s vanguard. It wasn’t until Han Yang entered the stage that he managed to trade with the opponent’s vanguard. When No. 1’s vice-captain took the stage, the exhausted Han Yang could not continue, forcing Gao Wu to step in. This meant Gao Wu had to face four opponents to win—a nearly impossible task.

Watching this, many viewers found it boring, assuming No. 1 High School would win.

The No. 1 High School vice-captain was similar in height to Gao Wu but three times as thick. He practiced the Golden Bull Fist—a style of immense strength, stamina, and physical durability. Following the coach’s instructions, he took a defensive stance. Knowing his punch power was inferior, he didn’t expect to win; he only aimed to exhaust Gao Wu.

Gao Wu understood his intent. Even without the Green Dragon Divine Qi Curse to restore his energy, his fifteen points of constitution were enough to drain all four of them of their stamina. But why bother?

After they bowed, Gao Wu slid forward with a high sweep. The vice-captain raised his arms to protect his head, but the fierce, whistling whip kick smashed into him, knocking the massive man to the ground. The immense shockwave left the vice-captain dazed and motionless on the rubber mat.

Everyone knew Gao Wu could win, but the clean, overwhelming nature of the finish shocked the spectators. The Anjing audience, though biased, could not help but applaud the brilliant finale. Applause erupted throughout the arena, especially from the corner of the eastern stands where Shen Yue and a dozen teenagers waved a crimson flag, cheering for Gao Wu.

Dongjiang was far from Anjing, so it wasn’t realistic for many students to travel, but Shen Yue, as the fan club leader, had organized twenty die-hard fans to support him. Shang Qingjun had helped with tickets, accommodation, and food, spending about one hundred thousand. It was mostly to build popularity and get the "Hot-Blooded Youth Group" noticed.

Seeing Gao Wu’s victory, the teenagers were ecstatic. The live stream was filled with praise, calling it the most beautiful finish of the Kirin Cup.

At that moment, the people of Anjing didn’t realize the severity of the situation. It wasn’t until their main general took the stage and was also finished in a single high sweep that the arena went silent. Even the Anjing viewers in the live stream went quiet. The chat room became a playground for viewers from the other seventy-six cities.

“Why aren’t the Anjing lords shouting anymore?”
“Hey Anjing folks, was that whip kick authentic or what?”
“That was a beautiful kick! Damn, I wouldn’t trade it for an Anjing residency!”

The screen was flooded with mockery, infuriating the Anjing locals. “We still have two Martial Warriors left, you country bumpkins!”

Bai Yushuang, who stepped onto the stage, had no time for online bickering. She didn’t care about Anjing or anything else—she only wanted to defeat Gao Wu in front of everyone and wash away her shame.

Gao Wu smiled. “Stranger, congratulations on reaching the rank of Martial Warrior.”

Bai Yushuang’s expression was complex. Despite being a Martial Warrior, facing Gao Wu again brought immense pressure. She felt ashamed of her cowardice—a Martial Warrior fearing a mere martial artist—but she couldn’t control her emotions.

“I’m honored to reach the finals and look forward to seeing what source energy and a Martial Warrior truly are,” Gao Wu said, smiling even more broadly. It wasn’t entirely mockery; if Bai Yushuang hadn’t taunted him on the Dragon Gate Bridge, he wouldn’t have been spurred to condense his meridians and advance. In a way, she deserved some credit.

Unfortunately, she didn’t respond. Gao Wu stopped talking and bowed. “Please, enlighten me!”

Before the words faded, Gao Wu surged forward. Having advanced, he had truly integrated the Wandering Dragon movement technique into his bones. His movements were hidden yet powerful, like riding the wind.

Bai Yushuang was startled by his speed. The coach had told her to use guerrilla tactics—hit and run—but she immediately realized the strategy was useless. Gao Wu’s footwork was just as agile as her own. She knew he had predicted the lightning on the bridge, proving his spiritual perception was razor-sharp. Trying to trick such a person was an exercise in stupidity.

Bai Yushuang stepped forward instead of back, thrusting her palm like a sword. She pushed away all distractions. Since returning from Dongjiang, she had grasped the sword intent of the White Ape, the foundation of her meridians. She channeled her source energy through this intent, making her hand as sharp as a blade. The move, “White Rainbow Piercing the Sun,” was decisive and fierce.

“The courage to meet me head-on!” Gao Wu mentally praised her. She had shed her hesitation; she had talent. But that was all.

Gao Wu punched straight at her palm-sword. No matter her intent or nuance, could she withstand a punch with three thousand five hundred kilograms of force?

The roaring wind of his fist made Bai Yushuang’s eyes narrow. The brute force was terrifying! She immediately shifted her move, transforming the piercing strike into the “White Ape Offering Fruit”—a move of nimble deflection. She softened her palm to catch the force of his fist, using the subtlety of source energy to dissipate his power.

The move was exquisite, using softness to overcome raw strength. The experts watching nodded in approval. Even Bai Yan, watching from afar, nodded. His daughter, though nervous, had a sharp mind.

Gao Wu simultaneously changed his fist into a palm, his violent strike turning as soft as a breeze. The transition was incredibly natural. Bai Yushuang had intended to retreat using his force, but his sudden change left her empty-handed. Their palms pressed together silently. Bai Yushuang instinctively vibrated her arm, using source energy to try and repel him.

Gao Wu retracted his palm slightly and struck again—the “Stone-Splitting Style,” the most rigid move of the Wandering Dragon Sword. From foot to head, his muscles and bones surged like waves, concentrating the force into his right palm.

Bai Yushuang realized the danger, but it was too late. She could only channel all her source energy to meet him. Their palms collided again, this time with a thunderous roar that silenced the arena. The spectators were stunned. They finally realized the terrifying power hidden in those palms.

Bai Yushuang’s physical strength was far inferior, but she had used the subtlety of source energy to dissipate his force. However, Gao Wu gave her no chance. He struck nine times in rapid succession. If she withdrew her hands, he would break through; if she stayed, she had to endure.

Forced to the brink, she channeled every ounce of energy in her meridians. With each collision, the roaring sound grew louder, like rolling thunder. By the ninth strike, the light of her source energy field shattered. Her braids came undone, her long black hair exploding outward. Her eyes turned bloodshot, and her ears rang with a distorted, high-pitched screech.

She could hear the gasp of the crowd, but the sound was stretched and distorted. Gao Wu’s voice sounded muffled, but she could vaguely hear him say, “What a powerful Martial Warrior, what powerful source energy, I’ve learned something today…”

Shame and anger flared, and as she tried to speak, her lungs surged—she spat out a mouthful of blood. It splattered across her white uniform, making her look truly miserable.

The referee stepped in, signaling for the medical team. The arena and the live stream were in an uproar. Bai Yushuang had lost? And so quickly? Compared to White Emperor Mountain’s bitter struggle, she hadn’t lasted a second before being decimated. It was tragic.

The No. 1 High School team looked grave. The coach frowned deeply—Gao Wu’s body was too strong, his force too tyrannical. They were going to lose!

Yuan Qiansheng, however, remained calm. He stood up and said coolly, “Don’t worry, I can handle him.”

When he stepped onto the stage, the audience fell silent. He was their last hope.

“I know you. You’ve injected many serums to mutate your body, and you’re certainly desperate. Your brute force is strong. But this is not true martial arts.”

Yuan Qiansheng wasn’t fond of talking, but facing Gao Wu, he felt the need to speak.

Gao Wu laughed and bowed. “Then please, enlighten me.”

Yuan Qiansheng resisted the urge to name his ultimate move; he wasn’t that shallow. He simply said, “Please.”

He practiced the Heavenly Machine Fist, derived from the “Rooster” phase of the Twelve Divine Phases. It was a domineering style that channeled the essence of the sun. As he channeled his spiritual power, his source energy transformed into crimson flames. In an instant, flames soared several meters high around him, vaguely forming the shape of a proud, fire-red rooster.

The audience erupted. Was this a manifestation of a martial arts divine phase? Was he already a Martial Master? Or some elemental talent? Whatever it was, Yuan Qiansheng looked like a god, and Gao Wu looked tiny in comparison.

The three young Martial Warriors—Bai Yushuang, White Emperor Mountain, and Wang Zixuan—stared in shock. No wonder he was always so arrogant! The coach was stunned, then overjoyed. With flame manipulation, this battle was won!

The arena roared with cheers. In the live stream, the chat was filled with “Holy crap!” and “It’s over!” The Anjing viewers were ecstatic, their comments flooding the screen, mocking the “country bumpkins.”

Even the most stubborn viewers were silenced. Elemental fire combined with a martial divine phase—it was too strong!

Shen Yue and the fans were pale. Even the die-hard fans lost confidence. Shang Qingjun was deeply uneasy, not because of the flames, but because she feared Gao Wu would risk his life against them. She gripped Zhou Hong缨’s hand, noticing her palm was slick with sweat. Even Zhou Hong缨, usually so elegant, wore a look of intense, genuine concern.

Only Song Mingyue in the Dongjiang team remained calm.

In the stands, Wang Zixuan’s face was dark. “Damn it, one million down the drain!”

On the stage, Yuan Qiansheng looked down at Gao Wu with pride. “I don’t want to hurt you. Further fighting is meaningless. Surrender.”

He had awakened his fire-manipulation talent when opening his meridians. It couldn’t compare to a true Martial Master’s manifestation, but it increased his flame power significantly. To him, the fight was over. Subduing Gao Wu without a struggle would leave a legend in the Kirin Cup.

Gao Wu admired the flames dancing around Yuan Qiansheng. “Flame manipulation… that’s really cool!” He turned serious. “You’ve shown your path; now, I must be serious too!”

Gao Wu recalled the leap he had taken in the White Dragon River when he grasped source energy. Piercing clouds for the head, riding the wind for the body, splitting stones for the claws, and breaking waves for the tail. His body became a flying dragon, leaping from the abyss to the sky.

Under the gaze of millions, this was his moment to soar. In his spiritual world, the Azure Dragon rose. He channeled his meridians, integrating all his strength.

“Listen to this dragon’s roar!”

He stepped forward and punched. It looked simple, but it was the culmination of all four styles of the Wandering Dragon.

Yuan Qiansheng had been dismissive, but he immediately sensed something was wrong. Gao Wu’s punch was not only powerful; his body was enveloped in a faint cyan light—he was synchronizing his source energy. The punch felt incredibly agile, and the sound of the fist was a deep, resonant roar—like a dragon calling from the Nine Heavens.

The experts on the judging panel looked on. Gao Wu’s technique was crude, but the spirit of the “Dragon Leaping from the Abyss” was there. The roar of the fist directly targeted the spirit—it was exquisite!

While the experts could appreciate it, the thousands of spectators were terrified. In their trance, they saw a cyan dragon leaping from the deep sea, its roar echoing across the heavens. Many couldn’t stop their hair from standing on end.

Yuan Qiansheng, though able to resist the roar, felt his courage weaken. Refusing to yield, he channeled his source energy and the Heavenly Machine Fist, meeting Gao Wu head-on.

When their fists collided, Yuan Qiansheng felt a force so powerful it shattered his flame essence, scattering it like fireworks across the arena. The sight was beautiful but dreamlike—and it was clear his flame manifestation had been blown apart.

Yuan Qiansheng staggered back, hitting the glass wall. The sight of him, previously so majestic, being defeated in one blow shocked everyone into silence.

Gao Wu stood still, not pursuing. The sound of the dragon’s roar still seemed to echo in the arena.

“Do you want to continue?” Gao Wu asked softly.

Yuan Qiansheng tried to clench his fists, but his muscles were twitching, and the energy in his meridians was in chaos. Gao Wu hadn’t followed up—he had shown mercy. Looking at Gao Wu’s steady breath and bright eyes, he knew he had lost.

“I surrender,” Yuan Qiansheng said, bowing his head.

Gao Wu bowed politely. “Accepted.”

The referee signaled the end of the match. The Anjing crowd was silent, unable to accept the defeat.

The参赛 teams from the seventy-six cities witnessed it all. They were the elite of the Northern Province, and they were stunned. Whether they liked Gao Wu or not, they had to admit he had carried his team, winning the championship through sheer, heaven-defying individual strength.

This championship was worth its weight in gold. At this moment, even the most arrogant teenagers had to admit that Gao Wu was the brightest star in the Northern Province!

Watching Gao Wu shine on the stage, countless teenagers felt their blood boil, moved by the realization that “a youth should be like this!”

In the stands, Bai Yucheng was filled with emotion. He had underestimated Gao Wu. “How did you know Gao Wu was a Martial Warrior?” he asked Wang Zixuan.

Wang Zixuan didn’t hide it. “He went to our academy to test his source energy. By September, he’ll be my junior. With his physical talent, he’ll be able to stand alongside the top geniuses like Yan Shanyue, Wang Ye, and Ye Chang’an…”

Bai Yucheng shook his head. “You’re thinking too much!”

Bai Yucheng didn’t want to argue. “Did you really only bet one hundred thousand?”

Wang Zixuan laughed, not answering.

Shen Yue’s fan group was still stunned. The victory felt like a dream. But soon, they erupted into cheers, waving their clothes and towels. The silence of the thousands of spectators made the small group’s cheers echo through the arena.

Gao Wu noticed his friend Shen Yue and the crimson flag. He gave a formal military salute—a tribute to Shen Yue, to the fan group, and to all the passionate, hot-blooded youth. His expression was stern and cold, adding a unique charm to his victory. A photographer captured the moment, and it became the promotional image for the match.

Finally, a few in the audience began to applaud.

Online, the cheers were endless. Dongjiang was in a frenzy; people were setting off firecrackers. The Kirin Cup was worth a hundred times more than the Snow Wave Cup, and it was Dongjiang’s first victory. They hadn’t even prepared for such glory.

On the FastSound platform, Gao Wu’s account followers skyrocketed.