Chapter Six: A Friendly Duel (Part One)

What would happen if one completed nine cycles of the Basic Body-Strengthening Technique? There was no answer to this question. Zhao Li had searched the internet thoroughly, but no one had ever set such a precedent. On the contrary, there were plenty of accounts of people who had attempted various methods to break through, only to fail.

This time, Zhao Li was wide awake, enthusiasm burning as he began his exploration. The ideal scenario would be to achieve this state while fully conscious, not in a dazed stupor. However, whenever he attempted the experiment again, he would always wake up automatically at the end of the ninth cycle.

It seemed that the previous occurrence was merely a coincidence, possible only when accompanied by that so-called chaotic state. Fortunately, it did not affect his health; after a night of fruitless attempts, Zhao Li gave up on this futile endeavor.

In the week that followed, nothing out of the ordinary happened again. Even as the new term of his final year of high school began, Zhao Li did not experience anything similar.

"Hey, Zhao Li, how was your holiday?" Johnny and two other classmates crowded around Zhao Li, eagerly asking about his time off. One of them draped an arm over Zhao Li's shoulder with unabashed familiarity, but Zhao Li took no offense.

"Not bad. How about you?" It was clear these guys had come to brag, and Zhao Li gave them the opportunity, but he would never waver in his own choices.

"Oh, you have no idea—training with the Mighty Strength Technique feels absolutely amazing." Johnny exaggeratedly flexed his arm in a bodybuilder's pose. "Look at this! Just two months in, and I feel like my strength has doubled at least!" Of course, this was an exaggeration; no one could achieve such terrifying results in a single month.

"Yeah, right. Liar." Zhao Li and his two other friends simultaneously raised their middle fingers at Johnny. Yet thick-skinned as ever, Johnny remained unfazed, continuing to show off his bodybuilder poses for all to see.

During a break, Zhao Li went to see his "Gorilla Man" instructor, who greatly admired Zhao Li's perseverance and offered many words of encouragement. However, the instructor was busy with new students and, as it was his first time guiding them, had little time to spare for Zhao Li, who had to leave after a brief visit.

By the end of the day, Zhao Li had more or less familiarized himself with all his classmates. It seemed that everyone around him had already begun practicing first-level techniques; only Zhao Li persisted with the Basic Body-Strengthening Technique.

Word spread among his classmates about this oddball in their midst, and curiosity grew. Those close to him urged Zhao Li not to be so stubborn and to abandon his foolish idea, while those less friendly had already begun to mock him.

"Oh, I wonder what legendary technique Zhao Li is planning to master?" The ill-timed voice always seemed to sound when one was most irritable, making it all the more grating.

Zhao Li retorted without a second thought, "Xu Jun, mind your own business." Xu Jun, his classmate, seemed to always target Zhao Li, perhaps because of Li Mengdie. Even though Li Mengdie had left, the animosity between Xu Jun and Zhao Li remained unchanged.

"Trash is trash. Too scared to confess to a girl, and a worthless failure at training too." Given the chance, Xu Jun never missed an opportunity to attack Zhao Li. "If you don't dare practice even a first-level technique, what are you if not a loser?" Xu Jun had confessed a few times in the past, each time being directly rejected by Li Mengdie without any room for negotiation. Xu Jun always blamed Zhao Li for this.

"Damn it!" Being insulted like this, Zhao Li couldn't help but flare up. "You really think you're something special?" In the past, Zhao Li had avoided engaging with Xu Jun, especially after discovering his own secret, and had been cautious, never giving this matter much thought. But now, this guy was openly provoking him. There is a limit to patience. Though Zhao Li was meticulous by nature, he was not someone who would endure humiliation without end, and immediately met the challenge head-on.

Since entering high school, Zhao Li had rarely lost his temper, but the accumulated frustration and Xu Jun's deliberate provocation finally pushed him over the edge. "So what if you've trained a few days with a first-level technique? You really think you're the best in the world now? Come on, if you're so confident, let's have a match!"

"A match?" Xu Jun took the bait. For a long time, he had wanted to provoke Zhao Li, but Zhao Li's indifference had denied him the opportunity. Besides, back then, their abilities were about the same; even in a fight, Xu Jun couldn't be sure of victory. As for a group fight, Xu Jun's popularity was nowhere near Zhao Li's, who was always cultivating friendships.

But now, Zhao Li had delivered himself right to Xu Jun, and with Xu Jun having trained the Mighty Strength Technique for over a month while Zhao Li still practiced basic exercises, the advantage was obvious. Such a great opportunity was rare.

Excited, Xu Jun never considered the difference between his month of training and Zhao Li's fourfold progress in the Basic Body-Strengthening Technique. He would never understand the crucial difference.

Zhao Li had pondered this as well, which was why he was eager to seize the chance to test himself in response to Xu Jun's provocation. Keeping a secret required constant vigilance; Zhao Li increasingly felt he was becoming too calculating, as if everything he did was for some ulterior motive. He wondered how much longer he would have to carry such a burden.

"Freestyle sparring, one on one!" Even after training with the Mighty Strength Technique, one could not circulate energy in a real fight; at most, after a mere month, there would only be a slight increase in physical strength. Zhao Li, of course, chose the safest way to teach this annoying guy a lesson and to learn more about his own secret.

"Great!" Xu Jun was overjoyed. "Let's go to the school's sparring arena!" With that, he and his two close friends led the way.

"Want me to teach him a lesson for you?" Johnny, with his burly physique—far surpassing both Zhao Li and Xu Jun—offered. As a Westerner, his robust build was obvious. He and Zhao Li were the closest of friends and lived nearby, so naturally, he was eager to stand with Zhao Li when Xu Jun provoked him.

"Thanks, Johnny, but let me handle this myself," Zhao Li replied, declining Johnny's offer as he strode toward the arena.