Chapter 57: Shocking Strike, Sweeping a Thousand Troops

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Shocking Strike, Sweeping a Thousand Troops

"Are you sure?"

The manager’s voice grated through the loudspeaker, laced with disbelief.

His foot froze halfway down the steps. He snapped his head toward Ji Zhixing standing in the center of the arena, looking as if he had just heard a fairy tale.

The crowd below the stage fell dead silent for a split second before erupting like cold water poured into boiling oil.

"What did he say? Let the remaining four attack together?"

"Is he crazy? The ten Defenders chosen by the mall are no pushovers. He might be strong, but he’s still just one person. Winning six matches in a row doesn’t mean he can take on four at once."

"I bet he’s running out of stamina and wants to make one last desperate gamble."

"Even a gamble shouldn’t be played like this," a burly Genetic Cultivator said, shaking his head with a hint of pity. "If four of them attack together, he won’t even have a chance to fight back."

"Instead of doing this, he’d be better off winning whatever matches he can and walking away with some rewards."

The buzzing chatter blended into a cacophony. Even standing on the arena stage, Ji Zhixing found it a bit too loud. He knew no one believed in him, but it didn’t matter. He was up here to win money. As long as he won the money, nothing else mattered.

"Is he really playing it this risky?" In the crowd, Zhou Yuan’s hand trembled when he heard Ji Zhixing’s words, almost dropping his phone.

He stared unblinkingly at Ji Zhixing on the stage, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He had known Ji Zhixing for a long time, but this was the first time he realized his friend could be so arrogant—especially in front of such a massive audience.

On the stage, Ji Zhixing turned a deaf ear to the clamor below. He looked at the manager with calm eyes and gave a slight nod. "I’m sure."

Though his voice wasn’t loud, it pierced clearly through the noisy discussions.

Ji Zhixing knew very well that if he had to fight four more consecutive matches, one by one, he simply wouldn’t have the stamina or the genetic source power left. After six back-to-back fights, his body had reached its limit. Every breath felt like swallowing scorching air, and his source power was running dangerously low. He might be able to hold on for one more match, but two or three would be absolutely impossible, let alone four.

However, facing four opponents at once? He just might have a chance. It was a massive gamble. If he won, he could walk away with a million Gene Coins and even get a free piece of equipment.

"Agree to it!" Just then, an excited young voice echoed in the manager’s earpiece. "I actually want to see what trump card he’s hiding. Taking on four at once? If he dared to suggest it, he must have some level of confidence!"

The manager paused for a moment before slapping a professional smile onto his face. Raising his microphone, he announced loudly, "Alright! Truly a young hero! Since you wish to do this, our Radiant Mall will grant your request!"

"Thank you." Ji Zhixing cupped his fists in gratitude.

The manager nodded and turned to walk down from the stage.

The moment his foot hit the ground, the arena lights abruptly dimmed. Four blinding spotlights flared from the north, south, east, and west corners, perfectly illuminating four figures at the edge of the ring.

The four remaining Defenders slowly stood up and climbed onto the stage one after another, lining up in a row.

"Kid, I admit you’re tough," a burly man wielding dual hammers grunted. "But wanting to defeat the four of us all at once? That’s pure wishful thinking."

The other three also sported ugly expressions. Before coming up, they had received instructions to lose if possible—and to do it without making it obvious. But it was four against one. How were they supposed to lose? They hadn’t graduated from acting school; where were they going to find the acting skills for this?

"Words are useless. Let’s start," Ji Zhixing said, taking a deep breath and cutting out the nonsense.

He could feel his heart racing, the sound of blood surging through his veins clear to his ears. Even the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene inside his Dantian Genetic Acupoint was quivering slightly at this moment.

It wasn’t fear! It was excitement.

One against four? Bring it on!

Ever since awakening his past life’s memories, Ji Zhixing had always maintained a very steady personality. But at this moment, unmatched battle intent surfaced in his eyes. This fighting spirit was so intense that it even stimulated the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene within him, causing it to stir restlessly as if it were about to complete its evolution ahead of time.

"You’re actually letting us make the first move?"

The only woman among the four seemed infuriated by Ji Zhixing’s arrogant attitude. With a sharp CLANG, the longsword at her waist left its sheath. The blade gleamed like a pool of autumn water, carving a fierce arc under the lights as it darted straight for Ji Zhixing’s throat. The strike was astonishingly fast, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.

CLANG!

Ji Zhixing raised his Tide Listening Rod and flicked his wrist, the tip of the staff tapping precisely against the edge of her blade. The resulting metallic crash rang out like a struck bell, stinging the eardrums of the nearby audience. As the woman’s sword clashed with the staff, a shower of sparks flew. The immense rebounding force left the webbing of her hand completely numb, forcing her to stumble back three steps before she could stabilize herself.

"Too weak." Ji Zhixing shook his head, his tone flat. "Way too weak. If you’re going to attack, do it together. Coming at me one by one just isn’t enough."

Those words completely ignited the powder keg.

"Alright, kid! You wanted us all at once? We’ll grant your wish!" The burly man with the dual hammers could no longer hold back, his fury overriding his reason.

He swung his massive hammers, whipping up a howling gale as they smashed down toward Ji Zhixing like two small mountains. Wherever the hammers passed, the air compressed into visible ripples.

At the same time, the lean man wielding a saber blurred into motion. Striking later but arriving first, his blade flashed like a swath of silk, slashing straight toward Ji Zhixing’s ribs. The angle was tricky and venomous, sealing off any avenue for evasion.

On the other side, the fourth Genetic Cultivator let out a deafening roar. Thick brown hairs sprouted all over his body as his arms elongated rapidly and his fingers curled into vicious hooks. Looking like a rampant ape, he charged in from the flank.

With three of them attacking simultaneously, coupled with the sword-wielding woman, they instantly cut off all of Ji Zhixing’s escape routes.

"Good timing."

Seeing the four assailants lunging at him simultaneously, a sharp light flashed in Ji Zhixing’s eyes. Instead of fear, a scorching battle intent ignited within him. He took a deep breath, expanding his chest to the absolute limit. Inside his Dantian Genetic Acupoint, the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene seemed to sense his summons, letting out a roar only he could hear. He connected with the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene while urging his genetic source power to surge through his entire body, following the operational pathways of Gigantification.

"Gigantification!"

A bizarre power erupted from his genetic acupoint, instantly flooding his limbs and bones. His body began to shoot upward. His shoulders broadened, his arms thickened, and the muscles on his chest bulged. His bones stretched outward, while his skin stretched taut before tightening.

One point eight-three meters, two meters, two point two meters, two point five meters, two point seven meters!

Accompanied by the CRACKLE of his shifting skeleton, his height skyrocketed from one point eight-three meters to over two point seven meters in the blink of an eye. The Tide Listening Rod in his hand also swelled under the infusion of source power, surging from just over two meters long to over three meters. Now as thick as a bowl, it radiated a heavy, oppressive presence.

At this moment, Ji Zhixing looked like a Giant Spirit God stepping straight out of mythology.

"Sweeping Away a Thousand Armies!"

Seeing their attacks mere inches away, he let out an explosive shout that rolled like thunder. Gripping the staff with both hands, he drove power from his waist and swept the long weapon horizontally, whipping up a visible white ring of air. This strike carried the willpower of the Breaking Army Staff Technique, an unstoppable momentum that surged ever forward. The three-meter-long giant staff swept across the arena, its generated gale howling like a raging hurricane.

BOOM!

The burly man’s dual hammers were simultaneously struck by the staff. The impact sent him flying backward, hammers and all, crashing violently into the railing at the edge of the stage. The lean man’s saber had not even touched Ji Zhixing before the concussive wind from the staff slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling sideways with a muffled groan. As for the long-armed ape Cultivator, his arms had barely reached Ji Zhixing when the giant staff struck him squarely in the waist, launching him into the air like a kite with a snapped string.

The three of them were swept away almost at the exact same moment, landing in different corners of the ring, unable to get up.

Only the sword-wielding woman was fast enough. The second she saw Ji Zhixing transform, she realized something was terribly wrong and hastily retreated, narrowly dodging the devastating blow. But as she stood at the edge of the arena, her face was pale, and the hand gripping her sword trembled uncontrollably.

"I can’t hold this for much longer... I need to end this quickly," Ji Zhixing thought.

He turned around and locked eyes with her. At two point seven meters tall, holding a three-meter-long staff, his gigantified body was cloaked in a faint golden membrane that gleamed under the stage lights, making him look like a literal god of war. His eyes were faintly bloodshot. The genetic source power in his body was almost completely drained; the cost to maintain Gigantification was just too immense. He couldn’t hold on much longer.

"Again!"

He brought the staff crashing down. This strike didn’t carry the fierce brutality of the Breaking Army Staff Technique, but rather the flow of the Tingchao Staff Technique.

As the long staff swung out, the sound of surging tides echoed across the entire arena. The noise rushed in from all directions—sometimes distant, sometimes close, pitching high and low. It was like ocean waves crashing against the shore, wave after wave in an endless cycle.

Surging Tides!

The woman froze. It wasn’t physical force suppressing her, but rather the tide-like sound disrupting her state of mind. She desperately wanted to dodge, but her body refused to obey.

The long staff descended, stopping a mere three inches from her face. The gale generated by the blow swept across her head, lifting several strands of her hair. She stood rigid, her sword slowly drooping toward the floor.

The entire venue fell dead silent. You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the towering giant of a man on the stage. They had just watched him take on four opponents at once, instantly vanquishing three Defenders before subduing the last with a single staff strike. The raw visual impact and that unrivaled, tyrannical presence made everyone’s heart pound wildly.

If Ji Zhixing were a high-tier Genetic Cultivator, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. The aura of a high-tier Genetic Cultivator was far more overwhelming and destructive; this arena wouldn’t even be able to withstand it. But everyone present knew he was merely a Tier One Gene Cultivator who had only fused with a common Tier One gene.

"Phew!" On the stage, Ji Zhixing exhaled heavily and canceled the Gigantification. His body shrank inch by inch, returning to its original state, though his clothes were stretched beyond recovery. Fortunately, he had worn a very loose outfit today, so enough of the fabric remained to keep him covered.

He stood on the stage, panting heavily, his legs trembling slightly. There was barely a single drop of genetic source power left in his body; the energy drain from Gigantification was far greater than he had anticipated.

"Ten consecutive victories," he muttered silently in his heart. "The rewards are doubled: one million Gene Coins. Plus, an extra piece of equipment worth up to two hundred thousand."

CLAP CLAP CLAP...

Below the stage, someone began to clap. Like a rising tide, the applause started out sparse before quickly rippling through the crowd, eventually transforming into a deafening roar of cheers.

In this world, the strong were always worthy of respect.