After I suddenly became stronger and counterattacked effectively against him, the Old Fist God did not show any surprise. Judging by his extremely strong perception abilities, when I first realized my strength had become stronger, he should have simultaneously detected this change.

Yet, despite this, he still classified me as the type "not adept at becoming stronger during combat." Looking back, it's rather strange. Clearly, I did become stronger during combat, though I don't even know why myself, but he couldn't possibly have failed to observe this. From his standpoint, there was no reason to make that judgment with such confidence.

The Old Fist God's offensive visited once more. There was none of the overly flashy moves, only straightforward punches and kicks, yet each contained lethal power. It's said that in true martial arts duels, there is no mention of Killing Moves. The victory between masters is always within a moment; thus, every strike is a Killing Move.

His hit rate increased again, as if trying to surpass the part where I had overtaken him, adapting to the stronger me. Even though he was already exerting all his strength, he was still pursuing further breakthroughs, and it seemed he could indeed achieve that. Maybe this was what people called "being capable of becoming stronger during combat."

Therefore, another detail was exposed — why hasn't the Old Fist God used his Special Ability yet?

Since he is fighting with his full strength and is still pursuing breaking his limits, there is no reason at this juncture to hide his secret weapon. Even when facing Shan Liangyi, he used it without hesitation, so it's impossible that he would continue hiding it against someone stronger than Shan Liangyi.

Or… has he merely made it look like he hasn't used it, but actually has? It's just due to the effect being so subtle that even I can't notice it?

While dodging the Old Fist God's attacks, I retaliated. In such high-frequency, close-quarter exchanges, it was challenging to divert attention to observe whether there were abnormalities in my body and soul. But if this couldn't be discovered in time, it might erupt into problems in a certain round, leading to being killed instantly by the Old Fist God.

Especially when jolted by Special Ability at such close range, using the Power of Return might not be able to gain a significant advantage over the opponent's ability, lacking the confidence to suppress and erase it as soon as the effect takes hold, thereby exposing a fatal flaw.

In what form will the Old Fist God's Special Ability produce effects? Petrification immobilization? Spiritual interference? Internal destruction? Or perhaps a more complex curse? The mana fluctuations of the Old Fist God are erupting without any restraint; could this be the medium through which he spreads the influence of his Special Ability?

A rough scan doesn't reveal whether there are any signs of such malicious occurrences happening on me. Aside from my mana strength rising abnormally, there is nothing unusual…

Considering this, it felt like there was a flash passing over the ocean of my consciousness, tearing open an astonishing gap in the dark void without clues.

Simultaneously, feeling the mana fluctuations of the Old Fist God, as well as the extreme thoughts longing for strong opponents emanating from them, a mind-boggling answer floated to the surface of my mind.

"... Old Fist God... your Special Ability, is it to make me, and previously Shan Liangyi, to make your enemies stronger!?" I involuntarily voiced my astonishment.

The Old Fist God, without any guilt from being exposed, let out a sonorous laugh, saying, "——Got caught by you?"

What kind of joke is this? Specially strengthening one's enemies… The Special Ability that even frightened Shan Liangyi to flee, how could it be such a low-quality ability!?

I could hardly believe it, but this answer explained everything.

Shan Liangyi's goal was to use his strength after becoming stronger to take revenge against the Old Fist God who had defeated him. If he lost to him again, well, that would be whatever. No, saying "whatever" isn't quite right either under such circumstance... But if there's a worse outcome; it would undeniably be that this "high-and-mighty benefactor" who once given mana to the Old Fist God, ended up being bestowed greater power in the revenge battle by the Old Fist God.

That would be the greatest insult to the proud Shan Liangyi.

Hence why he chose to flee the battle back then… Because fighting in a state "strengthened by the Old Fist God," whether losing or winning, would be a far more unacceptable disgrace than simply losing.

Reflecting deeply, in the historical scenes I previously observed, Shan Liangyi indeed experienced abnormal mana fluctuations exceeding the limit right after the Old Fist God declared activating his Special Ability… Back then, I thought it was merely due to Shan Liangyi's excessive emotional agitation.

This Special Ability can be considered to be continuing the anomaly the Old Fist God had exhibited in the past. His Fatian Xiangdi makes the living beings in the region become berserk and attack him, even plants can astonishingly mutate into carnivorous entities with hunting desires, so having a Special Ability that makes enemies stronger isn't far-fetched.

"This ability appeared after I became the so-called strongest in Luo Mountain. Martial arts demand an opponent for them to exist, yet back then, I couldn't find even half an opponent. Even the last strong adversary who could duel with me, Shan Liangyi, was personally slain by me shortly before that." The Old Fist God said, "Even though I've turned into a mana user unable to normally train martial arts, I still barely called it walking on the Martial Arts Path, but if there were no opponents, the last foothold would be lost.

"I suppose this power emerged from such a longing-driven superpower. Unfortunately, even with this power, if it's not an opponent at the Third Door Level like me, it still can't genuinely compete with me fairly.

"I don't wish others to know I have such power because I'm somewhat worried... What if someone like Weichi, who has potential or desires to become my enemy, once learns about this ability, might he become slothful, trying to use the parts originally meant for self-tempered growth to be supplemented by my power?

"As for Shan Liangyi, who had climbed to a very high place, I didn't have such concerns. However, I originally thought someone with a vengeance-focused mindset like him would be overjoyed upon discovering this condition... Who would've thought he was so rigid, preferring to endure the disgrace of fleeing with his back turned to me, admitting temporary defeat, rather than accepting my power."

Speaking of Shan Liangyi, he expressed both regret and admiration.

Shan Liangyi was always assuming a high-and-mighty posture, yet would often lose composure and scream, having lived for an unknown length of time, he still appeared emotionally impulsive like a young person, going as far as writing emotions on his face like a child when slightly displeased. In my heart, he had already become an image devoid of a strong person's demeanor. Yet, upon hearing the Old Fist God's commentary, I found some aspect worthy of admiration from Shan Liangyi.

But Shan Liangyi has Shan Liangyi's style, and I have my own style.

"Is that so... But I won't be like Shan Liangyi, obsessed with the perfection of victory." I said, "And I repeat, for the sake of victory, I'll resort to any means necessary. Old Fist God, since you have this 'weakness,' I will exploit it to the fullest."

Saying this, I completely let go of my spirit, even simulating the nature of adapting to everything like the Divine Son. Unconsciously borrowing power and consciously borrowing power are two completely different concepts. Once clearly aware there's a strong wind pushing me, I leveraged it fully.

The progression of becoming stronger accelerated instantly, and the level of strength which would have originally taken an extended period to reach, I was rapidly approaching.

"This is how it should be! Don't get confused by paths of others, just stick to the essence of your soul, Zhuang Cheng." The Old Fist God exclaimed enthusiastically, "Then, show me... just how far the legendary Power of Manifestation can go!"

He seemed to be breaking through his limits as well, the intensity of the mana fluctuations climbed frantically, concentrating into a massive explosive force to propel his body, dashing toward me.

I brandished the black Solar Eclipse Sword to meet him.

Collision, maneuvering, collision again, the intertwining of sword slashes and punches, the strength continuously magnifying, resembling two spirals entwined in motion. Occasionally leaving deep wounds on each other's body, also occasionally getting hit and bombarded by the other.

The battlefield spanned over a massive spatial scale, sometimes drawing near Earth, sometimes near the Moon. We were both deepening our injuries constantly, but compared to me, who could fully recover even after body and soul were completely shattered, the Old Fist God who could not do the same was at a disadvantage in that regard.

Originally, with his power, he could forcibly ignore such disparity, only needing to shatter my soul once or twice more to claim victory. But as my power increased significantly, the matter became less straightforward. The advantage of the Manifestation Realm began manifesting prominently, he was increasingly struggling to catch me, and the proportion of mitigated damages kept rising.

A sudden kick from the Old Fist God sent me flying, and I plummeted onto the Moon's surface, my body deeply embedding into the ground. Even the current me could barely withstand one more heavy blow, and the Old Fist God was in a similar state. Through the thick layers of rock, I observed him full of wounds, his entire body slashed and stabbed to the point of being a blood-soaked individual.

We both knew clear well, what comes next is our final strike against each other.

The Old Fist God stood in the dark cosmic space, taking a deep breath, far behind him lay Earth covered in gray mist, as well as the dazzling Sun.

Upon his mana fluctuations rising to the peak, he gazed toward the direction of the Moon with eyes bursting with determination, while his entire body erupted with a monumental aura likened to another celestial body, locking onto my location for collision.

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