The Martial Master - 31 Li Zhi.

“..Li. Zhi?”

A tremble rammed into Su Min’s body as he, with a peculiar calmness, turned his sights onto the group. The group in turn paused as they saw the calmness in Su Min’s eyes, making them gulp.

“Huh, you know Li Zhi?”

The man, with the same nonchalant gaze, spoke with a surprised expression. However, just as he was about to continue, the figure next to him shook.

“Y-you!?”

A confused and surprised echo resounded in the room as a man revealed himself out of the group of 6. His muscles were toned to an unbelievable degree, making him look more like a beast than a human.

Although he wasn’t as large as the leader, he was still a couple foot taller than Su Min. Though, Su Min didn’t seem to care…

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhi calmed down and spoke with mockery.

“Hahaha! So it’s you from that stupid shop! You’re not dead? What was your name again? Wait, I don’t think I asked for your name at that time…”

A strange atmosphere shrouded the two as the remaining five men had puzzled expressions, well, that was until Su Min spoke.

“Su Min…”

“W-what?! That genius who wrecked Li Zhi’s bro?”

One of the men in the group shuddered as he looked at the youth in a new light. However, it was a pitiful light, as Li Zhi was right in front of him…

“You… Impressive. I guess I’ll tell you anyway, but that girl of yours is probably dead. So, don’t even bother! Hahaha! ”

Li Zhi, glaring, spoke as his fist crackled. An intense pressure shrouded the room as Su Min felt the air solidify. Though, he still didn’t care…

“I have waited… A while. So…”

Speaking with the same calmness, Su Min’s eyes became sad as an undulation of crimson fluttered out of his jacket. A horrifying killing aura countered the pressure, and it seemed it was evenly matched!

“I will repay it… Twofold.”

Just as everyone started to sweat with shock, Su Min’s whole demeanour transformed! His right arm, although still ruptured, ignored its injuries and formed a fist!

A glow erupted out the fist and spewed a dazzling gold right into everyone’s being. However, it was different compared to the glow that lit up Su Min’s axe when he chopped the tree down.

It had an intent to kill!

Everyone felt their blood boil as a strange dread shrouded their entire existence. It was an angered dread. An anger from a being they should never provoke!

“…Regret it… Regret… It.”

A dead roar erupted out of Su Min as his calmness got ruptured with rage, causing a firm instinct to take its place. It was an ancient instinct, and it pulsated out of his ancient body…

“Haha! Kid, don’t push yourself!”

Li Zhi, suppressing the eery feeling he had, roared as he took a similar stance. This was a battle between two people who train in the art of the body; a fierce battle where the fists do the talking…

However, Su Min didn’t seem to want to give Li Zhi any chances at all, and with an even scarier mumble, he spoke two words that originated from somewhere far, far away; a place that’s been washed in the waves of limitless time.

“Fist. Second Form.”

The 7 golden strands in his body seemed to tremble under such words, and with complex movements that would make anyone go blank, they pierced out of his body and surrounded him, ushering a newfound aura. It was like they resonated with a law that could pressure the sky, an aura, that although impure, surpasses everything and anything.

It was an aura that transcended whatever Su Min could create just by injecting the golden energy into his fists. It was an aura created by the law that came from the Ancient Fists Arts…

Comparing it to how Su Min used the golden energy to cut down the tree, it’s on a totally different level. There, Su Min didn’t even use any laws and just crudely shot the energy into his axe, but here, by using a technique, he is able to rouse the law his race uses; although it is but a tiny law that’s as insignificant as a drop in the ocean.

*PSSSSHHH*

A blinding golden glow enveloped Su Min’s body as a primal, ancient aura thrashed itself onto everyone. Everyone, even the man who ran the shop, shivered at such an aura. It was beyond terrifying.

Li Zhi took a step back as he felt his whole body slow down, his blood pause, and his heart tremble. It was like he was looking at the forefather of all strength, a being who invented the very essence of ‘Might’.

“Goddammit!”

Eyes bloodshot, Li Zhi roared as he forced his body to rebel against the awed feeling that continued to thrash at his heart, and with a boom, he leapt towards the blinding light.

“…Golden Eclypse…”

However, at that split second, even with the immense speed of Li Zhi that surpassed the first step Martial Condensation, the world seemed to pause as Su Min uttered two irrevocable words. Following this, a burning sensation blasted onto all creation, making Li Zhi gasp.

The golden light solidified around Su Min’s fist, and it was directly aimed at Li Zhi.

*BOOOOM*

A horrifying explosion ruptured the air as a fist encompassed Li Zhi’s view, and although it wasn’t that fast, Li Zhi felt his body stiffen. His eyes went even more bloodshot as he thrashed his fist towards it to meet it!

*PSHHHT*

Yet, maybe it was because Su Min used 7 strands of energy, a primal, vigorous light enveloped Li Zhi before he could even fight back. His eyes, as bloodshot before, shook with fear as his whole began to smoke. Though, he prevailed and continued to punch!

*SSSSSSS*

Su Min, breathing a deep breath, met Li Zhi’s fist with his own!

*SMACK*

A rupture seemed to tear the air against the two gigantic strengths as a vicious shockwave ruptured the marble floor with a sharp crack. Though, it was obvious that Li Zhi was stronger as he forced Su Min back!

However, this wasn’t what made Li Zhi well with despair. No, it was because of that glowing light that enveloped Su Min’s fist. It was a gold that dazzled him, a gold that made him want to prostrate himself in front of it…

*SHINNNNG*

A strange cry reverberated out of the collision as Li Zhi’s whole body shivered with a horrifying danger. Yet, before he could do anything about it, Su Min’s fist, with an ancient shriek, blasted a beam of golden light right onto his body.

It was like the light commanded him to die, commanded him to die a death that’d make him want to die!

*SHEWWW*

The whole room seemed to be displaced by an eclipse of gold, where that colour became the world and everything in it. The 5 men all shivered as they were forced to look away from the radiance that shrouded Li Zhi, and so did the man managing the temple.

*PSSSSST*

“AHHHHH!”

An excruciating shriek arose as the glow flickered away within seconds, unveiling something that made everyone want to vomit. A gold fire, shrill as death, blazed atop Li Zhi as he rolled on the floor with anguish.

Though, the flames didn’t seem to follow the laws of the world as they continued to blaze, blaze and blaze without care.

“F-FUCKKK!!”

The man’s whole body became crisp as his hair disintegrated and his body smoked with it. Standing not too far away, a youth on all fours watched the whole thing. A pool of blood-drenched him and the floor, seeping into the cracks generated by the collision.

His left and right arm were mangled; his body was ripped and his face was as pale as death. Yet, all that seemed to be irrelevant as he watched Li Zhi toss and turn…

“STOP IT!!!”

The flames had already seeped into Li Zhi’s flesh, burning his insides out, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t put it out.

The people left were dazed as they watched him, not knowing what to do…

“Uh…”

“I don’t want to touch that fire…”

Everyone gulped as they watched the golden fire blaze with a suppressive aura, seeming to originate from a time long ago. Minutes passed through the shrill screams, and these minutes felt like years to the group.

Though, it was until a thud reverberated through the entire room that it ended.

*Poof*

The golden fire, like it had confirmed something, blew itself out as it dissipated into the air as if it had never existed. A literal skeleton revealed itself and rattled onto the floor as it shined in everyone’s eyes.

It had no flesh, not even ash. It was just a charred skeleton. Nevertheless, before they could gasp…

“Hahahahah!”

A maddened laughter shook the deafening silence as Su Min roared. He looked like a wreck, probably weaker than even a mortal, yet everyone saw him as a terrifying beast. A beast who disregards pain.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

*THUD*

Laughing without a care, the mangled figure known as Su Min grasped at the floor before pushing itself up. Standing like a zombie, Su Min stumbled towards the pile of bones and crushed each and every one…

*CRACK* *CRASH* *CRUSH*

“Who the fuck is this kid…”

The leader of the group of the now 5 mumbled as he watched the insane, stubborn nature of Su Min. Although Su Min could die at any moment with that amount blood loss, he was somehow moving…

“Now…”

Su Min, feeling satisfied, moved his body that was broken inside and out, and went to the shop…

“H-he…”

*S-step* *Step*

Staggering, even more, Su Min pushed his body towards the floating screen before him. He rummaged through his jacket before finding the token; making sure he still has his book, he looked at what was to offer.

‘[Techniques] [Pills] [Materials] [Miscilenaneous]’

“Hm…”