Chapter Seventy-Three: The Fierce Battle with Li Po Kong

Chapter 73: The Great Battle with Li Po Kong

Shi Bai and Li Po Kong stood on opposite sides of the arena, their gazes fixed firmly on each other. The host had yet to speak when, suddenly, Murong Lingfeng leapt upright. “Ye Xiaobai! Don’t get cocky! Even I wasn’t a match for Li Po Kong—how could you be?”

The audience below couldn’t help but burst into chatter.

“Who do you think is stronger—Ye Xiaobai or Li Po Kong?”

“That’s… hard to say. One is tough from head to toe, and the other wields a hammer with terrifying strength. It’s like the strongest shield meeting the strongest spear. It’ll all come down to their abilities.”

“Well, that’s not saying much, is it? I think Li Po Kong is stronger.”

“Why?”

“No matter how tough his body is, can it be tougher than an iron hammer? He’s already broken other people’s arms and swords—there’s no way he can break that hammer.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. “Makes sense.”

Murong Lingfeng, noticing the shift in the crowd, seemed to regain a sliver of self-esteem, curling his lip. “If I couldn’t beat him, then you sure can’t either!”

Shi Bai kept his hands in his pockets, paying Murong Lingfeng no heed. Li Po Kong glanced at him and suddenly grinned, looking rather simple-minded. “I heard your face is really tough?”

Shi Bai raised his brows. “It’s all right.”

Li Po Kong lifted his iron hammer. “So, which is tougher—your face or my hammer?”

“My face.”

Li Po Kong paused, baffled. “You’re a strange one.”

“Maybe it’s just that my face is unusually tough.”

“Is it so strange to have a tough face?”

“A tough face gives you confidence. And maybe because of that, I come off as a little odd.”

Li Po Kong considered this. “Why does a tough face give you confidence?”

“Because then you don’t have to worry about getting slapped.”

Li Po Kong paused again. “That actually makes a lot of sense!”

“Maybe. Sometimes I just talk nonsense.”

“I like talking with you.”

Shi Bai was taken aback. “Thanks.”

“Can I be your disciple?” Li Po Kong blurted out.

Shi Bai froze. “Why?”

“Because I like your reasoning.”

Shi Bai thought for a moment. “No.”

“Why not?”

“If you become my disciple, then your father and I would be equals.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Why don’t you be my disciple’s disciple, then?”

“Disciple’s disciple?” Li Po Kong mulled it over. “That does sound a bit nicer than just disciple.”

“Doesn’t it?”

With a thud, Li Po Kong knelt before Shi Bai and knocked his head on the floor three times.

“Disciple’s disciple pays respects to Master Ancestor.”

The entire arena fell deathly silent.

“What the hell just happened?”

“Why is Li Po Kong suddenly bowing to Ye Xiaobai?”

“He’s taking him as his master!”

“Are you kidding me?!”

Shangguan Yunfei glanced at Murong Lingfeng with a mischievous grin, noticing that his jaw had dropped to the floor, his eyes vacant as if questioning the meaning of life itself.

The heads of the various clans whispered among themselves, their faces painted with suspicion and disbelief, while the host seemed at a loss for words. How had a straightforward contest turned into a ceremony of apprenticeship?

Ye Rulong and Li Jiankui, on the other hand, were smiling with satisfaction. After all, they were from the same school—having more disciples was a good thing.

Ye Ying’er, however, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Why does he always collect disciples and grand-disciples wherever he goes?”

“Po Kong!”

Just then, Li Baxian sprang up, his voice booming like thunder as he pointed at Li Po Kong.

“You little fool, what’s the meaning of this? How can you be kneeling to a master in the middle of a match? Get back to fighting! If you don’t win the championship, don’t come home!”

Li Po Kong was startled. “Don’t come home? But if I don’t go home, I won’t get to eat! No, no! I need to eat!”

Shi Bai patted his head with a smile. “You can come to my place for meals.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“But I can’t disobey my father.”

“You’re right.”

“So, I still have to squash you flat.”

Shi Bai frowned. “You’re going to squash your master’s master?”

“I… I…” Li Po Kong became conflicted. “I… can’t!”

Seeing that Li Po Kong was genuinely simple-minded, Shi Bai shook his head helplessly. “Fine, go ahead and try.”

The host was stunned. Smash? That hammer weighed at least a hundred pounds! If it hit someone’s head, it would be like cracking a walnut.

Li Po Kong, his beady eyes blinking, hoisted the hammer and said, “Really?”

Shi Bai nodded. “Go ahead.”

“All right.” Li Po Kong strode over. “Here I go.”

“Do it.”

The entire arena was in shock.

“What are those two up to? Is this some kind of street performance?”

“You think this is a magic show? They’re saying it like it’s nothing!”

But everyone was glued to the scene.

Ye Ying’er bit her lip, her small fists clenched, looking worried.

Murong Lingfeng’s mouth hung open, his eyes showing undisguised anticipation. “I hope it cracks his skull—one blow to the head! That’s the only way I’ll be satisfied!”

Li Po Kong raised his hammer and, without using much force, brought it down on Shi Bai’s head. The faint-hearted quickly covered their eyes, though some still peeked through their fingers.

Yet all that could be heard was a resounding clang as the hammer sailed right through.

The entire audience was silent.

In that instant, it was as if time froze, every expression locked in place.

After a moment, the arena erupted.

“Damn! His head really is tougher!”

“It went right through! How strong must he be? How hard is that head?”

“These two aren’t even human!”

Li Po Kong took another swing, this time sweeping the hammer at Shi Bai’s body. The hammer caved in, morphing into a ladle.

The audience was speechless, inwardly marveling—just how tough could someone’s body be?

Murong Lingfeng’s jaw dropped once more, the pride in his heart deflating like a punctured tire.

Li Po Kong was astonished, but still grinned. “You really are tougher than my hammer.”

“Aren’t I?”

“But I still have to beat you.”

“Go ahead.”

“All right.” Suddenly, Li Po Kong approached Shi Bai, grabbed him, and tried to lift him from the arena, just as he had done to Murong Lingfeng.

Shi Bai smiled faintly. “Give it a try.”

“Okay.” Li Po Kong used all his strength, but Shi Bai didn’t budge an inch—he couldn’t lift him at all.

Li Po Kong’s face was full of disbelief. “Weird, how are you heavier than a stone?”

Shi Bai smiled. “And I’m stronger than a stone, too.” With that, he flicked Li Po Kong’s forehead lightly.

Li Po Kong shot out like a missile, crashing headfirst into the ground and passing out on the spot.

Shi Bai stood with his hands behind his back. “Show disrespect to your master’s master, and that’s the lesson you’ll learn.”

Ye Rulong and Li Jiankui wiped cold sweat from their brows, secretly resolving never to challenge Shi Bai.

At that moment, Li Baxian charged over like a locomotive, checked Li Po Kong’s heartbeat and breathing, and then his injuries. With a wail, he leapt in front of Shi Bai.

“My son’s taken a blow like that—he can’t possibly survive! And even if he does, with his head hitting the ground, he’ll be ruined! You hurt my son, now pay with your life!”

He drew his dual hammers and lunged at Shi Bai.

Shi Bai frowned and was about to retaliate when, suddenly, Ye Rulong, Ye Xingzu, and Li Jiankui all leapt up, blocking his path and striking fighting stances. Ye Rulong shouted,

“Li Baxian! Don’t you dare lay a hand on my master!”

Everyone in the arena was stunned. “Your master?!”