The underground boxing ring fell silent, with only Jiang Wuming's voice echoing, lingering for a long time.
Everyone, from the Azure gang members led by Chu Wansong to the Red gang members like Huang Xiaoxie and Lei Bao, was stunned.
They had never expected Jiang Wuming to propose changing the martial arts challenge into a battle to the death!
This was because a battle to the death between martial artists was protected by the Martial Department's regulations. As long as both parties were willing, no retaliation would be allowed after one party died!
Unexpected, wasn't it?
For Jiang Wuming, choosing to accept the challenge was not only to settle the grievances of his parents from the past but also to thank Chu Wansong.
As for changing it to a battle to the death...
Since Huang Xiaoxie and Lei Bao had been plotting to make a move against him for a long time, how could he be polite to them?
A clear distinction between grievances and favors.
This was Jiang Wuming's principle of handling matters!
"Wuming..."
Chu Wansong was the first to recover, intending to stop Jiang Wuming.
If it were a martial arts battle, even if Jiang Wuming was outmatched, he could intervene to stop the match, declaring Jiang Wuming defeated.
But if it were changed to a battle to the death, one of them, Jiang Wuming or Lei Bao, would have to die for the match to end.
In Jiang Wuming's words, it was a fight to the death!
And according to the Martial Department's regulations, once a battle to the death was confirmed, no one could interfere. If Chu Wansong interfered, not only would he and Jiang Wuming lose face, but they would also be punished by the Martial Department!
"Good!"
However, before Chu Wansong could finish his words, Huang Xiaoxie also recovered from his shock, interrupted Chu Wansong, and immediately looked at Lei Bao, urging him to accept the challenge quickly.
At this moment, he no longer cared whether his actions would offend Chu Wansong!
What he wanted was to confirm this battle to the death and not give Jiang Wuming a chance to back out!
"Jiang Wuming, I will engage in a battle to the death with you. Our lives are in our own hands. According to the Martial Department's regulations, regardless of the outcome of this battle, neither party shall seek retaliation afterward!"
Seeing Huang Xiaoxie's gaze, Lei Bao's heart stirred. He quickly agreed to the challenge, specifically mentioning the Martial Department's regulations.
He was confident that he could defeat Jiang Wuming with ease, but he worried that Chu Wansong might make a move against him after this battle!
*Swish!*
Upon hearing Huang Xiaoxie and Lei Bao's words one after another, Chu Wansong's expression changed.
Now that the other party, Lei Bao, had accepted the challenge, it was too late for him to persuade Jiang Wuming to give up the battle to the death.
"Uncle Chu, don't worry, I will win."
Jiang Wuming felt warmth in his heart knowing Chu Wansong was worried about his safety. He spoke to reassure Chu Wansong.
As his voice fell, Jiang Wuming, not waiting for Chu Wansong to say anything more, strode towards the ring in the center of the underground boxing arena.
Chu Wansong's expression was extremely solemn.
Although Jiang Wuming had appeared calm, even confident, throughout the entire process, Chu Wansong still didn't believe Jiang Wuming could kill Lei Bao.
After all, Wu Long, who ranked among the top ten martial arts grandmasters in Longguo, was no match for Lei Bao!
In his opinion, Lei Bao had likely touched the threshold of the War God realm and only needed a catalyst to break through!
"Master Wuming, come on!"
"Master Wuming, thank you for fighting for the Azure gang!"
Just then, some of the younger thugs from the Azure gang, seeing Jiang Wuming about to step into the ring for a battle to the death with Lei Bao, couldn't help but shout encouragement to Jiang Wuming.
We absolutely cannot let Wuming die here!
Hearing the voices of the Azure gang thugs and looking at Jiang Wuming's retreating back, Chu Wansong secretly made up his mind – as long as Jiang Wuming's life was in danger, he would step in to save him, even if it meant facing punishment from the Martial Department afterward!
At the same time, both Huang Xiaoxie and the subordinates behind him looked at Jiang Wuming with a mocking expression, as if they were looking at an idiot!
This was because they all knew that Lei Bao had not displayed his full strength in his previous fight with Wu Long. Lei Bao was on the verge of entering the War God realm, and his strength ranked among the top five martial arts grandmasters in Longguo!
Jiang Wuming was only an eight-star martial artist. What was the difference between engaging in a battle to the death with Lei Bao and seeking death?
Even outsiders thought so, let alone Lei Bao himself?
"As expected of Jiang Zhan, the son of a generation's War God, you have courage. To challenge me to a battle to the death at the realm of an eight-star martial artist!"
Seeing Jiang Wuming step onto the ring, Lei Bao chuckled mockingly, looking at him as if he were already a corpse.
"Isn't this exactly what you wanted?" Jiang Wuming's expression was impassive.
"Young Master Huang just wanted to cripple you, take parts from your body, and bring them back to Nanzhou as a gift for Master Huang. You're the one seeking death!"
Lei Bao sneered. At this point, he no longer needed to conceal the plan he and Huang Xiaoxie had devised. With nothing to fear, he said, "Because I was worried you wouldn't dare to accept the challenge, I deliberately held back during my match with Wu Long.
So, you don't need to harbor any illusions. The moment you proposed changing it to a battle to the death, your fate was sealed, and you wouldn't see tomorrow's sun!"
*Swish swish swish...*
Hearing Lei Bao's words, everyone on the Azure gang's side, including Chu Wansong, changed their expressions again!
Lei Bao could easily defeat Wu Long without using his full strength. If he fought with all his might, how could Jiang Wuming possibly contend?
Huang Xiaoxie and the others' mocking smiles grew even wider.
However—
The next moment.
The mocking smiles on their faces froze!
"What if I said I saw through your hidden strength, would you believe me?"
Jiang Wuming spoke again, his tone still calm, but it exploded like a thunderclap, stunning everyone, including Lei Bao.
"Hahaha..."
Lei Bao was taken aback at first, then he burst into unrestrained laughter as if he had heard the most childish joke in the world. "Even Master Chu couldn't see my true strength, and you, an eight-star martial artist, dare to boast that you saw me hiding my strength? Are you f***ing kidding me?!"
*Swish!*
The response to Lei Bao was the sound of breaking air.
On the stage, Jiang Wuming stopped wasting words with Lei Bao and made the first move. His body shot towards Lei Bao like an arrow released from a bow!
"Tricks of a minor performer!"
Lei Bao sneered, assuming that Jiang Wuming's previous words were intended to disrupt his focus and launch a sneak attack.
As the words fell, his aura surged!
The inner energy in Lei Bao's body surged like a rolling tide, and his momentum climbed to its peak, even more terrifying than during his match with Wu Long!
He was like a revived demon king, looking at Jiang Wuming, who was rapidly approaching him, with a sinister grin, as if watching a moth flying into a flame.
However—
Soon, the sinister grin on Lei Bao's face froze, and deep fear appeared between his brows!
What happened to Lei Bao?
Sensing Lei Bao's abnormality, both the Azure gang members led by Chu Wansong and the Red gang members like Huang Xiaoxie looked on in confusion.
"Ah—"
The response they received was Lei Bao's scream of agony!
At this moment, Lei Bao felt as if thousands of needles were piercing his soul, causing him unbearable pain!
Mental attack!
As Jiang Wuming flashed, white light flickered in his eyes, and his terrifying mental power erupted like a breached dam, pouring into Lei Bao's mind!
*Bang!*
Immediately, Lei Bao's scream abruptly stopped.
Jiang Wuming lunged in front of Lei Bao, transforming his hand into a palm, and struck Lei Bao directly on the crown of his head.
*Pfft—*
Under the spotlights.
Lei Bao's head exploded with a sound, and he died tragically on the spot.
Instant kill!