Fists collided, and a beam of light erupted, revealing a pair of peculiar gloves on his hands.
The gloves were as thin as cicada wings, but on the knuckles were golden ornaments resembling tiger claws, appearing both luxurious and dangerous.
But that wasn't the main point. The most significant element was a layer of fluffy black fur that spread upwards from his palms, instantly covering his entire body. His physique also grew taller and sturdier, and in the blink of an eye, a rather endearing panda stood before Shen Wenhui.
He lowered his head, gazing at Shen Wenhui with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.
However, Shen Wenhui did not display the panic or surprise he had expected. Her expression was calm, tinged with curiosity and inquiry.
Seeing her reaction, Zhan Dundun found it strange and directly asked, "Aren't you scared or surprised?"
But before Shen Wenhui could reply, he suddenly realized and added, "You already knew?"
He recalled that Liu Nanfeng had vaguely hinted at it before, but he had dismissed it as Liu Nanfeng's jest. He hadn't expected it to be true.
Shen Wenhui pursed her lips and smiled softly, tacitly confirming his words.
Then, she reached out and gently stroked Dundun's fluffy belly.
"It still feels as good as ever," Shen Wenhui said with a hint of emotion.
Zhan Dundun's expression shifted to surprise. If that were the case, Shen Wenhui had not only seen him in his transformed state but had also touched him, yet he had no memory of it.
Just as he was about to ask again, the situation in the arena took a new turn.
Conners, although split in half with a gruesome scene, not only survived but divided into two identical Connerses.
What's more, the blood and flesh that fell to the ground seemed to come alive, transforming into an overwhelming swarm of demonic insects, leaving both women flustered and struggling to cope.
"Wait for me," Zhan Dundun said.
Then, he clasped his hands together, conjuring a massive golden bell that enveloped Shen Wenhui. Only then did he turn his attention back, reassured.
Shen Wenhui was merely an ordinary person. If she were to "steal home" while he was distracted, he would have no one to blame but himself. Therefore, he cautiously erected a protective barrier for her.
Although not particularly strong, if the barrier were disturbed, he would immediately sense it and return to her side.
Shen Wenhui, also curious, reached out and touched the golden bell before her. As ripples spread across its surface, runes flowed in circles around the bell, appearing incredibly magnificent and spectacular.
Yang Ruoyun's swordsmanship was highly effective against these demonic insects. With every swing, a cluster of sword rain erupted, piercing the insects one by one with her sword tip.
However, what bothered her was that upon death, these insects would transform into even smaller ones, seemingly capable of infinite division. The more she killed, the more there were. Although their size diminished, so did their power, but the trouble they caused increased exponentially.
Furthermore, Conners was still nearby, launching swift surprise attacks, keeping her constantly on the defensive.
Hu Mengyao fared no better. Her brush danced rapidly, weaving together flames and lightning, wind and rain, earth and wood. While her attacks appeared formidable, they inflicted less damage than Yang Ruoyun's. Sweat already beaded on her forehead, and she bore several injuries.
Clenching his fists, Dundun walked step by step into the center of the arena. Conners noticed his approach, and countless demonic insects surged forward, a mind-numbing tide.
However, Zhan Dundun had no intention of attacking. He continued to advance, one footstep after another, with a calm and collected demeanor.
With each landing, the ground thundered as if struck by immense weight, pulverizing numerous demonic insects and inflicting massive damage. This made Conners wary, and he focused more of his attention on Zhan Dundun, significantly reducing the pressure on the two women.
Perhaps it was because Shen Wenhui was present and he wanted to impress her, or perhaps it was the culmination of his efforts, but he felt his mind highly concentrated, as if a barrier had been broken. Some of the martial techniques he had learned suddenly gained a deeper understanding.
As a panda, he possessed innate strength, making his close-combat skills naturally formidable. Each punch and kick carried the power to cleave mountains and cut through water, but ultimately, it was mere brute force.
Now, it was different. He slowly threw a punch, and the air crackled with the sound of shattering glass. This punch not only unleashed his strength but also his essence and spirit.
The surrounding demonic insects fled in terror as if facing an immense dread. Those touched by the punch's aura instantly stiffened, completely losing their "vitality." The consciousness and demonic nature within the insects were annihilated by Dundun's punch intent.
Dundun felt an immense sense of exhilaration. He had never felt such pure joy from a simple punch, a feeling of boundless heavens and being peerless.
Conners, however, displayed terror. The primal instinct of a creature encountering danger made his entire body tremble involuntarily, as if the world had turned upside down. He was enveloped by the punch intent, with no possibility of escape.
Even his desire to retaliate was suppressed, replaced by a feeling of utter helplessness.
Yet, those who cultivated the arts were taught to contend with heaven and fate, to defy destiny. Even if gods stood in their way, they were to perform acts of god-slaying, lest their lives lose their meaning.
Conners was no exception. He quickly rekindled his fighting spirit.
He exhaled softly, and an invisible wave spread outwards. Wherever it passed, grass and trees were uprooted, the park's surface was gouged, and countless demonic insects returned to him like a tide, forming a crimson cape.
His other clone also returned to his body, consolidating all his power. He knew that dispersing his strength would only lead to a more devastating defeat. Only by concentrating his power and going all out could he have any chance of escaping.
He pushed his hands forward, and an immense power surged, causing the entire sky to darken and become even more oppressive.
At this moment, Yang Ruoyun and Hu Mengyao had retreated to Shen Wenhui's side, shielding her.
They were now completely unable to intervene in the ongoing battle.
A thunderous "boom" reverberated outwards, causing the clouds in the sky to part, revealing a bright moon. Its moonlight illuminated the earth, as if scattering silver frost.
What followed were countless sounds of impact. Dundun's agile movements were completely incongruous with his plump, stout physique. He moved as lightly as a swallow, barely touching the ground before floating into the air, rarely descending.
As Dundun continuously threw punches, two millstone-like golden lights appeared on his fists. Within these millstones resided his martial dao intent, filled with an aura of relentless advance and the power to shatter everything.
Conners' dark aura, which protected his body, was constantly being ground away, visibly weakening. Finally, in a moment of carelessness, Dundun's punch landed squarely on his chest.
This time, there was no sound of impact. Everything seemed to happen in utter silence, yet Conners dissolved into a mass of bloody water that flowed outwards, never to be restored.
Dundun had not only physically annihilated his opponent but had also spiritually erased him, completely removing him from this world.
Due to the special nature of the gloves, Dundun's hands remained unstained by blood; only a few strands of his fur were smeared.
He panted, looking at his hands, a smile of joy gracing his lips. It was not only due to defeating the enemy but also to the perfection of his own path.
His magical power was a gift from his ancestors, not something he had attained through arduous cultivation. Thus, each time he used it, he felt a sense of detachment, and he hadn't found his own path. Unexpectedly, tonight, he had received this delightful surprise.
With a smile, Dundun turned and walked towards the three of them.