Chapter 4: Shooting Stars and Blazing Fire

Hundreds of people glanced at the stage, then looked below, half believing they were dreaming.

Battling in the Storm Arena was quite different from reality. The suppression from levels here was intense. Take lethality, for example—in the real world, a single punch might break an opponent’s limb, but here, if there’s a gap in levels, it might only cause a shallow wound and some bleeding.

Just as happened moments ago: Du Gu Farewell unleashed three consecutive moves. In the real world, he probably would have knocked Shi Feiyang off the stage with the first attack, and when his leg swept through the air, he could have cracked a skull, ending the fight in a flash. Now, all he managed was to push his opponent off the stage, leaving him dazed.

Yet this was enough to stir a small uproar.

After all, it was a lowest-ranked Soldier who had reversed the outcome to defeat a Warrior.

“Next,” Du Gu Farewell had no intention of waiting, nor did he care to let the spectators digest their astonishment. He immediately called out. He was eager to advance to Warrior as quickly as possible, so he could move on to the square for Generals. To qualify, he needed to strictly follow the rules and win over a hundred battles.

“I’ll go.”

A Warrior leapt up, swinging his fist at him. Du Gu Farewell stepped lightly to the side, darted in quick succession, and in the sluggish reactions of his adversary, threw five punches, forcing him out of the arena.

“Next.”

“This Soldier is no ordinary fighter—his speed is impressive, and his reactions are sharp. He may lack advanced techniques, but he’s worth facing,” someone commented from below. As soon as he spoke, a few eager Warriors hesitated, their faces full of doubt, inner conflict, and fear.

The speaker was Zhou Tong, a Warrior from a prominent family, with considerable strength and formidable combat skills. In the circles around these arenas, he was a well-known force. Though there was no Storm Leaderboard here as in the Generals’ square, a reputation was a kind of ranking all its own.

Zhou Tong had both pedigree and power. When he spoke, most could only listen and watch, offering their applause and praise.

Satisfied with the reaction, Zhou Tong rolled his neck, stretched his arms, kicked his legs, and after warming up, leisurely jumped onto the stage. He fixed his gaze on Du Gu Farewell and said, “Come, let me see what else you’re capable of. If you impress me, or perform exceptionally, I might even persuade my family to recruit you—for proper training…”

Every family represented in the Storm Arena had a dual purpose: to fight and recruit talent. This was a common practice, ensuring their strength could steadily grow.

Zhou Tong was no exception.

Now, with the lowest level being Warrior, and with the new Soldiers still needing time, most of the standout talent had already been discovered. Many families and factions were left idle and bored. Zhou Tong was the first to spot this opportunity, so how could he not be pleased? His decision to step up now was deliberate.

“Come,” Zhou Tong beckoned boldly.

Du Gu Farewell crouched low, arching his back, bending his knees, and shot forth like an arrow, gliding across the stage. The distance between them had been about five meters, yet within a single breath, it vanished.

Scatter Shot!

His arm flicked, spawning dozens—hundreds—of blurred fists, the sound of wind tearing through the air in rapid succession. It was impossible to tell which were real and which were illusions.

“So fast!” Zhou Tong’s heart trembled. Only now, facing him head-on, did he truly feel the rapid frequency of this Soldier’s attacks. In the tight focus of his pupils, every fist was solid and real!

“Still, you’re just a Soldier. Your power is ultimately limited. Even if you’re a prodigy in reality, blessed by unique techniques, able to double your strength, here you’re capped. My Warrior’s physique can withstand it. Once I catch you, your defeat is inevitable.”

Recovering from his surprise, Zhou Tong calmly assumed a defensive posture, analyzing the situation, his eyes hidden behind his arm, locked onto the real Du Gu Farewell behind the storm of fists.

Thud, thud, thud!

Fist met flesh with muffled blows, a relentless downpour of strikes, all landing squarely on Zhou Tong. But relying on the special insights gained upon becoming a Warrior, and his enhanced physique, he endured. Although he retreated several steps, nearing the edge of the stage, he remained unscathed.

This alone made him far stronger than the previous two challengers—the difference was obvious.

“It’s true, this is not like reality. I can’t break through the limits of my level. Challenging upward still has its difficulties. But that’s good—it forces me to abandon old habits, shake off complacency, focus on technique, and explore the strengths of various skills, combining them into something uniquely mine.”

Facing a formidable opponent, Du Gu Farewell felt no threat; instead, his interest was piqued, and he finally appreciated the benefits of the Storm Arena.

Once his Scatter Shot finished, he didn’t rush to push Zhou Tong off the stage. He retreated by about three meters, then beckoned, “Show me what you can do. Don’t disappoint me.”

“…"

Not only Zhou Tong, but the spectators around the stage were stunned by his words. They even wondered if he was a General or higher. Otherwise, how could he be so arrogant and domineering? His tone was that of a veteran instructing a youngster. But a closer look revealed he was still, unmistakably, a Soldier, with only two victories to his name.

“This kid’s asking for trouble. Big Zhou’s probably angry—the consequences will be serious.”

“I actually admire him. At least, for a moment, he overshadowed Big Zhou and had his moment of glory.”

“…"

“Good, very good—you have personality, I like it.” After a brief moment of surprise, Zhou Tong clapped in admiration, though anger simmered beneath. His smile remained faint and composed, displaying his family’s refinement.

Yet Du Gu Farewell saw right through him. Zhou Tong’s claps grew heavier, revealing the burning fury behind his demeanor, almost at the brink of losing control. “Come then, this is best. Make this your chance to display your finest techniques, so I can use them as sharpening stones and reference.”

“But your attitude is problematic.” Zhou Tong kept his smile, lips curled, but inadvertently revealed clenched teeth. His words slipped through the gaps, clear as day. “Every newcomer to the Storm Arena thinks they’re unique, special—they believe they’re the true genius. Only after repeated setbacks do they awaken. The Arena’s greatest gift is the chance to die and revive… You’re lucky to meet me—I value talent, so I’m teaching you the lesson of survival. If you keep this attitude outside the Arena, you won’t live long.”

Zhou Tong voiced the feelings of most Warriors; when they first arrived, they felt the same, only to suffer setbacks and nearly lose the will to continue training.

Hundreds of spectators couldn’t help but applaud.

“Another truth—what makes a genius is living long enough. The dead are just corpses.” Zhou Tong sensed he could no longer suppress his rage, risking the loss of his composure. He shouted, “Come! I’m making my move!”

Boom!

He stomped hard, leaping skyward, soaring upwards nearly ten meters. Then his body folded, diving headlong. His fists clenched, battle technique unleashed.

Meteor Fire!

He plummeted, power condensed, friction with the air sparking trails of fire, like a meteor shower—vivid, dazzling, enveloping Zhou Tong. The spectacle easily distracted from the velocity of the attack hidden within the meteor rain.

Du Gu Farewell, seasoned by countless battles, stood at heights of insight, seeing through illusions to the heart of things. He knew that if he were struck, he’d likely die once. Zhou Tong’s lethality was first-rate among Warriors.

It was a textbook feint—using technique to support tactics, leveraging cunning to outmaneuver. Most people would be confused, their vision disrupted, leading to misjudgment or delayed reaction, missing the golden moment to respond.

Hundreds of Warriors watched intently; some had suffered Zhou Tong’s tricks and were eager to see the outcome for this brash Soldier.

Indeed, none considered how Du Gu Farewell might respond. In their minds, the outcome was decided.

Du Gu Farewell appeared dazzled, unable to distinguish, standing frozen like an idiot.

“So that’s all?”

“I should have gone up myself.”

“Almost got fooled by him—thought he was amazing, winning two straight.”

“…"

Everyone thought as much.

Rip—

The meteor rain exploded, a fist punched forth, producing a sharp sound that pierced the crowd’s ears. It seemed truly like a meteor streaking across the sky, descending upon the Storm Arena with overwhelming force.

Even the wind from his fist struck Du Gu Farewell’s face first, tangling his dark hair. His face and the fist closed in quickly—less than an inch apart!

At that moment, Du Gu Farewell moved.

Jointly recommended by the editors, the Storm Arena’s hottest novels are now online—click to collect!