Shangguan Yu'an's expression was tense, a rare display of emotion for her.
Chen Jinzhao had become a beacon in her heart. If Chen Jinzhao were to lose, it would be a crushing blow. Shangguan Yu'an took a deep breath, trying to detach herself from the outcome.
After all, Chen Jinzhao hadn't fought an S-class expert in three years.
Chen Jinzhao turned to look at Shangguan Yu'an. "Don't you think you're more nervous than me, the person involved?"
Shangguan Yu'an exhaled, shaking her head. "My mind is in a turmoil. The outcome seems to have become too important to me. However, I still believe you can achieve victory."
Chen Jinzhao smiled. "I appreciate your good wishes."
Xu Hanchen said nothing, merely patting Chen Jinzhao's shoulder. Chen Jinzhao nodded in acknowledgment.
After warming up offstage, it was almost time.
Chen Jinzhao leaped onto the arena. Feeling his vest was somewhat in the way, he simply took it off, exposing his toned upper body to the air.
After years of recovery, Chen Jinzhao's skin was paler than three years ago, still a healthy tan. In addition to his robust muscles, numerous terrifying scars covered his upper body, causing Shangguan Yu'an and others to gasp.
This was the honor of a soldier!
Wu Dingfeng sighed. "At first, I thought it was too hasty to grant a general's rank to a young man in his early twenties. Now, I realize I was too conservative."
When Xuanwu saw the scars on Chen Jinzhao's body, his eyes showed not solemnity or disdain, but deep respect and a hint of envy that was hard to detect.
Each scar represented a merit earned by Chen Jinzhao.
This was the dream of how many soldiers?
Xuanwu suddenly felt he had underestimated Chen Jinzhao. This man had emerged from seas of corpses and blood, a living Yama. Even if he hadn't fought for three years, he might not have severely degenerated.
He leaped onto the arena and, under the gaze of the crowd, saluted Chen Jinzhao!
Chen Jinzhao's gaze turned firm, and he returned a standard military salute.
Salute complete.
Xuanwu said solemnly, "Xuanwu, a member of the Jiangnan Military Region's elite special forces, requests guidance from Zhulong!"
"Guidance is perhaps too much. It's a sparring match, to the point of stopping," Chen Jinzhao replied.
Xu Hanchen sat in the audience, staring at the two men on the stage, lost in thought.
Wu Dingfeng, as the spokesperson for the Jiangnan Military Region, announced the official start of the match to the few people present in the stadium. All eyes immediately fell on the arena.
Chen Jinzhao and Xuanwu wasted no more words and charged at each other.
Their fists rained down like raindrops, exchanging dozens of blows in a mere few seconds. It was dazzling and shocking, as few people present, aside from the two elder leaders, had ever witnessed a fight between S-class individuals.
Compared to ordinary people, they were beings from different dimensions.
Shangguan Yu'an gasped. She had initially thought that as a C-class, she could contend with S-class opponents. This match shattered her beautiful illusion.
S-class are invincible!
Only with heavy weaponry could S-class be eliminated.
"How can they be so strong? My eyes can't keep up. Are they even human?" Shangguan Yu'an murmured.
She believed—
If the opponents of the two on stage were ordinary people, they would have had their bones shattered and their internal organs turned into a bloody pulp long ago.
Beside her, Yang Qin'hu's eyes showed shock. He knew that Chen Jinzhao had certainly not exerted his full strength yesterday. Hearing Shangguan Yu'an's astonished words, he smiled bitterly. "The ceiling for ordinary people in their lifetime is A-class, or Super A-class. Those who reach the terrifying realm of S-class are anomalies. Their physical functions far surpass ordinary people, as does the hardness of their bones and their recovery speed from injuries."
"Truly terrifying."
Shangguan Yu'an was stunned and looked at the stage again.
No wonder there were so few S-class individuals in the world. Otherwise, with the technological prowess of that superpower across the ocean, they would have long ago created S-class warriors in batches.
In other words, these S-class warriors were rare finds and not replicable.
On the stage.
Fist winds howled. The speed of their exchanges was so fast that one could only see afterimages.
As Chen Jinzhao sparred with Xuanwu, he let out a soft "yi." Xuanwu's progress was indeed rapid. While fighting, he said, "It's been three years. You've become stronger than I was back then."
Xuanwu laughed heartily. "Is that so? But I aim to defeat not the Zhulong of three years ago, but the Zhulong of today!"
Chen Jinzhao also laughed heartily, immersing himself completely in the fight.
It had to be said.
After three years of idleness, Chen Jinzhao was indeed struggling to keep up with Xuanwu's combat rhythm. After three hundred rounds of exchanges, his speed slowed, and he was hit by Xuanwu in the chest!
Chen Jinzhao staggered back, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.
Gasps erupted from the audience.
No one had expected Chen Jinzhao to be the first to be at a disadvantage.
Shangguan Yu'an clenched her fists, unwilling to witness this scene. Yang Qin'hu also frowned. By all rights, he hoped Chen Jinzhao would win, as he was the chief instructor of the Zhulong special forces.
Only Xu Hanchen remained composed, as everything was still within controllable limits.
Life is never smooth sailing; ups and downs are the norm. Tempering Chen Jinzhao's sharpness would also be beneficial.
There was nothing wrong with it.
On the arena.
Xuanwu's eyes flashed with sharp light, but he sighed. "You are weaker than three years ago. Don't you regret having three years stolen from you? If you don't come up with effective countermeasures soon, you will quickly become my defeated opponent."
Chen Jinzhao wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.
The crimson blood stung his eyes, reigniting the fighting spirit that had slumbered for three years. He grinned. "Yes, it's been three years!"
"Again!"
Chen Jinzhao let out a low roar and charged at Xuanwu like a collision of stars. Xuanwu laughed. "Hahaha, this is the Zhulong I know! Even if you lose, you'll lose standing!"
"Lose? I won't lose!" Chen Jinzhao roared with laughter.
Their strength almost overflowed, causing the arena to tremble faintly.
Shangguan Yu'an's eyelids twitched. She could clearly see cracks forming in the stone arena beneath their feet and murmured in shock, "What a terrifying duel. It's definitely beyond the normal human scope."
"Is this what S-class warriors are like?"
The arena trembled, covered in cracks.
This did not impede their duel in the slightest. After five minutes of intense, high-intensity combat, Chen Jinzhao was covered in countless beads of sweat, which trickled down his tan skin.
Xuanwu was also sweating.
However, Chen Jinzhao's condition was clearly worse than Xuanwu's, and Xuanwu's defensive capabilities were far superior. With the former declining and the latter improving, Chen Jinzhao was already showing signs of wavering.
If he couldn't find a breakthrough, Chen Jinzhao would be defeated by Xuanwu.