Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 233 - 226: Self-Tribulation

On the field, Zhang Zhizhen was almost completely overwhelming Silva. With the constant roll of muffled thunder, his situation seemed much better than Xin Chencang's before him. Yet, the onlookers' expressions were grim, showing no signs of relief.

A Symbiont of the same level, even an enhanced, new-type Symbiont, would have a hard time being a match for a Martial Artist of the same level. But if it could use Saint Awakening Level power, the situation would be completely different.

Crossing that threshold, even by just half a step, meant a huge difference in strength.

Right now, although Zhang Zhizhen was wielding the might of his Thunder Skill to suppress his opponent, the outcome would be difficult to predict once Silva unleashed his Saint Awakening Level power.

That would be the critical moment.

And that moment was fast approaching.

Sure enough, upon hearing Zhang Zhizhen's words, Silva's eyes instantly turned crimson. His will was already influenced by having summoned the Celestial Demon Illusion, and a wave of humiliation washed over him.

"This is technology! Technology makes the difficult easy! It makes miracles possible!"

"When there's an easier way, why would you keep treading those tortuous paths!"

"You... you're just jealous that we can obtain power so effortlessly!"

A low roar escaped Silva's lips as his body transformed once more. His muscles continued to expand, their sharp contours perfectly mirroring the armor on the General level Celestial Demon Illusion behind him.

At that moment, the terrifying illusion of the General level Celestial Demon behind him seemed to partially merge with his body.

VMMMM!!

A vast aura radiated out from the rapid expansion of his Life Magnetic Field, disturbing the surrounding Natural Magnetic Field. In that instant, Zhang Zhizhen's Heart's Desire Bursting Out was completely suppressed. The layer of clouds above his head looked as if it was being held up by the Demon General.

These were two powers, fundamentally different in nature. Even though Zhang Zhizhen was at the Peak of Guarding Dao, just half a step away from Saint Awakening, he still couldn't truly resist it. That single step represented a gulf as wide as heaven and earth.

At this time, the Demon General illusion behind Silva drew in free electrons, forming a tangible, visible outline. Although it was faint, its basic shape and form were now clearly discernible—a far cry from the fleeting shadow it had been moments before.

Here it comes!

In the Donghua seating area, everyone's eyes narrowed. They knew the real fight was just beginning.

An uproar erupted.

"What is that?!"

"Is that a high-tech projection? It looks terrifying! It's giving me the creeps."

"Dark arts?! Or Inner Power?! Can a human really create something like that?"

"I saw those videos online and thought they were fake. Now, seeing it in person... it's all real. This is practically a Superpower!"

"No wonder the higher-ups revealed the existence of the Martial Arts Realm and are putting so much emphasis on popularizing and developing the Martial Dao! So this is why! Does this mean every one of us could become a Superhuman?"

"That foreigner is 'powering up,' so why isn't our Donghua fighter doing something similar? Is his level lower than his opponent's?"

"..."

The tangible illusion of the Demon General immediately sparked a flurry of discussion among the audience.

Nearly half the people here were ordinary citizens. Although they had seen similar videos online, many still harbored doubts. Now, seeing it with their own eyes was believing, and the shock was something no video could convey.

'Humans can actually possess this kind of power!'

Except, right now, the one wielding this incredible power was the opposing fighter.

A wave of anxiety washed over the crowd.

"A shortcut? Jealousy?"

"In this world, for some paths, there are no shortcuts to creating miracles!"

Under the immense pressure, Zhang Zhizhen suddenly burst into wild laughter. He was a completely different person from the low-key, unassuming man who had maintained a state of Unity of Heaven and Man.

"Pressure, resilience, defiance, valor, breakthrough!"

"Forged a hundred times, yet never broken. Defeated a hundred times, yet never discouraged."

"You've completely miscalculated! If the will of the Martial Dao could be broken so easily, how could I have possibly come this far!"

"Come! You are nothing but a whetstone for me to sharpen my blade!"

Zhang Zhizhen spread his arms, his body trembling under the immense pressure. His Life Magnetic Field warped under his opponent's influence and his body sustained injuries, but his Spirit was more invigorated than ever.

BOOM!

Heavenly thunder rolled, a tribulation descended upon the mortal realm.

"Let's see if you can still talk so tough in a moment!"

A savage grin flickered across Silva's eyes.

BAM!

He shot forward, shattering the air as his giant hammer crashed down. It wasn't just a physical attack, but an assault from his Life Magnetic Field!

The physical attack was manageable, but an assault from a Saint Awakening Level Life Magnetic Field, which resonated with the Natural Magnetic Field, was another matter entirely. For anyone below the Saint Awakening Level, there was no effective way to block it; they could only endure it head-on!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A three-strike combo! He pivoted at the waist, turning his body and borrowing the momentum of each blow to make the next even stronger!

THUD! THUD! THUD!!

Zhang Zhizhen met him with three blasts of his Thunder Skill, but was forced back three consecutive steps. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and his nostrils.

His opponent's physical prowess was immense, but Zhang Zhizhen could still hold him off while using his Thunder Skill. The real threat was the magnetic field attack from the giant hammer wielded by the Demon General.

Each blow sent shockwaves through his Life Magnetic Field, disrupting his bodily functions and jarring his internal organs, preventing him from exerting his full strength.

Seeing this, the expressions of those in the Donghua seating area grew heavy.

'Even with Zhang Zhizhen's powerful Thunder Skill, which should have a suppressive effect on Celestial Demons, is it still not enough to hold him off?'

Seeing the fight turning out just like the last one, some audience members couldn't bear to watch and turned their heads away, as if they could already see the inevitable outcome.

"It seems the outcome is decided. The Nebula Alliance's latest creation is powerful indeed."

A faint smile touched the lips of the official from the Starry Sky Country's Foreign Affairs Bureau.

"I told you to trust me."

General Norton said coolly.

BANG! BANG! BANG!!

Silva pressed his attack relentlessly, each blow flowing into the next without pause. Zhang Zhizhen remained on the defensive, his body's magnetic field vibrating violently. With his internal organs damaged and blood trickling from his lips, he was barely holding on.

The Giant Spirit God-like illusion behind him began to waver. This was because his damaged Life Magnetic Field was preventing his mind from connecting with it to unleash his Heart's Desire Bursting Out.

And yet, his eyes remained bright. He had not given up.

"What's the use of talking so tough! Look at you now!! Weakness... that's the ultimate ugliness!"

Silva's strikes grew stronger, but his frustration mounted with each failed attempt to land a finishing blow.

'Why are they all like this?'

'Why do they have to be so stubborn?'

'Useless, useless, USELESS!!'

"COME ON!!"

In the stadium, one spectator's roar started it all. Soon, the shouts rose again, crashing down like a tsunami.

Injury, pain, fear—Zhang Zhizhen cast all these emotions aside.

In that moment, in his dazed state, he recalled a certain battle.

Back then, that legendary figure had been in a similar state.

Outmatched in power, forced to retreat again and again.

But in the end, he achieved a breakthrough and turned defeat into victory.

The image of that figure grew ever clearer in his mind's eye.

Twenty-five years old, three years younger than he was now.

He broke through to Saint Awakening, single-handedly suppressed the Northern Three Prefectures, and triggered a Celestial Phenomenon during his battle at Songyang University. He was already beyond the mortal coil.

And not long before that, the man hadn't even been his equal.

Transcendence! Transcendence!

That indomitable will had left a deep impression on him ever since that battle.

That single spark, planted unknowingly, was now a raging inferno.

'If he were here, what would he do?'

'No! Why does it have to be him? Why can't it be me?'

'I can do what he did!!'

'This era doesn't belong to him alone.'

'Under this pressure, I will shatter my bonds and welcome my new self!'

"COME, THUNDER!!"

With a furious roar from Zhang Zhizhen, the dark clouds overhead suddenly roiled and condensed, and the light of the thunder intensified dramatically.

BOOM!!

A bolt of lightning crashed down. But this time, the target of the Thunder Skill wasn't his opponent—it was himself!

Last time, that man had used thunder as his tribulation and was reborn anew.

This time, he too would overcome this trial. He would be baptized in the Thunder Tribulation and transform into his True Self!