Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 234 - 227: Punish on behalf of Heaven

The celestial thunder rumbled, striking not another, but himself!

This scene was beyond anyone's expectations. Even Silva, his opponent, showed a flicker of shock in his eyes.

'What is he doing? Does he have a death wish?!'

"To bring the Thunder Tribulation upon oneself, to endure all calamities, to shed the mortal shell, and be reborn..."

"If he lives, he will have overcome this trial. If he dies, he will turn to dust in the tribulation."

"Such willpower..."

At the Donghua contestants' seating area, the ever-calm Elder Chen's gaze wavered as he spoke softly.

An age of peace, a tapestry of prosperity. With no need to worry for food or clothing, people enjoy what heaven provides.

The masses are mired in materialism, living out their days in mediocrity or fleeting indulgence, confined to their own small corners, content to be ordinary.

But in every era, there are always those who swim against the current. They defy the times, fight for miracles, and cast aside all thought of life or death.

They are like a bright lamp in the dark of night, like stars in the vast cosmos, lending a different shade of color to this complex world of ours.

The flame of the Martial Dao burns eternal.

A self-inflicted Thunder Tribulation.

The Martial Artists in the Donghua seating area wore solemn expressions, their eyes filled with admiration. In that moment, they sensed that Zhang Zhizhen's finite life was blossoming with infinite splendor.

A human life is but a fleeting century. A fragile body, yet it can shine as brightly as the Scorching Sun!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Celestial thunder rolled down like rain, shaking Zhang Zhizhen's spirit and body. Silva's attacks, however, didn't cease; instead, they grew even more ferocious.

'Since you're asking for death, no one can blame me for killing you. How could I possibly let you succeed?'

Attacked from within and without, it seemed a hopeless situation.

Yet within this hopeless situation lay a seed of Vitality.

The Thunder Skill places the greatest emphasis on one's own willpower, using a resplendent will to create a Simulation of heaven's might.

Inflicting the Thunder Tribulation on oneself was, in reality, a way to use one's will at its maximum intensity to suppress the body.

The body was damaged by this Thunder Skill, which was imbued with supreme resolve. But at the same time, the body's natural instincts were also being intensely suppressed by the violent technique.

And Zhou Yuanjue had once analyzed that the essence of Saint Awakening was to use supreme will to suppress the body's instincts, disable its self-preservation mechanisms, and make contact with the unknown world, thereby strengthening one's own state of being.

Now, Zhang Zhizhen was fulfilling these exact conditions.

Under the assault from within and without, blood streamed from his nose and mouth, but Zhang Zhizhen's eyes only grew brighter. In that instant, he seemed to understand something.

The lightning descending from the sky could no longer harm his body. Instead, it transformed into silver streaks like roaming dragons, coursing over the surface of his skin as if to protect him.

The hair on his skin stood on end, and his hair bristled with rage. Lightning flashed in his eyes. He seemed to have truly become the Sovereign of lightning itself.

To outside observers, faint, silvery-white apparitions became vaguely visible around his body. They were no longer something that could only be perceived with one's Spirit, but were now truly visible to the naked eye.

At the Donghua seating area, the pupils of the onlookers contracted sharply.

They could see that although Zhang Zhizhen's injuries were severe, he had indeed succeeded.

He had already stepped one foot over that threshold.

Over at the Starry Sky Country's seating area, the expression of the official from the Foreign Affairs Bureau instantly soured, and General Norton beside him frowned slightly.

With his Life Magnetic Field released and lightning protecting his body, Silva's already less-than-mighty Celestial Demon field was suppressed. It could no longer injure Zhang Zhizhen's body with the same impunity as before.

Unsure if it was shock or fear, Silva retreated two steps, staring intently at his opponent.

'How could this be? How could something like this possibly happen?!'

He felt a numbness creep over his body. This situation was beginning to exceed his comprehension.

"Now, the battle truly begins."

Zhang Zhizhen wiped the blood from his nose and mouth. His voice was deep and hollow, as if descending from the infinite heights of the firmament.

Despite his awakening, his condition was now extremely poor. If not for the jolt of adrenaline from breaking through his limits, he would likely be unable to continue fighting. He had to seize this precious time.

BOOM!!

Lightning, now visible to the naked eye, coiled around him. It stimulated his nerves and organs, drastically increasing his reaction time, speed, and power.

Thunder Skill, Celestial Thunder Body!

SWOOSH!

His body vanished in an instant, leaving only a streak of silver light cutting through the air.

Fast as lightning.

"So what if you broke through! You're heavily injured and it's only a preliminary breakthrough. How can you possibly compare to me!"

Silva took a deep breath. Disregarding the toll on his own body, he violently surged his Celestial Demon Power and charged to meet the oncoming figure.

"You are but a fiend, borrowing the power of a Demon to seek transcendence."

"With treacherous intent, you trespass on the lands of another."

"The vast heavens reward good and punish evil, vanquishing heresy and exterminating Demons."

"Today, I will Punish on behalf of Heaven!"

BOOM!!

This time, the Thunder Skill did not descend from the sky. It erupted from within his body, accompanying Zhang Zhizhen's Palm Technique, as if he himself were the Thunder Tribulation incarnate.

No longer was he borrowing heaven's power; he was enacting heaven's punishment himself. This was an audacity only one at the level of Saint Awakening could possess.

To defy heaven with mortal power, to make one's own heart heaven's will.

CRACKLE!

The two collided amid flashes of lightning and roars of thunder. Black energy scattered as Silva's entire body trembled violently. The Celestial Demon Power he had summoned, though immense, was like a wad of cotton, while the lightning unleashed by Zhang Zhizhen was like the tip of a needle, piercing through every defense.

Upon contact, it was riddled with holes.

"Again!"

Zhang Zhizhen roared as his palms struck out in a continuous chain. Thunder boomed and the air itself seemed to shatter.

BANG BANG BANG!!

This time, it was Silva who was sent stumbling back. His Celestial Demon Illusion was damaged for the first time, forcing him to endure excruciating pain.

For the first time, he could feel his Celestial Demon Illusion weakening.

'His power... it can actually harm the Celestial Demon Illusion!'

'I don't believe it! I don't believe it!'

Silva roared, continuing to resist, but the pain only intensified, his entire body feeling as if it were being electrocuted.

He might not have even realized it himself, but in that moment, a sliver of fear for the man before him had taken root.

He knew how badly injured his opponent was, yet he could still unleash such powerful attacks.

'Madman! Madman! Madman!'

Blood began to trickle from the corners of his mouth. He had received professional training, he possessed formidable techniques, but he lacked that indomitable, self-sacrificing conviction.

He had a feeling that if this went on, he might actually die.

'No!'

'I've mastered immense power, I have status and authority. I have so many years left to enjoy my honor and riches. How can I die here? How can I die on this ridiculous stage?!'

'I'd become a laughingstock!'

"Punish!!"

That voice, like an incantation, was cold and merciless. It hardly sounded human.

"I concede! I concede!!"

Silva roared, sent flying back by Zhang Zhizhen's final palm strike. He stumbled back four or five steps before coming to a stop.

And just as he shouted his concession, Zhang Zhizhen stopped his assault.

The lightning on the surface of his body vanished. His swollen form contracted, returning to its original state. The corner of his stoic mouth curved into a meaningful smile directed at Silva. He remained standing in place, just like Xin Chencang, but his eyes slowly closed.

His injuries were too severe; he could no longer hold himself up.

Silva stood in place, staring blankly at his opponent.

'So, he'd been at his limit this whole time.'

'If only I'd held on for three more seconds...'