High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 554: Chapter 340: The Battle for the Top Two (Part 2)

As for Demon Hand Hua Sha, the equally formidable number two on the overall leaderboard.

For some reason, in terms of hype and anticipation, he was somehow being overshadowed by Li Wen.

He had become the least popular of the top three.

How could the proud and arrogant Hua Sha possibly tolerate this?

At this moment, in a corner of the preparation area, Demon Hand Hua Sha stood with his arms crossed, his cold purple eyes locked onto Li Wen, who had just appeared.

His eyes held no trace of contempt, only a fierce battle intent that practically burned.

And a sliver of indignation at having his position threatened by a latecomer.

’Today’s the day,’ Hua Sha thought. Based on the matchmaking rules, it was easy to deduce that he would face Li Wen in the thirty-third match.

The moment Li Wen’s figure materialized, the preparation area fell silent.

Then, countless gazes snapped to focus on him.

The tournament format was simple; everyone knew what was about to happen.

”Look! The God of Slaughter is here!”

”The thirty-third match... We’ve finally made it!”

”Look at Hua Sha’s face. He looks like he’s been bottling up his rage.”

”No kidding. Anyone would be pissed to have their thunder stolen, let alone a ruthless character like Demon Hand Hua Sha.”

If it was like this in the preparation area, the Virtual Cosmos beyond was already in an uproar.

The topic of the battle between Li Wen and Hua Sha instantly shot to the top of the trending lists on all major platforms.

Countless live channels, forums, taverns, and teahouses were all buzzing about the upcoming clash of titans.

In the corner of a small tavern somewhere in the Virtual Cosmos.

A few citizens from the Lain Empire were gathered around a table, buzzing with excitement.

On the light screen, the real-time odds from the Source Net’s official betting platform were displayed.

”Here we go! The thirty-third match! The great God of Slaughter versus Demon Hand Hua Sha!” a red-faced man shouted, slamming the table and spraying spittle.

”Brothers, have you placed your bets yet? I put down ten thousand Primordial Stones on the great Li Wen to win! We have to support the pride of our Lain Empire!”

A lean man beside him immediately chimed in, his voice full of excitement.

”I bet too! Eight thousand Primordial Stones! The official odds from the Source Net have the great Li Wen at 1.12 and Hua Sha at 1.34. The great Li Wen has a better chance of winning.”

”That’s right,” a more refined-looking middle-aged man added, his tone a mix of slight regret and firm conviction. ”The payout is a little low at 1.12, but that just shows even the Source Net officials favor the great Li Wen.

”Every little bit counts. More importantly, we have to put our money where our mouth is and support the great God of Slaughter! I bet fifty thousand!”

”Haha, well said! After today, let’s see who dares to look down on our Lain Empire!” The men raised their glasses and clinked them together, their eyes filled with anticipation and pride.

...

Meanwhile, in a viewing hall in the distant Tyrone Empire, the atmosphere was completely different.

Seeing the odds posted by the Source Net, some spectators from Tyrone looked displeased.

”Hmph. The Source Net actually favors that guy from Lain?”

”Hua Sha’s Demon Hand is a fusion of the source of destruction and a mutated Space Law! I’m betting on Hua Sha for the upset!”

”Exactly! Bet on Hua Sha! The payout is higher, so we’ll make more when he wins!”

Many people rushed to place bets on Hua Sha, eager to see Li Wen defeated and to avenge the shame of Sheng Mos’s earlier death.

...

Time trickled by amidst the tension and clamor.

Inside the preparation area, the atmosphere grew increasingly strange.

As the lights signaling the end of the thirty-second match flashed and the fighters were teleported back into the area...

...nearly everyone’s eyes subconsciously shifted to where Li Wen and Demon Hand Hua Sha were standing.

The two of them were undeniably the stars of the next match.

Finally!

DING—

A crisp system prompt echoed through the silence.

”Match Thirty-Three, matchmaking initiated! Teleporting!”

FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!

Two thousand beams of white light flared, and the preparation area was suddenly empty.

One thousand massive arenas, each shrouded in an energy shield, materialized simultaneously in the void.

On Arena 501.

Two figures solidified at almost the same time.

One was Li Wen, dressed in sleek black, his expression calm, his dark eyes as deep as a starry sky.

The other was Demon Hand Hua Sha, clad in a deep purple battle suit, his arms encased in strange metallic gauntlets, his purple eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

A tidal wave of cheers erupted from the circular stands surrounding the arena.

Two powerful waves of sound collided and interwove.

”God of Slaughter! God of Slaughter! God of Slaughter!”

”Demon Hand! Demon Hand! Demon Hand!”

The spectators from the Lain Empire waved their banners fanatically, screaming themselves hoarse.

Hua Sha’s supporters were just as loud, their roars shaking the very heavens.

The entire arena was consumed by the fanatical atmosphere.

Outside the arena, the number of people watching the live broadcast on the Virtual Cosmos network had reached an astronomical figure.

The premature clash between the second and third-ranked contenders of the Alka District was an even bigger draw than the matches of the top-ranked Barton.

Countless eyes were focused on Arena 501.

A countdown flashed across the massive virtual screen: 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

BOOM!

The battle erupted in an instant.

Demon Hand Hua Sha made no move to test the waters.

He knew how terrifying Li Wen was and unleashed his full power from the very first move.

He stomped his feet, his body transforming into a space-distorting bolt of purple lightning that shot straight toward Li Wen.

The demonic gauntlets covering his arms suddenly flared to life, a perfect fusion of destruction and Space Law.

They formed two massive purple energy claws that seemed to blot out the sky.

Wherever the demonic claws passed, space tore and warped like fragile glass.

They emitted a grating HISS as a terrifying suction force threatened to devour even time itself.

This was the very signature technique he had used to dominate the thousand-person melee in the second stage.

”It’s starting!” In the stands, every spectator’s heart was in their throat.

The Lain spectators supporting Li Wen held their breath, while Hua Sha’s supporters erupted into even louder cheers.

Li Wen’s eyes narrowed, and the silver Time Dao Seed in his Dantian began to spin rapidly.

He didn’t meet the terrifying claws head-on. Instead, his figure blurred as he accelerated using the Time Law.

He narrowly avoided a direct hit from the claws.

At the same time, he drew his blade and slashed.

The tip of his blade, wreathed in a silver gleam, unleashed countless sharp and cunning slashes aimed at the claws’ joints and energy nodes, attempting to dismantle their structure.

DING! DING! DING! DING! A dense flurry of metallic clashes rang out like rain.

Li Wen’s slashes struck Hua Sha’s demonic gauntlets, sending out a shower of blinding sparks.

Yet they only left shallow white marks, completely unable to breach their defense.

Hua Sha’s demonic claws weren’t just terrifyingly powerful on offense; their Defense Power was equally astounding.

BOOM! BOOM!

Like an inescapable shadow, the two massive demonic claws tore through space in relentless pursuit.

Li Wen relied on time acceleration and his exquisite Body Technique to constantly dodge and parry.

But every impact sent an irresistible, immense force through him.

It roiled his qi and blood, forcing him back step by step.

The floor of the arena cracked and split under the aftershocks of the demonic claws.

”Hiss... The great Li Wen is being suppressed!” In the stands, the Lain spectators supporting him turned pale, their palms slick with cold sweat and their eyes full of worry.

”Haha! Did you see that? The great Demon Hand is invincible!”

”Some God of Slaughter! He’s nothing in the face of the true claws of destruction!” Hua Sha’s supporters roared with excitement, as if victory were already in their grasp.

As for those who had simply placed heavy bets on Li Wen to win, they were practically jumping out of their seats with anxiety.

”Fuck! What the hell is Li Wen doing? Fight back!”

”Damn it, and I bet so much money on him! Don’t play dead on me!”

”It’s over, it’s over! My Primordial Stones are going down the drain!”

On the arena floor, however, Demon Hand Hua Sha showed no trace of joy. Instead, his expression grew even more grim.

He could clearly sense that even though Li Wen was being suppressed, his aura remained steady, and his gaze was terrifyingly calm.

Those seemingly narrow dodges were perfectly timed, as if he were making precise calculations.

His opponent hadn’t even used the explosive trump card that had made him famous.

”Stop holding back, Li Wen!” Hua Sha suddenly roared, his voice booming like thunder across the arena.

His purple demonic hands erupted with an even more blinding light as the fluctuations of destruction and space reached their zenith.

The two demonic claws snapped shut, intending to utterly crush Li Wen between them.

”I know you have a trump card! Unleash your full power! Show me what you can really do! Otherwise, this is as far as you go!”

The roar momentarily silenced the clamorous stands.

Everyone realized the true decisive moment had come.

At the center of the terrifying, enclosing claws, a terrifying glint suddenly flashed in Li Wen’s eyes.

”Berserk—Activate!”