Who are you calling a stable boy?!

"Wow! You believe that? But you won't believe I copied you?"

In the end, Ranma did not accept Zheng Jing's explanation.

Or perhaps he simply couldn't accept that Zheng Jing had learned the secret technique that he had gone through so much trouble to acquire, all from just one observation.

As for Shanpu, the Heroine Clan does have some clan rules that restrict the transmission of secret techniques, but Zheng Jing doesn't care about those.

He learned the moves through his own skill. If any member of the Heroine tribe disagrees, then let's have a go and see if they can really distinguish between male and female.

Ranma certainly wouldn't let Shampoo cause trouble. Although it's unclear how he eventually convinced Shampoo, this girl from the Heroine Clan wasn't foolish enough to come looking for Zheng Jing and Xue Qing.

This minor incident, of course, did not affect the conference proceeding as scheduled.

The final team to make it into the top three will be decided between Team Wave and Team Hell.

Based on the two teams' previous performances, the volatile team is more likely to win.

However, once the competition officially began, unexpected changes occurred.

First, there's the change in the order of appearance.

Yashiro Nanakase, who had previously served as the mainstay of the Hell Band, made his debut as the vanguard this time.

Moreover, from the very beginning, he no longer concealed his identity as one of the Eight Orochi. Facing Kasugano Sakura, the vanguard of the Hadouken team, he changed his previous attitude of using standing striking techniques and instead used his astonishing physique to unleash powerful grappling techniques.

If it weren't for Ryu, as the captain of Team Hadouken, exercising Sakura's right to concede defeat in time, Sakura, caught off guard, might have died on the spot.

After that, facing Ken, who took the stage as a mid-level player and was full of momentum, Yashiro Nanakase demonstrated the terrifying power of the "Dry Earth".

Following Xiao Xiaolin's spinning kick, the arena once again endured a terrifying impact.

This time, however, not only did the entire arena explode, but the arena itself seemed to be shaking under Yashiro's power.

If Ken can fully utilize his strength, the outcome of his battle against Yashiro remains to be seen.

However, Ken's previous defeat to Ranma seems to have affected him.

In the end, Yashiro Nanakase emerged victorious in this battle.

But this victory was a Pyrrhic one.

Despite enduring Kena's kick, which was burning with crimson flames, Yashiro himself was also severely injured.

Even with the regenerative power of the Orochi clan, it wasn't enough for him to recover to his peak condition in less than a minute.

To face Master Long in an incomplete state is bound to lead to predictable results.

The wounded Yashiro even tried to repeat his old trick, relying on his physical strength to withstand the attack and trade injuries for injuries.

However, Long, who already possessed the demeanor of a master, did not give him the opportunity to do so.

The surging waves swiftly and decisively knocked Yashiro off the stage.

At this point, it would have been almost time to declare the winner and loser for both teams.

Shermie and Chris, who haven't awakened their powers yet, are not weak, but it would be too much of a challenge for them to fight against a top martial artist like Master Long.

However, the second variable in this match then emerged.

Shermie, a key member of the band Hell, awakened on the ring.

Along with Goenitz and Yashiro, Shermie is one of the Four Heavenly Kings who are considered part of the Eight Heroes of the Mighty Monk. Her power, wielding the [Wild Lightning], speaks volumes about her strength.

This only serves to highlight how amazing Master Long's subsequent performance was.

The Assassination Fist school has two paths forward.

One is the killing intent fluctuation. The representative figure who walks on this path is Ryu and Ken's uncle, the ultimate fist master, Gouki.

The second is the power of nothingness, a power completely opposite to the surge of killing intent. Instead of becoming a demon that is universally hated, it chooses to resonate with the natural world and transform into nothingness. The representative figure walking on this path is Ryu and Ken's master, a steel fist who is on the verge of death.

—And Long, this man who was filled with murderous intent and had also comprehended the power of nothingness, walked out a third path that had never been seen before.

He combined the killing intent fluctuations with the power of nothingness.

Although he was still in the exploratory stage and not yet proficient, when Long unleashed this unique wave power, even Shermie, who had awakened the power of the Four Heavenly Kings, could only be defeated!

And how could Chris, the last remaining member of Hell Band and also the last of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Eight Orochi, withstand this wave of power?

The outcome is already decided.

The next team to challenge Zheng Jing is the Wave Team.

—That's how it should be.

"Ugh... Why are there so many freaks like you emerging in this era of humanity...?"

Kneeling on one knee, Chris muttered to himself with his head down.

He tried his best, but he was still unable to break through the encirclement of fists and feet formed by the fluctuations.

Even the idea of ​​trying to imitate the previous contestants and force Ryu out of bounds by destroying the ring was detected by Ryu, who blocked that path first.

Long's strength truly exceeded the expectations of the three of them.

But that's perfect.

Long's strength enabled them to complete the most important step in their plan.

"We should thank you."

Chris looked up at Ron, a sinister grin spreading across his handsome face.

In that instant, Ryu realized something and instinctively wanted to make a move.

He had already heard about the Eight Heroes and Orochi from Kyoko and the others.

Ryu's original idea was that as long as he did his best to eliminate the Hell Band in the competition, he could hinder the Eight Orochi's plan to revive Orochi.

With his abilities, he certainly could do it.

However, neither he nor Kyoko and the others expected that Hell Band's true purpose at this stage was actually—

"Om!!"

Suddenly, a magnificent, bluish-white pillar of light rose from the ground, engulfing the kneeling Chris.

Chapter 242: It Has to Be Me

At that moment, the inheritors of the three divine weapons, who were closely watching the match from below the arena, reacted simultaneously.

"This—Chizuru?"

Kyoko pressed her hand to her chest and quickly looked at Chizuru.

Chizuru nodded solemnly, her gaze fixed intently on the pillar of light shooting straight into the sky.

Anzi remained silent.

Her brows were furrowed, and she seemed somewhat uncomfortable.

Master Long, who was in the arena, could feel the pressure emanating from the beam of light most clearly.

Under Master Long's focused gaze, the pillar of light gradually faded, and a tall figure floated upright into the air.

White trousers and leather boots, an unclothed upper body with a strong and muscular build, mysterious patterns radiating a deep blue light embedded in his full muscles, each flash of light seemed to subtly distort the space around him.

As his silver-white hair danced in the wind, a pair of hazy yellow eyes, resembling both a dragon and a snake, opened on his handsome face, which still bore traces of Chris.

Almost simultaneously, Kyoko and her two companions jumped off the stands and rushed toward the ring.

"The game is not over yet!"

Just as the three were about to reach the ring, the big-nosed referee suddenly blocked their way.

"Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from approaching the ring!"

"Referee! Um—"

Kyoko pointed anxiously at the silver-haired beauty on the stage: "He's Orochi! A monster trying to destroy humanity! If we don't deal with him quickly, it will cause a disaster! Please move aside!"

"Get out of the way."

The nunnery is more direct.

Her five fingers formed claws, and purple flames ignited in her hands.

"The match is not over yet; this is a violation of the rules."

Neither Kyoko's explanation nor Anko's threat could sway the big-nosed referee in the slightest.

“Referee, that’s no longer Chris, a member of Hell Band.”

Chizuru's words, however, made the big-nosed referee hesitate for a moment.

Let's continue.

At that very moment, everyone in the arena—no! Everyone around the world watching this World Martial Arts Tournament—heard that voice that suddenly appeared in their minds.

"Oh? Oh?"

Zheng Jing tilted his head.

This aura... is yours, the creator of the past.

Then, another voice emerged in the minds of many contestants on site.

If the previous voice sounded like a gentle and beautiful young girl's voice, making people unconsciously relax.

This one now sounds like the hiss of a rattlesnake, sending chills down your spine.

I remember you, that cynical little guy who always craved Gaia's attention. Oh, do you even know what cynicism means?

【...】

I know what your lackeys are up to. Fine, my promise always stands. If you win in the end, I'll grant your wish too.

[Really? Even if it means utterly destroying humanity, so full of sin?]

Why not? As long as you win in the end.

The silver-haired beauty, or rather, the serpent who successfully descended into the material plane by absorbing the spiritual power overflowing from the clashes of many powerful figures at the tournament, using Chris's body as a catalyst, remained silent for a few seconds.

【it is good. 】

This profound dialogue resonated deeply with the vast majority of people present.

After hearing all this, Kyoko and Chizuru's expressions turned extremely ugly.

The worst-case scenario they ever feared still happened.

Then, a beam of golden light poured down from the sky, instantly enveloping the entire island.

The dazzling light caused many contestants to instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes.

Fortunately, this stimulation did not last long.

After the bright light faded, everyone instinctively looked around.

Ah! The sky!

Ranma points to the top of the open-air arena.

The once clear blue sky with white clouds has now transformed into a canopy woven from soft golden light.

[You've improved so quickly! That kind of place probably wasn't enough for you anymore. But don't worry, here you can unleash your full potential.]

Alright, time is limited. Considering we were just making an important ruling, let's pause here and continue.

Although he had many questions about the current situation, from Kyoko's words just now, Takashi already understood that the strange man in front of him, who exuded an astonishing aura, was the dangerous being who intended to destroy, and whose strength was said to be no less than Vega's during the Black Moon Project, Orochi.

That person's meaning was very clear: the conference should continue.

So, he'll handle this.

"Hey! Wait a minute!"

Someone suddenly shouted.

It is Zheng Jing.

He raised his hands and somehow jumped onto the railing between the ring and the audience.

"Master Long, can I ask you something?"

Long glanced at the big-nosed referee.

The big-nosed referee glanced at the sky, clearly giving Long and Zheng Jing some time to speak.