Chapter 86: Diamond Hard Power (Please Vote)

The great ape strode up to the registration desk with a swagger and said, “So there are such benefits for special admissions? Then I must become a special admission student!”

He cupped his hands toward Sinclair and said, “My surname is Hong, my name is King Kong. I was somewhat rude earlier, but I bear no grudge against the matter itself, only the person. Please forgive me!”

“Understood,” Sinclair replied briefly.

Though Hong King Kong was arrogant, he was not haughty; his nature was bold and straightforward. After he gave his name, Sinclair remembered a name that had once shaken the entire Great Xia Dynasty before his rebirth: the Diamond War God.

In Sinclair’s memories from before his rebirth, the Diamond War God was the guardian deity of the Great Xia Dynasty, the youngest Martial Saint in its history, and his brilliance had eclipsed Sinclair’s own title as the youngest ninth-rank potion master.

“So after my rebirth, I actually ended up classmates with the legendary Diamond War God—and on the very first day of school, he wants to challenge me!” Sinclair thought with a smile.

The martial academy’s instructors cleared out an open space for Sinclair and Hong King Kong, and announced that their match would now begin.

Hong King Kong cracked his knuckles loudly and said to Sinclair, “Special admissions classmate, you’d better be careful. My hidden force has already reached the fifth level, Split Stone Force, and my self-created high-level earth-tier technique, Diamond Hard Force, has never lost to anyone!”

Sinclair said, “Perhaps that’s only because you’ve never met a true opponent. If you had met me earlier, your Diamond Hard Force might already have advanced further!”

“Gah-ha-ha... If that were true, then all the better! I won’t be lonely in this martial academy anymore!” Hong King Kong laughed excitedly. “Every punch I throw will be with full strength, so be careful! Diamond Hard Force, first strike — Shatter Gold and Split Stone!”

Hong King Kong’s sandbag-sized fist came straight down on Sinclair!

Sinclair did not rush. He calmly extended a single palm. “High-tier earth technique, Eight Dragon Powers, first force — Rebound Force!”

Bang!

Hong King Kong’s sandbag-sized fist struck beneath Sinclair’s palm, instantly sending ripples through the air!

Sinclair did not use the Heaven Halberd at all; he took Hong King Kong’s punch head-on using only his own strength as a fourth-level martial artist.

Although Sinclair had not used the power of the Heaven Halberd, the fist force that landed on it was absorbed for the most part, converted into upgrade value, and the remaining force from Diamond Hard Force was completely rebounded by Sinclair’s Rebound Force!

“Hm? Your technique has something to it! Again—my Diamond Hard Force, second strike — Indestructible!” Seeing that the first strike had failed to shake Sinclair, Hong King Kong immediately unleashed a second blow.

After taking Hong King Kong’s first strike head-on, Sinclair discovered that the Heaven Halberd’s upgrade value had increased significantly.

“So exchanging punches with a person upgrades it faster than striking dead objects,” he realized.

Having discovered a new world, Sinclair was in no hurry to defeat Hong King Kong. Instead, he began using him to farm upgrade value for the Heaven Halberd.

“Eight Dragon Powers, second force — Cotton Force!”

Their fist and palm collided again. Fierce, explosive energy swept outward in all directions; the blast against the face felt like being cut by a blade.

Their second clash shocked Hong King Kong once more. Clearly the other man’s strength was below his own, yet his fist force could not injure him. Moreover, after the second blow of “Indestructible” landed on the other’s palm, it sank like a stone into the sea, the hidden force vanishing without a trace.

“Gah-ha-ha... Great... You truly are qualified to force my Diamond Hard Force to advance further!” Hong King Kong called out to Sinclair. “Be careful, because this third strike is not so easy to take! Diamond Hard Force, third strike — Unbreakable!”

After Hong King Kong unleashed the third strike of Diamond Hard Force, the students outside the arena all felt the pressure of that punch and retreated seven or eight steps, fearing they would be caught in its force.

Standing in the center, Sinclair could feel even more keenly the domineering might of Hong King Kong’s punch. But he did not use the Heaven Halberd to amplify his own strength. Out of respect for the Diamond War God, Sinclair intended to defeat him with his true abilities.

“Remove equipment!”

Sinclair removed all the earth-rank sixth-grade gear he wore, the Golden Silkworm Silk Armor, and the glove form of the superweapon Heaven Halberd. With surging battle intent, he threw out his fist.

“Eight Dragon Powers, third force — Layered Motion Force!”

Boom!

The two fists collided. The earth trembled, as though even space itself might be cracked by the force of their blows!

Hong King Kong’s hidden force sent Sinclair skidding back seven or eight meters. Sinclair’s feet gouged a deep furrow through the dirt, while Hong King Kong stood rooted in place, unmoving.

“Who won? Did Hong King Kong win?” Student A asked.

“Should be, right?” Student B replied.

“That giant ape is terrifying!” Student A said again.

“The guy called Sinclair is pretty monstrous too! A fourth-level martial artist actually hard-blocked a fifth-level martial artist. If he were at the same level as Hong King Kong, the winner would definitely be him! And he looks a bit younger than Hong King Kong too!” Student B said.

“Damn it, who said the special admissions student lost? This match isn’t over yet! The special admissions student is invincible!” Qian Baidu, standing nearby, glared angrily at Student A and Student B.

Sinclair was forced back by Hong King Kong’s fist force, but he was not injured. Smiling, he walked back up to Hong King Kong and asked, “Do you still want to continue?”

Only then did the crowd notice Hong King Kong. His expression was utterly strange, as though one more word would make him vomit up everything he had eaten that morning. Hong King Kong said with great difficulty, “I... concede...”

“Ah!”

Hong King Kong’s words surprised everyone greatly. He had clearly held the upper hand—so why had he suddenly admitted defeat?

“What happened? Did you figure it out?”

“I didn’t!”

People all over the plaza began discussing it.

“Good, good...” The elder at the registration desk looked at Sinclair and Hong King Kong with satisfaction and smiled. “You’re both excellent. Both of you qualify as special admissions students!”

The elder patted Hong King Kong once and said, “Your tuition will be reduced by half as well.”

With that pat, Hong King Kong nearly stumbled, but after steadying himself, his complexion improved considerably. The overlapping hidden forces that had been wreaking havoc inside his body instantly vanished without a trace.

Sinclair had been about to help Hong King Kong dispel the Layered Motion Force he had sent into his body, but unexpectedly the elder’s single pat resolved it for him. Both Sinclair and Hong King Kong looked at the elder in astonishment; only the two of them understood the terrifying skill concealed in that casual touch.

That pat seemed casual enough, but in truth it had quietly dissolved Sinclair’s layered motion force.