Lei Bao's single punch left the entire arena stunned.
But after a moment, the venue erupted into cheers, filled with exclamations of awe.
That punch had hit like a compact car smashing into the punching power meter—the steel plate was dented inward. If that force had been directed at a person, the result would have been devastating.
"Chen Guanzhu, is that the power of Dark Force?" Zhao Jianhua asked, having witnessed this level of destruction for the first time.
"No." Chen Wu shook his head with a bitter smile and explained, "I said before that Dark Force places an enormous strain on the body and isn't used lightly—even in combat. The punch Master Lei Bao just threw didn't use Dark Force at all. That was his normal power. That's exactly why I'm so shaken."
Chen Wu himself was considered a combat prodigy across all of Jinhai City, yet his strongest strike only measured 453 kilograms. Compared to a martial arts prodigy like Lei Bao, who could reach 656 kilograms without even using Dark Force—a genuine thousand pounds of force, enough to lift a cauldrum or tear apart a tiger—the gap was like heaven and earth.
"This is going to be tough for young Brother Shi Feng." Chen Wu's expression grew grave as he watched Lei Bao with sharp caution. "Master Lei Bao is notorious for holding nothing back. He doesn't show mercy. When I once sought him out for a friendly exchange, he broke three of my ribs and I spent a month in the hospital. Now his strength has surpassed what it was back then. If Brother Shi Feng isn't careful, he could easily end up bedridden for half a year—or worse, suffer lasting damage."
Beside him, Zhao Ruoxi's heart sank even further with anxiety. She wanted to stop the fight but was powerless to intervene.
Both men were martial arts masters. The match had been agreed upon in advance, and the audience had already been summoned. The arrow was nocked—there was no turning back.
But Shi Feng's ordinary punching power was only 400 kilograms. Even with Dark Force, he could at best match Lei Bao. And everyone knew how enormous the cost of using Dark Force was.
Lei Bao, on the other hand, could wield a thousand pounds of force with every movement, sustaining it endlessly. Shi Feng's chances of winning were razor-thin…
In truth, even Xiao Yu hadn't expected the gap between them to be this vast.
If he'd known, there would have been no point in arranging this match at all.
"I suppose I'll just have to compensate Shi Feng afterward," Xiao Yu thought. He had never imagined Lei Bao was this powerful. With Lei Bao joining the team, the Beidou Fitness Center would undoubtedly become one of the top fitness centers in the entire country. As for Shi Feng—though a young genius, he still fell far short of a true powerhouse. Still, it would be worth maintaining a relationship with him afterward.
On the ring, Lei Bao surveyed the destroyed punching power meter with clear satisfaction for his handiwork. Then his cold gaze swept over to Shi Feng.
"You're impressive. At such a young age, not only have you mastered Dark Force, but you also stood your ground without flinching against my pressure. Your future is bound to be extraordinary. If it weren't for the fact that I absolutely must become Beidou's head coach, I'd gladly concede this match to you." Lei Bao's voice wasn't loud, yet every word reached the audience with crystal clarity. The domineering aura in his tone was unmistakable, making it hard for anyone not to feel a sense of submission. "I've always had a fondness for martial arts prodigies, and I won't bully you. If you can last ten moves against me without being defeated, I'll count this match as your victory."
Hearing Lei Bao's words, everyone in attendance couldn't help but admire his magnanimity. He wouldn't bully the young—truly worthy of being called a martial arts master. Their respect for him deepened even further.
"And if I lose?" Shi Feng asked calmly, entirely unmoved.
"You really are clever." Lei Bao smiled. "If you lose, you take me as your master. I'll pass on everything I know to you, and one day you'll surely surpass me. That's not a bad deal, is it?"
Before the match had been arranged, Lei Bao had already looked into Shi Feng's background. He knew Shi Feng had no master and had likely taught himself—a true self-made genius.
Masters were always picky about their disciples. After all, an apprentice represented one's legacy; a weak student would tarnish one's own reputation. So the selection process was always rigorous. A young fighter like Shi Feng, who had already learned Dark Force, was exactly the kind of talent any master would want to take under their wing.
Even Chen Wu had been tempted before, but since Shi Feng's strength was already on par with his own, he had abandoned the idea.