They exchanged blows, every strike landing on flesh, fighting in close quarters with brute force.
Their fists and feet collided, repeatedly producing loud booming sounds.
The two figures were entangled, and wherever they went, one stone pillar after another collapsed with a crash.
"Fang Zheng is gradually losing the upper hand," the observing crowd gradually realized.
"To deal with Ju Kaibei, you have to knock him down from the start and not give him any time," someone sighed.
Ju Kaibei had the Force Habit Gu; the longer he activated it, the stronger his strength became.
"Easy to say. Who can kill him in the early stage? He's a fourth-rank Gu Master with the Ivory White Armor Gu and rich combat experience. It's already impressive that Fang Zheng has lasted this long."
In the crowd, Bai Ningbing quietly watched the battle, her eyes deep and unfathomable.
She understood the pressure on Fang Yuan better than anyone. Only by personally fighting a fourth-rank Gu Master could one realize the huge gap between third and fourth rank.
"Heitu gege…" Shang Xin Ci clenched her fists, her beautiful eyes following Fang Yuan's movements.
Wei Yang furrowed his brows.
Roar!
Suddenly, a beastly roar burst out.
A massive and fierce Dragon-Elephant phantom rose abruptly behind Ju Kaibei.
A Dragon-Elephant was a giant elephant with dragon blood, even larger than a mammoth. It was a sub-dragon beast. Even lions and tigers would give way, not daring to confront it.
Killing such a beast had a high chance of obtaining the Dragon-Elephant Giant Strength Gu.
The Dragon-Elephant Giant Strength Gu was fully fourth rank. The Steed Swift Strength Gu and Green Bull Labor Gu that Fang Yuan used were only third rank.
Since becoming a fourth-rank Gu Master, Ju Kaibei had used three Dragon-Elephant Giant Strength Gu, adding three beast strength phantoms to himself.
Now, he suddenly struck out with a Dragon-Elephant force!
Fang Yuan's pupils contracted sharply. In the nick of time, he raised his arms.
All-Out Effort Gu — Stone Tortoise Strength!
Behind him, a giant tortoise phantom rose.
Boom!
Ju Kaibei's fist, the size of a clay bowl, slammed heavily into Fang Yuan's arms.
A surge of force blasted out; Ju Kaibei only stepped back a step, while Fang Yuan was sent flying by the punch.
The Stone Tortoise phantom shattered, while the Dragon-Elephant phantom rose even higher.
Stone Tortoise Strength was clearly no match for Dragon-Elephant.
Fang Yuan's body was blasted back thirty steps, crashing through two stone pillars before finally stopping.
Fang Yuan steadied himself. He shook his numb and painful arms. Though he looked disheveled, he was unharmed. The combined defense of Iron Bones, Steel Sinews, and Copper Skin was still formidable.
"Ju Kaibei unleashed the Dragon-Elephant Strength!" many spectators outside the arena exclaimed in unison.
"He has been using the Force Habit Gu, and now his strength is getting stronger and stronger. This is only one Dragon-Elephant force. Senior Ju Kaibei has a total of three Dragon-Elephant phantoms hidden on him. I once saw him bring out three Dragon-Elephant forces, and he instantly crushed his opponent's head!"
"Fang Zheng has not suppressed Ju Kaibei. Ju Kaibei using the Dragon-Elephant force is a signal that he wants to take control of the battle."
Fang Yuan was expressionless as he charged again, lunging at Ju Kaibei.
They were entangled once more.
Snow Silver True Essence continuously poured into the All-Out Effort Gu.
The eight beast strength phantoms—Wild Boar, Brown Bear, Crocodile, Green Bull, Steed, Stone Tortoise, White Elephant, and Black Python—flashed in turn.
After the Stone Tortoise Bearing Strength Gu, Fang Yuan used the White Elephant Primordial Strength Gu and Black Python Coiling Strength Gu, adding a White Elephant phantom and a Black Python phantom to himself.
Eight beast strength phantoms were the limit of Fang Yuan's body. Therefore, after the Black Python Coiling Strength Gu, he did not use any other strength Gu.
In the arena, Fang Yuan launched a ferocious attack, his fists whistling with wind. It was incredibly fierce and violent.
Such a terrifying offense made anyone watching feel their heart skip a beat.
Ju Kaibei had just erupted, using one Dragon-Elephant force, and his strength returned to its initial level, the Force Habit Gu starting to accumulate again. But Fang Yuan burst out with all his strength, immediately turning the situation around.
In mid-air, his eight beast strength phantoms flickered continuously, with only the occasional Dragon-Elephant phantom appearing.
But every time the Dragon-Elephant phantom appeared, it sent Fang Yuan flying.
As time passed, Fang Yuan's injuries piled up. Even Copper Skin couldn't withstand Ju Kaibei's immense power, tearing his skin open.
Ju Kaibei, on the other hand, was covered in a layer of Ivory White Armor. Although it was covered in scars and cracks, he remained standing firm like an iron tower.
After a short while,
Opportunity!
Ju Kaibei rarely made mistakes; this was a rare opening.
Fang Yuan seized the fleeting chance, suddenly circling behind and striking down with a palm.
The Brown Bear phantom appeared.
This strike was heavy; if it landed squarely, it would surely make him cough up a mouthful of blood.
Ju Kaibei didn't have time to block, he could only turn and sweep his arm.
Roar!
Suddenly an elephant cry rang out, and the Dragon-Elephant phantom soared up, completely overwhelming the Brown Bear.
Fang Yuan was sent flying instead—this was the eighth time.
The Dragon-Elephant phantom was appearing more and more frequently. When it didn't appear, Fang Yuan had a slight advantage. But once it appeared, none of the beast phantoms could match it.
Fang Yuan's beast strength phantoms were all from ordinary beasts, but the Dragon-Elephant had a trace of dragon blood, classifying it as a variant beast!
After fighting for half an hour…
Roar! Roar!
Two Dragon-Elephant phantoms simultaneously appeared above Ju Kaibei's head.