Although the Nine-Grade Magic Crystal Sword is also very precious, it’s not worth causing unnecessary trouble just for this sword.

“Wait!” Ethan Brooks shouted.

As an upright gentleman, how could I agree to a one-sided bet? Absolutely not. If your betting ethics are bad, your character is bad. But my character is excellent.

Ethan Brooks said very seriously, “I’m a person of principle. Even if you don’t want any stakes, I’ll still put something up for you as your reward if you win. How about this, I’ll use my money pouch as the stake.”

“……”

Everyone fell silent, and the scene became eerily quiet...

Is there even any money in your pouch? It would be a miracle if there’s even a single copper coin.

Well, actually, I’m just betting the pouch itself. What’s inside doesn’t matter at all, really, not at all, hehe...

“Whatever makes you happy. Can we go to the arena now?” Although Colin had the urge to rush forward and give this kid a good beating, he held back in the end. His own future was more important—this could affect his whole life.

He didn’t want to ruin his life over a loser.

But this time, his actions had already basically affected his whole life. If he knew this would be the result, he wouldn’t have messed with Ethan Brooks even if you beat him to death.

Ahem, if I don’t go to hell, who will? I was just looking for someone to make an example of, to let those who have bullied Ethan Brooks know that the current Ethan Brooks is no longer so easy to push around. Don’t come looking for trouble with me in the future.

One should keep a low profile, but if you keep such a low profile that you’re bullied every day, that’s not being low-key—that’s just suffering. Such a person is either extremely tolerant or not right in the head.

Accompanied by Henry, Ethan Brooks arrived at the arena he knew of from memory but had never actually visited, and of course, he had never participated in a match before.

Surrounded by a crowd of gossipers at Arena A, Ethan Brooks and Colin stood in the center, about ten meters apart. One looked at the other with a grave expression, while the other was rubbing his fists eagerly...

Uh, don’t get the wrong idea. The grave one is Ethan Brooks. Although he’s said to be a transmigrator extraordinaire, that only applies to transmigration, not to his strength. In a fight with Colin, he’s almost certain to lose.

Last night, his internal energy improved greatly, but that was just starting from zero. Compared to his level on Earth, he’s still far behind. After all, it was only one night—how much could he really accomplish? Also, the Turtle Breathing Technique isn’t about power, but about long, steady breathing.

So, from the start, Ethan Brooks didn’t plan to win by normal means—in other words, not by this world’s normal means.

“Pa!” Ethan Brooks tossed his sword behind him and said arrogantly, “I don’t want to use a sword this time. I’m afraid people will say I’m bullying you.”

Tsk...

Contemptuous looks shot toward Ethan Brooks from all around...

You don’t know how to use a sword and want to use this trick to make that idiot Colin give up his sword and fight with fists. Anyone here with half a brain knows what Ethan Brooks is up to. If he used a sword, Ethan Brooks would lose for sure, because he still doesn’t know how to use a magic crystal weapon, while Colin has already learned and is quite good at it.

Damn, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. What are you going to do about it? Ahem, calm down, calm down...

But even though everyone knows it’s a trap, I’m sure that idiot up front will fall for it and give up his sword...

“Since you’re not using a sword, how could I, a young master, use a sword to bully a loser like you? If I win, people will just laugh at me.” Colin stylishly tossed his sword aside.

He wasn’t unaware of Ethan Brooks’s trap, but he didn’t care. In fact, he thought it was better this way—he could use his fists to give Ethan Brooks a good beating, which was much more satisfying than using a sword.

Seventy percent—now my chances of winning are seventy percent.

If it’s hand-to-hand, hehe, you’re dead. I don’t know swordsmanship, but I do know a family palm technique, which I used for self-defense before. My skills are decent. Very few people on this continent practice unarmed combat, and this Colin definitely hasn’t trained in it.

Uh, I forgot to mention, this palm technique is called Bagua Palm, a very well-known style. If you master it, it’s no worse than any other palm technique. In martial arts, there are no inferior techniques, only inferior practitioners. As long as you master your martial arts and internal skills, in the end, they’re all the same.

All roads lead to the same destination—this is a truth understood by martial artists throughout history. If there’s any difference, it’s just how long it takes to reach mastery. A good internal skill can save you a lot of detours early on.

Ethan Brooks assumed the starting stance of Bagua Palm, which surprised everyone. But they were only surprised at what strange pose Ethan Brooks was making—they couldn’t see the mysteries of Bagua Palm.

Not to mention them—even if all the experts in this world were here, they wouldn’t be able to see the subtleties of Ethan Brooks’s palm technique, because they don’t know what Bagua is.

Without a foundation in Bagua, it’s impossible to truly master Bagua Palm—you can only pick up a few superficial moves.