Thinking of this, Lin Mo cleared his throat, deciding to defend Saitama.
"Cough."
He spoke up for Saitama: "Genos, your analysis is only based on data, but sometimes, personal experience is also a form of cultivation."
"Saitama-kun might want to experience the fighting style of ordinary people and return to basics."
"I see!" Genos suddenly understood, a light of admiration flashing in his eyes, and he immediately wrote in his notebook:
"My teacher intends to explore the origin of power by observing low-level combat. His realm is so high, it's beyond what ordinary people can achieve! I was too shallow!"
Saitama looked bewildered: "Huh? I just wanted to go see…"
Lin Mo ignored Saitama's explanation and continued:
"It sounds… quite interesting. Since you want to go so much, I'll go with you guys to watch. It just so happens I have nothing else to do."
If he remembered correctly, this "Martial Arts Tournament" would bring out the Monster Association executive — Gouketsu, as well as another martial artist, Bakuzan, who was turned into a monster.
Two Dragon-Level Monster appearing at the same time, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accumulate emotional value.
"Really? That's great!" Saitama immediately sprang up from the floor.
"Since Mr. KING and my teacher have both decided to go, my duty is to ensure my teacher's viewing experience. I will go along and be responsible for eliminating all potential threats," Genos said with a serious expression.
— — — — — —
The next day, outside the arena in Z City, it was bustling with people and colorful flags fluttered.
A huge electronic screen continuously played promotional videos for the "Super Fight" Martial Arts Tournament, creating an incredibly enthusiastic atmosphere.
"Oh, oh, oh! Amazing! This arena is really big!"
Saitama was wearing a cheap tracksuit and a light brown wig, the same hairstyle as Charanko, which he had bought not long ago.
He looked around, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Teacher, please pay attention to safety."
Genos was in casual clothes, but his taut body and golden eyes constantly scanning the surroundings revealed that he was in a state of highest alert.
"You're exaggerating, Genos, this is just an ordinary martial arts tournament," Lin Mo shook his head helplessly.
After Lin Mo and Genos bought drinks, they sat in the spectator stands waiting for the matches to begin, while Saitama went to the contestant waiting area.
Just as Lin Mo was boredly drinking his beverage, the matches officially began.
Deafening music blared, and the host announced the rules of the competition in a high-pitched voice. Immediately, the contestants for the first match ascended the ring.
The excitement of the matches… how should he put it, to ordinary people, it might be considered intense, but in the eyes of Lin Mo and the others, it was like kindergarten children fighting.
After a few matches, Lin Mo was already starting to yawn, feeling drowsy.
"Next, about to begin is the third match in Section C! The opposing sides are—" The host dragged out his voice, keeping the audience in suspense.
"Minced Meat Gatlinger! And—the talented new star from the famous Fierce Wind Hall—Ghost Dragon!"
"Wow! From the Fierce Wind Hall?"
A commotion arose from the audience; clearly, he had some renown among martial artists.
"Ghost Dragon, he does seem to have gotten a lot stronger recently," a martial artist who had fought Ghost Dragon commented.
"Mr. KING, the Fierce Wind Hall is a well-known dojo, and its master's strength should not be underestimated."
Genos dutifully provided background information.
Lin Mo nodded, his gaze fixed on the contestant passage.
First to walk out was the contestant named Gatlinger.
He was burly, with bulging muscles, a fierce face, and an aura of aggression. Just standing there, he exuded a strong sense of oppression.
On the other side, when the contestant "Ghost Dragon" walked out of the passage, Lin Mo's pupils suddenly constricted, and he almost spat out the juice he had just drunk.
The person who stepped onto the ring was wearing a white martial arts uniform that was clearly ill-fitting, with the characters "Ghost Dragon" haphazardly scrawled on the back in ink, as if it were a last-minute addition.
His figure was not tall, even a bit thin, and his face showed visible tension and lack of confidence.
This was a stark contrast to his formidable opponent and his own imposing name, "Ghost Dragon."
This face… this face that Lin Mo would recognize even if it were reduced to ashes!
Isn't this the Class-C Hero ranked first, Mumen Rider, to whom he had recently given the [KING Style Mysteries · Martial Arts]?!
"What the hell is going on?" Lin Mo's brain instantly crashed.
— — — — — —
Time rewinds a few days, Y City.
On the outskirts of Y City, the abandoned factory district stood silently in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Mumen Rider, pushing his beloved bicycle "Justice," was heading to this area to deal with a monster incident, according to instructions from the Hero Association.
"Association report: disaster level 'Wolf,' monster characteristics: 'mantis form, relatively fast.'"
Mumen Rider looked at the mission brief on his phone, his heart slightly settled.
If it was a Wolf-level, he should be able to handle it himself with his current strength.
However, as he rounded a rusty, giant gas tank, the sight before him made him gasp.
On the ground were several slashes half a meter deep, and a concrete utility pole was cut in half.
And in the center of the ruins, a mantis monster over two meters tall, covered in dark green carapace, with two giant scythes for arms, was staring coldly at him with its compound eyes.
"Another weak bug. The Hero Association's judgment is getting worse and worse."
The mantis monster made a harsh, metallic scraping sound. Its aura and destructive power were definitely not something a "Wolf"-level monster could possess!
"Tiger-level… No, it's probably not an ordinary Tiger-level!" Cold sweat broke out on Mumen Rider's forehead, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.
In the past, his only option at this moment would have been to immediately call for backup, then use his body to buy time for civilians to evacuate, only to end up beaten black and blue, awaiting rescue from other heroes.
But today, a strange spark ignited in his heart.
The manuscript that the man hailed as strongest man on earth—KING—had personally given him.
[KING Style Mysteries · Martial Arts]
These past few days, whenever he had free time, he delved into its contents.
Those seemingly profound diagrams and texts, such as "using softness to overcome hardness," "using an opponent's strength against him," and "power originating from the ground and flowing through the four extremities," were deeply ingrained in his mind.
Although he hadn't fully comprehended it yet, and his body was far from reaching the realm described in the manuscript.
But he could feel a brand new combat philosophy taking root within him.
"Running away is not an option for a hero!"
Mumen Rider carefully parked "Justice" against the wall and assumed a starting stance he had learned from the manuscript.
"Oh? Going to resist? Foolish bug!" The mantis monster let out a strange laugh, and its figure instantly vanished from its spot.
The next second, a sharp whooshing sound was already at his face!
Mumen Rider's pupils constricted rapidly. His body's instinct made him want to retreat and block, but the teachings from the manuscript flashed through his mind—
"When enemy force arrives, what use am I? Leading it to miss is supreme."
He subconsciously gave up on a head-on clash, twisting his body to the side in an extremely awkward posture, while simultaneously drawing small circles with both hands. Instead of pushing away the incoming scythe, he gently guided it along its force!
"Swish!"
The deadly scythe almost grazed the tip of his nose, the gust of wind it generated scraping painfully against his cheek.
The mantis monster's confident strike missed, and the huge inertia caused its body to stagger.
It worked!
Mumen Rider was overjoyed. Although his movements were incredibly clumsy, and he almost twisted his waist, this technique of [Tai Chi Force Neutralization] really worked!
"Hmm?"
The mantis monster was a bit surprised. It swung its scythe and launched another torrent of attacks.
For a moment, cold light flashed, and blade shadows overlapped, completely engulfing Mumen Rider.
Mumen Rider was plunged into an unprecedented bitter battle.
His physical abilities couldn't keep up with the monster's speed, and the difference in strength was immense.
He could only rely on his partial understanding of the theories in the manuscript, dodging and deflecting clumsily.
His movements were awkward and stiff; several times he was in perilous situations, and several cuts appeared on his body, blood soaking his uniform.
But he did not give up.
Each successful deflection, each narrow escape, deepened his understanding of the [KING Style Secret Art].
He was like a sponge, frantically absorbing the essence of martial arts under the pressure of life and death.
"I found a weakness!"
After a dangerous maneuver to deflect the opponent's cross-slash, Mumen Rider noticed a brief opening at the connection of the monster's armpit carapace.
"Inch Punch: Penetrating Heart!"
Another move from the scroll appeared in his mind.
He suddenly stepped forward, twisting his body. All of his strength seemed to be compressed into his right fist in an instant. With a short, direct punch, he fiercely struck that opening!
"Bang!" A muffled thud.
The force seemed small, but it carried a strange penetrative quality.
The mantis monster let out a painful shriek, and its massive body was actually knocked back by that punch, with spiderweb-like cracks appearing on the carapace where it was hit.
For a time, in this abandoned factory district, an incredible battle unfolded.
A seemingly ordinary Class-C Hero was actually fighting a powerful Tiger-level monster to a standstill!
And not far away, from the top of an abandoned factory building, a figure silently watched it all.
He was Ghost Dragon, the genius martial artist of the Fierce Wind Hall.
He had originally heard the commotion and intended to come help, but when he saw Mumen Rider's fighting technique, he immediately felt a sense of familiarity—
This… this was so similar to the profound martial arts principles described by that senior who had guided him at the previous tournament!
Ghost Dragon's breathing instantly became rapid, his eyes fixed on the battlefield.
He did not rashly go forward to help, but stopped not far away, waiting for the battle to end.
Because he could tell that the hero was not simply fighting; he was honing himself!
Yes, he was honing himself!
Ghost Dragon watched, mesmerized.
Admittedly, Mumen Rider's movements were not fluid, even somewhat sluggish; to an outsider, he was merely dodging clumsily, narrowly escaping death.
But in the eyes of Ghost Dragon, this genius martial artist, all of it seemed extraordinary!
He, "Ghost Dragon," was a genius!
He recognized at a glance the extraordinary nature of this martial art: soft as water, hard as a mountain, all-encompassing yet not lacking in killing intent.
This was a height that no ordinary martial art could ever reach!
Even an ordinary person with such uncoordinated body could exert such great power with the enhancement of this martial art!
And after repeated perilous situations, Mumen Rider's movements became increasingly fluid, and he dealt with the mantis monster's attacks with greater ease.
At the end of the battle, Mumen Rider seized an opportunity, delivering a seemingly ordinary straight punch, employing the "Inch Punch" technique from the [KING Style Secret Art], striking the weak point of the monster's carapace.
That condensed power instantly penetrated its body, destroying its internal tissues.
The mantis monster let out a wail and crashed to the ground.
Mumen Rider also collapsed to the ground, exhausted, panting heavily.
Just then, Ghost Dragon leaped down from above, quickly approached Mumen Rider, and with an excited yet respectful bow, clasped his fists deeply.
"May I ask your esteemed name? Please forgive my presumptuousness, but the martial art you just displayed is simply miraculous, a natural manifestation of the Great Dao!"
"May I ask… may I ask your lineage?"
Mumen Rider was startled. Looking at the fervent-eyed martial artist before him, he felt a bit flustered and honestly replied:
"My name is Mumen Rider… This… I don't have any master or school. This martial art was taught to me by S-Class Hero Mr. KING."
Even though it was a manuscript given to him by Mr. KING, Mumen Rider believed that he was not yet worthy of being called Mr. KING's disciple.
"KING… Mr. KING?"
Upon hearing that name, Ghost Dragon first froze, then his pupils suddenly widened, and his face showed a complex expression of realization, shock, and admiration!
"KING! strongest man on earth! So that's it! So that's it!!"
He mumbled excitedly, his body trembling slightly due to this astonishing truth.
He understood everything!
The world knew KING was powerful, but they didn't know just how powerful he was!
Only true martial artists could see through the surface. Mr. KING was not only the pinnacle of strength but also the founder of martial arts philosophy!
He was a true grandmaster of martial arts!
And this Mumen Rider before him… although his strength was not yet great, he must possess something ordinary people did not, to be noticed by Mr. KING and deemed the most suitable successor to inherit his martial arts will!
That's why he imparted this astonishing martial art without reservation!
A perfect logical loop instantly formed in Ghost Dragon's mind.
He looked at Mumen Rider, his gaze becoming incredibly solemn and respectful, as if looking at a senior disciple bearing a sacred mission.
"So you are a direct disciple of Mr. KING. My apologies, my apologies!"
Just as Ghost Dragon was about to ask for further guidance, his phone in his pocket suddenly rang urgently.
He answered the call, and his face instantly changed dramatically.
"What?! The situation is that serious?" Ghost Dragon exclaimed in shock.
"Senior Brother, please come back quickly! The elders are all at a loss, and Master… he keeps mentioning your name!"