Infinite Fighting

Chapter 68: Chapter 60: Black Fist Arena

Before heading to the underground fighting ring, Robby planned to create a temporary Alchemy Body for Zhang Ji.

The process would take some time, so Zhang Ji took the opportunity to continue studying the Guning language.

New Fuerlos had broken away from the Guning Country, so the Guning language was also spoken here.

There were just a few slight local variations in accent.

But for the most part, it was mutually intelligible.

Zhang Ji was a fast learner. Before Robby finished making his right leg, he had already mastered over two thousand words used in daily conversation.

"Is it done?"

Zhang Ji looked at the metal right leg in Robby’s hands.

It was covered in rust spots and welding marks. There was nothing special about it; in fact, it looked like it would definitely cause an infection if he put it on.

"The materials might be a little lacking, but my technique is pretty good. Put it on and give it a try," Robby said, handing over the leg.

Zhang Ji asked, "How do I put it on?"

"Just slide your leg in and secure it. It’s like putting on a shoe," Robby replied.

Zhang Ji stood up and inserted the stump of his thigh into the Alchemy Body. He then adjusted a mechanical knob on the side, fastening it tightly to what was left of his leg.

He lifted his leg. The lower part dangled limply from the knee joint, and the metal foot looked just as useless. It was obvious it wouldn’t work.

"There’s no neural interface. Are you sure this thing works? I can’t control it at all. I’d be better off with a crutch," Zhang Ji said with a frown.

"Patience. It’s still missing something."

Robby brought over a bottle of viscous green liquid and poured it on the connection point between Zhang Ji’s right leg and the Alchemy Body.

Faintly, Zhang Ji felt some feedback from the metal right leg.

The viscous liquid changed the properties of the metal. At the same time, the prosthetic leg began to try and connect with Zhang Ji’s own leg, extending fine metallic nerves that constantly probed at his stump, seeking to integrate with his nervous system.

"Activation Potion? Is this how you install Alchemy Bodies for people?"

A strange expression appeared on Zhang Ji’s face, which, combined with his current disfigurement, made him look even more terrifying.

"Is there a problem?" Robby asked.

"No," Zhang Ji replied.

Activation Potion.

An Alchemy Potion that could bring inanimate objects to life.

When poured onto an inanimate object, the object would develop a semblance of biological consciousness. Its internal structure would also activate, turning it into an alternative life form.

Of course, this activation was very weak; it wasn’t possible to directly create a sapient life form.

However, the activated material was highly compatible and possessed a strong survival instinct. As long as it was transplanted onto a human body, it would proactively cooperate with the host, even modifying itself in exchange for a chance to survive as a parasite.

Suddenly, Zhang Ji felt the fine metallic nerves pierce into the flesh of his stump. He could have shattered them with a slight exertion of force, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed them to make contact with his cells.

They grew together smoothly, and then the metal began to fuse with his flesh and blood.

「Half an hour later.」

Zhang Ji gently tapped his metallized right leg. It sent back a tactile sensation, as if it were truly a part of his own skin.

He wiggled the toes of his right foot. He could control every single one, as if his leg had been that way from birth.

This was Alchemy Technology.

Though it was called technology, to Zhang Ji, it felt more like Magic.

Zhang Ji stood up. There was no height difference between his feet; it felt about the same as before. The dimensions were perfect.

He channeled a bit of force and tried to kick with his right leg.

WHOOSH!

The leg stirred up a gust of air that sent bottles and jars nearby tumbling over.

However, Zhang Ji felt some of the nerves in his right leg snap.

’The upper limit of its force is only around the professional Sixth Rank? And I can’t infuse my Yuan Qi into it; the leg rejects it. There’s no sensation of muscle exertion, but it can move. It seems to be self-adjusting, learning from cellular memory to simulate muscle activity...’

Zhang Ji made a judgment in his mind.

’If Alchemy Technology can be properly controlled and developed steadily, it’s actually a decent technological path.’

’Unfortunately, too many people are in a rush for quick success.’

"So? My handiwork’s not bad, huh?" Robby asked.

"It’s decent," Zhang Ji said.

"It’s more than just decent! Fewer than ten people in all of New Fuerlos can concoct an Active Potion of this concentration," Robby said. "Do you have any idea how many brains I used up for this one bottle?"

"Used up brains" here didn’t mean thinking.

It meant literal brains.

One of the ingredients for an Active Potion was animal brains.

The smarter the animal, the better the effect.

And on this planet, the most intelligent creature was, naturally, the human.

It was because Alchemy Technology was quite contrary to ethics and morality in some aspects that it was officially banned in the Eastern Extreme Country.

"Well then, it’s time to go check out the underground fighting ring," Zhang Ji said in the Guning language.

"Not yet. You need to change your clothes. You look like a stowaway beggar. You’re guaranteed to be stopped at the door," Robby replied instinctively, then did a double-take. "You can speak Guning? Then why were you using your phone to translate?"

"I’m not very fluent, so I need my phone to help," Zhang Ji said, casually making up an excuse.

Robby didn’t suspect a thing and started to get ready.

Besides the loose-fitting trench coat, the clothes Zhang Ji wore underneath were in tatters, and he had no shoes on his feet.

Robby found his largest set of clothes for Zhang Ji to change into, went out to buy him a pair of leather shoes, and only then did they prepare to head to the underground fighting ring together.

Robby had a pickup truck, which he usually used for collecting scrap metal.

This stuff was worthless in others’ hands, but in his, it could be given new life.

Simple materials combined with the science of Alchemy could create many miracles.

As the two sat in the pickup truck, Zhang Ji, in the passenger seat, asked Robby, "Why were those two guys giving you trouble earlier?"

"Dean Hospital is the biggest Alchemy Body modification hospital around here, and I’ve been stealing some of their business. It’s that simple," Robby said.

"The Dean Gang?" Zhang Ji said thoughtfully.

"That’s right. Every business here has to pay taxes to the Dean Gang. They’re the real rulers of Midliss; the government is just a figurehead," Robby explained. "Actually, I’ve always followed the rules. I’ve never stopped paying my taxes, and I’m a major taxpayer at that. It’s just that the Dean Gang wanted me to join them, and I refused."

"Why refuse?" Zhang Ji asked, confused.

"You know how it is. When you’re part of a faction, you can’t just do whatever you want," Robby said. "My greatest wish is to complete my research on the Dela bloodline transplant, not to be stuck there attaching Alchemy Bodies for people."

The two talked as they quickly arrived in front of a skyscraper.

Robby parked the truck some distance away and led Zhang Ji toward the building.

Surprisingly, there was a security checkpoint here.

However, neither Zhang Ji nor Robby were carrying firearms or anything of the sort, so the guards let them through.

They took an elevator all the way down to the fifth basement level.

The atmosphere of the place changed abruptly.

It was a scene of debauchery, with flashing lights and a throng of people swaying on the dance floor. On stage, a scantily clad woman writhed against a pole, showing off her body. Someone poured a drink over her, and she didn’t refuse, opening her mouth to catch it all.

Robby led Zhang Ji through the area and pushed open a door. A long corridor ended at a black curtain, where there was a counter and several tall guards waiting.

"Two tickets, thanks," Robby said.

"Two thousand New Fuers," the cashier at the counter said.

Robby took out his phone, scanned a code to pay online, and entered the curtained-off area with Zhang Ji.

Behind the curtain was another hallway. Following it down, they finally arrived at the underground fighting arena.

In the stands, flushed-faced spectators were shouting at the top of their lungs. Nearby, in a ring larger than a basketball court, two fighters were exchanging blows. Their moves were vicious; every attack was aimed to kill.

There was no pulling punches here. If you could kill your opponent, that was your skill.

For the sake of entertainment, the referee might even let your opponent kill you on the spot, even if you surrendered.

BANG! CRACK!

In the ring, a figure was sent flying by a kick, slamming into the special tempered glass that served as a barrier and causing several cracks to appear.

The crowd wasn’t scared; in fact, they roared even louder.

"What do you think?" Robby asked Zhang Ji in a low voice.

"What’s the skill level of the winner here?" Zhang Ji asked.

"Upper-middle, I’d say," Robby replied.

"I can fight them," Zhang Ji said with a nod. "Where do I sign up?"

In his eyes, the winner was only around the professional Fifth Rank. No joke, he could kill the man with a single finger.

"You want to go up right now?" Robby asked.

"Isn’t it better to earn the money sooner?" Zhang Ji retorted.

"Good point."

Robby nodded in agreement and pulled Zhang Ji over toward the ring.

They reached the edge of the ring and saw the manager.

He was a bald, middle-aged man, about six feet tall, with a nameplate on his chest that read "Joe Haines."

"Joe!" Robby shouted. "We want to get in the ring."

"Name?" Joe asked after glancing at Zhang Ji.

"Just pick a cool nickname. Something like Iron Leg or Demon Face would work!" Robby prompted Zhang Ji.

"Extreme Dragon!" Zhang Ji said.

Joe jotted down the name, then pointed to a passageway at the side. "You’ll enter from there. You’re up next after this fight. Two hundred thousand if you win, fifty thousand if you lose."

It was that simple.

If you wanted to fight, you got in the ring.

You fight, you get paid. Anyone could enter.

Of course, the prerequisite was that you didn’t value your life, or you were confident enough in your own strength to earn that money.

Zhang Ji took off his trench coat, handed it to Robby, and said, "Bet on me to win."

Robby whispered in Zhang Ji’s ear, "If you can, drag it out for a few more moves. The odds won’t drop too fast, and we can make more money..."

Zhang Ji gave a slight nod and walked over.

Even though this was his first time in this kind of fighting arena, not only did he not feel out of place, but it even stirred up memories of his time on Shanli Island.

Back then, he had also fought multiple opponents in a row in an arena, ultimately earning the status of a true disciple of the Five Elements Sect.

After he sat in the waiting area for a while, the two fighters in the ring determined a winner.

The loser was carried out of the ring. His head lolled to the side, his cervical spine clearly broken. He probably wouldn’t be collecting his money alive.

"You’re up!" a staff member in the waiting area told Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji stood up and walked through the passageway toward the ring.

"Next up is [Extreme Dragon]! His opponent is the man who’s already won three consecutive matches, [Hungry Wolf]..."

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