Infinite Fighting

Chapter 85: Chapter 76: Punishment

In an office at the Valentine Club.

The club’s general manager, Tucker Valentine, poured Chen Anhe a cup of tea. "Chen," he said, "we’ve been cooperating so well. There’s no need for any unpleasantness."

"That’s not it, Tucker." Chen Anhe shook her head. "You know I’m from the Five Elements Sect. Our Sect’s Daoist has arrived, and he plans to lead us in founding our own club. Thank you for your care until now, but ultimately, we need to be independent."

"I know you’re strong, but Lanz is different from other places. Even if you are all Transcendent Level fighters, you might not have an easy time here. Besides, you have so many fighters to support. How about staying at Valentine for a while longer?" Tucker persuaded. "Haven’t you been applying for the registration and sales licenses for those medicines? I can have the big boss help you out."

Chen Anhe scoffed inwardly. ’If it weren’t for Valentine’s people holding things up, our medicine would have been approved for small-scale production long ago, given how the Roman Country runs on the logic of ’pay to play’.’

"I’m sorry, but I think it’s time we went our separate ways," Chen Anhe said, her face full of regret.

"Won’t you reconsider? I can offer you a higher contract price, plus endorsements and matches. You’re worth it. There’s no need to go back to the Five Elements Sect!" Tucker said.

But Chen Anhe ignored Tucker, simply turning around, pushing the door open, and walking away.

After Chen Anhe left, Tucker’s expression darkened.

He stared at the resignation notice on his desk, his thoughts in turmoil.

His original plan was perfect: swallow the Five Elements Sect’s secret medicines, along with their group of Grandmasters and professional fighters.

But now, things had gone completely against his wishes.

You could say not a single part of his plan had succeeded.

’Why did he have to show up at this exact moment?’

Tucker muttered to himself and dialed a number.

Before long, a burly, blond man over two meters tall and covered in muscle walked into his office.

"Boss?" Leman Anxia asked. "You were looking for me?"

"Chen Anhe’s group has some new ’Daoist.’ This is what he looks like. Go and feel out this Five Elements Sect Daoist."

Tucker showed Leman the surveillance footage of Zhang Ji on his phone.

Hearing this, Leman immediately understood what he had to do.

"Understood," Leman said.

........

Chen Anhe, Zhou Hao, and the others acted quickly.

Shen Han had also prepared the disciples mentally.

They didn’t plan to stay a moment longer. They were leaving today for their new base.

"Is everything arranged?" Zhang Ji asked.

"No problems on my end. We didn’t have a formal contract, just an affiliation. A simple notice is all that’s required. He can’t find any legal faults with it," Chen Anhe said.

"I found a place," said Zhou Hao. "It’s on the outskirts of the city. It used to be a factory, then it was converted into a senior sports center. After the elderly in the area passed away, it fell into disuse for a long time. If we spend some time cleaning it up and buying some furniture, we can move in tonight."

"Good," Zhang Ji said with a nod.

Immediately after, Zhang Ji appeared before the disciples.

These were all Core Disciples of the Sect, and they were somewhat familiar with Zhang Ji.

After all, Zhang Ji had once won the Eastern Extreme Country’s martial arts association championship, which had caused quite a stir within the Sect.

Furthermore, any personnel changes in the Sect, especially regarding a True Disciple, would certainly be announced to all disciples.

They had seen Zhang Ji’s photo and heard his stories.

For many disciples, however, this was the first time they had seen him in person.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zhang Ji, a True Disciple of the Five Elements Sect and now its Daoist. Many of you may not be familiar with me, but that’s not important. In the world of martial arts, you can’t get by on face alone. What matters is strength." Zhang Ji continued, "And I happen to have that strength. I became a Grandmaster at sixteen and was the martial arts association champion. The times are changing, and the Five Elements Sect is facing a crisis unseen in centuries. In these turbulent times, only sufficient strength can secure our place in this world.

"I can’t make any other guarantees, but I dare say this: with me leading you, the voice of the Five Elements Sect will one day resound throughout the world again, louder than ever before!"

There was no need for too much motivational fluff.

A Grandmaster at sixteen, a martial arts association champion.

Putting those two facts on the table was more than enough.

In the world of martial arts, strength reigns supreme.

Zhang Ji had both the talent and the power. When he said he would lead them to the pinnacle, his words carried immense credibility.

Thunderous applause erupted from below the stage. Zhang Ji could even see many looks of adoration.

The admiration of the strong is etched deep into everyone’s genes.

To non-martial artists, they only knew that Zhang Ji became a Grandmaster at sixteen, meaning his talent was immense.

But only those truly in the world of martial arts understood what that truly represented.

He was a mountain so high, its peak could not be seen.

"It seems quite lively in here."

Suddenly, a voice cut in, forcefully inserting itself.

Despite the thunderous applause, Zhang Ji had already sensed the newcomer. He looked toward the source of the voice.

The man had short blond hair and was covered in overdeveloped blocks of muscle. At just over two meters tall, his burly frame was almost freakish.

This kind of muscle-bound giant was usually the product of drug abuse.

The man was exuding palpable malice, causing Zhang Ji to frown slightly.

"Leman, you’re not welcome here. Please leave," Chen Anhe said, stepping forward.

"I heard you’re planning to leave? Figures. A bitch is a bitch, can’t ever be tamed. The boss never should have let you into the club in the first place..." Leman sneered.

The moment Zhang Ji heard this, he instantly understood the man was here to cause trouble.

Chen Anhe was about to retaliate, but Zhang Ji held up a hand to stop her tirade. He said, "On account of the Valentine Club having helped us to some extent, you will apologize and slap yourself in the face. Then we’ll consider this matter over."

"So you’re that Daoist from the Five Elements Sect? You son of a bitch? You think you’re worthy of making me apologize?" Leman said.

Zhang Ji sighed softly.

’It seems this world really isn’t a place where you can get by with calm reasoning.’

Just as Chen Anhe was about to urge Zhang Ji to calm down, he moved.

He moved so fast that Chen Anhe couldn’t even see him clearly.

"WHOOSH~!"

"CRACK~!"

"BANG~!"

Leman’s body slammed into the wall, causing most of it to collapse. His chest was caved in, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth under the immense pressure. Both of his arms were bent at unnatural angles. He slid down the wall and slumped to the ground, his face contorted in agony, unable to move.

Zhang Ji dusted off the back of his hands and said, "Let’s leave it at that. I’ve forgiven you on Elder Chen’s behalf. Elder Chen, if you’re not satisfied, feel free to go up and give him another palm strike."

Chen Anhe was slightly stunned, then she shook her head. "Forget it. He’s just following orders."

Leman’s strength was considered upper-middle tier at the Valentine Club. Chen Anhe had been about to advise Zhang Ji not to be impulsive, but she never expected Leman to be defeated without even lasting a single exchange.

More importantly, Chen Anhe realized she hadn’t been able to see Zhang Ji’s movements clearly.

Not even able to see them... ’That means there’s a qualitative difference in our power levels!’

But how old was Zhang Ji?

’He’s only seventeen this year, right?’

Zhang Ji glanced at the security camera in the corner, a meaningful smile on his face. "Uncle-Master Shen Han, please trouble yourself to contact a doctor to come take him away."

"No problem," Shen Han said, his face flushed with excitement.

’I’ve disliked that blondie for a long time. Today was so satisfying.’

As Shen Han went to contact the club’s medical staff, the other disciples looked at Zhang Ji with even more fervent gazes.

In a way, Leman had helped Zhang Ji establish his authority in front of the Five Elements Sect disciples.

Soon, doctors from the club arrived and carried Leman away.

Zhang Ji had held back. Leman was a C-rank fighter, after all, and seemed to be from the [Solid Body Sect]. His life force wasn’t weak.

With current medical technology, if the club was willing to spend the money to treat him, he’d likely have a chance to recover to his peak condition after being laid up for a year or so.

It was a good thing this was a civilized society, and he also had to consider the small kindness the Valentine Club had shown them.

Otherwise, Zhang Ji might not have been able to hold back.

As for it being a crime if Leman died?

Don’t be ridiculous!

This was the capital of fighting!

The law here was incredibly lenient toward powerful fighters.

It was all too common for a couple of fighters to die in the ring.

Besides, Zhang Ji was a genuine B-rank expert, a "terrestrial immortal."

He might be playing their game within the rules for now, but that didn’t mean the rules could truly bind him.

He only followed the rules because they currently benefited him.

If he ever decided to step outside them, the laws here would be essentially useless against him.

....

「In the office.」

Tucker’s gaze met Zhang Ji’s. Even though he knew the other man couldn’t possibly see him through the camera, he couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

"These fighters from the Eastern Extreme Country... Savages! Barbarians!"

Tucker cursed a few times, but he didn’t dare make any more petty moves.

After all, he wasn’t even a professional fighter.

If he truly offended a fighter of Zhang Ji’s caliber, he felt he might never sleep soundly again.

-----------------

That afternoon, the group moved out of the Valentine Club and headed for the senior sports center on the outskirts.

Then came the cleaning and shopping.

The Five Elements Sect now only had a little over four hundred disciples left.

It was nothing compared to the tens of thousands of disciples at its peak, but the upside was that those who remained had all been through rigorous tests; they were elites, and they were trustworthy.

After arranging everything, Zhang Ji and Chen Anhe began to discuss how to make money.

The plan to sell medicine was temporarily a dead end.

Besides, getting the necessary facilities and starting production would take a month or two.

Opening up sales channels and turning a real profit would take anywhere from three to five months, or even more than half a year.

To make money right now, their only options were to recruit disciples and participate in competitions.

Or rather, participating in competitions was their *only* option.

Only by making a name for themselves would people be willing to travel so far to learn their fighting techniques.

Zhang Ji set his sights on the Spring Tournament hosted by the World Fighters Association.

If they won the championship, the prestige would be immense.

It would immediately allow the Five Elements Gate Fighting Club to make a name for itself in this capital of fighting.

"The amateur and professional divisions are manageable, but the problem is the Transcendent division. There’s only you and me, and we’re short one Grandmaster," Chen Anhe said.

"Let’s post a recruitment notice first," Zhang Ji said.

"A Transcendent Level fighter would require an annual salary of at least thirty million to start, not to mention a huge transfer fee. We don’t have the money right now, and given the Five Elements Sect’s current situation..." Chen Anhe said hesitantly.

"We’ll have to sell them on the future, talk about our ideals... Also, Elder Chen, if you know any unaffiliated Grandmasters, we can pay them a personal visit," Zhang Ji said.

"Alright," Chen Anhe said.

Watching Chen Anhe leave to handle the matter, Zhang Ji sighed softly.

’You don’t realize how difficult it is until you’re in this position.’

’Troubles really are coming from all sides.’

’This is why you still need to have enough strength.’

’If I truly become a Saint King, I won’t have to play by their worldly rules anymore. I’ll be able to set my own rules and act as I please.’

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