As if terrified that Chen Chuan would refuse, Clavell pulled out a gleaming silver metal card before Chen Chuan could even speak.
"This is a platinum card from Federation Precision Healthcare."
Addressing Chen Chuan, he said, "Our Weiya Continent's medical capabilities are exceptionally prominent. Anyone holding this card—regardless of who you are, even if you are an enemy of the Federation—need only be delivered to a nearby Federation Precision Healthcare station, and they will save your life immediately with the finest medical services available.
"Regardless of cost.
"I propose we make another bet. If I win..." He paused. "Mr. Chen, you just have to return the necklace I just lost to you. And if I lose..." He gestured with the card in his hand. "...this card is yours."
Beside them, Castina spoke up: "Mr. Chen, judged purely by raw value, this card admittedly cannot compare to a grade 3 relic. Under specific circumstances, however, it is even more useful than one.
"As long as you are within Federation borders and use this card anywhere Federation Precision Healthcare operates, not only will the patient receive meticulous, top-tier medical care, but they will also fall under Federation Precision Healthcare's protection throughout their treatment.
"Cards like this are typically granted only to the upper echelons of the Federation and the leadership of our Federation Stars Academy and the Dome Sword Academy. Lost cards are not replaced, and the number issued decreases with each passing year. This year, across the entire Federation and its external jurisdictions combined, only twelve people hold one."
Chen Chuan checked his boundary credential and found that what she said was true. In fact, this was not just medical care; in a sense, it was a short-term certificate of sanctuary issued by a powerful conglomerate within the Federation.
Its value was indeed substantial.
Moreover, the card was transferable and could be held by anyone. If he won it, even if he did not need it himself, he could gift it to someone who did. He said, "Mr. Clavell, are you looking to spar with me?"
Clavell shook his head vigorously. He had just witnessed the fight between Chen Chuan and Cui Xuanhui, and harbored no delusions that he could win. Straightening his expression, he said, "Let us proceed as before: we will each field a student.
"The previous two students were both in the Third Limit, but such students are rare, and the vast majority have not reached that threshold. Therefore, I believe we should let First Limit or Second Limit students take the stage next.
"In my view, only their contest can truly test and reflect the real instructional caliber and average standard of our two academies."
He had his own calculations. Great Shun likely placed high importance on the Third Limit students and instructors in this delegation, sending nothing but elites, but that might not be true for students of lower limits. After all, even if lower-limit students lost, it would not damage their prestige, and Great Shun sometimes deliberately held back out of diplomatic politeness to save the host's face. Thus, he was willing to take a chance on this tier.
Chen Chuan did not mind in the slightest; a match was a match. He glanced behind him, his gaze ultimately landing on Wei Dong.
"Wei Dong, how about you take this round?"
At this, Wei Dong immediately bumped his fists together, asking eagerly, "Is it my turn?"
Clavell quickly assessed Wei Dong, then selected a student of his own. Soon, a Federation student of roughly the same build stepped forward.
In this regard, it was reasonably fair. In the earlier limits, setting aside individuals of extraordinary talent, height and weight still conferred a tangible advantage in arena combat.
Wei Dong did not care who his opponent was; he only knew he was about to fight, so he bounded onto the combat ground in a single leap.
The opposing Federation student appeared composed. Learning from the previous match, Clavell seemed to have picked someone with a steadier mindset.
The two stepped forward and bumped fists in a friendly gesture.
From that single touch, the Federation student instantly made his judgment:
*Is this... iron body conditioning?*
Wei Dong's physique was deceptive. He was not particularly burly or towering, but looked remarkably agile instead—the kind of fighter who typically specialized in freehand striking, seizing techniques, or weapons.
He had not expected iron body conditioning.
This was exceedingly rare. Furthermore, when fighting an iron body practitioner, unless you could land an instant kill, you had to be prepared for an exhausting battle of attrition.
The Federation student immediately stepped back a few paces, raised a hand, and requested the use of weapons. Requesting weapons prior to the formal start of a duel did not violate the rules.
Clavell explained, "Our student specializes in armed combat and therefore needs weapons to fight. Of course, if your student is not versed in weapons, you are free to decline, and they can contest barehanded."
Chen Chuan glanced at Wei Dong, and an accompanying instructor asked on his behalf, "Student Wei, do you need to use a weapon?"
Wei Dong thought for a moment, then walked off to the side, seemingly asking for something.
Seeing this, Clavell gestured to his side. The Federation student accepted a shield and a pick hammer before stepping forward again.
This was a wise choice. Against an iron body adept, a shield paired with a heavy weapon was the best combination—one hand for defense, the other for crushing blows.
When Wei Dong returned, he carried a long lasso in his hands.
Seeing this, the Federation student became extremely cautious. A weapon like that, if wielded skillfully, could end the fight in an instant.
He held his shield cautiously before him, peering through its viewing slits at the figure opposite him while listening closely to his opponent's breathing.
Wei Dong twirled the lasso twice and whipped it straight toward his opponent. The Federation student hastily dodged aside; if he were snagged, he would be completely at the other's mercy.
Yet right after throwing the lasso, Wei Dong made an unexpected move: he charged forward violently, seemingly about to launch a flying kick. This prompted his opponent to angle the shield slightly higher. At that exact moment, Wei Dong dropped into a low slide across the ground, legs scything out in a sliding tackle.
Against such an attack, a Federation student would usually just slam the shield downward to crush the opponent's legs. But against an iron body practitioner, that approach was unreliable.
As for striking with the hammer, he considered that even if he struck, he would still be hit, and who would suffer more was anyone's guess. In the end, his choice was to execute a short hop, planning to crush down upon his opponent with the shield from above.
Yet the moment he leaped, Wei Dong's legs wrapped around his with astonishing speed, locking his legs tight. Wei Dong then dragged him downward with full force, slamming him violently onto the ground with a resounding crash. Wei Dong rolled on top of him and raised a fist. The Federation student quickly hoisted his shield, trying to shove him off.
Wei Dong squeezed his legs tight, and the cracking sound of fracturing bone immediately came from the Federation student's legs. The student's face abruptly paled.
The spectators below recognized the problem at once: this was an inferiority in mutated fascia, skeletal durability, and muscular strength.
Chen Chuan was not surprised in the least. Ever since Wei Dong had begun training in his practice hall, he had eaten ingredients from the Melded Lands practically every day. Even though their bodies had limited absorption and could only take in small amounts each time, having them day in and day out made all the difference.
Even if this Federation student was an elite, he could at best supplement his diet with high-grade nutrition paste; he could never afford the luxury of dining daily on ingredients from the Melded Lands.
Furthermore, after eating, Wei Dong had unlimited simulation resources to train and spar against. On that front, he lagged behind Federation students in no way—his training hours likely far surpassed theirs. Combined with his iron body conditioning, the sheer toughness of his bones and muscles was beyond question.
The Federation student was remarkably gritty. Even with his legs crippled like this, he remained calm and kept his guard raised above. He did not believe he was finished; he still held the hammer, and landing a single strike on a vital spot could turn the tables.
Wei Dong pressed his weight onto the shield, seized its edge, and violently wrenched it aside. Being on top, he generated force far more smoothly and with explosive power. Weakened by pain, the Federation student failed to hold firm, and the shield was ripped away.
Stripped of his frontal defense, the Federation student threw caution to the wind. Twisting his waist heedless of his injuries, he channeled all his strength and brought the hammer down hard against Wei Dong's head. Entangled as they were, missing was virtually impossible. The strike landed squarely on the skull, the sharp crack ringing throughout the arena.
The blow was delivered with such immense force that the hammer's shaft bent. Yet Wei Dong merely listed slightly to the side, shook his head, and immediately regained his senses. At the same time, his backhand seized the opponent's wrist while his other hand grabbed the arm trying to shield the face. Then, using his bleeding forehead, he slammed a headbutt straight into him.
*Bang!* The impact was scarcely lighter than the hammer strike. The flesh of the Federation student's forehead split open, exposing an off-white layer of implanted bone. It turned out he had undergone implant modifications, which kept him from blacking out immediately from the collision.
Wei Dong released his legs, smoothly mounted him, and began raining punches down on his face. The Federation student threw up his arms to block, but Wei Dong shoved them aside and drove straight into his features.
In this sort of close-quarters struggle, seizing jin or grappling jin might have ended the fight in a single move. Without either, it came down purely to endurance and durability.
Knowing his position was compromised and that he could not mount a defense, the Federation student turned ferocious as well. Giving up on blocking the fists pummeling his face, he raised the pick hammer and smashed it repeatedly into Wei Dong's head. The latter did not even attempt to dodge, relentless in his assault on the student's face.
Fist for hammer, hammer for fist, it became a contest of sheer fortitude. Dull thuds echoed without pause across the arena. Even though this was only a lower-limit battle, the savage brutality between the two sent shivers through many watching students.
After absorbing dozens of consecutive punches, the Federation student's face was battered flat, and fluid from the implant tissues splattered outward. Finally, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
Wei Dong swayed as he stood up. Blood trickled from his nose, and several spots on his skull were visibly dented.
The students and instructors below could see that toward the end, he could simply have picked up the lasso and strangled his opponent's neck to incapacitate him quickly. Yet he had chosen to trade blows head-on.
The man was ruthless.
A scattering of applause broke out below, soon joined by a swelling roar of clapping. This direct, unadulterated violence suited their tastes perfectly.
Clavell's face looked even worse now. His mouth twitched, and he said helplessly, "I have..."
Midway through his words, a rapid series of cracking pops erupted from the joints all over Wei Dong's body. The dented portions of his skull pushed back into shape, and a vibrant, life-filled sheen flowed faintly across the surface of his skin.
...
...
Chapter 1107