After the violent "training session" with Quynh Nhu, Lam Minh had two more days of rest before the second round of the tournament. He spent most of his time consolidating his Mid-stage Qi Refining realm and planning his next performance.
Tran Hung Dao High School's opponent in this round was Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, a school famous for its outstanding academic achievements, but their combat team was no slouch either. They were known for their disciplined fighting style and well-rehearsed tactics.
To Quyen, in her role as analyst, had been working tirelessly. She handed Lam Minh a thick file.
"This is all the information on the Tran Dai Nghia team," she said, pointing to a name circled in red. "Their most formidable opponent is Captain Bui Trong Dat, nicknamed 'The Rhino.' He doesn't have any special skills, but his physique is incredibly 'tanky.' His ability to take a hit is almost the best in the tournament, and his strength is also formidable. His fighting style is very simple: charge in, grab, and use strength to wrestle the opponent down."
Lam Minh flipped through the documents. "A pure strength opponent, huh? Interesting."
"How do you plan to deal with him?" To Quyen asked worriedly. "A head-on confrontation with him would be a terrible choice."
Lam Minh smiled mysteriously. "Don't worry, I have my ways."
Match day. Thong Nhat Stadium was packed again. After their "lucky" victory in the first round, the Tran Hung Dao team had gained much more attention. Many people came to the stadium just to see if "Lady Luck" would continue to smile upon them.
In the first match, Hoang Long faced a member of the Tran Dai Nghia team. Despite his best efforts, against the opponent's overly disciplined and tight style, he was once again defeated.
In the second match, Le Van Hung took the stage. With the flexibility of Vovinam, he brilliantly secured a victory, tying the score at 1-1. However, he was also exhausted and could not continue fighting.
The burden once again fell on Lam Minh's shoulders. He would have to face the two remaining members of the opposing team, including "The Rhino" Bui Trong Dat.
Lam Minh stepped onto the stage, still wearing a "tense" and "fearful" expression. His first opponent was a petite girl who specialized in Jujitsu.
This time, Lam Minh's performance was even more sophisticated. He didn't just run and dodge. He let his opponent get close, applying locks and chokes. Every time he was locked, he would scream and yell, his face contorted in pain, looking like he was on the verge of death.
The audience had a good laugh.
"Haha, this captain is hilarious!"
"Getting put in a hold by a girl and he's squealing like a pig being slaughtered!"
Quynh Nhu, sitting in the surveillance area, clutched her stomach and roared with laughter. "Oh my god, this guy... is he trying to become a comedian?"
But only true experts could see the extraordinariness in it. Every time he was locked, seemingly with no escape, Lam Minh would always manage to "accidentally" twist his body in a strange way to get out at the last second, even causing his opponent to dislocate her wrist.
After nearly ten minutes of "struggling," the Jujitsu girl was completely exhausted and flustered, unable to finish her opponent. Taking advantage of her opening, Lam Minh "tripped" again, his whole body falling forward. His hands "flailed" in panic, and "coincidentally" clapped both sides of the girl's temples.
The girl's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
[Victory achieved through master-level acting skills. The opponent was completely spun around. Reward: 400 Immortality Points.]
Lam Minh once again "panted for breath," feigning exhaustion. He had won, but in everyone's eyes, it was a "humiliating" and "comical" victory.
Finally, the last opponent appeared. "The Rhino" Bui Trong Dat.
He was nearly 1.9 meters tall, weighed over 100 kg, and his muscles rippled like boulders. He made the entire stage tremble as he stepped up.
"Your little comedy show ends here, kid," Bui Trong Dat growled, his voice deep and rumbling.
Lam Minh looked at his opponent and swallowed with "difficulty."
The match began. Bui Trong Dat didn't waste time with fancy moves; he charged straight at Lam Minh like a bulldozer.
Lam Minh didn't dare let himself be caught. He started his familiar routine of running around the stage. But this time, his opponent was too big, and his attack range was larger. His dodges became increasingly difficult.
"Nowhere to run!" Bui Trong Dat roared.
After a few minutes of cat and mouse, he finally grabbed Lam Minh's ankle.
"Gotcha!" Bui Trong Dat laughed triumphantly. He lifted Lam Minh into the air, spun him around a few times, and then threw him hard into the corner of the ring.
CRASH!
Lam Minh felt as if his entire body had shattered.
At home, Mrs. Mai let out a terrified scream. Mr. Lam Dao also shot to his feet, his face pale.
"It's over!" the TV commentator shouted. "There's no luck that can save him from that impact!"
Lam Minh lay motionless in the corner, looking as if he had been knocked out. Bui Trong Dat approached, intending to deliver a finishing blow.
The referee began to count. "1... 2... 3..."
Just as the referee reached 9, Lam Minh suddenly trembled and slowly pushed himself up. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He staggered to his feet, his eyes looking dazed, but they shone with a frighteningly determined light.
"He... he got up!" The entire stadium was stunned.
Bui Trong Dat was also surprised. "Not a bad chin. But that's as far as you go!"
He charged again.
This time, Lam Minh didn't dodge. He stood still, his arms hanging limp at his sides. Just as Bui Trong Dat charged, he whispered softly, "Tứ lạng... bō qiān jīn." (Four ounces... deflect a thousand pounds.)
He leaned his body, letting Bui Trong 's charge graze past him. At the same time, he placed a hand on his opponent's back, using a tiny, exquisitely controlled stream of qi to redirect Bui Trong Dat's own momentum.
An unbelievable scene unfolded.
Bui Trong Dat, with his colossal body, suddenly lost his balance and rammed his head straight into the steel post in the corner of the ring.
BOONG!
A horrific sound of impact echoed. Everyone could clearly hear the sound of his forehead bone hitting the metal. "The Rhino" Bui Trong Dat's eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed to the floor like a felled tree. Out cold.
Lam Minh, after executing that move, also "exhaustedly" collapsed to the floor.
Thong Nhat Stadium. Once again, dead silent.
Everyone stared at the ring, trying to process what had just happened. A giant just ran headfirst into a steel post and knocked himself out? What in the world was going on?
[Successfully executed the "Borrowing Strength to Strike" skill while in a "feigning death" state. Caused shock and awe throughout the audience. The performance has reached the level of a work of art. Reward: 1500 Immortality Points.]
Lying on the floor, Lam Minh let out an almost imperceptible smile.
Another victory. Farming points like this... is quite relaxing.