Chapter 741: Battle of the Stage

[Audience Expectation +3]

[Current Expectation: 23%]

As the two lines of text floated up, the previously noisy audience seating returned to calm. Pairs of mocking, scarlet eyes watched the stage, seemingly looking forward to what would happen next.

On the stage, the two "protagonists" were gradually drawing closer.

Because Chen Ling had bypassed the Fourth Wall and forcibly performed a god-descension onto the stage, "Chen Ling," who was still immersed in the performance, was completely unaware of this. His large red opera robe continued to dance under the spotlight...

"Free... I am finally free!"

"I said it, I will eventually possess everything! I will trample everyone! Everyone under my feet!!"

"I can crush any calamity territory or human domain; I can cover the sky with one hand! As long as I want to, I can do anything in this world... I am the best protagonist for this stage!"

"Hahahahahaha..."

"While that old thing is still in the Forbidden Sea, why not... go bathe the Ancient Treasury of the Opera Path in blood first? Then destroy the remaining domains one by one, and make them all submit to me!"

"Opera God Path, I will make you pay the price!"

"Chen Ling's" mocking, unbridled laughter echoed on the stage.

Meanwhile, Chen Ling, whose half-body was still shrouded in shadow, walked slowly toward him, his eyes as cold as frost.

His fists gradually clenched!

WHOOSH—!!

Under the blinding spotlight, an iron fist whistled through the air, smashing into the face of the laughing "Chen Ling" with the force of a thousand tons!

BANG!!

The large red opera robe was sent flying backward instantly!

……

At the same time,

The "human" shadow at the edge of the Forbidden Sea, having just taken a step to teleport away again, was smashed into the earth as if hit by a heavy punch!

The large red paper umbrella flew out of his hand, tumbling onto the gravel nearby...

In the shattered gravel crater, the "human" shadow’s face was incomparably hideous. Its fists also clenched suddenly, and a world-destroying aura, like a raging pillar of fire, crushed everything around it into fragments!

The raging sea surged like thunder, rolling in from the distance.

……

The Stage.

"Chen Ling," draped in the large red opera robe, struggled to crawl up from the floor...

Under that one punch, the corner of his eye had been caved in, making him look like a deformed and ugly monster. Wisps of black blood flowed from the wound, dripping onto the old floorboards.

"No... this is impossible!!" He stared at the dazzling, eye-piercing figure under the spotlight, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"How could you possibly pass through the Fourth Wall... You are clearly just an audience member!! I am still on the stage, how could you possibly pass through that wall!!!"

Chen Ling did not answer. He walked silently in front of "Chen Ling." The spotlight shone from above, casting his shadow over the large red opera robe...

Although "Chen Ling" didn't know how this guy got up here, he couldn't just stand there and take a beating. He gritted his teeth, quickly stood up from the floor, and threw a punch at Chen Ling’s face as well!

On this stage, neither of them could use any skills, nor did they have any ranks, and even their spiritual power was non-existent...

Here, actors are just actors, and the audience is just the audience.

The whistling wind of the punch brushed past Chen Ling’s face. He agilely stepped back half a step, calmly dodging the blow. Then, using force from his waist, dropping his shoulders and elbows, he drove a powerful uppercut into "Chen Ling's" abdomen like lightning!

BANG—!!

The large red opera robe let out a muffled grunt, immediately stumbling back several steps, curling up against the wall at the edge of the stage, black blood seeping from the corners of his mouth...

His face was as pale as paper.

Chen Ling, like an expressionless demon, walked toward him calmly.

On the stage, there was indeed no spiritual power or skills, but there was one thing that would not change regardless of the occasion... and that was talent.

Chen Ling’s ability to attract the favor of the Soldier God Path proved that he had unparalleled talent in combat. Coupled with his previous life-and-death battles and the six months of sparring with his senior brother, his combat ability was enough to crush "Chen Ling"!

This stage had become a ring between two "protagonists"... and Chen Ling was the king of this ring.

"Damn it!!!"

Having been painfully struck twice by Chen Ling, "Chen Ling's" eyes were already bloodshot.

He roared and charged out again, enduring the pain. A series of attacks swept toward Chen Ling’s face, but all were calmly dodged by the latter...

As a flaw was inadvertently revealed, Chen Ling countered with an elbow strike to his chin, lifting him off his feet briefly, then locked his hand around his neck and slammed him heavily to the ground!

THUD—!!

A dull, heavy sound echoed on the stage.

Under the brilliant spotlight, Chen Ling lifted "Chen Ling" by the collar of his opera robe with one hand, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he finally spoke his first words since stepping onto the stage:

"Just by you, you want to bathe the Ancient Treasury of the Opera Path in blood?"

Before "Chen Ling" could answer, his right fist was raised high again, whistling as it swung toward "Chen Ling's" face!

BANG—!

Black blood splattered on the stage.

"Just by you, you want to replace me?"

BANG—!

With two consecutive punches, "Chen Ling's" face was completely twisted and deformed. The original skin gradually faded away, revealing the blurry black shadow face beneath...

At this moment, "Chen Ling" also realized that he was no match for his opponent at all, his scarlet eyes filled with unwillingness and anger!

But this was meaningless under Chen Ling’s iron fists.

As the third heavy punch landed, "Chen Ling" was on the verge of complete collapse, and the next sentence that echoed in his ears shattered his psychological defenses entirely:

"Do you want to see... who is the real protagonist of this stage now?"

"Chen Ling" was stunned. As if remembering something, his blurry, blood-colored eyes looked around...

Under the stage, pairs of mocking and derisive audience eyes were watching this battle under the spotlight. And in the gaze of the vast majority of the audience, there was a hint of boredom and disappointment.

Two lines of text floated up from the stage simultaneously:

[Audience Expectation -1]

[Audience Expectation +1]

[Current Expectation: 24%]

The "-1" prompt came from "Chen Ling" in the large red opera robe; while the "+1" prompt came from Chen Ling, who was mounted on top of him.

The audience had already expressed their opinion on the two "protagonists"... and this new protagonist in the large red opera robe was clearly not as good as the original Director Chen.

"Chen Ling," wearing the large red opera robe, lay on the old floorboards, staring blankly at this scene. A long-suppressed fire erupted from his chest, and he roared at Chen Ling:

"Why... why on earth?!!"

"Standing on the same stage, both performing with all our might!! Why does everyone recognize you more! That damn unlucky guy, that old man pretending to be young, and these audience members...

Why is it that you get to be the crowd-pleasing Chen Ling!! Why must I only live in your shadow?!"