Chapter 741: Stage Battle

Chapter 741: Battle on the Stage

Audience Expectation Value 3Current Expectation Value: 23

As two lines of characters floated up, the previously noisy audience seating area returned to calm. Pairs of mocking, crimson eyes watched the stage, seemingly eager to see what would happen next.

On the stage, the two "protagonists" were gradually approaching each other.

Because Chen Ling had bypassed the fourth wall and forcefully descended onto the stage, the "Chen Ling" still immersed in the performance remained oblivious, his large red opera robe still dancing under the spotlight...

"I'm free... I'm finally free!"

"I told you, I will eventually have everything! I will trample everyone! Everyone underfoot!!"

"I can shatter any disaster territory or human realm, I can cover the sky with one hand! If I want to, I can do anything in this world... I am the best protagonist on this stage!"

"Hahahahahahaha..."

"While that old bastard is still in the Forbidden Sea, why not... go and cleanse the Ancient Treasury of the Opera Way first? Then systematically destroy all remaining realms, making them all submit to me!"

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

"Chen Ling's" mocking and unrestrained laughter echoed on the stage.

Meanwhile, Chen Ling, with half his body still shrouded in shadow, slowly approached him, his eyes cold as ice.

His fists gradually clenched!

Whoosh—!!

Under the blinding spotlight, an iron fist whistled through the air, striking the laughing "Chen Ling" squarely in the face with immense force!

Bang!!

The large red opera robe instantly flew backward!

At the same time,

The "figure" at the edge of the Forbidden Sea, having just taken a step, preparing to teleport away again, was slammed into the ground as if it had been punched hard!

The large red paper umbrella flew out of its hand, tumbling onto the sand and stone nearby...

In the shattered gravel pit, the "figure's" face was hideously contorted. Its fists also clenched abruptly, and a world-destroying aura, like a blazing pillar of fire, pulverized all surrounding matter!

A raging sea surge, like thunder, rolled in from the distance.

On the stage.

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

After one punch, a large section of his eye socket was caved in, making him look like a deformed and ugly monster. Wisps of black blood flowed from the wound, dripping onto the old floor.

"No... This is impossible!!" He stared at the dazzling, blinding figure under the spotlight, his eyes filled with disbelief,

"How could you possibly pass through the fourth wall... You're clearly just an audience member!! I'm still on the stage, how could you cross that wall!!!"

Chen Ling did not reply. He silently walked in front of "Chen Ling," the spotlight overhead casting his shadow over the large red opera robe...

Although "Chen Ling" didn't know how this guy got onto the stage, he would never passively take a beating. He gritted his teeth, quickly stood up from the floor, and similarly punched Chen Ling in the face!

On this stage, neither of them could use any skills or possess any ranks; even spiritual power ceased to exist...

Here, actors were just actors, and audience members were just audience members.

A whistling punch brushed past Chen Ling's face. He agilely stepped back half a pace, calmly evading the blow, then put power into his waist, dropped his shoulder and elbow, and a powerful hook punch lightning-fast embedded itself in "Chen Ling's" abdomen!

Bang—!!

The large red opera robe grunted, immediately stumbled back several steps, and curled up against the stage wall, black blood continuously oozing from the corner of his mouth...

His face was as pale as paper.

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

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

Chen Ling's ability to gain the favor of the Military God Way proved his unparalleled talent in combat. Coupled with his previous life-or-death battles and half a year of sparring with his Senior Brother, his combat ability was more than enough to overwhelm "Chen Ling"!

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

"Damn it!!!"

After being repeatedly struck twice by Chen Ling, "Chen Ling's" eyes were bloodshot.

He roared, then charged out again, enduring the pain, his continuous attacks sweeping towards Chen Ling's face, but all were calmly dodged by the latter...

As an opening inadvertently appeared, Chen Ling retaliated with an elbow strike to his chin, making him briefly airborne, then locked his hand around his neck and violently slammed him onto the ground!

Thud—!!

A dull thud 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 finally spoke his first words since stepping onto the stage:

"You, want to cleanse the Ancient Treasury of the Opera Way?"

Without waiting for "Chen Ling" to reply, his right fist rose high again, swinging towards "Chen Ling's" face with a whoosh!

Bang—!

Black blood splattered across the stage.

"You, want to replace me?"

Bang—!

After two consecutive punches, "Chen Ling's" face was completely twisted and deformed, his original skin gradually fading away, revealing a blurred, shadowy face beneath...

At this point, "Chen Ling" also realized he was no match for his opponent. His crimson eyes were filled with unwillingness and rage!

But under Chen Ling's iron fist, it was meaningless.

As the third heavy punch landed, "Chen Ling" was close to completely breaking apart, and the next sentence that echoed in his ears directly shattered his psychological defense:

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

"Chen Ling" froze. As if remembering something, his blurred, blood-red eyes glanced around...

Below the stage, pairs of mocking and derisive audience eyes watched the battle unfolding under the spotlight. And the vast majority of the audience looked at him with a hint of boredom and disappointment.

Two lines of characters simultaneously floated up from the stage:

Audience Expectation Value 1Audience Expectation Value 1Current Expectation Value: 24

The '1' rating was for "Chen Ling" in the large red opera robe; the other '1' rating was for Chen Ling, who was riding on top of him.

The audience had already expressed their opinions on the two "protagonists"... And this new protagonist in the large red opera robe was clearly inferior to the original Director Chen.

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

"Why... Why?!!"

"We're both on this stage, both performing with all our might!! Why do people favor you more! That damn loser, that old man pretending to be young, and these audience members...

Why can you be the Chen Ling everyone expects and wants!! Why do I have to live in your shadow?!"