Thunderclap Eight Trigrams—why is it so overwhelmingly strong?
Its greatest strength lies in speed.
With lightning wrapped around the attack, the speed of this technique and all of its derived variants skyrockets by several tiers instantly.
Even if you possess Observation Haki…
Even if you foresee the incoming strike…
Your body may not be fast enough to respond in time.
In truth, Zhao Xuan's Thunderclap Eight Trigrams is not the complete version.
It is merely a reduced variant.
The true version requires Armament Haki, lightning, and even Conqueror's Haki to be infused into the strike.
But Zhao Xuan has no way to achieve that.
His Conqueror's Haki has not fully awakened—it hovers awkwardly between half-awakened and unawakened.
And even if it were awakened, using the complete Thunderclap Eight Trigrams requires absolute mastery of Conqueror's Haki—precise control, refined will, and the ability to infuse it into attacks.
Conqueror's Haki, in theory, is divided into three tiers:
Beginner — No precise control.
Intermediate — Full control of potency, range, targets, and intensity through one's will.
Advanced — Able to alter weather and infuse Conqueror's Haki into physical strikes.
…
Back to the fight.
"Boom—Boom—Boom!"
Thunder roared across the arena.
And in the next moment—
Zhao Xuan's lightning-infused Rankyaku crashed squarely into the black-skinned fighter's chest.
Terrifying speed.
Terrifying force.
"Crack-crack-crack!!"
Bones shattered in chorus.
His ribs snapped one after another, and the fragments—propelled by the explosive impact—were thrust inward like jagged blades, stabbing directly into the heart and vital organs.
In the span of a single heartbeat—
His heart was punctured.
"Pfft!!"
A spray of blood.
But it wasn't over.
The shockwave continued surging through him, grinding the already punctured heart into pulp.
"BOOM!!"
The man's body shot backward like a broken kite.
"BOOM!"
He crashed heavily into the ground dozens of meters away.
"Aaah… aaah… aa—!"
He writhed in agony, curled up like a dying insect.
But the movement rapidly weakened… rapidly faded…
Until finally—
He lay still, breath extinguished.
He was dead.
"Good!"
"Well done!"
"Hahaha!"
The entire Jiuzhou audience erupted in cheers.
Jiuzhou had always been a land of courtesy.
They welcome goodwill.
But for those who bring hostility?
Jiuzhou never shows mercy.
There is an old saying:
"Those who offend Jiuzhou—no matter how far—must be punished."
In contrast, the foreign delegation's viewing area was shrouded in cold darkness.
Whether from San A Country, the East Sea Island Nation, the Eagle Country, or the Sun-Does-Not-Set Empire…
Every face was twisted with hatred.
Their eyes fixated on Zhao Xuan—
Filled with murderous intent.
Just then—
"I'm not done yet! Judge, I want to challenge again!"
Zhao Xuan's voice rang out.
Cheers erupted once more.
He turned his gaze toward the cluster of foreign candidates, full of disdain and provocation.
"This time, I challenge number 14."
"Well done!"
"What a kid!"
"Good, Zhao Xuan!"
"Ha! Exactly what they deserve!"
The Jiuzhou spectators roared with laughter.
Who here wasn't sharp enough to see Zhao Xuan's real intention?
His attitude was crystal clear—
He planned to wipe all sixteen foreign candidates off the map.
"Arrogant…"
"He won't be arrogant for long. Once he challenges Sasaki, he's dead! Sasaki won't kill him quickly—I'll make sure he dies slowly, one slice at a time!"
Foreign powerhouses whispered coldly among themselves.
On the platform, the candidate Zhao Xuan had called out—a girl from San A Country—rose slowly.
Her skin was dark, a red dot marked on her forehead, and her head wrapped with layers of cloth.
Every step she took toward the stage radiated fear.
She knew exactly what happened to the others.
She knew she wasn't strong enough.
And she was terrified.
Before long, she stood trembling on the platform.
Tweet!
The whistle blew.
Thunder rumbled.
And Zhao Xuan's Thunderclap Eight Trigrams: Iron Fist appeared before her in an instant.
"CRACK!!"
One punch.
Her chest collapsed inward.
Every rib snapped.
Her heart ruptured.
"I—I su—"
She tried to surrender.
But she spoke too late.
Her body was already airborne—
Already crashing tens of meters away—
Already convulsing—
Already dead.
The fifth foreigner—dead.
Zhao Xuan didn't stop.
He turned instantly, eyes cold, pointing toward the foreign group again.
"Judge, next I challenge number 11."
A deep-skinned brute shot to his feet.
He stomped onto the platform, glaring with fury.
"You've angered me, Jiuzhou dog! I'll tear you apa—"
Tweet!
The match began.
The man did not charge—
He activated his Devil Fruit.
In a flash—
Dazzling crystal armor coated his body from head to toe.
Diamond Fruit.
No—Shining Crystal Fruit.
A pure defense-type ability.
But—
Before the thought fully formed—
"BOOM!!"
Zhao Xuan's lightning-wreathed fist slammed into his chest.
"Crackle-crackle-crackle!!"
Crystals shattered violently—
But instantly regrew, forming wave after wave of crystalline armor that absorbed the blow.
Finally—
"BOOM!!"
He was sent flying backward.
But he didn't die.
He staggered up, pale-faced, chugged down a bag of energy fluid.
His breathing steadied.
Zhao Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"A crystal-type fruit user? Impressive defense. You even blocked my full strike. But tell me—who gave you the courage to say you'd tear me apart? You think I can't maintain this output?"
Then he stepped forward.
And vanished.
He reappeared before the man—fist raised.
A barrage began.
One punch.
Another.
Another.
A relentless storm.
Crystals shattered—
Regrew—
Shattered again.
But Zhao Xuan was tireless.
His body was too monstrous.
His stamina too overwhelming.
Even his passive recovery could outpace his expenditure.
Punch after punch—
Dozens within seconds—
Until the crystal user's confidence collapsed.
His aura faltered.
Panic overtook him.
Zhao Xuan sensed it instantly.
He struck with both fists.
Left.
Right.
A devastating double blow.
"CRACK!!"
Both diamond layers shattered.
His next strike crushed ribs—
Shattered the heart—
And the remaining force devastated the ground in a ten-meter radius.
The man died instantly.
The sixth foreigner.
And almost at once—
"YOU BASTARD!!!!"
A foreign high-level powerhouse from the stands erupted in fury.
He looked almost identical to the dead candidate—
Likely a relative.
His grief and rage were explosive.
He nearly leapt down to kill Zhao Xuan—but was restrained just in time.
Zhao Xuan didn't even look at him.
Instead, he raised his head again.
"Judge, I want to continue my challenge. This time, I challenge number 10."
The East Sea Island Nation's sword-wielding candidate—
The one who had sliced off a Jiuzhou student's arm earlier—
Stood up.
He walked to the ring.
But before the judge could even blow the whistle—
"I surrender!"
The entire stadium froze—
And then—
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
"Too satisfying!"
"The arrogant one now tucks his tail between his legs!"
"Didn't he mock Jiuzhou earlier? Why is he scared now?"
"Typical—only brave against the weak."
Mockery filled the arena.
But then—
Tweet!
The whistle blew.
And Zhao Xuan instantly appeared before him—
"BOOM!!"
A single punch.
His jaw shattered—blown clean off.
Zhao Xuan could've killed him instantly.
But that would've been far too merciful.
The sword-wielder didn't even finish screaming before Zhao Xuan grabbed his left arm—
"CRACK!!"
Tore it off.
Then the right arm—
"CRACK!!"
Then both legs—
"CRACK!! CRACK!!"
All shattered.
A foreign powerhouse charged in rage, but the judge intercepted him with Armament Haki.
And before they could react—
Zhao Xuan slammed one more fist into the sword-wielder's chest—not enough to kill, just enough to break ribs and send him flying.
He landed dozens of meters away, twitching… then fainted.
The crowd fell silent.
Then erupted.
The foreign delegation boiled with fury.
The judge smiled coldly—
"Challenge successful. Zhao Xuan, will you rest or challenge again?"
Zhao Xuan smiled lightly.
"Perhaps those seven foreigners were too weak. I'm not even tired. I'll continue. I challenge number 9."
Rage exploded from the foreign side.
Soon—
The number 9 candidate stepped onto the stage—
A red-haired, blue-eyed foreigner.
His face pale with fear.
Tweet!
The match began.
Zhao Xuan appeared before him instantly—
"BOOM!!"
"I surrender!!!!"
Too late.
"CRACK!!"
The punch caved in his chest.
He flew out, convulsed twice—
Dead.
The eighth foreigner.
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