Chapter 340: Better to Get Famous While You're Young
The message was clear. John's challenge wasn't born out of hatred—but ambition.
To get famous, he had to climb.
And the best way to climb was to stand on the shoulders of a giant like Bruce.
Bruce scoffed, but there was no malice in it. "No need for that. But you're interesting. I'll remember you, John."
With those parting words, Bruce turned and left the fighting arena, his sword in hand.
John remained behind, relaxed and composed.
As Bruce's figure disappeared, John turned toward the crowd. A smug grin stretched across his face as he waved dramatically.
"Remember my name—Robust Master, John Lopez!"
A heavy silence fell across the room.
Arrogant bastard.
The spectators itched to punch him in the face. But if Bruce—their strongest—couldn't even touch him, who were they to try?
It had been a battle of life and death.
No one had expected it to end in a draw.
There was a strange mixture of disappointment and awe in the air. On one hand, there was no blood. No violent crescendo.
But on the other hand—it had been brilliant.
Bruce's terrifying sword strike would forever be etched into their memories. Its elegance. Its devastation.
And John? The mysterious man who had won Bertha's heart had finally revealed himself.
He was dashing. Unyielding.
That alone was enough to leave the girls swooning.
Still, something primal stirred in every martial artist there. They had wanted blood. After all, what was a duel without bloodshed?
Unfortunately, it ended clean. No gore. No final blow.
They would leave with regrets.
Outside the Martial Arts School
Tony was fuming.
"Why'd you stop? He's just a Robust master! You should've finished it! You have so many pills!"
Bruce narrowed his eyes. "Just a Robust master?"
He scoffed. "If he were ordinary, sure. But he caught my strongest strike with two fingers. You really think he's 'just' a Robust master?"
He glanced sideways at Tony, eyes sharp. "If I need pills to beat someone supposedly beneath me, what does that say about my so-called genius?"
There was bitterness in his voice—but also clarity.
He wouldn't win hollow victories.
And then, a thought struck him.
Better to get famous while you're young…
That was John's philosophy.
But wasn't that exactly what Bruce had been trying to do his entire life?
He clenched his fist and nodded to himself.
Even if they didn't become friends, Bruce would never forget John's name.
Tony, still bitter, growled, "It's that smug bastard Jacob. His expression pissed me off. I wanna tear his face off!"
Earlier, Jacob had taunted him with a smirk and said, "Told you—my brother-in-law won't die. In fact, he didn't even use one percent of his strength."
Tony had nearly lost it. They even came to blows outside.
But the crowd assumed they were just venting post-battle tension. Nobody took it seriously.
Bruce, however, had heard enough.
He turned and snapped, "It's over. Stir up trouble again, and I'll break your legs myself."
Tony flinched.
Bruce was like a father figure to him—his authority absolute.
At the Other Exit
People looked at John with new eyes.
This young man had completely shattered their understanding of Robust masters.
So a kid like that could reach such a terrifying level?
Some even felt inspired. For the first time, they believed they could confidently return to their sects and say:
Look! Robust masters can be strong. I can be strong too!
He had opened a new path for many of them. A new belief.
Robust masters weren't weak.
They were resilient.
They were immovable.
They were warriors forged by time, pressure, and persistence.
As the crowd dispersed, a familiar voice rang out.
"John!"
John turned.
Hugo was walking toward him, eyes glowing with admiration.