Chapter Twenty-Six: An Unexpected Outcome
In the fourth year since Feng Yuancheng entered the sect, he was already on the verge of mastering the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm. Chen Fan, watching him duel, knew that if Feng Yuancheng used a few more moves from the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm, it was possible that Chen Fan himself might gain some new insights.
On the arena stage.
Yan Linxu, using the momentum of his forward charge, arrived in a flash and threw a punch at Feng Yuancheng.
Fist met palm.
A crisp slap echoed.
To the astonishment of the crowd below the stage, both fighters were forced backward by the recoil, Feng Yuancheng even retreating a few steps more.
Feng Yuancheng, who had just defeated a second-tier martial artist, unexpectedly lost the contest of strength.
“How is that possible?!”
Feng Yuancheng’s face was filled with disbelief. He had always possessed a unique constitution since childhood, and now was on the verge of mastering the two strongest strength-training manuals in Feiling County. His physique was formidable! Even the guards at home, those of the second and third tiers who had begun tempering their muscles and organs, could not compare to him in raw strength.
Yet, the youth’s fist, while powerful, was not the result of any advanced strength-training technique.
In a single exchange, Feng Yuancheng found himself at a disadvantage.
His lips twitched, his gaze grave.
Yan Linxu waved his hand, twisted his neck, squinted, and looked coldly at Feng Yuancheng, whose expression had changed: “Didn’t you say I possess innate strength? You guessed right, I do have natural power. But…”
Yan Linxu stepped forward again, unleashing a fierce punch!
His blood surged!
“My strength is far beyond what you imagined!”
Feeling the immense pressure before him, Feng Yuancheng’s expression shifted. No longer daring to underestimate the youth, he gathered his energy and struck out with a palm, this time with a completely different intent!
It was still the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm, but clearly he was now using his full strength!
Yan Linxu grinned, and after retreating, immediately lunged forward again, delivering another forceful punch!
Feng Yuancheng’s expression grew ever more serious, his palms whirling.
The two clashed once more!
Their battle was fierce, fists and palms moving at lightning speed.
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over thirty moves!
Slap!
They crossed paths again.
A cold and wild gleam flashed in Yan Linxu’s eyes: “Pathetic! Didn’t you say you’d defeat me in thirty moves?!”
Feng Yuancheng’s lips twitched—he had never been insulted like this, yet couldn’t utter a word.
His cheeks burned, and with gritted teeth, he launched himself once more!
This time, he abruptly changed his technique, abandoning the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm for the Feng Family’s Red Training Palm, which he was more proficient in and had already cultivated internal energy with!
His use of the Red Training Palm meant that he could no longer defeat his opponent with the unfinished White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm alone!
Yan Linxu sneered, not to be outdone, his fists like the wind, striking with domineering force!
His momentum showed not the slightest sign of weakening!
As the two fought, Chen Fan’s gaze became increasingly intense and sharp.
Meanwhile, the crowd gathered around the arena grew larger.
Many students from other arenas had come to watch, amazed at the two on stage!
No one had expected the renowned Feng Yuancheng to be locked in such a battle with an unknown youth!
Before long, several instructors from the martial academy were drawn over.
At that moment, none noticed Chen Fan’s solemn eyes beneath the stage suddenly flash with delight.
“I’ve grasped it…”
Under Yan Linxu’s pressure, Feng Yuancheng displayed his full power, having used every move of the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm more than once!
This provided the perfect opportunity for Chen Fan to trigger his advancement, gaining another chance for insight.
[You have observed higher-level moves of the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm, gained insight—progress improved, cultivation efficiency increased.]
The last four forms of Chen Fan’s White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm each advanced by 10%, his training efficiency increased by over ten percent!
Though it paled in comparison to his earlier gains from watching Meng Qi’s Wind-Thunder Palm, the difference in quality between the two techniques accounted for that; in terms of time saved, this was actually greater!
At the same time, his internal blood and energy flowed like a mountain stream, surging faster than before.
In the coming days, his physique would advance even more rapidly!
Watching the two evenly matched, fiercely opposed fighters, Chen Fan felt both admiration and regret.
Judging from the strength they displayed…
His chances of defeating them were slim.
“If I had more time to accumulate, once my blood and energy are fully enhanced, perhaps I could defeat them. But the tournament ends in less than a week, and I won’t have time to complete the process. For now, I am no match for either…”
Though Chen Fan had cultivated many strength-training manuals, most were of average quality, third-tier at best. Considering the three techniques he was currently training, his foundation barely matched Feng Yuancheng’s two first-tier manuals—perhaps even less.
Not to mention the gap in martial cultivation and combat experience!
Of course, Feng Yuancheng was already seventeen, with talent and family background, so his current strength was understandable.
But Yan Linxu looked to be only fourteen or fifteen, not much older than Chen Fan.
Yet, relying on a single fist technique far inferior to Feng Yuancheng’s two manuals, he could still stand toe-to-toe with him…
That was true monstrosity!
A freak!
Chen Fan watched in awe—even he could not compare to Yan Linxu in physique, and his resolve grew firm:
“Geniuses are terrifying. Ordinary people like me can only depend on external aids!”
Beside Chen Fan, Meng Qi was stunned:
“Their strength is frightening. If I faced either one, I wouldn’t last three moves!”
…
On the other side, the instructors were deep in discussion.
An instructor from the Flying Tiger Sect was astonished:
“Yan Linxu has only been here two years, had never trained before joining, and was personally taught by the sect master. He’s only practiced a single technique, the Flying Tiger Fist… If not for seeing it today, I’d have never known he was so formidable.”
The Flying Tiger Fist was the sect’s premier strength-training technique, a first-tier manual.
Instructor Zhu of White Cloud Dojo grew increasingly grave: “Have you noticed? Since we arrived, Yan Linxu has been on the offensive, yet his energy hasn’t weakened—not even slightly. His blood has not diminished despite such a long battle!”
Strong blood and energy are rare but not unheard of—Chen Fan, for example, was considered to have innate vigor.
But blood that never wanes is extraordinary.
The Flying Tiger instructor blinked and added, “Yan Linxu had a unique constitution from the moment he joined, with powerful blood!”
Instructor Zhu’s eyes gleamed: “This is beyond mere strength… Fascinating. Yan Linxu’s blood is unusually rich, his foundation unmatched, his innate advantage immense. Such a body is even better than training with any manual. Is it a case of ancestral blood, a unique constitution, or did he accidentally consume some heavenly treasure as a child?”
The instructors were all true masters, at least fourth-tier martial artists, and had cultivated second-tier manuals as a minimum—their strength was considerable!
Their vision was broad.
Still, there were many possibilities and they couldn’t be sure.
…
On the arena.
Yan Linxu’s eyes blazed, his fists pounding at Feng Yuancheng, his aura overwhelming, his movements unwavering!
Feng Yuancheng’s advantage lay in age and skill; at first, he could match Yan Linxu, but as the fight wore on, he struggled more and more!
He was already considered to have an innately strong physique, having started training before the age of ten, but compared to Yan Linxu, he was utterly outclassed!
In skill and experience, Feng Yuancheng was clearly superior, but his opponent’s strength and blood were simply too terrifying!
From the start, Yan Linxu had been relentlessly attacking, never showing any weakness. Feng Yuancheng had some early advantage but failed to secure victory; as the rounds accumulated, he gradually lost the ability to keep up!
This was unimaginable for Feng Yuancheng.
His physique far surpassed ordinary people, and he could easily defeat second-tier fighters. Yet now, facing Yan Linxu—a youth who had not yet trained advanced techniques—he was outmatched in endurance, shocking everyone.
Beneath the stage, disciples from White Cloud Dojo watched anxiously as Feng Yuancheng faltered, worried for him!
Su Qingyang, seeing Yan Linxu’s terrifying power, felt a chill, his face bitter and speechless.
No wonder he had lost so quickly before…
On the arena.
Sensing Feng Yuancheng’s flagging strength, Yan Linxu laughed heartily, growing bolder with each exchange, his fists surging like waves, pounding Feng Yuancheng again and again!
“Ha ha, Feng Yuancheng, didn’t you say you’d defeat me in thirty moves? It’s been three hundred already, hasn’t it?”
Yan Linxu’s eyes shone with sharpness and mockery, his fist slicing through the air!
Slap!
Feng Yuancheng’s face was grim, silent, barely holding on.
Yan Linxu sneered, raining blows:
“Aren’t you supposed to be impressive? Aren’t you arrogant? Aren’t you pretending?”
The sound of fists striking echoed without pause!
Finally, a furious punch landed squarely on Feng Yuancheng’s chest!
Spurt!
Feng Yuancheng spat a mouthful of blood, staggered backward, utterly spent, and, before hundreds of witnesses, fell from the arena!
Feng Yuancheng had lost!