Chapter Thirty-Nine: Rising Vitality

By the time all matters were settled, dusk had already begun to fall. Chen Fan felt a burden lifted from his heart and walked home with a light step.

Naturally, it was to the new home.

“Little father, little father!” Little Chen Xi, dressed in a brand-new outfit, ran joyfully up to Chen Fan and hugged his leg.

“Uncle Bao bought me these new clothes!” The little girl excitedly showed off her attire.

Bao Tianyou had not only gifted Chen Fan a new house, but had also privately sponsored a wealth of furniture and purchased essential household items, including clothing and daily necessities for the three of them. There was even a dedicated gym in the new home for Chen Fan’s training and cultivation. The room was equipped with everything from sandbags to a variety of exercise apparatus.

Furthermore, Bao Tianyou had introduced the elder sister-in-law to a leisurely job at the Bao family estate, where she could bring Chen Xi along—safe and easy.

“Bao Tianyou’s talent may not be exceptional, but his family background is among the top in Feiling County, on par with the He family…” After today’s events, Chen Fan was increasingly aware of the advantages that came with a powerful lineage.

Dinner had already been prepared by his sister-in-law. Though Chen Fan had eaten outside, he did not refuse, but instead took Chen Xi in his arms and returned to the dinner table.

As they ate, his sister-in-law suddenly began to cry.

Chen Fan was helpless and troubled, uncertain what to do.

She wiped her eyes. “I’m just happy, Xiao Fan. You’ve made something of yourself with your martial arts. If your brother knew, he never would have abandoned us…”

Hearing this, Chen Fan shook his head and sighed inwardly.

“The eldest had so many bad habits, ruined himself with gambling, and let his wife down, alas…”

His sister-in-law did not yet know that Chen Lao Da was dead; his body had been sunk in the Qingling River, never to return. In this world, human life was as cheap as grass. Among society’s lower ranks, a missing or dead person was hardly a matter of concern.

All the more reason for Chen Fan’s resolve in his martial pursuits to grow ever firmer.

Because the matter involved his secret in dealing with Pi Liu, Chen Fan said little more. He comforted her briefly, then turned and entered his dedicated training room.

…

Training room.

After a brief session striking the sandbag and warming up, Chen Fan produced the small porcelain bottle gifted by Li Linliu.

He opened the stopper, and a fragrant aroma mingled with a faint fishy scent wafted out.

Inside was a single pill, about the size of a thumb. Only one. Its surface was covered with blood-red veins, like capillaries.

Chen Fan raised an eyebrow; He Hongshan had said only that it was to be taken orally, nothing about precautions, indicating there would be no side effects.

He did not hesitate, swallowing the pill at once.

He Hongshan had told him the pill was valuable. If he kept it, others might covet it. Now, eating it and quickly increasing his strength and vitality was the key.

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, a warm current began to radiate from his lower abdomen, surging through his body. His blood and energy churned and boiled. Soon, his breathing grew rapid.

He could clearly feel his heart beating faster, the flow of blood throughout his body accelerating.

His entire skin flushed red, like a cooked prawn, and a layer of white steam began to rise from his skin.

He could distinctly sense that his body was undergoing a transformation.

This transformation lasted for nearly half an hour before Chen Fan felt his heartbeat gradually return to normal.

At the same time, he sensed the warmth in his body gathering, finally settling in his lower abdomen.

Clearly, he had not fully absorbed the pill’s strength.

Chen Fan slowly exhaled a turbid breath, stood tall, and his body emitted a crackling sound like beans frying in a pan.

He repeatedly clenched his fists, feeling the swelling power within, full of excitement.

He glanced at the strings of characters before him.

Unfortunately, the martial arts he had been practicing had not broken through as a result.

Still, Chen Fan was not disappointed.

By swallowing the pill, the surge in vitality from his recent martial breakthroughs was instantly enhanced! It saved him countless meals and untold hours.

“If I struggled for a month, I still couldn’t match the effect of this pill. Martial experts can casually produce things with such miraculous effects… Tsk…”

He walked up to the sandbag and threw a punch.

Bang!

The sandbag gave a muffled thud and swung sharply outward, reaching its limit before rebounding violently.

His strength was far greater—the impact much larger than before.

“This punch must carry several hundred, perhaps even a thousand pounds of force. Too bad there’s no way to accurately measure my exact power by hitting a sandbag. I wonder if there’s any device in this world specifically for testing strength?”

Chen Fan knew he had improved, but lacked a sense of his true strength.

Simply hitting sandbags was influenced by technique, angle, and impact location; it could not be quantified.

After a brief workout to familiarize himself with his newfound power, Chen Fan finally left the training room.

…

The night passed.

At the martial competition arena, the semifinals were about to begin.

The first match was Chen Fan versus Feng Yuancheng!

Chen Fan had awakened again during the quarterfinals, becoming a legendary contestant in this tournament, his fame rivaling Yan Linzu. His appearance drew cheers and applause from the crowd.

As for the disciples of Four Symbols Gate, they were left speechless.

The better Chen Fan performed, the more they felt as if they had been slapped in the face.

Reflecting on their previous behavior, it all seemed especially childish.

Yu Xingzheng, who was beaten and had all ten fingers broken yesterday, was unlikely to recover in a few months and had not come to watch, reducing much of the usual trouble.

The gong sounded.

The two ascended the stage.

Chen Fan stepped onto the platform, cupped his fists, and looked at Feng Yuancheng opposite him.

“Senior Brother Feng!”

During these days, he had watched nearly all of Feng Yuancheng’s matches and knew his abilities well.

Feng Yuancheng had mastered two top-tier secret techniques, was the son of a noble family, and possessed vigorous vitality. If it were the old Chen Fan from yesterday, defeating him would not be easy.

But after yesterday’s breakthrough in the “White Cloud Pine Crane Palm” and taking the pill from Li Linliu, Chen Fan’s strength and vitality had soared again.

In terms of raw power and vitality, he was confident he had completely surpassed Feng Yuancheng and could definitely defeat him!

…

Both were talented martial artists who had not yet cultivated true internal skills and both hailed from the White Cloud Dojo, attracting even more attention.

Of course, Chen Fan’s epiphany on the stage yesterday and Lin Qingyu’s voluntary surrender were impressive, but few believed he could win today.

Feng Yuancheng’s strength was formidable, no weaker than Lin Qingyu—especially after his breakthrough yesterday, his power had increased significantly.

On the platform.

Feng Yuancheng looked at Chen Fan with complex eyes.

At first, he had not regarded his junior at all, and even as Chen Fan racked up victories, he still commented from a superior position.

Never did he expect Chen Fan to fight his way through and meet him in the semifinals!

Looking at Chen Fan’s youthful face, Feng Yuancheng felt a twinge of bitterness.

Yet sensing that bitterness only made him more determined.

First Yan Linzu, then Chen Fan—in this tournament, he, who should have been the brightest star, was almost reduced to a supporting role.

He narrowed his eyes and looked coldly at Chen Fan. “Junior Brother Chen Fan, I’m sorry, but I must win this match!”

Not just win—he wanted to win beautifully!

His gaze shifted toward the contestants’ waiting area, where Yan Linzu was.

His eyes grew sharper.

He then turned back, banishing all distractions and letting his expression grow colder.

“Yan Linzu, I hope you don’t lose to someone else before I face you.”

He retracted his gaze, extended both palms, and charged at Chen Fan!

His technique was none other than the perfected “White Cloud Pine Crane Palm”!

“Fall!”

He intended to defeat Chen Fan within thirty moves!