Chapter Forty-One: An Early Final

Huff! Huff!

Feng Yuancheng stared at Chen Fan, his chest consumed by rage and unwillingness! He could hardly believe that this disciple—this very junior he once thought promising—was the same opponent he had so confidently assumed he would easily defeat before the tournament began!

“I can’t lose here. I still need to defeat Yan Lincu and claim the championship!”

He took a deep breath and, gritting his teeth, charged at Chen Fan once more!

“His mind is already in chaos.”

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes but did not seize this chance to defeat Feng Yuancheng outright. It certainly wasn’t out of kindness, nor did he wish to spare his senior’s pride. Though Feng Yuancheng bore him no real grudge, his arrogance and dismissiveness made Chen Fan disinclined to show mercy.

However—

His Tiger Fist, Wind and Thunder Palm, and White Cloud Pine Crane Palm had all previously been awakened in battle, but the third art he was currently cultivating, Jade-Shattering Fist, had not yet reached that moment of insight!

Earlier, Feng Yuancheng’s explosive phase made Chen Fan wary of underestimating him. But now, it was time for Chen Fan to display his true skills.

Chen Fan’s eyes gleamed. He drew back his hands, lowered his stance, and abruptly switched to the third art he was working on: Jade-Shattering Fist!

His progress in Jade-Shattering Fist had long surpassed Wind and Thunder Palm; though the latter was on the verge of a breakthrough after three consecutive realizations, Jade-Shattering Fist still required a few more days.

Smack!

After switching styles, Chen Fan’s attacks inevitably lost some power. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over a dozen blows! Feng Yuancheng, past his explosive peak, now fought with unstable strength and breath...

Even with Chen Fan using a weaker technique, he was still able to suppress Feng Yuancheng!

In this brief span, Chen Fan landed blow after blow. Despite Feng Yuancheng’s furious attacks, he could no longer stand against Chen Fan.

The gap was one of absolute strength.

Feng Yuancheng could clearly perceive Chen Fan’s change in technique—he was using him as practice! Fury built inside him, and he threw himself forward in yet another full-force assault.

But fury, while able to grant a sudden burst of strength, was ultimately limited.

In the end, a fighter’s true power is bound by his own body...

The more fiercely Feng Yuancheng attacked, the less Chen Fan could restrain himself!

Smack!

Chen Fan pressed his assault, holding nothing back. Even as he deliberately limited himself, he still completely suppressed Feng Yuancheng.

It was as if his fists were smashing stone and shattering jade, again and again.

A lesser strength art, yet it subdued Feng Yuancheng’s palm technique.

Fist after fist!

Chen Fan’s relentless attacks left him feeling exhilarated and completely in his element!

Smack!

At last, a final, furious Jade-Shattering Fist sent Feng Yuancheng flying from the stage!

Suppressing the tingling surge within his body, Chen Fan looked down at Feng Yuancheng beneath the stage. With a cold and formal bow, he declared,

“Thank you for letting me win, Senior Brother Feng.”

He had already noticed the flickering characters before his eyes, but chose not to demonstrate another realization of Jade-Shattering Fist onstage.

One moment of sudden insight in battle was shocking enough, already displaying his terrifying comprehension. A second or third would be simply unbelievable!

“I...” Feng Yuancheng’s face was ashen; he looked dazedly at Chen Fan, then at the crowd.

Countless gazes were filled with pity and regret.

He looked at Chen Fan and saw only indifference in his eyes.

It was not until the referee called out, “The winner, representing White Cloud Hall—Chen Fan!” that Bao Tianyou and the others erupted, chanting Chen Fan’s name.

Only then did Feng Yuancheng slowly come to his senses.

“I... lost?!”

He gave a bitter laugh, turned, and walked away.

He passed through the crowd, heading straight for the exit. The audience parted before him, and a few White Cloud Hall disciples who knew him hurried after. They drifted away, leaving only his solitary, desolate figure behind.

Soon after, some disciples returned to inform the referee, “Senior Brother Feng has withdrawn from the competition and will not contend for third place...”

In truth, his earlier defeat at Yan Lincu’s hands had already wounded his pride, but losing in an upset to Chen Fan—a junior he had dismissed—plunged him into the depths of despair. He no longer wished to face Yan Lincu again.

Chen Fan shook his head in silence, observing the changed expressions in the crowd beneath the stage, and hearing the voices chanting his name.

This feeling...

Victory and defeat—such is the way of the world. A triumph is always sweeter than a loss!

Huff!

After this victory, Chen Fan knew that the likes of the Four Symbols Sect would never again dare to provoke him! He would now enjoy greater reputation and respect.

His gaze grew even more determined.

All of this was earned through victory!

Later, excusing himself to the restroom, Chen Fan slipped away from the arena, found a quiet spot, and practiced Jade-Shattering Fist several times. Once the breakthrough was complete, the technique reached its final stage, achieving perfection.

When he struck now, his inner breath surged forth naturally!

At the same time, the warm current in his lower abdomen rose again, and the residual potency of the undigested elixir further boosted his vitality!

His strength took another leap forward...

Returning in high spirits, Chen Fan found Yan Lincu’s match with the Black Tiger Gang’s third-level martial disciple nearing its end.

Yan Lincu, though not necessarily stronger, possessed inexhaustible vitality and peerless endurance. His relentless attacks forced his opponent on the defensive!

Victory was only a matter of time.

Compared to his earlier win over Feng Yuancheng, Yan Lincu had clearly grown even stronger. Though his progress was not as freakish as Chen Fan’s, his talent was still staggering!

Before Chen Fan’s victory today, Yan Lincu had been the most dazzling presence of all.

Chen Fan watched, feeling a strange kinship.

Yan Lincu’s situation was, in fact, much like his own: both enjoyed advantages in vitality and strength, but lacked somewhat in skill and experience.

The difference was that Yan Lincu was an innate prodigy, while Chen Fan had advanced through diligent study of many strength-building manuals, aided by Li Linliu’s gift of medicinal pills...

No one, among the many true martial artists competing, could have foreseen that the final showdown would be fought between two inner breath practitioners. It was remarkable.

And, notably, Chen Fan and Yan Lincu were the two youngest among the top thirty...

“Yan Lincu is virtually unbeatable. Truly a young genius—his vitality is even more terrifying than Chen Fan’s after his breakthrough. The future of Feiling County rests with these two!” exclaimed You Shahuo, watching his junior brother approach defeat, but showing no disappointment, only admiration.

Li Linliu merely smiled. “Do you all really think Feiling County can keep them?”

The others fell silent. Teng Bo, master of the Flying Tiger Hall, frowned. “Chen Fan practices the White Cloud Pine Crane Palm—he’ll have to go to Yandu City eventually. But Lincu is my disciple; Flying Tiger Hall will give him the best possible training...”

“If you truly wish the best for Yan Lincu, if you want him to enter a martial academy in the future, you must learn to let go,” Li Linliu said, shaking his head with a meaningful look. “The world is larger than you imagine. Even in Yandu City, Chen Fan and Yan Lincu would be top talents. Keeping them here in Feiling would be a waste.”

At his words, everyone fell into heavy silence.

No matter how unwilling, they could not deny it—Feiling County was far too small.

Li Linliu, a man of the world, understood better than any of them just how vast it truly was.

Seeing the Flying Tiger Hall master so quiet, Li Linliu smiled. “If you wish for Yan Lincu to leave Feiling, you can bring him to the White Cloud Main Hall in Yandu within three months. I will soon resign my post here and likely will not return...”

The Flying Tiger Hall master furrowed his brow and did not reply for a long time. “Let’s wait. Another two years—just two more years...”

Li Linliu shook his head and sneered, “A martial artist’s youth is the most important time. If you truly care for Yan Lincu, you’d best make up your mind soon!”

The Flying Tiger Hall master could only give a wry smile, lost for words.

Meanwhile, the match on the stage finally ended.

Yan Lincu, having fought relentlessly from start to finish, used his tremendous, inexhaustible vitality to defeat his martial third-level opponent!

Though his foe’s foundation was poor, he was still a third-level martial artist—the highest rank in this tournament. Yet even he succumbed to Yan Lincu, leaving all in awe of Yan Lincu’s terrifying potential!

If Yan Lincu were to master true martial arts and reach the third level, just how mighty would he become? No one dared even imagine!

Even after the battle, Yan Lincu was only slightly out of breath, his cheeks flushed, but his energy undiminished—as if he had not just endured a fierce contest!

The referee declared Yan Lincu the victor.

Yan Lincu grinned but did not leave the stage. Instead, he turned sharply toward Chen Fan, who was sipping soup, his gaze keen as a blade:

“Chen Fan, come up! Today I’ll defeat you—no need to wait for tomorrow!”

His voice rang with youthful sharpness, every word edged.

With his challenge, countless eyes turned to Chen Fan.

The crowd stirred, whispers and discussions breaking out everywhere.

Chen Fan, surprised, set down his bowl and frowned. “I don’t mind, but you... shouldn’t you rest a bit longer?”

Yan Lincu burst out laughing. “Against opponents at your level, I could fight for ten more hours and still not tire!”

His words were loud and utterly unrestrained!

Arrogant to the extreme!

From the very beginning, he had mocked the disciples of White Cloud Hall, never one to be trifled with. Now, after consecutive victories and reaching the finals, he was more brazen than ever!

Chen Fan frowned and looked toward the referee.

He had no objection, but the organizers might.

The referee looked troubled, then went to the main platform to consult the elders.

Teng Bo, master of Flying Tiger Hall, immediately approved Yan Lincu’s request.

With the mentor’s agreement, no one else raised any objection.

Thus, the finals would begin ahead of schedule!