Chapter Eight: Foundations, Subtlety

Feng Yuancheng sighed and continued, “I asked Master yesterday… He told me that mastering and becoming proficient in a powerful true martial technique increases your strength far more than simply breaking through to a new level of cultivation! He also said that even if I complete the true energy transformation and advance to the second tier of martial arts, without mastering a true energy martial technique, I still wouldn’t be a match for Mu Lei!”

Chen Fan couldn’t help but furrow his brow. Feng Yuancheng’s foundation was solid—rare even among the core disciples—yet Master said that even if his cultivation surpassed Mu Lei’s, he still might not win. Curiosity stirred in his heart, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Are true energy martial techniques really that powerful?”

Back in Feiling County, winning or losing depended on techniques, of course, but the most important factors were strength and experience. While technique could help, Chen Fan hadn’t imagined it could bridge gaps in foundation and raw power. Lin Qingyu’s true energy martial technique had been formidable, but not to the extent that Chen Fan found himself utterly outmatched.

Feng Yuancheng shook his head. “Once you reach the stage of true mastery, martial techniques are no longer just about memorizing moves. They’re divided into different realms. At first, you achieve proficiency—the foundational realm. But above that lies a higher level called ‘Subtle Insight.’”

“Subtle Insight… Subtle Insight…” Chen Fan was taken aback. “Could it be Mu Lei has already reached that realm?”

Feng Yuancheng shook his head, “Subtle Insight is a major threshold. Even among our core disciples, few have reached it. If Mu Lei had, let alone me—even those at the second or third tier in our White Cloud School would struggle to defeat him, regardless of their cultivation. But although he hasn’t reached Subtle Insight, he’s not far from mastering the foundational realm. He’s talented and has developed a secret technique that greatly enhances his moves. Among our second-tier disciples, few have awakened such secret techniques…”

Chen Fan was a little stunned. So, after true mastery, there were so many twists and turns—martial techniques were this powerful. The main academy of White Cloud School was a different world from the branch; the so-called prodigies he used to know were everywhere here.

Feng Yuancheng didn’t stay long and soon took his leave. Chen Fan frowned deeply, not daring to underestimate anyone now. After all, this was Yandu City—a gathering place for geniuses. Any core disciple here would be the top talent of Feiling County. Though his opponent was only at the first tier, victory was far from certain… He absolutely couldn’t be careless.

Thinking this, Chen Fan couldn’t help but laugh at himself. When did he start looking down on the first and second tiers of martial arts? The irony was, he hadn’t even begun practicing true mastery himself.

...

News spread quickly that Chen Fan, as the direct disciple of the school master, had been challenged and won with ease. More people began taking an interest in him—after all, he was incredibly young, and few core disciples matched his age.

After Xiao Chunkong and others had challenged him, more people started eyeing the opportunity. Less than a day after his battle with Xiao Yurong, Chen Fan received another challenge. This challenger was only sixteen, still an internal energy martial artist—not even a core disciple. The stake was less than Xiao Chunkong’s, just fifty taels of silver.

“To challenge me knowing I’ve already beaten Xiao Yurong—that takes confidence,” Chen Fan mused, frowning. So much confidence at sixteen; clearly, this was another remarkable talent. Naturally, Chen Fan accepted.

He arrived at the arena. This time, a much larger crowd had gathered, including many non-core disciples. The result, however, disappointed Chen Fan—the youth was not as formidable as he’d expected, on par with Xiao Yurong at best. Chen Fan dispatched him in less than ten moves, feeling no pressure at all.

“If this is the level of the next challenger, don’t bother. It’s just a waste of time.” Chen Fan stood in the arena, coldly surveying the crowd. His foundation and blood vitality were unimaginably strong—far surpassing even the likes of Feng Yuancheng, who had mastered two first-class manuals, let alone others. The youth’s strength was far below his expectations.

Hearing this, the young challenger flushed with embarrassment and anger. Chen Fan’s words were not meant to humiliate, but to seek stronger opponents. Without pressure, how could he improve? Seeking enlightenment through travel couldn’t compare to insights gained in battle.

Mu Lei and Xiao Yurong were among the spectators. Xiao Yurong frowned and turned to Mu Lei: “Well? Do you have the confidence to beat Chen Fan?”

Mu Lei raised an eyebrow. “Based on what he’s shown, I could take on three or five of him. But that kid is holding back—he still has strength in reserve. I can’t tell how much he’s hiding…”

In other words, he couldn’t guarantee victory.

Xiao Yurong sighed. “Elder brother returns tomorrow—maybe he’ll bring back some useful information…”

...

The next day, Lin Shiyu received a reply from Feiling County, and Xiao Chunkong hurried back as well. Before long, accurate information about Chen Fan’s strength circulated throughout White Cloud School. Everyone now understood why the master had taken such a young disciple. Chen Fan was the undisputed number one under eighteen in Feiling County—a champion at just fourteen!

People began hailing him as the county’s top genius. Upon hearing this, martial artists at the internal energy level and those just starting true mastery gave up any idea of challenging Chen Fan for resources. Only the stubborn or supremely confident still dared consider it.

Compared to Yandu City, Feiling County was nothing, yet it was a populous county with over a million people. White Cloud School was one of several prestigious academies in the city; geniuses abounded, yet few could match Chen Fan’s feats. As for higher-tier core disciples, none would stoop to challenge an internal energy-level student.

“Damn, that kid’s foundation is terrifying! No wonder he accepted our challenges so casually,” Xiao Chunkong and the others gathered, each looking more sullen than the last. Now that Chen Fan’s background was clear, none dared to take him lightly. Even though, on equal footing, the main academy’s core disciples were much stronger than Feiling County’s so-called geniuses, no one dared underestimate an anomaly like Chen Fan.

Mu Lei said dryly, “Isn’t this kid just fourteen? Unbelievable…”

In the eyes of core disciples, being the top under-eighteen in Feiling County wasn’t necessarily impressive—many with weak foundations started true mastery early, gaining strength at a young age. People like Yu Xingzheng and Ge Yuantong, with only second-rate foundations, would be no threat in the future even if they started early. But Chen Fan was not yet fourteen! Beating all comers at that age meant an innately powerful foundation and blood vitality—not to be underestimated.

Xiao Yurong pouted. “See? I told you—keep this up and you’ll eventually run into a wall. Did you really think the master would casually take someone as a disciple?”

They could only sigh. Had they known Chen Fan’s strength, they wouldn’t have let Xiao Yurong challenge him first. As for Mu Lei, though formidable and able to defeat Feng Yuancheng easily, he was still just at the first tier.

Xiao Chunkong took a deep breath and shook his head. “No use regretting now. Mu Lei, you must be careful—he once defeated Feng Yuancheng head-on in the arena, and his strength is superior. If he’s agreed to fight you in half a month, he must be confident that he’ll be even stronger by then. It’s likely he’s begun true mastery training and believes he can complete his true energy transformation in that time. If he does, with his foundation, you won’t stand a chance…”

Mu Lei inhaled sharply. “Complete the true energy transformation?” He felt immense pressure. A wager of over a thousand taels was rare even among White Cloud’s core disciples.

Xiao Chunkong narrowed his eyes, “There’s still time. For the next ten days, stop training with the Iron Eagle Claw. Here, take this yuan stone—use it to speed up your true energy transformation and break through to the second tier.”

A yuan stone was a special mineral, rich in natural energy, useful for assisting martial artists in cultivating true energy.

Mu Lei shook his head. “Breaking through to the second tier is easy—I was holding back on purpose. With the yuan stone, it’ll be no problem. But my muscle tempering can’t be rushed… One stone won’t raise my strength much.”

Xiao Chunkong gritted his teeth and produced a porcelain vial. “I also have a bottle of Essence Gathering Pills. Don’t worry about the toxicity—take a few more over the next few days and try to speed up your muscle tempering. We must guarantee victory over Chen Fan!”

Essence Gathering Pills aided in the tempering of true energy, but overuse could lead to toxicity and resistance.

Mu Lei’s face brightened. “With a whole bottle of Essence Gathering Pills, that should do it!” At the second tier, with these pills, he wouldn’t finish tempering all his muscles, but he could skip six months of hard work and double his basic strength. With the Iron Eagle Claw, there was no way he’d lose to Chen Fan!

...

With news of Chen Fan’s true strength out, few dared challenge him in the days that followed. Weaker, non-core disciples were beneath his notice. Stronger core disciples—those at the second or third tier—wouldn’t lower themselves to challenge an internal energy-level student.

Chen Fan continued his daily “bitter cultivation.” Two days before the half-month deadline, he finally broke through with the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm.

“I’ve finally broken through!” With two efficiency boosts and abundant resources, his White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm—his first first-class manual—was complete. The medicinal herbs he’d won in previous matches had been enough, and his blood vitality hadn’t lagged behind.

During this time, he also mastered the techniques of more than a dozen other martial arts, and after freeing up skill slots, he didn’t start practicing the Stellar Body-Refining Art right away. Instead, he put the three other first-class strength-building manuals from the main academy on “auto-training.” He hadn’t yet reached his blood vitality limit, and his unique talent allowed him to accumulate progress quickly—he’d be wasting his gift otherwise.

The Stellar Body-Refining Art, judging by the name, clearly wasn’t just for the strength-building phase—he could start once his blood vitality peaked.

“My blood vitality improvement is slowing down—I sense I’m close to the limit!” With so many resources, he estimated that in three or four months, he’d master all five strength-building arts and reach the blood vitality limit.

Chen Fan was overjoyed. The more strength-building arts he trained, the less effective each, but compared to when he first arrived in Yandu City, his strength had soared in just half a month. If Yan Lincu stood before him now, Chen Fan was confident he could defeat him in less than ten moves—never giving him the chance for a drawn-out fight.

“If these three auto-trained arts break through in real combat, I’ll reach the limit even sooner. Mu Lei, don’t you dare disappoint me…”