The wooden combat platform hummed softly as the runes carved along its edges awakened. A faint barrier shimmered around the stage, flickering like liquid glass. It was meant to protect the spectators.
Not the fighters.
Su Chen exhaled slowly. The cool mountain breeze brushed his long dark hair across his shoulders as he faced Yun Feng—the man who had been waiting all morning to crush him.
All around them, outer disciples gathered like hungry wolves, excitement burning in their eyes.
"Yun Feng will destroy him."
"He's already Body Tempering Stage 4!"
"And Su Chen is… what? Stage 1 at best?"
"This will be quick."
Mei Ling wrung her hands anxiously.
Lin Xue stood still, but her eyes were sharp as drawn blades.
Instructor Han raised his hand.
"Combatants ready?"
Yun Feng grinned, stretching his neck. "Very."
Su Chen simply nodded.
"Begin!"
---
Yun Feng Lunges
The moment the word left Instructor Han's mouth, Yun Feng exploded forward like a released arrow.
His footwork was fast—much faster than Su Chen had anticipated.
A heavy punch flew toward Su Chen's chest with brutal strength.
Not a test. Not a warning.
A killing intent.
The attack carried enough force to break ribs.
Gasps erupted outside the ring.
"He's trying to cripple him!"
"This is not a duel—this is revenge!"
But to Su Chen, the punch looked… slow.
Not truly slow—but readable.
Because the moment Yun Feng moved, Su Chen instinctively let his ability trigger.
Yun Feng's Strike
– Follows a linear pattern
– Right-hand dominant
– Elbow angle reveals the next direction of force
– Weakness: imbalance in the left foot due to uneven stance
– Counter opportunity detected
Su Chen's eyes sharpened.
He shifted half a step—just enough.
Yun Feng's fist sliced past his shoulder, missing by a hair.
"What—!?"
Before Yun Feng could recover, Su Chen lifted his elbow and struck downward.
THUD!
He hit Yun Feng's weak point—his left knee's unstable angle.
Yun Feng staggered.
The crowd erupted in shock.
"Did he… dodge that?"
"No way!"
"What kind of reflexes are those?"
Instructor Han's eyes narrowed with interest.
Yun Feng gritted his teeth. "You bastard!"
---
Yun Feng Attacks Again
He attacked in rapid succession—punches, knees, sweeping kicks. Each blow aimed at Su Chen's joints or vital spots.
But with every strike, Su Chen's fingertips brushed the stage, feeling the vibrations of Yun Feng's movement. His ability activated again and again, feeding him patterns and weaknesses like hidden knowledge whispered by the world itself.
He pivoted smoothly.
Sidestepped precisely.
Countered lightly.
He never overextended. Never risked exposing himself. He was calm—almost too calm.
Yun Feng's face reddened with fury.
"You think you're better than me!?"
Su Chen didn't answer.
Instead, he caught a brief touch on Yun Feng's sleeve during a parry.
Information flooded in:
Yun Feng's Sleeve Fabric
– Contains traces of Blood Ignition Powder
– Increases strength temporarily
– Side effect: weakens tendons after use
– Duration left: 28 seconds
Su Chen's eyes flickered.
So that's why he's so aggressive. He's trying to end it before the powder wears off.
Yun Feng roared and threw another punch, veins bulging.
Su Chen stepped back, tapped the stage again, and confirmed—
Yun Feng's movements were getting sloppier.
And weaker.
The drug was fading.
Su Chen raised his head slightly.
"It seems your strength has a time limit."
Yun Feng froze mid-strike.
"What… what did you say?"
"If you wish to win," Su Chen said calmly, "you shouldn't rely on unstable crutches."
Anger exploded in Yun Feng's eyes.
"You—!!!"
He lunged again.
But this time, his body lagged a step behind his fury.
---
The Turning Point
Su Chen finally moved.
Not defensively.
But forward.
He struck Yun Feng's wrist with two fingers—
A precise, surgical attack.
CRACK!
Yun Feng screamed.
His hand spasmed open, strength disappearing.
"What… what did you do!?"
Su Chen didn't hesitate.
He stepped in, lowered his center of gravity, and hit Yun Feng's abdomen with a controlled palm strike—
Not enough to kill
Not enough to maim
But enough to break his balance completely.
BOOM!
Yun Feng flew backward, rolling across the stage until he slammed into the barrier, which shuddered on impact.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the wind stopped.
Dozens of disciples stared with wide eyes.
"He—he beat senior Yun Feng?"
"Impossible…"
"Yun Feng's Stage 4!"
"Su Chen barely looked serious…"
Instructor Han blinked slowly, amazement clear in his expression.
Mei Ling covered her mouth, eyes sparkling.
"I knew you could do it!"
Lin Xue's sword-like eyes softened for a brief moment.
"…Well done."
---
Yun Feng's Last Attempt
Yun Feng groaned, trying to stand.
"Y-you… tricked me… you—bastard—"
He reached for a hidden dagger inside his sleeve.
Lin Xue's hand shot toward her sword.
Instructor Han's voice rose.
"Yun Feng! Weapons are forbidden—"
But Su Chen moved faster than both.
He stepped off the platform, reached Yun Feng in two smooth steps, and pressed his foot on Yun Feng's wrist before the dagger could be drawn.
A light click echoed as Su Chen pinned him to the ground.
He leaned down just enough for only Yun Feng to hear.
"If you try this again," Su Chen whispered, "I'll break more than your pride."
Yun Feng shivered.
Su Chen stepped back.
---
Instructor Han Announces the Result
"Winner—Su Chen!"
The courtyard erupted.
Some cheered.
Some whispered fearfully.
All stared.
Su Chen stepped off the platform, calm as still water.
Mei Ling ran up to him. "You're amazing! You didn't even break a sweat!"
Lin Xue walked up slower. "Your technique was… interesting."
Su Chen simply smiled. "I learn fast."
But inside…
He was troubled.
Because in the middle of the fight, when he touched Yun Feng's sleeve again, he had seen something else—something terrifying.
Yun Feng was being controlled.
A hidden hand was behind him.
And that same hand was connected to the death of this body's previous owner.
Su Chen's eyes darkened.
Someone in this sect wants me dead.
And now...
They knew he was not weak.
Which meant they would come again.
Harder.
And faster.
---