Refusal

Chapter 47: Refusal

Inside the practice room, Chen Feng was unaware of Cao Tong's attention.

With a calm expression, Chen Feng stood in place, shoulders sunk and elbows dropped, spine taut, feet planted firmly against the ground like tiger claws.

He had thought visualization would be easy, but now, experiencing it firsthand, coupled with the confused questions he'd just overheard from the other trainees, he realized it was nothing like he'd imagined.

Visualization required a quiet mind.

Recalling Cao Tong's earlier words, he suddenly understood something.

Immediately, his will stirred.

Chen Feng cast aside all negative emotions in an instant, directly entering a state of calm.

In the blink of an eye, the Red Tiger visualization image in his mind condensed rapidly. Every line and movement became as clear as if under a magnifying glass, no longer fading away.

"Hm?"

Seeing this, Cao Tong's gaze shifted.

The confusion in his eyes dissipated completely, and the smile returned to his lips.

"That's what I thought."

He gave a slight nod, then quickly clasped his hands behind his back and pretended to look casually at the others.

As expected of my fanboy.

Truly gifted.

At the same moment.

Just as the visualization succeeded, Chen Feng's gaze suddenly shifted.

[Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (1%)+]

The panel prompt appeared before his eyes, and he silently acknowledged it as expected.

At the start, the stance practice hadn't shown any progress, and only now, after successful visualization, did feedback appear.

Clearly, as Cao Tong had said, the two were complementary martial arts methods, and only together did they form the true Flame Tiger Stance.

"Try adding points?"

Looking at the '+' sign behind the skill bar, Chen Feng had an idea.

But then, recalling how he'd succeeded in visualization with the help of his calm state, he suddenly wanted to see just how good his martial arts talent was in that state—whether it had improved significantly.

Besides, the Limit Break points were right in his hand, usable at any time.

With this thought, Chen Feng continued practicing the stance and throwing punches until noon.

[Progress +1]

[Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (2%)]

Sweat dripped from his face like rain, his soaked black short-sleeve clinging to his back.

Expressionless, Chen Feng walked to an open spot by the window in the practice room, picked up his sports water bottle, and gulped down several mouthfuls of water.

Gulp!

Gulp!

The cool water entered his stomach, bringing a wave of refreshment.

Sweat trickled down his cheeks, and a trace of helplessness flickered in Chen Feng's eyes.

This talent, to be honest, was beyond saving.

Only one point of progress in an entire morning. If he had to train normally to reach Beginner, it would take who knows how long.

"So, being calm just makes me more focused."

"It helps a little with martial arts, but only a little."

Thinking this, Chen Feng abandoned all illusions and immediately tried using one Limit Break point.

Hum!

Instantly, insights into the stance appeared in his memory, and the progress on the panel suddenly changed.

[Flame Tiger Stance: Beginner (22%)+]

"Not enough."

Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng was somewhat surprised.

One Limit Break point only added 20% progress at the Beginner level. In other words, even if he used the remaining two points, it wouldn't be enough to break through to the Tiger Form stage.

"It seems the Flame Tiger Stance really is that difficult."

"Just the beginning—hard to imagine how many more breakthroughs the Tiger Form will need after this."

Lost in thought, Chen Feng suddenly felt an urge to enter the Dream World immediately, scour every area, and find a pile of Limit Breaking Light Orbs.

"Man, this stance training is way too hard."

Suddenly, Lin Hao walked over during the break.

His loose gray T-shirt was already soaked through, his entire face flushed bright red, sweat dripping nonstop like he'd just come out of a steam room.

"I'm dying, seriously. And that visualization thing—too damn abstract."

"I feel like my five million was a total waste."

Lin Hao hurriedly grabbed his water bottle and chugged, while Chen Feng raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't Coach Cao give you some pointers?"

"Don't even mention it. I'm clearly not cut out for martial arts."

"Telling me to calm down and visualize? No way I can do it." Lin Hao grumbled a few sentences helplessly, then looked at Chen Feng with an expectant expression.

"By the way, did you succeed in visualizing?"

"What do you think?"

"Damn! I shouldn't have asked." Lin Hao looked dejected and could only keep gulping water.

The two chatted casually, mostly Lin Hao rambling.

Tap tap!

Just then, footsteps sounded.

The light in front of them dimmed slightly as two figures approached.

"Huh?"

Lin Hao paused mid-drink, and Chen Feng turned his head to look.

One was tall and lean, a full one meter eighty-five.

Longish hair, ruddy complexion, phoenix eyes, looking about twenty-three or twenty-four, wearing a loose White Martial Arts Uniform.

The other was two centimeters shorter, but with broad shoulders and a thick back, sturdy limbs, his athletic short-sleeve shirt stretched taut.

A buzz cut, a face that looked older, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Wu Tian."

The tall, lean one with longish hair spoke first, his voice calm, carrying a trace of restraint and pride.

"Pei Yue."

The burly young man beside him gave a slight nod, his voice low. They stood side by side, looking at Chen Feng.

Seeing this, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow slightly.

He didn't sense much hostility, but he still caught a hint of scrutiny.

"What's up?"

His tone calm, he asked the two.

"Nothing much. Just think you're not bad."

Wu Tian smiled, then raised a hand to point at the other trainees scattered around resting, his gaze sweeping down.

"In this Core Class session, there are plenty of mediocrities and very few talents."

"I heard the hall's elder mention you this morning. Decent talent, so I wanted to spar with you."

His tone was matter-of-fact, with no attempt to hide it.

Chen Feng was somewhat surprised, but then thought about his coincidental placement in Cao Tong's class and made a rough guess.

"Not interested."

He shook his head slightly and refused outright.

He had no obligation to spar with the other and waste his own time.

"Oh?"

Raising an eyebrow, Wu Tian's lips curled with amusement.

"Scared of losing?"

An obvious provocation, but Chen Feng wasn't falling for it.

"Has anyone ever told you—"

His face calm, he met the other's gaze. "—that your methods are pretty clumsy?"

As his Words Fell, the atmosphere among the four fell into a momentary silence.

Lin Hao watched the whole thing with a grin, saying nothing. Pei Yue beside him Slightly Frowned, as if about to step forward.

"Heh."

Waving his hand to stop Pei Yue, Wu Tian slowly opened his slightly narrowed eyes, then shrugged.

"Interesting. I'll remember you."

As his words fell, he turned and walked away.

Beside him, Pei Yue shook his head almost imperceptibly, cast a deep glance at Chen Feng, and likewise departed.

Seeing this, Lin Hao's smiling expression faded somewhat, and he said in an unreadable tone, "Did not expect there'd be self-righteous types like that even in the Core Class."

At this, Chen Feng's expression remained calm, silently watching the receding backs of Wu Tian and the other man.

In the moment he refused, he had sensed a trace of cold malice, laced with mockery and irritation.

Not strong, but enough to prove that the other's breadth of mind was nothing more than this.

"It's fine."

Shaking his head, he spoke in a calm tone, as if responding to Lin Hao: "We'll be in the Core Class for a long time."

"Plenty of chances to teach him a lesson."

As his words fell, the two locked eyes.

In the end, both of them broke into a faint smile.