Public Challenge Issued

Chen Feng and his companions left the gravity training area looking disheveled, their faces growing more grim with each step. The tall, thin young man, whose arm was still numb from Lin Feng's single finger strike, now had his entire right arm hanging limply, completely useless. Fear lingered on his face.

"Brother Feng, that kid is too weird! What kind of finger technique did he use? My whole arm is still numb!" the thin young man wailed, his face a mask of misery.

"Shut up! Useless trash!" Chen Feng snarled irritably, a mix of shock and anger churning within him. He was shocked by Lin Feng's strength and reaction speed, which far exceeded his expectations. He was angry that their attempt to trick Lin Feng had backfired, leaving them utterly humiliated.

Another person spoke up cautiously, "Brother Feng, are we just going to let this go? If word gets out, how will Tianyao save face?"

"Let it go?" Chen Feng's eyes turned sinister. "How could we possibly let it go! A nobody from Third High School dares to step all over Tianyao? If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll really think he's invincible just because he got the Top Scholar title in the mock exam!"

He stopped walking and pondered for a moment, a ruthless expression appearing on his face. "He's arrogant, isn't he? He wants to prove his strength? Fine! I'll give him a chance to 'prove' himself!"

He immediately took out his communicator and logged into a common internal communication platform for Jiangnan City's martial artists – the "Martial Domain Forum." This forum required real-name verification and gathered a large number of martial artists, martial arts students, and related professionals from across the city, ensuring rapid information dissemination.

Chen Feng quickly composed a post, its title exceptionally eye-catching:

[Public Challenge! Tianyao's Chen Feng challenges Third High's Lin Feng! Let's see what you're made of!]

The post's content was extremely inflammatory:

"Recently, mock exam Top Scholar Lin Feng has been gaining considerable attention. It's said he has already broken through to the Martial Artist realm and possesses astonishing strength. However, is his strength truly deserved, or is it merely due to luck and some unknown means? I, Chen Feng of Tianyao Martial High, formally issue a challenge to Lin Feng! Three days from now, at the Martial Arts Bureau's public arena, we will settle this matter! Lin Feng, do you dare accept? If not, then tuck your tail between your legs and stop seeking undeserved fame!"

At the end of the post, he specifically @-mentioned several influential accounts on the Martial Domain Forum, including some well-known martial arts critics and official accounts of major martial arts high schools.

As soon as this explosive post was published, it immediately caused a huge stir on the forum!

"Holy crap! Chen Feng is publicly challenging Lin Feng?!"

"Ninth place in the mock exam challenging the Top Scholar? This is going to be interesting!"

"Chen Feng isn't convinced! Tianyao students really are arrogant!"

"Lin Feng apparently just broke through to the Martial Artist realm, right? Chen Feng has been a Martial Artist for a while. This challenge is a bit of bullying!"

"What do you know? Lin Feng crushed everyone in the mock exam, he must have real skills! I bet Lin Feng wins!"

"Bet on what? Chen Feng's family heirloom, the Cracking Wind Palm, is no joke! I'm betting on Chen Feng!"

The thread quickly grew to an enormous length, filled with endless arguments, and its popularity skyrocketed. Students from various martial arts high schools and social martial artists flocked to spectate, with some even setting up betting pools.

The news spread like wildfire, naturally reaching Lin Feng, who had just finished his training and was preparing to head home.

Steward Wang cautiously informed him, even showing him the content of the forum post.

Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged as he read the post, though his eyes held a slight chill.

"Mr. Lin, what do you think of this... Chen Feng is going too far! Should I contact the higher-ups and have the post taken down?" Steward Wang asked tentatively. He knew how much Director Lei valued Lin Feng.

"No need," Lin Feng shook his head, his tone calm. "Since he wants to be a clown, I'll indulge him."

He took out his communicator, logged into the Martial Domain Forum (which he had registered on previously to look up information), and directly replied to the wildly popular challenge post with three concise words:

"Accepted. You set the time and place."

There were no extra words, not even a punctuation mark to spare. But the confidence and dominance conveyed by those three words instantly ignited the entire forum!

"He's here! The main character is here!"

"Accepted! Holy crap, so cool!"

"He just agreed? Not even hesitating?"

"Hahaha, now we're going to have some real entertainment!"

Lin Feng's response pushed the commotion to its absolute peak. The attention of nearly the entire martial arts community in Jiangnan City was now focused on the duel scheduled for three days later.

For the next three days, Lin Feng's life remained routine. He trained intensely in the Martial Arts Bureau's triple-gravity chamber during the day, and at home in the evenings, he took intermediate Gene Repair Fluid to nourish his body, consolidate his realm, and simultaneously used the System's [Analyze] function to repeatedly study the fusion possibilities of Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, Electric Light Finger, and Galloping Thunder Steps.

He didn't deliberately investigate Chen Feng's strength or martial skills. In the face of absolute power, any trickery was futile. All he needed to do was continue to grow stronger.

Meanwhile, outside, discussions about the duel intensified. Some people dug up detailed information about Chen Feng: a key cultivated individual at Tianyao Martial High, his family's Low-grade Profound Tier martial skill Cracking Wind Palm had been cultivated to minor completion, his cultivation was stably at the peak of the early Martial Artist stage, and he possessed rich combat experience...

In contrast, information about Lin Feng was scarce. Apart from his astonishing performance in the mock exam and rumors of a potential "Dao Comprehension Physique," there was a complete blank. This air of mystery, however, only piqued more people's curiosity about him.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day of the duel, the public arena on the second basement level of the Martial Arts Bureau was packed. Not only did a large portion of the martial arts students from various schools attend, but many social martial artists and media reporters also rushed over, filling the spectator stands to capacity. The atmosphere was as lively as a festival.

The arena was constructed from a special alloy, with energy barriers surrounding it to ensure that the residual combat energy would not affect the audience.

Chen Feng had already arrived, dressed in a perfectly tailored white training suit. He stood on one side of the stage with his eyes closed, meditating and adjusting his state. Several imposing Tianyao students stood behind him.

"Look, Chen Feng seems very confident!"

"No kidding, his Cracking Wind Palm is no joke. It's said to be able to tear steel!"

"Why isn't Lin Feng here yet? Could he be scared?"

Amidst the murmurs and eager anticipation of the crowd, Lin Feng's figure finally appeared at the entrance.

He was still wearing the same faded, ordinary tracksuit, his expression calm and his steps steady, as if he were just attending a regular morning practice. He seemed out of place in the boisterous environment.

His appearance immediately drew the attention of the entire venue.

"Is that Lin Feng? He looks so ordinary..."

"His aura is contained, I can't gauge his depth."

"Putting on a show! Senior Chen Feng will teach him a lesson later!"

Lin Feng ignored the various stares and discussions, walked straight through the crowd, and stepped onto the stage, standing opposite Chen Feng.

The referee, a Martial Master-level staff member from the Martial Arts Bureau, confirmed both sides were ready and announced the rules in a deep voice: "This is a sparring match. Stop when called. No intentional crippling or killing! A loss occurs if one party concedes, falls for ten seconds, or falls off the stage! Understood?"

"Understood." Chen Feng opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, locking onto Lin Feng.

Lin Feng merely nodded faintly.

"Good! The match—begins!"

The instant the referee finished speaking, Chen Feng's eyes shot out a brilliant light, striking first! His footwork was swift, like a gale sweeping the ground, closing the distance in an instant. He raised his right palm, green light swirling around his palm, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, striking directly at Lin Feng's face!

"Cracking Wind Palm!"

The palm wind was fierce, the momentum imposing! He unleashed his family's secret technique right from the start, clearly intending to defeat Lin Feng swiftly with overwhelming force and regain his honor!

A gasp erupted from the audience, all of them stunned by Chen Feng's swift and vicious palm strike.

However, facing this palm strike, which was capable of splitting stone, Lin Feng neither dodged nor weaved. He didn't even show any signs of using any martial skills. He simply raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and casually met the fierce palm wind.

"What is he doing? Catching a Low-grade Profound Tier martial skill with his bare hands?"

"Is he trying to die?!"

Under everyone's disbelieving gaze, Lin Feng's palm, arriving later but striking first, precisely seized Chen Feng's wrist!

The palm wind, capable of tearing steel, vanished without a trace the moment it touched his palm, like a clay ox entering the sea!

The sneer on Chen Feng's face froze instantly. He felt as though his wrist was being gripped tightly by a steel pincer. No matter how he channeled his true qi, he couldn't budge it an inch!

"How is this possible?!" Chen Feng was utterly horrified!

Lin Feng gripped his wrist, his expressionless face. He simply pulled back his arm casually, then thrust it forward!

An irresistible, immense force erupted like a tidal wave!

Chen Feng felt a power he couldn't resist surge through his arm. He was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, his feet leaving the ground. He arced through the air and crashed heavily near the edge of the stage, more than ten meters away!

"Pfft!" A sweet taste flooded his throat, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. He struggled to get up, but felt as though his bones were all dislocated, his internal organs churning. He couldn't get up for a moment!

The entire venue was deathly silent!

Everyone's eyes were wide, their mouths agape, as if they had been paralyzed.

One move?

It was only one move again?!

He didn't even use a martial skill? Just a casual flick?

Chen Feng, the genius from Tianyao Martial High School who ranked ninth in the mock exam, was… defeated? Defeated so cleanly, so easily crushed?!

The referee also froze for a few seconds before reacting. He quickly went to check on Chen Feng's condition and then announced loudly:

"Lin Feng wins!"

His voice echoed clearly in the silent stadium.

Lin Feng slowly retracted his hand, not even glancing at Chen Feng, who lay on the ground, his face ashen. He turned and calmly walked off the stage.

As he passed, the crowd automatically parted a path. Everyone looked at him with unprecedented shock, reverence, and a hint of fear.

At this moment, no one doubted his strength anymore.

The Hidden Dragon was no longer hidden.

Its fangs had just shown, and it had already shocked the entire venue.