Sparring

The afternoon sun shone just right.

Wang Yuan arrived at Panshi Fist Academy. The moment he stepped into the inner courtyard, he saw Senior Disciple Brother Shi Long instructing three disciples in their boxing.

Wang Yuan recognized the three. They were Liu Ming, Jiang Li, and Liu Yunfeng—the ones who had previously invited him to Drunken Immortal Tower, only to be refused. Liu Yunfeng was also the one who had shown considerable hostility toward him.

All three came from prominent Inner City families. With resources piled high and several years of hard work, they had each completed their First Blood Change and cultivated Panshi Fist to Minor Accomplishment.

At that moment, they were exchanging moves with Shi Long. Their fist winds howled and their blood surged, displaying a solid foundation.

Shi Long was clearly somewhat listless.

As a great expert of the Third Blood Change, accompanying these three junior brothers and junior sister—who had only undergone the First Blood Change—in practice sparring, he had to hold back everywhere for fear of hurting them. It truly left him tied hand and foot.

If not for the considerable "sponsorship" the three brought to the Fist Academy every year, he would have long since thrown in the towel.

Just as he was feeling stifled, Shi Long caught sight of Wang Yuan entering the inner courtyard from the corner of his eye. His eyes immediately lit up, as if he had spotted a savior.

His booming voice rang out at once:

"Junior Brother! You came at just the right time!"

"Come, come! Spar with these senior brothers and senior sister of yours and exchange some pointers!"

His shout did not merely make Wang Yuan pause in surprise.

It also made Liu Ming, Jiang Li, and Liu Yunfeng halt mid-motion. All three turned to look at Wang Yuan, their faces filled with astonishment.

Liu Ming raised his brows slightly.

A flicker of surprise passed through Jiang Li's cool eyes.

Liu Yunfeng, meanwhile, directly knitted his brows, undisguised displeasure and a measure of contempt appearing on his face.

Spar?

With Wang Yuan?

What kind of joke was this?!

The three of them were all martial artists who had undergone the First Blood Change and reached Minor Accomplishment in Panshi Fist.

Wang Yuan, on the other hand, was merely a newcomer who had entered not long ago, probably having only just begun to nurture his blood and qi.

Sparring with him—would that not be bullying someone?

Moreover, the pride buried deep in their hearts over having their invitation rejected by Wang Yuan—

made them feel that fighting him would lower their status.

What could a mere mud-legged boy from the Outer City amount to, even if he had climbed the high branch of Panshi Fist Academy?

Liu Ming gave a dry laugh and said:

"Senior Disciple Brother, Junior Brother Wang only entered recently. I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for us to spar with him, would it?"

Liu Yunfeng gave an even colder snort.

Though he said nothing, his eyes clearly said, He isn't worthy.

Seeing their expressions, Shi Long finally seemed to remember something.

He scratched his head with his fan-sized hand. Shi Long gave an honest smile, though his tone carried a matter-of-fact calmness:

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

"Junior Brother completed his First Blood Change a few days ago, and his Panshi Fist has also reached Minor Accomplishment."

"..."

Shi Long's voice was not loud, yet it was like thunder erupting from level ground, instantly exploding through the inner courtyard.

The dry smile on Liu Ming's face froze at once, and his pupils widened.

For the first time, obvious shock appeared on Jiang Li's ever-cool face.

Liu Yunfeng seemed as though he had been struck by lightning, his eyes widening violently.

The words "impossible" were written all over his face. Even his body trembled slightly from the sheer shock.

"F-First Blood Change?! Panshi Fist at Minor Accomplishment?!

"Entered... less than a month ago?!

"How was that possible?"

"Which one of them had not trained bitterly for at least two or three years and spent vast amounts of family resources just to barely reach this level?"

"Yet Wang Yuan, a poor boy from the East District of the Outer City, had caught up to years of their hard work in less than a month?"

An immense sense of disparity, along with the frustration of being thoroughly outclassed, instantly surged into Liu Yunfeng's heart.

He recalled how he had desperately begged his father and spent a fortune just to enter the Fist Academy, yet had never been able to become a True Disciple.

But this brat before him had not only easily obtained the True Disciple status he had dreamed of, his cultivation had now... now caught up as well?

Why?

Could the talent of a High Grade Bone Structure truly erase every gap in effort and family background?

A wicked fire mixed with jealousy, resentment, and fury shot up to Liu Yunfeng's head with a whoosh, nearly making him lose all reason.

He suddenly took a step forward and stared fixedly at Wang Yuan, saying in an agitated voice:

"Junior Brother Wang Yuan! Since Senior Disciple Brother has said so, then you and I shall spar."

"Let me see just how much substance your 'High Grade Bone Structure' really has!"

He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke the words "High Grade Bone Structure," his voice brimming with sourness and provocation.

Wang Yuan had only entered the First Blood Change recently, and his Panshi Fist had only just reached Minor Accomplishment. His strength certainly could not compare to a seasoned First Blood Change martial artist like him.

Though Liu Yunfeng's anger had gone to his head, he still retained some reason.

Beating a First Blood Change martial artist who had just broken through would be as easy as turning over his hand.

The advantage is mine!

Seeing this, Shi Long not only failed to stop him, but instead let out a chuckle.

He even folded his arms and stepped aside, wearing the look of someone settling in to watch a good show.

He had long wanted to see the true strength of this junior brother.

At the First Blood Change, Wang Yuan had been able to smash the head of an Incense God Cult follower with a single punch.

This junior brother's strength was truly hidden deep beneath the waters.

Liu Ming and Jiang Li exchanged a glance. Both saw complicated emotions in the other's eyes, and silently stepped back to clear the space.

The other disciples in the outer courtyard also gathered around after hearing the commotion.

When they learned that Wang Yuan, the Academy Master's newly accepted True Disciple, was about to spar with Senior Brother Liu Yunfeng, who had long since reached Minor Accomplishment in the First Blood Change, discussion immediately broke out and the scene grew lively.

"Senior Brother Liu is going to spar with that newcomer Wang Yuan?"

"Wang Yuan? That High Grade Bone Structure? How long has he even been here?"

"I heard he's already completed his First Blood Change!"

"What? That can't be possible! It's only been a month!"

"Damn it, comparing people really pisses people off! After a month, I haven't even nurtured blood and qi or reached the Entry Stage in Panshi Fist. Wang Yuan, who entered alongside me, has already stepped into the First Blood Change?"

"This will be a good show! Senior Brother Liu is a veteran of the First Blood Change, and his Panshi Fist is tempered to a deep degree!"

"I wonder just how formidable a High Grade Bone Structure genius really is..."

Under the gazes of so many people—some curious, some doubtful, some expectant—

Wang Yuan looked at the battle-hungry Liu Yunfeng before him, his expression calm and unruffled.

After punching Song San to death and kicking an Incense God Cult follower, it was only a spar. He no longer needed to be nervous.

As it happened, he also wanted to test himself and gauge his strength after the First Blood Change.

And... the effect of combining Panshi Fist with Chasing Wind Leg.

How would the strength of Panshi Fist's First Blood Change combined with Chasing Wind Leg's First Blood Change rank among First Blood Change martial artists?

"Since Senior Brother Liu wishes to offer guidance, this junior brother will naturally accompany him."

Wang Yuan clasped his hands slightly. His tone was calm, but his gaze gradually sharpened.

He was no soft-hearted saint.

Liu Yunfeng had always been hostile toward him for no other reason than that Wang Yuan had become Master Zheng's disciple and blocked his path.

This spar was the perfect chance to let this fellow see just how vast the gap was between him and a genius like Wang Yuan.

He did not possess some High Grade Bone Structure. He possessed Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone!