Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
Chen Fan was still cultivating in the ruined temple outside Qingyang City, but his bearing had undergone earth-shaking changes. His once frail body had grown straight and sturdy, his muscles sleek and full of power, and his eyes had changed from their initial confusion and helplessness to sharp determination. After a year of grueling cultivation, he had successfully broken through to the Late Houtian Stage, and a faint thread of Internal Energy had begun to gather within him.
"Late Houtian Stage, with Internal Energy newly formed—I finally have some ability to protect myself." Chen Fan felt the Internal Energy slowly flowing through his body, and a trace of gratification appeared on his face. Over the past year, he had endured pain beyond ordinary imagination. Every day had been nothing but cultivation, and now, at last, it had borne fruit.
Yet Chen Fan also knew that the Houtian Stage was merely the beginning of martial cultivation, still far too distant from his goal. Moreover, martial cultivation could not be achieved by shutting oneself away and building a cart behind closed doors. Only through trials in actual combat could he improve his strength more quickly.
Thus, Chen Fan decided to temporarily leave the ruined temple and head into the streets of Qingyang City to hone himself. On one hand, he could gain practical combat experience by fighting the local thugs, hooligans, and skilled wanderers of the martial world; on the other, he could find work to earn some money and solve his problems of food and shelter.
Though Qingyang City was only a small city, its streets were a mixed bag of fish and dragons, where people from all walks of life gathered. It was an excellent place for training. The moment Chen Fan entered the city gates, he felt the exceptionally bustling atmosphere. Shops stood shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the streets, while cries of vendors and the sounds of haggling rang without end.
However, Chen Fan was not drawn in by the lively scene. His sharp gaze surveyed everything around him, searching for an opportunity to train. Before long, he noticed several thugs at a street corner extorting an old farmer selling vegetables.
"Old man, hand over the protection fee right now, or don't blame us for getting rough!" a tall thug with a face full of flesh snarled. He held a wooden club in his hand, repeatedly striking the old farmer's vegetable stall.
The old farmer trembled all over, his face filled with grievance and helplessness. "Sirs, this is only a small business. I truly don't have much money. Please, show mercy and let me go."
"No money?" Another thug sneered. "Then don't set up your stall here! Brothers, smash it!"
As they spoke, the thugs moved to wreck the old farmer's stall. At that moment, Chen Fan stepped forward and stood before him. "Stop! In broad daylight, you dare bully common folk like this. Aren't you afraid of the law?"
The thugs froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. The tall thug looked Chen Fan up and down, then said disdainfully, "Where did this wet-behind-the-ears brat come from? You dare meddle in my business? I think you're tired of living!"
Chen Fan wasted no words. The Internal Energy in his body began to circulate silently as he clenched his fists. He knew that against thugs like these, only strength could speak.
"Brat, since you're looking for death, I'll grant your wish!" the tall thug roared, swinging his club at Chen Fan's head.
Chen Fan's eyes narrowed. He nimbly sidestepped the blow, dodging the club. At the same time, he drove a fist into the tall thug's abdomen, his punch carrying the Internal Energy of the Late Houtian Stage.
Bang!
The punch landed. The tall thug let out a miserable cry, his body curling up like a shrimp as sour fluid spilled from his mouth. The other thugs flew into a rage at once and charged Chen Fan with their weapons raised.
Chen Fan did not fear them in the slightest. Relying on his nimble footwork and refined boxing, he maneuvered around the thugs. Though his boxing was simple, every punch struck precisely at a vital point, and each one carried tremendous force.
Before long, the thugs had been beaten black and blue by Chen Fan, sprawled on the ground and howling without end.
"Get lost! If you dare bully the common people here again, I won't let you off!" Chen Fan said coldly.
As if granted a pardon, the thugs scrambled away, rolling and crawling in their haste.
The old farmer hurried forward and said to Chen Fan through tears of gratitude, "Thank you, young man, for saving me. Otherwise, my vegetable stall would have been completely ruined. Young man, you're truly a good person!"
Chen Fan smiled. "Sir, there's no need to be polite. Drawing one's blade when seeing injustice is simply what one ought to do."
Afterward, the old farmer insisted on giving Chen Fan some vegetables. Unable to refuse, Chen Fan accepted a few.
Over the following days, Chen Fan continued to train in the streets of Qingyang City. He encountered all kinds of people: thugs who oppressed the common folk, skilled wanderers of the martial world, and kind, simple ordinary citizens. While fighting others to improve his combat experience and strength, he also came to taste the bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors of life in the streets.
During a fight with a Martial Master of the martial world, Chen Fan ultimately defeated his opponent through unyielding will and flexible tactics. It was also in that battle that the Internal Energy within him accumulated and improved further, allowing him to successfully break through to the Great Perfection Houtian Stage. He was now only a single step away from the Xiantian Stage.
"The Xiantian Stage—Internal Energy transforms into True Energy, allowing one to begin looking inward at one's own body. My strength will undergo a qualitative leap." Chen Fan's heart brimmed with anticipation. He knew that if he wanted to gain a foothold in this chaotic age, if he wanted to achieve his goal of defying heaven and slaying immortals, he had to keep growing stronger.
However, just as Chen Fan was charging toward the Xiantian Stage, a sudden crisis descended in silence. His close friend, Lin Xiaohu, a youth who had also been wandering Qingyang City, was captured by disciples of the Xianyun Sect.
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