Chen Fan clutched the jade pendant Su Muxue had given him and pulled Lin Xiaohu along at a sprint. The runes on the pendant were indeed mysterious. As he fed a trace of True Energy into it, an invisible barrier seemed to envelop them, concealing their auras completely. The auras of the Xianyun Sect disciples who had been relentlessly pursuing them gradually blurred from his senses before vanishing altogether.
"Brother Fan, it looks like no one's chasing us anymore!" Lin Xiaohu panted heavily, yet he could not hide the excitement on his face. "This jade pendant is incredible!"
Chen Fan stopped and warily scanned the surroundings. They had reached a desolate slope strewn with jagged rocks, with boulders taller than a person everywhere and weeds growing wild. Few people ever came here. Feeling the steady circulation of True Energy within him, he touched the jade pendant in his robes and said quietly, "We're safe for the moment, but the Xianyun Sect won't give up so easily. We need to improve our strength quickly and find a more secure place."
He recalled the Sky Shattering Fist carved upon the stone wall in the cave, and an idea stirred in his heart. This rocky slope was open and far from human habitation, making it the perfect place to practice his newly acquired technique. He said to Lin Xiaohu, "Xiaohu, rest nearby for now and stay alert. I'll use this opportunity to practice the fist technique I just learned."
Lin Xiaohu nodded vigorously, found a large boulder sheltered from the wind, and sat down, his eyes fixed tightly on the surroundings.
Chen Fan walked to the center of the rocky slope, took a deep breath, and planted his feet firmly on the ground. Following the diagram for the first stance of the Sky Shattering Fist, he assumed its opening posture. Closing his eyes, he recalled the seal-script characters on the stone wall and sensed the path of True Energy flowing through his meridians. Unlike the Burning Heaven Art, the Sky Shattering Fist placed greater emphasis on explosive force. Every circulation was like a small storm raging through his meridians, and when it gathered in his fists, it carried a piercing shriek that seemed to rip the air apart.
"Hah!"
With a low shout, Chen Fan suddenly drove both fists forward. This time, he was no longer merely testing it as he had in the cave. He poured all of his recovered True Energy into his fists. Two visible gusts of fist force roared forth and smashed heavily into a boulder half the height of a man.
"Boom!"
The boulder shattered on impact. Rubble flew everywhere, and dust filled the air. Unlike the fist marks he had left in the cave, this time the boulder had been blasted directly into powder!
"So strong!" Chen Fan stared at his fists, his eyes filled with shock. He could clearly sense that the Sky Shattering Fist was not only astonishingly powerful, but could also guide his blood and True Energy into fusion as he struck. Every punch subtly tempered his body. If he could train this fist technique to mastery, then even against Golden Core cultivators, he might not be without a chance.
For the next half hour, Chen Fan repeatedly practiced the first stance of the Sky Shattering Fist. From initial awkwardness, to growing proficiency, to precisely controlling the intensity of his True Energy's eruption, his progress was visible to the naked eye. During that time, he even tried integrating the internal energy circulation method of the Burning Heaven Art into it. Unexpectedly, it gave his fist force a trace of scorching heat and increased its power by several degrees.
"Brother Fan, look! It seems like people are coming from over there!"
Just as Chen Fan was immersed in the joy of training, Lin Xiaohu suddenly cried out nervously.
Chen Fan snapped back to his senses and looked in the direction Lin Xiaohu pointed. On the dirt road in the distance, a group was rushing toward the rocky slope. At their head was a middle-aged man dressed in a black brocade robe, with a curved saber hanging at his waist and dense spiritual energy radiating from his body—he was actually a Mid-stage Golden Core cultivator! More than a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm disciples followed behind him, each carrying a sharp weapon and wearing a murderous expression.
"They're from Black Wind Stronghold!" Chen Fan's heart sank. He had heard people of the martial world in Qingyang City mention that Black Wind Stronghold was a tyrannical force in the surrounding region. Its chief, Zhou Hei Hu, was a Mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, while his subordinates committed every evil imaginable, frequently robbing passing merchant caravans and villagers. He had never expected to encounter them here.
Zhou Hei Hu had clearly spotted Chen Fan and Lin Xiaohu as well. He reined in his horse and swept his gaze over the two. When he saw Chen Fan's plain coarse clothes, disdain flashed through his eyes. "You two little brats have a death wish, lingering on Black Wind Stronghold's territory. Hand over your valuables if you know what's good for you, or don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Chen Fan shielded Lin Xiaohu behind him, clenched his fists, and said coldly, "We have no valuables. Please make way."
"No valuables?" Zhou Hei Hu sneered, his gaze falling upon Chen Fan's clenched fists. "You look like you know a bit of martial arts. But before me, even a Martial Grandmaster has to obey like a good little dog!" The disciples behind him burst into laughter as well, their eyes full of contempt.
Chen Fan knew there would be no peaceful resolution today. The people of Black Wind Stronghold were cruel by nature. Showing weakness would only make them die faster. He took a deep breath, and the True Energy within him instantly circulated at full force. A faint red glow appeared around his fists as he assumed the opening stance of the Sky Shattering Fist.
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!" Zhou Hei Hu's face darkened. His curved saber left its sheath, and a streak of black saber qi slashed toward Chen Fan. The saber qi carried a foul, bloody stench, clearly the result of some sinister technique.
Chen Fan did not dare lower his guard. He twisted aside to evade the saber qi, then kicked fiercely off the ground and shot toward Zhou Hei Hu like an arrow loosed from a bow. He knew that a cultivator's weakness lay in close combat. Only by closing the distance could he bring martial arts' close-range advantage into play.
"You're courting death!" Zhou Hei Hu had not expected Chen Fan to attack first, and killing intent flashed through his eyes. He swung his curved saber, sending wave after wave of black saber qi slashing toward Chen Fan. At the same time, spiritual energy surged through his body as he attempted to cast a spell to trap Chen Fan.
But Chen Fan's footwork was far more agile than Zhou Hei Hu had imagined. He weaved through the saber qi, each dodge perfectly timed, and swiftly reached Zhou Hei Hu's horse.
"Sky Shattering Fist!"
Chen Fan roared, his fists carrying a sharp shriek that tore through the air as they blasted toward Zhou Hei Hu's chest.
Zhou Hei Hu's expression changed drastically. He had never expected a mere mortal to break through his saber qi blockade. In his haste, he could only summon spiritual energy to form a shield before himself.
"Bang!"
His fists collided with the shield in a thunderous crash. Cracks instantly spread across the shield, and Zhou Hei Hu was thrown from his horse by the tremendous force, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
"Chief!"
The Black Wind Stronghold disciples cried out in alarm and rushed toward Chen Fan with weapons in hand.
Chen Fan ignored the disciples around him, keeping his eyes locked on Zhou Hei Hu as he lay on the ground, ready to press his advantage. Just then, a lazy voice drifted from behind a nearby boulder:
"My, my, what a lively scene. A Mid-stage Golden Core cultivator beaten into such a state by a brat at the Xiantian Stage—if word got out, people would laugh their teeth out."
Everyone turned toward the voice. A young man in a blue robe emerged from behind the boulder, a blade of grass dangling from his lips. He held a rusty longsword in one hand, and his eyes were carefree. He looked like a good-for-nothing loafer, yet somehow gave off an unfathomable air.
The moment Zhou Hei Hu saw the blue-robed man, his face changed sharply, and his eyes filled with fear. "Li Xiaoyao! Why are you here?"
The blue-robed man, Li Xiaoyao, chuckled. "Just passing through. But when I see someone bullying little ones, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Zhou Hei Hu, you're already this old, and you're picking on two children. Aren't you ashamed?"
Chen Fan looked at Li Xiaoyao, his heart full of confusion. He could sense not the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy from Li Xiaoyao, yet this Mid-stage Golden Core Zhou Hei Hu feared him so deeply. This man was certainly no ordinary person.
Zhou Hei Hu gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet. "Li Xiaoyao, this is Black Wind Stronghold's business. It has nothing to do with you. Please don't meddle in other people's affairs!"
"Meddling?" Li Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. He gave the rusty sword in his hand a light flick, and an invisible Sword Qi flashed past. A boulder beside Zhou Hei Hu was instantly sliced into two. "Do you think anyone can stop me from handling something I wish to handle?"
Zhou Hei Hu's face turned deathly pale. Seeing the killing intent flash in Li Xiaoyao's eyes, he no longer dared linger. He roared at his disciples, "We're leaving!" Then he fled the rocky slope in a sorry state with his men.
Watching the Black Wind Stronghold men disappear into the distance, Chen Fan let out a breath of relief and cupped his hands toward Li Xiaoyao. "Thank you, Senior, for coming to our aid. This junior, Chen Fan, is deeply grateful."
Li Xiaoyao waved a hand and walked up to Chen Fan, circling him once. Surprise flashed through his eyes. "At the Xiantian Stage, yet you can injure a Mid-stage Golden Core cultivator with one punch—and you've cultivated ancient Martial Path techniques. Interesting. Truly interesting." He patted Chen Fan on the shoulder. "Kid, your road of martial arts will be far more exciting than I imagined."
Chen Fan's heart stirred. From Li Xiaoyao's tone, he seemed extremely knowledgeable about martial arts. Just as Chen Fan was about to ask, Li Xiaoyao spoke first. "All right, I have matters to attend to, so I won't play with you any longer. If you run into trouble in the future, perhaps we'll meet again." With that, his figure flashed, and he vanished at the end of the rocky slope, leaving behind only a fallen blade of grass.
Chen Fan stared in the direction Li Xiaoyao had disappeared, deep in thought. He vaguely felt that this mysterious swordsman, who appeared so carefree and unrestrained, might play an important role in his future path of martial arts.
"Brother Fan, what do we do now?" Lin Xiaohu came to Chen Fan's side and asked quietly.
Chen Fan returned to his senses and tightened his grip on the jade pendant. Determination flashed in his eyes. "Both the Xianyun Sect and Black Wind Stronghold are eyeing us like tigers watching their prey. We can't stay here long. We need to leave this region as soon as possible, find somewhere to continue training, and only when we become strong enough can we truly control our own fate."
With that, he took Lin Xiaohu by the hand and headed in the direction opposite Black Wind Stronghold. Beneath the setting sun, their shadows stretched long behind them. Across the desolate rocky slope, they walked onto a path of martial arts that belonged to them alone, filled with the unknown and with challenges.
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