Mind Fast

Ancient Chu Kingdom, Willow Town.

Yang Family Martial Hall.

"Bang!"

A figure flew backward, rolling several times like a ball, struggling on the ground for a few moments, and then actually tilted his head back and spat out a large mouthful of blood.

"The expert who came to challenge the hall couldn't even last ten moves!"

"Senior Brother Chen's boxing... has reached the pinnacle."

"In the martial hall industry of Willow Town, besides Master Yang, no one is Senior Brother Chen's opponent anymore."

"..."

A group of martial hall disciples watching the scene were dumbfounded, erupting in intense discussion.

The defeated challenger.

His name was Pei Qing, and he was a resident expert at another martial hall in Willow Town, renowned and a top five martial artist in Willow Town!

But today, he met—

All the martial hall disciples cast admiring gazes towards the other tall and straight young figure in the arena.

Chen Xuan!

Three years ago, Chen Xuan came to Willow Town alone and joined the Yang Family Martial Hall on a snowy night.

No one expected that the very next day, he would use a set of basic boxing techniques he had only learned for half a day to defeat a formal martial hall disciple in a sparring match...

Master Yang, who taught martial arts, was astonished at the time and asserted with great excitement.

This was a genius with utmost sincerity in the martial way!

"Master Pei, thank you for the match."

In the center of the arena, the young man with a heroic appearance withdrew his naturally formed boxing stance, gently exhaled, and then smiled as he stepped forward to help up Pei Qing, who was lying on the ground unable to get up.

"Chen Xuan, I lost..."

Pei Qing's body was still trembling, his gaze complex as he stared at the young man before him, then, with a mix of tears and laughter, he shouted loudly:

"From now on in this Willow Town, the young phoenix will sing clearer than the old, and all martial artists will have to go through you!!!"

As the sorrowful words fell, this old martial artist who had practiced martial arts for many years mustered the last bit of strength in his body, shook off Chen Xuan's hand, turned around, and walked out the door with unsteady steps, being helped away by his disciples, his back view incredibly lonely.

"..."

Chen Xuan watched the old martial artist leave, tilted his head, his gaze slightly helpless.

Out of respect for the martial way, he had gone all out in the match just now... only holding back three parts of his strength in the decisive final punch.

But it seemed he had still struck a sense of despair into Pei Qing's heart.

"Senior Brother Chen, when can we be as powerful as you?"

The young disciples of the martial hall asked with faces full of longing. Among the crowd, a delicate little junior sister of fourteen or fifteen years old had eyes shining even brighter, her admiration uncontrollable.

Chen Xuan thought for a moment and smiled:

"Practice the basic boxing techniques at least a hundred thousand times first."

"Hiss..."

Everyone immediately gasped in their hearts, scratching their ears and cheeks, their faces full of difficulty: "Let's forget about it."

A hundred thousand times...

But some of the older disciples with resolute personalities felt a surge of ambition in their hearts at this moment.

Because they had seen it with their own eyes over these three years.

Spring breeze, summer heat, autumn comes, winter goes, this Senior Brother Chen was practicing boxing at all times; he truly practiced a set of boxing techniques no less than a hundred thousand times!

Utmost sincerity in the martial way.

It was nothing more than this.

Chen Xuan looked at his fellow disciples practicing with high spirits, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

But then.

This relaxed mood quickly disappeared without a trace.

"But even if you practice boxing a hundred thousand times, no matter how high your boxing skills are, it's ultimately useless."

"Practicing martial arts is for mortals, practicing Qi is for immortals."

"In this world... there really are immortals."

Chen Xuan looked up at the dome of the sky.

In his raised eyes, an image of extreme majesty and transcendence was immediately reflected.

Lightning plasma surged in the dark cloud layers, countless bronze-cast chains stretched across the sky, some ancient beings extended hands as large as mountains from the clouds, dragging the vertical-pupiled crimson-gold sun from all directions, the chains squeezing out golden blood of ten thousand degrees...

As if, he heard the mournful roar of primeval beasts... ancient, compassionate.

—Candle Dragon's Eye.

Legend has it that in ancient times, the immortal sages leveled mountains and seas, and finally gouged out the eye of that supreme mountain god, placing it high in the sky, thus clearly dividing day and night, the four seasons...

"It's not a legend..."

Chen Xuan murmured to himself. Every time he saw this utterly insane scene over the past three years, he couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in his heart.

But ultimately.

This scene was something only he could see.

This was the special ability he gained when he transmigrated—[Mind Fast].

One eye could peer into strange things that others couldn't see, which was extremely miraculous.

It wasn't very useful.

Chen Xuan hadn't gained any help from it. Perhaps it was because he hadn't encountered other strange things yet.

However, he knew that this opportunity would come soon.

In the afternoon.

Master Yang Qingshan, the top expert in Willow Town, returned to the martial hall covered in dust.

"That old fellow Pei Qing, who seeks fame by dishonest means, deliberately caused trouble while I was away. Fortunately, I left you in the martial hall to keep watch."

Yang Qingshan sneered, then watched Chen Xuan practice his punches with single-minded focus. Each punch and stance was so standard it was pleasing to the eye, even subtly showing a sense of returning to simplicity, causing him to nod in continuous approval.

"Master Yang, Pei Qing has been suppressed by you in Willow Town for decades."

Chen Xuan smiled and put away his stance, then asked with anticipation, "Today, have the important figures from Green Deer Mountain not passed through Willow Town yet?"

Green Deer Mountain.

That was an ancient sect in the Ancient Chu Kingdom. Inside, there were martial artists, demonic creatures, immortals...

Every twenty years.

Important figures from Green Deer Mountain would pass through Willow Town once, heading towards the Southern Wilderness Mountains.

"I left Wang Chan and others waiting outside the town."

Yang Qingshan nodded and continued, "Among the martial hall disciples, you have the best talent. Wang Chan and these fellow disciples are not as good as you... As long as Green Deer Mountain is willing to accept disciples in Willow Town, that person will definitely be you."

Yang Qingshan had a heart that cherished talent.

When he was young, he was also a martial arts genius who stood out in Willow Town, but he wasn't favored by Green Deer Mountain at that time, which he had always considered a great regret in his life.

Now that his excellent disciples in the martial hall had a chance, he would do anything to fight for them.

"Thank you, Master Yang, for your care. If I can join Green Deer Mountain to practice Qi, I will definitely repay you generously in the future."

Chen Xuan's eyes were sincere, and his tone was solemn as he made the promise.

Three years ago, he traveled alone across hundreds of miles of mountains and marshes to come to Willow Town to practice martial arts, precisely waiting for this opportunity.

"There's no need for words between us... My little girl likes you very much. If this doesn't work out, you must become my live-in son-in-law."

Yang Qingshan looked relieved, then pointed to the courtyard, where a clear-faced young girl was practicing martial arts absentmindedly, her eyes frequently stealing glances over.

"..."

Chen Xuan glanced at the little junior sister who had grown into a graceful young woman in the distance.

In his heart, there were no ripples.

Afterward, the two exchanged some martial arts insights.

"The waves behind push the waves ahead. If you practice your punches for another three years, I'll have to admit defeat."

Yang Qingshan sighed repeatedly. Chen Xuan's performance in the morning's sparring had actually caused his martial arts to advance further. This excellent martial arts talent made him unable to help but feel a hint of amazement.

Just at this moment.

Suddenly, a martial artist rushed into the martial hall in a hurry, shouting as he ran:

"Master Yang, Senior Brother Chen, this is bad, something big has happened!"

"What are you panicking about? Be calm and don't be impatient!"

Yang Qingshan roared, grabbing the person's arm with both hands, lifting him up like a little chicken, and asked, "Have the Qi practitioners from Green Deer Mountain arrived?"

Chen Xuan also focused his gaze, his eyes subtly filled with anticipation.

"It is those important figures who have arrived."

The martial artist was out of breath and said anxiously, "They are currently drinking in the town's restaurant... They have chosen Junior Brother Wang Chan! They said that Junior Brother Wang Chan is an unparalleled genius, unprecedented in history!"

Wang Chan?

Chen Xuan was startled upon hearing this. A martial hall disciple had actually been chosen directly?

"This is a great thing, but what kind of unparalleled genius is Wang Chan? Heh, even this clumsy kid was chosen."

Joy surfaced on Yang Qingshan's brows. He turned his head and said excitedly to Chen Xuan, "This matter is definitely settled for you. Let's go, come with me to the restaurant to meet the people from Green Deer Mountain."

"Alright."

Chen Xuan also suppressed the faint excitement in his heart and was about to set off with him.

"No!"

The martial artist immediately looked extremely nervous, spreading his arms to block the way. "Senior Brother Chen cannot go..."

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is the reason for this?"

The disciple stammered in reply, "It's Junior Brother Wang Chan. He did something... Green Deer Mountain is furious and said that Senior Brother Chen has a low character. It's better not to meet him. If they do meet, they will definitely act on behalf of heaven and strike him dead with one punch..."

"Wang Chan? When did I offend him?"

Chen Xuan was startled by the news. His mind raced for a moment, recalling his interactions with Wang Chan, and he became even more confused. "Three days ago, I even instructed him on two sets of boxing techniques."

This unexpected turn of events was too sudden and too strange, leaving him feeling bewildered.

"There must be a hidden reason!"

Yang Qingshan's tiger eyes widened, and he said decisively to Chen Xuan, "I have dealt with Green Deer Mountain before and have some connections. I will go and explain for you. Wait for my news at the martial hall."

Chen Xuan could only cup his fists in thanks. "Thank you, Master Yang."

In the evening, dusk settled in.

The atmosphere in the martial hall was heavy. The disciples were all indignant, secretly looking at the lonely figure standing under the eaves.

The fourteen or fifteen-year-old Junior Sister Yang puffed up her pink cheeks in anger, almost crying. "Senior Brother Chen has a low character? Deceiving his master and destroying his ancestors... Wang Chan is truly heartless! Slandering Senior Brother Chen and ruining his reputation, how hateful!"

Chen Xuan looked up, gazing at the dark sky, lost in thought for a moment, his mood growing heavier.

Is Wang Chan crazy...

Just then, Yang Qingshan's strong smell of alcohol drifted into the martial hall from a distance.

"Master Yang, this matter..."

Chen Xuan immediately walked out from under the eaves and went to meet him.

Yang Qingshan stopped, looked at Chen Xuan with a complicated gaze, then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he beckoned:

"Chen Xuan, come here, I have something to tell you..."

In the distance, the disciples of the martial hall only saw Senior Brother Chen, without any guard, quickly walking towards the kind-faced Master Yang.

Immediately, a scene that no one had ever anticipated or was prepared for occurred.

Junior Sister Yang covered her small mouth in horror and cried out in surprise.

Bang!

Chen Xuan flew backward like a cannonball, spitting out blood. He directly smashed through the wooden door several feet away and fell into the dark wooden house.

The smell of blood permeated the air.

"Chen Xuan!"

Yang Qingshan's hair and beard stood on end. He retracted the kick that carried immense power, and the entire person roared like an enraged Mighty Lion:

"You deceived your master and destroyed your ancestors, you are arrogant and unruly, lawless! Today, I will clean up the sect and personally cripple you!"

The roaring, angry voice rolled over everyone's hearts like muffled thunder.

Everyone was stunned, staring dumbfounded at this terrifying scene, because it was clear that Master Yang's kick was too powerful. An ordinary person would either die or be crippled from it.

The next moment.

Crack!

In the dark house, a strong five-fingered hand grabbed the door frame. Immediately after, Chen Xuan's face emerged from inside the house. In the twilight, only half of his sharply defined face could be vaguely seen.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes fierce, and slowly opened his blood-stained, chilling teeth:

"Old man—"

Malice.

Spread.