Fang Chen was practicing the Whirlwind Blade Technique with a long saber,
Whirlwind Blade Technique Proficiency +1!
Father Fang and Fang Ting, inside the house, had no idea what had happened at the martial academy,
and Fang Chen had no intention of telling them. It would only add to their worries.
He might as well practice his fist techniques properly and tell them the news of his breakthrough when the time came.
After breaking through, he would be able to register with a gang and earn money, or work as a bodyguard for an escort agency.
Fang Chen had always wanted to see what the demons of this world were like,
and once he had enough strength, he could travel around a little with an escort caravan.
Casting aside the distracting thoughts in his heart, Fang Chen continued practicing the Whirlwind Blade Technique,
Whirlwind Blade Technique Proficiency +1!
As his proficiency increased, Fang Chen became increasingly able to sense the "order within chaos" of the Whirlwind Blade Technique, and his understanding continued to deepen.
The day after the wager was established.
Jiang Qiutong came to find Fang Chen.
She walked over with an upright bearing and said, "Junior Brother Fang, if you can put aside your pride now and admit that what you said back then was only a joke."
"Perhaps I can plead with Wang Yanshan and keep you from being crippled."
Fang Chen was slightly stunned. He had not expected Jiang Qiutong to come over and speak to him out of the blue.
But judging from her tone, Jiang Qiutong seemed to be doing it for his own good.
Fang Chen shook his head and smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister, but I don't need it."
Jiang Qiutong's brows furrowed. Helplessly, she said, "You still think you'll win even now?"
Fang Chen nodded and said no more.
Seeing that he no longer paid her any attention, Jiang Qiutong could do nothing. She could only feel that Fang Chen was far too stubborn and far too concerned with his pride.
She let out a soft sigh, turned around, and strode away.
Fang Chen continued practicing martial arts on his own. A day passed in the blink of an eye, and the discussions today were somewhat quieter.
The third day after the wager was established,
Song Ming was also preparing to break through to the Second Realm.
This time, Master Hong was still personally overseeing the process, and Song Ming had likewise made thorough preparations.
Many disciples were speculating about whether Song Ming could successfully break through.
Wang Yanshan was also watching closely.
In fact, Wang Yanshan might have been the person who least wanted Song Ming to break through.
After all, he had just failed to break through a few days ago. If Song Ming succeeded directly this time, it would make him seem even more useless.
But Wang Yanshan also knew very well that Song Ming truly had superior innate bone structure. Breaking through to the Second Realm should not be difficult for him.
After some time,
Song Ming walked out with a confident look on his face.
When the many disciples saw Senior Brother Song looking like that, they knew that he had most likely succeeded in breaking through!
The disciples began congratulating him one after another.
"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Senior Brother Song!"
"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Senior Brother Song!"
At this moment, Wang Yanshan also stepped forward unwillingly.
"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Senior Brother Song. I'm not as good as you."
Song Ming smiled.
"It's fine. Junior Brother Wang, adjust your condition. You'll definitely succeed on your second attempt."
A smile appeared on Wang Yanshan's face.
"I hope so."
At this moment, Song Ming walked over toward Fang Chen.
Fang Chen did not understand what he wanted and ignored him, simply continuing to practice the Tiger Subduing Fist, which he had not yet completed a full cycle of.
Seeing that Fang Chen had no intention of stopping at all, Song Ming smiled as well.
"Junior Brother Fang is truly diligent and hardworking. What a pity your innate bone structure is a little lacking."
"By the way, nearly half the time has already passed. I wonder when Junior Brother Fang plans to break through?"
Fang Chen did not pay him the slightest bit of attention. He did not want this round of the Tiger Subduing Fist to go to waste, so he simply continued focusing on his martial training.
At this moment, Wang Yanshan also walked over.
"Senior Brother Song, I think this brat was just talking nonsense. What real ability could he have?"
Only then did Fang Chen finish an entire round of the Tiger Subduing Fist.
Tiger Subduing Fist Proficiency +1
He said coldly, "The eunuch is more anxious than the emperor. I'm not in a hurry, so what are you anxious about, Senior Brother Song?"
"Besides, the person wagering against me isn't you. Are you planning to give me a great medicinal tonic for free too?"
Song Ming laughed in anger.
"Haha, Junior Brother Fang, is this how you country bumpkins speak? How rude."
"Since you want a great medicinal tonic so badly, fine. I'll wager with you too."
"If you successfully break through, I'll give you one great medicinal tonic. If you fail, you'll kneel and apologize to me."
Fang Chen gave a "heh" and smiled.
"Senior Brother Song, your Song Family has a vast fortune here in Baihe County, unlike a country bumpkin like me. Even taking out three great medicinal tonics should be effortless, shouldn't it?"
"Three! I'll wager three great medicinal tonics with you. If I lose, you can make me do whatever you want."
Seeing Fang Chen's smug expression, Song Ming sneered.
"Greedy bastard. Do you think three great medicinal tonics will make me back down?!"
"Hmph, let alone three. If you can truly succeed, I'll give you four! I'll let a country bumpkin like you see the might of my Song Family—a scale you could never imagine!"
Fang Chen cursed inwardly.
"Rich dog. That really is beyond imagination. I should've asked for five..."
Wang Yanshan looked at Fang Chen, utterly unable to figure out what was going through his mind.
Wasn't this just pushing himself into a pit of fire?
What kind of fool would dig a pit for himself and jump in?
He shook his head inwardly, growing even more eager to see the moment Fang Chen knelt and begged for mercy.
Meanwhile, Zhou Hai had long since been unable to hold back his laughter.
Only after everyone had dispersed did he approach Fang Chen and burst into loud laughter.
The disciples nearby had no idea what Zhou Hai was laughing about. They were filled with confusion.
Wasn't Zhou Hai and Fang Chen's relationship quite good? Now that Fang Chen had suffered a setback, why was Zhou Hai laughing?
At this moment, Fang Chen also could not hold back his laughter.
The two exchanged a glance and burst into hearty laughter.
Song Ming, who had not gone far, looked back and muttered inwardly,
"These people are crazy. They can still laugh at a time like this."
After Zhou Hai finished laughing, his face was full of envy. He looked at Fang Chen and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, this means one medicinal tonic for me, one for Wang Yanshan, and four for Song Ming. You're getting six great medicinal tonics for free!"
"That's so many great medicinal tonics. How about you just forget about my share..."
Fang Chen laughed and cursed, "Your father gives you two great medicinal tonics every month. Do you really have the nerve to welch on me?"
Zhou Hai gave an awkward laugh. The sheer number of free medicinal tonics was already enough to make him unbearably envious.
At this moment, Fang Chen and Zhou Hai failed to notice that,
after Song Ming came out, Hong Decheng had remained standing in a corner for a long while.
He had heard the entire conversation between Song Ming and Fang Chen just now.
Naturally, he had also seen Fang Chen's entire process of practicing his fist technique.
To be honest, Fang Chen's progress felt very wrong to him.
Hong Decheng kept replaying Fang Chen's practice in his mind.
For an old master who taught fist techniques like him, as long as he observed carefully, he could basically tell how far along a disciple had progressed.
The reason Fang Chen's progress seemed wrong to him
was not that he could not see Fang Chen's progress,
but that he could see it and still found it somewhat impossible to believe!
Hong Decheng was certain of one thing: people with poor innate bone structure would inevitably progress far more slowly than those with good innate bone structure.
That was a person's physical talent, and it was extremely difficult to change.
Hong Decheng had examined Fang Chen's bones twice. The first time was when Fang Chen had just entered the academy, and the second was when he had given everyone unified instruction.
Both bone examinations had produced the same result: below-average innate bone structure, perhaps even worse.
Therefore, Fang Chen's progress should inevitably have been very slow.
That was also why Hong Decheng did not favor Fang Chen in this wager.
With Fang Chen's physical condition, it was impossible for him to reach this level of progress in such a short time!
Even if Fang Chen consumed great medicinal tonics every day, it was still impossible for him to advance so quickly!
Inconceivable! It was truly inconceivable!
Hong Decheng did not know which part of his deduction had gone wrong.
Innate bone structure determined the speed at which one circulated qi and blood. That could not possibly be wrong!
Fang Chen's Tiger Subduing Fist was about to approach minor mastery. That could not possibly be wrong either!
Yet these two "could not possibly be wrong" conclusions could not coexist! Because Fang Chen, with his below-average innate bone structure, could not possibly advance so quickly!
Hong Decheng's mind was a complete mess.
The two conclusions kept fighting one another, leaving Hong Decheng incredibly conflicted!
Hong Decheng sighed.
"This brat really won't let me have any peace."
He turned and returned to the rear courtyard.
For some reason, after thinking everything through,
he realized that a trace of anticipation had actually risen in his heart—
anticipation that Fang Chen might truly succeed in breaking through!
Before you continue