"Outrageous!"
Wang Zhenshan's voice boomed like thunder, especially grating in the silent arena.
The Wang Family head's face was as dark as water, and cold light flickered in his eyes. The two black-clad guards behind him stepped forward in unison, half a pace, radiating a terrifying pressure—at least the level of a 4th Grade Great Martial Master!
Many students in the audience felt their breathing catch.
"Head of the Wang Family, this is an academy competition." Liu Batian spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, but carried unquestionable authority. "Any interference will be dealt with according to academy rules."
Wang Zhenshan took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger before sitting back down. But his eyes remained fixed on Lin Fan on the stage, as if he meant to pierce him with his gaze.
On the stage, Wang Hao's expression shifted unpredictably.
Lin Fan's words—"attack the places the armor can't protect"—had made his heart tighten.
The Golden Scale Armor was indeed Mortal Tier Top Grade armor, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from anyone below the 3rd Grade Martial Master level. But armor was still just armor, not an iron barrel that covered the entire body. The neck, armpits, and joints... those places were relatively weakly protected.
More importantly, armor could only defend against external attacks. If the impact was powerful enough, even if the armor didn't break, that force would still pass into the body and cause Internal Injury.
That last strike had already proved it.
"You think you can find a weakness?" Wang Hao gritted his teeth. "Even if you do, can that broken wooden sword of yours get through my defense?"
"The wooden sword can't," Lin Fan said calmly. "But my fists can."
Before his words had even faded, he let go of the Wooden Sword in his hand.
It fell to the ground with a faint clatter.
The whole arena erupted!
"Lin Fan threw away his sword?"
"He's going to fight barehanded?"
"Has he gone crazy? Wang Hao has a sword and armor. How can Lin Fan fight him empty-handed?"
In the stands, Teacher Zhang shot to his feet. "Lin Fan, you—"
"Don't worry, Teacher." Lin Fan looked at Teacher Zhang, his gaze resolute. "I know what I'm doing."
Wang Hao froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Lin Fan, you're asking for death! Without your sword, what can you use to fight me? That pitiful Basic Fist Technique of yours?"
"Exactly." Lin Fan nodded. "I'll use the Basic Fist Technique."
He slowly settled into a Boxing Stance—the opening posture of the Basic Fist Technique.
It was as ordinary as could be, as plain as could be.
Below the stage, Zhao Ritian gaped. "He really plans to use the Basic Fist Technique? Isn't that what they teach you when you first enroll?"
Wang Chao's gaze grew even more intent. "No... Look at his stance."
Lin Xue'er spoke softly. "It's perfectly natural, without a single flaw."
On the stage, Wang Hao's laughter abruptly stopped.
He had sensed something was wrong, too.
Lin Fan's Boxing Stance looked ordinary, but standing there, he gave off a feeling of being utterly unassailable. It was as though no matter which angle an attack came from, he could easily neutralize it.
What alarmed Wang Hao even more was that a faint, elusive aura had begun to emanate from Lin Fan.
That was... the aura of a powerful body!
"Quit your cheap tricks!" Wang Hao roared and attacked again.
This time, he no longer sought to decide the fight with one strike. Instead, he unleashed an unrelenting assault.
He used the Flowing Light Sword Technique at full force, swordlight pouring down like rain and completely enveloping Lin Fan.
He would force Lin Fan to retreat, force him to reveal a flaw!
But Lin Fan didn't retreat.
He didn't even dodge.
Faced with the vast rain of swordlight, Lin Fan simply crossed his arms in front of himself, protecting his vital points.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—"
A rapid series of collisions rang out!
The swordlight slashed across Lin Fan's arms, shoulders, and chest, yet rang out like metal striking metal!
More shocking still, a faint metallic sheen appeared on the surface of Lin Fan's skin. The Cold Iron Sword left only shallow white marks on it, without even breaking the skin!
"How is that possible?!" Wang Hao's pupils contracted sharply.
Below the stage, Wang Zhenshan clenched the armrest so hard it shattered instantly!
"Iron Body Skill... Major Accomplishment?" A brilliant gleam flashed in Liu Batian's eyes.
Teacher Zhang gaped. "It's only been a month... and he's already trained the Iron Body Skill to Major Accomplishment?"
The Iron Body Skill was a Mortal Tier Top Grade body-tempering technique. Trained to its limit, it could let the body withstand attacks from mortal weapons. But the technique was extremely difficult to master and required abundant resources and tireless practice. An ordinary student would be lucky to even get started in a year, yet Lin Fan had reached Major Accomplishment in a single month?
This was beyond what talent could explain.
He was a monster!
On the stage, Wang Hao was completely panicking.
His sword couldn't pierce Lin Fan's defense!
And Lin Fan was walking toward him, step by step.
With every step, the stage trembled faintly.
With every step, the aura around Lin Fan grew stronger.
"N-no... Impossible!" Wang Hao swung his sword wildly. "I don't believe it! Break!"
The swordlight grew denser, more ferocious.
But Lin Fan still neither dodged nor evaded, letting the swordlight slash into him.
The swordlight, powerful enough to cut through steel, left only one white mark after another on his body. Each vanished in an instant.
[Iron Body Skill Proficiency +10] [Iron Body Skill Proficiency +10] [Iron Body Skill Proficiency +10]
System notifications kept popping up.
Wang Hao's attacks had become a whetstone for Lin Fan's Iron Body Skill!
After ten steps, Lin Fan was already three feet from Wang Hao.
At last, Wang Hao's sword slowed.
It wasn't that he didn't want to swing faster; his arm had gone numb, and his vital energy was nearly depleted.
Continuously using the high-intensity Flowing Light Sword Technique was an enormous burden for a 2nd Grade Martial Artist.
"Had enough?" Lin Fan asked.
Wang Hao's face was deathly pale. He gritted his teeth. "Y-you... What kind of monstrous body is that...?"
"I just trained the basic technique well." Lin Fan's voice was cool. "Now it's my turn."
He slowly raised his right fist.
It was still the most ordinary opening posture of the Basic Fist Technique.
But now, no one dared to underestimate that fist.
Because Lin Fan's fist was glowing.
It wasn't the glow of vital energy released outward, but a faint light naturally emitted as his physical strength gathered to its peak and his blood surged.
More unsettling still, it seemed as if the strength of his entire body was converging into that one punch.
His muscles tightened, his bones and sinews rang in unison.
[Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment Level (1001/5000)] → [Basic Fist Technique: Major Accomplishment (5001/10000)]
A breakthrough in the middle of battle!
Even Lin Fan was slightly stunned.
When he'd just used his body to withstand the swordlight, he had subconsciously employed the Basic Fist Technique's power-generating method. He hadn't expected his proficiency to surge, pushing him straight to Major Accomplishment!
The Major Accomplishment Basic Fist Technique granted a 100% power boost!
Combined with the powerful physical strength brought by the Iron Body Skill, the force of this punch...
Lin Fan looked at the Golden Scale Armor on Wang Hao's chest.
"You said just now that I couldn't break your armor?" Lin Fan asked.
Wang Hao instinctively took a step back.
"Then let's find out."
As the words fell, Lin Fan threw his punch.
No fancy moves. No complicated trajectory.
Just the simplest, most direct Straight Punch.
But as the punch shot out, a piercing whistle rang through the air!
It was the sound of his fist tearing through the air!
It was a sign that his power had gathered to its absolute limit!
Wang Hao tried to dodge, but his body seemed to be locked in place. He couldn't move.
He tried to block, but the moment he raised his arm, the fist had already slammed into him!
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening crash!
The fist struck the very center of the Golden Scale Armor!
At that instant, time seemed to stop.
Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the stage.
Then they saw something they could hardly believe—
The Golden Scale Armor, that Mortal Tier Top Grade armor, the armor capable of withstanding a 3rd Grade Martial Master's full-force strike, under Lin Fan's fist—
Cracked!
First, fine cracks appeared in the golden scale at its center.
Then the cracks spread like a spiderweb, instantly covering the entire breastplate!
"Crack... crack-crack..."
A crisp sound of breaking rang out.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, the Golden Scale Armor shattered completely, turning into countless golden fragments that flew in every direction!
Wang Hao flew backward like a rag doll, spitting out a mouthful of blood in midair. He crashed heavily into the edge of the stage and tumbled several times before finally stopping.
His clothes had been torn to shreds across his chest, revealing a clear fist imprint.
The skin beneath it had turned an unnatural purplish black, and his breastbone had visibly caved in.
"Pfft—" Wang Hao spat out another mouthful of blood, this time mixed with fragments of his organs.
He struggled to get up, but as soon as he raised his upper body, he collapsed helplessly again.
His eyes were fixed on Lin Fan, filled with disbelief, fear, and... despair.
The entire arena fell silent.
So quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.
Everyone stared blankly at the stage, at the boy standing in the center and slowly lowering his fist.
At the boy who had shattered Mortal Tier Top Grade armor with one punch and beaten a 2nd Grade Peak Martial Artist to the brink of death.
Three breaths later, the referee finally came to his senses and announced in a trembling voice, "T-the match is over! Lin Fan wins!"
His voice shattered the silence.
The next moment, the arena erupted into a deafening roar!
"He won! Lin Fan won!"
"One punch! He only needed one punch!"
"The Golden Scale Armor broke! That was Mortal Tier Top Grade armor!"
"How strong is Lin Fan's body?!"
"A monster! He's definitely a monster!"
The Regular Class students shouted themselves hoarse. Quite a few students from ordinary families were even moved to tears.
Lin Fan's victory wasn't just a personal victory.
It was also a victory for commoners over nobles!
A victory for hard work over resources!
The best proof of "My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven's"!
In the stands, Chen Dahu trembled with excitement. Ignoring the injury to his arm, he waved his left hand wildly. "Brother Fan won! Brother Fan won!"
Teacher Zhang let out a long breath and slumped into his chair, only then realizing that his back was soaked in cold sweat.
Liu Batian's eyes shimmered with admiration. He murmured to himself, "A fine seed... A truly fine seed..."
In the Genius Class seating area, Zhao Ritian's mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. "M-my hundred Academic Credits..."
Wang Chao slowly stood up, took a long look at Lin Fan, then turned to leave. But before he went, he said softly, "I look forward to fighting him."
Lin Xue'er remained seated quietly, but for the first time, clear emotion stirred in her icy blue eyes—curiosity, interest, and... intrigue.
At that moment, no one was angrier than Wang Zhenshan.
"Wang Hao!"
With a furious roar, Wang Zhenshan vanished from where he stood. When he appeared again, he was already on the stage.
He lifted the unconscious Wang Hao and checked his injuries. His face darkened until it seemed water might drip from it.
Three fractured ribs, damaged organs, injured meridians... He wouldn't recover without at least three months.
More importantly, the force behind that punch contained some peculiar power that was continuing to damage Wang Hao's bodily functions. Without immediate treatment, he might even suffer permanent injuries that would affect his future in martial arts.
"What vicious tactics!" Wang Zhenshan looked up and glared at Lin Fan. "You're so young, yet your heart is so poisonous!"
Lin Fan looked at him calmly. "In a spar, injuries are inevitable. When Wang Hao broke Dahu's arm earlier, did you call that 'vicious'?"
"You—" Wang Zhenshan was at a loss for words.
"Besides," Lin Fan continued, "I already held back. If I'd used a sword, he'd be dead now."
He said it calmly, but Wang Zhenshan felt a chill in his heart.
Indeed, if Lin Fan had been using a sword, that punch could have been a thrust—and Wang Hao would have been dead by now.
But how could Wang Zhenshan swallow this humiliation?
His Wang Family was a prominent lineage in Jiangnan City. Now its legitimate heir had been gravely injured in public by a commoner, his armor destroyed, and the family's reputation dragged through the dirt!
If the Wang Family didn't avenge this, how could it ever hold its place in Jiangnan City?
"Good. Very good, Lin Fan." Wang Zhenshan drew a deep breath, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes. "I'll remember what happened today."
With that, he picked up Wang Hao and turned to leave.
"Wait." Lin Fan suddenly spoke.
"What?" Wang Zhenshan turned back, his gaze icy.
"The wager." Lin Fan pointed at the Golden Scale Armor fragments on the ground. "Wang Hao said before the match that if he lost, the Golden Scale Armor would be mine. It's broken, but the material can still be used."
Wang Zhenshan trembled with rage.
The Golden Scale Armor was a treasure the Wang Family had bought at great expense. Its destruction had already cost them dearly, and now Lin Fan was demanding the fragments in front of everyone?
This was a blatant slap in the face!
But with all eyes on him, if he went back on his word, the Wang Family's reputation would be utterly ruined.
"Take it!" Wang Zhenshan forced the words through clenched teeth, then left without looking back.
Lin Fan bent down, picked up several of the larger Golden Scale Armor fragments, and tucked them into his clothes.
They really were valuable. Mortal Tier Top Grade materials could fetch a good price even broken, or be used to forge other items.
Only then did the referee dare step onto the stage. He announced loudly, "I declare Lin Fan the champion of this year's freshman tournament!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd once more.
Lin Fan stood in the middle of the arena, bathed in the sunset's afterglow and the crowd's attention, his expression still calm.
But inside, his emotions surged.
He had won this fight.
Won cleanly. Won decisively.
But he knew this was only the beginning.
Wang Hao wouldn't let this go, and neither would the Wang Family.
And then there was the "Shadow Society," hidden in the dark...
The path of martial arts had never been smooth.
More challenges and more enemies lay ahead.
But so what?
Lin Fan clenched his fist.
He had the system, the perseverance of a "grinding fanatic," and an unceasing drive to improve.
No matter what lay ahead, he would smash through it with a single punch!
"Lin Fan." Teacher Zhang stepped onto the arena and patted him on the shoulder, pride shining in his eyes. "Well done."
"Thank you, Teacher."
"Get ready to claim your prize." Teacher Zhang smiled. "The champion's reward is no ordinary one."
Lin Fan nodded and looked toward the VIP stand.
Liu Batian had already risen to his feet, holding a jade tray.
Three things rested on it:
A jade bottle containing pills.
An ancient-looking manual.
And... a card shimmering with golden light.
Every gaze in the arena instantly focused on them.
Before you continue