Fist vs. Fist

It was only the next day.

That the deaths of the Lin couple in their home were discovered, just as Chen Feng had expected.

In the end, the people sent by the authorities hastily judged it to be the work of a gang, as if they were just ticking off a task.

No evidence, no reason.

Pure speculation.

That was how careless they were.

Even Chen Feng, the true culprit, couldn't help but sigh. The Chen family had once been treated the same way, ignored by everyone. Now, at last, the Lin family had tasted that same bitter fate.

With the gangs running rampant lately,

many people were happy to see the blame pinned on inner-city gangs like Yicheng Hall.

It was the perfect opportunity to use the Li Family, which stood behind the Lin family, to suppress their arrogance.

As for who the killer was,

that mattered far less.

Time flew by, and half a month passed.

That day, Chen Feng was still at the martial arts school. He wasn't practicing his punches, though. Instead, he was relaxing his mind and searching for an opportunity to break through.

Perhaps because of his Zhong Xia Gen Gu,

Chen Feng had a vague feeling that breaking through from the Bone Forging Realm to the Viscera Quenching Realm would be difficult.

However...

There was one thing worth celebrating—he'd found a quick way to earn Experience:

teaching students at the martial arts school.

He discovered that whether he demonstrated fist techniques to new disciples or helped them work through their questions, he could earn a large number of Experience points.

The more they improved, the more Chen Feng gained.

The system also gave him the title of [Jiao Xi]. At the end of each day, he received another sum of Experience, making it a two-for-one deal.

At the same time,

since Chen Feng's Five Elements Fist Technique had been verified by the system as genuinely at the [Perfection] level, teaching came easily to him.

No matter how tricky the question, he could answer it. No matter how slight the flaw in a stance, he could correct it on the spot.

His advice was precise, and he treated people kindly.

Chen Feng's reputation at Dragon Walk Martial Arts School had even begun to overshadow that of the other Personal Disciples!

There were even plenty of female students who had just enrolled. Instead of learning staff techniques, they made a point of coming to the Fist Academy to study under Chen Feng.

After all, the Gun Yuan had Senior Sister Su Wanqing, yet even she was being overshadowed by Chen Feng.

This left Yao Xingzhi rather puzzled.

But on second thought, it made perfect sense:

Of all the Personal Disciples, Chen Feng was the only one with Zhong Xia Gen Gu. The others were all unusually gifted, and Chen Feng's experience in the Slums added an extraordinary color to his story.

A nobody's rise to greatness.

That was the sort of thing that happened only to the heroes in storybooks.

In the mouths of the many disciples, Chen Feng had already become a legendary figure.

There was only one thing to regret: he couldn't teach Meng Zhaowu.

Chen Feng still remembered that friend who used to slip him silver in secret. It had been one of the few kindnesses he'd felt since crossing over.

The other disciples said that Meng Zhaowu seemed to have decided to give up martial arts and go home to take over his father's trading company...

"Senior Brother Chen! Senior Brother Chen!"

Several disciples hurried over to Chen Feng.

"What is it? Another question about fist techniques?"

Chen Feng answered with a kind smile. In his eyes, each and every one of these disciples was a walking Experience point.

"No, no. Senior Brother Zhao told us that if we saw you, we should ask you to come to the Backyard," the disciples replied.

Fourth Senior Brother?

A thoughtful look appeared in Chen Feng's eyes. Then he headed toward the Backyard.

As soon as he entered the courtyard,

he saw Zhao Shanyue bare-chested, throwing punches. His muscles and bones crackled, and every punch carried tremendous force.

"Senior Brother, you wanted to see me?"

When Chen Feng arrived, Zhao Shanyue slowly drew back his fists and stopped.

"I asked you to come today at Master's request. He wants me to spar with you and help you hone your combat skills."

Chen Feng froze.

"Spar?"

"Exactly," Zhao Shanyue said. "You've never sparred with anyone at your own level, have you? We'll trade punches and build up experience in actual combat."

"A wooden stake just stands there and lets you hit it. But when it comes down to a real fight, your enemy won't."

Chen Feng understood the reasoning.

Strength and cultivation were certainly important, but if he didn't know how to use them when it mattered, he was nothing more than a bigger punching bag.

So all work and no sparring wasn't the answer.

It would leave him short on real combat experience.

His master must have realized Chen Feng needed this and instructed Fourth Senior Brother to spar with him.

Chen Feng thought back over his time practicing martial arts.

It seemed that every fight he'd been in had been against someone overwhelmingly stronger or weaker. Either he'd killed his opponent in an instant, or Iron Butcher had chased him all over the place.

He'd never gotten more than a few exchanges in.

"But..."

Chen Feng looked at Fourth Senior Brother's knotted muscles and felt a little apprehensive.

Zhao Shanyue was in the Viscera Quenching Realm!

He was an entire major realm above Chen Feng. Wouldn't fighting him be like fighting a child?

Seeing his concern, Zhao Shanyue smiled. "I'll hold my strength down to the Bone Forging Realm. Just think of me as a little sturdier than the average person."

He'd put it that plainly.

Chen Feng naturally wouldn't refuse. It was a perfect chance to hone his combat skills, lest he become an empty showpiece who got crushed by anyone at his own level.

Truthfully, he also wanted to know just how strong he was now.

His strength had been improving so quickly lately that he'd begun to feel a little restless. Perhaps sparring with his Senior Brother would help him quiet his mind.

And remind him that there was always someone better, and the sky was always higher.

Chen Feng took a deep breath, slowly clenched his fists, and assumed the opening stance of the Five Elements Fist Technique.

"Senior Brother, please!"

"Good!"

Seeing how quickly Chen Feng had entered the proper state, Zhao Shanyue nodded in approval and settled into his own stance.

"You attack first."

Chen Feng didn't hesitate. His gaze sharpened, and the moment Zhao Shanyue finished speaking,

Chen Feng drove off the ground and surged forward. Without any unnecessary flourishes, he struck straight out with a punch, aiming a Surging Fist at Zhao Shanyue's chest.

"Good move!"

A hint of approval flashed through Zhao Shanyue's eyes. Yet his feet didn't budge. Just before Chen Feng's fist could land,

his aura suddenly surged, and pure, boundless Qi Blood billowed outward.

Chen Feng's heart jolted. The fist he'd thrown faltered under the shock, and in the next instant—

Zhao Shanyue slowly raised his right fist and launched a Collapsing Fist Style, wrapped in surging Blood Qi.

To Chen Feng's astonishment, it struck the opening in front of his chest first!

The blow was undeniably powerful. If it had landed squarely, Chen Feng would have been badly injured.

But Zhao Shanyue pulled his punch at the last moment. His clenched fist abruptly opened into a palm, and the fierce force vanished without a trace. In the end, a powerful shove sent Chen Feng stumbling back.

Even so, Chen Feng felt a dull ache in his chest.

"Clear your mind! You've already thrown your punch—there's no taking it back! Don't let one little distraction make you forget everything!"

Zhao Shanyue barked.

"Treat me as your enemy! Attack with everything you've got! Don't hold back!"

Chen Feng's heart tightened. He silently swept away every distracting thought, his muscles tensing.

The Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique began to circulate on its own. The refined Martial Way Blood Qi surged through his body, rumbling like drums before a battle.

Buzz—

For some inexplicable reason, a streak of electricity seemed to flash through his mind like a flying shuttle.

Chen Feng suddenly felt his thoughts clear. In an instant, it was as if he stood in a blank expanse, with only Fourth Senior Brother before him and nothing else.

Zhao Shanyue's pupils abruptly contracted.

This was...

Flow State!