Chapter Twenty-Six: Quick Battle, Quick Resolution

The results of the draw had a significant impact on the outcome of the sparring.

Since it was a three-way rotation, each person had to fight three matches, and everyone hoped the other two would face each other first.

Fists and kicks have no eyes; if one were injured, the remaining person could sit back and reap the rewards like the fisherman in the fable.

Even without injury, the expenditure of spirit and stamina could not be recovered in a quarter-hour break, giving the person who fought last a distinct advantage.

Chen Yuan waited for Gu Ye to announce the results of the draw.

Gu Ye held up the bamboo slips and said indifferently, "Group one, first match: Cao Yan versus Chen Yuan. Second match: Gao Mingchang versus Chen Yuan. Third match: Gao Mingchang versus Cao Yan. There will be a quarter-hour break between bouts."

Once the results were out, the three of them had different thoughts.

Cao Yan's eyes darted around. Although she was in the first match, the second match was Chen Yuan against Gao Mingchang.

As long as she finished her first match quickly and conserved her energy, she could let Chen Yuan wear down Gao Mingchang in the second match.

That way, she would have a certain advantage when she faced Gao Mingchang in the third match.

It was acceptable.

A faint smile already hung on Gao Mingchang's face; he didn't have to fight in the first match, so the advantage was his.

It would be even better if the other two fought to a mutual defeat, but even if they didn't, it wouldn't be much of a problem.

He had always been confident in his own strength, and if the other two were even slightly fatigued, they would certainly be no match for him.

It seemed today was his lucky day.

So, who was the unlucky one?

Chen Yuan remained expressionless; to him, the draw results were all the same.

If he couldn't gain an advantage, he would make up for it with strength.

He would kick them both out and finish early.

The draw results for Sun Chengjie and his group were: first match, Xue Anping versus He Qing; second match, Sun Chengjie versus He Qing; third match, Xue Anping versus Sun Chengjie.

It was evident that He Qing's luck was the same as Chen Yuan's, though his expression was now quite grim.

Soon, the first match began.

The combatants: Cao Yan and Chen Yuan.

The two stood several yards apart in the courtyard, facing each other, regulating their breathing and focusing their minds.

Gu Ye announced in a clear voice, "This is a friendly spar between fellow disciples, so stop at the point of contact! Maliciously causing serious injury is forbidden and will be severely punished! Begin!"

"Six Harmonies Mind Boxing, Chen Yuan, please advise."

"White Crane Boxing, Cao Yan, please advise."

As soon as the words fell, both moved simultaneously!

Cao Yan initiated the attack.

White Crane Boxing emphasizes "inch-power and segmented force, lightness, agility, and swiftness." Since women are naturally less powerful than men, she compensated with speed and precision.

She tapped her toes, her figure gliding like a white crane skimming the waves. In two steps, she surged into his center, her right fingers curled into a crane's beak. Carrying a sharp gust of wind, she struck directly at Chen Yuan's throat!

This move was called "White Crane Seeks Food"—fast, accurate, and ruthless.

Her fingertips cut through the air, emitting a sharp, whistling sound.

Chen Yuan's gaze narrowed; he did not retreat but advanced instead.

Six Harmonies Mind Boxing: step into the center to seize the position.

He stepped forward with his left foot, turning his body slightly, and thrust his left hand horizontally from his chest—the Horizontal Fist. In the Five Elements, it belongs to Earth; Earth gives birth to all things, and it is specialized in neutralizing linear, forceful attacks.

"Pa!"

His forearm collided with Cao Yan's wrist, producing a crisp sound.

Cao Yan felt as if her beak had struck a tightened steel cable. Her force was deflected at an angle, and her entire arm involuntarily slid outward.

What solid force! Cao Yan felt a chill in her heart, but she did not panic.

She used the momentum to spin her body. The moment her right arm was deflected, her left arm, like a white crane spreading its wings, curled its fingers into a palm blade and slashed diagonally from bottom to top toward Chen Yuan's temple.

This change of move was as fluid as flowing water; it was the "Crane Wings Fan the Wind" of White Crane Boxing.

Before the palm arrived, the force of the wind already brushed his face.

Chen Yuan did not block.

He pushed off the ground with his back foot, the force rising from his heel. With a twist of his waist and spine, his entire body snapped forward like a taut bowstring—Half-Step Crushing Fist!

"Whoosh—"

The fist broke through the air with a short, dull sound.

This punch arrived after the opponent's but struck first, aiming directly for the opening in Cao Yan's chest and abdomen.

Cao Yan's palm blade was still three inches from his temple, but his fist was already pressing against her heart.

Cao Yan's pupils constricted, and she was forced to withdraw her move.

She pulled her right foot back sharply, dropped her waist, and crossed her arms downward to seal off the path of the Crushing Fist.

"Bang!"

Fist and arm collided with a dull thud like a beating drum.

Cao Yan felt a spiraling, twisting force drill straight through her forearm, numbing the web of her thumb and forcing her to retreat three steps before she could dissipate the momentum.

She gritted her teeth to steady herself, just about to widen the distance and look for another opening—

Chen Yuan had already moved.

This was the true style of Xingyi.

Once a move gained the upper hand, he pressed forward step by step, never giving his opponent a chance to breathe.

He lunged his right foot forward, grinding his sole into the ground; the force rose from the earth, knees and hips unified, and he darted toward Cao Yan like an arrow released from a bow!

Cao Yan's pupils constricted sharply.

Too fast!

She had only just steadied her stance, and Chen Yuan's fist was already upon her.

His right fist shot out in a straight line from the center, his waist and spine twisting to generate power. The fist tip spiraled through, tearing the air with a dull "boom"—like a thunderclap, like a heavy cannon firing.

A head-on Cannon Fist!

Before the fist arrived, the wind of the strike was already upon her face.

Cao Yan felt a terrifying force surging toward her like a raging tide, the fabric over her chest pressing inward from the pressure of the fist wind.

She wanted to dodge, but Chen Yuan's intent had locked her firmly in place.

It's over!

A bone-chilling cold shot from her tailbone to the back of her skull; every hair on Cao Yan's body stood on end, and cold sweat instantly soaked her back.

She didn't even have time to concede! Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest, bracing to take the blow head-on.

The fist stopped.

It halted an inch from her chest.

The fist wind had yet to dissipate, blowing the stray hairs on her forehead backward.

The arena was deathly silent.

Cao Yan slowly opened her eyes to see that fist hanging steadily before her chest, motionless.

Heat from the strike still steamed off the knuckles, which were tinged with a faint red.

Her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to her knees.

Chen Yuan withdrew his fist, stepped back, and cupped his hands. "I concede the advantage."

Cao Yan had no intention of landing a heavy blow, and her style was clean, so he naturally wouldn't hurt her.

Cao Yan gasped for air, cold sweat sliding down her temples.

In that moment, she had truly believed her arm bone would snap.

She took several deep breaths, finally steadying her trembling voice, and cupped her hands in return.

"Brother Chen's fist technique is exquisite. Thank you for holding back. I... I concede."

She could clearly feel that Chen Yuan's mastery of Six Harmonies Mind Boxing was a cut above her White Crane Boxing.

Who knows how he trained!

The spectators were silent.

Gu Ye and Huang Yan's expressions changed slightly as they looked at Chen Yuan.

They had just been discussing and predicting the outcome of this sparring match.

Gu Ye felt that because Cao Yan was a woman, she lacked raw strength and held no innate advantage; furthermore, although Chen Yuan only had a D-Grade Bone Structure, he possessed a great deal of ambition.

His battle last month against Gao Mingchang had also demonstrated Chen Yuan's combat intelligence, which was why he favored Chen Yuan.

Huang Yan thought otherwise; he believed that while Cao Yan lacked strength, judging the outcome solely by power was too superficial.

Cao Yan was more agile and practiced White Crane Boxing, which excelled in speed; she could easily circle and weave, exhaust Chen Yuan's stamina, and wait for an opening to win in one strike.

Yet neither of them had expected Chen Yuan's style to be this fierce.

His defense was airtight, and he struck like lightning the moment he saw an opening, his application of Six Harmonies Mind Boxing techniques nothing short of masterful.

Cao Yan, who had wanted to end the fight quickly, had been ended quickly instead.

To be able to stop exactly at the point of victory without either side exhausting their state—that was truly commendable.

Gu Ye smiled faintly. "Master Huang, it seems your judgment failed you this time."

Huang Yan didn't feel awkward, laughing instead. "I did underestimate this Chen Yuan. His Six Harmonies Mind Boxing is practiced to a level that rivals even my own."

The look in his eyes as he watched Chen Yuan held a bit more appreciation.

After all, he was a fellow disciple.

As some rejoiced, others suffered; the smile on Gao Mingchang's face had vanished completely.