Inborn Divine Strength

Below the platform, Chen Cheng stood tall, his eyes half-closed. He appeared to be conserving his strength, but in truth, he had summoned the panel and was quietly weighing his options.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Skin-Tempering Realm (Minor Accomplishment)

Skills: Iron Garment Art (Minor Accomplishment 50/1000), Chasing Wind Saber Technique (Beginner 30/100)

]

Those martial hall disciples haven't entered the Skin-Tempering Realm. In terms of realm strength, they're probably not even equal to a beginner Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist. I'm at Minor Accomplishment in the Skin-Tempering Realm; purely in terms of martial realm, I should be able to crush them.

The two from Six Harmonies Martial Hall have saber techniques close to Major Accomplishment, while mine is merely at Beginner level, not even Minor Accomplishment. If we compete in saber technique, the advantage isn't mine.

But Li Lin just said that he cultivates a fist technique. His Fierce Tiger Fist is close to Major Accomplishment, while I've never practiced fist techniques at all. I only know a few basic unarmed fighting moves.

If I compete against him with fists, it seems... the advantage still isn't mine.

But no matter what, I have to win this match. Things really don't look optimistic. I can't afford to be careless.

At that moment, Liao San quietly reminded him from the side, "Cheng, you need to be careful in the match later. Know your limits.

"Never force yourself out of competitiveness. If it truly comes down to it, just admit defeat. Losing to a martial hall disciple isn't shameful.

"Those who practice martial arts fear injury most. If something goes wrong and you suffer internal injuries, it will be difficult for you to continue cultivating martial arts in the future."

Knowing that he meant well, Chen Cheng nodded slightly. "Thank you for the reminder, Third Brother. I know what I'm doing."

Shen Qingshuang and the others reached a decision on the platform, choosing Li Lin to compete against Chen Cheng.

Li Lin had long been itching for a fight. He was the first to step onto the field and take his position. With his head held high and chest thrust out, he swept his gaze around the area before finally turning toward Shen Qingshuang. He cupped his fists in salute and said loudly, "Tiger Might Martial Hall disciple Li Lin greets Lady Shen."

Shen Qingshuang nodded slightly. Seeing that Li Lin had not brought a saber, she said flatly, "Then the two of you will compete in fist techniques."

Chen Cheng cupped his fists, removed the waist saber at his side and handed it to Liao San for safekeeping. Then he stepped forward and stopped opposite Li Lin.

On the platform, Zou Bingliang, master of Tiger Might Martial Hall, saw Li Lin brimming with aggression and secretly felt that things were bad. If Chen Cheng were injured, he would inevitably offend Liu Yunfeng.

At that moment, Liu Yunfeng's seemingly casual gaze swept over him. Zou Bingliang's heart gave another jolt. Just what I feared has come true. He hurriedly called out to Li Lin, "Li Lin, when martial artists exchange moves, stopping at the right point is enough."

Having received Zhao Yongfeng's instructions, Li Lin had already resolved to teach Chen Cheng a proper lesson. Naturally, he would not listen.

"Hall Master, when you taught us fist techniques, you once said that the Fierce Tiger Fist of our Tiger Might Fist Hall follows a fierce and forceful path. When facing an enemy, one must go all out, brave and unyielding, to bring out the essence of the fist technique.

"If I hold back, I will inevitably be tied hand and foot. Then I won't be able to display the power of the fist technique, and I may even lose because of it. My own defeat would be a small matter, but if I damage the reputation of our Tiger Might Fist Hall because of it, this disciple cannot bear that disgrace."

His argument was well-founded and impossible to refute. For a moment, Zou Bingliang was left speechless, so anxious that he stamped his feet repeatedly.

Before he could answer, Shen Qingshuang said, "Li Lin is right. If one does not go all out in a martial contest, how can one see their true strength? Our City Guard Office recruits constables; we only want the strong."

Li Lin grew even more smug. "Lady Shen, Li Lin will certainly go all out. Chen Cheng, if you don't dare to compete, it's not too late to admit defeat. You only need to kneel and apologize to me."

Chen Cheng had no intention of trading words with him. Clenching both fists, he charged forward and smashed a punch toward Li Lin's face.

Strike first to gain the upper hand; strike later and be controlled by others!

This was the method Chen Cheng had come up with after careful consideration.

Li Lin had never expected Chen Cheng to attack without a word, completely refusing to play by the rules. Yet he was not flustered. Instead, he secretly rejoiced.

With his fist technique close to Major Accomplishment, Li Lin could tell at a glance that Chen Cheng's punch was utterly unstructured and riddled with openings, no different from a street brawl between ruffians.

He reckoned he had a hundred ways to dodge this punch with ease, but why would he dodge? Wouldn't that weaken his momentum?

"Good!"

Li Lin shouted. His waist and stance moved as one, power flooding into his fist as he unleashed the move Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain, meeting Chen Cheng's punch head-on.

As expected of someone whose fist technique was close to Major Accomplishment, he put all his strength into this punch. Its momentum was vast and surging, faintly stirring gusts of fist wind. Like a tiger roaring through the mountains and forests, it was immensely imposing.

Alas... Cheng is still too young and hot-blooded! He shouldn't have been so rash. Liu Yunfeng sighed inwardly and turned his head away. He truly could not bear to watch Chen Cheng be sent flying by a punch and collapse to the ground heavily injured.

"Bang!"

Just as Liu Yunfeng had expected, the collision of fists produced a dull impact. Immediately afterward came a muffled thud as a body slammed into the ground.

For a moment, the entire training ground fell silent as a graveyard.

Liu Yunfeng even saw a flicker of excitement in Shen Qingshuang's beautiful eyes.

"Cheng, you won!"

Liao San roared excitedly.

Immediately after, all the watching constables burst into cheers, and the entire training ground boiled with excitement.

Liu Yunfeng spun around sharply, only to see the handsome, lean youth standing proud and straight. There was neither joy nor sorrow on his face, calm as still water, yet he possessed the bearing of deep pools and towering mountains.

He seemed utterly ordinary, yet his sharp edge was faintly exposed; his horns were already showing, magnificent and extraordinary.

"Born with divine strength," Shen Qingshuang murmured.

She had seen everything clearly, and her heart had already been shaken to the core.

Chen Cheng's punch had clearly seemed plain and ordinary. Even his posture for exerting force had been wrong, yet it had somehow sent Li Lin's powerful, thunderous punch flying away.

Their contest had been like a farmer encountering an old fist master who had cultivated for years. Chen Cheng should have stood no chance at all.

Yet Chen Cheng had won, and won overwhelmingly, like dead branches collapsing before a storm. Not only had he knocked away Li Lin's fist, but the remaining force had also sent Li Lin's sturdy body flying several meters.

That punch of Chen Cheng's had contained at least several hundred jin of force!

Such strength was possessed at the very least by a martial artist at Minor Accomplishment in the Skin-Tempering Realm. Even ordinary Skin-Tempering Realm martial artists at Minor Accomplishment might not have possessed such power.

But with Shen Qingshuang's discerning eye, she could tell at once that Chen Cheng was not a Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist. There was not the slightest trace on his body of the physique tempered by a Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist's body-refining method.

Since he was not a Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist, there could only be one explanation: he had been born with divine strength!

In the martial world, people born with divine strength were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Every one of them was a martial arts prodigy.

"Pff!" At that moment, Li Lin, who had fallen to the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood. His face suddenly turned deathly pale. He had clearly suffered internal injuries.

Using only the lingering force of his fist to forcibly shake a martial artist whose fist technique was close to Major Accomplishment into serious injury—such strength caused the watching constables to erupt in another wave of astonished cries.

What kind of monster was this?

"So martial hall disciples are actually this weak?" Chen Cheng's expression remained calm, but he too was somewhat surprised.

Or perhaps Li Lin wasn't weak. Perhaps I had misunderstood Skin-Tempering Realm martial artists.

Li Lin was helped to his feet by the other martial hall disciples.

"Chen Cheng, you dare injure my brother? Let's fight another match!" A martial hall disciple who looked rather similar to Li Lin roared angrily, holding a long saber.

Chen Cheng gave him a faint glance, then turned and walked toward Liao San.

Victory and defeat had already been decided. He had successfully obtained a spot as a probationary constable. Why would he have time to engage in pointless disputes of pride with these martial hall disciples?