Pressure

Chen Fan reined in his stray thoughts and stepped forward!

Smack!

The two crossed paths and immediately began fighting.

Although his opponent was a female disciple, Chen Fan had no intention of holding back!

He struck with the incomplete Wind-Thunder Palm, driving it straight toward her body!

Lin Qingyu was fit and agile, her movements quick, her techniques light yet powerful.

As the two exchanged blows, sharp smacks rang out.

Fists and palms collided. In the blink of an eye, they had traded more than ten moves. Chen Fan responded somewhat hastily and had indeed fallen into a disadvantage.

"Impressive!"

His expression turned grave, and he did not dare relax or hold back in the slightest.

He had not paid particular attention to this senior sister during the previous matches. Only now, facing her directly, did he realize how terrifying this woman's strength was!

This was also the first time Chen Fan had felt such immense pressure in the martial tournament.

Lin Qingyu had an excellent foundation and high martial cultivation. She was far stronger than any opponent Chen Fan had faced before!

Even as steady as Chen Fan was, he had to admit that his overall strength was inferior to hers!

I've only fully mastered two forms of the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm. The Wind-Thunder Palm and Shattered Jade Fist are incomplete as well. I've only fully mastered three second-tier manuals; all the others are third-tier... In terms of strength, I'm not much stronger than Lin Qingyu... As for technique and experience, I'm completely inferior!

His vitality and foundation were stronger, but only by a limited amount. Meanwhile, her cultivation was higher, and her experience far surpassed his.

This was the difference in accumulated experience!

If Chen Fan had previously fought on the arena with ease, with no one capable of forcing out his full strength, then now, he was already exerting himself to the utmost!

He simply could not beat her.

His vigorous vitality and powerful foundation allowed him to remain undefeated, but winning was also extremely difficult!

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Chen Fan became.

Lin Qingyu is probably no weaker than Ge Yuantong or Feng Yuancheng. Forget the top eight—she could even make the top four!

If Lin Qingyu had not only recently broken through to the second level of martial cultivation, barely begun tempering her muscles, and been a woman naturally weaker in vitality, Chen Fan would never have been able to wear her down!

Smack! Smack!

As he fought Lin Qingyu, Chen Fan felt enormous pressure.

Yet rather than being discouraged, he grew increasingly excited and exhilarated!

One reason he had joined this tournament was to display his strength and talent.

Encountering a powerful opponent who could temper him was naturally even better!

Moreover, fighting others and feeling pressure could also lead to sudden enlightenment. It was the best of both worlds!

A delighted expression unconsciously appeared on Chen Fan's face!

Of course, Chen Fan was not the only one feeling pressure. Lin Qingyu felt it as well.

"Good kid! It seems I underestimated your strength, Junior Brother!"

Lin Qingyu's eyes flickered. Along with her surprise, she also felt delight!

"Since that's the case... try this move of mine!"

Her hands fluttered like butterflies, and her techniques became even more exquisite as she attacked Chen Fan without holding anything back.

What she was using was no longer an ordinary strength-training manual, but a martial skill that could only be cultivated with true essence!

Chen Fan suddenly felt the pressure increase once again!

He did not dare slacken in the slightest. He repeatedly struck out with the Wind-Thunder Palm, barely managing to hold on!

Even so, he was forced back again and again, showing clear signs of defeat!

"Whew, she's too strong!"

Watching Chen Fan get pushed back by the girl standing opposite him, the disciples of the Four Symbols Sect began shouting excitedly once more!

"He's finally showing his true colors!"

Yu Xingzheng sneered repeatedly. "Hmph, even if you escaped yesterday's lesson, won't you still lose?! A weakling like you dares to act arrogant..."

Bao Tianyou was also full of worry. Is Chen Fan going to lose...?

Though it was within his expectations, seeing Chen Fan fall into a disadvantage still left him disappointed.

In the competitors' waiting area, Feng Yuancheng narrowed his eyes at the match on the arena, his gaze deep and unreadable.

"Although Lin Qingyu also practices a first-tier manual, she has only just completed her true essence conversion and has made very little progress in tempering her muscles. Her advantage isn't obvious. She won't be stronger than Yu Xingzheng and the others..."

Chen Fan's strongest techniques at the moment were the two forms of the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm that he had mastered...

And the sixth form of the Tiger Fist that he had somehow created from nothing!

Yet at this moment, he restrained the urge to immediately use the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm or Tiger Fist.

Instead, he gritted his teeth against the pressure and continued to fight with the Wind-Thunder Palm!

The reason Chen Fan did this was naturally because he wanted to use the pressure to enter a combat state and gain another chance at sudden enlightenment.

His Wind-Thunder Palm was only a final step away from a breakthrough and could advance within three days. If he could gain sudden enlightenment and cultivate inner breath, his strength would improve slightly. Though it would not directly complete his vitality nourishment, he might still have a chance to turn defeat into victory!

"What a troublesome opponent!"

Lin Qingyu frowned as her palms danced.

Chen Fan found it extremely difficult to cope. Within several dozen exchanges, he had already been struck several times and completely fallen into a disadvantage.

He was hit almost once every ten exchanges!

However, although Chen Fan was at a disadvantage, he did not immediately lose. Even after being struck, he showed no panic and remained exceptionally calm.

In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged several dozen more moves.

Yet the Wind-Thunder Palm still showed no further sign of enlightenment!

Smack!

Chen Fan was too late to respond and was struck in the chest by Lin Qingyu's fist. He staggered back several steps, reaching the edge of the arena.

He let out a deep breath of stale air.

After finally steadying himself and calming his turbulent vitality, Chen Fan knew that if he continued using only the Wind-Thunder Palm, defeat would be inevitable!

And that was indeed the case!

Chen Fan frowned. Lin Qingyu is this strong, yet it still doesn't count as a combat state? Or is it that after my Wind-Thunder Palm underwent one sudden enlightenment, I can no longer gain another in actual combat?

He no longer hesitated and immediately switched to the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm.

Smack.

The White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm was certainly formidable, but he had only mastered two moves, leaving too few variations. When he first used it, he caught Lin Qingyu off guard!

Seizing an opportunity, he forced Lin Qingyu back several steps!

"It's the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm!"

Quite a few spectators recognized this signature martial art of the White Cloud Martial Academy.

Li Linliu's eyes flickered. "This kid's White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm has quite a bit of flavor to it..."

Most people cultivated one strength-training manual to completion before beginning a second.

People like Chen Fan were not unheard of, but dividing one's attention could easily do more harm than good!

After Chen Fan used the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm,

Lin Qingyu was initially somewhat rushed in dealing with it. However, before long, she adapted to the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm, gradually relaxed, and regained the advantage!

On the viewing platform,

the two remained locked in a fierce battle for a time, neither able to determine a victor.

"Strange, strange..."

"Lin Qingyu doesn't seem to be deliberately holding back. Could this kid, like Yan Lincu, also be some freak born with exceptionally powerful vitality?"

Li Linliu frowned slightly. He watched the two fight for quite some time, carefully observing something. Only after a long while did his brow relax.

"Chen Fan's vitality may not be as inexhaustible as Yan Lincu's, but he was indeed born with exceptionally powerful vitality, far beyond ordinary people. It even seems that his body has not yet reached its limit. His vitality is somewhat stagnant and fluctuating..."

The fundamental purpose of martial foundations and strength-training manuals was to strengthen vitality and solidify one's foundation. Naturally, disciples born with powerful vitality had a greater advantage than ordinary people!

How could they know that Chen Fan had not been born with unusually powerful vitality? It was because he had already cultivated more than ten strength-training manuals!

And when Li Linliu saw the stagnant vitality within Chen Fan, as though it had not yet reached its limit, he had already decided what gift to give him.

On the arena,

Chen Fan also knew that he had only completely mastered the first two forms of the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm. No matter how exquisite it was, it inevitably lacked sufficient variations.

Even a first-tier martial art is only a strength-training manual. Since I've only mastered two forms, I can only use it as a finishing move, not for a prolonged battle...

Knowing this well, after being forced to the edge of the arena once again, Chen Fan withdrew his palms and switched to fists. The breath within his body circulated as he changed techniques again, unleashing the sixth form of the Tiger Fist!

This punch carried tremendous momentum and incomparable force, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain!

Smack!

With that punch, even Lin Qingyu was forced to retreat repeatedly beneath its might.

Chen Fan pressed forward, taking advantage of the opportunity to escape the desperate position at the edge of the arena.

If he lost, he would have no more chances for enlightenment.

"What kind of fist technique is this?"

It had evolved from the Tiger Fist, yet it was not the Tiger Fist. Even someone who had mastered the Tiger Fist would not dare claim that this move was truly part of it, much less Lin Qingyu!

Chen Fan's constant changes in technique and the power he displayed in his fist art made him quite difficult for Lin Qingyu to handle.

If it had been anyone else, Lin Qingyu would have won long ago.

But Chen Fan's vitality and physique were powerful. Even when he was at a disadvantage in technique and took several hits, it did not affect him at all, nor did his vitality decline. This was why Lin Qingyu had been unable to secure victory!

"How is he so strong?!"

She, too, focused with utmost concentration and did not dare slacken in the slightest.

Her stamina was steadily declining, and her ability to withstand blows was inferior to this Junior Brother Chen's. If she made one careless mistake, she would be the one to lose.

After resolving the predicament, Chen Fan immediately switched back to the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm. Before he had exchanged more than a few moves—

Smack!

Chen Fan suddenly looked straight ahead, his eyes blazing.

His face was filled with surprise and delight.

Standing opposite him, Lin Qingyu only felt the blazing heat in Chen Fan's gaze. She felt somewhat uncomfortable, frowned tightly, and could not help taking half a step back!

And in the view that only Chen Fan could see, a string of symbols flashed past—

His White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm had finally undergone sudden enlightenment!