Gift

No sooner had Feng Yuancheng declared that he would surely win his next match than he saw that his next opponent was Chen Fan. He paused slightly, then nodded and walked straight past Chen Fan!

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.

He was not deaf. Naturally, he had heard the exchange between Feng Yuancheng and Yan Lincu.

Feng Yuancheng seemed amiable, but he was actually extremely arrogant. He did not even regard Chen Fan as an opponent!

Chen Fan could not help feeling irritated.

But he also understood.

Although he had broken through in the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm twice, the improvement in his qi and blood required time, so his increase in strength was limited.

After Feng Yuancheng's latest breakthrough, he was probably even stronger than Lin Qingyu!

In a direct confrontation, Chen Fan might be able to defeat Feng Yuancheng, but it would not be easy!

Chen Fan's eyes turned cold as a fierce competitive spirit rose within him.

My "talent" is unparalleled. As long as I fight, I can break through. I also have a Shattered Jade Fist that has been training automatically and has never produced an epiphany. If I gain even one insight into the Shattered Jade Fist, it will surely reach perfection... With my strength, I may not be without a chance against this guy!

Chen Fan could calmly accept defeat, but that did not mean he did not want to win.

Especially after hearing Feng Yuancheng say that he would definitely win his next match, Chen Fan looked forward even more to seeing his reaction after being defeated!

First and second place were worlds apart, let alone second place and the top four!

The remaining time was used to determine the rankings of the last five among yesterday's top fifteen.

Chen Fan rested beneath the stage, but his stomach began to rumble.

Over this period, he had experienced epiphanies one after another. The progress of both the Wind-Thunder Palm and the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm had soared. His body's qi and blood were constantly brewing, and his nutritional intake was actually becoming insufficient!

Normally, the gradual progress of strength-training manuals could basically be supported by his daily meals. But this kind of leap-like improvement was naturally different.

My progress has already far surpassed the improvement of my own qi and blood. Is there anything more nutritious that can help qi and blood rise quickly?

After a while, someone from the tournament organizers brought over a bowl of hot soup. A pungent medicinal scent wafted over.

"This is medicinal soup for nourishing the body. It can greatly increase recovery speed. Every member of the top four gets a bowl!"

Chen Fan was immediately overjoyed. He lowered his head and gulped down the entire bowl. Heat surged through his body, and much of his mental and physical strength recovered.

Although this medicinal soup could not help him cultivate martial arts or increase his qi and blood, its recovery effects were even better. Its quality was absolutely no worse than the White Cloud Martial Academy's secret medicinal soup!

"Unfortunately, it doesn't do much to improve qi and blood..."

This thing only temporarily relieved Chen Fan's hunger.

His breakthrough in fist techniques would cause his appetite to rise again over the coming period, until his body absorbed enough nutrients and the expansion of his qi and blood came to an end.

And at that time, his strength would undergo another leap...

That day's matches came to an end.

Chen Fan was once again dragged to Jiangshan Tower by Bao Tianyou.

Bao Tianyou had treated Chen Fan to feasts for three consecutive days, spending dozens of taels of silver. It was practically more than the prize money for this martial arts tournament!

But Bao Tianyou was happy to do so, and Chen Fan naturally did not refuse.

Although he had drunk the medicinal soup provided by the Flying Tiger Sect, it could not be used without limit to increase his qi and blood. Eating some meat was just the right way to fill his stomach.

After three straight days of Chen Fan eating heartily, Bao Tianyou had noticed certain details and could not help sighing in admiration. "Junior Brother's physique is unusual. The expansion of your qi and blood has yet to reach its limit. If Junior Brother had been born into a great clan and received more ample training... your performance in this tournament might not have been inferior to Yan Lincu's!"

Chen Fan laughed and shook his head.

Bao Tianyou had indeed assumed that Chen Fan's physique was special, but how could he know it was caused by Chen Fan's strange talent?

Just as Chen Fan was eating heartily.

The door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and the person who entered was He Hongshan, Chen Fan's classmate.

"Hongshan!"

Bao Tianyou rose in surprise when he saw her. "Why are you here?!"

A trace of helplessness flashed through He Hongshan's eyes. Then she turned and pointed at Chen Fan, who was chewing on a chicken leg. "You really are here. I came to find him!"

Everyone was stunned.

Even Chen Fan himself was completely baffled.

He had no interaction whatsoever with He Hongshan. They had not even exchanged more than a few complete sentences. Why had she specifically come looking for him?

He Hongshan spoke again.

"It's the academy master. He wants to give Chen Fan a treasure. He waited for him at the martial academy but couldn't find him. When he heard that we were classmates, he asked me to deliver it... I heard you were at Jiangshan Tower, so I came straight here!"

Normally, after the matches ended, the contestants were supposed to return to the martial academy together by carriage.

But Chen Fan had followed Bao Tianyou to Jiangshan Tower every day for the past three days, so naturally he had not followed the rules.

"What does Li Linliu want to give me?"

Chen Fan's heart stirred.

He hurriedly wiped the grease from his hands and mouth, then stood up.

He cupped his fists toward He Hongshan. "May I ask what the academy master wishes to give me?"

He Hongshan's eyes were clear and beautiful as she gave Chen Fan a complicated look. Then she took out a small white porcelain bottle!

"The academy master said that you experienced an epiphany in the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm today. Your qi and blood will enter a period of rapid growth in the future, and what's inside can help you quickly complete that process! Just swallow what's inside. The sooner, the better, lest someone snatch it away!"

Upon hearing this.

Everyone looked curiously at the small porcelain bottle in the girl's hand.

Chen Fan was instantly overjoyed.

He also knew that this was absolutely no coincidence.

Li Linliu was about to break through to the Grandmaster realm. His discernment far surpassed that of ordinary people, so he had naturally noticed Chen Fan's unusual state.

That was why he had deliberately chosen to give him this item!

Chen Fan had displayed such talent. If the White Cloud Martial Academy still did not try to win him over, Chen Fan would have to question Li Linliu's vision.

He happily accepted the porcelain bottle.

Yet He Hongshan was still staring straight at him, as if she had something else to say.

Chen Fan was somewhat puzzled. "Classmate He, is there anything else?"

He Hongshan clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "I will definitely catch up to you!"

With that, she turned and left amid everyone's astonished gazes.

Leaving them staring at one another.

Naturally, no one misunderstood.

For a genius like He Hongshan, what she meant was naturally catching up in martial cultivation!

Bao Tianyou narrowed his eyes. "Junior Brother Chen Fan, now that you've shown your talent and strength, your future is limitless. You've caught Hongshan's attention now. Perhaps you and Hongshan have some possibility. If you can marry that girl, the He Clan will surely spare no effort in nurturing you..."

Chen Fan immediately felt a headache coming on. Speechless, he said, "Senior Brother, stop teasing me!"

Bao Tianyou had been the one to tell him not to think too much about He Hongshan back then, yet he was also the one saying such things now.

Bao Tianyou shook his head. "You don't know how terrifying the He Clan's influence is in Flying Spirit County. Junior Brother Chen Fan, your looks and talent are both fine; it's just your family background that is somewhat lacking... But there's no need to rush things between you two. Those who cultivate martial arts naturally should not let romance distract them too early. In another two years, when you both go to Yan Capital City, you can slowly get to know each other..."

Chen Fan's head hurt even more.

At first, he had thought Bao Tianyou wanted to rob the cradle and pursue He Hongshan. Now, however, that did not seem to be the case.

Although He Hongshan was talented and strong, she was only twelve or thirteen, even younger than Chen Fan. He could not possibly feel anything for her.

The group was happily eating when the door suddenly sounded again. A burly man in neat clothing entered and whispered something into Bao Tianyou's ear, causing Bao Tianyou's eyes to light up.

He turned to Chen Fan. "Junior Brother Chen, my men found someone watching us... They've already taken him down. Do you want to take a look?"

Chen Fan was startled.

Bao Tianyou continued, "Didn't you say you were attacked yesterday? So today, I specifically sent more men to watch the surroundings. As expected, we got something. If I'm not mistaken, this person should be here for you, Junior Brother."

Chen Fan's eyes lit up. "Let's go."

Inside another private room in Jiangshan Tower.

Smack!

Bao Tianyou viciously slapped the half-grown youth before him, his eyes full of ruthlessness.

"Who sent you? Why were you watching us?!"

The youth fell to the ground. His face instantly swelled, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth as his entire body trembled. "N-No... I wasn't following you. I wasn't watching you..."

Chen Fan and Meng Qi stood around him, watching coldly.

Bao Tianyou sneered. "Do you take me for a fool? My men discovered that you'd been following us since the tournament grounds. After we arrived at Jiangshan Tower, you kept watching our private room from the main hall. And you still say you weren't watching us?"

The youth's body trembled. "I-I wasn't..."

At that moment, the door was pushed open again. It was one of Bao Tianyou's burly subordinates.

"Young Master, we've already confirmed it. This guy also came alone to Jiangshan Tower yesterday. He didn't order much, but he stayed for quite a while!"

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.

He bent down with a smile and looked at the youth. "Tell me, did Yu Xingzheng send you?"

When the youth heard Chen Fan's gentle voice, his body could not help trembling again!

Clearly, Chen Fan was handsome and refined, and his voice was incomparably gentle, yet it sent chills down one's spine...