Breaking Through in Battle

Xu Kangnian watched the fight on the platform without blinking. From his position, he had an unobstructed view of both the platform and the spectators below.

Stroking his sparse beard, he mused, "This He An has outstanding strength, but Sun Biao is already in the Spirit Refinement Realm. After all, exquisite techniques cannot bridge a gap in cultivation realms. Barring any surprises, the latter should have the better chance of winning."

Feng Shaotang smiled faintly. "You make a fair point, Elder Xu, but... I think... that remains to be seen!"

"Oh? Hall Master, you seem very confident in He An. Could it be... that you know him well?"

Feng Shaotang said no more and turned his full attention to the platform.

Beside him, Zou Zheng suddenly said, "Those should be the Black Crow-Gold Silk Gloves on Sun Biao's hands. Isn't it unfair to have He An fight him bare-handed?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Feng Shaotang's eyes as he looked toward the platform. His expression darkened. "The young man appears to be seeking an unfair advantage, but since the match has begun, we can hardly change the rules now..."

While they spoke, the two fighters had already exchanged more than twenty moves. He An had been trained from childhood by Bai Xiang Shou, a heaven-gifted genius, and his perspective had always far surpassed that of his peers. His systematic studies at the Knowledge and Practice Institute had deepened his understanding of cultivation. Having recently fought Huang Daogong and mastered the Spirit-Shocking Finger, his strength could no longer be compared to what it had been half a month ago.

In the past, he had trained hard behind closed doors. Now, exchanging moves with an evenly matched opponent, he tested his lingering questions about cultivation methods, techniques, manuals, and hidden teachings against actual combat, resolving them one by one in his mind. His understanding gradually cleared, and he actually grew fiercer as the battle went on.

Yet his opponent clearly surpassed him in cultivation realm. Sun Biao's palm strikes were vicious, weighty, and powerful, but the most dangerous thing was his pair of black palms-or, more precisely, the black gloves he wore. They were hard as iron and covered in fine, concealed barbs. His knife-hand strikes made a grating rasp as they swept past. Without primordial energy protecting his body, He An would truly have been injured.

Sun Biao grew more agitated with every exchange. Relying on nimble footwork and exquisite techniques, his opponent had actually lasted dozens of rounds against his Mountain-Shifting Palm. He had truly underestimated him.

A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. He leaped up, shifting position repeatedly in midair, and closed in on He An. Several palm shadows enveloped the surrounding space like black dragons.

The colorful pennants on the platform ropes stirred without wind, accompanied by the clear jingling of bells. A murderous chill swept toward He An. He did not move, but stared at Sun Biao's overlapping palm shadows while secretly mobilizing his true qi.

Amid the spreading palm shadows, He An shot skyward like a soaring dragon. Twisting his body at an inconceivable angle, he met the fierce gusts from the palms head-on. His left fist struck toward Sun Biao's temple while two fingers of his right hand stabbed straight at Sun Biao's eyes. That cruel, venomous gaze was truly repulsive.

Sun Biao tilted his head to dodge and withdrew a palm to block the deadly punch. This was exactly the moment He An had been waiting for. His two fingers abruptly changed their move, seizing Sun Biao's wrist and turning over to lock down his pulse point.

But in the next instant, He An's expression changed.

Sun Biao's sleeve suddenly went limp, as though his arm had vanished into thin air. All He An held was the black glove. This is bad!

In a flash, the front of Sun Biao's robe burst open, and a fist slammed viciously into He An's lower abdomen like a fierce tiger released from its cage.

Still airborne, He An drew a deep breath. The instant the fist touched his clothing, his lower abdomen hollowed inward and his sash shattered, dissipating part of the unexpected punch's force. Even so, the blow struck him hard. As he flew backward, he kicked Sun Biao in the shoulder, sending both men tumbling back to hit the floor one after the other.

"He An has excellent skills, but his responses in combat are still immature!" Xu Kangnian could not help slapping his thigh and sighing aloud. "He clearly had the upper hand just now. He had at least three opportunities to finish his opponent. Alas... such fine opportunities, wasted..."

"Indeed. Actual combat experience is the only thing this young man lacks," Feng Shaotang agreed.

"What expert in this world hasn't grown through life-and-death battles? Perhaps life at our Knowledge and Practice Institute is too comfortable." Feng Shaotang smiled faintly.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, contracting like a needle point. A complicated expression crossed his face. "This Sun Biao's... cultivation method is rather strange."

The instant Sun Biao's back touched the floor, he straightened his waist and sprang to his feet. Rage had twisted his face into a savage mask, and a crimson gleam shone at the corners of his eyes. He looked terrifying.

Below the platform, the crowd seethed with noise. Those who had cheered and applauded the thrilling battle slowly fell silent when they saw Sun Biao's appearance...

With a rip, Sun Biao tore open the front of his robe, exposing his hairy chest. He curved both arms around as though embracing a ball. His hair stood on end, strand by strand, and his frame suddenly seemed to grow larger. Another rip sounded as he burst his sleeves apart, revealing arms knotted with muscle...

The air over the platform seemed to freeze in an instant. The surrounding heaven and earth primordial energy fluctuated violently, then surged madly into Sun Biao's body like rolling storm clouds...

Amid the spectators' startled cries, He An rolled to his feet, a trace of bewilderment in his eyes. This scene was rather similar to the night he had mastered the Spirit-Shocking Finger.

The dull pain in his lower abdomen brought He An's mind back into focus. The true qi in his dan foundation had counteracted most of the punch's force in time. Even so, his previously injured abdomen hurt terribly, and his true qi showed signs of disorder even as he breathed and circulated his cultivation method.

"I've entered the Spirit Refinement Realm. You're no match for me. There's still time to surrender!"

Sun Biao roared. His face was twisted into a horrifying grimace as he slowly took a step forward.

The platform floor shook. Countless wood splinters, dust motes, and scraps of torn clothing floated into the air.

Though there was no wind, the colorful pennants lining the platform ropes trembled incessantly. The rapid jingling of their bells was drowned out by the shouts below.

"Sun Biao! Come on..."

"Sun Biao! Invincible..."

"Sun Biao! Crush him..."

"He An... you have to... hold on..."

The few cries supporting He An were quickly swallowed by the crowd, sounding isolated and helpless. Everyone revered the strong. It had been so since ancient times.

He An turned his head and saw countless arms reaching up along the edge of the platform. Innumerable faces, both strange and familiar, filled his vision, flushed with excitement as they shouted. Everyone released their emotions to the fullest, venting, roaring, waving...

They were all young students, all hot-blooded youths. They asked nothing of right or wrong, cared nothing for justice or injustice. They were young, and all they knew was passion!

On the platform, only victory and defeat mattered!

He An swept his gaze over the crowd below, and his heart suddenly jolted.

In a corner, a pair of plump hands clung to the edge of the platform. Their owner strained to lift his round, chubby face as high as possible, tears streaming down his cheeks as he shouted with all his strength. It was Fan Dazhi.

He An was deeply moved. He could read the words on Fan Dazhi's lips. He was shouting, "Little An, stop fighting! We're not fighting anymore! Surrender... he can devour heaven and earth primordial energy..."

Beside Fan Dazhi stood Gu Qingzhou, his face full of concern, along with their fellow dormitory students. He An's gaze swept over them, then suddenly froze. It felt as though a great hammer had struck his heart.

A girl in red stood motionless among the crowd, her face filled with worry. Her dark brows were slightly knitted, her eyes misty. Fine, pearly teeth gently bit her full lower lip, and her slender, fair hands toyed with the hair falling over her chest. Who else could it be but Han Chanjuan?

The floor shook violently. He An whipped his head around. Sun Biao had already strode close.

Sun Biao tore off his loose robe and flung it out with all his strength. The broad garment slowly unfurled in the air, drifting over He An's head like a dark cloud.

From deep within that dark cloud, a palm shadow brimming with heaven and earth primordial energy struck with utterly overbearing force...

He An retreated swiftly, pressed against the ropes, and sprang away again with astonishing speed. Yet the palm shadow followed him like his own shadow, close on his heels.

With a bang, their palms collided. Sun Biao swayed, while He An staggered back three thudding steps.

Sun Biao pressed his attack, following with another palm strike. He An retreated another three steps.

The crowd below instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath. The outcome seemed beyond doubt.

Looking at He An, who had been driven into a corner, Sun Biao's face flashed with viciousness. He unleashed another thunderous palm strike...

Their palms collided again. He An swayed and spat out a mouthful of black blood...

Amid another wave of startled cries from the crowd, Sun Biao retreated several steps, a look of suspicion appearing on his face.

In the stands, Xu Kangnian abruptly rose to his feet, sucking in a sharp, hissing breath. Tugging at his sparse beard, he said in disbelief, "This... this... could it be..."

"Indeed. He's broken through!" Qiu Qingxi, who had remained silent all this time, confirmed his judgment.

He An had forcibly withstood all three palm strikes. The true qi in his body, which had been descending into disorder, surged and raced through him, counteracting most of his opponent's palm force.

Under the pressure of that matchlessly powerful palm force, laden with heaven and earth primordial energy, He An felt his dan foundation heat up. Something seemed to crack inside him. This is bad. Has my dan foundation been shattered? In the next instant, the previously obstructed meridians in his lower abdomen suddenly opened. A familiar, faintly bloody and bitter taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood.

The chaotic true qi in his body flowed into his dan foundation like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, while his chest felt incomparably free and clear. At a mere thought, his true qi erupted with tremendous force, following his will as readily as his own limbs. It no longer wandered and surged uncontrollably as it had before.

The Spirit Refinement Realm. I've finally broken through to the Spirit Refinement Realm!

He An's emotions did not fluctuate much. Several months ago, he had already sensed signs of an impending breakthrough. He had never expected that today, at the brink of life and death, he would suddenly ascend to a new realm. It truly felt like finding another village beyond the dark willows and bright blossoms.

A buzzing uproar rose below the platform. The spectators still could not tell what had happened and argued noisily among themselves. Some thought He An had already lost; others believed the two had fought to a draw-at least for now. Amid the buzzing clamor, Sun Biao smiled...

He threw back his head and laughed, his voice indescribably shrill and harsh, drowning out the noise below.

"Ha ha ha... you've entered the Spirit Refinement Realm too? That thieving heaven really does favor you! I wondered why you'd suddenly accepted the Challenge Letter. So you meant to play the pig to devour the tiger? Give me a nasty surprise too? Unfortunately... a pig is still a pig. How could it devour a tiger? Ha ha ha..."

Pointing at He An, he laughed wildly. "I've already injured you. Even if you've advanced a realm, won't I still beat you senseless? You're as stupid as a pig."

Before his words had faded, his expression turned vicious and resolute. His eyes resembled burning clouds of blood, and a terrifying aura radiated from his entire body. In the blink of an eye, he sprang forward again.

He An narrowed his eyes, watching the rapidly approaching figure. True qi from his dan foundation abruptly poured into the Pool at the Bend Acupoint in his right arm. He slowly felt that immense power gather in his palm.

With a bang, their palms collided. Sun Biao's tall, burly body was blasted backward, struck the platform ropes, and slumped to the floor. Clutching his chest with one hand, his face filled with shock, terror, and defiance, he roared, "How is this possible?... Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Sun Biao struggled to rise. Blood seeped from his eyes, mouth, and nose, making him look horrifying. He staggered several steps forward, then fell headfirst to the floor with a thud.

The victor's role had changed hands too quickly for the spectators to take it in. They stared in astonishment. Only when Fan Dazhi, Gu Qingzhou, and the others cheered loudly did the crowd react and erupt in applause. The roaring wave of sound pierced straight through the roof of the Martial Restraint Hall, sending a flock of sparrows foraging on the snow-covered roof flapping away in fright.