After finishing a day of martial practice, Chen Tie returned home and took out three packets of secret medicine after dinner.
Once he opened them, he discovered that the medicine was not only darker in color, but also more pungent.
"They probably increased some of the ingredients. The Flesh Refining realm might require a larger dose."
Chen Tie shook his head and grabbed a handful. After confirming there was nothing wrong with it, he put it into his mouth and chewed. The moment it reached his stomach, a warm current spread through it, and his Qi and blood slowly began to boil.
"Well now, this is an enhanced version of the secret medicine!"
Delighted, Chen Tie practiced each of his martial arts. Only after six hours did the medicinal effects slowly fade.
Chen Tie weighed the secret medicine in his hand. At the rate he consumed it, one packet would support at least three days of cultivation. It was quite a good cultivation resource.
The next morning, Chen Tie arrived at the eastern docks, where a temporary fighting platform had already been erected.
The Shen Lineage and Lin Family martial artists occupied the north and south sides respectively. To the east were witnesses from Duchang City's great families and martial halls, while the west side was mostly filled with commoners there to watch the excitement.
As the largest lineage in the inner city, the Chu Family had sent Chu Jue to preside. He got straight to the point. "Today's contest between the Shen Lineage and Lin Family will be decided by the best of three matches. The winner will receive the right to operate the eastern docks for ten years."
The two lineage heads, Shen Zhen and Lin Cui, signed and affixed their marks on the spot.
Chu Jue surveyed the surroundings. "First match, Shen Gai against Wen Ren!"
At those words, everyone from the Shen Lineage frowned. This was supposed to be a contest against the Lin Family, yet a Wen Family martial artist was entering the very first match. They were not even pretending anymore.
Shen Zhen's expression was grave. Wen Ren was also a Flesh Refining Greater Mastery martial artist, notorious for his ruthlessness.
"Attendant Zhao, we're counting on you for the first match."
Zhao Ruifeng cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Lineage Head."
Shen Gai landed on the fighting platform with a light leap. Wen Ren chuckled and walked up at an unhurried pace.
Shen Gai asked quietly, "Lineage Head, who do you think has the better chance?"
Shen Zhen sighed softly. "They're evenly matched. It will depend on how they perform."
As seasoned fighters, neither wasted a word. They went straight at it.
Zhao Ruifeng charged forward, his right fist wrapped in thick Qi and blood as he drove it straight toward his opponent's chest. The wind of his punch was heavy and solid, making the air crack.
"Well met!"
Wen Ren gave a low shout. Rather than meet it head-on, he slid half a step diagonally to evade the punch. The five fingers of his left hand suddenly became sharp claws, sweeping upward in response to seize the tendons and meridians of the punching wrist. He intended to cripple Zhao Ruifeng outright.
Zhao Ruifeng reacted extremely quickly. He lowered his left arm to block across the forearm, his muscles and bones tightening as he forcibly stopped the claw. Using the recoil from the collision, he withdrew his fist to defend, then immediately threw a short left punch at close range, aiming straight for the face.
Wen Ren lowered his head and tucked in his chest to evade the direct strike. His claws crossed and danced, one slapping the face of the fist to dissipate its force while the other shot toward Zhao Ruifeng's shoulder.
Unable to dodge in time, Zhao Ruifeng suffered a bloody gouge across his shoulder. Enduring the pain, he drove a right uppercut into Wen Ren's lower abdomen. Both grunted and retreated several steps.
They closed in for another exchange. Zhao Ruifeng's punches were broad and sweeping, steady and fierce, each one landing with a surge of Qi and blood. Wen Ren's claws were nimble and vicious, every move targeting joints, meridians, and vulnerable flesh. Counters, evasions, and retaliations flowed together without pause. Neither could overwhelm the other. Their forces repeatedly collided, blasting up layers of dust beneath their feet and splitting the ground with spiderweb cracks.
As time passed, both suffered wounds. They began trading blows head-on, and for a time, neither could do anything to the other.
After several more exchanges, Wen Ren abruptly changed his moves. Instead of continuing the direct clash, he suddenly lowered his body, evading the frontal punches as his claws skimmed along the ground and slashed straight at Zhao Ruifeng's knees.
Zhao Ruifeng hastily drew back his feet and bent his knees, planting his heels as both fists smashed downward to force back the incoming claw shadows. In the instant his lower-body defense stiffened, Wen Ren suddenly sprang up close to him, his right claw flashing like lightning toward his neck!
Zhao Ruifeng hurriedly tilted his head back to dodge. Although he avoided a fatal strike to his throat, the clothing over his shoulder was still torn apart. Three sharp claw wounds dug into his flesh, and blood instantly seeped out.
That blow disrupted Zhao Ruifeng's rhythm.
Seizing the opening, Wen Ren unleashed a relentless chain of attacks. One claw swept at an arm, another slashed at the waist, and then he turned over to launch an inverted claw strike toward the chest and abdomen. Zhao Ruifeng could only hastily raise his arms to block and twist aside to evade. His previously fierce punches were completely suppressed. New claw wounds continually appeared across his body, flesh curling outward as bloody marks crisscrossed him.
With a devastating injury imminent, a ruthless glint surged in Zhao Ruifeng's eyes.
Ignoring Wen Ren's deadly claws coming straight at him, he used his forward momentum to gather all his remaining strength into a single punch, driving it at his opponent's heart like a mad demon!
"Well met! Let's see who dies first!"
At the sight, the vicious light in Wen Ren's eyes blazed. His claws accelerated with all his strength, viciously plunging toward the chest, intent on crippling Zhao Ruifeng's sinews and bones outright.
Bang! Bang!
A piercing tearing sound rang out. The sharp claws sank deep into Zhao Ruifeng's chest, nearly reaching his sinews and bones. Scalding blood instantly gushed out.
But in the next instant, an immensely powerful punch landed!
Wen Ren's entire body abruptly stiffened. With a dull thud, he flew away as though struck by a heavy hammer and crashed hard to the ground, lying limp and motionless.
"Attendant Zhao!" Shen Zhen rushed onto the fighting platform and took out a medicinal pill for him to swallow.
"Take him down for treatment!" The Shen Lineage disciples surged forward and carried Zhao Ruifeng off the platform.
"First match, victory to the Shen Lineage!"
Lin Cui's expression darkened. Looking at the gravely injured, unconscious Wen Ren, he did not dare say another word. If Wen Ren died, the Lin Family would have to bleed quite a bit.
"Hurry and save him!"
"Second match, Shen Gai against Wen Qiang!"
Shen Gai was the first onto the fighting platform. The moment Wen Qiang stepped up, he attacked. With a slight flick of his wrist, his longsword wove three sword blossoms in succession. Its tip darted forward, thrusting straight for his opponent's throat.
Wen Qiang swept his saber diagonally upward, its edge sliding along the sword's spine. Using the force to turn, he swept his large saber toward the swordsman's waist. Shen Gai pushed off with his toes and rapidly retreated, slashing his longsword downward to parry the sweeping blow. His sword tip immediately thrust toward his opponent's saber-wielding wrist. Wen Qiang turned his wrist and struck back with the saber's spine, knocking the longsword slightly off course.
Within a few breaths, their weapons collided repeatedly, the clang of metal ringing without end.
After dozens of exchanges, Shen Gai gradually realized that ordinary sword moves could not break through the defense. He drew a deep breath, and the Qi and blood in his dantian surged rapidly. This was the sword move he kept as his final trump card. A faint, cold gleam of Qi and blood suddenly covered the blade. One sword split into several sword shadows, real and false indistinguishable, attacking the saber wielder simultaneously along three paths, high and low.
The strike was extremely fast, its edge chillingly sharp. It was his ultimate killing move, and he could not help feeling a trace of satisfaction.
Of these three flashes of saber light, one is real and two are false. As long as he blocks the wrong one, my victory is certain!
A sharp gleam flashed in Wen Ren's eyes, and his imposing presence swelled. His long saber whirled in a circle, its light forming a shield as he blocked repeatedly. Wen Ren deflected all three sword shadows. Sword light crashed into the ground, plowing a long furrow through the dirt and sending broken stones flying.
"Your saber art has actually reached greater mastery!"
The sword move spent, the sword shadows dispersed. Shen Gai's Qi and blood had been heavily depleted, and his breath caught, leaving a brief opening in his moves.
"You realized too late!"
Wen Ren sneered and seized the opportunity. His waist twisted sharply, the strength of his shoulders and back pouring through his arm as his saber cleaved downward in a vertical slash with the force to shatter a thousand jun!
Alarm surged in Shen Gai's heart. He hastily held his sword across his chest, hoping to block this thunderous saber strike head-on.
Clang-!
Shen Gai felt an enormous force slam into him, his chest feeling as though it had been struck by a boulder. He spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward.
Shen Zhen hurried forward. After examining him, he found that the injuries were severe, but fortunately his foundation had not been damaged. He immediately had him taken away for treatment.
"Second match, victory to the Lin Family!"