Chapter 29: Yan Fenghua

Shen Zhihong gestured toward the military training grounds, and as Li Ye approached, he caught sight of two figures standing in opposition.

Old Man Chen’s frame remained as gaunt and small as ever, appearing as though a mere gust of wind could topple him.

Standing opposite him was a beautiful man with ruby lips and jade-like features. From that signature long hair alone, Li Ye immediately identified him.

In his past life, following the onset of the Red Mist, this man had been known alongside Qin Wu as one of the "Twin Stars of Jiangcheng." He was destined to become one of the three main pillars of the Dongming Military District—a top-tier Elemental-type God-Chosen: Yan Fenghua, the "Storm-Devouring Chaos."

"The heir to the Yan family, is it? I truly wish to ask him how the experiments in Haicheng are progressing."

Li Ye watched Yan Fenghua with a look of reflection, as if recalling something from long ago.

As he reached the edge of the training grounds, he could hear the two trading barbs.

Chen Xianyun, hands clasped behind his back, looked at the persistent Yan family scion and said coldly, "Let’s be clear: if you lose, you join our Seventh Army unconditionally."

Yan Fenghua swept his long hair back and tied it into a ponytail, shrugging as he replied, "Of course. Provided, that is... your old bones still have the strength to hold up!"

No sooner had the words left his lips than a frantic, violent wind erupted in the center of the arena, surging toward the Legion Commander’s face like a sudden downpour.

Gale-force winds acting as blades—this was no mere gimmick. At this stage, few God-Chosen could withstand such a direct, unadorned strike without injury.

Li Ye, watching from the sidelines, observed the Legion Commander with keen interest. The reputation of the "Demon Body" was far more intriguing than Yan Fenghua’s own abilities.

Chen Xianyun kicked off his back leg, refusing to dodge or retreat, and charged straight toward Yan Fenghua.

As the razor-sharp wind drew near, the frail old man suddenly twisted his torso and waist, unleashing a right punch like a cannonball. The dense, swirling wind was shattered by his strike.

Yet, even while punching with such force, Chen Xianyun’s speed showed no sign of slowing—it was a feat that defied all human logic.

Li Ye’s pupils contracted sharply. Even from his perspective, Chen Xianyun’s movements were an earth-defying display that completely ignored the laws of gravity.

Yan Fenghua’s beautiful eyes flashed; his right arm surged with cyan light. Aiming at the old man’s trajectory, he lashed out with a whip-kick as fast as lightning. Had the old man maintained his speed, the blow would have struck him squarely in the temple.

The gale swirling around his lower leg made the strike’s power all the more terrifying.

Any expert present would have noted that Yan Fenghua’s supporting leg was also surreptitiously gathering momentum. Had the first strike missed, a second, vicious follow-up was poised to slam into the opponent’s face.

As a true heir of the Haicheng Yan family, his martial arts prowess was leagues above the paper tigers of the common martial world.

Unfortunately, the one standing before him was a humanoid monster who played by no rules.

Upon impact, Yan Fenghua’s pupils dilated in shock. The whip-kick, enhanced by his "Storm-Devouring Chaos," was swatted away by the old man with a casual flick of his hand, as if he were an adult brushing off a child’s play.

Yan Fenghua gritted his teeth, channeling his God-Chosen ability. His right leg, having been swatted aside, seemed to find a pivot point in mid-air. His left leg, held in reserve, shot out like a prehistoric beast, aiming for Chen Xianyun’s face.

The gust of wind generated by the move whipped his ponytail into the air.

Li Ye wore an expression of admiration. Following the traditions of Southern martial arts, this Yan family scion’s ability to combine his God-Chosen power with these two strikes was already excellent.

But Chen Xianyun, standing on the training grounds, was not one to indulge him. The more precious Yan Fenghua seemed, the harder he struck.

Finally standing his ground, Chen Xianyun swung his leg with the simplicity of a falling star, meeting Yan Fenghua’s whip-kick head-on.

Seeing this, Yan Fenghua’s expression turned fierce; his temples pulsed as the howling wind reinforced his leg.

*Bang!*

Despite being shielded by layers of gale-force wind, the old man’s kick passed through as smoothly as a phantom projection, colliding directly with Yan Fenghua’s flesh.

"The 'Demon Body'... truly wicked," Li Ye muttered from the sidelines, subconsciously placing himself in the scenario.

No matter how strong "Storm-Devouring Chaos" was, it remained within the realm of the Elemental category.

His own "Candlelight Guidance," however, was different. Even such a wicked ability would likely struggle to ignore the "Reality from Illusion" power of the Divine category.

But he would need to fight to be sure.

After this comparison, Li Ye turned his gaze back to the arena.

Yan Fenghua was no pushover. Realizing his ability was having no effect, he abandoned his stance, twisted his waist in mid-air, and forcibly retracted his attack.

Even so, his leg, having merely grazed the old man’s, felt numb and sore. Yan Fenghua drew a long breath and forced himself to stand.

"What’s the matter? Is your Haicheng clan nothing without their kicks?" Chen Xianyun teased, not rushing to close the distance, as confident as a cat playing with a mouse. "Do you want me to fetch you a twelve-foot spear? I wouldn't want you Southern school folks saying I’m bullying you."

Yan Fenghua exhaled, spat on the ground, and remained silent. Suddenly, he kicked off the ground, his body darting forward like a dragon across the land.

Seeing Chen Xianyun standing as immovable as a mountain, Yan Fenghua calmed his mind. He lunged with his left leg, closing half a step, and clenched his right hand into a bird-beak iron claw, thrusting toward the old man’s ribs.

Chen Xianyun remained cheerful. In an instant, he dropped his shoulder and elbow, blocking the crane claw with his left elbow. He hooked his right leg, stepped in, and with a light push, drove his other elbow into Yan Fenghua’s chest.

The immense force sent Yan Fenghua flying backward instantly, a spray of blood misting from his nose and mouth while he was still in the air.

"Cough, cough..."

Yan Fenghua lay on the ground, looking utterly drained, like a doll that had lost its soul. He had expected to lose, but not so thoroughly.

"Giving up?" Chen Xianyun walked over to him triumphantly, looking down from above.

"Pfft. Do you think I’m convinced?" Even while lying down, Yan Fenghua remained as stubborn as ever.

"I don't care if you're convinced. From this moment on, you are a soldier of my Seventh Army. You have no say in the matter!" Chen Xianyun huffed, completely failing to notice the faint, sly smirk forming on Yan Fenghua’s lips.

"And you! What about it? Do you intend to join my Seventh Army today as well?"

Chen Xianyun turned his head abruptly to address Li Ye, who had just emerged from the Red Mist.

Li Ye walked up to him and replied with a conciliatory smile, "Legion Commander, you jest. How could I dare to fight you?"

"Then why are you here looking for me? Don't think I didn't notice you watching from the sidelines," Chen Xianyun said, still eyeing the man with vigilance.

"Legion Commander, don't be so distant. I am, after all, a partner of our Dongming Military District. Why be so guarded against me?"

Chen Xianyun rolled his eyes. "State your business. Don't try to use the same tactics you use to haggle with Shen Zhihong on me."

Li Ye’s expression finally turned serious. He glanced at Yan Fenghua, who was half-reclining on the ground and watching him with curiosity, and said:

"I am here to discuss a partnership with you both."