Chapter Fifteen: A Fierce Beating for Xiao Chunkong

Chen Fan spoke directly, “Don’t worry. I’ve already begun training in true techniques, practicing genuine energy martial arts and movement skills. I won’t be any weaker than that guy!”

In these past days, his Nine Yang Overlord Tiger Fist and Three Thousand Thunderclaps movement technique had both reached the introductory level. Even if he continued bathing in medicinal brews daily, it would still take another three or four months to reach mastery.

Of course, even at this basic level, these true techniques were much more powerful than the strength-building skills others practiced.

Lin Shiyu was taken aback by this revelation, then said helplessly, “So that’s why you’ve been missing these months—you’ve been secluded, training hard!”

In fact, since those days, Chen Fan had mostly been nurturing his energy and blood, and had only started true martial training less than ten days ago…

“You’re still young. Even if you’re naturally strong and have started true training, you won’t be a match for Xiao Chunkong just yet. Wait until your cultivation catches up, until there’s only one minor realm between you, then challenge him again…”

Chen Fan shook his head. “There’s less than one realm between us.”

He didn’t mention that he had already broken through to the third level of martial arts.

Lin Shiyu had no way of knowing when he’d made this breakthrough, but their master certainly would—and reaching the third level in just ten days was simply unbelievable.

“So, you’ve reached the second level of martial arts?” Lin Shiyu asked. As the master’s disciple, it wasn’t surprising for Chen Fan to have progressed quickly past the first level. Still, considering Chen Fan wasn’t even fifteen, Lin Shiyu’s feelings were complicated, and he shook his head.

“With your strong energy and blood, it’s good you started true training early! But you’ve only just reached the second level, while Xiao Chunkong is nearly at the fourth. Outwardly, it’s a difference of one realm, but in truth, it’s two!”

Though he knew Lin Shiyu meant well, Chen Fan found his senior brother’s concern rather amusing. “Brother Lin, every time I bet with them, you warn me, but I’ve already won twice. Do you really think I’m so foolish and lacking in confidence that I’d just hand my money to Xiao Chunkong?”

Chen Fan was on the verge of breaking through to the third level, and with his solid foundation, his strength was actually superior.

Lin Shiyu could only smile wryly and, seeing Chen Fan’s determination, sighed, “Very well, let’s go. I’ll take you to Xiao Chunkong!”

He, too, was curious—just where did Chen Fan’s confidence come from? And if Chen Fan lost, he hoped the lesson would prove valuable. But recalling the wager of their duel, Lin Shiyu couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.

Last time, when Chen Fan bet against Mu Lei, the stakes had already reached a thousand taels. Such a fortune—even as a descendant of a notable family in the county, he’d never had so much money in his hands at once…

…

A stick of incense later, Chen Fan followed Lin Shiyu to the training grounds, where they found Xiao Chunkong. He was in the midst of seeking instruction from a martial arts coach, and was clearly stunned to see Chen Fan seek him out. When he heard Chen Fan had come to fulfill their agreement, Xiao Chunkong’s disbelief only grew.

Though Chen Fan had agreed to fight him within a year, Xiao Chunkong had never expected that after just two or three months, Chen Fan would come knocking of his own accord!

Chen Fan frowned at him. “Are you going to fight or not? Give me an answer.”

Lin Shiyu stood nearby, looking at Xiao Chunkong with disdain.

Xiao Chunkong’s face flushed with embarrassment. Taking a deep breath, he said, “The wager you mentioned is fine. This time, let’s double the previous bet—is that acceptable?”

Chen Fan sneered, “No objections here. But think carefully—do you really have enough to stake such a bet?”

In truth, this was Chen Fan’s final warning to Xiao Chunkong. Had he been less greedy, his losses might not have been so great in the end.

Xiao Chunkong’s lips twitched, his eyes darting back and forth. After a long pause, he finally said, “Even if I have to sell everything, I can raise it!”

Chen Fan shook his head. “Then let’s go. We’ll fight today!”

…

Another stick of incense later.

On the dueling platform, Xiao Chunkong stepped up and gazed at Chen Fan standing not far away, his mind swirling with complex emotions that ultimately hardened into resolve.

If he truly cared about saving face, he wouldn’t have dared to provoke the master’s personally chosen disciple in the first place.

“If I win this time, I can not only recover my losses, but make a profit too!”

At this moment, only greed filled his heart—his reputation meant nothing. Even if, in a few years, Chen Fan’s strength surpassed his and came back to defeat him, who knew when that would be?

Around the platform, the audience was sparse. Chen Fan’s challenge had been issued on a whim, so few had heard, and most of those present were Xiao Chunkong’s cohorts and a few fellow townsmen from Feiling County who supported Chen Fan.

Yet everyone watching the platform wore odd expressions.

The two combatants were ten years apart in age!

Lin Shiyu and the others looked at Xiao Chunkong with scorn. “He’s truly shameless—willing to throw away his pride for a profit! To actually fight Little Brother Chen Fan…”

The age gap was a full decade; even though their cultivation differed by just one realm, it was still a clear advantage.

Xiao Yurong, Mu Lei, and the rest also looked uncomfortable. Though Xiao Chunkong often bullied new disciples into challenges, he had never gone after someone with such a large gap in age and ability…

But since this challenge was initiated by Chen Fan himself, it would proceed.

At the referee’s command, the match began!

Chen Fan gave a cold smile, bent his knees, and shot forward like a thunderclap, appearing before Xiao Chunkong in the blink of an eye.

This was the Three Thousand Thunderclaps movement technique!

Though his mastery wasn’t deep, his strength was formidable—using this technique, he lacked some agility but gained incredible speed.

To the onlookers, the platform seemed to flash with thunder, and Chen Fan vanished from sight.

Boom!

With a muffled sound, Chen Fan reappeared right in front of Xiao Chunkong.

“So fast!” Xiao Chunkong’s face changed dramatically. He hastily raised his fists, a look of wariness flashing in his eyes.

He unleashed the true martial technique he had trained to completion.

Their fists collided!

Xiao Chunkong felt a searing pain in his tiger’s mouth, his body thrown backward, stumbling several steps uncontrollably!

Thanks to his days of training, Chen Fan’s fist technique had made great strides, displaying a powerful form.

Xiao Chunkong stared at the young man before him in utter shock. “Your strength…”

As Chen Fan’s fist landed, all his pent-up frustration vanished. His true energy surged, and he stamped his foot, launching himself forward again!

Another strike—the Nine Yang Overlord Tiger Fist!

Boom!

Xiao Chunkong’s expression changed drastically. He crossed his arms in a desperate attempt to block Chen Fan’s attack.

But after just one exchange, he was forced to retreat again. The spot where their fists met was bruised and swollen, the pain excruciating!

“He’s already a true martial artist—could he have reached the second level?”

Xiao Chunkong had practiced his martial technique for years, but, like Mu Lei, had never brought a true energy art to its most profound stage. In terms of raw strength, he was far inferior to Chen Fan.

Chen Fan laughed heartily. With every step, his body surged forward again!

His movement skill—though stiff—was frighteningly fast.

Even with just a beginner’s grasp of the Nine Yang Overlord Tiger Fist, he drove Xiao Chunkong back again and again!

Chen Fan’s martial technique was bold and open, perfectly suited to his physique, even if he hadn’t fully mastered it yet.

Xiao Chunkong grit his teeth and fought back, wielding two foundational skills to perfection, but he could hardly withstand Chen Fan’s relentless onslaught.

Though his internal organs had nearly finished tempering and he had trained in true energy arts for years, when it came to actual combat with Chen Fan, he struggled to keep up.

The longer Chen Fan fought, the more exhilarated he felt.

The two techniques recommended by Dong Guzhi suited someone with Chen Fan’s powerful energy and blood—one open, one closed, both shockingly forceful. Even at the entry level, they displayed immense might!

Boom!

Chen Fan stamped the platform, launching a fierce assault. Even when Xiao Chunkong managed to land a few clever blows, it made little difference.

Xiao Chunkong’s eyes grew bloodshot. Knowing he couldn’t hold back any longer, he roared, “Damn you, boy—watch my secret technique!”

Now overwhelmed, he had to rely on his trump card.

Whoosh!

His hands moved in a dizzying blur, like a hundred flowers blooming at once.

“Hundred-Blossom Frenzy!”

Even Chen Fan felt his vision blur!

His powerful fists clashed, but again and again, Xiao Chunkong’s intricate technique forced him back…

With the secret skill unleashed, Xiao Chunkong’s difficulty rose sharply.

No matter how Chen Fan unleashed his punches, he couldn’t break through the flurry of secret techniques, each one pushing him back.

“This secret art of Xiao Chunkong’s isn’t just a single explosive move like Mu Lei’s—it’s lasting and much harder to deal with!”

For the first time, Chen Fan felt real pressure from Xiao Chunkong.

But it was a contest of martial technique, not of strength or cultivation.

Still, with his vigorous vitality, Chen Fan gritted his teeth and held on, refusing to lose. His eyes flashed as he constantly combined movement and fist techniques, attacking Xiao Chunkong’s secret art. With each exchange, his own moves grew more practiced.

Secret arts consumed immense stamina; even Xiao Chunkong couldn’t sustain it indefinitely…

Unable to defeat Chen Fan quickly, Xiao Chunkong’s face grew increasingly grim.

Meanwhile, Chen Fan’s energy was boundless, his fists thunderous, growing ever more ferocious.

“This kid really has monstrous strength!” Xiao Chunkong’s face paled, his stamina rapidly draining.

Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his secret art collapsed, and he was immediately forced onto the defensive.

“It’s over!”

Chen Fan laughed joyously, launching a furious assault that pressed Xiao Chunkong to the very edge of the platform.

Xiao Chunkong’s cheeks were swollen, his lips stained with blood from Chen Fan’s repeated strikes.

Chen Fan had already noticed the flickering notifications before his eyes—both martial arts had reached new breakthroughs!

Only the Cloud-White True Art and the Starforged Body Technique seemed unresponsive to combat experience.

No longer willing to drag things out, Chen Fan’s eyes flashed with cold light.

He moved with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger, calling forth the true energy within him…

With a mighty punch, he struck!

Crack!

His raw strength shattered Xiao Chunkong’s tangled palm techniques, forcing him back once more!

Then, stepping forward with his left foot, he hammered out another punch.

Crack!

It landed squarely on Xiao Chunkong’s chest.

With a gush of blood, Xiao Chunkong was hurled backward by the force of the blow, crashing off the platform!

“Chen Fan wins!”