A torrential downpour had drenched the entire Martial Training Ground.
After the storm cleared, a sturdy hardwood platform, ten meters long, ten meters wide, and one meter high, was hastily erected in the center of the training ground.
Sixty Martial Apprentices, each led by their respective instructors, stood in formation around the platform, each group occupying a corner. On the platform stood an elder in a brown robe, his ruddy face framed by clear, deep-set eyes as he spoke with rhythmic fervor.
This was Chen Xing, one of the elders of the Clan Hall.
His voice resonated with such power that every Martial Apprentice felt a surge of excitement, as if their bodies brimmed with strength, eager to devote themselves entirely to the Chen Clan, even unto death.
As a swordsman, Chen Chuyun remained composed, unaffected by the elder's impassioned speech. Chen Zong, however, struggled to maintain his composure in the presence of a master whose cultivation base far surpassed the Qi Blood Realm. But the faint trembling of the mysterious sword tip kept his mind clear, shielding him from the emotional sway.
"Now, let the Chief of the Fist Technique Group step onto the platform," Elder Chen Xing announced, drawing Chen Zong's gaze.
The Chief of the Fist Technique Group leaped onto the platform, his massive frame landing with a dull thud.
Chen Guzhan, from a branch clan in Red Rock Town, possessed the strength of eight hundred catties in a single arm and a physique as monstrously sturdy as a wild bull.
"Chief of the Palm Technique Group..."
Chen Yong, the Chief of the Palm Technique Group, was utterly unremarkable in appearance—a solemn face, average height, and build. The only striking feature was his hands: unusually broad and calloused, clearly those of a natural Palm Technique practitioner.
"The Chief of the Leg Technique Group..."
Chen Ying possessed a lithe, graceful figure combined with an athletic build. Her legs, encased in tight martial attire, were particularly striking—shapely, slender, and radiating power. Her eyes held a fierce, predatory intensity, like a wild beast prowling the jungle.
"The Chief of the Blade Technique Group..."
Chen Fenghua, whose name was as pleasing as his looks, carried a long blade slung across his back. Though male, his captivating gaze and slender fingers exuded an irresistible charm that bewitched young women.
"The Chief of the Sword Technique Group..."
Chen Zong leaped lightly onto the arena, his footsteps landing silently. At first glance, he seemed ordinary, but the more one looked, the more intriguing his presence became.
"It really is him," Chen Yuyao murmured, her delicate hand covering her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment, her emotions a complex mix of awe and disbelief. Chen Yidao's gaze carried a hint of bitterness. Both hailed from Small Lake Town, where Chen Yidao had been insignificant in the Fist Technique Group, while Chen Zong had risen to become the Chief of the Sword Technique Group—an unbridgeable gap between them.
"The Five Group Chiefs will engage in a series of battles to determine the ultimate victor—the Chief of Chiefs," Elder Chen Xing announced, his clear, profound gaze sweeping across the faces of the five warriors. "In addition to the ten Vitality Pills already promised, the winner will also receive a jar of Tiger Yang Bone-Strengthening Wine. Each of you will face the other four. The first to achieve four consecutive victories will claim the title."
"The first match will be Chen Guzhan versus Chen Yong. The other three Chiefs, please step down from the arena for now."
Elder Chen Xing served as both observer and referee.
"My punches hit like a hammer," Chen Guzhan grinned at Chen Yong, clenching his fists together and cracking his knuckles with a spine-chilling sound. "You'd be wise to concede now."
"My Palm Technique isn't to be underestimated either," Chen Yong retorted sternly, his face rigid. He spread his broad palms, circulating Blood Qi until his skin flushed slightly.
"If that's how it is, take this!" Chen Guzhan chuckled, stomping forward like a raging bull. He swung his fist with what seemed like every ounce of strength, the air whistling around it as the force threatened to shatter the very space around them—a blow that could flatten a house.
Great Perfection Peak Heavy Punch!
This Foundation Establishment Martial Art emphasized brute force above all else, making it ideal for naturally strong individuals like Chen Guzhan.
With the strength to lift eight hundred jin with one arm, Chen Guzhan could unleash the full devastating power of his Heavy Punch, overwhelming any opponent of his level.
However, Chen Yong's position as Chief of the Palm Technique Group was no accident.
His thick, calloused palms, nearly impervious to blades, met Chen Guzhan's full-force punch. As their hands connected, Chen Yong's palm momentarily caved inward before snapping outward, releasing a pent-up surge of force.
Great Perfection Peak Stone-Crushing Palm Technique!
This palm technique prized raw power, but Chen Yong had refined it to a new level. Each strike now carried a dual impact, amplifying its destructive potential.
Chen Guzhan's arm trembled, his massive frame faltering momentarily. Chen Yong seized the opportunity, pivoting on his leading foot as his other palm slashed across his waist, striking Chen Guzhan's ribs with thunderous force.
Chen Guzhan raised his left arm to guard his ribs, enduring Chen Yong's palm strike. His body swayed, and he staggered backward. Chen Yong followed up with a relentless barrage of palm strikes, each infused with dual power, but Chen Guzhan crossed his arms and blocked every blow.
Let the tempest rage, I stand unyielding!
"Incredible!"
Below the arena, the Martial Apprentices gasped. Chen Yong's palms could shatter stone monuments. They couldn't withstand a single strike—would Chen Guzhan be beaten to death?
"Impressive," Chen Zong thought to himself. The Chief's strength was truly astonishing, far surpassing Chen Zuoyi's. A flicker of battle intent ignited within him.
Yet Chen Zong's gaze remained fixed on Chen Guzhan. Facing Chen Yong's relentless barrage of palm strikes, Chen Guzhan hunched inward, his arms crossed to shield his head, ribs, and vital areas. Every muscle in his body tensed to its limit, making the strikes sound like dull thuds against solid rock.
Even Chen Yong couldn't maintain such an onslaught indefinitely. After a dozen full-force palm strikes, fatigue began to set in. He was certain Chen Guzhan must be severely injured from enduring so many blows—his defeat inevitable.
"Your Palm Technique is indeed powerful," Chen Guzhan said, lowering his arms. A thin trickle of blood ran down his cheek, but he smiled nonchalantly, a wild glint in his eyes. "But mine is stronger."
His fists erupted like a mountain torrent, crashing down like meteorites. The terrifying wind pressure distorted Chen Yong's facial muscles, stealing his breath.
Raise your palms to defend!
The instant their fists collided, a terrifying force erupted like a dam bursting. Chen Yong couldn't withstand the onslaught, staggering backward as Chen Guzhan, driven into a frenzied fury, unleashed a relentless barrage of punches—two, three, four!
The fifth punch!
Chen Yong could no longer hold his ground. He flew off the arena, his arms trembling uncontrollably and his palms throbbing with unbearable pain.
"I told you, you should have conceded," Chen Guzhan sneered down at Chen Yong, a predatory grin on his face. Chen Yong remained impassive.
"Chen Guzhan, Chief of the Fist Technique Group, secures his first victory! Next, Chen Ying, Chief of the Leg Technique Group, will face Chen Fenghua, Chief of the Blade Technique Group!" Elder Chen Xing announced in a booming voice. Chen Guzhan leaped off the platform, the previous battle having drained considerable energy, necessitating rest.
Chen Ying and Chen Fenghua stepped onto the arena. Chen Ying's legs were clad in tall leopard-skin boots, while Chen Fenghua's long blade was absent from his back, replaced by a black wooden katana in his hand.
Chen Ying's eyes burned with a feral intensity that would intimidate most, but Chen Fenghua remained serene, as if impervious to all external influences.
Without a word, Chen Ying lunged forward with the lithe agility of a hunting leopard, covering seven or eight meters in an instant. His leg swept like a steel whip toward Chen Fenghua's lower body. Chen Fenghua effortlessly leaped back, his wooden katana transforming into a streak of dark light as he slashed forward.
Chen Ying braced himself with one hand on the ground, twisting his body into a whirlwind. One leg swept toward the blade light, while the other lashed out at Chen Fenghua's chest like a great python coiling to strike.
"As expected, none of the Chiefs are simple," Chen Zong mused inwardly, while the ordinary Martial Apprentices watched in stunned silence, realizing such a combat style was possible.
Chen Fenghua deflected the initial strike, but the blade light instantly split into two, each aimed at Chen Ying's legs.
The collision unleashed a tremendous force. Chen Ying landed heavily, pushed off with both hands, and sprang back to his feet, his legs alternating like two great pythons emerging from their dens. Chen Fenghua landed gracefully, his toes barely touching the arena floor as he flowed like water to evade Chen Ying's legs. His wooden blade flashed out in a relentless chop.
The chop unleashed a torrent of strikes, the blade light cascading in an endless, unbroken chain.
Chen Fenghua seamlessly transitioned between the Great Perfection Peak Great Python Leg Technique and the Great Perfection Peak Blade Wind Leg Technique. The wind howled as he shattered black blade lights, each impact resonating with a dull thud as the wooden blade met Chen Ying's leopard-skin boots.
The battle raged fiercely.
Chen Ying's leg techniques mirrored his wild nature, while Chen Fenghua's blade strikes, no matter how intense, retained an air of effortless composure, like a gentle breeze amidst a storm.
No matter how fiercely Chen Ying attacked, Chen Fenghua responded with effortless ease. Chen Zong could see that he was biding his time, searching for an opening.
Chen Zong mentally placed himself in Chen Ying's position, imagining how he would handle such an opponent.
Chen Fenghua's Chain Blade Technique had reached the Great Perfection Peak. His strikes flowed in seamless succession until, suddenly, the relentless chain of blade light paused. The descending blade carried a terrifying gust of wind, as if cleaving the very air before it, capable of shattering a massive boulder with its sheer force.
Great Perfection Peak Heavy Strike Blade Technique!
Unlike the continuous flow of the Chain Blade Technique, the Heavy Strike Blade Technique focused on delivering a single, devastating blow to utterly crush the target, never requiring a second strike.
The timing of this strike was flawless, making Chen Zong's eyes light up with admiration.
The blade fell completely beyond Chen Ying's expectations, leaving him no time to react or circulate his Blood Qi.
The strike was thunderous, overwhelmingly powerful, and unstoppable.
Chen Ying was struck, sent flying backward, and crashing off the arena platform—defeated.
"Chen Fenghua, Chief of the Blade Technique Group, wins his first consecutive match," Elder Chen Xing announced. "The third battle will be between the Chief of the Sword Technique Group and Chen Yong, Chief of the Palm Technique Group."
After a brief rest, Chen Yong's palms had fully recovered.
Below the arena, Chen He, the instructor of the Fist Technique Group, watched Chen Zong with a sardonic gaze. When he had first heard that Chen Zong had cultivated the Tiger Force Fist Technique to the Perfection Realm, he had personally sought him out, recognizing his exceptional talent. He was deeply displeased that Chen Zong had rejected his invitation to join the Fist Technique Group, opting instead for the Sword Technique Group.
"Chen Chuyun," Chen He called out mockingly, turning to the Sword Technique Group instructor, "your Sword Technique Group must be incredibly weak if someone who's only been practicing swordsmanship for a month can claim the Chief position."
Chen Chuyun glanced at Chen He dismissively, then ignored him completely, too disdainful to respond.
In the arena, Chen Yong took a deep breath and adopted the starting stance of the Stone-Crushing Palm Technique, facing Chen Zong directly.
After his battle with Chen Guzhan and witnessing the duel between Chen Ying and Chen Fenghua, Chen Yong had realized that the Chiefs of each group possessed exceptional abilities. Though the Sword Technique Group Chief had yet to reveal his full capabilities, his victory over Chen Zuoyi to claim the position suggested considerable strength. He resolved to treat this opponent with utmost caution.
His heart pounded with a deep, powerful rhythm, strength surging through his veins. Chen Zong stepped forward, adopting the starting stance of the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique, his sword tip aimed squarely at Chen Yong.