Chen Zhigang's punch struck with the ferocity of a Ferocious Tiger seizing its prey.
The wind howled like a tiger's roar as their fists collided head-on under the watchful eyes of the crowd. For a fleeting moment, a bone-jarring crack seemed to echo through the air.
Chen Zhigang swayed slightly but quickly regained his balance, while Chen Zong was forced to take a small step back.
"Haha, I told you! How could Chen Zong possibly stand a chance against Brother Gang?"
The tense atmosphere shattered with that mocking laugh, giving way to a chorus of chatter—all variations on the theme of Chen Zong's overestimation of his abilities.
"That's nonsense! Brother Zong can definitely defeat Chen Zhigang!" Chen Yiming shouted, his face flushed with anger.
"Are you blind? Didn't you see Chen Zong get pushed back by Brother Gang's punch?" Chen Zhongjie sneered, relentlessly mocking Chen Yiming.
"Not bad," Chen Zhigang acknowledged, retracting his fist and resuming the Tiger Stance. A flash of intensity flickered in his eyes, and a cold smile spread across his lips. "But that punch? I only used seventy percent of my strength."
"Did you think I was going all out either?" Chen Zong retorted, mirroring the Tiger Stance.
"If that's the case, then show me your full power," Chen Zhigang chuckled, briefly surprised before regaining his composure. "I'll make sure you understand the true gap between us."
That initial clash had merely been a probing exchange. Now, the real battle was about to begin.
"Brother Gang's about to go all out!"
"Don't forget, Brother Gang's strength has reached six hundred pounds!" Chen Zhigang's supporters erupted in excitement.
Qi Blood surged through Chen Zhigang, unleashing formidable power. His arms tensed, radiating a palpable pressure born from surpassing conventional strength.
"Peak third layer of the Qi Blood Realm, six hundred pounds of strength, and Great Perfection in the Tiger Force Fist Technique—truly impressive," the Battle Overseer nodded, admiration flickering in his eyes.
"Zhigang's talent is unmatched among the Branch Clan, and he works tirelessly," Chen Huzhan declared proudly.
The Overseer offered an ambiguous smile, his gaze lingering on Chen Zong. An intuition told him this young man might yet deliver a surprise.
Chen Zhigang channeled his full strength, his overwhelming aura amplified by his perfected Tiger Force Fist Technique. The pressure weighed heavily on Chen Zong, darkening his expression.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Zong knew he had no choice but to unleash his full potential.
With a subtle adjustment to his stance, an imposing aura began to emanate from his body.
The wind stilled.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Chen Zong seemed to transform before their eyes, as if a Ferocious Tiger had materialized on the arena, radiating astonishing might.
Chen Zhigang, facing him directly, stared in utter disbelief, momentarily doubting his own senses.
The Battle Overseer abruptly stood up, his eyes widening with astonishment, emitting an astonishing light. His arms trembled slightly with excitement.
"The Perfection Realm..." His voice was low and shaky. Was this the overwhelming surprise he felt? Was it too intense?
"This is impossible..." Chen Huzhan muttered in disbelief, a sense of helplessness washing over him.
The Perfection Realm of a Foundation Establishment Martial Art!
It was a realm coveted by countless Chen Clan members, yet no one in the entire Branch Clan had ever reached it. Even within the main Clan, those who mastered Foundation Establishment Martial Arts to Perfection were rare, especially among Martial Apprentices, where it was practically unheard of.
But now, they were witnessing the Perfection Realm of the Tiger Force Fist Technique from a Martial Apprentice who was barely fifteen years old and whose cultivation base was only at the third layer of the Qi Blood Realm.
Inconceivable. It felt like a dream.
Chen Zhigang felt as if he were floating in a daze, disconnected from reality.
He had painstakingly cultivated the Tiger Force Fist Technique to Great Perfection, guided by Chen Huzhan's guidance, yet he had never even reached the peak of that stage. And now, this so-called "waste" had not only reached the third layer of the Qi Blood Realm but had also achieved the Perfection Realm in the Tiger Force Fist Technique.
This was simply impossible.
"Even if your fist technique has reached the Perfection Realm, you're still no match for me!" Chen Zhigang roared, his feet slamming into the arena floor with a thunderous crack. The platform shuddered as he lunged forward with the ferocity of a Ferocious Tiger, his right fist clenched and radiating a terrifying force of six hundred pounds as it shattered the air toward Chen Zong.
The Perfection Realm of the Tiger Force Fist Technique, combined with the Tiger Stance's Tiger Stance, allowed Chen Zong's power to flow in a unified, seamless whole. Though he had only just broken through to the third layer of the Qi Blood Realm, possessing a mere four hundred pounds of force, he could unleash explosive bursts beyond his normal limits. His tiger-like aura constantly bombarded Chen Zhigang, disrupting his rhythm and influencing his every move.
Tiger's Charge!
Their fists collided again, unleashing a deafening shockwave.
Tiger's Charge!
Tiger's Charge!
Three more bone-shattering clashes followed in rapid succession. Chen Zong surged forward like a tiger descending from the mountains, his momentum unstoppable—the true essence of the Tiger Stance.
Chen Zhigang's arm trembled involuntarily, forcing him to stumble backward. That single step disrupted his momentum, allowing Chen Zong to pounce.
Tiger's Charge!
Tiger's Charge!
Tiger's Charge!
Chen Zhigang could only retreat, step by step.
The crowd stared in stunned silence.
Chen Zhigang, hailed as the strongest in the family under fifteen, was being utterly overwhelmed by someone once dismissed as trash. Was this some kind of nightmare?
Tiger's Turn Stance!
Chen Zong spun, his arm sweeping across like a tiger's tail. The strike was too fast for Chen Zhigang to react, sending him stumbling sideways.
Instantly, Chen Zong's foot slammed into the ground, propelling him half a meter into the air. His pent-up momentum exploded, launching him forward with unstoppable force. Chen Zhigang instinctively looked up, his vision darkening as if a Ferocious Tiger were leaping down from a mountain. The tiger's domineering, icy gaze sent tremors through his heart, filling him with primal fear.
Tiger Fury Stance!
Unstoppable!
Chen Zong unleashed his full power in a single punch—the most devastating strike of the Tiger Force Fist Technique, his finishing blow.
Chen Zhigang reflexively raised his arms to block, but the brutal force threatened to shatter his bones as the punch slammed into his chest. He flew backward off the arena platform, crashing to the ground and rolling several times before sprawling motionless, blood-tinged foam bubbling from the corner of his mouth, utterly paralyzed.
"Chen Zhigang... lost..."
"Chen Zong defeated Chen Zhigang?"
A collective gasp rippled through the stunned crowd.
"Brother Zong, you did it!" Chen Yiming cheered wildly, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Good, good..." Chen Zhengtang's face glowed with pride and excitement, his entire body shaking.
Chen Yuyao stood frozen, her mind reeling, unable to grasp her own emotions. Chen Yidao's eyes blazed with predatory intensity as he fixed his gaze on Chen Zong, his muscles tense with eagerness, eager to test his own strength.
Chen Huzhan was initially stunned, but his expression quickly darkened, his fury threatening to erupt.
"Excellent! Chen Zong has won his challenge against Chen Zhigang, taking his place to train at the Clan Hall alongside Chen Yuyao and Chen Yidao!" Chen Wuxiong declared, his voice trembling with excitement.
This wasn't just because Chen Zong had mastered the Tiger Force Fist Technique to the Perfection Realm, but also because he had defeated Chen Zhigang.
If Chen Zhigang had secured his spot at the Clan Hall, Chen Huzhan's influence within the Branch Clan would have grown, potentially sidelining Chen Wuxiong entirely. But now, that possibility had vanished.
"You insolent brat! How dare you resort to such ruthless tactics!" Chen Huzhan roared, leaping forward like a Ferocious Tiger pouncing from a high perch. The terrifying aura of a seventh-layer Qi Blood Realm cultivator erupted from him, his Qi Blood surging as he unleashed a claw strike. There was no doubt—if that claw connected, Chen Zong's bones would shatter.
Chen Zong froze, a chilling dread flooding his senses. His limbs stiffened, paralyzed by fear even greater than when he had been stalked by the Ferocious Tiger in the forest. In the space between his eyebrows, the sword tip trembled faintly, releasing a cool wave that restored his awareness. But the gap between the third and seventh layers of the Qi Blood Realm was too vast, like comparing a firefly to the full moon. Even if Chen Zong had reacted instantly, he had no chance to evade.
"Chen Huzhan... you... dare..." Chen Zhengtang's voice seemed to drift from a distant place, mingling with the gasps of the crowd, as if Chen Zong were caught between sleep and wakefulness.
Instinctively, Chen Zong moved. Too late to dodge, he decided not to. If Chen Huzhan wanted him dead, he would never yield.
In that instant, the Tiger Stance radiating from Chen Zong intensified violently, surging forth with even greater ferocity.
Chen Huzhan's claw rapidly expanded before him, blotting out the sky. Chen Zong glared fiercely and hurled a fist, its power so savage it seemed capable of shattering the heavens themselves.
"Die!" Chen Huzhan roared, his voice like a thunderclap as his claw mercilessly slashed toward Chen Zong's head.
But before the blow could land, a blue shadow flashed across Chen Zong's vision. A towering figure materialized as if from thin air, striking Chen Huzhan's claw aside with a single palm strike.
"Chen Huzhan, do you intend to break the rules?" The Battle Overseer's voice, though calm, carried a chilling undertone that made Chen Huzhan's pupils contract.
The Overseer had intervened.
"No, I was merely..." Faced with the Overseer's overwhelming strength, Chen Huzhan dared not resist, knowing he was in the wrong.
"In battle, there will always be victory and defeat, injuries and triumphs," the Battle Overseer interrupted Chen Huzhan's excuses. "He was one of the three chosen to represent the Clan. If anything had gone wrong, ten of your lives wouldn't have been enough to repay the debt."
Ignoring Chen Huzhan's darkening expression, the Battle Overseer turned to Chen Zong with a beaming smile. "Well done, young man! You possess the spirit of a Ferocious Tiger and commendable courage."
"Thank you for saving me, Overseer," Chen Zong said, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"It's my duty," the Battle Overseer replied with a chuckle, nodding to Chen Wuxiong.
"I hereby announce that Chen Zong, Chen Yuyao, and Chen Yidao have earned the right to cultivate at the Clan Hall!" Chen Wuxiong declared, his voice ringing with authority and his face flushed with pride. "As a reward, each of you will receive two Vitality Pills. I trust you will train diligently at the Clan Hall and strive to become martial artists as soon as possible."
"Two Vitality Pills!" Chen Zong exclaimed, his eyes widening with delight.
"Little one, you'll get even more Vitality Pills once you reach the Clan," the Battle Overseer added with a chuckle, making Chen Zong's eyes sparkle even brighter.
As the applause died down, Chen Zong suddenly spoke up. "Overseer, Clan Leader, may I ask... what is the punishment for violating Clan rules?"
Chen Dazhong, Chen Dalei, and Chen Zhigang, standing among the crowd, suddenly paled.
"Young man, speak your mind," the Battle Overseer said sternly, his hands clasped behind his back.
"First, I didn't receive my share of Vitality Pills last month," Chen Zong stated, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He paused at Chen Zhigang's uncle, Li Qi, who trembled violently, his face ashen and drenched in cold sweat.
"Li Qi, from this day forward, you have no further ties to the Chen Clan," Chen Wuxiong declared, causing Li Qi to collapse to the ground. He had infiltrated the clan through his connection to Chen Huzhan, securing a promising position. Now, his future was in ruins.
"Second, over twenty days ago in the Wind Howl Forest, someone tried to kill me. If not for my good fortune, I would be dead now." Chen Zong's gaze locked onto Chen Dazhong, his voice dripping with icy contempt. "Chen Dazhong, who ordered you to do it?"
"Lies!" Chen Dazhong roared, his face flushed crimson and veins bulging in his neck. "Utter nonsense!"
Chen Wuxiong, the Battle Overseer, Chen Huzhan, and others reacted sharply, their expressions darkening. Chen Zhengtang's face twisted with fury, while the rest of the Chen Clan stared in bewildered shock.
"Chen Dazhong, we're five or six years apart in age, and our paths have never crossed. There's no reason for me to falsely accuse you," Chen Zong said calmly. "Back then, you were supposed to kill that Ferocious Tiger and bring it back to the clan. If that tiger hadn't appeared, you would have killed me, wouldn't you?"
"Clan Leader, Chen Dazhong did indeed bring back a Ferocious Tiger over twenty days ago," an elder confirmed.
"Chen Dalei, you were also involved in this, weren't you?" Chen Zong suddenly turned his gaze to Chen Dalei.
"No... it wasn't me... I had nothing to do with it..." Chen Dalei stammered, his voice cracking with panic.
"Using a martial artist's strength against a fifteen-year-old Martial Apprentice from our own clan is one crime. Attempting to kill a fellow clansman is another," Chen Wuxiong declared coldly. "For these two crimes combined, Chen Dazhong's entire cultivation base will be forfeited."
"No, I didn't do it..." Chen Dazhong roared repeatedly, shoving through the crowd in a desperate attempt to escape. An elder swiftly restrained him, his hand transforming into a claw that repeatedly struck Chen Dazhong's body. Chen Dazhong convulsed violently, his face rapidly draining of color as his strength ebbed away. He collapsed, limp and vulnerable, like a deflated balloon, as if a mere gust of wind could topple him.
His fourth-layer Qi Blood Realm cultivation base had been destroyed.
Chen Zhigang's face turned ashen, while Chen Dalei trembled uncontrollably, a flicker of hatred flashing in his eyes.
"This is the consequence of violating clan rules," Chen Wuxiong declared loudly.
"Thank you, Clan Leader, for upholding justice," Chen Zong said, bowing respectfully. His gaze swept over Chen Zhigang, knowing that despite his victory, Chen Huzhan's presence meant he couldn't act against him for now.
Li Qi and Chen Dazhong had broken clan rules, and dealing with them according to those rules was the best course of action. Chen Zong, focused on his upcoming cultivation at the Clan Hall, had no time to spare. A swift resolution was necessary, and their fate was entirely their own making.