Morning in the outer sect brought no warmth—only wind, silence, and cold glances exchanged between those desperate to climb.
Jiang Chen stood at the edge of the battered sparring ground, its stone tiles cracked from years of countless duels. Around him, disciples gathered in a loose ring, their voices low but sharp with excitement.
"He actually came."
"Isn't that the crippled servant?"
"No, no—he's technically an outer disciple now. Got in through that probation test. Still a cripple though."
"I heard he beat a few others already. Basic forms, nothing special."
Jiang Chen ignored them all.
His eyes were fixed ahead—on the broad-shouldered youth rolling his wrists lazily.
Zhao Fei.
A core lackey of Zhang Yao.
Not particularly talented, but strong. He had the Earthforce Palm, a heavy, dominating technique that crushed lighter styles. Most beginners avoided fighting him outright.
"You sure you want to go through with this?" Zhao Fei asked, cracking his knuckles. "Your limbs still look skinny to me. Barely any muscle."
Jiang Chen took a breath. His panel hovered faintly in the back of his mind.
[Mountain-Crushing Fist – Proficiency: Small Achievement (41%)]
[Iron Bone Tempering Art – Proficiency: Great Achievement (92%)]
[Breath Control Technique – Proficiency: Entry (15%)]
[Hidden Flame Physique – Dormant]
"Yes," he said simply.
The watching disciples snorted. Zhao Fei smirked.
"Alright then. Don't say I didn't warn you."
A junior elder overseeing the duel lazily waved his hand. "Begin."
Zhao Fei moved first—quick for his size, using brute strength over form. His palm struck out, the air vibrating from the sheer weight of the blow.
Jiang Chen pivoted.
Not fast enough to fully evade, but fast enough to deflect the strike slightly.
Thud!
The palm grazed his ribs, numbing the skin. But he didn't retreat.
Instead, he stepped in.
Left foot forward. Elbow low. Mountain-Crushing Fist.
His strike landed squarely against Zhao Fei's side.
Boom!
Zhao Fei grunted and stumbled. Not much—but enough for the crowd to gasp. That wasn't normal power. That was…
Qi?
No. Not qi. It felt like it. But there was no spiritual pressure, no aura.
Just force. Precision. Timing.
Proficiency.
Zhao Fei's eyes narrowed. "You little—!"
He roared and unleashed three palm strikes in quick succession. Each one more brutal than the last.
Jiang Chen blocked one. Took the second to the shoulder. Rolled with the third, and—
Crack!
He punched with everything.
His fist smashed into Zhao Fei's gut, sending the larger youth staggering back several steps.
[Mountain-Crushing Fist – Proficiency: Small Achievement (49%)]
Jiang Chen's breathing deepened. A warmth was spreading across his back and chest. That heat again. Not just blood pumping.
Something more.
Zhao Fei charged again, wild and angry now.
But Jiang Chen no longer backed down.
He stepped into the palm, twisting, ducking beneath it, and delivered a sharp, upward strike to the solar plexus. Then one to the jaw.
Zhao Fei's head snapped back—and he collapsed.
Silence.
The watching disciples stared in stunned silence. Even the elder's eyes widened for a moment before he cleared his throat.
"…Victory goes to Jiang Chen."
There were no cheers. Just quiet murmurs.
And Jiang Chen?
He stood tall, chest rising and falling. A trace of sweat slid down his brow. But his stance never wavered.
The warmth under his skin pulsed stronger now.
[Hidden Flame Physique – Dormant] → [Activating…]
His heart skipped.