The sudden chime in his mind filled Jiang Chen with exhilarating joy. This feeling was simple: cool. He'd just slapped a low-level lackey and instantly gained a new martial skill! In this world, who could possibly grow stronger faster than him?
Jiang Kuan touched his stinging, rapidly heating cheek, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He hadn't expected the Jiang family's notorious waste to dare strike him. What was more shocking was that he, a Body Tempering Fourth Layer warrior, hadn't been able to react before being struck by a mere Body Tempering Second Layer reject!
Rage boiled over.
Jiang Kuan roared and charged at Jiang Chen. His only thought was to severely punish this brazen 'waste' who had dared to slap him.
He unleashed a punch powered by his full strength, the blow accompanied by a sharp whistle of wind.
Jiang Chen remained calm, his hands clasped behind his back, watching the rapidly expanding fist in his view. It wasn't until Jiang Kuan's knuckles were less than three feet from his face that he slowly extended two fingers.
With an almost casual grace, Jiang Chen's two fingers clamped down precisely on Jiang Kuan's wrist. The action was as effortless as snatching a falling leaf.
"This... how is this possible?" Jiang Kuan gasped, shocked to his core. His most powerful punch had been nullified by the supposed Body Tempering Second Layer waste.
Before Jiang Kuan could process the shock, Jiang Chen's hand flashed out again, delivering a second, stinging slap across the guard's other cheek.
"You bastard!"
Jiang Kuan spat out a mouthful of blood and let out a guttural, angry growl. He pulled back, shaking off the shock, and lunged at Jiang Chen again with unbridled fury.
"You're overestimating yourself," Jiang Chen sneered dismissively.
Without moving his feet, he met the incoming attack by executing the recently acquired Gravel Fist. A solid, explosive force erupted from his knuckles.
In an instant, Jiang Kuan's bulky figure flew several meters backward, resembling a broken kite. He landed in a crumpled, lifeless heap.
"Ding! You used Gravel Fist, gaining 20 \times 100 experience!"
"Ding! Your Gravel Fist has reached the Minor Accomplishment stage!"
With Jiang Kuan dispatched, Jiang Chen strode toward the square, the system's pleasing chimes accompanying every step.
"Ding! You took one step, gaining 10 \times 100 experience!"
"Ding! You took one step, gaining 10 \times 100 experience!"
The Confrontation
Every step added huge experience points to his Flowing Light Steps. By the time Jiang Chen reached the edge of the Jiang family's inner courtyard square, only a few minutes had passed, and the martial art had reached the perfect state!
"Ding! Your Huang-Grade Primary Movement Technique, Flowing Light Steps, has reached the perfect state! It has successfully advanced to the Huang-Grade Intermediate Movement Technique: Meteor Steps!"
"Promoted to Huang-Grade Intermediate just by walking across the courtyard," Jiang Chen thought, marveling.
At this rate, with a hundredfold experience bonus for every movement, it wouldn't take long for his body techniques to advance all the way to the Profound Grade! Profound-grade martial arts were exceedingly rare—even the Jiang family considered their only known profound-grade technique a secret, core treasure.
"Grandpa, please don't worry. Once I reach the Lingyun Martial Academy, I will certainly practice diligently and will never let you down."
Just then, a familiar voice drifted from the center of the square.
Jiang Chen looked up. Jiang Yunhong stood tall and proud in the middle of the square, a handsome figure speaking earnestly to Jiang Qianhe, the Grand Elder. Around them, many Jiang disciples looked on with undisguised envy.
Jiang Chen's face hardened. He strode directly toward the center of the square, his cold voice slowly cutting through the morning air.
"Jiang Yunhong. This chance to enter the Lingyun Martial Academy was purchased by my father at the risk of his life. You are not qualified to take away what belongs to me!"