Facing Qin Fen, Zhang Ying stood no chance. With Qin Fen's vicious nature, he'd surely seize this opportunity to exact brutal revenge.
"Hahaha, you little punk! I told you not to get cocky. If you've got any guts, don't surrender in this match!" Qin Fen leaped onto the stage, his face twisted with savage glee.
"Zhang Ying, don't go up there! Qin Fen will kill you!" Lin Tian pleaded, his voice laced with panic.
"So what? I, Zhang Ying, may not be his match, but I'm no coward who surrenders without a fight," Zhang Ying replied, resolute.
"But you—"
"Lin Tian, enough. Young Master Chen, I'm going up." Without waiting for Qin Chen's response, Zhang Ying vaulted onto the stage.
"You actually dared to show up," Qin Fen said, feigning surprise, his fists cracking as he clenched them.
"Young Master Chen, make Zhang Ying surrender! He'll die up there!" Lin Tian spun toward Qin Chen, frantic.
"Lin Tian, if it were you, would you surrender?" Qin Chen asked calmly.
Lin Tian froze. "Me? Of course I wouldn't, but Zhang Ying—"
"Then that's settled. You wouldn't surrender, and neither will Zhang Ying," Qin Chen said, his voice steady but firm.
A warrior without the courage to face a stronger foe could never become truly great. This match was a trial for Zhang Ying—a crucible to forge his transformation.
On the Stage
Qin Fen eyed Zhang Ying with a mocking smirk, like a cat toying with a mouse.
"Match begin!" the instructor barked.
Zhang Ying's gaze sharpened. With a swift movement, he struck first, darting forward like a leopard. In an instant, he was before Qin Fen, unleashing a blazing punch.
"Scorching Sun Flame Fist!"
Boom!
The air seemed to ignite, searing heat waves erupting like a volcano, surging toward Qin Fen.
"Hahaha, this is your attack? Pathetic!" Qin Fen roared with laughter, a chilling glint in his eyes. He countered with a straightforward punch.
Bang!
The fiery fist energy shattered instantly. Zhang Ying, at Human-Level Mid Stage, couldn't compare to Qin Fen's Human-Level Late Stage power. Their true qi quality was worlds apart.
Obliterating Zhang Ying's attack, Qin Fen charged like a frenzied dragon, his fists bearing down like a mountain. "Lie down!" he snarled.
"Shadowless Flying Crane!"
Zhang Ying had anticipated this. The moment Qin Fen shattered his fist energy, he leaped skyward, his movements ethereal as a crane. In a flash, he reappeared behind Qin Fen, his leg whipping toward Qin Fen's back like lightning.
"Golden Crane Stance!"
His leg moved like a lashing whip, transforming into a gust of wind, striking with astonishing speed.
"Flying Crane Movement Technique—a Yellow-Grade Superior skill!" someone in the crowd gasped, recognizing Zhang Ying's maneuver.
"Zhang Ying was just a junior-class student. How did he master such a difficult technique? Even ordinary Human-Level Late Stage martial artists struggle to learn it!"
"Hiss, something's off. Zhang Ying, Lin Tian, and Qin Chen used to hang out together, and now all three have suddenly surged in strength."
"That kick—it's like an antelope's leap, impossible to track. Could Qin Fen slip up?"
Even Qin Fen, caught off guard, was momentarily stunned. He'd expected to crush Zhang Ying easily, yet his opponent had vanished, only for a gust of force to strike from behind.
Sensing danger, Qin Fen's experience kicked in. Pivoting on his right foot, he spun toward the incoming attack and threw a punch.
"Supreme King Fist!"
Pop!
Fist met leg in midair. Lacking full preparation, Qin Fen stumbled back several steps. On the other side, Zhang Ying soared backward like an eagle, landing and retreating a dozen more steps before stabilizing. His right leg was numb, his blood and qi churning within.
"Damn it, I didn't hit him!" Zhang Ying's face darkened, and his carefully planned strike was ineffective.
"You little rat, daring to ambush me? You're dead!" Qin Fen roared, humiliated that nobody in the junior class had forced him back, a peak Human-Level Late Stage warrior.
Whoosh!
Enraged, Qin Fen moved like a specter, closing the distance to Zhang Ying in an instant. His hands formed twin blades, slashing repeatedly with ferocious speed.
"Zhang Ying, watch out!" Qin Chen's eyes narrowed, his voice a sharp warning.
"Not good!" Zhang Ying's heart jolted. He retreated hastily, crossing his arms to shield his chest.
"Too late!" Qin Fen's face twisted with malice. His hand-blades erupted with terrifying force, true qi tearing through Zhang Ying's defensive layer. The first strike hacked into Zhang Ying's left arm, the second into his right, and the third slammed into his chest.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Three bone-snapping sounds rang out in unison. Both of Zhang Ying's arms broke, and his chest caved in, ribs shattering. He flew back over ten meters, crashing to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth as he lay unable to rise.
"Qin Fen wins!" the instructor declared.
Qin Fen stepped forward, intent on continuing, but the instructor's call stopped him.
"Damn it!" Qin Fen cursed, seething. Blinded by rage, he'd struck too quickly, severely injuring Zhang Ying. I should've toyed with him longer, made him suffer.
"Zhang Ying!" Lin Tian rushed to the stage, but Qin Chen was faster, already at Zhang Ying's side, helping him up.
"Young Master Chen!" Lin Tian looked at Qin Chen, his voice trembling with worry.
"He's alive, but these injuries will take time to heal," Qin Chen said, his eyes narrowing. Zhang Ying had five broken ribs, internal organ damage, and completely fractured arms. Without a month of recovery, full healing was unlikely.
"Hmph, sparing his life was mercy enough," Qin Fen sneered, his eyes glinting like a lone wolf's. "Qin Chen, don't worry—your turn's next."
"I'll be waiting," Qin Chen replied, standing and handing Zhang Ying to the instructors for treatment. A chilling, razor-sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
The first round concluded swiftly, with sixteen students advancing.
The spotlight remained on Li Qingfeng, Wang Qiming, and Zhao Lingshan. Having broken through to Earth-Level, they were in a league of their own, undisputed as the top three in the crowd's minds.
"A three-way showdown! I can't wait to see them clash."
"Who's the strongest among these Earth-Level prodigies?"
"Though the arena matches are randomly drawn, by tradition, Earth-Level students are seeded and won't face each other in early rounds. We'll have to wait at least three rounds to see them fight."
"Pity the others who draw them. Even peak Human-Level Late Stage students won't last ten moves."
The crowd buzzed with anticipation, each person rooting for their favorite, eagerly awaiting the next matches.