Chapter 70: Chapter 66: Sparring

Chen Qing’s Heart and Spirit sank, and a golden light appeared in his mind.

[Long Arm Pile Skill: Perfection (1/5000)]

The Long Arm Pile Skill had four major Realms: Minor Achievement, Great Success, Perfection, and Peak of Perfection.

Minor Achievement corresponded to Manifest Force, Great Success to Dark Force, and Perfection to Transmutation Force. The final realm, Peak of Perfection, was equivalent to Great Success in the Transmutation Force Realm.

’Is this Transmutation Force?’

Chen Qing felt his five senses become as clear as if they had been washed. His muscles, bones, and flesh were condensed and tough, and an immense Power filled his entire body.

Not only that, but his Power was now one with his body, inside and out. With a mere thought, Power was generated, no longer distinguishing between Manifest and Dark.

His Power hadn’t vanished. Instead, it had become more condensed and purer, like Fine Steel refined a hundred times transformed into a supple silk thread. It could be hard or soft, completely under his control.

He had no idea how many times stronger he had become compared to when he was in the Dark Force Realm.

Generally, upon reaching the Transmutation Force Realm, one could extend their lifespan, provided their muscles and bones weren’t worn down by hidden injuries.

However, for martial artists who risked their lives in combat, who didn’t accumulate injuries in their youth?

In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for many to be plagued by latent ailments and die a premature death in their forties or fifties.

’I wonder how incredible the Inner Cultivation Technique beyond the Transmutation Force Realm is.’

Chen Qing thought to himself, his anticipation for the Inner Cultivation Technique growing.

For the next few days, Chen Qing didn’t go to the Zhou Institute.

Instead, he stayed home in seclusion, contemplating the mysteries of Transmutation Force and practicing Bone Tempering. He spent the rest of his time arduously cultivating the Fishing Toad Force.

Now that his Fishing Toad Force had also reached the Second Realm, his internal organs were so tough that ordinary Power could hardly damage them.

If he reached the Third Realm of Purification and Marrow Cleansing and purged all impurities, the benefits would be immeasurable.

On this day, Bai Rui, a new disciple from the Zhou Institute, came to visit.

He had decent aptitude and had recently been training under Sun Shun.

“Brother Chen.”

Bai Rui bowed respectfully. “Master has requested that you come to the institute this afternoon if you are free.”

“What for?” Chen Qing asked.

“It seems he has arranged a sparring session for the disciples with Master Liu.”

Chen Qing nodded. “Understood.”

He wasn’t particularly interested in sparring, but he hadn’t been back to the Zhou Institute in a long time, so he figured he should go.

In the afternoon, Chen Qing changed into a neat, black short robe and headed straight for the Zhou Institute.

Before he even entered the courtyard walls, a wave of boisterous noise washed over him.

Stepping inside, the normally quiet Zhou Institute was now buzzing with activity.

Zhou Liang and Liu Ze were seated at the head of the courtyard.

In the center of the field, Sun Shun was facing off against Liu Nianbo.

Zhou Yu stood quietly to the side, her beautiful eyes watching the two men. Her elegant figure was particularly striking in the crowd.

Chen Qing’s gaze swept across the area. In a corner, Liu Xiaolou and Qi Wenhao were talking and laughing. Although the two had joined the Zhu Family, they hadn’t cut ties with their former brothers and occasionally returned to the institute.

One could never have too many connections.

Luo Qian, her face wreathed in smiles, was chatting with several disciples from the Liu Institute who had superior Root Bones, seemingly with the intention of recruiting and sponsoring them.

Knowing she had no hope of reaching the Transmutation Force Realm herself, she was eager to find a promising seedling to support so she could make a name for herself in the Luo Family.

It was just that while the Liu Institute disciples were a bit stronger than those from the Zhou Institute, there weren’t many good prospects.

Zhengzi Bridge stood with his arms crossed, watching the two fight with intense concentration, his thoughts unknown.

Bai Rui had sharp eyes and quickly walked over to greet him. “Brother Chen!”

Chen Qing gave a slight nod, his gaze turning to the center of the field.

Sun Shun and Liu Nianbo stood opposite each other.

Sun Shun wore the Zhou Institute’s usual navy-blue short robe, his expression calm and his gaze focused.

He assumed the opening stance of the Long Arm Fist, “Spiritual Ape Asks the Way.” His knees were slightly bent, his spine was straight as a pine tree, and his aura was heavy and condensed.

Opposite him, Liu Nianbo was dressed in moon-white Martial Attire. He stood tall and straight, his gaze as sharp as a falcon’s.

His hands were loosely clasped, fingertips slightly bent, in the Mantis Fist’s signature “Sickle Hand” opening stance. A sharp aura, poised to strike, faintly emanated from him.

“Junior Brother Liu, please guide me!” Sun Shun said in a deep voice, clasping his fist.

“Brother Sun, please!”

Liu Nianbo returned the salute. Before his voice had even faded, his body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow!

Fast!

Liu Nianbo’s Step Technique was swift and tricky, like a mantis hunting in the grass. In just a few steps, he closed in on Sun Shun’s center.

His two fingers came together like a blade, letting out a sharp whistle that tore through the air as they stabbed straight for Sun Shun’s vital points in the chest and abdomen. It was the Mantis Fist’s “Heart-Piercing Stab.”

Sun Shun’s pupils contracted. He didn’t dare to be careless.

He twisted his waist and hips abruptly, his spine whipping like a great dragon. His left arm swung up like lightning to block, using the Long Arm Fist’s force-deflecting technique, “Spiritual Ape Around Branch.”

The muscles in his arm instantly tensed like iron as his Dark Force erupted.

SCHRRRIIIP!

The tips of the fingers clashed with the arm, producing a harsh, grating sound.

Sun Shun felt a tricky, cold Power penetrate his arm and bore straight into his bones. A wave of sour numbness spread through his arm.

He grunted, stumbling back three steps—THUD, THUD, THUD—before he could barely dissipate the force, leaving clear footprints on the green bricks.

Pressing his advantage, Liu Nianbo’s figure shadowed him, his Step Technique strange and unpredictable as he instantly closed the distance again.

His fists turned into claws, flying up and down—pecking, hooking, and flicking. His assault was like a sudden storm, covering the major acupoints all over Sun Shun’s body.

The essence of Mantis Fist—tricky, piercing, fast, and ruthless—was on full display.

The air filled with the sharp sound of tearing air—SWISH! SWISH!—and the overlapping shadows of his claws were dizzying.

Sun Shun was experienced. He pushed the characteristics of the Long Arm Fist—its wide, sweeping movements combined with flexibility—to their limits.

He sank into a low horse stance, his arms spinning like windmills. Sometimes they were like steel whips sweeping horizontally, other times like a Spiritual Snake flicking its tongue, as he did his utmost to block Liu Nianbo’s omnipresent attacks.

BANG! BANG! BANG—!

A series of muffled thuds echoed endlessly; it was the sound of fists and feet colliding, of Dark Force clashing.

However, the difference in their skill was ultimately clear.

Liu Nianbo was at Great Success in Dark Force. He was brimming with vitality, and his Dark Force was smooth and unobstructed. His speed, strength, and reflexes were all superior to Sun Shun’s.

After one head-on block, a needle-like pain shot through Sun Shun’s left arm. For an instant, the flow of his blood and qi showed an almost imperceptible stagnation.

This stagnation might be harmless to an ordinary person, but in the eyes of a Dark Force Expert like Liu Nianbo, it was a wide-open vulnerability.

’A good chance!’

A sharp glint flashed in Liu Nianbo’s eyes.

He suddenly dropped low, using an extremely tricky “Mantis Cutting Step” to slip into the opening on Sun Shun’s left side.

His right arm, which had been accumulating power, shot out like a viper from its hole. His five fingers came together like a cone, the tips gathering a Dark Force with extreme Penetration Power. As fast as lightning, he struck toward the Zhangmen acupoint on Sun Shun’s left rib.

This move was the insidious “Acupoint Needle” from the Mantis Fist!

Alarms blared in Sun Shun’s mind, but it was too late to dodge or block.

PFFT!

His fingertips landed precisely half an inch from the acupoint. At the last moment, Liu Nianbo had reined in his Power, allowing only a gentle stream of Dark Force to penetrate, indicating that victory had been decided.

Even so, Sun Shun still felt his left rib go numb. The blood and qi on that side of his body stagnated, and he stumbled back another step. His face instantly turned pale, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

The field fell silent in an instant.

Liu Nianbo slowly retracted his stance, his breathing steady. He clasped his fist toward Sun Shun and said sincerely, “Brother Sun, thank you for the match.”

Sun Shun took a deep breath, suppressing the churning in his blood and qi and the numbness in his ribs. There was little frustration on his face, only a hint of helplessness and open admiration.

He wiped away his sweat and returned the salute with a clasped fist. “Junior Brother Liu, your skill is exquisite. I’m impressed! I have lost.”

The outcome was decided, clean and swift.

…

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