Chapter 17: Please, Stop Grinding

Amidst a wave of cheers, Chen Yan stood quietly.

It felt as though a long-accumulated heaviness in his heart had quietly dissipated at this moment, leaving him feeling very light.

An inexplicable sensation washed over his chest, and all the sounds from the Outer Realm seemed to fade away.

Refreshing, exhilarating, free.

This was something he had never felt before, as if being born human was meant for the pursuit of such a state.

In Chen Yan's mind, the moment he defeated Xia Dong surfaced, and he reviewed the second he beat Zhang Qingsi.

Buzz— buzz— buzz—!

Within the Po Saint Realm, golden light suddenly flickered.

【Po Saint Realm: Level 2 (2/15)】

【Break-Saint Fruit:

Force: (40/100)

Flesh: (34/100)

Technique: (100/100)】

That Break-Saint Fruit, which had originally required some progress, quietly ripened at this moment.

Chen Yan consumed this Ji Character Fruit, and a surging torrent of memories instantly flooded his mind.

Within this mass of memories, Chen Yan battled the Qingjiu Snake, Xia Dong, and Zhang Qingsi once again.

Constantly battling, constantly throwing punches.

Hundreds of times, thousands of times.

He could defeat Zhang Qingsi more easily and blast Xia Dong away more violently.

Until he absorbed the final trace of memory, Chen Yan could smash through the Qingjiu Snake's thick skin with a single punch.

This was an improvement in pure technique!

Finally, at a certain moment, what Chen Yan was familiar with was no longer just that one punching motion.

It was the entire set of movements: gathering momentum, condensing force, and throwing the punch.

It had to be this way; this specific muscle had to exert force like this, and the breathing frequency at this instant had to be just so.

Enlightenment—it was as if he understood everything.

A single Ji Character Fruit had actually pushed through the subsequent moves of the Eight Styles of Extreme Refining.

…………

At the same time.

Outside Qingshan High School, inside a Fried Noodle Shop.

Chen Yuhu, covered in dust, moved the tables and chairs from the shop into a tricycle one by one.

On Saturday, that Mediterranean Martial Officer only said he didn't need to rush to move, but he didn't say not to move.

The land for these few shops was granted to Zhang Ge by the Town Mayor's order.

In Qingshan Town, the Town Mayor and the Town Martial Bureau Director were the same person.

The Mediterranean Martial Officer was just a staff member; it was impossible for him to change the Town Mayor's order.

By the roadside, Hu Zeyuan walked up to the Fried Noodle Shop smoking a cigarette, his expression darkening instantly.

"Bad luck."

He gave a low snort; the day before yesterday, he had led people to break into Chen Yan's home and was taken back to the bureau by the Li Xingshi Wu Si, with each person fined five hundred.

The problem was that he was the one who called the people over, and later he had to compensate those few people three hundred each.

Regarding Chen Yuhu, he felt both hatred and jealousy.

Upon learning that the other party had climbed up the connection with the Li Xingshi Wu Si, Hu Zeyuan no longer dared to make a move.

It's just a Li Wusi, not even a martial artist, what is there to be so arrogant about.

Chen Yuhu swept a faint glance at Hu Zeyuan and ignored him.

After the events of that day, the kinship between the two families was considered completely severed, and there would be no need for further contact in the future.

"Brother Zhang!"

Suddenly, Hu Zeyuan saw someone and shouted out, waving his hands excitedly.

"It's me, old Hu, Hu Zeyuan; my son Hu Yuan and your son Zhang Qingsi are in the same class."

Hu Zeyuan smiled respectfully, bending his waist slightly as he handed a cigarette to a middle-aged man walking over, who was wearing a black suit and sporting a Di Yi hairstyle.

The man with the Di Yi was none other than Zhang Qingsi's Father, Zhang Ge.

Usually, Zhang Ge stayed in the Xian, running a Martial Arts Hall and two hotels of his own, and basically never returned to Qingshan Town.

After making his fortune last year, Zhang Ge arranged for his son to attend Qingshan High School, which had surprised the people in the Town for quite a while.

"Hu Zeyuan?" Zhang Ge's brows lifted slightly; he glanced at the cigarette in Hu Zeyuan's hand but did not take it, looking instead at Chen Yuhu, who was still moving the shop.

"Chen Yuhu..." Zhang Ge murmured, took a pack of cigarettes that looked expensive from his pocket, lit one, and walked forward.

"Zhang Ge?" Chen Yuhu looked at this middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes, feeling a sense of Xi Shu in his heart; last year, Zhang Ge was still a country bumpkin, but a year later, his appearance had changed drastically.

"What, moving the shop?" Zhang Ge asked with interest, smoke slowly exhaling from his mouth.

"Moving, moving away today." Chen Yuhu placed a stool onto the tricycle:

"Is there something?"

"Nothing, can't I chat with you if there's nothing?" Zhang Ge grinned:

"I know you're unhappy, but building a shopping mall here was a plan I had half a year ago; the Town Mayor gave me face and very generously granted the land to me."

Chen Yuhu chuckled and said nothing more.

"Chen Yuhu, you have quite a lot of face, not even giving Brother Zhang any?" Hu Zeyuan sneered from the side, arms crossed, seemingly failing to notice that Zhang Ge had ignored him entirely.

Chen Yuhu frowned, scanned Zhang Ge and Hu Zeyuan coldly, and went back to his own work.

Zhang Ge's eyes narrowed beneath his sunglasses, and he said with a faint smile, unconcerned:

"Chen Yuhu, I heard your daughter was also in a car accident. It seems the Town Martial Officer of the Xian was involved in the investigation. Is there any news on the culprit?"

Chen Yuhu paused. With Chen Yan and Chen Yu both suffering car accidents one after another, how could he, as an old Father, not be filled with indignation?

Clearly, there were not many people in the entire Luoshan County who owned private cars.

Seeing that Chen Yuhu did not answer him, Zhang Ge pursed his lips and continued:

"I heard your Son, Chen Yan, even passed the Fist Power Test. It seems you have raised him quite well."

"Hahaha, my Hu Yuan was just a little short." Hu Zeyuan laughed from the side:

"His Son is already injured to that extent. I saw him looking half-dead last year; he's truly pitiful."

Bang!

A stool flew straight out from inside the shop, smashing down beside Zhang Ge and Hu Zeyuan. The two looked over to see Chen Yuhu walking out of the shop with a dark face, picking up the broken stool and putting it into his tricycle.

"Chen Yuhu..." A cold snort hung on the corner of Zhang Ge's mouth. He did not continue speaking and left directly.

In the past, he and Chen Yuhu had a very good relationship and had received much help from the other.

It was just that times had changed.

Hu Zeyuan followed behind him, trotting along.

"Hu Zeyuan, you two are relatives, how did it end up like this?" Zhang Ge said as he walked.

"Hmph."

Hu Zeyuan gave a disdainful laugh:

"Who would be relatives with a poor wretch?"

"Didn't his Son just pass the Fist Power Test? He can be considered a little genius." Zhang Ge said quietly.

"A fart of a little genius. He's far behind your Son."

"That is still passing the Fist Power Test, especially after being bedridden for a year, and it's only been a few days..." Zhang Ge said quietly, as if he cared very much about the matter of Chen Yan passing the Fist Power Test.

"Hmph, the standard for the Qingshan High School Fist Power Test is one hundred and sixty kilograms. The school itself is rotten; even a piece of shit that looks a bit better can stand out if you put it in there." Hu Zeyuan laughed, then suddenly stopped the topic.

It seemed he had cursed Zhang Ge's Son as well, so he hurriedly said:

"Brother Zhang, your Son is different. Awakening of Qi and Blood—whether in the Xian or the city, he is gold. Truly amazing."

Zhang Ge's expression improved slightly, and he continued walking forward.

The people coming and going all looked at Zhang Ge with a Smile, or with envy.

"Qingshan Town..." Zhang Ge gave a faint laugh.

Qingshan Town is just like this, a place of poor mountains and treacherous waters.

Lowly.

Just like this Hu Zeyuan beside him, lowly.

It was also at this moment.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Three huge bell tolls rang out, and everyone on the entire street stopped walking at this moment.

"The 23rd Qingshan High School True Martial Prize Money selection has concluded!"

Principal Zhang Yue's voice, carrying an accent, spread out from Qingshan High School. Zhang Ge lifted his head, and a trace of a Smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

As for Hu Zeyuan, he looked at the man beside him with envy. Last year, Zhang Ge was still a Tu Bi, but starting this year, not only had he risen to success, but his own Son had even achieved Awakening of Qi and Blood.

The True Martial Prize Money would definitely include Zhang Qingsi; he didn't even dare to imagine it.

A big winner in life.

Inside the Fried Noodle Shop, Chen Yuhu, who had been moving stools, paused for a moment before slowly shaking his head and continuing his work.

The shop at Jia Li was gone. Although his Son had resolved the family's predicament, the road ahead still had to be walked. He needed to earn enough money before his Son's college entrance exam.

Having such a Son and daughter was Chen Yuhu's good fortune, so he, Chen Yuhu, also had to work hard to earn money and could not let his children worry about Jia Li.

Chen Yan went to the Qingshan Inner Perimeter, even if he did get some benefits.

But as a Father, thinking of this, how could he be happy?

"Yu Zhiwen, Gao Yuan!"

Principal Zhang Yue's voice was still ringing out. The pedestrians on the street had already begun to exclaim, sighing endlessly.

"Chen Yan!"

Suddenly.

Clatter!

The bowl in his hand fell to the ground. Chen Yuhu was stunned, then ran out of the Fried Noodle Shop to look toward the direction of Qingshan High School.

On the street, the pedestrians who knew Chen Yuhu looked toward him one after another. Their eyes first held surprise, then immediately changed to full-blown envy.

"These three students have excellent results and successfully defended their positions. They are the most outstanding students of this year at Qingshan High School."

"Specially awarding twenty thousand in cash, with other rewards available for selection!"

The Principal's voice slowly faded, echoing on the street filled with the setting sun.

Chen Yuhu opened his mouth, and a Smile could not help but appear on his face.

At the other end of the street, the bodies of Zhang Ge and Hu Zeyuan stiffened. The two turned their heads with extreme tacit understanding, looking from a great distance at Chen Yuhu at the entrance of the Fried Noodle Shop.

Just like that, they stood stiffly in place and watched for a long time.

…………

"This Chen Yan, he just received the True Martial Prize Money, and now he's already started training?"

At the entrance of the Training Room, watching Chen Yan throwing punches inside, Xia Dong was full of suspicion.

He felt regret in his heart; students who could be this unarrogant and patient were too rare.

Yet he had not discovered this before, losing the best opportunity to help for no reason.

Xia Dong shook his head, his expression quite dejected, and left.

There was only Chen Yan in the Training Room.

This was originally a room where only top students could train, but today Chen Yan had entered.

Principal Zhang Yueman had agreed with a smile, making Chen Yan recognize the adult world once again.

Boom, boom, boom!

Chen Yan threw out punch after punch, the sound of wind whistling, sweat splashing like pearls.

Coming to the Training Room, he was not there to use the tools of the Training Room; it was mainly for the quiet.

After he defeated Zhang Qingsi, many students came to seek his acquaintance, and even Hu Yuan had come to apologize with a flushed face.

Chen Yan disliked these things, and he also despised them.

Moving forward and backward, he only wanted to see himself.

He did not know how much time had passed; Chen Yan was drenched in sweat, and the floor was soaked in a patch.

A person's Limit is often very easy to reach: throwing a punch, standing, or even keeping one's eyes open.

The human body is not made of steel, at least Chen Yan's is not right now.

His speed began to slow, and the tearing sensation in his muscles began to intensify.

Finally, at one moment, recalling the instant he sent the Qingjiu Snake flying, he threw out a punch.

Hiss!

Between his fists, a Red Glow emerged!

Limit-Breaking Awakening; reaching the Limit time and time again, but it seemed still very far off.

"What is wrong with you lately, always pushing your Limit?"

A girl's voice rang out.

"I know you are very tired, and I am very tired too."

Chen Yan was Stun, he looked around; there was only him in the entire Training Room.

This voice...

Chen Yan looked in front of himself; there was a Red Glow in the air that was not easily perceptible, and that Red Glow outlined a blurred figure.

"Do not practice anymore. I started Preparation for Awakening when I was young; you cannot catch up to me." The voice came from the figure again, carrying a plea.

"You are perhaps very poor. Where is your address? I will send you money, a lot of money; go practice the path of Horizontal Refinement."

Chen Yan narrowed his eyes, slowly realizing what was happening.

Limit-Breaking Awakening is a struggle between a group of people with the same Root Bone.

Had he just hit his Limit and communicated with another person?

"I am not admitting defeat; you are still very, very far from me, I am not lying to you.

But the moment you started pushing your Limit, my sister made me train day and night!"

The girl's voice carried a trace of helplessness.

"The path of Limit-Breaking Awakening is very tiring. After I awaken, I have to compete for the Hundred Meridians with even stronger people. Do you know Chen Min?

The Son of the Chen Family Invincible Son, who can break a Mountain in three steps.

After I awaken, I have to compete for the Hundred Meridians with a freak like that."

"Hey, say something, are you not afraid, are you not in despair?"

"Hey?!"

The girl's voice gradually grew faint; from beginning to end, Chen Yan did not reply.

This was a scene that transcended his understanding; he did not understand it.

So he worried that even if he said a single word, the other party would find him.

Vigilance was necessary.

But Awakening was also something that had to be done.