Chapter 67

Wuyuan!

When Lin Chen arrived at Wuyuan, he was surprised to find Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying also present, and neither wore masks.

Lin Chen, wearing his mask, wondered whether to greet them, but before he could take a step, Cheng Ying pointed at him and said something to Zhao Jingchuan, after which both walked toward him.

“Senior Lin?” Zhao Jingchuan asked in a lowered voice.

“You recognized me?”

Lin Chen was surprised—was he really that easy to identify?

Zhao Jingchuan smiled and explained, “It wasn’t me who recognized you, Senior Lin—it was Junior Cheng.”

Lin Chen turned to Cheng Ying, who spoke before Lin Chen could ask: “Senior Lin, you’re wearing clothes from my family—I’ve got eyes for such things.”

Uh…

That made sense—he’d forgotten he was wearing the clothes Cheng Ying had given him.

“No wonder Junior Cheng recognized me. What are you two doing here at Wuyuan?”

Since Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying weren’t wearing masks, Lin Chen didn’t think they were here to challenge on the arena—they were just here to watch?

“Senior Lu has opened four dantian orifices and is currently fighting on the arena. We came with him. We didn’t call you because we figured you’d be training hard these last months and didn’t want to disturb you.”

After hearing Zhao Jingchuan’s explanation, Lin Chen followed his gaze to the second arena, where two masked warriors were already battling.

One glance was enough for Lin Chen to recognize Lu Yongfeng.

Without Zhao Jingchuan’s hint, he might not have recognized him—but once he knew one fighter was Junior Lu, he could instantly identify him by the figure he remembered.

“Junior Lu is going to win.”

After just a few breaths, Lin Chen made his judgment: Lu’s opponent was from the Mantis Martial Hall, but his Mantis Fist was clearly underdeveloped—lacking the ferocity it should have.

Just three breaths after Lin Chen spoke, Lu Yongfeng landed a heavy punch squarely on his opponent’s chest, knocking him clean off the arena.

The Mantis Martial Hall disciple fell to the ground, blood staining his lips; several masked figures nearby rushed forward to help him up.

“Why such brutality in a sparring match?!”

Though masked, the anger in the eyes of the Mantis Martial Hall students was unmistakable.

Lu Yongfeng stayed silent—he’d only recently opened his fourth dantian orifice. If he didn’t go all out, he couldn’t defeat his opponent; in a fight decided by fractions of an inch, how could he possibly hold back?

He wasn’t Senior Lin, who’d long ago mastered the Clear Wind Palm.

“If you’re afraid of getting hurt, don’t step on the arena—go back to your Mantis Martial Hall. If you’re going to spar among yourselves, do it softly like the women of the Still Water Martial Hall.”

Before Lin Chen and the others could speak up, a deep voice rang out from the crowd.

Lin Chen turned toward the voice—and when he saw the figure and mask, his expression turned strange: it was someone he’d fought before.

Fu Ang, seeing the Mantis Martial Hall disciples glaring at him with fury, sneered: “Disagree? Then get on the arena and prove it. But I wonder if you’re even worthy to step onto the third arena.”

Is this guy six-orifice?

No—he’s five-orifice. A Zhenyue Martial Hall disciple, skilled in Iron Bone Art. Even at five orifices, he’s qualified to stand on the third arena.

Still, to advance from four to five orifices in such a short time is impressive. Zhenyue Martial Hall’s breakthroughs are harder than other halls, and the costs are enormous.

Another wealthy, ambitious young man.

Lin Chen felt a pang of reflection—he’d never met a spoiled brat since arriving in this world. Every well-off person he’d met was more driven than the last, more obsessed with self-improvement.

“I’ll take you on!”

A young man without a mask spoke up from the square: “I’ve opened six dantian orifices and mastered the Mantis Claw. If you think I’m bullying you, you can refuse.”

“Six orifices? Fine—I accept your challenge.”

Fu Ang strode toward the arena without hesitation. As long as he didn’t face someone whose technique had reached minor mastery, even an opponent one orifice higher wouldn’t scare him.

Several new Mantis Martial Hall students, seeing a senior step forward for them, were deeply moved.

“May I ask your name, Senior?”

“I’m not fighting for you. But he’s right about one thing: once you’re on the arena, don’t fear getting hurt.”

The three new students looked embarrassed but dared not reply.

Tian Zhi let out a cold snort, secretly delighted—he’d once been the weakest in his martial hall, taking five years to reach six orifices. In his cohort, no one respected even those who opened three or four orifices in a year.

Now, these newly favored students, criticized by him, could only stay silent.

“Enough talking. If you’re going to fight, get up here—I don’t have time to lecture these useless fools.”

Fu Ang stepped onto the arena, annoyed that the opponent was still lingering below.

“Since you’re eager to lose, I’ll oblige.”

Hearing Fu Ang’s words, Tian Zhi’s expression turned icy. Iron Bone Art was powerful, but over the years, he hadn’t just trained the Mantis Claw.

He lightly tapped the ground with his right foot and leapt two zhang into the air, soaring toward the arena like a mantis.

“Senior Lin, who do you think will win this match?” Zhao Jingchuan asked curiously.

“Hard to say. Zhenyue Martial Hall’s Iron Bone Art is famously strong, and this Mantis disciple has trained for years—he likely knows more than just Mantis Fist. This match should be…”

Before Lin Chen could finish, the crowd erupted in shock.

On the arena, Tian Zhi was mid-leap, preparing to display his agility—yet before he could land, Fu Ang charged straight into him.

And then…

…there was no “then.”

The more gracefully Tian Zhi had leapt, the more grotesquely he now crashed to the ground.

“Fool! Showing off your agility before a Zhenyue Martial Hall disciple? You’re asking for death!”

In open terrain, agility has its use—but on a fifty-foot arena, a man suspended in midair, unable to shift his position, offers a massive opening.

Clearly, Tian Zhi couldn’t alter his trajectory mid-air—or he hadn’t anticipated Fu Ang would attack before he landed.

“Cheating!”

“He attacked before you even stepped on the arena! Are Zhenyue Martial Hall people this dishonorable?” the Mantis disciples shouted angrily.

“Arena rules: once your body enters the arena’s space, the match begins. No violation.”

The referee nearby spoke, silencing the Mantis disciples instantly.

“Senior Lin, what were you about to say?”

Zhao Jingchuan grinned. Lin Chen was speechless—this Mantis martial artist, why show off your moves in a fight?!

Even if you must show off, don’t do it in front of a Zhenyue Martial Hall disciple.

Even if you must show off in front of one, you’d better have perfected your agility—able to shift mid-air—or you’ll become a sitting duck.

“Senior Lin, if you faced this Zhenyue disciple, could you beat him?” Cheng Ying asked, helping Lin Chen out of the awkward silence.

“His strength isn’t below mine. Hard to say.”

Lin Chen glanced at Fu Ang—the man had grown stronger in just a few days.

“Senior Lin, this man is Fu Ang, currently ranked second among Zhenyue Martial Hall’s new students.”

Cheng Ying whispered the introduction. Lin Chen blinked—he now understood why Cheng Ying had asked that question.

To compete for the top ten, Fu Ang was one of his strongest rivals.

On the arena, after defeating his opponent, Fu Ang scanned the crowd. His gaze paused when it landed on Lin Chen’s side.

He recognized Lin Chen.

That mask, that build—it was the same man who’d defeated him last time.

Fu Ang raised an eyebrow, then pointed directly at Lin Chen: “Last time I was reckless and lost to you on the arena. I’ve spent these days searching for you at Wuyuan, hoping for a rematch. I never found you. Now—do you dare fight me again?”

A challenge!

As soon as Fu Ang spoke, the crowd of martial artists erupted in excitement.

Arena challenges were rare—such duels were always spectacular.

On the arena, Fu Ang silently applauded his own cleverness.

His last defeat had caused a stir and spread through the new-student circle.

He needed to reclaim his honor.

But remembering how his skin had felt torn by the other man’s palm, he felt a twinge of fear.

He hadn’t set foot in Wuyuan these past days—he’d trained nonstop in his martial hall, only stepping out today after opening his fifth orifice.

He’d analyzed: this man was an older student, in the hall over a year, opened only four orifices—he couldn’t possibly reach five in such a short time.

This match would never happen.

That way, he’d reclaimed his honor without actually fighting—two wins in one.

“Senior Lin?”

Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying stared at Lin Chen in shock—Senior Lin had defeated Fu Ang?

Fu Ang was Senior Lin’s former defeat—yet Senior Lin claimed the man’s strength was equal to his own? That was far too modest.

“Last time, we were both at four orifices. Now he’s opened five—he’s grown stronger. I can’t be certain.”

Lin Chen saw their unspoken thoughts and added simply: “I won last time by luck. Since you still wish to fight, I’ll accept.”

He was a Still Water Martial Hall disciple—Fu Ang’s insult about “Still Water’s women” was aimed at him too.

Besides, his senior sisters and juniors were excellent—why call them “women”?

Lin Chen stepped toward the arena. The crowd cheered—finally, a real fight.

Beneath his mask, Fu Ang’s face collapsed the moment Lin Chen accepted.

“You’ve opened five orifices?”

Seeing Lin Chen climb onto the arena, Fu Ang blurted out.

“Your kind words—I broke through recently, opened five orifices.” Lin Chen bowed in reply.

Thank you to Huichifan de Chengzi, Ai8, Xuyutianming, Ouyou Baoyou, Binbin Wuli, Kaichangbai, Xiaozhang de Qincai, Huanxing Sanyi Nian, Li Qian Sai, and many anonymous readers for your generous donations!

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(End of Chapter)