Chapter 47

"Chen?" Chen Yunfeng was slightly taken aback; this surname happened to sound the same as his. "Is it the Chen of aged wine, or the Cheng of process?"

"It's the Chen of morning light." The young man smiled.

"Morning light's Chen?" Chen Yunfeng frowned slightly. "Strange, not only in Crane Fist School, but in other sects, I've never heard of any experts with this surname..."

"Brother Yunfeng, you don't know this." Feng Kuchan chuckled, having recognized Li Pu after Chi Fei whispered a few words in his ear.

Feng Kuchan gazed deeply at Li Pu. "His adoptive mother, Chen Xin, is a revered martial saint who has embraced the Golden Core."

"What?" Everyone, including "Little Fist Saint" Zhang Shi, looked at Li Pu in surprise. Chen Yunfeng's expression changed dramatically. "Another Dan-Qi Martial Saint?"

Qin Xia'er didn't understand what Dan-Qi meant, but her shock was even greater—Chen Xin was Chen Xian's mother! She had seen her at school openings, parent-teacher meetings, and sports events. She was a very beautiful and graceful young mother.

Aunt Chen Xin could fight? And she was Li Pu's teacher? Li Pu's incredible skills were all taught by her? Qin Xia'er was almost dizzy—she had secretly admired this beautiful, charming, and elegant aunt when she was little, thinking of her as a big sister.

Feng Kuchan briefly recounted the case involving Chen Xin, mentioning that she had been taken away by the "Entangling Fruit Snake" and her whereabouts were unknown. Chen Yunfeng exhaled slightly and looked at Li Pu again.

"Since you are a disciple of a Dan-Qi Martial Saint, you have some qualifications to spar with me." Chen Yunfeng put down the purple clay teapot and walked into the arena, standing in a nonchalant stance in front of Li Pu. "Young man, since you've just experienced the Tai Chi adhesive force, I'll be a bit bold and try a few striking techniques. Be careful!"

This statement meant he wouldn't be as gentle as in Tai Chi Push Hands.

Feng Kuchan narrowed his eyes calmly. He couldn't yet gauge Li Pu's skills, but Chen Yunfeng was a seasoned Dark-Qi Grand Master, just one step away from the Transformation-Qi stage. In the local martial arts circle of Hu Hai City, his skills were second only to Feng Kuchan and Chi Fei. Chen Yunfeng, who was both proud and protective, would make the young man suffer even if he held back.

Qin Xia'er felt her heart race with tension. This mustachioed uncle looked very formidable. She couldn't help but tug at Zhang Shi's sleeve. "Brother, will Li Pu be okay?"

"You're worried about him?" Zhang Shi smiled.

"Um... because he's my classmate." The girl's face turned a bit red with embarrassment. "Besides, I invited him here." She glared at her cousin in dissatisfaction. "Really, why do you all just want to fight?"

Why am I being dragged into this? Zhang Shi was speechless and could only sigh. "His teacher is a Dan-Qi Martial Saint. Dealing with a man who has lived for over forty years and hasn't reached the Transformation-Qi stage shouldn't be a problem."

"Really?" Qin Xia'er's eyes sparkled.

"Um-hum." Zhang Shi nodded and added seriously, "But if he fights me later, it will be different."

"Ugh~~~" Qin Xia'er was so angry she stomped her foot. "No fighting!"

"He won't agree." Zhang Shi shook his head.

"If you agree, it would be fine." The peace-loving girl didn't give up.

"I won't agree either." Zhang Shi's pure and sincere gaze, filled with a fierce and determined spirit, focused on the two men in the arena. "He is stronger than I estimated. The outcome will be decided soon."

Chen Yunfeng knew that Li Pu's lineage and short-range power were effective against Tai Chi's "introducing and emptying" adhesive force, so he prepared to use his well-honed Dark-Qi physical advantages to steadily overpower the young man. He launched a series of powerful punches, aiming to overwhelm Li Pu.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Li Pu—whose body, strength, and perception were far beyond the norm, enhanced and optimized by the detailed life blueprint of the "Fighting God Armament."

In terms of combat experience, the young man might still be a bit green. But in terms of direct attacks, Dark-Qi Grand Master Chen Yunfeng was at a disadvantage.

Since the goal was to absorb experience from fighting high-level opponents, Li Pu didn't rush and didn't use his full strength, only using about 50% of his power to counter with Crane Bridge Hands.

Even at 50% power, Li Pu put significant pressure on Chen Yunfeng—much to his frustration, he found that his well-maintained, not-yet-declining strength and physical condition couldn't keep up! If it weren't for his superior combat experience, he would have been at a disadvantage.

The young man was tougher than expected. To win, he had to use Dark-Qi. After a few rounds without gaining the upper hand, Chen Yunfeng's entire body's tendons and bones resonated, his blood and qi surged, and he unleashed Dark-Qi. His left hand delivered a powerful side strike to Li Pu's Crane Bridge Hand, causing the young man to stagger slightly. Without withdrawing his hand, his right hand spun and unleashed a stacked force, forcing the young man to take a half-step back.

Dark-Qi was different from Ming-Qi. It required mobilizing tendons, bones, blood, and qi, and using it too much not only drained physical energy but also risked injury. It was usually used sparingly, as a decisive move in Ming-Qi techniques.

To put it metaphorically, Ming-Qi was like conventional weapons, while Dark-Qi was a secret weapon. True experts could make Ming-Qi techniques have the effect of Dark-Qi, maintaining physical energy while having sufficient power.

Most Dark-Qi Grand Masters could use Dark-Qi two to three times in a single match before exhausting their energy. Chen Yunfeng's deep and experienced skills allowed him to maintain six Dark-Qi punches.

In other words, he had six chances to turn the tide.

The side strike and stacked force he used just now were two of those chances. According to Chen Yunfeng's experienced judgment, he should have temporarily paralyzed Li Pu's bridge hand, making it impossible to defend. Seizing the opportunity, he prepared to decisively secure victory.

He moved swiftly, like a quick rat, his entire body's muscles and blood energy surging into his arms. His right hand feinted a throat lock and eye strike, while his left arm prepared to strike the center with a pure elbow strike.

Feng Kuchan couldn't help but praise, "Brother Yunfeng's Tai Chi Five Strikes are indeed refined and experienced."

Chen Yunfeng's attack was extremely fast, and most people could only vaguely see a gray shadow, like a large rat darting by.

But in Li Pu's eyes, his opponent's movements, while not slow, were not particularly fast.

At least, they were slower than his counterattack.

"Since you used Dark-Qi first, I'll return the favor."

Li Pu's toes pressed into the ground, transmitting the lineage's whole-body power to his waist. His spine and waist twisted, and the qi and blood in his tendons and organs converged into his back muscles and shoulders. His arm, compressed like a powerful spring in a short distance, burst forth with a powerful whip-like strike, sending a shockwave through the air.

This was his teacher Chen Xin's signature move—the basic technique of the "God-Striking Whip"—a whip punch with a chopping and shrimp-like explosive force!

While it was far from the true "God-Striking Whip" in terms of speed and subtlety, it was more than enough to deal with a Dark-Qi Grand Master. Chen Yunfeng, in a critical moment, barely managed to block with his right hand, infused with Dark-Qi, but was still sent reeling, his entire body's qi and blood surging and almost causing him to kneel.

"Such a powerful whip strike!" Chen Yunfeng felt his entire right arm and half of his body numb and weak, unable to muster any strength. What alarmed him more was that the young man had deliberately avoided his vital points, choosing to strike his arm.

If the target had been his head, his skull would have been dented. Striking his arm was clearly a response to the earlier Dark-Qi side strike.

Li Pu regained the upper hand but didn't press the attack. Instead, he stopped.

Using about 50% of his strength, the shrimp-like explosive whip punch was enough to suppress this Tai Chi Grand Master. Li Pu was somewhat disappointed but also secretly pleased.

He might be stronger than he had expected. As a Dark-Qi Grand Master, his physical condition, strength, and neural reaction speed gave him an overwhelming advantage.

But to truly gauge his strength, Chen Yunfeng's abilities were far from enough. Li Pu's gaze shifted slightly to Little Fist Saint Zhang Shi, and even Feng Kuchan.

Perhaps only these two in the room could truly test his limits.

"Hehe, a young bull..." Feng Kuchan smiled condescendingly at Li Pu's unhidden gaze. Zhang Shi raised an eyebrow, his black eyes filled with a more sincere and pure fighting desire, ready to enter the arena to face this younger opponent.

"Good kid, to have achieved Dark-Qi at such a young age, with such fierce power. Is it really the case that the old must give way to the young... No, I can't let my hard-earned reputation become a stepping stone for him!"

With little left to turn the tide, Chen Yunfeng took a deep breath and said, "The match isn't over yet. What are you looking at?"

Facing a seventeen-year-old opponent, losing would be a disgrace in the Hu Hai City martial arts circle. Chen Yunfeng regretted sticking his neck out earlier, but it was too late to back down. He had to find a way to save face.

Seeing Chen Yunfeng's refusal to admit defeat, Li Pu smirked. He glanced at the Dark-Qi Grand Master's right arm. His earlier strike, though only about 50% of his strength, was no easy feat. The arm would be numb for a while. Continuing the fight would only be a waste.

Reality wasn't like a JUMP manga, where a burst of spirit and a shout of "The match is just beginning!" could turn the tide.

Chen Yunfeng noticed Li Pu's gaze and seized the opportunity. "I'll give it one more try. If you can block it, I, Chen Yunfeng, will admit defeat."

Saying it was one strike, he was actually challenging the young man to a full-on confrontation, seeing who could hold out longer.

Most of the martial arts circle were seasoned veterans. By traditional sparring rules, Chen Yunfeng, the second-best in Hu Hai City, had already lost. But given their familiarity, they wouldn't say anything to let the Grand Master save face.

"Fine, come on." Li Pu nodded.

Seeing Li Pu's acceptance, Chen Yunfeng took a deep breath, entering the basic "internal tension, external relaxation" state of Tai Chi. He then closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them, his entire demeanor had changed.

Previously, he was a robust middle-aged man with a dignified presence. Now, he exuded an intangible aura! His hair stood on end, and he seemed to radiate a heroic and tragic spirit, like a fierce general on the battlefield.

This was the mental technique of "borrowing form" from the four basic elements of "form, qi, spirit, and intent."

Using imagination to mobilize potential, akin to self-hypnosis, is common in martial arts, modern sports, and even religious practices. In China, the most famous example is the spirit possession of martial arts, where the Boxers of the late Qing Dynasty believed they were "impervious to blades and bullets." While invulnerability was a myth, the enhanced physical and mental strength was real.

The level of mental training varied, with some imagining "fire burning the body" to increase speed, and others "transforming into a fierce beast" to mimic the potential of the corresponding animal.

But Chen Yunfeng's "borrowing form" was more like spirit possession, using a do-or-die mindset to unleash human potential.

—The last stand of Xiang Yu, the Overlord's form!