Chapter 5

"Was the technique Duan Lingtian just used a martial skill?"

"It doesn't seem like a martial skill; it just felt like a straight punch. However, the way he slid to avoid Li Xin's Tiger Fist, moved behind Li Xin, and then turned to throw a straight punch—all in the blink of an eye—no one knows how he did it."

"What a joke, such a powerful move, how could it not be a martial skill? Just now, Duan Lingtian's one punch shattered Li Xin's shoulder bone!"

...

The Li family disciples were discussing heatedly; they couldn't see through the Crushing Fist Duan Lingtian had just used.

That punch seemed simple, but its power was astonishing.

"The shoulder bone is completely shattered; Li Xin's arm is ruined!"

After Elder Li Ting examined Li Xin's injuries, he drew in a sharp breath and glanced at Duan Lingtian with a slightly shocked look.

A mere First Stage Body Tempering martial artist could unleash such a terrifying attack.

After having a few Li family disciples take Li Xin away for treatment, Li Ting walked towards Duan Lingtian, who was standing calmly.

At that moment, he even had a sense of illusion.

The person standing before him was no longer a young boy but a seasoned martial artist who had been immersed in the martial path for many years.

"What was the punch you just used? It doesn't have the complexity of a typical martial skill; the force was like a mountain collapsing. How long have you been practicing it?"

Li Ting looked at Duan Lingtian with intense eyes.

While the Li family disciples couldn't see the subtleties of Duan Lingtian's punch, Li Ting saw it clearly.

That punch seemed simple but contained an extremely terrifying force.

At the moment Duan Lingtian threw the punch, he perfectly channeled all his strength into a single point.

This was something even a high-level Yellow Rank martial skill found difficult to achieve...

No, perhaps even a typical Mystic Rank martial skill couldn't do it!

On the Yunxiao Continent, martial skills were ranked from high to low as Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. Each rank was further divided into high, middle, and low levels.

Apart from the low and middle-level Yellow Rank martial skills in the Li family's martial hall, the Li family only had one high-level Yellow Rank martial skill, the "Wind Palm."

This martial skill could only be cultivated by Li family martial artists who had reached the Core Formation realm.

But Li Ting knew that even if the Wind Palm was perfected, its force would be far inferior to Duan Lingtian's punch just now.

"Crushing Fist!"

Duan Lingtian said.

As for how long he had been practicing it, he didn't mention it.

Could he say he had practiced it for over ten years?

The Crushing Fist is one of the Five Elements Fists in Xingyi Quan, a type of straight punch...

When using it, the emphasis is on concealing the force, suddenly unleashing it, and making a short, sharp attack that is both fast and fierce, penetrating the internal organs. It is a typical punch with strong penetrating power!

The Crushing Fist may seem simple, but it involves the force of the entire body, including the internal organs.

To reach Duan Lingtian's current level, one would need at least ten years of hard practice.

"Fifth Elder, I'll be going back now. You saw who provoked whom today. I hope you can bear witness for me."

Duan Lingtian nodded to Li Ting and turned to leave.

"Crushing Fist? This boy is truly remarkable... Li Rou, you've been deceived by your son all along. This is a case of hidden strength!"

Li Ting took a deep breath, his heart surging with emotion.

He naturally assumed that Duan Lingtian had been hiding his strength and enduring for years.

He could see that Duan Lingtian's Crushing Fist was not something that could be achieved overnight.

The Li family disciples who had been watching also dispersed.

They all knew that the terrifying straight punch Duan Lingtian had used was called the "Crushing Fist."

"Awesome!"

After returning home, Duan Lingtian exhaled a turbid breath, a smile appearing on his slightly youthful face.

In this world, it was the first time he had used Xingyi Quan so freely.

For a moment, it felt like he was back in his previous life, living a passionate and bloody existence.

Duan Lingtian returned to his room and found that the remaining Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid was enough for only two more baths.

"It seems I need to ask Mother to buy more medicinal materials."

Sitting in the bathtub, enjoying the medicinal bath while cultivating the "Nine Dragon Battle Venerable Technique"...

Duan Lingtian was completely focused, unaware that the Li family had been thoroughly stirred up by his defeat of Li Xin.

"Hey! Have you heard? The son of the Ninth Elder, Duan Lingtian, has completed his Body Tempering and reached the First Stage!"

"Tsk! I already knew that. Do you know that Duan Lingtian not only reached the First Stage but also severely injured Li Xin in a fair duel witnessed by the Fifth Elder, rendering Li Xin's arm useless!"

"No way, Li Xin is a Second Stage Body Tempering martial artist, and it's said that his middle-level Yellow Rank martial skill, 'Tiger Fist,' has already reached a minor level of perfection. Could he really not defeat a mere First Stage Body Tempering Duan Lingtian?"

"What's Tiger Fist? Duan Lingtian's 'Crushing Fist,' which seems simple but is actually a return to the basics, is the real deal. Even the Fifth Elder was amazed by it."

...

For a time, Duan Lingtian's Crushing Fist became more and more legendary.

Some Li family disciples said it was a Mystic Rank martial skill, others said it was an Earth Rank martial skill, and some even claimed it was a Heaven Rank martial skill!

In a room of a large courtyard in the Li family estate.

Seventh Elder Li Kun stood by the bed, looking at his son, who was sound asleep with his right shoulder collapsed and exhausted.

The words of the First Elder still echoed in his ears:

"Ninth Elder, if it were just a simple bone fracture, taking a Ninth Rank Golden Wound Pill and resting for a while would heal him. But your son Li Xin's shoulder bone is completely shattered. Even if you ask the family head for an Eighth Rank Golden Wound Pill, it would be useless... Rest in peace."

"Duan Lingtian, I will have you dead, I will have you dead!!"

Li Kun's eyes widened, filled with hatred, his teeth clenched, his fists tight, and his aura flaring as he growled.

"Father, how is my brother?"

At that moment, a hurried voice came from outside the room, and a figure rushed in.

It was Li Kun's eldest son, Li Jie, a renowned genius martial artist in the Li family.

At just sixteen years old, he had already reached the Fourth Stage Body Tempering, and his middle-level Yellow Rank martial skill, "Falling Leaf Palm," had reached a major level of perfection.

In the Li family, sixteen years old was considered adulthood. After the coming-of-age ceremony, they would generally go to the Li family's properties in Qingfeng Town to help out. Li Jie was no exception. When he heard that his younger brother Li Xin had been severely injured, he rushed back without a second thought.

"Xiao Jie, your brother... your brother's right arm is ruined, and even the First Elder can't do anything about it."

Li Kun took a deep breath, his voice suppressed.

"What?!"

Li Jie's body trembled as if struck by lightning.

The First Elder of the Li family was a famous Ninth Rank alchemist in Qingfeng Town. If even the First Elder couldn't heal his brother's injuries...

He knew exactly what that meant.

"Xiao Xin..."

Standing by the bed, looking at the sleeping Li Xin, Li Jie's eyes widened, filled with hatred, no less intense than Li Kun's!

His mother had died giving birth to this younger brother.

Over the years, he had always doted on his younger brother, giving him the best of everything.

Now, with his younger brother's right arm ruined and his future uncertain, a fierce anger burned in his heart!

"Father, are you sure it was Duan Lingtian who did this?"

Li Jie looked at Li Kun and asked.

When he first heard about this, he was not only worried about his younger brother Li Xin but also found it hard to believe.

A waste of a person who hadn't even completed Body Tempering, how could he severely injure his younger brother!

"Yes, I asked the Fifth Elder. It was Duan Lingtian! Three days ago, that waste hadn't even completed Body Tempering. I didn't expect him to not only reach the First Stage today but also defeat your brother, using a high-level martial skill, the Crushing Fist."

Li Kun said through gritted teeth.

"First Stage Body Tempering, Crushing Fist, huh?"

Li Jie sneered.

"Father, please accompany me."

In the quiet courtyard.

"Mother, did you call me out for something?"

Duan Lingtian, who had just absorbed the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid, walked out of his room and looked at his mother, Li Rou, slightly awkwardly.

Li Rou looked at her son, her eyes somewhat dazed.

She still found it hard to believe what she had just heard.

In her view, for her son to complete Body Tempering and reach the First Stage was already a significant achievement.

But this little guy had gone to the martial hall and crippled the youngest son of Seventh Elder Li Kun, and it was an injury that couldn't be healed.

"Crushing Fist... Tian'er, shouldn't you explain to Mother when you learned this martial skill that even the Fifth Elder was amazed by?"

Li Rou looked at Duan Lingtian with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Mother, if I say it was the old man in my dreams who taught me the formula and the martial skill, would you believe me?"

Duan Lingtian smiled awkwardly.

"Tian'er, you've grown up. Since you have your secrets, Mother won't force you. But remember, no matter what happens, Mother will always be your greatest support."

Li Rou looked deeply at Duan Lingtian and sighed softly.

"Mother."

Duan Lingtian's heart trembled, his eyes slightly red.

"Ninth Elder, Li Kun requests an audience!"

At that moment, a disgusting voice, like a fly, broke the warm atmosphere between mother and son.

"Does he have the nerve to come?"

A cold light flashed in Li Rou's eyes as she responded.

The next moment, Seventh Elder Li Kun and his eldest son, Li Jie, walked into the courtyard, glaring at Duan Lingtian.

"Seventh Elder, are you here to cause trouble for my son?"

Li Rou stepped forward, shielding Duan Lingtian behind her, and smiled slightly.

"Rest assured, Ninth Elder. My son Li Xin and your son Duan Lingtian's battle was witnessed by the Fifth Elder. Li Xin's arm being crippled is due to his inferior skills; it's not the fault of anyone else."

Li Kun took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.

"Then why are you here, Seventh Elder?"

Hearing Li Kun's words, Li Rou became curious.

"Meeting the Ninth Elder."

At that moment, Li Jie stepped forward from beside Li Kun.

"Ninth Elder, my father came with me. I came to challenge Duan Lingtian. I've heard his Crushing Fist is very powerful."

After greeting Li Rou, Li Jie looked at Duan Lingtian with intense eyes.

Li Rou's face turned cold upon hearing this.

"Li Jie, if I'm not mistaken, you are one year older than my son and have already reached the Fourth Stage Body Tempering... My son is only at the First Stage. Do you have the nerve to challenge him?"

Li Rou glanced at Li Jie and said coolly.

"Ninth Elder, Duan Lingtian is no ordinary First Stage Body Tempering martial artist. He easily defeated my brother, showing remarkable strength."

Li Jie smiled, seemingly oblivious to Li Rou's cold expression.

Just as Li Rou was about to sternly send them away, Duan Lingtian stepped out from behind her.

"I can accept your challenge, but I have one condition."