Chapter 1

A chapter about the Iron Sand Palm technique

A minivan pulled up to the sidewalk with the speed of lightning, the door screeching as it was yanked open, producing a grating metallic sound!

Several men in blue caps, like hungry tigers, rushed down from the van.

The vendors on the sidewalk scattered in a panic!

Qian Xing swiftly folded the iron plate he was using, and the grilled lamb skewers and混沌 (note: "混沌" seems out of context here, possibly a typo or a specific term, so I'll translate it as "chaos" for now) fell into the box below. He didn't even bother with the few customers still eating the skewers. With a swift push of his right palm, the mobile stall, which was as large as half a desk, made a 180-degree turn and sped away in the direction away from the tiger-like men in blue caps!

The stall smoothly cleared several obstacles!

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the hands gripping the handle, at the moment of impact with each obstacle, just before the stall would have jolted violently, lifted the 60-70 pound mobile lamb skewer stall into the air, passing over the obstacles with millimeter precision.

Though not very rough, these hands had a layer of calluses, and the exposed forearms were as hard as iron, clearly indicating that the owner had practiced some external martial arts!

The owner of these powerful hands had a delicate face, with a faint fuzz around his lips, clearly still a boy, more accurately, a teenager.

However, his face, covered in charcoal ash and the smoke from the lamb skewers, looked a bit unkempt.

In previous encounters with the city management officers, Qian Xing, relying on his basic Iron Sand Palm skills and his strong arms, had always managed to escape safely—actually, he didn't need to be the fastest, as long as he wasn't among the last few, the officers would naturally catch those unfortunate ones and squeeze out the little they had.

There is an old saying: "If you climb enough mountains, you will eventually meet a tiger."

Today, Qian Xing seemed to have offended some unlucky deity. Zhang Dama, who sold cold tofu pudding, was pushing her blue cart, blocking his path!

On the right side of the cold tofu pudding cart was a French plane tree used for landscaping, making it impossible to overtake from the right.

"Oh, damn! When did she get to my right! Business was so good, I didn't even notice the escape route!"

Qian Xing's father had named him Xing, which means "lucky," but it seemed that today he was having bad luck!

A large, hairy hand descended from the air and grabbed Qian Xing's collar fiercely: "Kid, stop right there! I've caught you a few times, and you always slipped away. Today, I'll taste your lamb skewers!"

A man with a long horse-like face sneered.

This lamb skewer vendor was as slippery as an eel, always escaping during the raids. Today, he would teach him a lesson!

What would happen if he was caught?

His lamb skewer stall would be smashed to pieces, and he would have to pay a fine of over a thousand yuan!

That would mean his tuition for almost a semester would be gone!

Indeed, Qian Xing was a third-year student, and he sold lamb skewers to earn some money.

Although his family could afford the tuition and fees, he had no pocket money at all, let alone the money for the medicine needed to practice Iron Sand Palm!

Qian Xing, who had obtained the secret formula for practicing Iron Sand Palm from a wandering Taoist since junior high school, had relied on the formula passed down by the Taoist to endure the pain of plunging his hands into river sand every day. Without the formula, an ordinary person's hands would have turned to bones long ago!

However, the protective medicine was not cheap!

In China, many families with better financial conditions oppose their children practicing martial arts, saying it leads to trouble, which is indeed true!

Possessing strength beyond that of an ordinary person naturally gives one the courage to do more!

Qian Xing did not cry and beg for mercy like Zhang Dama did two weeks ago when she was caught. Instead, he flicked his hand backward, catching the arm of the man in the blue cap who had grabbed his collar.

In all fairness, Qian Xing only wanted to free himself from the grip to escape, with no intention of hurting the man. After all, though he was braver than most, he was still a college student and knew he couldn't oppose the authorities.

However, Qian Xing, who had long been practicing with sand and stones, overlooked one thing: the strength of the man's arm was far less than his aggressive demeanor and the sand and stones.

Thus, with a crack, the man's right arm bent inward at an unnatural angle, and he could no longer hold Qian Xing's collar.

A pig-like scream immediately echoed through the scene!

"Oh no, my arm is broken! Laozi, Dog Bear, catch this kid, he broke my arm!"

The other men in blue caps, who were chasing the other vendors like eagles catching chickens, were taken aback for a moment before realizing that the scream was not from the vendors but from their colleague!

"Kid, you better stop right there!"

"Don't run!"

Various angry shouts suddenly focused on Qian Xing, and the situation became complicated!

Glancing back, Qian Xing increased his speed, surprised that the aggressive man with the long horse-like face was so weak! He was even weaker than a woman.

Qian Xing knew that he absolutely could not be caught today. If he was, it wouldn't just be a fine; he might end up in prison.

Qian Xing had interacted with many people in society and was not a rookie.

After just a few steps, he heard footsteps behind him. "Whoosh—" the sound of something large, like a chair, was coming!

Without turning back, Qian Xing channeled his power into his palm and swung backward!

"Bang!" It sounded like a large firecracker exploding. The wooden stool that the man in the blue cap had thrown at Qian Xing's back was shattered mid-air, and wood chips flew everywhere.

This palm strike was different from the previous flick. The flick did not channel the Iron Sand Palm technique and used only three-tenths of his strength, while this palm strike, with the technique channeled, used at least seven-tenths of his strength.

Qian Xing had already broken the man's arm, which was already illegal. Therefore, the other men in blue caps, no longer holding back, could have seriously injured him with the stool. Even if they broke a few ribs or caused long-term internal injuries, they would not be held responsible!

However, Qian Xing's strike made the other men in blue caps stop in their tracks. Only their empty threats continued.

No one dared to say that their heads and bodies were harder than the old wooden stool, especially since they, who were only responsible for city appearance, did not have firearms or other long-range weapons!

So, amidst the angry shouts, Qian Xing turned into a residential area. Once he entered the maze-like streets, he knew he was safe.

However, after half an hour of turning left and right, when Qian Xing pushed the lamb skewer stall into a garage rented by a dorm mate, his face turned ashen, and his body began to tremble!

It was all over! He had injured someone! If they found him, he might end up in jail!

All I wanted was to earn some money! Who did I offend?

How could this happen!

Qian Xing felt the blood rush to his head and, in a frenzy, rushed to the rooftop of the top floor—not to commit suicide, as it was hard to imagine such a money-loving person doing that. He just wanted to go to the rooftop, punch a few sets of boxing, and vent his uncontrollable rage.

The intense exercise on the 15th-floor stairs did not calm Qian Xing's anger but instead fueled his burning fighting spirit to a peak!

The door to the rooftop was in front of him, but it suddenly disappeared, replaced by a dimly lit staircase leading to a higher place!

If it were a normal day, Qian Xing would have thought twice, but today's events could shatter his peaceful life and even land him in prison. Qian Xing, a normal person, not a hardened criminal, charged up the stairs in a rage.

Even if the end of the stairs led to a demon, he would smash it to pieces!

This strange occurrence instead awakened the beast within the martial artist, who believed in solving all problems with his fists!

A beam of light, like a stream of mercury, extended from the darkness, forming a path of light.

Seeing this light, Qian Xing felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. This, this, really seemed like a supernatural phenomenon. As his anger subsided, fear crept into his heart.

He had been too impulsive. When he turned back, the stairs below looked like a black hole, dark and ominous. It was easy to get in, but hard to get out!

Qian Xing gritted his teeth and stepped onto the light path. Fortunately, it felt solid like a real road.

Qian Xing calmed down and walked forward at a moderate pace, neither too fast nor too slow.

This walking rhythm helped him stay ready to pounce like a leopard on his prey at any moment.

This rhythm was not taught by anyone but was something Qian Xing had learned by observing tigers and lions hunting at the zoo.

A massive outline appeared ahead. As he approached, he saw that it was a hundred-meter-tall bronze gate, covered in bloodstains.

On the sides of the gate, rows of several-meter-long fangs seemed to grow out of it.

Majestic and fierce, this was the only feeling the gate gave.

A dark purple light appeared, and a figure in a black robe emerged from the light. The robe, made of an unknown material, shone black and completely covered the figure, leaving only a pair of glowing eyes visible.

These eyes, sharp like blades, swept over Qian Xing, immediately enveloping him in a sense of death. Large beads of sweat dripped down Qian Xing's back, but his face remained calm, showing no fear.

The more dangerous the situation, the more important it was to remain calm. This composure had helped Qian Xing avoid several gang beatings.

The sharp gaze now held a hint of amusement: "Welcome to the Colosseum, calm young man. Your number is 79540."

In front of Qian Xing, a blood-red light band appeared, displaying large words: "Welcome to the Colosseum. Do you want to enter the预备斗兽士场景 (preparation arena)? Yes | No?"

The page turns, and the AD begins.

The page turns, and the AD ends.