Chapter 5: Chapter 5: What a Kid! Truly Great Divine Power
As Chen Xuan watched, the fight on the arena stage quickly concluded.
"Ghost Shadow Mantis" Liu Qing seized an opportunity, dashing forward to pummel Lei Hong’s chest with four or five consecutive strikes. He then launched a flying kick, sending Lei Hong flying from the stage. He crashed to the ground, spat up blood, and lost consciousness.
"Much obliged!"
Liu Qing cupped his fist and shouted, "Who’s next!"
The rules stipulated that a fighter could choose to rest after each match.
If they didn’t wish to rest, they could continue fighting.
This Liu Qing, believing himself highly skilled, planned to defeat five opponents in a single go.
The crowd immediately burst into an uproar.
Soon, another person leaped onto the stage, shouting, "I am ’Descending Tiger’ Zhang Tao! Eat my fist!"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Another intense exchange erupted on the stage.
But moments later, Zhang Tao was also sent flying, knocked from the stage by a single palm strike.
Several more skilled fighters took the stage in succession, but without exception, they were all defeated by Liu Qing.
The atmosphere below the stage instantly grew fervent, reaching a fever pitch.
’So this is what they call mastery. It’s not all that impressive,’ Chen Xuan thought to himself.
"Get the hell out of my way!"
As Chen Xuan was observing the fights, a burly man pushed through the crowd behind him. Without a word, he swung a heavy palm at Chen Xuan’s head, the strike so powerful it created a roaring gust of wind.
He was clearly a trained martial artist.
An ordinary person struck by such a blow would be severely injured, if not killed outright.
Chen Xuan’s eyes turned cold, his arm shooting up instantly to block the attack.
BAM!
The man’s palm connected with his arm, kicking up a great gust of wind.
But Chen Xuan’s body remained as still as if rooted to the ground, not budging an inch.
The burly attacker, on the other hand, was sent stumbling back half a step. His palm was numb from the impact, and he stared in shocked anger. "You!"
"You hit me, so it’s only fair I hit you back!"
Chen Xuan had no intention of humoring him. Pushing off his feet, he shot forward like an arrow and slammed his fist directly into the man’s stomach. BAM! The man flew backward like a scarecrow, letting out a bloodcurdling scream before crashing hard in the distance. He lay there, curled up in agony.
[Beautifully done. Retribution points +30!]
Everyone around was stunned.
All eyes quickly fell on Chen Xuan.
’Another expert?’
’This unremarkable, scruffy-looking guy is actually a master?’
Many instinctively took a step back, afraid they might provoke Chen Xuan’s wrath.
On the high platform behind the arena.
An old man presiding over the tournament watched with a flash of surprise. He immediately looked toward Chen Xuan, a smile spreading across his face.
"Excellent! This tournament to recruit Small Leaders has drawn a true gathering of masters. This is a great fortune for our Red Sand Gang!"
He motioned to a man beside him and, pointing at Chen Xuan, said with a smile, "Have that young man go up and give it a try!"
"Yes, Hall Master Ge!"
The man acknowledged the order and was about to head toward Chen Xuan.
But after sending the burly man flying, Chen Xuan didn’t hesitate. He strode directly toward the arena, bent his knees, and leaped with explosive force. Like a great frog, he landed on the stage with a thunderous BOOM.
The moment he landed, the entire stage thundered and shook violently.
Across the stage, "Ghost Shadow Mantis" Liu Qing, having just defeated another opponent, saw this, and his expression flickered.
’This guy...’
’What incredible strength!’
"Elder, if I win ten matches in a row, can I really become a Branch Master?"
After landing, Chen Xuan’s gaze fell directly upon the old man in the embroidered robes on the high platform.
"But of course."
The elder smiled slightly. "The Red Sand Gang is a vast and influential enterprise. Since we went to the trouble of setting up this stage, why would we go back on our word?"
"Good."
Chen Xuan immediately turned his head to face "Ghost Shadow Mantis" Liu Qing.
"Please."
He didn’t immediately reveal that he was a wanted murderer, deciding it was best to secure the position of Branch Master first.
’With the Red Sand Gang’s influence, they should be able to take care of all my problems.’
"Hmph!"
Liu Qing snorted, his eyes cold. "All talk!"
WHOOSH!
His body shot toward Chen Xuan, Qi Energy roaring around him. His bones cracked and popped like a string of firecrackers as he unleashed a vicious palm chop aimed straight at Chen Xuan’s chest.
But Chen Xuan was faster. He surged forward, muscles tensed, and threw a simple, direct punch with no wasted motion.
BAM!
CRACK!
In a single exchange, Liu Qing screamed. The bones in his hand were shattered on impact, blood gushing from the wound.
Chen Xuan followed up with a clean, simple kick, sending Liu Qing flying off the stage as if he were kicking a ball.
[Challenger defeated. Retribution served. Retribution points +30!]
Another line of text appeared.
The crowd below erupted once more.
Everyone was shocked into disbelief.
’That skinny little guy just took out Liu Qing in one move?’
"Such immense power. What level is he at?"
"Could he be the disciple of some hidden master?"
...
"Alright, let’s not waste any more time!" Chen Xuan boomed. "I, Chen Xuan, am right here. The next nine of you, come up at once! I’ll fight you all together!"
He had been watching from below for a long time and felt that this so-called mastery wasn’t all that special.
’They fight so weakly. I doubt any of them could even lift a stone lion.’
He, on the other hand, had a real track record, having once thrown a five-hundred-pound stone lion over ten meters.
His words sent another wave of shock through the crowd.
On the stage, Elder Ge’s gaze grew even more curious.
’What a kid!’
’He’s so young. Could he have already reached the peak of this level of mastery?’
’Otherwise, how could he dare make such a bold claim?’
’I must keep him here today, no matter what.’
’Even if he ends up losing, with that kind of strength, he’s more than qualified to be a Small Leader!’
"Arrogant!"
"Courting death!"
"Full of himself!"
Soon, martial artists in the crowd started shouting angrily.
"Less talk! All of you, get up here."
Chen Xuan couldn’t be bothered with their chatter. His voice was cold as he waved a hand, beckoning them all to come at once.
WHOOSH!
Another man landed on the stage. Dressed in a black robe, he had a stern face. Turning his profile to Chen Xuan, he said coldly, "Why would we need nine people for you? I alone am enough. Remember my name: ’the Black-robed Guest,’ Xu Biao!"
"Fuck that!"
Chen Xuan charged forward with unbelievable ferocity and immediately swung a slap.
’Trying to act all cool in front of me?’
’Cool my ass!’
The black-robed man’s expression tightened. He hastily gathered all his strength to block the attack, but the moment he made contact, terror filled his eyes. He had just realized the horrifying gap in their power.
With a CRACK!
Like a mosquito being swatted, his body was slapped to the ground by Chen Xuan’s palm. He collapsed, violently coughing up blood and screaming in agony, both of his arms clearly broken.
Chen Xuan kicked out.
With a dull THUD, the black-robed man was sent flying sideways off the stage.
[Beautifully done. Posers cannot be tolerated. Retribution points +30!]
"Alright, that leaves eight of you. Come on up together! I’ll take you all on!"
Chen Xuan slapped his chest and roared.
His aura was formidable.
His robes billowed.
Everyone who watched was utterly stunned.
"What a kid! That’s true Divine Power!"
Elder Ge’s gaze grew even more curious.
That "Black-robed Guest," Xu Biao, was a known figure in the city.
He was at least at the fifth or Sixth Layer of mastery.
And yet, he was flattened by a single slap.
The faces of those in the crowd who had just been shouting insults turned grim.
But under the circumstances, how could they possibly back down now?
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
With a series of whistling gusts of wind, eight masters actually leaped onto the stage. Each one was powerfully built, with bulging muscles and popping veins that made them look as if they were forged from steel.
This was the hallmark of an accomplished martial artist.
"Kid, you asked for this! If you die, don’t go crying to King Yama and blaming us!"
One of them, a man in gray robes, said grimly, "Get him!"
WHOOSH!
All eight masters rushed toward Chen Xuan at high speed.
One of them, a vicious look in his eyes, even produced a sharp awl from his sleeve, preparing to strike a fatal blow.
