Chapter 23: He Used to Practice in Secret Behind Our Backs
“Hurry up, I’ve been holding this pose for ages. If slashing doesn’t work, then just stab me—do I really have to teach you everything? Are you truly useless?”
It’s not that I don’t want to kill you.
The truth is, that last strike used up all my strength. Now I’m so exhausted I can barely hold the knife.
“Let me go, I don’t want to fight anymore.” Lin Feiyu looked down at his trembling hand.
“You can’t just give up!” Li Jian-san, who had finally found someone with a chance to kill him, wasn’t about to let him off so easily. “Stop dawdling. Stab me—if you won’t kill me, then I’ll kill you.”
“I’m serious!” Lin Feiyu broke down in tears. “I quit, I concede!”
Li Jian-san only laughed, “I don’t accept that. Come on, try to cut me.”
“You—you must be insane…” Lin Feiyu, hearing Li Jian-san’s words, ran off the ring in frustration.
What kind of day was this? How did he end up encountering such a monster?
With only his physical strength, he defeated a master at the Qi Refining stage. This boy was anything but ordinary.
The various powers grew increasingly curious about Li Jian-san.
On the other side, the Grand Elder watched Li Jian-san emerge unscathed, his expression growing colder. How could this boy’s body be so terrifying?
“The next match: Li Jian-san versus Liu Wuqi.”
Soon, Li Jian-san began his next round.
“Liu Wuqi? Isn’t that Liu Wuque? He’s the strongest of the new disciples!”
“If Li Jian-san wins this round, he’ll surely secure first place. Who would have thought our young sect master would grow this much? All those ridiculous rumors were lies—our young master is a hidden genius!”
“That can’t be. Liu Wuqi is the strongest among the new disciples—even veteran disciples pale in comparison. It’ll be tough for the young master to defeat him.”
Upon hearing the matchup, everyone’s expressions shifted.
“The person you injured earlier is my companion. Now, I’m here for revenge!” Liu Wuqi declared.
Li Jian-san waved impatiently, “Let’s get started. Enough talking.”
“Hmph! Watch closely—I’m the strongest among the new disciples. Remember that!” Suddenly, a fierce aura erupted from Liu Wuqi.
Sensing the chill in the air, Li Jian-san smiled.
This aura—it was clearly at the Foundation Establishment stage.
If I, a mere beginner, defeat a Foundation Establishment disciple, it will surely cause a sensation…
By then, would Chu Xier still resist?
“Look at you, so-called strongest new disciple. You’re just Foundation Establishment, no better than trash.”
Liu Wuqi flushed with anger. Did he not realize his cultivation was only at the Qi Refining stage?
How dare a Qi Refining nobody say such things to me?
Shameless!
“Enough chatter—take this!”
Li Jian-san didn’t dodge, standing firm as Liu Wuqi attacked.
“Harder—what’s wrong with you, do you need a meal first?” After the punch landed, Li Jian-san was unharmed, though he felt a faint pain.
Young people do have more energy…
Li Jian-san’s reaction left Liu Wuque bewildered.
He’d taken my punch as if nothing happened.
I could kill a tiger with one punch.
And he’s asking me to hit harder—did he come to fight, or to die?
As Liu Wuque hesitated, Li Jian-san slapped him sharply.
“I told you to use more force! Why are you spaced out?”
“Use every ounce of strength you have!”
Liu Wuque, rubbing his reddened cheek, exploded in fury, “You dare hit me?”
“Tiger’s Fall Fist!”
Bang!
Another solid punch landed on Li Jian-san.
“Useless, far too weak, you can’t hurt me at all.”
“Sorry, I meant you’re weak, not the martial art.”
Liu Wuque gritted his teeth, “Shut up!”
Boom!
Another punch struck Li Jian-san.
“Hmm, this punch was better, but it’s just brute force—not enough.”
“The Tiger’s Fall Fist requires harmony between power and technique. If force and fist are separate, it’s useless. Both must shine together—then you’ll be unmovable as a mountain, fierce as a tiger.”
“Shut up!” Liu Wuque’s face darkened and he threw another punch.
Boom!
The blow rang out, sucking air from the surroundings.
Bang!
A muffled groan sounded as Li Jian-san was finally forced back a few steps.
There’s hope.
Keep at it.
Liu Wuque felt a bit dazed—his martial arts had broken through, could it be because of that boy…?
No, it must be coincidence.
“My Tiger’s Fall Fist has reached mastery. Just watch—I’ll deal with you!”
Boom!
The air trembled; Liu Wuque’s fist surged in power.
But in the next moment, Li Jian-san moved, his figure becoming elusive and unpredictable.
Even the elders below couldn’t track his movements.
“That’s Dragon Step, at perfection!”
“No, it’s the perfected Dragon Trigram Step!”
“It’s the Nine Transformations—none of the elders have mastered it to this degree…”
As Li Jian-san shifted his movement techniques, astonished cries rose from the audience.
Soon, they realized something was wrong.
Li Jian-san had never trained—how did he suddenly become so strong?
When did he train?
And all these martial arts were at perfection.
Not even the sect’s disciples, let alone the elders, could master them so easily.
Elder Zhao Hua suddenly remembered, “He did visit the Martial Arts Pavilion a few days ago—is it possible he mastered all these arts in just a few days…?”
But someone quickly interrupted him.
“Elder Zhao Hua, are you joking? Even we couldn’t master a martial art in a few days. He’s just an outer disciple—impossible.”
“Exactly, maybe he was secretly training all along.”
…
…
“To move with grace, let your body follow your mind—that’s how you walk on air within a square inch.”
Li Jian-san and Liu Wuque used the same movement technique, but Liu Wuque’s speed was less than a third of Li Jian-san’s.
In comparison, one was a master, the other a student.
The difference was vast.
“Strike unexpectedly and swiftly. Your punches must be fast, ruthless, accurate, and steady.”
Boom!
Liu Wuque’s fist exploded with greater speed.
Seeing this, the elders observing the match were astonished.
“With Li Jian-san’s guidance, Liu Wuque’s martial arts and movement have broken through.”
“Incredible! Who would have thought Li Jian-san could coach another disciple?”
“This boy must harbor a great secret…”
Hearing the elders’ conversation, the disciples below were speechless.
Previously, his guidance of the young junior sister seemed accidental.
But now, he was coaching a Foundation Establishment disciple!
The young master had never cultivated, yet was now instructing a Foundation Establishment disciple—the impact was immeasurable.
No wonder they doubted him—their vision was too narrow.
Seeing the flickering figures, they thought the match had reached its climax.
Yet the elder said Li Jian-san was guiding Liu Wuque’s martial arts, which caught them off guard.
Li Jian-san not only coached Liu Wuque, but helped him break through!
This was truly incredible.
Now, everyone looked at Li Jian-san with new eyes.
Wasn’t their young master always indulging in food, drink, and debauchery?
How could he...
Such strength couldn’t be gained through play.
He must have been secretly cultivating...
“Now that you’ve broken through, come and hit me,” Li Jian-san suddenly stopped and smiled at Liu Wuque. “Aim for my head—give me your best punch. I promise I won’t dodge!”
“Move? I’ll crush your skull before you even try!” Liu Wuque sneered.
Yes.
That’s the spirit.
Li Jian-san watched the battle-ready Liu Wuque with satisfaction.
With breakthroughs in martial arts and movement, Liu Wuque was confident he could defeat Li Jian-san.
Boom!
Liu Wuque’s fist exploded with power, sending shockwaves across the ring.
The terrifying force left trails of explosions in the air.
Bang!
The brutal punch sent Li Jian-san flying, stirring up a cloud of dust.
For a moment, no one could see Li Jian-san’s figure.
All was silent.
The other powers looked on with regret.
Such a promising talent—what a shame.
To be smashed to death by Shengjing Sect…
Alas…
“Liu Wuque is truly formidable—he killed Li Jian-san in one move.”
Then, several Shengjing Sect disciples surrounded the area.
“Wait, wait, don’t be hasty, I’m not dead yet.”
Li Jian-san slowly stood up, his face pale from the blow.
But how was he still alive?
Seeing Li Jian-san rise, the surrounding disciples looked as if they’d seen a ghost, trembling in fear.
“You—you…”
To survive such a terrifying attack and still stand—what was happening to this world?
Have the gods stopped keeping score?
“You really are stronger than your master. Good job! Come on, aim for my head and hit me hard—try to kill me!”
Ignoring the others’ shock, Li Jian-san darted in front of Liu Wuque.
“Don’t come near, I quit!” Liu Wuque quickly backed away.
Even after all that, Li Jian-san wasn’t dead.
This was too bizarre.
If this continued, he’d surely be played to death.
Hearing this, Li Jian-san was displeased.
“Weren’t you seeking revenge? Giving up so soon?”
“Can’t you show some sportsmanship? Who quits halfway through a fight?”
Liu Wuque cried out in despair, “I surrender! I concede!”
Li Jian-san frowned deeply, “What did you say—you’re giving up?”
Then all my efforts were in vain?
No, that won’t do. I haven’t even begun my performance.
“Stop right there—if you won’t kill me, then I’ll kill you!”
Li Jian-san’s figure flashed, blocking Liu Wuque’s path.
“Kill me?” Liu Wuque grew anxious.
“Li Jian-san is only at Qi Refining level one—how could he kill an inner disciple?”
Hearing the crowd’s murmurs, Liu Wuque regained a shred of confidence. “That’s right—I’m at Foundation Establishment. You, a Qi Refining nobody, want to kill me?”
Though Li Jian-san’s defense was terrifying, his cultivation was too low. Even with advanced martial arts, he couldn’t unleash their true power.
Let alone kill him.
“Who says a Qi Refining disciple can’t kill a Foundation Establishment one?”