Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Deducing the Tongbei Fist! Achieving Ming Jin

Eight experts charged at once. The bones and sinews of each one crackled and popped, their meridians taut like fully drawn bows, brimming with formidable power.

They swarmed Chen Xuan, attacking him from all sides.

But Chen Xuan was fearless. He lunged forward, his fists a blur of motion. With a series of thunderous booms, he met their attacks head-on, neither dodging nor evading.

Every punch and every kick carried immense power, tearing through the air with a sharp crackle.

The moment the fight began, agonizing screams filled the arena. Blood splattered as bodies were sent flying—a gruesome sight.

Anyone who dared to meet Chen Xuan’s blows directly had their arms broken, their flesh mangled.

Those who didn’t were even worse off. Their chests were caved in by his strikes, and their bodies were sent soaring backward.

As Chen Xuan attacked swiftly, the hairs on his body suddenly stood on end. He sensed a terrifying danger.

Without a second thought, he spun around and grabbed.

PFFT!

One of the men was lunging at him, viciously stabbing with a sharp awl.

Fortunately, his quick eyes and fast hands allowed him to grab the man’s wrist in the nick of time.

With his wrist in Chen Xuan’s grip, the man felt a sharp, piercing pain. His eyes widened in horror; his wrist bone felt like it was about to shatter.

"You!"

"This is supposed to be a goddamn spar, and you’re pulling this dirty trick?"

Rage flared in Chen Xuan’s eyes. He grabbed the man’s body and, like tossing a scarecrow, unleashed nearly all his strength as he slammed him onto the arena floor.

SPLAT!

"AH!"

The entire arena shuddered from the impact, leaving a human-shaped imprint on the boards.

The man died a brutal death on the spot, every bone in his body shattered.

The remaining men were terrified. They no longer dared to fight, scrambling off the stage and fleeing for their lives.

"No more! No more! I give up..."

"I give up too..."

"Farewell, farewell..."

In the blink of an eye, the arena was empty.

Only Chen Xuan remained.

He was scrawny and sallow-faced, looking as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

And yet, that frail body contained a tremendous power that no one could have fathomed.

[You have defeated eight opponents, forcing them into submission. +200 retribution points!]

"Old man, is that sufficient?"

Chen Xuan turned his head to look at Elder Ge on the platform.

"Good, truly magnificent!"

Elder Ge burst into laughter.

’To think the Red Sand Gang could recruit such a prodigy this time!’

’This is far beyond my expectations!’

"Young man, come with me!"

Elder Ge smiled and stood up. "Let’s go inside and talk, shall we?"

"Alright!"

Chen Xuan jumped right off the arena stage and followed him.

Below the stage, the crowd erupted in discussion.

Countless people whispered to each other, utterly shocked.

No one could have imagined that this country bumpkin, who they had all looked down on earlier, possessed such strength.

"Young man, this old one is Ge Xuan. I humbly serve as the external affairs elder for the Red Sand Gang, responsible for all its external matters. May I ask your name?"

Inside a spacious and clean room, Elder Ge sat with a smile on his face, motioning for Chen Xuan to take a seat to the side. A maid soon brought them fragrant tea.

"I am Chen Xuan."

"Chen Xuan."

Elder Ge smiled. "It seems your background isn’t the best, young man. Might I ask who your master is, and where you were previously employed?"

"To be honest with you, I’m just a country bumpkin from the slums. The abilities I have now are all thanks to my Innate Divine Strength."

Chen Xuan admitted it freely.

"Innate Divine Strength? You haven’t undergone any formal Martial Dao training?"

Elder Ge was astonished.

"No. But I do have a copy of the [Tongbei Fist] manual on me. I just haven’t had the time to practice it yet."

Chen Xuan took out the [Tongbei Fist] manual.

Elder Ge was even more shocked.

’In that case, this person is truly a prodigy seen once in a century.’

’If someone with Innate Divine Strength also managed to cultivate Bright Energy or Dark Energy, I can’t even imagine how powerful he’d become.’

’I’ve really struck gold this time.’

He couldn’t even be bothered to look at the [Tongbei Fist] manual.

"By the way, Elder Ge, I have a troublesome matter to deal with. If it’s not resolved, I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to join your esteemed gang!"

Chen Xuan said directly.

"What is it?"

Elder Ge’s expression darkened as he asked.

He thought Chen Xuan was having second thoughts about joining.

"I killed some people in Panshi City. Quite a few, actually. I wiped out a gang called the Tiger Gang. I’m probably on the authorities’ wanted list by now, and the constables are likely searching the whole city for me."

Chen Xuan said directly, his tone low.

"And here I was wondering what the matter was!"

A smile immediately spread across Elder Ge’s face. He waved his hand dismissively. "A mere Tiger Gang? They’re nothing but ants. If you wiped them out, you wiped them out. Who could do anything to you? As for the authorities, they wouldn’t dare arrest anyone from our Red Sand Gang. Chen Xuan, you can rest assured. Once you join the Red Sand Gang, even the Prefect himself will have to show you respect!"

"Oh?"

Chen Xuan’s eyes glinted as he feigned ignorance. "What about the Cyan Dragon Gang? They’re the Tiger Gang’s backer. They might try to stand up for them."

"Bullshit!"

Elder Ge’s face was full of scorn. "Don’t worry about those losers. For now, just focus on settling in as a Squad Leader for the Red Sand Gang. I’ll take you to meet the Gang Leader tomorrow!"

"Yes, thank you, Elder Ge!"

Chen Xuan stood up and cupped his fist.

’This world is truly rotten to the core.’

’For a gang to be this powerful!’

’But this is exactly what I was hoping to see right now.’

The two continued to chat for a while.

Elder Ge had someone lead Chen Xuan away to rest. He was first given a hot bath and a change of clean clothes, making him look like a new man.

「Inside the room.」

Chen Xuan sat cross-legged on the bed and immediately opened his panel.

Name: Chen Xuan

Heart Method: None

Martial Arts: None

Talent: Innate Divine Strength (A new talent can be unlocked for each level of renown gained. Current Renown: Obscure)

Retribution Points: 1155 (Can be used to deduce Martial Arts)

...

Chen Xuan immediately took out the Tongbei Fist manual, opened it, and quickly read through it once.

"Retribution points, deduce Tongbei Fist!"

[Ding! Commencing deduction of Tongbei Fist!]

[You have consumed 100 retribution points. Your Tongbei Fist begins to improve slowly, just like a normal person’s training, with nothing out of the ordinary.]

[At this moment, you have a sudden idea and decide to try spending 300 retribution points. After consuming another 300 retribution points, your progress with Tongbei Fist advances by leaps and bounds, reaching 3 times the normal speed.]

[Still not satisfied, you continue and consume another 700 points. Your Tongbei Fist training speed reaches 10 times that of a normal person. Through your diligent training, you can see your growth at a visible rate!]

[Because you possess Innate Divine Strength, sensing Bright Energy is as simple as eating and drinking for you!]

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have cultivated Bright Energy and reached the fourth realm of Bright Energy. Your bones and sinews resonate in unison, your meridians are like bows, and your strength has greatly increased!]

[Evaluation: This training session is equivalent to seven years of cultivation for a normal person!]

BOOM!

In an instant, countless pieces of information flooded his mind.

It was as if he had been practicing the fist art for many years.

Endless insights and knowledge of the fist art poured into his mind, complete with training methods, combat applications, Body Techniques, and stance work—everything was there.

He already had Innate Divine Strength, and now, after cultivating Bright Energy, his power soared to a new level.

Every single move he made now contained a formidable might.

The meridians in his body truly felt like great bows, stretching and contracting at will.

Chen Xuan let out a soft breath of hot air and looked at his panel.

Retribution Points: 55.

’This thing is truly mystical. Cultivating Martial Arts is as easy as eating and drinking. It seems I need to find a way to get more retribution points,’ Chen Xuan thought.

"Where is that Chen Xuan? I want to see him..."

A sharp, aggressive female voice suddenly yelled from outside, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Miss Fang, Elder Ge said no one is to disturb Squad Leader Chen..."

"Bullshit!"

The aggressive woman’s sharp voice rang out again, "Get out of my way!"

BANG!

A low thud followed, and it sounded like someone was sent flying, landing in the courtyard with a muffled groan.

Chen Xuan frowned and walked straight out of his room.

Dressed in a black robe, his body was lean, but it exuded an invisible aura. He stood on the steps and looked down at a woman in a goose-yellow dress standing in the courtyard, her face filled with anger.

"Who are you?" Chen Xuan asked.