Volume One: A Youth Enters the World Chapter Twenty-Three: A New Style

After being forced back by Fang Tian’s sword, Chen Shiqing glanced at his clothes. With a ripping sound, a gash appeared across his chest! Luckily, he had dodged in time—otherwise, it would have been far more than just torn clothing.

Fang Tian eyed the cut he had inflicted upon Chen Shiqing’s attire without surprise; if wounding him were so easy, that would indeed be strange.

Chen Shiqing spoke up at this moment.
“Boy, I didn’t expect you to nearly injure me!”
“Soon, it will be more than just ‘nearly.’”
“I admit your talent is exceptional, but to think you could defeat me with only a single stage of Spirit Gathering—it’s mere wishful thinking!”
“Should I take that as a compliment? If so, I truly ought to thank you.”

Knowing he could not win a war of words, Chen Shiqing kept silent, determined instead to end the battle swiftly. He found Fang Tian’s grasp of combat terrifying; though he’d been suppressing him, Fang Tian was already striking back in the blink of an eye. Without further hesitation, Chen Shiqing began channeling his martial skill, intent on capturing Fang Tian directly.

“Boy, I’m about to get serious. Prepare yourself!”

Fang Tian retorted mockingly, “Old men really do talk too much.”
“Hmph! Soon you’ll be begging for mercy.”
“Come then! Let me see what use the Chen family’s martial arts truly have.”

Chen Shiqing bellowed, striking the ground.
“King Kong Fist, First Form—King Kong Shakes the Earth!”

The earth split open as a fierce surge, infused with spiritual energy, rushed toward Fang Tian.

Fang Tian responded immediately.
“Mysterious Frost Sword Technique, First Form—Frozen Seal.”

Frost spread across the ground, forming pillars of ice that collided head-on with the incoming attack. Rather than let his technique disperse, Fang Tian focused it into a single line, intensifying its power. The sound of shattering ice echoed, blocking the assault until it halted just before Fang Tian. The ground was littered with broken shards, and Chen Shiqing’s blow dissipated into threads of spiritual energy.

Fang Tian had withstood the attack.

Chen Shiqing, seeing his strike absorbed, did not pause. He launched his second move.
“Martial Skill—King Kong Subdues Demons.”

This time, he abandoned spiritual surges, instead enveloping himself in spiritual energy and charging at Fang Tian.

Fang Tian raised his sword, channeling energy along the blade.
“Mysterious Frost Sword Technique, Second Form—Flying Frost.”

Both figures flashed forward, closing in an instant. Their martial skills collided, waves of spiritual energy erupting outward, force spreading in every direction.

Chen Shiqing’s subordinates were pushed back a dozen steps by this force; some stumbled and fell to the ground.

Both combatants were forced away, sliding across the ground and stirring up clouds of dust.

A patch of frost appeared on Chen Shiqing’s hand, spreading as if to engulf him. He smashed it with spiritual energy before it could spread further.

Fang Tian’s sword vibrated, his hand trembling slightly from the impact. With a flick, he steadied the blade.

Both stood firm. Chen Shiqing realized his perception of Fang Tian was inadequate; the spiritual waves he sensed were not those of a first-stage Spirit Gatherer, but nearly at the peak of the second stage.

He knew he could not easily subdue Fang Tian. Summoning his subordinates, he prepared his most powerful move, which required time to gather strength.

The subordinates, understanding his signal, attacked Fang Tian without hesitation