Chapter 3 - The Emergence of Sharpness

In the Phoenix Song Empire, martial arts were deeply revered, making conflicts inevitable. Outside the imperial capital, there stood the Life-and-Death Arena, a place to resolve personal vendettas. Here, as long as both parties agreed and signed the life-and-death contract, once they stepped onto the arena, even killing the opponent wouldn't lead to punishment under imperial law. Usually, the place was buzzing with onlookers, and today was no different. After several duels concluded, two young men took the stage, igniting a stir below. "Isn't that Long Chen? Why is he here again?" "Indeed, he almost got beaten to death yesterday. Why would he return today?" "Hmph, probably lost the will to live, hoping to get beaten to death here." Long Tianxiao, revered as Marquis Zhenyuan, was hailed as a War God. But those who truly called him a War God were the war-tormented commoners. To the affluent and noble citizens of the capital, living in a time of peace, Long Tianxiao, with his common roots, was disparaged, and few took his son Long Chen seriously. "Long Chen, you worthless fool, what are you doing here again? It's a complete waste of time. Hurry up and scram!" "Exactly! If you want to die, find a secluded place. No one wants to watch a worthless spectacle; it's a waste of our time." Instantly, hundreds of spectators expressed their disdain loudly, exhibiting extreme aversion to Long Chen. However, in an inconspicuous corner, two veiled girls watched the silhouette on the stage intently. "Sister, is that your fiancé? He doesn't look like much, not a hint of energy around him," one girl commented, slightly disappointed. "Hmph, it’s all because of Father’s impulsive decision, betrothing me to him back then. It’s infuriating!" The other girl expressed her vexation. On the stage, oblivious to the two girls spying on him, Long Chen seemed unmoved by the jeers, his eyes calmly fixed on Li Hao. Li Hao pointed at the clamoring crowd, sneering, "See that? You're an unwelcome piece of trash. If you know what's good for you, crash your head and be done with it." Long Chen simply gazed at him silently, saying nothing. “Boom.” A bell tolled, signaling the start of the duel. With its echo, life and death were separated by a thin line. The once noisy crowd fell silent in anticipation; after all, this was a life-and-death duel, and lives could be lost in an instant. “Sister, aren’t you worried? Your fiancé has no cultivation at all, yet he's facing a fellow in the third layer of the Qi Condensation Realm,” the girl asked. "Hmph, why would I worry? If he dies, he dies. It’s none of my business," the other girl retorted with a huff, though her palm revealed a peculiar net. "Hehe, claiming not to care while you’ve prepared a weapon for him. Seems like you do care. And to be honest, though he lacks cultivation, he’s quite the looker. Sister, if you don’t want him, may I have him?" the girl teased with a laugh. “Nonsense! This isn’t something one can simply give away! If you like him, wait until I call off the engagement, and then feel free,” the other girl snapped, annoyed. "Hehe." On the stage, Long Chen remained calm, starkly different from the seething young man he was yesterday. "Long Chen, are you calm only because you're close to death? Rest assured, considering your bet, I won't kill you today," Li Hao boasted with conceit. "Enough talk; let’s get this over with. I have other matters to attend to," Long Chen replied impatiently. As the entire arena hushed, Long Chen’s words rang clear, sparking a wave of laughter among the spectators. "Li Hao, what are you waiting for? Kill this bastard already; he's making us sick," someone shouted from the crowd. A sneer crossed Li Hao's face as he hesitated no more, unleashing his full power at the third layer of the Qi Condensation Realm. He lunged at Long Chen, swinging a fist. Cheers erupted from the crowd as Li Hao moved gracefully and strikingly. “What a move, the Wind-Caressing Fist!” Someone in the crowd recognized the move, but the two girls from afar quietly scoffed, a hint of ridicule on their lips. Long Chen wore a similar smirk, thinking, “What a flawed move to use against an opponent.” As the punch aimed for his face, the gust whistled, yet Long Chen stood still, unfazed. “Haha, the fool doesn’t even try to dodge,” someone jeered from below. But at the moment the words left his mouth, Li Hao’s fist stopped three inches from Long Chen’s face, motionless. Those who had mocked fell silent, seeing Long Chen’s foot extended, pressing harshly between Li Hao’s legs. The once confident and composed Li Hao now had a face as purple as an eggplant. Long Chen’s kick had clearly left him in agony, twisting his features in unbearable pain, unable to move. Yet Long Chen could move, and as Li Hao paused, Long Chen grasped his hair, pulling it while fiercely kneeing him. “Thump, thump, thump.” Long Chen’s movements were a spectacle, each gesture distinct, delivering a strong visual impact with a brisk rhythm. The grinding sound of bones echoed, and after three heavy strikes, Li Hao’s nose was deformed and his face bloodied, falling into unconsciousness. Silence enveloped the arena, shocked that a Qi Condensation Realm expert had been defeated by a supposed worthless person without a trace of cultivation. Even the two girls observing from afar were stunned. While Li Hao was nothing in their eyes, easily dismissible, Long Chen was different. Throughout, he hadn’t used the slightest hint of energy, defeating Li Hao with purely human strength. “Long Chen wins,” announced a voice from below, belonging to an elder overseeing the arena, in charge of registering and declaring results. Long Chen’s chest heaved as he stifled his murderous intent. Now wasn’t the right time for killing, though suppressing it after so long was challenging, making him appear breathless and drained from the outside. Stepping off the stage, Long Chen approached the elder to reclaim his wagered longsword and received a crystal card worth five thousand gold coins. According to the rules, contestants deposited their wagers with the referee, ensuring fairness and preventing reneging. Returning the prized sword to Shi Feng, Long Chen pocketed the crystal card, feeling a rush of excitement. Though five thousand gold coins weren’t much, they temporarily solved some urgent needs. The family stipend had been withheld for too long, leaving the Long family on the brink of poverty. Under numerous gazes, Long Chen and Shi Feng walked away, the two girls quietly following their departure. Long Chen's victory over Li Hao spread like wildfire through the imperial capital, bewildering many. How could a "worthless" individual suddenly become powerful? However, countless witnesses and news of Li Hao being carried home convinced the doubters. After parting ways with Shi Feng, who refused any share of the winnings, excusing himself with other matters, Long Chen, grateful, headed to the Hundred Herbs Hall. There, he requested a catalog of herbs, perusing its extensive list of names and prices. Fortunately, most ingredients for the Wind Mansion Pill weren't exceedingly rare. Yet, seeing the prices made his heart ache. His gold could only afford materials for three batches. Needing not just materials but also an alchemy cauldron and other herbs, his funds felt like a drop in the ocean. Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth, spending 1,200 gold on the cheapest bronze cauldron, buying ingredients for one batch of Wind Mansion Pill. After purchasing copious amounts for Qi Replenishing Powder, his card held only five hundred gold. Back home, Long Chen locked himself in his room, instructing Bao’er to ensure he wasn’t disturbed. He anticipated his mother would hear about his duel, fearful for her concern. By having Bao'er cover for him, he hoped to ease her worries since he was unharmed. Time was crucial for increasing his strength. The Long family's plight was deeper than it seemed; the urgency pressed upon Long Chen fiercely. With a deep breath, Long Chen channeled his inner energy. A flame flickered from his palm—his alchemist’s fire—but its weakness made him chuckle bitterly. The alchemist flame, a product of one’s energy through a unique process, was barely hotter than ordinary fire without a dantian to sustain it. Realizing his flame couldn't last through the alchemy process, Long Chen felt resigned. Luckily, he had prepared, starting with simpler tasks. Using wood fire, he refined ingredients into a jar of Qi Replenishing Liquid, resting briefly after. The time had come to attempt crafting the Wind Mansion Pill. ...