Two figures collided violently and separated in an instant.
The sturdy yet flexible iron fan clashed with a pair of bare fists, and surprisingly, the iron fan came out worse.
Iron Fan Gentleman knew something was wrong and immediately resorted to his trump card.
Seven Shadow Strikes!
A rapid burst of attacks followed, with the iron fan dancing, leaving behind a sky full of afterimages.
Black Fang lowered his shoulders and steadied his stance, his fists twisted and shrouded in a dark aura.
Dark Night Divine Fist, Third Form—Hundred Ghosts Rampage!
Fist shadows and fan shadows intertwined endlessly.
Qian Sanduo's expression changed: "Not good! Black Fang has taken that step!"
Tang Wen, watching the two who were now fighting with visual effects, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Awakened? To what extent?"
"Yes, if full awakening is considered ten, his awakening level has already surpassed one," Qian Sanduo replied solemnly. The situation had changed, and they might not be able to complete the Zheng family's commission.
Tang Wen pondered and asked, "Will Black Fang's strength undergo a qualitative change because of his awakening?"
Qian Sanduo shook his head firmly, "That won't happen, but he's no longer an ordinary Martial Master. His physical strength, stamina recovery, and continuous bursts will far surpass those of a typical Martial Master due to his awakening."
Tang Wen nodded in silence.
Qian Sanduo added, "After Black Fang wins, your match with him is scheduled for the evening. We thought he wouldn't be able to recover to his peak state in just a few hours. But now it seems, as long as he doesn't suffer serious injuries, eating some Mutated Beast meat and getting some sleep will restore him to eighty or ninety percent of his condition."
"No problem, even if I lose, I can protect myself. If I win, it's a huge gain. The ones who should be worried aren't us," Tang Wen's words were shameless but true.
The ones who should be worried were the Huang family, one of the five great families.
As they spoke, the match on the field concluded.
Iron Fan Gentleman, who still had the strength to fight, voluntarily conceded after a round of intense attacks.
The onlookers erupted in uproar.
Many gleeful eyes turned toward Tang Wen.
Everyone was no fool. Young man, the benefits from the Zheng family aren't easy to take, are they?
"Heh!" Black Fang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned at Tang Wen, his face full of ferocity.
His internal organs had been shaken, but it was only a minor injury.
Ignoring his provocation, Tang Wen seemed lost in thought. Black Fang's move, Hundred Ghosts Rampage, had given him some new insights into the [Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist, Seventh Form: Eight-Armed Divine Fist].
At the Zheng family mansion.
"Commander Tang Wen, just do your best tonight."
After saying this, the Zheng Family Head placed a white porcelain bottle on the table and left without giving Tang Wen a chance to speak.
"Hmm," Tang Wen saw the words "Blood Vigor Pill" written in red on the bottle. He opened it to find a red pill inside.
The Blood Vigor Pill could excite a Martial Practitioner, instantly restoring their stamina.
But the side effect was that after the pill's effect wore off, the user would feel weak for one to two days.
It was a kind of life-saving measure.
"An unexpected gain," Tang Wen muttered as he casually stuffed the bottle into his bag.
He had no intention of taking it.
The Huang family had provided him with an independent courtyard.
It had everything: a training room, a resting room, and more.
Tang Wen began to ponder his fist techniques.
[Meditation Martial Art: Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist, Proficient (2891/6000)]
Recently, he had been wandering in the wilderness.
Countless rocks and mounds in the wilderness had been blasted apart by his Cannon Fist, and his experience had increased significantly.
And the "Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist" lived up to its name.
Tang Wen felt an extraordinary sense of exhilaration while blasting through mountains.
The experience gained on the panel was also higher.
It could only be said that the "Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist" was indeed aptly named.
In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.
In summer, the sky darkens late, and the horizon was painted in hues of gold and red.
When Tang Wen arrived, Black Fang was already waiting on the martial arts field.
The area around the field was packed with people, forming a dense circle.
All the Martial Masters and Martial Practitioners from the five major families had gathered.
No one wanted to miss this spectacle.
Tang Wen hadn't expected that while watching the show, he would end up becoming the performer.
And in the eyes of the onlookers, he was the clown.
Black Fang sneered, "Idiot! I thought you wouldn't dare show up!"
"Who are you calling an idiot?"
"Of course, you!"
"Oh, so it's the pure idiot calling me!" Tang Wen's gaze was filled with disdain.
Commander Qian and the people from Flame Camp burst into laughter.
"You're asking for death!" Black Fang's anger flared, and he tried to charge forward, but the two people beside him quickly held him back.
"Kid! I'll smash you to pieces with my fists!" Black Fang glared into Tang Wen's eyes.
Tang Wen usually disdained trash talk, but that didn't mean he couldn't do it. He pointed to the setting sun on the horizon, "Take a good look!"
"At what?"
"Idiot, tomorrow, you won't be able to see it."
"You!" Black Fang tried to lunge again but was restrained.
The Zheng Family Head spoke up, "Enough! Both of you, I have a new decision to announce."
"A new decision? Don't tell me someone else is joining the fight!" A Martial Master from Black Mountain Camp scoffed.
Someone else chimed in, "Exactly, the prestigious Huang family of the five major cities wouldn't go back on their word, would they?"
Tang Wen glanced over; the voice came from the direction of Yanshan Camp.
The onlookers buzzed with discussion.
The Zheng Family Head raised his hands to quiet them, "For this duel, my Huang family holds the final say. If anyone is unwilling to participate, they may withdraw now. My daughter's lifelong matter is no joke."
The Zheng Family Head wasn't swayed by their words.
The crowd fell silent, unsure of what to say.
Tang Wen nodded, learning that as long as you have no morals, you can't be manipulated.
But the key to this strategy was still having strength.
If a Martial Master had dared to speak like that, Black Fang would have already thrown a punch.
Seeing the crowd quiet down, the Zheng Family Head continued, "What I want to say is, no matter who wins, they must also face my daughter and earn her approval!"
"That's fair!"
"Yes, after all, it's a matter of marriage. Miss Zheng's consent is necessary."
"Young Miss Zheng is also a Martial Master. Passing her test won't be easy."
"…"
Black Fang shouted, "So, I have to kill this brat from Flame Camp first, then defeat my little wife to become your Huang family's son-in-law, right?"
The Zheng Family Head glanced at him but didn't respond.
Young Miss Zheng hadn't appeared yet. She sat alone in a quiet room, with a Blood Vigor Pill identical to Tang Wen's placed in front of her.
She breathed deeply, focusing her mind.
Her eyes suddenly opened, bright as stars.
She was ready.
She stood up and walked out of the quiet room.
"Sister Zheng, you've finally come out. Do you think Tang Wen can defeat Black Fang?"
"Sister Zheng, what if he can't win?"
"You're not really going to marry that brute, are you? He's quite tall…"
Zheng Nanzhu's expression changed. She hadn't expected this.
Waiting for her outside was the Wang family's sycophant.
Faced with her series of malicious questions, Zheng Nanzhu found her mind in turmoil.
Slap!
"Shut up!"
The sycophant's cheek turned bright red, with five finger marks clearly visible.
The sycophant was stunned.
She couldn't believe what had just happened.
Zheng Nanzhu felt a surge of satisfaction: "If you can't win, the dowry will be you!"
The Wang family had many children, and the one with the high-pitched voice was merely a daughter born of a concubine.
Ignoring her wails, Zheng Nanzhu strode toward the door.
"Both sides, prepare yourselves. The countdown begins in ten."
Black Fang was tall and robust, standing at over six feet, resembling a humanoid grizzly bear.
Tang Wen, not yet sixteen and having suffered from poor nutrition in previous years, was a full head shorter than him.
Coupled with his slender frame, he didn't seem like a match for Black Fang.
Black Fang slapped his own face: "Kid, don't you dare give up!"
"...Two, one."
Whoosh!
A fireball shot out, bombarding the mountainside.
Visualization complete, a terrifying force surged into his legs.
Tang Wen's speed exploded,
and he continued his visualization, his fists like thunder!
The Martial Masters and the head of the Huang family were slightly taken aback. For the weaker one to take the offensive was a poor strategy!
(End of Chapter)