Chapter 3: The Power of a Single Strike

Chapter 3: The Power of a Single Strike

The afternoon sun was less scorching.

In Class Five of the Sword Martial Division, dozens of youths stood in formation, swords in hand, their backs straight as blades pointing skyward. At the front of the formation stood a woman around nineteen or twenty years old.

She carried a longsword on her back, her hair tied into a high ponytail. Her wheat-colored skin was smooth and radiant, her features bearing a blend of seven parts martial prowess and three parts wild charm. Clad in a sleek silver-gray martial outfit, her tall and lithe frame exuded the unique aura of an undefeated battlefield goddess.

This woman was none other than Li Xinyue, the renowned sword prodigy of Huntian Dao Academy, ranked second among the top ten experts in the Body Forging Realm. Due to her exceptional swordsmanship, she had been appointed as a sword instructor, specifically responsible for teaching the Wind Shadow Sword Technique to Class Five of the Sword Martial Division.

Chen Feng stepped into formation and saluted Li Xinyue. "Instructor Li."

At the sight of Chen Feng, Li Xinyue’s willow-leaf brows arched slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her imposing face.

The dozens of youths also couldn’t help but show expressions of astonishment and mockery upon seeing him.

"The big loser Chen Feng?"

"Why is this trash here?"

"Haha, let me share the latest news—Ye Yunqi, the young master of my Ye Family, has taken a liking to Yang Xuening, so she kicked this waste to the curb," sneered a haughty-looking youth with a black mole on his left cheek, his gaze filled with disdain as he looked at Chen Feng.

"How tragic. After six years of being a walking wallet, he ends up with neither the girl nor the money."

"If he wants to blame anyone, he can only blame himself for being useless..."

Though the whispers weren’t loud, they reached Chen Feng’s ears with perfect clarity.

Chen Feng acted as if he hadn’t heard, his expression unchanged.

"Silence!" Li Xinyue’s sharp gaze swept over them like a blade, an indescribable pressure descending that made everyone’s hearts pound uncontrollably.

"As expected of an expert at the Eighth Level of the Body Forging Realm," Chen Feng suppressed the shock in his heart, marveling inwardly.

The Eighth Level of the Body Forging Realm meant one’s skin, flesh, bones, and internal organs had undergone repeated tempering, reaching an astonishing level of strength. Such a cultivator could shatter stone tablets and tear apart tigers and leopards with bare hands—truly terrifying. Compared to his own cultivation at the Fourth Level of the Body Forging Realm, the gap was staggering.

"Chen Feng, you haven’t shown up for months. What brings you here now?"

Li Xinyue’s razor-sharp eyes bore into Chen Feng, the pressure she exuded relentless.

Especially with the Huntian Sect’s entrance exams approaching, Li Xinyue—now twenty years old—had yet to break through to the Ninth Level of the Body Forging Realm. Her frustration made her like a volcano on the verge of eruption, her imposing aura growing even more intimidating.

None of the disciples dared to provoke her lightly, fearing her wrath.

After all, every disciple of Huntian Dao Academy ultimately aimed to join the Huntian Sect. However, the sect’s recruitment standards were extremely strict: reaching the Seventh Level of the Body Forging Realm by eighteen, the Eighth Level by nineteen, and the Ninth Level by twenty were the basic requirements, with further assessments to follow.

"Instructor Li, I’ve broken through to the Fourth Level of the Body Forging Realm. I’ve come to verify my progress and practice the Wind Shadow Sword Technique," Chen Feng replied, enduring the immense pressure Li Xinyue radiated.

"What did he say?"

"He said he’s reached the Fourth Level of the Body Forging Realm..."

Murmurs of disbelief rose once more.

Even Li Xinyue’s face showed a trace of skepticism.

"Instructor, if you don't believe me, we can verify it with a Fist Clash," Chen Feng immediately said.

Whether one has developed Tendon and Bone Force can be clearly tested through a fist clash.

"Instructor Lin, let me verify it," a young man with a black mole on his left cheek and an arrogant expression immediately stepped forward, looking at Chen Feng with smugness. "I'm already sixteen this year and only just broke through to the Fourth Level of the Body Forging Realm—truly shameful. But I should still be more than enough to test your cultivation."

"Hahahaha, Brother Fei is too humble! Reaching the Fourth Level at sixteen means you’ll definitely break through to the Seventh Level before the Huntian Sect’s assessment at eighteen. By then, you’ll become a disciple of the Huntian Sect and soar to greatness!"

"That’s right! If someone as talented as Brother Fei feels ashamed, then the rest of us should be utterly humiliated. Some people might even die of shame!"

Chen Feng stared coldly at the speaker. This person was Ye Fei, a member of the Ye family’s branch line. In Class Five of the Sword Martial Division, he had always acted domineeringly, relying on his family’s influence.

"Chen Feng, let’s exchange a punch. Then we’ll know if you’ve really broken through to the Fourth Level," Ye Fei declared, stepping forward with a chilling expression. His fist tore through the air with ruthless force, Tendon and Bone Force erupting without restraint.

The howling fist carried terrifying momentum.

If Chen Feng hadn’t truly reached the Fourth Level, this punch would at least break his arm—or worse, leave him vomiting blood with internal injuries.

Li Xinyue’s brows furrowed slightly as her muscles tensed, energy circulating through her body, ready to intercept Ye Fei’s full-powered strike at any moment.

"That trash Chen Feng is done for."

"He’ll need at least ten days to half a month to recover from this."

The other students all thought the same.

Chen Feng’s expression remained calm, but a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes.

His legs bent slightly, his toes gripping the ground before suddenly pushing off. An overwhelming surge of Tendon and Bone Force erupted from his legs, traveling through his spine and converging into his right arm. Veins bulged as his fingers clenched into a fist.

Boom!

A dull thud echoed as the ground beneath him cracked. Chen Feng shot forward like an arrow, his punch carrying such force that Li Xinyue’s eyes instinctively narrowed in surprise.

In that moment, the essence of basic swordsmanship flowed through him like instinct. His arm seemed to transform into a heavy sword, unstoppable and capable of shattering anything in its path.

BANG!

The two figures collided in an instant, producing a deafening explosion. Dust billowed as one figure was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground and rolling several times.

"My arm… my arm is broken!"

A miserable wail echoed, so pitiful it could move listeners to tears.

As the dust settled, the crowd gasped in shock when they saw who was lying on the ground, covered in dirt and clutching a broken arm in agony.

That… was Ye Fei?

How could Ye Fei have been sent flying?

Their eyes turned to Chen Feng, standing tall under the sunlight. Li Xinyue’s bright eyes flickered with astonishment and confusion.

"So it’s true… My cultivation isn’t just at the initial stage of the Fourth Level—it’s at the Peak of the Fourth Level!"

A faint smile curled at the corner of Chen Feng’s lips as a sense of clarity washed over him, body and mind.

He had never expected the Foundation Establishment Pill to be so effective. Not only had it allowed him to break through from the Third Level to the Fourth Level, but it had also propelled him straight to the Peak of the Fourth Level—with an incredibly solid foundation.

"It shouldn't just be the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pill alone. Perhaps it's also related to my first time taking pills and the Divine Talisman Of Creation..."

"But if I could get more Foundation Establishment Pills, breaking through to the seventh level of the Body Forging Realm in a short time might not be difficult."

As Chen Feng pondered silently, dozens of youths snapped back to their senses, gasping in shock one after another.

"Chen Feng actually won..."

"Incredible!"

"How did he suddenly become so strong?"

"Take two people and bring him for treatment," Li Xinyue said, pointing at Ye Fei, who was howling in pain. Then she turned to Chen Feng with a faint smile. "Not bad. You've indeed broken through to the fourth level of the Body Forging Realm, and your foundation is solid. I will report this to the Dao Academy. Later, go to the Disciples' Hall to collect a Body Forging Pill."

"Thank you, Instructor," Chen Feng responded swiftly.

"Continue your training on your own. Chen Feng, come with me." Li Xinyue's sharp gaze swept across the group before settling on Chen Feng. Without hesitation, she strode off to the side.

"Yes," Chen Feng replied promptly and followed her.