Chapter Twenty-Four: One Punch, Then Another
Even with Chu Tianchen’s current state of mind—one far beyond ordinary—upon witnessing this scene, he could no longer contain himself and finally erupted.
Liu Qingxin glanced at the suddenly appeared Chu Tianchen, her brows furrowing briefly before a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. Especially recalling how he and his grandmother had been publicly humiliated in Zhentian City, a surge of anger welled up within her.
“Where did this useless trash come from? How dare he speak to the Holy Maiden Liu like that!”
Immediately, a martial artist at the fourth level of the Tongmai Realm behind Liu Qingxin stepped forward, speaking coldly.
Chu Tianchen was nearly nineteen now, but his cultivation level was only at the second tier of the Tongmai Realm. Most new students registering were below fifteen, also at Tongmai Realm levels. Thus, although barely meeting the entry criteria for Yunhai Academy, in everyone’s eyes, he was destined to be eliminated. At best, he might endure three months of external trials before being expelled.
This was because the academy’s regulations explicitly stated that if one failed to reach the seventh tier of the Tongmai Realm before turning twenty, they would have to make way for other talented martial artists. After all, the academy’s resources were limited and meant for those with innate talent.
“Huh? Is that Yunhai Token in his hand? How could a useless second-tier Tongmai cultivate like him have one? Has the dean lost his sight?”
Another martial artist at the fifth level of Tongmai Realm sneered as he looked at the token in Chu Tianchen’s hand.
Smack!
No sooner had the words fallen than a sixth-level Tongmai young man slapped him away.
“Sorry, sorry, Holy Maiden Liu, I didn’t mean that. I just meant—how could the dean give a Yunhai Token to such a worthless person?”
“Maybe... maybe he stole it,” the man hurriedly knelt and explained.
“Shut up and get to the back.”
The sixth-level Tongmai youth barked coldly.
He then sized Chu Tianchen up and said, “If I’m not mistaken, you must be the Chu family’s only heir—Chu Tianchen, right?”
“Everyone says you’re an idiot, but I think you’re truly stupid, daring to come to Yunhai Academy.”
“Hand over the Yunhai Token and get lost!”
“Or kneel here with your grandfather and atone for your sins!”
Yet Chu Tianchen didn’t even glance at him. His icy eyes fixed unwaveringly on Liu Qingxin, as if piercing right through her.
“Liu Qingxin, I’ll ask you again—whose idea was this?”
His voice had changed, every word dripping with boundless fury.
---
“Ungrateful wretch!”
The fourth-tier Tongmai man’s gaze darkened as he stepped forward.
With a roar, he unleashed his fourth-tier aura, throwing a punch directly at Chu Tianchen’s chest amidst the watching crowd.
Chu Tianchen showed no intention of dodging. Clenching his fist, his pulse wheels surged wildly, a burst of explosive energy erupted, and vital energy gathered on his fist like a dragon roaring.
He struck back at the incoming fourth-tier attacker.
Boom!
Their fists collided with a sharp crack of breaking bones. Just as everyone thought Chu Tianchen’s arm was shattered, the fourth-tier man staggered back seven or eight meters, stumbling to the ground before rolling another four or five meters away.
“Ah, ah, ah…”
“My hand! My hand!”
A guttural scream echoed through the space.
Everyone present, including Liu Qingxin, widened their eyes in shock.
The man’s name was Wang Xiansen, a scion of a third-rate family in the Great Qian Dynasty, just sixteen years old with average talent. Yet even so, he was at the peak of the fourth tier of the Tongmai Realm.
He had joined Yunhai Academy and become part of the Liu Sect, founded by Liu Qingxin’s brother, Liu Qingfeng.
Yunhai Academy was complex, allowing the formation of “small teams” for joint cultivation. Currently, there were eleven such factions, the Liu Sect among them.
“Chu Tianchen!”
Liu Qingxin raised an eyebrow and shouted angrily. Her aura of the eighth tier of the Tongshen Realm instantly radiated pressure.
Her dozen or so followers hurriedly stepped back.
Now at the eighth tier of Tongshen Realm, Liu Qingxin was close to breaking into the Tianwu Realm—the realm that truly counted one among the strong of the Great Qian Dynasty.
“Damn, he really is Chu Tianchen of the Chu family. Didn’t they say he was an idiot?”
“Looks like he’s recovered. And did you notice? That punch didn’t feel like it came from a second-tier Tongmai.”
“Everyone sees his cultivation clearly. There’s no faking it. I think that guy’s energy was superficial—appearing fourth tier but actually weaker than second. That’s why he lost the fight.”
“Chu Tianchen was once hailed as the dynasty’s top genius, but alas, born into the wrong family. Who could have guessed the Chu family harbored such malice?”
“If I were him, I’d just keep my tail between my legs and live quietly. A mere second-tier Tongmai—how could he fight others? Besides, it’s their fault in the Chu family.”
...
Some new students and academy staff murmured among themselves.
---
But Chu Tianchen no longer cared.
His grandfather, father, uncle, and aunt had all come from Yunhai Academy, each having made outstanding contributions. The academy’s Honor Roll spoke volumes.
Only those who had made great contributions or served as past deans could have their statues erected there.
“This was my idea. I thought of it on the way back from the Chu family.”
“But it’s what they should do. Since their bodies remain unburied, let their statues atone for their sins.”
“Isn’t that just fine?”
Liu Qingxin sneered.
“By the way, why are you here alone? Where’s that old hag? Without her, who gave you the courage to cause trouble at Yunhai Academy? Don’t tell me you still think you’re the arrogant young master of the Chu family.”
Liu Qingxin glanced around before continuing.
“Holy Maiden, no need to waste words on this bastard. How dare he harm someone from the Liu Sect? If this gets out, who would want to join us?”
“Let me break his legs and tie him here to atone with his family.”
The sixth-tier Tongmai man from the Liu Sect charged forward instantly.
The speed and strength of a sixth-tier Tongmai far surpassed that of the fourth tier.
Chu Tianchen felt as if a wild beast was charging at him.
His blood surged violently; two thick pulse wheels nearly burst, and a torrent of vital energy exploded forth again.
Another punch met the sixth-tier warrior head-on.
The next moment, everyone’s eyes widened once more.
The sixth-tier man was sent flying backward, his entire arm hanging limply, screams of agony echoing endlessly.
Another punch ended it!
One fourth-tier, one sixth-tier, both unable to withstand a single punch from a second-tier Tongmai—how could this not astonish?
Liu Qingxin could no longer restrain herself. Her killing intent as a Tongshen Realm cultivator locked onto Chu Tianchen as she struck out with a palm toward him!