Chapter Nineteen: Tianjing, Wounded While Lying Down

“What on earth is wrong with the principal! He’s making life impossible for everyone.” Fuda couldn’t help but complain.

A few days ago, the principal issued a strict order: if the school failed to achieve a good result in the Starwind Martial Tournament this year, all holidays for the next two years would be canceled. The command applied to every student and teacher.

The principal’s prestige at Sky Crystal Academy was unmatched; no one doubted the effectiveness of his orders. Anyone who’d spent time at Sky Crystal knew the principal’s word was never empty.

Sky Crystal Academy instantly descended into chaos.

All the teachers seemed wound up like clockwork, keeping watch day and night, increasing classes, inventing all sorts of special training, and conducting endless practical drills.

Every student at Sky Crystal was suffering. Forget about skipping class—even being late in this high-pressure environment would bring severe punishment. In the past, you only needed to spend a little money to bribe a teacher for an easy life, but now that trick was useless; the teachers were like wolves with bloodshot eyes, showing no mercy.

No class was spared. Every day, students punished could fill the corridors.

Today, Fuda was among them.

“It’s all because of those three guys,” whispered his close friend, who knew the inside story. “Remember those three country bumpkins from the other day? As soon as I saw them at our school, I thought something was off. Who’d have thought they’d stir up so much trouble!”

“You mean those three country bumpkins?” Fuda was taken aback—he’d seen the trio that day, but hadn’t connected the dots.

“That old man is the principal of Shakima Academy. The other two are Amory and Tang Tian. You’ve heard of them, right? They’ve been making waves lately!”

Fuda nodded repeatedly. “I’ve heard, I’ve heard—Crazy Bull Amory transferred here. But what does that have to do with our principal? How did they offend him?”

“I don’t know exactly. But I heard someone say the principal and that old man had a shouting match in the principal’s office. Then all this hell broke loose!” His friend continued to spill the gossip.

“No way.” Fuda looked skeptical, as if hearing the most ridiculous joke. “Shakima Academy is such a lousy school—what’s there to argue about? Are they going to compete with us in the Starwind Martial Tournament? Their brains must be fried.”

He wasn’t exaggerating. What kind of school was Sky Crystal? The top academy in Starwind City! Shakima Academy ranked third from the bottom; there was simply no comparison. If not for the transfer incident, Fuda would never even have heard of that school.

“There are always fools who overestimate themselves,” his friend shrugged, looking miserable. “Their brains are fried, but we’re the ones suffering for it!”

“Quite true!” Fuda gaped in astonishment.

“It’s real,” his friend said, face bitter.

Rage surged in Fuda’s heart. “Those trash! It’s bad enough they’re deluded, but now they’re dragging us down! No, I won’t let this go.”

“What do you plan to do?” His friend perked up instantly.

Fuda sneered. “Compete with us in the Starwind Martial Tournament? Those frogs don’t even look in the mirror. Do they really think they’re qualified? Ridiculous! I’ll show them reality isn’t as laughable as they imagine.”

“Wait, you mean…” His friend’s eyes shone.

“Ha! We don’t need to wait for the tournament. Let’s gather a few people and give them a beating. They want to take part in the tournament? We’ll make sure they’re too battered to even participate!” Fuda’s gaze sharpened, his face full of mockery. “They think Crazy Bull Amory can turn the tables for them? Even Beast Academy doesn’t dare challenge Sky Crystal, and just Amory makes them so arrogant? Let’s ruin them!”

“That’s right! Get a few guys together! Damn it, we have to vent this anger!”

Fuda’s proposal was quickly met with enthusiastic support from many students. With life now like hell, everyone was burning with fury.

Fuda hadn’t expected such a strong response.

But to avoid drawing the teachers’ attention and being punished, they eventually picked the two strongest students, with the others providing cover.

Shen Yuan, third-year, ranked ninth at Sky Crystal Academy.

Yang Yong, second-year, ranked twenty-second.

The two vanished without a trace.

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Whether it was because he’d mastered the Crane Body, Tang Tian felt no fatigue from this round of arduous training. Now his Flash Fist had reached perfection—he could unleash it any way he wished.

After meditating for an hour, all tiredness was swept away. With the Crane Body, his true power recovered much faster.

According to the insights from the Soul General Card, the Crane Body was only the entry to the Crane Qi Technique, far from its pinnacle. Tang Tian’s Crane Body was still embryonic—he needed to activate more tiny meridians to strengthen it. Once enhanced, the Crane Body would become vivid and lifelike, its power even greater.

At a higher level, a single thought would transform the Crane Body, his true power surging and exploding instantly, turning the softest into the hardest, unstoppable.

Tang Tian felt incredibly lucky.

The Crane Qi Technique was the perfect match for the Southern Cross Training Patch—not only could he cultivate martial skills, his true power could also soar.

All Tang Tian needed to do was keep training, round after round.

What could be simpler?

Tang Tian was filled with anticipation for the future, curious about what the Crane Body would be like at its peak.

He laughed heartily, leaping from the floor and rushing out the door—he couldn’t wait to find Amory and test his skills.

Amory was sweating on the training field, wielding a giant wooden sword nearly as big as himself, shouting with every swing. Old Wei was, as usual, nowhere to be seen.

For some reason, Tang Tian had the illusion that Amory was even more focused and diligent than before. Actually, Amory had always been hardworking, but watching his back now, Tang Tian couldn’t help but feel this way.

Hmm, probably just my imagination.

Tang Tian shook his head, tossing the absurd thought aside. With a single thought, he poured his true power into his legs, shooting forward like a cannonball toward Amory, who was deep in training.

“Fly Bull! Take this!”

Tang Tian bellowed mid-air, twisting his waist and punching.

Amory had already sensed Tang Tian’s approach. He spun his giant wooden sword, his massive figure whirling with surprising agility.

“Basic Tang! Show me how much you’ve improved lately!”

Amory laughed loudly, swinging the massive sword at Tang Tian mid-air.

The sword traced a dark, heavy arc, accompanied by a deep, mournful wind, slashing toward Tang Tian.

Amory hadn’t activated his true power, but the force of the blade was like a mountain crashing down, leaving no room to dodge. Amory was naturally gifted with strength—this sword, made from the hardest wood in the mountains, was like a door plank, weighing over two hundred pounds.

Such a heavy blow was terrifying!

Amory could clearly sense his own progress—this swing was light yet powerful, fully controlled, his technique had truly improved.

Yet, to Amory’s surprise, Tang Tian made no attempt to dodge in mid-air.

Has Basic Tang lost his mind?

Amory was puzzled. Tang Tian’s physique was impressive, but absolutely couldn’t withstand this blow. Even Amory himself couldn’t take it bare-handed.

Mid-air, Tang Tian suddenly punched!

The moment he punched, his fist vanished.

Flash Fist!

Amory’s spirit soared. Last time, Tang Tian’s Flash Fist had suppressed him completely, and he’d never forgotten it. Though Tang Tian was possessed and his strength had surged, Amory refused to use that as an excuse.

Let’s see how your Flash Fist has improved!

Amory’s mind became clear, his sword movement more unified and fluid—the dark shadow of the blade seemed one with his iron-built body.

The deep, intimidating wind disappeared, the heavy sword now tinged with agility. No matter what angle Tang Tian’s Flash Fist came from, it would crash into this swing.

Tang Tian’s fist suddenly shot out from mid-air.

Wait!

Amory’s gaze sharpened, his inner calm shattered in an instant. He stared blankly at Tang Tian’s fist.

A pale white glow enveloped Tang Tian’s fist.

Fist Aura!

Impossible! The first thought in Amory’s mind was those three words. How could Flash Fist create Fist Aura? Impossible!

Flash Fist was a second-tier martial skill…

Yet the glow on Tang Tian’s fist was clear—though thin, it was unmistakably Fist Aura.

Amory awoke from his shock.

At that moment, the giant wooden sword and the fist shrouded in white aura collided.

Clang!

The sound was like metal striking stone. Amory felt a surge of force in his hand, his palm heating up, nearly losing grip of the sword.

Fist Aura!

Real, genuine Fist Aura!

Amory was now certain—the glow on Tang Tian’s fist was Fist Aura!

Basic Tang…

After his shock, Amory was filled with intense fighting spirit. Basic Tang, I won’t lose to you. His mountain-like body spun, rooting firmly to the ground, raising the giant sword slightly.

“Basic Tang, you actually cultivated Fist Aura! Haha, now I can finally go all out against you! Come, Basic Tang! Try my Earthsplit Slash!”

Amory’s blade was powerful and heavy—though Tang Tian’s fist was wrapped in aura, he still retreated several steps, his arm numb.

This brute’s strength is insane!

Hearing Amory’s passionate challenge, Tang Tian suddenly withdrew his fist, flashing an innocent smile and waving his hand. “Ahaha, Fly Bull, I was just saying hello. Now that I’ve greeted you, hmm, I have things to do… you play by yourself…”

Before he finished speaking, he took off like a rabbit, disappearing without a trace.

Amory stared, dumbfounded, as Tang Tian’s silhouette vanished, his fighting spirit evaporating like a punch into cotton—he almost spat blood.

Moments later, an angry roar exploded from the woods.

“Basic Tang! You bastard!”

Tang Tian laughed heartily, striding away.

Peerless Tang Sect