Section 26: Then Let Us Fight!
Tang Tian’s progress with the Hollow Wood Post technique was astonishing. The second tier of the Hollow Wood Post focused mainly on footwork, containing only the most basic breath control skills, and was not particularly difficult to cultivate. The same could be said for the Floating Palm.
Tang Tian dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his training with the Hollow Wood Post; footwork was his weak point, and for a close-combat fighter, the importance of footwork was self-evident.
He didn’t spend much time on the Floating Palm—he practiced it only to meet the requirements to advance to the third-tier Shattered Shadow Palm.
All of his arduous cultivation time was poured into the Small Avalanche Fist. Big Brother Stone’s Avalanche Strike had left a deep impression on him.
That punch was simply overwhelming! Even now, when Tang Tian recalled it, he couldn’t help but shudder from the depths of his heart.
For the first time, Tang Tian felt such an intense desire for a martial technique. That was true power, genuine, formidable strength! If only he could master the Avalanche Strike—he would be unspeakably impressive!
In his previous hard training, though he never slacked off, it was mostly a matter of gritting his teeth and persevering. But this time, it felt as if a blazing fire was burning inside him.
He threw himself into cultivation, using all his hard practice to master the Small Avalanche Fist.
Compared to the Flashing Fist, the Small Avalanche Fist was far more difficult to train. To achieve perfection, one had to complete four hundred thousand repetitions—twice as many as the Flashing Fist. And to reach the Avalanche Strike, one needed a million.
If he hadn’t witnessed the power of the Avalanche Strike with his own eyes, Tang Tian might have simply ignored it. A million times—how long would that take?
But now, Tang Tian felt nothing but motivation.
A million repetitions? For a technique this deadly, the price was more than worth it!
He’d seen the golden card on the gateway, and the mist wall blasted open by the Lightning Kill. But right now, his mind was filled with nothing but the Avalanche Strike!
A section of the mist had been blown away, revealing the ground beneath.
So the mist could be blasted apart.
Tang Tian was briefly surprised, but quickly returned to his mad training of the Small Avalanche Fist. Perhaps this place held many mysteries, but none were as tempting as the Avalanche Strike in Tang Tian’s eyes at this moment.
Twenty days of training had passed, and with all his effort, Tang Tian had completed eighty thousand repetitions of the Small Avalanche Fist.
※※※
Han Bingning, as always, arrived at the Jade Marsh Bamboo Sea. The Starwind Martial Tournament was approaching, and she was seizing every moment to hone her agility techniques. Her main focus was swordsmanship—a beautifully executed water-element sword art, Rain Chime, had made her the top expert at Beiyan Academy.
Tianjing’s Sima Xiangshan, Beiyan’s Han Bingning, and Liang Qiu the Beast were the top three among the hundreds of academies in Starwind City. Since Shangguan Qianhui’s departure, their positions had become unshakable.
Among them, Beiyan Academy was the most unique, for it was a women’s academy, with all its students being female.
Han Bingning was famed as an ice-cold beauty; countless self-styled young talents had suffered rebuffs at her hands. Her demeanor was much like Shangguan Qianhui’s had been, and some even called her “Little Qianhui.” Han Bingning herself openly admitted that Shangguan Qianhui was her idol.
Han Bingning moved empty-handed, flitting lightly through the bamboo sea, her figure graceful and lithe.
Her gaze swept casually below. Local bee hunters often dwelled here. She disliked interacting with others and would silently evade them whenever possible.
Suddenly, her vision sharpened.
On a clearing at the edge of the bamboo sea, a young man was practicing agility techniques. Han Bingning instantly recognized the second-tier Hollow Wood Post he was training, though his steps were somewhat clumsy—by her standards, almost awkward.
She didn’t leave, for she knew this man.
Tang Tian!
The only one in all of Starwind City who could make Miss Qianhui smile. When Shangguan Qianhui was still in Starwind City, Han Bingning had just entered the academy, and she’d revered her deeply.
To Han Bingning, Shangguan Qianhui was the very embodiment of perfection. Without even realizing it, she had unconsciously modeled much of her own behavior after Qianhui’s.
Yet there was one thing Han Bingning still could not understand—Tang Tian.
She simply couldn’t fathom why such a flawless Miss Qianhui would favor a man as unimpressive as him!
A man so clumsy that he could barely manage the simple second-tier Hollow Wood Post—how could he possibly win Miss Qianhui’s favor?
Han Bingning stood on a bamboo branch, lost in thought.
Suddenly, the branch beneath her trembled, snapping her back to awareness. The vibrations grew more intense, and a faint rumble could be heard.
With her experience, Han Bingning immediately realized that a large beast was approaching.
Yet she was puzzled; large beasts were rare in the Jade Marsh Bamboo Sea, as the marshy terrain was not suited to them. Han Bingning’s calm gaze searched the dense bamboo sea.
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed.
A small, terrified figure darted through the bamboo—a little girl, no more than seven or eight, with a pair of pigtails. Her round, rosy face was streaked with tears, pale and tense, lips pressed tight as she fled with all her might.
Han Bingning recognized her—a child of the local bee hunters. Over the past days, she had seen her often while training here.
There must be a beast behind her!
Han Bingning bent her waist, preparing to leap down, when a massive black creature suddenly burst from the bamboo.
Crash!
The bamboo beneath Han Bingning shook violently; she nearly lost her balance but managed to steady herself.
Ironclad Ink Rhinoceros!
Han Bingning’s expression changed. How could such a high-tier beast appear here?
Mid-fourth tier—such strength would be difficult for her to overcome even at her best, and worse, she hadn’t brought her sword today.
Damn!
The Ironclad Ink Rhinoceros was massive, like a small mountain, its body covered in dark green scale armor, impervious to blades or swords, and its temperament was violently aggressive. Despite its size, it was astonishingly agile, crashing through the bamboo with terrifying force.
The little girl’s tears flowed faster, but she remained sensible, not crying out, only running as hard as she could.
But the distance between them was closing rapidly.
Gritting her teeth, Han Bingning dove down.
※※※
Tang Tian was practicing the Hollow Wood Post, hard training the Avalanche Fist by day, and practicing agility by night. Life was very fulfilling.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently beneath his feet.
Huh?
Tang Tian paused in confusion, just as a small figure burst from the bamboo sea.
A little girl, her face filled with panic. The moment she emerged, she spotted Tang Tian.
“Big brother, run!”
Her young, urgent voice rang in Tang Tian’s ears.
Almost at the same moment, a massive black shadow thundered from the bamboo, splintering thick bamboo stalks like paper, sending shards flying everywhere.
It was a beast Tang Tian had never seen—ferocious in the extreme!
Not good!
Tang Tian’s pupils contracted sharply; the little girl, trying to lure the beast away, had hesitated and the gap had closed.
What a kind-hearted little girl…
The Ironclad Ink Rhinoceros kicked off its hind legs, pouncing at the child.
At the same instant, Tang Tian shot forward without hesitation.
He moved like a hunting leopard, his explosive power on full display. The distance between them was short, and Tang Tian’s reaction was quick—he appeared almost instantly at the side of the beast.
In a flash, Tang Tian’s figure vanished.
A dazzling silver glow erupted like lightning tearing through the sky.
Lightning Kill!
The silver lightning struck the Ironclad Ink Rhinoceros squarely.
The massive beast was sent flying.
In midair, Tang Tian took the opportunity to scoop up the little girl, rolling with her to the ground.
So close!
Panting, Tang Tian struggled to his feet, glancing down at the child in his arms. She had squeezed her eyes tightly shut, her face frozen in terror.
“Hey, are you alright?”
Tang Tian shook the little girl gently, but she could hold back no longer and burst into tears.
Tang Tian was at a loss. “Hey, don’t cry, don’t cry. Are you hurt?”
Crash!
Suddenly, the ground rumbled behind them.
Tang Tian froze, and the little girl’s sobs stopped abruptly.
He turned to see the Ironclad Ink Rhinoceros climbing to its feet as though nothing had happened. Tang Tian sucked in a cold breath, his scalp prickling.
Lightning Kill!
That was the Lightning Kill! The same move that could blast through the mist wall behind the gateway. And yet this beast had taken it head-on and was completely unscathed?
Fumbling, Tang Tian set the little girl behind him and whispered, “Run!”
“Big brother, run with me!” The little girl clung to his clothes.
I’d love to run, too…
Tang Tian’s heart sank. He thought of his clumsy agility skills—there was no way he could outrun the beast.
The little girl looked up at him, her eyes pleading. Ugh, how embarrassing to explain…
Without another word, Tang Tian grabbed the girl, took a deep breath, his eyes wide and fierce, muscles bulging, and with a shout, he hurled her away like tossing a sandbag.
“Big brother…”
The little girl flailed in the air, her voice thick with tears.
Suddenly, a graceful figure soared through the air, catching the child and landing lightly on another bamboo tip.
Tang Tian saw it was a woman—he didn’t recognize her, but at least he could relax.
He turned to face the Ironclad Ink Rhinoceros, his expression hardening. With a tug, he ripped off his shirt, baring his lean, muscular frame.
If there was no escape, then he would fight!
His right leg scraped a deep furrow in the earth as he braced himself, lowering his stance, arms spread, fingers splayed, facing the beast without fear.
“Come on, you big oaf!”
Tang Tian’s roar echoed through the bamboo forest.