Chapter Sixty: Bald Biao

“What’s the matter? Do you really want me to do it?” The bald brute sneered, stepping forward abruptly, his face fierce and menacing, his body towering like a steel fortress, inspiring fear at a glance.

The other youths, pale-faced and silent, obediently took out their belongings and threw them onto the ground.

The bald man grinned with a chilling air. “I like people who know what’s good for them. Don’t worry, stick with me, and you’ll never go hungry again.”

The others kept their expressions impassive.

Suddenly, his gaze landed on Tang Tian, eyes narrowing. “Didn't expect a tough one to show up.”

He cracked his fists loudly with a cruel smile, his ironclad torso stretching, a golden light blooming from his palm. The thick golden force he emanated made the remaining boys even paler; some even sighed in relief, feeling the burden lift from their shoulders.

Thank goodness we didn’t resist just now...

His gaze swept over Tang Tian, and greed immediately flickered in his eyes. “No wonder you’re reluctant—looks like you’ve got more than a few valuables on you.”

Tang Tian muttered to himself, “I thought the outer camp would be something grand. Turns out, they’re just a bunch of petty thugs.”

“P-petty thugs!” The bald brute was momentarily stunned, then erupted in rage. No one had ever dared call him a petty thug!

You little brat, you’re dead!

His expression turned as dark as storm clouds, true power surging wildly within him. He decided to smash this insolent fellow to pieces. Here, no one opposed him except Lord Jinghao!

With a thunderous roar, the bald brute sprang from the ground, the earth cracking beneath his feet. Using the force of his “Spring Shoes,” he shot toward Tang Tian like a cannonball.

A golden square palm print, roaring with terrifying power, hurtled through the air.

“Diamond Palm,” fourth tier!

The Diamond Palm was the signature technique of the gold element, renowned for its ferocity. When mastered, it could shatter metal and break iron with ease.

Tang Tian’s eyes turned icy in an instant. He lowered his stance, right fist drawn back at his hip, though none had noticed when.

“Minor Collapse Fist!”

No light, no sound—Tang Tian’s right fist struck out in the midst of scornful laughter, landing squarely on the force within the Diamond Palm, unleashing a surge of energy.

A barely perceptible ripple spread within the golden palm print.

Crack!

The iron-hard square palm shattered into countless grains of golden sand, dissolving into the air.

Tang Tian did not move an inch. The bald brute staggered back several steps before regaining his footing.

A hush fell over the crowd. Every face was painted with shock and disbelief. Impossible! Even if they weren’t at the fourth tier, each of them had fully mastered the third. How could they not see the gap in strength? The bald brute was at the peak of the fourth tier, a hair’s breadth from the fifth, while Tang Tian was clearly only at the third!

How could a third-tier Minor Collapse Fist stand against a fourth-tier Diamond Palm?

The bald brute’s mastery of the Diamond Palm was deep and refined... so why was he on the losing end?

This scene unfolded before their eyes, shattering everything they thought they knew.

So bizarre, so unbelievable!

The brute’s expression shifted. He squinted, reassessing Tang Tian. Only after trading a single blow did he realize he’d met a true hard case! How could a third-tier technique be so powerful? Had this guy been hiding his true strength?

Tang Tian straightened, swinging his arms to loosen up, muttering, “It’s been ages since I’ve had a proper fight.”

Uncle Bing’s relentless training had nearly driven him mad, yet he could never fight back. Tang Tian had been more than a little frustrated, even knowing it was all for training. Now, after a good night’s sleep, his strength was fully restored, his body brimming with inexhaustible energy. Facing a challenge again, the pent-up fighting spirit of many days was set ablaze, like a spark igniting a vat of oil.

As he stretched, Tang Tian couldn’t help but muse, “It’s been years since I ran the school...”

Everyone stared at him in a daze.

A few simple warm-up moves and Tang Tian felt at his peak. He stopped, crouched slightly, eyes locked on the brute, and declared, “Hey, baldy, you dare challenge a youth as mighty as a god? You’re done for!”

Even as the words left his lips, he shot toward the brute like an arrow loosed from the bow.

The brute stayed alert, wary after that first punch. But he hadn’t become the number two in the Daling Outer Camp by luck—his battle experience was rich, and he had full confidence in his own strength. He was on the cusp of breaking through to the fifth tier; as soon as he did, he’d become a Black Iron Warrior. He was ruthless to others and to himself—while others gave up, he kept training hard. Once he truly reached the fifth tier, he could leave this accursed place.

He snorted, unruffled, and faced Tang Tian head-on, both palms slapping out.

Three golden square palm prints shot out, two high and one low, forming a character like the Chinese “pǐn”—a triple formation aimed straight at Tang Tian. This move, “Triple Diamond,” was highly challenging; the Diamond Palm was powerful but notoriously slow, a common flaw. Yet now, the three golden prints joined mid-air with a humming sound, merging into a golden triangle—like a roaring wall, its power surging as it bore down on Tang Tian.

As expected of a fourth-tier technique!

To shape true power with such variety—amazing!

Tang Tian’s eyes gleamed, his battle spirit soaring. To face different warriors, different masters—what could be more thrilling?

The golden wall rushed at him, unstoppable.

Drawing a deep breath, Tang Tian’s fighting spirit burned in his eyes. He pushed his true power to the limit, not dodging in the slightest, his pace unabated.

The golden wall expanded rapidly before him, Tang Tian exhaled, then punched!

Crane Body Force driving the killing move—“Great Avalanche”!

Boom!

The iron-solid golden wall shattered like snow under a mighty blow, exploding in a dazzling spray. In a flash, a shadow darted through the breach, arrowing straight at the brute.

Now the brute’s face truly changed, cold sweat pouring down his brow. He knew better than anyone the power of “Triple Diamond”—he’d never once failed with it. Yet here, with a third-tier technique, his opponent had smashed it to pieces!

Who on earth was this guy?

Still airborne, Tang Tian’s punch turned to a claw, swooping for the bald brute like an eagle diving for a hare.

Eagle Claw!

The Eagle Claw, honed in the recruit camp, was fierce and unyielding—his fingers hooked like steel, the wind slicing through the air like the cries of raptors.

Sharp, savage, unstoppable!

The brute’s body hair stood on end. Not daring to hesitate, he sealed his hands in defense, golden light wrapping his palms as he retreated at speed.

Clash!

Claw met palm! But before Tang Tian’s aerial strike, the brute’s defensive wall crumbled like so much tofu.

The brute, nearly scared out of his wits, suddenly sensed Tang Tian’s momentum falter for a moment, and felt a sliver of hope—his opponent seemed spent. Desperately, he shouted, “Everyone, get him!”

But as Tang Tian’s feet barely touched the ground, he sprang up again like a coiled spring, not even pausing for breath.

Step by step, Tang Tian’s footwork was small, but the explosive force was astonishing, pushing his speed to the limit.

The power of “Eight-Step Cicada Chase” was on full display.

The brute only saw a blur—and suddenly Tang Tian’s afterimage was right in front of him. Startled, the brute flipped his elbow, slapping out with the Diamond Palm.

Claw met palm, and the brute felt an excruciating pain, as if dozens of tiny knives had stabbed into his hand. But he had no time to worry—using that force, he rolled backward.

But Tang Tian, fired up by the fight, had no intention of letting the brute off so easily. He shifted, weaving ghostlike in “Empty Stake” footwork, appearing at the brute’s side like a shadow, his hand settling on his shoulder.

And then, the brute was hoisted aloft.

His massive body was nothing in Tang Tian’s grip.

“Chain Joint Technique”!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Those who had charged at Tang Tian now found themselves smashed aside by the brute’s own body, flung like rag dolls.

Bodies tumbled every which way, screams and cries filling the air.

When Tang Tian finally stopped, the brute was rolling his eyes, foaming at the mouth, completely unconscious.

Tang Tian glanced at the limp brute in his hand, almost reluctant to let him go.

The other seven youths were stunned, staring from the groaning men to Tang Tian in disbelief. A few who had mocked Tang Tian earlier were now white as sheets.

At last, Tang Tian tossed the brute aside, muttering, “How weak. Wasn’t he supposed to be fourth tier? Looks like he was all talk...”

Had the brute been conscious, he’d have coughed up blood at that.

Tang Tian, who’d hoped for a good fight, now felt restless. He began to search through the spoils. One by one, he stripped the burly men and tossed them aside; soon, a heap of naked brutes lay in a tangled pile.

A small pile formed at Tang Tian’s feet, but he didn’t seem pleased at all.

A bunch of paupers!

Warriors of the Radiant Martial Society, reduced to this—what a disgrace. He thought of Lord Kong, wealthy beyond measure, and that shabby training hall that made Tang Tian drool with envy. These fellows didn’t even have a single bronze artifact on them—they were dirt poor!

Tang Tian, who had expected to hit the jackpot, realized he’d fought for nothing, and was in a foul mood.

Wait—how could the Radiant Martial Society’s warriors be poor? They must have hidden their valuables!

His gaze turned menacing as he scanned the area, noticing a pile of wood in the corner.

Moments later, a row of wooden racks stood in a line, each with a naked brute tied to it.

Tang Tian, somehow having found a small stool, sat comfortably, looking quite at ease.

“You!” he said, pointing at a youth. “Go fetch a bucket of water.”

The boy’s face went pale with fear, but when he heard what Tang Tian wanted, he relaxed a little, not daring to speak, and hurried off to fetch a bucket.

Soon, he returned, lugging a bucket of water.

In the empty yard, a row of wooden racks stood, a group of boys huddled in fear, and only Tang Tian sat at ease.

Seated on the stool, Tang Tian looked like a retired kingpin, sighing deeply. “It’s been years since I ruled the school...”

“But damn, that felt good...”