Li Yifeng took a punch from Chen Zheng head-on, using the momentum to throw a half-punch of his own. Both men retreated simultaneously. Li Yifeng staggered back more than a dozen steps, his face a mask of utter shock.

I never expected Tai Chi to possess such immense power!

Chen Zheng, on the other hand, only retreated five steps. He too was stunned, but not by Li Yifeng's strength. On the contrary, he felt...

This guy doesn't seem that strong... I haven't even used my full strength, and he's already at his limit!

Li Yifeng immediately read the emotion in Chen Zheng's eyes and flew into a rage. What's with that look? You think I can't beat you?

"Kid, don't get so cocky!" With a loud shout, Li Yifeng took the initiative for the first time, charging toward Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng let out a breath. Forget it. I'm done playing around. I'd rather not break the furniture.

As the thought crossed his mind, he stepped forward with mystical footwork. Li Yifeng hadn't even managed to touch him before Chen Zheng closed the distance.

"Two-Polarity Elbow Strike!"

This move was an elbow strike from Tai Chi, a unique and extremely powerful attack specific to Mixed Yuan Tai Chi. Nearby, the white-haired old man's eyes widened in shock; he hadn't expected Chen Zheng's strength to be so formidable. Li Yifeng also felt the power of the incoming attack, but it was too late to dodge. He had no choice but to muster all his strength and block with his Tiger-shaped Fist, knowing that if the strike landed cleanly, he might not be able to get back up.

BANG!

ROAR!

The two collided.

Li Yifeng was sent flying, hurtling straight out the main gate. The terrifying power was something he couldn't neutralize on his own; all he could do was let his body soar through the air.

Mixed Yuan Tai Chi... I'll remember this! he thought in mid-air, thoroughly shocked. He was supposed to be a prodigy from the younger generation of Magic Capital's traditional martial arts circle. To be sent flying by some kid's elbow strike… this was so damn embarrassing! Moreover, he could sense that at the last moment, Chen Zheng had actually held back his power. Just how terrifying would he be at full strength?

BANG!

Li Yifeng's body crashed into the courtyard, rolling several times before coming to a stop. Unaffected by the Tiger-shaped Fist, Chen Zheng charged toward him once more.

Li Yifeng was completely dumbfounded. What the hell, you're coming again?!

He had no time to react and could only tense his muscles to brace for the impact with his body. This time, Chen Zheng held back again, but Li Yifeng was still sent flying.

BANG!

At this moment, the white-haired old man finally made his move. In a flash, he appeared behind Li Yifeng, catching the airborne man and setting him down gently.

My god, he's a true master! Chen Zheng thought, halting his attack to observe the old man. He hadn't even been able to follow his speed. This elder was incredibly strong.

"Thank heavens you were here, Elder Liu, thank you!" Li Yifeng gasped, then glared at Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng just shrugged. "Are you going to keep fighting?" he asked. "If not... then there's really no need for a big brother like you to come here and try to settle the score for your sister."

Hearing this, Li Yifeng was so furious he almost coughed. This was beyond humiliating. He had come to Yun City specifically to get even, only to get thoroughly beaten himself!

Just then, the system's voice echoed in Chen Zheng's mind.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the selection! Reward: Chen-style Mixed Yuan Tai Chi, realm promotion!]

BOOM!

As the system's voice faded, Chen Zheng felt as if his brain had been struck by a massive hammer. A vast wave of memories surged into his mind, a feeling identical to when he had first learned Mixed Yuan Tai Chi. This time, however, the memories were distinctly different. As the fragments flashed through his mind, a strange new power began to emerge from deep within him, slowly circulating through his meridians. It felt incredibly potent yet perfectly obedient, moving through his body at his command.

Is this... Inner Strength?

Chen Zheng scratched his head. He knew very little about traditional martial arts, let alone this special class of practitioners. But this magical power was exactly like the Inner Strength described in online novels.

Whatever. The point is, I've gotten stronger again!

"Young man, to possess such skill at your age is rare indeed," the white-haired elder suddenly spoke. His voice was deep and resonant, betraying no emotion, perfectly fitting the air of a master. "I'm afraid you are already number one among the younger generation."

"You flatter me, Elder," Chen Zheng replied with a smile and a fist-and-palm salute.

"Don't be so quick with the praise, Elder Liu," Li Yifeng protested, unwilling to concede. "If I used my full strength and fought to the death, it's not certain who would win!"

Hearing this, Elder Liu gave a helpless laugh. "Young Master, you do indeed have a lot of experience fighting to the death. But if that young man were to use his full strength, the difference in raw power would more than make up for your advantage in experience. Because... you would lose your ability to fight in a single move!"

Li Yifeng's eyes widened. "This... That's impossible!"

Elder Liu sighed and said slowly, "When I was young, I fought a master of Mixed Yuan Tai Chi. At the time, I had just begun to feel my Inner Strength, while he was merely at the peak of the Postnatal stage."

"And what happened?" Li Yifeng asked urgently. One couldn't feel Inner Strength in the Postnatal Realm; possessing it meant one had already stepped into the Innate Realm. A Postnatal fighting an Innate... how was that possible?

But in the next second, Elder Liu gave a bitter smile. "He used a single Parrying Punch and knocked me unconscious."

Li Yifeng was completely stunned. "How can that be! Elder Liu, are you sure you aren't misremembering? He must have been in the Innate Realm too!"

Elder Liu said no more, only shaking his head in silence. It was only then that Li Yifeng was forced to accept the truth.

Standing to the side, Chen Zheng couldn't quite follow their conversation. However, he now understood one thing: the strange new power inside him was, in fact, Inner Strength.

Just then, Li Yitong, dressed in sportswear, walked into the yard.

Li Yifeng looked at her in surprise. "Sister, what are you doing here?!"

Elder Liu nodded toward her. "Miss."

Li Yitong nodded back at Elder Liu, then looked at her brother with a grin. "So, did you lose?"

Li Yifeng scratched his head. "Come on... Can't you leave me a little bit of dignity?"

Li Yitong laughed. "You lost, so you lost. What's dignity got to do with it?"

Her single sentence completely shut her brother down. She then turned to Chen Zheng with a smile and said, "Chen Zheng, let me introduce you. This is my brother, Li Yifeng."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.