Lv Mingyuan moved again. Instead of a linear dash this time, he sidestepped, pivoted left, and blurred to Chen Yuan’s left side. He lunged with both claws, his left hand hooking for the shoulder and his right hand grabbing for the elbow in a synchronized high-low assault. This was "Twin Dragons Seizing the Pearl," a move from his Dragon Claw Grappling Hand specifically designed to break frontal defenses. Once it latched on, both the shoulder and elbow joints would be locked simultaneously, rendering even the greatest physical strength useless.
Chen Yuan pushed off the ground with his right foot and dodged sideways. Dropping his left shoulder and sinking his elbow, he used the wrapping force of the Cross Fist to unload the claw targeting his shoulder. Simultaneously, his right hand flipped out from his waist—Drill Fist. His knuckles spiraled upward, aiming straight for Lv Mingyuan’s throat.
Lv Mingyuan morphed his right claw into a palm, slapping downward onto the surface of the Drill Fist. He borrowed the momentum to lean backward, evading the lethal strike. However, he didn’t retract his left hand. His five fingers continued chasing after Chen Yuan’s right shoulder.
Chen Yuan sank his right shoulder to dodge the sharp claw, already lifting his left leg in the Rooster Form—Rooster’s Stomping Kick. With his toes pointed straight, he launched a sidekick toward the outer side of Lv Mingyuan’s knee.
Lv Mingyuan hurriedly retracted his claw and stepped back, raising his own knee to block.
SMACK! The sole of the foot collided with the side of the knee, and the impact sent both men bouncing a step back.
They had exchanged over a dozen moves in the blink of an eye. The rhythm between the two was incredibly fast. Lv Mingyuan’s grappling techniques emphasized simultaneous defense and offense; if one claw missed, the next followed immediately, his fingers never straying from vital joints and acupoints. Chen Yuan’s Heart Intent Six Harmonies Fist seamlessly blended guarding and striking. He used the Cross Fist to resolve force, the Beng Fist to counterattack, the Drill Fist to break defenses, and the Splitting Fist to intercept. He cycled through the Five Elements Fist with effortless mastery. Gusts of wind howled across the arena, accompanied by the endless sounds of fingers and palms clashing.
Fang Zhengqing nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. Both men had reached Great Success in Skin Refining, and their Manifest Force was at the stage of Minor Achievement. Their martial stances each had unique merits. Lv Mingyuan’s grappling hands were highly unpredictable, while Chen Yuan’s Xingyi Fist was steady and solid. Up to this point, neither could gain a clear upper hand.
Standing beside his father, Fang Minghai nodded to himself. Junior Brother Chen had joined them less than half a year ago, yet he could already fight evenly against Lv Mingyuan, who possessed a Grade C+ Root Bone. This rate of progress was truly astonishing. A strange look flashed across Fang Tingjiang’s eyes. This Chen Yuan had no significant reputation, yet when it came to actual combat, his skills were unexpectedly tough.
Lv Mingyuan spun and maneuvered his steps, his fingers hooking toward Chen Yuan’s left shoulder blade like talons. This "Cyan Dragon’s Exploring Claw" was executed with extreme cunning. His fingertips pierced into Chen Yuan’s shoulder socket, and with a tightening of his grip, he locked onto the Jianjing acupoint. Joy surged in his heart. Once the Dragon Claw Grappling Hand secured a solid lock, the subsequent joint-reversing disarm would flow like water, leaving the opponent with no choice but to surrender.
Before he could twist and apply force, however, Chen Yuan’s left shoulder suddenly sank. This wasn’t a standard shoulder drop to unload force. To Lv Mingyuan, it felt as if he had grabbed an iron pillar rather than a human shoulder. Even with all his might concentrated in his fingers, the opponent’s shoulder blade didn’t budge an inch.
Immediately after, a profoundly heavy and majestic rebounding force surged from the shoulder socket. The impact numbed his fingers, and his locking grip involuntarily loosened by a fraction.
Chen Yuan felt a stir in his heart. The first layer of the Dragon Elephant Prison-Suppression Body: Elephant Bone. He hadn’t cultivated this Body Refining Technique for long, and it was far from Great Success, but it was already showing initial results. His bone density surpassed that of ordinary people. Under the infusion of his vital energy and blood, his entire skeletal frame was as stable as an iron tower. Although Lv Mingyuan’s grappling techniques were exquisite, they couldn’t budge his bones.
Seizing the brief moment when Lv Mingyuan’s fingers went numb, Chen Yuan launched a right Beng Fist. This punch was heavier than any of his previous ones. It wasn’t the fist technique that had changed; it was his raw strength. It was the same Beng Fist and the same spiraling inch-force, but the strength amplification provided by the Elephant Bone inexplicably increased the strike’s power by several degrees.
The knuckles tore through the air, emitting a muffled WHOOSH. Lv Mingyuan’s pupils contracted. He crossed his palms and pressed downward, sealing off the path of the incoming Beng Fist.
THUD! Fist and palms collided with a muffled sound like a beating drum.
Lv Mingyuan felt an intensely heavy and majestic force pierce through his palms and shoot straight up his arms, causing the bones in his entire limb to hum. Unable to stabilize his footing, he staggered backward—STOMP, STOMP, STOMP—retreating five full steps before he managed to unload the force. Looking down, he saw that his palms were flushed red and trembling slightly.
He looked up at Chen Yuan, a flash of surprise in his eyes. Up to this point, they had exchanged nearly thirty moves, and both had consumed a fair amount of stamina. Yet, the power of Chen Yuan’s punch hadn’t diminished at all; in fact, it was heavier than when the fight began. This meant the opponent’s physical endurance was superior to his own.
Chen Yuan didn’t press the attack. He retracted his fist and stood straight, his breathing as steady as ever. Cupping his hands, he said, "Brother Lv, thank you for letting me win."
Looking at his own hands that were still shaking slightly, Lv Mingyuan gave a bitter smile and cupped his fists in return. "Brother Chen, your fist techniques are solid, and your stamina is enduring. I am in awe. How much strength did you hold back in that punch?"
Chen Yuan chuckled lightly. "Brother Lv, you must be joking. I went all out. Your grappling hands are exquisite, and your wrist and shoulder locks are incredibly accurate. Had my strength been a fraction weaker, you would have completely locked my Jianjing acupoint."
Hearing this, the surprise in Lv Mingyuan’s eyes turned into relief, and he burst into hearty laughter. "When I grabbed your Jianjing, I thought I had latched onto a block of iron. I simply couldn’t twist it at all. How exactly did you train these bones of yours? Are you preparing to knock on the Bone Gate?"
"I used to move cargo at the docks. Perhaps my shoulders got toughened up back then," Chen Yuan deflected vaguely.
Lv Mingyuan didn’t press the issue. He turned to Fang Zhengqing and cupped his fist. "Uncle Fang, Brother Chen’s strength is a cut above mine."
Fang Zhengqing smiled faintly and waved his hand. "It was merely a spar, so why speak of winning and losing? You two young talents each have your own strengths. Lv Mingyuan’s grappling hands are exquisitely unpredictable, while Chen Yuan’s fist techniques are steady and his strength is exceptional. Both are very good. Tingjiang, what do you think?"
Fang Tingjiang’s eyes also held a degree of surprise. He originally thought that even if Lv Mingyuan couldn’t win, he wouldn’t fall into a disadvantage. He never expected Chen Yuan’s stamina to be so enduring, nor did he anticipate that after thirty moves, he could still force Lv Mingyuan back five steps with a single punch. This level of physical endurance didn’t seem like something a person with a Grade D+ Root Bone could possess. But the facts were right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe it. He nodded. "Second Uncle is right. Mingyuan, you’ve learned quite a bit from this spar. Go back and ponder it carefully. Brother Chen’s fist techniques are solid; you should spar more in the future."
"Yes," Lv Mingyuan replied.
Fang Zhengqing looked at Chen Yuan, his tone gentle yet solemn. "Chen Yuan, I have witnessed your strength. Starting today, your sponsorship will increase from three taels to eight taels per month. The Fang Family has never been stingy toward diligent and promising young talents. I hope you will continue to progress, break through the Bone Gate as soon as possible, and comprehend Hidden Force."
Chen Yuan cupped his fists and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Uncle Fang."
This trip hadn’t been in vain. His sponsorship had directly increased by five taels of silver, which equated to five Skin Strengthening Pills. This would be immensely beneficial to his push toward the Copper Skin realm. Sparring with a Martial Artist of the same level like Lv Mingyuan had also yielded personal gains. Calling up his interface, he saw that his progress in the Heart Intent Six Harmonies Fist had ticked up slightly again. He really needed to spar more often.
Fang Minghai stepped forward, patting Chen Yuan on the shoulder, and chuckled in a low voice. "Junior Brother Chen, what did I tell you? With your strength, gaining the family’s approval would be easy."
Chen Yuan returned the smile. "Thank you for the sponsorship, Senior Brother."
Sunlight cascaded from above the Martial Arts Arena, bathing the two of them in its warmth. Standing with his hands behind his back, Fang Zhengqing looked at the two young men before him, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly. Although the Fang Family’s situation was becoming increasingly difficult, they wouldn’t collapse anytime soon; their foundation remained intact. Once these two matured, they might be able to shoulder a significant portion of the family’s burdens.