"Martial artists cultivate Dou Qi to strengthen their bodies, but no matter how strong a human body becomes, it cannot surpass that of a tiger or a leopard; no matter how great one's strength, it cannot overcome a fierce beast…"
Chen Feng glanced at this passage and shook his head. Having undergone transformations via the Blazing Dragon Bloodline and rigorous training in the Tenfold Gravity Domain, his physical conditioning undoubtedly surpassed that of ordinary savage beasts or demonic beasts. It seemed the predecessor who authored this Tiger Roar Fist manual had merely been making assumptions.
Scrolling further down revealed methods detailing how humans could undergo complete physical metamorphosis. Confident in his mastery of the Fists of Fury techniques, Chen Feng didn't bother examining these closely and casually flipped to the second page.
The second page described exactly how to cultivate the Tiger Roar Fist, complete with detailed explanations and illustrated references. Finding it utterly dull, Chen Feng tossed the manual onto the ground.
He turned around and discovered a beginner's guide to Dou Qi cultivation on Mo Ke's body, and a magic tome on Danny.
Chen Feng felt not the slightest interest in any of these. He stood up, flicking his wrist and unleashing four waves of Azure Flame onto the corpses of the three individuals and the beast.
The best method for disposing of evidence was fire. Once reduced to ash, not only would there be no trace, but not even the faintest shadow of a trace would remain.
The azure flames burned fiercely, and in a short while, only a pile of ashes remained on the ground.
"I just left that Tiger Roar Fist manual lying on Griff's corpse; I suppose it's all turned to ash now," Chen Feng murmured, though he didn't let it bother him. Even if someone gave him such a manual, he wouldn't practice it. Just as he was about to turn away, he suddenly noticed something strange.
What remained after the Tiger Roar Fist manual burned was not ash, but a sheet of paper with a glossy sheen, like fine silk.
Chen Feng picked up the sheet and his eyes immediately lit up with elation.
Scrawled across the top were three characters: "Sky Dance Technique."
Sky Dance Technique? To dance in the air naturally meant the art of flight. Chen Feng couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Inability to fly placed severe constraints on one's movements. Just a few days ago, he had been contemplating when he might grasp the levitation technique of Athena Kaguya; unexpectedly, the method presented itself now.
The script on the paper was minute. Chen Feng widened his eyes to their fullest extent, focusing on every single character as he read.
It turned out this had been left by a martial arts predecessor from a thousand years ago. This person had never reached the Dou Zun realm in his lifetime, nor even the Dou Shi realm. Yet, he intensely yearned for the ability to soar through the skies. He secluded himself in the deep mountains for twenty years, observing the flight of birds daily. Finally, he managed to comprehend a method for circulating Dou Qi. As long as one channeled their Dou Qi according to this specific method, it could make a person as light as a swallow, allowing them to drift and fly.
However, this cultivation method was too heaven-defying, so the predecessor concealed it within the layers of the mundane martial art, the Tiger Roar Fist, hoping some future descendant might fortunately discover it.
Who would have thought that Chen Feng, by casually burning the book, would cause this technique to emerge?
Suppressing the excitement boiling inside him, Chen Feng meticulously studied the entire method.
After finishing the reading, Chen Feng closed his eyes. Once he confirmed the entire technique was imprinted in his mind, he tossed the paper into his water flask. Following the method described, he began circulating the energy of the Vortex Force within his body.
The Vortex spun faster and faster. He felt his body growing increasingly light, and his feet slowly lifted off the ground!
"It really is a flying skill," Chen Feng smiled. He abruptly accelerated the Vortex Force, and his body immediately shot down like a great bird, plummeting from the Hunting Platform.
Feeling the wind rushing past him and watching the small birds flying beside him, Chen Feng felt a deep sense of fulfillment!
"I can fly now, but without a ranged attack, I still pose little threat to an opponent. If only I could master the Raging Fire Fist of the Art of Limit (represented by figures like Ryo Sakazaki, Robert, and Yuri Sakazaki)," Chen Feng mused. "But I wonder if the Dark Hook Punch can be executed in the air?"
Until now, Chen Feng had always unleashed the Dark Hook Punch by letting it roll along the ground; he had never attempted it against an aerial target. The mere thought filled him with anticipation.
A ball of azure flame formed in his palm. Chen Feng stood in mid-air, following the release method for the Dark Hook Punch, and snapped his wrist!
The flame shot forward immediately, but after traveling less than ten meters, it dissipated in the air with a soft pop.
"It seems it's not a move meant for aerial execution. The power of the Dark Hook Punch is severely weakened when restricted to the air," Chen Feng realized instantly. "It doesn't matter. Once I master a ranged technique, being airborne will boost its power significantly."
Chen Feng was unconcerned; obtaining the Sky Dance Technique was already an unexpected blessing. Why demand too much?
After soaring through the air for half an hour, he felt completely limp; the Vortex Force was utterly depleted. It seemed flying was an extremely taxing endeavor.
Landing on the ground, Chen Feng hunted a small wild beast and roasted it over a fire. Cooking meat with the unique Azure Flame of the Yagami clan—if the real Iori Yagami knew, he'd likely be depressed to death.
However, the temperature of the Azure Flame was too high. Despite his best efforts to lower it, the resulting meat was uniformly burnt to a crisp, which Chen Feng found rather disappointing.
He lingered there for a full week, thoroughly mastering the Sky Dance Technique. The puncture wounds on his shoulder, nourished by the medicinal properties of the Jade Spring Water and the circulation of the Vortex Force, had completely healed. Only then did Chen Feng fly back to his residence at the "Rookie’s Rest."
He arrived back as night fell, shrouded in the dim light, so no one witnessed his return.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
The next day, before Chen Feng had even woken up, he heard the door creak open.
The girl who habitually served him entered.
"Do you not know how to knock?" Chen Feng’s voice was icy.
"Ah…" The girl was clearly startled. She looked with surprise at Chen Feng, who was sitting up on the cot, and a smile spread across her face. "You… you're still alive…"
"…" Chen Feng was speechless. However, since he had accepted a challenge and left his room, disappearing for a week, it was understandable that she might assume he had been killed.
"Is the Rookie Selection Tournament about to begin?" Chen Feng asked expressionlessly.
"Yes, it starts in three days. Today is the last day for registration; if you don't go now, it will be too late," the girl hastily replied.
"Understood." Chen Feng nodded. After washing up, he inquired about the direction and headed toward the registration point.
Since the competition required team participation, given Judy’s persistent attitude, she certainly wouldn't abandon him. To find her, perhaps the only place was the registration site.
The Rookie Tournament was held in the plaza before the Imperial Palace, but registration was located right outside the entrance of "Rookie’s Rest."
When Chen Feng reached the front of the "Rookie’s Rest," he saw a massive crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
"I heard the Seventh Prince, Alex, Joseph, and others are all participating in this tournament this year?" Before even reaching the registration point, he overheard a blue-robed youth saying with surprise to another.
"What's so strange about that?" A red-robed youth beside him countered. "I heard the Four Great Beauties of the Empire—the Dancing Immortal Yanie, Angelisa, Dolores, and Judy—are all participating as well…"
"The Four Great Beauties? Good heavens, if they participate, is there even a need for a competition? If I saw them, I might just forfeit immediately…"
The two chattered incessantly. Chen Feng paid them no mind and was about to move on when a voice called out from behind him: "Big Brother…"
Chen Feng knew it was Brent. He saw Brent approaching with Judy. Walking alongside them was another girl. This girl, like Judy, wore a veil, but she was clad in a light purple magic robe. Her slender figure appeared graceful and elegant beneath the flowing fabric. Although her features were hidden, judging solely by her physique, she was clearly a beauty no less captivating than Judy.
+< Chen Feng glanced at the newcomer and said, "I don't need to report my whereabouts to you!"
Hearing the red-haired youth speak to Judy in such a manner, the purple-robed girl’s eyes widened in surprise. She stared at Chen Feng, trying to figure out what kind of eccentric person spoke so harshly to a beautiful woman.
or dead, give me a heads-up, and I'll find a new partner!"
"Fine then, go find a new partner!" Chen Feng retorted.
"You…" Judy trembled with rage.
Brent, seeing the tension about to snap between them, quickly intervened. "Big Brother, you were gone these past few days, and Miss Judy was terribly worried about you; she was searching everywhere…"
"Brent!" Judy cut him off, her face burning—whether from anger or something else, no one could tell, thankfully hidden by the veil.
"Judy, is this our teammate, Iori Yagami?" the purple-robed girl asked softly. Her voice was imbued with a magnetic quality, like a warm breeze, giving one an extremely comfortable feeling.
= The Rookie Tournament rules mandated teams of three. Brent, with his cultivation at the Fifth Level Fighter rank, lacked powerful equipment and magical pets, meaning he certainly couldn't team up with Chen Feng; having him participate would be worse than having Danny or Mo Ke. Chen Feng knew that since Judy had brought him in, she must have already settled on the final team member, he just didn't know who it was. Hearing the purple-robed girl's question, he fixed his gaze upon her and asked coldly, "Are you teaming up with us?"
Upon receiving the girl's nod of confirmation, Chen Feng stated, "Not just anyone is worthy of teaming up with me!"
Brent broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. Big Brother was too ruthless. This purple-robed girl was an absolute top beauty, and speaking to a beauty like that—perhaps only he could manage it…
The purple-robed girl seemed to anticipate that Chen Feng wouldn't spare her any courtesy. She smiled faintly. "I wonder how Mr. Iori Yagami wishes to test me?"
"Take one move from me. If you survive, I'll let you join my team!" Chen Feng declared coolly.
"Are you insane…" Judy immediately shrieked.
If he survived the move, he would let her join—this clearly indicated Chen Feng intended to strike ruthlessly. How could Judy not panic?
"Very well!" the purple-robed girl responded with confident laughter.
"Angelisa, you…" Judy anxiously grabbed the purple-robed girl's arm.
Judging by her demeanor, she must possess some kind of powerful defensive armor. However, since equipment was permitted in the competition, Chen Feng wouldn't object. In a real fight, would you ask your opponent to take off their armor before battling, after all?
Chen Feng held his right hand level, and a ball of azure flame instantly formed in his palm. He then snapped his right wrist, and the flame immediately rolled along the ground toward the girl.
Hundred and Eight Style: Dark Hook Punch!
ps: One chapter before midnight today, one this morning, and now this one—totaling over 9000 characters. If the monthly votes increase by 10 before midnight tonight, Old Cliff will add another chapter! (Monthly votes are currently 179; an additional chapter will be added when they reach 189…) (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log on to www**com for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)