King of Gods Chapter 3 – Breaking through to the 2nd Rank of the Martial Path
Previously on King of Gods...
“One move, you’ve lost....”
Shock and excitement filled Zhao Feng's face, impossible to hide completely.
I won? And with just one strike?
Prior to the clash, due to the shifts in his left eye, Zhao Feng felt assured that his boosted reflexes and sharp vision would help him parry at least one attack from Zhao Kun, and if handled cleverly, maybe even over ten.
Yet the actual outcome surpassed his wildest anticipations.
Zhao Kun's strikes appeared swift to some onlookers, but through his left eye, every action stood out crystal clear.
When he pushed the left eye to its maximum, Zhao Feng perceived the foe's techniques as sluggish and awkward.
Astonishment struck him as he spotted flaws in Zhao Kun's technique.
Flaws!
Flaws within a top-tier martial skill!
Zhao Feng couldn't fathom how he detected the enemy's weaknesses so effortlessly. Perhaps the rival hadn't mastered the skill completely.
In the end, Zhao Feng followed his gut, similar to the fly incident, landing a fatal blow that secured victory in a single exchange.
Hua!
Shock rippled through every disciple on the training ground.
“Did my eyes deceive me!? Zhao Kun's the one who fell!”
“Correct! Zhao Kun lost!”
The Zhao family disciples gaped in disbelief, faces twisted in confusion.
.......
“Impossible.......... How did I lose to him?”
Doubt clouded Zhao Kun's features.
Indeed!
Defeat came so abruptly that he couldn't comprehend it.
Right then, the looks on Zhao Feng and Zhao Kun's faces mirrored each other.
“Pure luck!”
Seeing Zhao Kun's expression, the Zhao disciples pieced it together.
Once those words escaped, nods of agreement spread like wildfire.
“Exactly! This kid's fortune is insane; he triumphed by sheer chance.”
“His fortune is unreal......”
Consensus formed among the group regarding Zhao Feng's win.
“Luck? Perhaps.”
A subtle smile curved Zhao Feng's lips as he turned away.
“Brat! Hold it right there!”
Clutching his belly, Zhao Kun rose unsteadily, his voice laced with menace: “Zhao Feng! You got lucky this time. Fight me again!”
“Rematch?”
Zhao Feng furrowed his brows, glancing at Zhao Kun. “First off, you're injured. Second, I'm busy.”
With that, he strode toward a quiet corner of the field, leaving behind a pack of dumbfounded disciples.
“Damn you! Once I'm recovered, I'll master the Thirteen Changes of the Poisonous Snake perfectly, then crush you.”
Rage twisted Zhao Kun's face as he stormed off in silence.
Reflecting on the bout, Zhao Kun pinpointed three key factors in his defeat:
First, he underestimated his rival.
Second, he'd only grasped the initial three forms of the Thirteen Changes of the Poisonous Snake, riddled with imperfections.
Third, Zhao Feng's luck proved overwhelming.
......
Meanwhile, across the training ground, Zhao Feng resumed his training.
“My victory stemmed mostly from Zhao Kun's arrogance and his unrefined high-level skill, exposing those flaws for me to exploit......”
Deep down, Zhao Feng grasped the truth.
Zhao Kun wouldn't hold back next time, and fixing the flaws in the first three moves of Thirteen Changes of the Poisonous Snake would leave Zhao Feng without assurance of success.
The gap between 1st rank and 2nd rank in the Martial Path loomed too vast.
Spanning nine ranks total, the Martial Path's initial three were dubbed the “Power ranks”.
These “Power ranks” focused on building raw power and solidifying one's base.
Thus, strength differed by roughly 100kg between 1st and 2nd rank in the Martial Path.
Normally, a 1st rank overpowering a 2nd rank stunned everyone, let alone clinching it in one blow.
“Boosting my power remains crucial!”
Drawing a deep breath, Zhao Feng dove back into “Flaming Metal Fist” practice.
First form... Second form..... Third form......
“Flaming Metal Fist” flowed like flowing water, silkier than ever before.
Hah!
Completing the sequence, excitement gleamed in Zhao Feng's eyes. With 32 forms total, he now executed them in a single go, at blistering speed surpassing his prior attempts, with amplified might.
Post-routine, his blood surged more vigorously and swiftly, as though aflame.
Peh!Peh!.....
Simultaneously, the pulsing from his left eye intensified.
Shutting his eyes, Zhao Feng's mind delved into the dark void.
A dim green glow hovered at the void's heart.
Initially, the dim green glow spanned about 60cm in radius, barely perceptible.
But now, its size and intensity had grown noticeably.
“Is the left eye's power tied straight to my personal strength?”
Zhao Feng pondered inwardly.
This eye's transformations offered destiny-altering potential: first, toppling Zhao Kun; second, rendering his training flawlessly fluid.
“Once more!”
Determination sharpened Zhao Feng's gaze as he launched into “Flaming Metal Fist” anew.
Hu Hu Hu.......
His motions accelerated relentlessly, forms blending seamlessly.
By the third run-through, pace doubled from before, destructive force surging dramatically.
Via regulated breaths, he sensed enhanced blood flow, with previously untrainable body areas now strengthening.
“At this rate, breaking into 2nd rank of the Martial Path will take just days.”
Zhao Feng noted his remarkable progress.
Training stretched into night before he mopped sweat and returned home.
Back home, thoughts of the left eye's evolution lingered.
“To carry on my Eye bloodline, you shall dominate all, command every race. Fortunate youth, don't let me down....”
The voice from the dark void echoed in memory from before blackout.
“Perhaps this eye originated from some ancient godlike being, fusing with mine by chance.” Zhao Feng speculated.
Even in night's embrace, opening his eye revealed the outside world clearly.
Nocturnal gloom barely hindered Zhao Feng. His vision pierced miles to spot distant birds.
Reclining on bed, Zhao Feng sensed his left eye emitting waves of heat that blended into his bloodstream.
Amid this strange sensation, sleep claimed him.
Dawn of the next day.
Zhao Feng awoke, stretched his limbs, and headed to the tiny courtyard for practice.
“This courtyard's worn out, surroundings dismal. Once I'm powerful enough, I'll move my parents to a grand estate.”
Such resolve burned in Zhao Feng's mind.
Swiftly, he unleashed the 32 forms of “Flaming Metal Fist.”
Hu Hu Hu.....
Fists whipped through air, brimming with ferocious power.
After a handful of strikes, Zhao Feng detected anomaly.
With each breath, blood roared ferociously, exuding mighty aura; every punch packed 200-250kg force.
“What!”
Shock jolted Zhao Feng, his fists igniting in twin crimson glows.
Ka Ka Ka ——
A punch smashed the nearby massive tree, snapping a fist-thick branch.
“Impossible! This exceeds 1st rank power—could it mean......”
Zhao Feng's pulse raced.
To confirm, he inhaled deeply, channeling full might into a stomp.
Peh!
Earth quaked, soil shattering, imprinting Zhao Feng's foot half an inch deep.
Joy lit his face; next, a palm strike pulverized a 30kg stone.
Such might lay beyond 1st rank capabilities in the Martial Path.
“2nd rank of the Martial Path..... I've advanced to 2nd rank of the Martial Path!”
Eyes closing, Zhao Feng savored the surging vitality within.
He'd figured 2nd rank breakthrough needed days, unaware it happened overnight.
Mind entering the left eye, he observed the dim green light stretch from 60cm to 67cm.
Vitality felt superior, accompanied by inexplicable shifts......