War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens Chapter 4: Collapsing Fist
Previously on War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens...
Chapter 4: Collapsing Fist
Translator: / KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Lucas / Lincoln
Three days later, Li Rou stared at Duan Ling Tian with a look of pure astonishment when they met again.
“Tian, you...”
After a brief pause, her delicate, trembling hands reached out to softly knead Duan Ling Tian’s arms.
Being a martial artist at the Core Formation Stage, she could perceive Duan Ling Tian’s cultivation level with a single look.
The first level of the Body Tempering Stage!
Her son had finally succeeded in his body tempering and emerged as a genuine martial artist!
Throughout the past few years, she had watched Duan Ling Tian fail to finish his body tempering while his physical form grew increasingly frail and weak with each passing day.
She had been secretly consumed by worry during that entire time.
“Mom, why are you crying?”
Duan Ling Tian reached out his hands to softly brush the tears from Li Rou’s cheeks.
“Mom is fine... I am just happy; Mom is just incredibly happy.”
Li Rou wiped the moisture from her face and offered a smile.
The years of stress and anxiety could finally be set aside.
She quickly understood that the transformation in her son had occurred within these past three days.
To undergo such a shift in only three days was incredible.
She was stunned!
Suddenly, she recalled Duan Ling Tian’s request for medicinal materials three days prior, and her lovely eyes fixed on him for a moment as her heart raced.
“Tian, the transformation in your body... was it caused by the medicinal materials you had me purchase the other day?”
Li Rou asked this to confirm her suspicions.
“Yes, Mom,” Duan Ling Tian replied with a nod.
“Did you prepare the medicine yourself?” Li Rou inquired with curiosity.
Duan Ling Tian nodded once more.
Li Rou took a deep breath. “Tian, what kind of medicine did you make, and when did you acquire the knowledge to concoct medicine?”
Duan Ling Tian’s mind raced.
The truth regarding the Rebirth Martial Emperor was far too shocking.
Furthermore, it involved his previous life, which would be nearly impossible to explain.
“Mom, when Li Xin struck me so hard that I lost consciousness, I had an incredibly odd dream. In that dream, I encountered an old man who instructed me on the formula for a specific medicinal liquid,” he said, inventing a casual explanation.
He then went on to describe the Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid and its general capabilities to Li Rou.
“It boosts the cultivation speed of martial artists in the Body Tempering Stage?”
Li Rou was left speechless.
She had never heard of a medicinal liquid that could accelerate the cultivation of those in the Body Tempering Stage, especially one made from such ordinary ingredients.
She recognized immediately that this medicinal formula was something extraordinary.
To her knowledge, there were medicinal pills capable of speeding up Body Tempering Stage cultivation, but those required a graded alchemist for successful refinement. Furthermore, the necessary ingredients were so expensive that common people could never hope to afford them.
“Tian, you must not reveal the benefits of this formula to anyone, regardless of the circumstances.”
Once the value of the formula became clear to her, Li Rou’s primary instinct was to safeguard her son, so she cautioned him with a grave expression.
“Mom, I understand. I am only telling you.”
Duan Ling Tian grinned.
Having been an orphan in his past life, he deeply cherished the motherly affection he received in this one.
“My good child.”
Li Rou also began to smile. Her radiant expression was incomparably beautiful.
“Tian, since you have finally reached the first level of the Body Tempering Stage, you are eligible to choose a martial skill from the Li Family Martial Pavilion.”
“Yes, Mom. I will go and have a look.”
Even though the memories of the Rebirth Martial Emperor contained plenty of martial skills, he decided to go anyway to maintain appearances.
The Martial Pavilion, where the Li Family kept its martial skills, was a vital location usually protected by at least one Elder.
“Fifth Elder.”
Duan Ling Tian offered a salute to the Elder stationed at the entrance of the Martial Pavilion.
“Duan Ling Tian?”
Fifth Elder Li Ting was somewhat surprised to see Duan Ling Tian there.
Noticing the physical changes in Duan Ling Tian, he couldn't help but whisper in surprise, “You... have reached the first level of the Body Tempering Stage?”
Duan Ling Tian gave a faint smile and a nod.
“Now your mother can finally relax. Very well, you may enter and select one martial skill.”
Li Ting smiled.
He maintained a positive relationship with the Ninth Elder, Li Rou.
With a brief grunt of acknowledgement, Duan Ling Tian stepped inside the Martial Pavilion.
“Duan Ling Tian reached the first level of the Body Tempering Stage?”
Several youths who had just arrived at the Martial Pavilion exchanged looks of shock.
To them, the surprise of Duan Ling Tian reaching the first level of the Body Tempering Stage was as unlikely as seeing a pig climb a tree or a cow take flight.
Inside the Martial Pavilion, Duan Ling Tian began scanning through the martial skills.
As he examined them, he realized that the techniques stored in the Li Family Martial Pavilion were incredibly mediocre.
In his view, these low and middle-grade Yellow Rank skills were inferior even to Military Boxing, let alone the Form and Will Boxing he had mastered in his past life.
Duan Ling Tian had already reached the rank of Grandmaster in Form and Will Boxing, even surpassing his own mentor.
With those thoughts in mind, he exited the Martial Pavilion.
Fifth Elder Li Ting saw Duan Ling Tian leaving with nothing in his hands, and a look of confusion crossed his face.
He had never witnessed such a thing before.
“What, you couldn't find a single thing that suited you?”
Duan Ling Tian gave a nod.
“Pfft!”
Suddenly, the sound of laughter reached Duan Ling Tian’s ears.
“It seems you, Duan Ling Tian, look down upon the martial arts of our Li Family... I am curious, what sort of skill did your mother give you in secret to make you so arrogant? Duan Ling Tian, I heard you’ve reached the first level of the Body Tempering Stage; how about I give you some guidance with a few moves?” the voice said with biting sarcasm.
Duan Ling Tian looked up. Only then did he see him.
Without him noticing, Li Xin had also come to the Martial Pavilion, his face still showing the marks of bruises. He stared at Duan Ling Tian with a provocative expression.
“Phew, I was wondering who it was, but it’s just you. Hehe... does your face still hurt?”
Faced with Li Xin’s taunt, Duan Ling Tian didn't lose his temper; instead, he chuckled.
“Duan Ling Tian, I challenge you! Let the Fifth Elder be our witness. Do you have the guts to accept?” Li Xin said in a low, heavy voice after taking a deep breath.
The events of three days ago had been a source of total humiliation and disgrace for him.
Over the last three days, his only desire had been to seek vengeance!
Upon hearing today that Duan Ling Tian had reached the first level of the Body Tempering Stage, he had rushed over immediately.
In his mind, Duan Ling Tian was now officially a martial artist. If he were to be badly hurt in a formal duel, the family rules dictated that Duan Ling Tian’s mother could do nothing, regardless of her anger.
Of course, this required Duan Ling Tian to actually agree to the challenge.
Faced with Li Xin’s provocation, Duan Ling Tian’s eyes narrowed as he smiled thinly. “Why would I not dare?”
“Duan Ling Tian, do not be impulsive!” Fifth Elder Li Ting said with a frown.
To his eyes, Duan Ling Tian was only at the first level of the Body Tempering Stage. Furthermore, he hadn't even practiced any martial arts. There was no way he could compete with Li Xin, who was already at the second level.
“Good, Duan Ling Tian. You have some nerve.”
Li Xin laughed with satisfaction, feeling that his plan had worked perfectly.
“Fifth Elder, please witness this duel so the Ninth Elder cannot cause me trouble later.”
Li Xin looked toward Li Ting with a respectful glance.
“Yes, Fifth Elder, please witness it... I wouldn't want the Seventh Elder to bother me later, either.”
Duan Ling Tian refused to be intimidated.
A few days ago, he might have felt a bit of caution toward Li Xin’s second level of Body Tempering Stage strength.
However, after seeing how lackluster the skills in the Martial Pavilion were, he realized he had given Li Xin too much credit.
“This boy is too reckless... fine, this will serve as a lesson for him.”
Li Ting frowned while looking at Duan Ling Tian, then stood up and walked out of the Martial Pavilion.
The Li Family disciples passing by were filled with excitement; there was going to be a show!
In the open area outside the pavilion, Duan Ling Tian and Li Xin stood across from one another.
Li Ting stood to the side, acting as the official witness.
“Duan Ling Tian, today I will pay you back tenfold for the shame you caused me last time!”
Li Xin wore a sinister grin, looking at Duan Ling Tian as if he were a fish on a cutting board, ready for the knife.
“We will have to see if you actually have the skill for that,” Duan Ling Tian laughed.
Embarrassment turned into rage for Li Xin, who roared, “You are looking for death!”
Stomping his feet against the ground, he charged forward at full speed, looking like a savage tiger lunging down from a mountain.
Fierce Tiger Fist!
His hands moved rapidly, creating a gust of air as they swung toward Duan Ling Tian.
“That is the middle-grade Yellow Rank skill, Fierce Tiger Fist! Li Xin is quite impressive; he has clearly mastered the Initial Stage of that technique.”
“Duan Ling Tian just reached the first level of the Body Tempering Stage, so he likely hasn't practiced any skills at all... To actually take on Li Xin’s challenge, he must have a death wish!”
“With Fifth Elder witnessing today, even if Duan Ling Tian is badly hurt again, as long as he lives, the Ninth Elder can’t touch Li Xin no matter how mad she gets.”
......
The gathered Li Family disciples were all talking at once, and not one of them expected Duan Ling Tian to win.
The gap between the first and second levels of the Body Tempering Stage was simply too great.
“Fierce Tiger Fist? To me, it looks like a Sick Cat Fist.”
The corner of Duan Ling Tian’s mouth twitched into a mocking smile.
To his eyes, Li Xin’s martial art was riddled with openings, and he knew a hundred different ways to beat the attack.
Ultimately, he decided on the most straightforward approach.
Deng!
Before the eyes of the crowd, Duan Ling Tian also sprinted forward to meet the charge.
Just as Li Xin’s fists were about to hit their mark, Duan Ling Tian’s upper body leaned back at a sharp angle. He evaded the strike as his body glided past Li Xin, landing nimbly behind his opponent.
“Now!”
Duan Ling Tian’s legs snapped into position, and his body spun around with agility.
As he balled his right hand into a fist, his upper body pulled back sharply, and both arms were drawn into a cocked position.
In that moment, Duan Ling Tian resembled a powerful bow drawn to its breaking point, his very spine quivering with tension.
His upper body suddenly snapped forward, letting his right fist fly with the full power of his momentum, striking with the force of a falling mountain.
Collapsing Fist!
Duan Ling Tian had expertly avoided the Fierce Tiger Fist, and at the exact moment Li Xin was pulled forward by his own weight, he drove a brutal punch into Li Xin’s right shoulder.
Kacha!
The sound of a bone snapping echoed through the air.
Li Xin was sent flying, letting out a scream as shrill as a pig being led to slaughter.
Even though Li Xin possessed twenty pounds more strength than Duan Ling Tian, he had no chance to utilize it.
Bang!
Li Xin hit the dirt hard, letting out wave after wave of high-pitched cries as his body shook and twitched in agony.
Silence...
The entire clearing fell into a heavy stillness.
From Fifth Elder Li Ting to every disciple present, their mouths hung open as they stared in disbelief at the scene before them.
The Collapsing Fist Duan Ling Tian had just demonstrated... to them, it seemed almost divine!