Chapter 6: First Test of Skill
Chapter 6: First Test of Skill
“Remove your filthy hands.”
The icy tone held contempt. Though fellow disciples of the Cheng family, Cheng Lingyu despised these cousins for their bullying ways.
“Who dares interfere with me?”
A fifteen-year-old boy scowled, whirling toward the voice’s origin.
“Seventh Brother? Our family’s failure. What—trying to play hero now?”
Cheng Xiaohu sneered, openly taunting Cheng Lingyu without restraint.
“Watch your tongue, Xiaohu. Seventh Brother’s an honor student at Yiyun Calligraphy Academy—reads sage books, does righteous deeds. Can’t let fair maidens suffer, eh?”
The surrounding cousins burst into laughter, their scorn evident.
Cheng Lingyu glared at the group of fourteen-year-olds, fury tightening his features.
“Lazy good-for-nothings. Scram.”
Cheng Xiaohu’s face flushed crimson. “You dare order me? Know your place!”
“You shame our family. I said scram—deaf now?”
Cheng Xiaohu barked a humorless laugh. “Big words from a failure. You’ve no right!”
Cheng Xiaojun interjected, “Humour him, Xiaohu. Let’s see if bookworms beat fighters.”
“Fine. He’s still Cheng blood—I’ll grant him this farce.”
Cheng Xiaohu swaggered forward, oozing arrogance.
The Yiyun Calligraphy Academy girl cowered behind Cheng Lingyu, anxiety plain.
Cheng Lingyu’s gaze hardened. Past humiliations from lacking cultivation strength flashed through his mind—today, patience ended.
“Scram.” The frosty command ignited Cheng Xiaohu’s rage.
“You’ll regret that!”
A whip-fast kick shot toward Cheng Lingyu—too quick for ordinary dodging.
Cheng Lingyu’s right leg snapped upward, blasting Cheng Xiaohu backward.
“You… cultivate now?” Realization struck Cheng Xiaohu.
“Show me your progress then!”
Cheng Xiaohu launched airborne, unleashing a series of kicks.
Cheng Lingyu’s fist lashed out. True energy erupted like a gale, hurling Cheng Xiaohu meters away.
“Shock Phase? Explains your boldness.”
Cheng Xiaohu punched, true energy morphing into a fierce tiger—Shape Change Phase, surpassing Shock Phase.
Cheng Lingyu stood firm. His counterpunch birthed a raptor of pure energy, colliding with the tiger midair.
Nearby, Cheng Xiaojun and the others stared in shock. None had imagined the Cheng family’s former good-for-nothing would become a capable expert.
“The Sixth Layer of the Ordinary Martial Realm, Shape Change Phase… unexpected.”
Though young, Cheng Xiaohu had ample combat experience and launched rapid strikes. Cheng Lingyu had less cultivation time and minimal real battle exposure, yet his calm demeanor showed no panic.
Both stood at the Shape Change Phase – Cheng Xiaohu’s experience against Cheng Lingyu’s raw power, each displaying distinct advantages. During the clash, Cheng Lingyu absorbed lessons from the fight, blending his training in Thousand Layers of Snow to better grasp strength application.
Growing alarmed, Cheng Xiaohu barked at Cheng Xiaojun: “Quit gawking! Join Seventh Brother’s practice!”
All six cousins, aged fourteen or fifteen, rushed forward. Reaching Shape Change Phase at their age marked notable achievement.
Their combined assault overwhelmed Cheng Lingyu, six against one leaving no chance for defense. Worse, they all used identical martial techniques – Gathering Yang Technique with Liéyuè Fist, leaving no room for secrecy.
Under immense pressure, rebellion surged through Cheng Lingyu. Years of bullying had compressed his rage to bursting point.
Dominating the fight, Cheng Xiaohu’s group mocked while crushing his counterattacks, layering physical strikes with verbal humiliation.
Fury twisted Cheng Lingyu’s face. His true energy split – two becoming four, four becoming eight. Merging Thousand Layers of Snow with Transformation techniques, eight ethereal figures of fierce beasts materialized, launching chaotic attacks.
This unprecedented move shocked the six cousins, forcing their retreat.
Cheng Lingyu roared skyward, fiery rage fueling fists that released four phantoms per strike, battering his opponents backward with ear-splitting impacts.
Treating the six as practice dummies, Cheng Lingyu grew increasingly fluid with each technique.
“Down!”
Sixteen phantom duplicates appeared as Cheng Lingyu struck, sixteen fists hammering six bodies to the ground amidst howls of pain.
“Next arrogant move breaks your legs. Scram.”
“Cheng Lingyu! This isn’t over!” Cheng Xiaohu scrambled away, trailing threats.
Bystanders cheered – first time in years someone disciplined the Cheng youths.
Cheng Lingyu’s hollow smile held no joy. More trouble brewed ahead.
Carrying Vibrant Flowers and fruits, he visited Ruo Xue’s Grave. Months of secluded cultivation for Revenge left him listless.
At her resting place, memories surged. Heartache gripped the lovelorn youth – youthful dreams, passionate madness, life’s sharpest memories.
First love’s phantom lingered like that rainbow over western mountains years past. Regret’s shadow clung stubbornly.
Mountain breezes carried flower scent through Cheng Lingyu’s core. A sigh escaped him, footsteps shattering melancholy silence.
He turned, brow creased with fresh irritation.
A tall boy about Cheng Lingyu’s age approached swiftly with Cheng Xiaohu and Cheng Xiaojun, his expression cold.
“Second Brother, he bullied me!”
Cheng Xiaohu pointed at Cheng Lingyu, his young face twisted with hatred.
The tall boy glared and sneered, “Seventh Brother, bullying juniors is shameful.”
Cheng Lingyu snorted, “Cheng Xiaodong, hasn’t your brother rampaged through Shiyang Town bullying others?”
Cheng Xiaodong retorted, “You’ve no right to discipline him! Apologize now or face consequences.”
Cheng Lingyu burst into laughter. “Brotherhood? Every Cheng youth my age has humiliated me. Are you delusional?”
Cheng Xiaodong roared, “Insolence! I’ll make you regret this!”
He lunged like a diving hawk toward Cheng Lingyu.
Cheng Lingyu’s eyes hardened. He sprang upward like a tiger, meeting Cheng Xiaodong mid-air.
When they separated, Cheng Lingyu staggered while Cheng Xiaodong stood firm.
“Shape Change Phase? Weak. I’m at the Spiral Phase, Seventh Layer of Ordinary Martial Realm. Surrender.”
Cheng Lingyu shot back, “Spiral Phase means nothing without testing!”
He spun and attacked with both fists.
Cheng Xiaodong deflected effortlessly, swirling airflow in his palms to rebound every strike.
The Spiral Phase’s energy manipulation far surpassed Shape Change Phase. Cheng Lingyu’s straightforward attacks paled against Cheng Xiaodong’s vortex-redirecting techniques.
Their first clash left Cheng Lingyu reeling from his own rebounding energy, shock flashing across his face.
Cheng Xiaodong pressed with ruthless speed – direct strikes blended with redirected counters overwhelmed Cheng Lingyu.
Within ten exchanges, Cheng Lingyu retreated multiple steps, battered yet unharmed. Despite surging blood, his physical body showed no injuries.
Cheng Xiaodong frowned as repeated hits failed to wound.
Cheered by Cheng Xiaohu and Cheng Xiaojun, Cheng Xiaodong’s assault intensified. The Spiral Phase’s fluid energy control left Cheng Lingyu scrambling.
Though outmatched, Cheng Lingyu analyzed their differences. The Spiral Phase enhanced energy redirection, not raw power. His Thousand Layers of Snow held deeper potential than Cheng Xiaodong’s superficial techniques.
With a roar, Cheng Lingyu unleashed eight ethereal figures from a single punch. Cheng Xiaodong faltered, overwhelmed by multiple attackers.
While stronger singly, Cheng Xiaodong couldn’t counter eight simultaneous strikes. The technique’s first form – overlapping phantoms – octupled explosive power through layered force.