Face

*These footfalls, this posture... it is like a Grandmaster who has brought both Tiger and Crane fists to perfection! In every lift of a hand or cast of a foot, there is not a single flaw. With a single motion, he could transform into a vicious tiger or a savage crane and pounce forward!* Head Instructor Liu marveled inwardly. *Could it be that after I demonstrated the Spirit Tiger Mountain-Smashing Fist and Ferocious Crane Fist just once, he completely comprehended them? That is simply incredible.* *Still, I heard that when he developed his Tiger Crane Jin before, he had also watched the Spirit Tiger Demon Crane Stance only once. Could his comprehension truly be so terrifying?* With his thoughts turning, Head Instructor Liu spoke up. "Huang Tian, do you accept Huang Rui's request to spar?" Huang Tian stood several zhang across from Huang Rui and nodded slightly. "I do." "Very well. Then the two of you may test your skills. But remember: you must not grievously injure the other, much less take a life. Otherwise, severe punishment will follow." Although he had some confidence in Huang Tian, Head Instructor Liu still could not be completely at ease. Fearing Huang Rui might strike with vicious force and harm Huang Tian, he added pointedly, "Huang Rui, you entered the ninth rank of martial arts long ago. Your foundation is deep, your qi and blood stronger, and your martial arts far more seasoned. When sparring, you must yield more and hold back. Do you understand?!" The last three words were spoken with heavy emphasis. Huang Rui's expression shifted slightly. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Please rest assured, Head Instructor. I understand." He had never expected that Head Instructor Liu, who had no ties or kinship whatsoever with Huang Tian, would actually take Huang Tian's side. It rankled him, but he dared not glare at the head instructor. After all, the instructor was an established seventh-rank martial artist, stronger than his eldest brother Huang Qian and far more widely connected. Going head-to-head with him would only end in Huang Rui bruising his own skull. On the drill ground, Huang Rui and Huang Tian stood facing each other. The former slightly hollowed his chest, tucked his chin, bent his knees, held one hand protecting his chest, and concealed the other beneath his ribs, coiled like a venomous serpent. This was precisely the Hidden Shadow Stance of the Yin Hand Snake Fist, concealing killing moves within. At the start of an exchange it seemed unremarkable, but the moment the opponent slipped, it would strike out like a viper, lunging straight for vital points. Facing this cunning and venomous Yin Hand Snake Fist, Huang Tian sank his center of gravity unhurriedly into a low bow stance. Both hands formed palms and pushed forward slowly from his chest—with just that single push, a chilling majesty like the sovereign king of beasts in the mountains rolled forth! "Brother Luo, who do you think will win?" Yang Mo asked in a low voice. Luo Chan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Huang Tian. He faintly sensed a heavy aura of pressure that actually took his breath away. "Hard to say. Huang Rui's Yin Hand Snake Fist has always been treacherous. Even an opponent slightly stronger than him could fall into his trap if they're not careful. "As for Huang Tian, I heard he never learned martial arts before and didn't know any techniques at all. Yet look at the stance he's holding right now—it captures the full essence of the Head Instructor's Spirit Tiger Mountain-Smashing Fist. Who knows if he grasped it on the spot? If he did... he might very well win!" Before their conversation finished, out on the field, Huang Rui took the initiative and struck. His feet skimmed the ground with short, swift steps weaving in a zigzag pattern, biding his time. But the instant he closed within a zhang of Huang Tian, his arms swung in an eerie, boneless motion, striking straight for Huang Tian's ears. In truth, beneath the flutter of his sleeves lay the real killing intent—his right hand was already poised like serpent fangs, thrusting soundlessly toward Huang Tian's waist and ribs! If this strike landed, the venomous force would pierce through to the bone, instantly shattering qi and blood, numbing half the body, leaving the victim helpless to retaliate and at the mercy of a brutal beating. Howling wind rushed against his face as Huang Rui's contorted visage flashed before his eyes. Huang Tian's gaze was calm and lucid. Shifting his body, instead of retreating, he lunged forward! "Roar—!" Huang Tian raised his spirit, qi, and vitality to their peak. Like a crouching tiger springing forward, he unleashed a deafening roar from his throat, sending invisible sound waves rippling through the surroundings. Fierce winds howled, sleeves whipping wildly! Huang Rui was dazed for a split second by that tiger roar. And in that very instant, Huang Tian's peerlessly fierce punch, packing tremendous force, drove straight into Huang Rui's snake-like hand, battering his right hand until it went numb, swelled red, and trembled uncontrollably. Huang Rui's face changed drastically. He jerked his hips, intending to slither away like a serpent. Yet he was not inexperienced: even as he retreated, his left leg swept across in a fierce low sweep, aiming to trip Huang Tian's heel. If he truly tripped him, he would immediately halt his retreat, slip nimbly into his opponent's chest, and drive the point of his elbow viciously into the solar plexus and ribs. Yet Huang Tian's response caught him entirely off balance. Facing the sweeping ground kick, Huang Tian's intent abruptly shifted from hard to soft; his toes pushed off the ground, floating lightly into midair, and then... *Pierce!* Borrowing the momentum of his descent, he pressed his fingers together like a beak, striking as fast as lightning through the air, piercing straight for Huang Rui's throat! This move was none other than the Crane Beak Awl that Head Instructor Liu had just displayed! Before Huang Rui's terror-stricken eyes, Huang Tian's index and middle fingers plunged forward like an iron awl heated red-hot in a forge, carrying penetrating force! *He wants to kill me?!!* Huang Rui's heart shook violently. With all his might, he threw his left palm in front of his throat. *Thud!* The force of the Ferocious Crane Fist drove heavily through his left palm and struck against his throat. With a faint crack, all of Huang Rui's movements and curses were choked off. He raised a hand to clutch his throat, his eyeballs bulging, his face shifting from red to purplish-blue. He could only manage low, rattling wheezes as he staggered back several steps and collapsed in a heap on the ground. He was not dead. His left palm had indeed neutralized most of the force, but the remaining force still fractured his throat cartilage. For at least ten days to half a month, he would be unable to speak clearly, and eating or drinking would be sheer agony. Seeing him down, Huang Tian pressed his advantage, stomping heavily into his waist! *Bang!!* Huang Rui was kicked flying over a zhang away. Dust from the ground billowed into the air along with his flying body, mingling with the bright, glistening blood spewing from his mouth. Just as Huang Tian moved to advance again, Head Instructor Liu hurriedly called out, "Stop! Stop! That's enough! Any more and he'll be too grievously injured to save!" Only then did Huang Tian halt. His back stood straight as a spear amidst the swirling dust. Even without moving, he exuded an immense, overwhelming pressure. Every martial student held their breath. Looking at Huang Rui lying on the ground spitting blood, throat injured, unable even to utter a plea for mercy, a chill rose in their hearts. *This Huang Tian is a ruthless one!* Head Instructor Liu strode forward in several large steps to the fallen Huang Rui, crouching down to inspect him. "Fortunately, his internal organs aren't damaged. A minor fracture in the bone, nothing serious—half a month or a month of rest will heal it. Mmh, once the swelling in his throat goes down, it will recover in time too. It'll just be excruciating to speak or eat." After finishing the examination, he breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Huang Tian, whose face was as calm as a still lake. A gleam of approval shone in his eyes. Exceptional comprehension, lofty character, decisive execution, yet measured in combat—he knew exactly how to thrash his opponent into utter disgrace and make him lose all face without inflicting crippling injuries! *A fine prospect! Truly a fine prospect!!*