Chen Chuan was well aware of Cui Xuanhui. Ever since the Last Dynasty, whenever matters concerning the Fuluo Peninsula arose, this man could not be avoided.
Historically, the Fuluo Peninsula had always been a vassal of the Eastern Continent. During the era of the Last Dynasty, however, internal turmoil broke out in the Eastern Continent, and Federation forces took advantage of the vulnerability to step in.
During that period, the island nations of the Outer Ocean were either occupied by the Federation, had puppet regimes installed, or declared statehood—in short, breaking away one after another from the Eastern Continent's governance and control.
On the Fuluo Peninsula, certain opposition factions were likewise secretly funded by the Federation government. In particular, the New Light Cult, an evil cult originating from the West Coast, spread and proliferated rapidly here.
In his early years, Cui Xuanhui came from a family of minor clerks. Due to his handsome appearance, an envoy kept him by his side as a page boy, and he accompanied the Fuluo diplomatic mission to the Eastern Continent.
Later, when internal strife erupted in Great Shun and the mission prepared to return, Cui Xuanhui was unwilling to go back. Seizing an opportunity, he slipped away from the delegation. Failing to fence the goods he had stolen from them, he was nearly beaten to death, only to be saved by a passing martial arts master.
He pretended to be a native of the Eastern Continent and became the master's disciple. Seeing his extraordinary talent, the master not only imparted all his secret techniques without reserve, but even gave his daughter to him in marriage. Later, however, the master joined the rebel forces. When the situation turned unfavorable, Cui Xuanhui immediately turned on them, murdering his teacher and wife with his own hands, and defected to the Last Dynasty, taking part in the massacre of numerous rebel fighters during that time.
Afterward, when the Last Dynasty was overthrown, he fled in panic back to the Fuluo Peninsula. There, he took the initiative to defect to the Federation and the royalists, participating in the brutal suppression of his own countrymen and amassing a terrible debt of blood.
Yet the collapse of the Old Era was an irreversible tide. Seeing the situation was lost, he joined the New Light Cult, sacrificed the King of Fuluo with his own hands, and using the royal bloodline, willingly underwent mutation. He attained strength far exceeding ordinary men and founded the Non-Body Style.
For nearly fifty years after the collapse of the Old Era, he served as an enforcer for the Federation against Great Shun, active across the Outer Ocean, before finally being slain by a Great Shun martial artist on an island—dying in an utterly disgraceful fashion.
As for the ancient martial artist Chen Chuan was seeking on this visit, there was actually a connection to this man as well, because Cui Xuanhui's daughter had married that very individual.
Yet a turncoat who jumped back and forth without a shred of shame or honor had been cast here in the Federation as a hero who fought bravely against tyranny and resisted injustice—even having a life-size statue erected in his honor.
Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Calvin, are these 'legendary heroes' included in your simulation database as well?"
Joseph said, "Of course. They are recorded so that future generations may pay their respects and learn from them. However, regarding the gathered data, because some individuals have already passed away, their simulations are virtually identical to how they were in life. Others are still living and hold noble status, so much of their data hasn't been updated in years."
Chen Chuan pointed at Cui Xuanhui. "In other words, the simulation resources available for exchange include this one too."
Joseph was briefly taken aback, then gave an enigmatic smile. "Yes, indeed."
"I have some interest in this gentleman. Could he participate in an exchange with me?"
Joseph smiled. "That will certainly be no problem." He took hold of his hat and tipped it slightly. "It would be my absolute pleasure to be of service."
Even as he gave his assent, he transmitted the information to the academy's board of directors and the management association.
When numerous academy executives heard that Chen Chuan intended to use the Information Hall and had specifically requested an exchange with a certain "legendary hero," it inevitably caught their attention.
It was said that in his last battle, he had fought and killed three Secret Palace martial artists, and internal intel indicated he had most likely even deflected a strike from a Throne martial artist.
As long as someone engaged in an exchange within the Information Hall, the academy could record portions of their data. Especially with powerful martial artists, such information was a vast fortune in itself, so they were more than eager to welcome figures like Chen Chuan into these interactions.
As for the field resources required in the process, they were hardly worth mentioning.
Joseph led Chen Chuan down Pioneers' Avenue and into the hive-like structure of the Information Hall. Because Chen Chuan was an invited guest, and both the school administrators and the board were following the matter closely, several necessary procedures were streamlined.
Chen Chuan waited outside for only a brief moment before all the formalities were completed, and he was escorted into the Interaction Hall.
The moment he stepped inside, ripples ran across the cold metallic floor and ceiling, transforming the surroundings into an endless wilderness. Beside him lay a lake lush with water reeds, where birds pecked and fed.
Not far ahead, a man knelt on the bank, looking strikingly similar to the statue outside.
Joseph said, "Mr. Chen, you only need to call a halt, and the battle will terminate immediately. Naturally, to ensure the safety of our visitors, should any emergency arise, we will terminate the interaction ahead of time. I wish you an enjoyable exchange."
With that, he bowed, his form gradually fading away as he withdrew from the field.
Chen Chuan looked at the man kneeling by the lakeside and walked toward him.
From Joseph's introduction earlier, when the Information Hall gathered data, certain martial artists would leave behind spiritual power and small portions of mutated tissue, embedded with some of their experiences and memories.
Consequently, these simulated individuals retained their original personalities and behavioral traits; to say the entire person was recreated would hardly be an exaggeration.
Martial artists, however, generally did not surrender their bodily data to others unless left with no alternative or forced by circumstances. Native Federation martial artists would never do such a thing. Instead, it was those from outside the Federation who left these behind to demonstrate their loyalty.
As Chen Chuan drew near, the man took notice, rose from the ground, and turned to face him squarely. His expression was dead serious as he introduced himself: "Non-Body Style, Cui Xuanhui."
His speech bore a thick Fuluo Peninsula accent.
Chen Chuan had no intention of replying. He had no interest in answering a dead man—besides, who exchanged pleasantries with a target?
Seeing no response, as though Chen Chuan looked down on him, a flicker of anger crept between Cui Xuanhui's brows.
He stepped back, balanced on one leg, and spread his arms front and back into a stance. A plume of grayish flame flared up around his body, and a colossal phantom materialized faintly behind him.
*The Visage of Man...?*
Chen Chuan glanced at it. For the simulation to replicate even a Visage of Man demonstrated exceptionally advanced technology and manifestation depth—yet in this City of Fighters, it seemed perfectly natural.
Behind their field screens, the administrators of Free Stars Academy sat quietly, watching the scene unfold.
Having settled into his stance, Cui Xuanhui saw Chen Chuan continuing his slow, steady advance, his pace completely undisturbed.
With a thunderous shout, Cui Xuanhui lunged forward and snapped a kick outward. The Visage of Man mirrored his exact movement above, but due to its immense size, the phantom's kick arrived before Chen Chuan first.
Yet at that exact instant, Cui Xuanhui abruptly appeared in front of his spiritual visage, their kicking feet suddenly converging into one!
Watching this strike from behind the screens, the academy executives all showed surprise. Even with the aid of field technology, most of them still couldn't comprehend how he had moved in that split second.
Because Cui Xuanhui was not a native of the Federation, despite his statue outside, they had privately looked down on him to some degree. Yet this strike demonstrated sublime skill and combat acumen, instantly overturning their preconceptions.
Furthermore, this strike went beyond the mere stacking of force; upon contact with an opponent, any damage would be absorbed by the spiritual visage. This was the true essence of the Non-Body Style—leveraging coordination between the spiritual visage and one's physical body to seize absolute tactical dominance in a fleeting instant and suppress the adversary.
Facing this strike, Chen Chuan did not attempt to dodge in the slightest. He whipped out a high roundhouse kick to meet it head-on, a cluster of platinum brilliance flaring instantaneously across the front of his foot.
The onlookers were stunned. Was he truly meeting the combined force of the spiritual visage and the physical body with nothing more than his own flesh?
A field simulation faithfully mirrored authentic power; if Chen Chuan lacked sufficient force, he would truly be hurled back—and if an interactant were killed here, they would genuinely die.
In the next heartbeat, their kicks collided. Two bursts of light exploded violently. Yet the outcome defied everyone's expectations: it was the colossal spiritual visage that showed signs of crumbling, the point of contact dispersing into billows of vapor.
Cui Xuanhui's eyes snapped wide as he realized the sheer strength of his opponent. But because nearly all the damage had been absorbed by the Visage of Man, as long as he remained unharmed, even if the Visage crumbled, he could swiftly reforge it using the techniques of the Non-Body Style. Thus, rather than retreating, he capitalized on his forward momentum, pivoting on his kicking foot to deliver a spinning back kick!
Typically, even if Chen Chuan had not been disadvantaged in the previous clash of kicks, the collision of raw force was undeniable; it was impossible for him to be completely unaffected. Therefore, the tempo and timing of this follow-up kick were seized with pinpoint precision.
Yet Chen Chuan did not yield half a step. As though anticipating the move well in advance, he bent the knee of his extended leg and angled his body slightly, his knee ramming right into the incoming foot.
This time, it was a direct, unbuffered collision. Spiritual sparks and fire scattered violently at the point of impact. Yet the evenly matched stalemate the observers expected never materialized. Cui Xuanhui's defense shattered almost instantly; unable to maintain his balance, he was blasted backward through the air.
Chen Chuan surged forward in a flash. Raising his hand, he clamped forward with seizing jin, tearing through the spiritual fire around Cui Xuanhui's body before locking firmly onto his spine. With a squeeze of his five fingers, a sharp crack resonated as he snapped the man's vertebrae. Chen Chuan then struck the back of his head with an open palm, sending Cui Xuanhui flying forward to hit the ground face-first with a dull thud.
At this stage, victory and defeat were already decided, and the battle could have ended right there. Yet Chen Chuan showed no intention of stopping; instead, he continued walking forward toward him.
Chapter 1104