What was relayed to Chen Chuan over the boundary credential was news concerning Lu Fang. After a full month of conditioning, this senior had reached his peak condition and was preparing to fight someone tomorrow.
His opponent was a disciple from the Tianshu Gang's martial gym who was likewise seeking a rival to achieve a breakthrough. The two had previously made contact and found each other through the Fringe Channel. This time, the Fringe Channel would provide them with a venue and protection, as well as broadcast the battle between the two on its channel.
After learning about this, Chen Chuan pulled up information on this person from the Tianshu Gang.
The man was named Yong Dahu, hailing from the Tianshu Gang's gym. Worth noting was that he came from a well-off family and had paid out of his own pocket to learn fighting skills at the gym, so his ties to the Tianshu Gang were not particularly deep. For this duel, he would also follow the rules and bring only two people to the scene.
Since there were no issues with the opponent, everything came down to tomorrow's contest.
This duel was meant to reach a higher level; both sides would give their all, and the loser might very well lose his life as a result, so Chen Chuan would follow it personally when the time came.
He closed the boundary credential and said to Nian Qian, "Tomorrow at ten in the morning, a senior of mine from Wuyi Academy has a match. Both he and his opponent are fighting to break through to a higher level, so this duel most likely won't leave any margin for error. If you're interested, Cousin, you can watch it with me."
Nian Qian was indeed interested. He said, "Your senior, Cousin? Then I have to watch it. We rarely get Wuyi graduates in the military. Compared to the army, they prefer going into government departments and corporations."
Chen Chuan said, "On the one hand, they don't have to go to the battlefield. On the other hand, it's likely due to their sponsors. Back when they were still at the academy, their paths were already reserved, leaving them with no choice in the matter. Those who can graduate purely on their own means are few and far between."
Nian Qian nodded. He knew that this cousin of his had come through that very same way back then. In this day and age, rising above the rest was truly no easy feat. He himself was considered fortunate to have found a path upward, which made him deeply grateful to his parents and his eldest uncle-by-marriage, Han Kuang.
Chen Chuan chatted for a few more moments, then headed down to the training ground.
Watching his departing back, Nian Qian thought to himself that his cousin had very little spare time each day, throwing himself wholeheartedly into his training. He felt that perhaps, just as his cousin had said, combat itself was enough to bring him pure joy.
After his brief reflection, he also returned to his room. Searching for information in Center City was exceedingly convenient, and new technologies and implants were springing up endlessly. As a military commander, he could not afford to overlook them. Who knew when such things might be used by an enemy? Having some understanding would keep him from being caught flat-footed when facing them, making this a good opportunity to enrich himself during this period.
At nine-thirty the next morning, atop the rooftop of an abandoned building in Hongsheng District, Lu Fang arrived at the venue arranged by the Fringe Channel.
His opponent had also arrived by this time—a burly man half a head taller than him, wearing an elastic tank top that revealed well-chiseled, powerful muscles.
After warming up, the two stepped onto the designated open area marked out beforehand, while the others—including the two seniors accompanying Lu Fang and the gang members in charge of clearing the area—backed away.
Their battle this time required no referee and no protective gear; any standard combat technique was permitted.
As for underhanded, under-the-table dirty tricks, there was no need for them. They were pursuing a breakthrough in their life boundary, not simply seeking victory. Such methods could deceive others, but they could not deceive oneself.
Because the Fringe Channel was involved, it had assigned a dedicated commentator. At this moment, countless people before their screens had already prepared snacks and drinks, ready to enjoy the match.
In fact, besides Lu Fang's match, several other fights were scheduled for today. Once this one concluded, the broadcast would promptly jump to the next.
Although this kind of competition couldn't compare to the combat tournaments organized by Wuyi, the fact that life and death were disregarded and most combatants had been screened by the channel gave it a very high standard, drawing a solid following of fans.
Chen Chuan and Nian Qian were also seated before the field screen at this time. Nian Qian glanced at Lu Fang. "Is that your senior, Cousin?"
Chen Chuan gave an affirmative hum.
Nian Qian glanced at the introduction on the Fringe Channel. It only displayed numerical codes for the two fighters, stating that both combatants had reached the Second Limit.
He thought to himself that this was likely the level Wuyi students typically reached at this age. Only someone like his cousin could advance so swiftly.
On the screen, Lu Fang assumed the most orthodox sanshou stance, while his opponent assumed the Tianshu Gang's Grand Horizontal Fist. This was the fundamental style of Tianshu Fist, but even as a foundational form, practitioners possessed extraordinary resilience against strikes.
After facing off for a moment, the two surged forward again, exchanging several blows at blinding speed before rapidly springing back. Then they probed forward again, clashing furiously with fists and kicks once more.
The commentator on the Fringe Channel was clearly skilled. His speech was rapid yet articulate, pointing out all the crucial details. Even someone without any combat foundation could sense the brilliance of their techniques through his vibrant emotion and tone.
The two traded blows for over three minutes, separating three times. Each time they pulled back, they reassessed their opponent, though it was plain to see that neither side was having an easy time.
Yet after separating once more, neither stepped forward for quite some time.
Nian Qian asked, "Cousin, what's..."
Chen Chuan said, "They must have looked into each other's moves and specialties beforehand, devising strategies before the fight. But their strengths are evenly matched, and they've dismantled each other's strategies. Strictly speaking, the clashes just now were only probing. From here on, everything depends entirely on their real-time combat reflexes. The slightest misstep could cost a life, so they will be extremely cautious."
Nian Qian asked, "Cousin, can your senior win?"
Chen Chuan said, "Until the very end, it's hard to say."
Nian Qian teased, "Even a grand martial artist like you can't tell?"
"Because combat is fraught with enormous uncertainty. Even a tiny external factor or a fleeting distraction could slow a strike or warp a movement. It depends on them. Unless I were there in person to intervene, I can't judge the winner either; at most, I can only gauge who has the slightly better odds."
Nian Qian nodded. This was just like warfare—you could never account for every variable. Even when victory seemed certain, a minor command error could turn the battle into defeat.
The standoff between the two finally ended. Almost simultaneously, both surged forward. Their strikes were blindingly fast this time, exchanging blows in a flurry like sparks and flint. The dull thuds of clashing limbs resonated continuously, while the commentator's voice reached a fever pitch.
Within moments, the two shifted constantly across the rooftop, trading over a dozen rounds of offense and defense. Then, as if failing to adjust in time, Lu Fang suddenly revealed a flaw. Seizing the opening with a fierce roar, Yong Dahu landed a punch square on his chest and shoulder!
Even through the screen, the crack of fracturing bone was audible, drawing gasps from several spectators.
Behind him, Senior Guo and Senior Yu, who had accompanied Lu Fang, both paled.
Yet at almost the exact same instant, Lu Fang acted as though he felt nothing at all. With four fingers rigid like a knife, he thrust sharply at Yong Dahu's throat, halting just before exerting final lethal force. Immediately afterward, Yong Dahu's kick snapped upward. With a loud crash, Lu Fang was hurled back, tumbling several times and nearly hurtling off the edge of the roof. When he pushed himself up with an elbow, his face was deathly pale, and trickles of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
Yong Dahu froze for a moment, then looked at him with complex eyes. "Brother Lu, you won."
His Grand Horizontal Fist excelled at defense, leaving virtually no flaws across his body. Yet without having received the proper, complete lineage of Tianshu Fist, discharging force upon an attack inevitably compromised his guard. Lu Fang had seen through this and traded injury for injury. Had Lu Fang not held back on that strike just now, it would have shattered Yong Dahu's throat and killed him on the spot.
Yet Lu Fang had pulled his strike at the very end—the hardest thing of all to do. At that moment, because Yong Dahu had not lost his combat capacity, he could easily have seized the opening to punch Lu Fang to death, securing the win for himself today.
Yet one could deceive others, but not oneself.
What mattered most was Lu Fang's trust in him—believing that once Yong Dahu realized what happened, he would certainly pull his power. And in fact, he truly had; the kick he delivered at the end had not carried full force. This left Yong Dahu feeling disappointed yet full of admiration, alongside a touch of emotion from having been trusted.
He clasped his fists toward Lu Fang and said solemnly, "Brother Lu, once your injuries heal, dinner is on me. Don't refuse—it's settled!"
Lu Fang nodded. "Alright. It's settled."
"Terrific! Then I'll be off. Brother Lu, recover well. If you need anything, let me know, don't hold back!" Yong Dahu walked back, picked up his clothes from the ground, and left without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Senior Yu and Senior Guo rushed over to support Lu Fang. After examining him, they let out a breath of relief. Though his injuries were severe—the ribs on one side were nearly all fractured, and his shoulder bone was cracked—they were not fatal.
Senior Yu said, "Junior, you're the winner, but your injuries are heavier than the loser's."
Senior Guo said sternly, "You held back at the end. Did you consider that if he didn't, you would be dead?"
Lu Fang managed a faint smile and said with absolute certainty, "He wouldn't. A person's fists don't lie. I knew Brother Yong would pull his strength."
"Sigh, have it your way." Senior Guo slung Lu Fang's arm over his shoulder, and the two seniors supported him as they walked down. Seeing that the show was over, the surrounding onlookers also dispersed.
Once the three reached the ground floor and walked several dozen paces outside, Lu Fang suddenly sensed something. His heart began to thud violently. Then a surge of warmth gushed from his heart, flowing through every part of his body. Moments later, crisp clicking sounds came from within him as the fractured bones began realigning, knitting, and drawing together.
Both Senior Guo and Senior Yu noticed the anomaly in his body and exclaimed in astonishment, "Junior, you..."
Lu Fang withdrew his hands from the two, standing straight on his own. He drew a deep breath, looked up at them, and said, "Seniors, I've broken through."
Chapter 871