36: Chapter 36 The Grand Climax: Chen Xuan Displays His Strength Once Again

The morning sun spilled across the imperial city's drill grounds, illuminating the bluestone pavement until it gleamed.

Chen Xuan stood by the dueling platform, flexing his wrists, a faint cracking sound coming from his joints.

Leng Shuang leaned against the railing with her arms crossed, her gaze resting on him. She didn't speak, only giving a slight nod.

Zhao Hongling had already hopped onto a nearby stone block, shouting at the top of her lungs, 'Chen Xuan! Stop dawdling! Get up there and beat those guys until they're picking their teeth off the floor!'

Liu Ruyan smiled with pursed lips, her fingers unconsciously twisting the embroidered thread at her sleeve cuff.

Dugu Xue stood in the shade of a tree a little further away, her hand resting on her sword hilt. Her eyes swept over the surrounding crowd, as if checking if anyone dared to cause trouble.

'Alright.'

Chen Xuan wiped the tip of his nose and grinned. 'It's just a few fights. It's not like I haven't fought before.'

He lifted his foot and stepped onto the platform, the wooden planks emitting a dull thud.

The Young Lord of the Nangong Family opposite him sneered coldly, then clasped his fists in a salute, his movements so textbook-perfect he might as well have stepped out of a manual.

Chen Xuan also clasped his fists, completing the courtesy. But in the next second, his opponent was already charging forward, palm strike aimed directly at his face.

Chen Xuan sidestepped, hooking his right foot against the force of the charge and redirecting it.

The Nangong Young Lord stumbled, nearly falling flat, and quickly steadied himself before turning back with a furious glare.

But Chen Xuan had already retreated two steps, adopting a defensive stance. 'You attack first, I'll respond. That's fair.'

Someone in the audience chuckled. Zhao Hongling slapped her thigh and yelled, 'Right! Make him run a few more laps!'

The successor of the Heavenly Blade Sect took the stage next. His blade was still sheathed, yet his Aura pressed forward.

Chen Xuan remained motionless. Only when the opponent drew his blade and slashed downward did he suddenly push off the ground, leaping into the air. Twisting his body mid-air, he kicked the flat of the blade.

The blade veered off course, slicing past the hem of his clothes and embedding itself three inches deep into the wooden planks.

Before the Heavenly Blade Sect Disciple could recover, Chen Xuan landed, turned, and lightly pushed his shoulder. The force wasn't great, but it sent him stumbling back five steps until he collided with the guardrail.

'I yield,' Chen Xuan said, cupping his fists.

The third challenger was a monk from the Iron Bone Temple, standing eight feet tall with bulging muscles. He immediately unleashed a move called 'Vajra Shakes the Earth,' causing the entire platform to tremble.

Chen Xuan rubbed his ears and muttered, 'With a voice like that, it's a shame he's not in the opera.'

Before the words fully left his mouth, the monk pressed his palms together, then suddenly separated them, sending a gust of fierce wind at Chen Xuan.

This time, Chen Xuan didn't dodge. Instead, he advanced, but just as the opponent's palm strike was about to connect, he suddenly dropped low, sliding forward and slipping past under the monk's arm. He followed with a backward elbow strike to the lower back.

The monk grunted, staggering forward several steps before dropping to one knee. He immediately rose, pressing his palms together and bowing his head. 'The benefactor is skilled. This humble monk concedes.'

Thunderous applause erupted from below. Chen Xuan clasped his fists and looked around the crowd. Just as he was about to step down, a dark shadow shot forward—a heavy hammer whistling through the air, aimed straight at his head.

'Tuoba Lie, ranked in the top ten of the Northern Region Battle Rankings!' the presiding official announced loudly.

Chen Xuan looked up at the massive hammer, wider than he was tall, and sighed. 'Can't you guys come one at a time? In such a hurry to deliver yourselves?'

Tuoba Lie sneered viciously. 'Today, I'll show you what true power is!'

The hammer descended with a whoosh. Chen Xuan tapped his foot, his entire body shooting backward and to the side like an arrow from a bowstring. The hammer's tip smashed into the platform, splinters flying.

He had just landed when his opponent was already upon him, hammer shadows forming a continuous barrage, forcing Chen Xuan to retreat repeatedly.

Zhao Hongling grew anxious. 'Chen Xuan! Stop playing around!'

'I'm not playing,' Chen Xuan panted, but his eyes grew bright.

He suddenly stopped, ceasing his evasion. At the moment the heavy hammer descended once more, he leaped into the air. His fingertips pressed together like a sword, piercing through the wind to strike the joint connecting the hammerhead to the shaft.

A clear, crisp *clang* rang out. The hammerhead actually detached and flew off, crashing into a sandpit in the distance.

Tuoba Lie stood frozen in place, holding the now-bare hammer handle.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Xuan closed in. Three quick steps brought him forward, culminating in a final move, 'Severing Current Finger,' aimed directly at the acupoint on Tuoba Lie's wrist.

As the finger's wind struck, Tuoba Lie's entire arm instantly went numb. The heavy hammer clattered to the ground.

'Do you want to continue?' Chen Xuan asked, stepping back with a smile.

Tuoba Lie stared at him for a few breaths, then suddenly clasped his fists. 'I'm defeated.'

The entire venue erupted in an uproar. Cheers rose and fell, and someone began chanting his name: 'Chen Xuan! Chen Xuan!'

High upon the viewing platform, Empress Murong Wan sat upright on the Dragon throne, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

The eunuch beside her whispered, 'This person's origins are unknown, his methods strange. It might be unwise to let him get too close.'

Empress Murong Wan said calmly, 'To use finesse to overcome brute force, stillness to control motion, with a Heart-Nature that is not flighty... he is far better than those who only know how to brawl and show off their ferocity.'

The eunuch dared not speak further. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze passing through the crowd to rest on the tall, straight figure in the center of the platform. A flicker passed through her eyes.

Chen Xuan stepped down from the platform. Zhao Hongling was the first to rush up, throwing an arm around his shoulder. 'Awesome, right? Satisfying? Want me to get you some water?'

'No need,' Chen Xuan said, shaking his arm. 'I can still fight.'

Leng Shuang walked over and handed him a cloth towel. 'You're sweating.'

'Thanks.' He took it, wiped his face, and smiled at her. Leng Shuang averted her gaze, the tips of her ears slightly red.

Liu Ruyan approached with small steps, a smile in her eyes. 'That finger technique you used earlier was really impressive.'

'Of course,' Chen Xuan said, raising an eyebrow. 'I practiced it for a long time.'

Dugu Xue walked over from under the tree's shade and nodded. 'The next opponent likely won't be so simple.'

'What's there to fear?' Zhao Hongling said, planting her hands on her hips. 'If anyone's not convinced, they can just come one by one!'

As soon as the words left her mouth, a grey-robed old man emerged from the crowd, the emblem of a martial arts hall embroidered on his chest.

He declared in a clear voice, 'This old man is Zhang Yuantong of the Golden Tiger Martial Hall. Though not a participant in the Husband Selection Ceremony, seeing so many outstanding young talents today, I cannot resist seeking a lesson or two!'

This was an informal spar, not part of the official schedule, but everyone knew he was targeting Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan shrugged. 'If you wish to fight, I'll oblige.'

The two walked to an open area and stood facing each other. Zhang Yuantong assumed a starting stance and said gravely, 'Three moves. If you can withstand them, this old man will concede on the spot.'

'Deal,' Chen Xuan said, standing casually, not even adopting a stance.

First move: Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain, fist wind howling. Chen Xuan tilted his head to avoid it, his right hand Go with the flow guiding the force. The old man couldn't retract his momentum in time, stumbling half a step forward.

Second move: Spiral Shattering Fist, even more ferocious. Chen Xuan retreated half a step, his left hand making a feinting motion. As the fist neared, he suddenly raised his elbow to block, then countered with a finger strike to the opponent's ribs. Zhang Yuantong's breath hitched, his offensive instantly dissolving.

Third move: The old man roared, throwing both fists simultaneously. Chen Xuan didn't retreat this time. Instead, he advanced. Just as the fist wind was about to—but had not yet—connected, he suddenly dropped low, sliding forward and circling to the side. His fingertip lightly tapped the Danzhong acupoint on the old man's chest.

Zhang Yuantong's entire body stiffened, freezing in place. Only after three breaths did sensation return.

He took a deep breath and clasped his fists. 'The younger generation is to be feared. This old man is convinced.'

The surrounding crowd erupted into even greater cheers.

'Chen Xuan! Chen Xuan!'

Upstairs in a teahouse, a storyteller had already picked up his gavel, improvising a tale. 'Speaking of this morning's Husband Selection Ceremony, a dark horse hero emerged, defeating four elite masters in a row, his skill overwhelming all contenders...'

In a tavern, someone raised a cup. 'I heard he was the one who exposed the corrupt official yesterday too? This kid... literary enough to expose corruption, martial enough to defeat champions. Impressive!'

His name began to spread through streets and alleys.

Chen Xuan stood by the dueling platform, listening to the cheers coming from all directions. He looked up at the sky. The sun was high, its light dazzling. He narrowed his eyes, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Hongling bounced over. 'So? Now the whole capital knows about you, right?'

'Probably,' he said, scratching his head. 'Just wondering if I can get a discount on meals later.'

Leng Shuang gave a soft snort. Liu Ruyan laughed out loud. Dugu Xue shook her head, a rare hint of a smile appearing.

High upon the viewing platform, Empress Murong Wan slowly rose to her feet, her Dragon robes stirring slightly in the wind.

She didn't leave immediately, but instead took another look at Chen Xuan before turning and walking into the palace hall.

Outside the drill grounds, a carriage passed through the street. A curtain lifted slightly, and someone inside took a distant look at the lively platform before saying quietly to the driver, 'Turn around. Return to the estate.'

Chen Xuan was walking with the four women toward the exit when he suddenly heard someone call from behind, 'Young Master Chen, please wait!'

He turned to see a young eunuch running up, panting, holding a jade token. 'His Majesty has decreed: Young Master Chen is requested to enter the palace for an audience tomorrow at noon.'

Everyone fell silent.

Zhao Hongling's eyes went round as saucers. 'The Empress summons you?!'

Chen Xuan took the jade token, turned it over a couple of times, and weighed it in his hand. 'Can I bring lunch in?'